K*Nex

As you know K*Nex is always coming  up with new products on the market.  With Christmas coming in a few months, it is good to know what new products toy companies are bringing and I have just received four interesting products from K*Nex.

Kid K*Nex Sesame Street School Bus

Description
Elmo's ready for school! Your child can build Elmo and the school bus and take him to school! A "Play & Learn" activity sheet filled with educational fun for parent and child, plus additional building ideas, is also included. This 19-piece building set pairs perfectly with the Neighborhood Collection Schoolhouse Building Set. Look for all the Neighborhood Collection Building Sets so your child can build his own SESAME STREET Neighborhood!

My Thoughts

Elmo is back and this time he is going on a school bus ride.    Only one of my children has taken the school bus.   After two years of going on the bus to go to school, we brought him back home and started homeschool.    But the kids see school buses on the road all the time.    The blocks are big and easy to handle by little hands.    And having a character that is well known by little ones help to have fun.    Elmo is all dressed-up to embark on his adventure on the school bus.    Little ones will have a blast driving the school bus around the house and pretend that it is picking other students to bring to school.    They could even pretend going on a field trip with Elmo.      Elmo himself can be build with three blocks.   This kit permits the child to develop the hand-eye coordination as well as thinking and problem-solving skills.    Also included in the package is a play and learn activity sheet.   The box is geared for kids ages 2 to 5.   Other items can complete the Neighbourhood Collection with Elmo like the firefighter, Ice Cream Truck, Police Station, Fire Station and more. 

Kid K*Nex Construction Crew

Description
Build friendly construction vehicles! Includes NEW KID K'NEX blocks plus colorful, chunky KID K'NEX rods & connectors and personality parts like eyes and wheels. When playtime is over, store the parts in the handy storage box for a quick and easy clean-up.

My Thoughts

This fun kit will help your younger child to discover the world of construction vehicles.   Who haven’t drived past a construction crew repairing a road or a bridge?   We do.   And the boys are excited about seeing the big trucks.    This kit will permit your boy (or girl for that matter) to discover how the BIG trucks work and how they can be used while working on the road.    You can build five different machines with this kit.   Each vehicle will have a big set of eye which makes it funny to play with.    My boys are a bit old for this box but I think it would be a wonderful gift for a little one.    My daughter loves to build with Kid K’Nex but somehow she is not as attracted to trucks and vehicles as boys would be.  This box is geared for children ages 3 and up.

K*Nex Hi-flyers 10 model building set

Description
Build and rebuild 10 different hi-flying models! Building instructions and ideas are included for fun flying machines. Plus there's a K'NEXman to help land the plane or take off in the hot air balloon. With 130 parts, you can create anything else you can imagine. Ages 5+

My Thoughts

Be prepare to explore the sky with this wonderful kit which will enable your child to build 10 different models.   Also included, you will find a character which can be use to fly some of the flying machines.    This kit will bring joy to any child fascinated with airplanes, helicopters, hot air balloons and more.    What I particularly like about this kit is that there are different models for different levels of difficulty.    You will found five models on the lower level of difficulty, three on the average level of difficulty and two one the harder level of difficulty.   So has your child gets better with handling the K’Nex, he will be challenged to build harder models.   This kit is geared for ages 5 and up.    

As an homeschooler, I would use this specific item when we go visit the Aviation museum in town.   Nothing is better than having fun after a visit to the museum.   This item can be use by boys and girls but honestly I think boys will be more attracted to it.  
 

K*Nex Light Up Ferris Wheel

Description
Introducing a new take on a K'NEX classic...the motorized Firestorm Ferris Wheel building set. Inside the wheel, multi-colored lights spin freely to create a dazzling light show! This set includes 525+ colorful K'NEX pieces, including gears, a motor, and light strip with 6 pre-programmed light routines. Follow the color-coded instructions to build this exciting Ferris Wheel step-by-step. Then switch the light strip and motor on and watch the model come to life. As the Ferris Wheel spins, the light strip is geared to quickly spin in the opposite direction, creating a dazzling light show. With 6 pre-programmed settings, the lighting effects can be cusomized with the push of a button. Instructions for a second dynamic model are available on www.knex.com. FireStorm Ferris Wheel is appropriate for builders and thrill ride enthusiasts ages 9 & up. Requires 2 "AA" and 3 "AAA" batteries.

My Thoughts

From the kits I have received, I think this is my favourite one.    The Ferris Wheel is simply fantastic.   Not only it will turn by itself (if you put the batteries in) but it will lit up the room with the colors while it spin!  When you complete the construction of the Feris Wheel it will have a height of two feet.   A motor is include in the box to permit you to spin the Ferris Wheel.   And the best part is that you can select the light pattern that you prefer. Different selection of the colors can be made.   You could also build a Comet Chaser if you want to and anything else included on the bonus instructions that can be found at K’NEX.com.   Just for fun you could build your own attraction park if you have a roller coaster as well. 

I find K’Nex to be very versatile and easy to incorporate in our homeschool.  Not only my little ones can play with the kid K’Nex but the bigger kids can use their imagination and create something related to what we have studied.   For example, as I write this my two older kids are playing with the Sim Park game which allows them to build and manage an attraction park.   They are having fun getting roller coasters and other items like this to attract people to come and visit.    Having the K’Nex Light Up Ferris Wheel is a plus as they can build from the bottom something that they enjoy going to when we go to a fun park.      

These reviews were possible because I received the Kid K*Nex Sesame Street School Bus, the Kid K*Nex Construction Crew, the K*Nex hi-flyers 10 model buidling set and the K*Nex Light Up Ferris Wheel in exchange of my honest opinion.