K’NEX Review

When I was a kid I loved building things, whether it was dirt roads for my cars (yes I most certainly played with cars), or trying (rather unsuccessfully) to build a camp fire in my backyard I was always trying to construct something.  It warms my heart when I see my own kids set aside their latest tech toys and instead opt for more creative play.  And nothing inspires more creation than building the things they things of their imaginations.   

K’NEX is a brand that helps children be more creative by letting them use their imaginations to build and play.  I have always been fond of K’NEX and have purchased many, many building sets over the years for my kiddos.  In my opinion, any toy that inspires a child to be more creative earns big points in my book.  For those of you who are not very familiar with K’NEX let me introduce you.

Here’s some more about K’NEX from their website:

K'NEX is the next generation of construction sets. It inspires creativity, builds self-confidence and encourages interaction among children and parents. The possibilities are endless!

We believe that our product, K'NEX, is unique and worthwhile; that it is capable of enriching the lives of those who use it, both through pure enjoyment and through its educational impact; and that these genuine qualities must be sustained with all the innovation and creativity we can muster.

First and foremost I want to say that I am very impressed with K’NEX and their ability to create building sets for kids of all ages; from sets for children as young as 2 up to teens and even adults, K’NEX seems to know what kids and parents want and they always seem to deliver big!  We received several items from K’NEX to review for our Holiday Gift Guide the Neighborhood Collection Firehouse Building Set, the Vertical Viper Coaster from the Thrill Rides collection, and the 350 Piece Value Tub.  Of all of the building sets we were sent to review the Neighborhood Collection Firehouse set was my favorite, I love that even the babies can get their creative juices flowing with K’NEX! 

Here’s a little more about each of the building sets from the K’NEX website:

Neighborhood Collection Firehouse Building Set
 

Firefighter Ernie to the rescue! Your child will enjoy hours of fun building the Sesame Street Firehouse - along with Elmo and firefighter Ernie - and creating his own Sesame Street neighborhood! Includes "Play & Learn" activity sheet and additional building ideas. Loaded with 43 parts to build the fire house, Ernie, Elmo, a fire hydrant and a fire truck crossing sign. Pairs perfectly with the Neighborhood Collection Fire Truck for lots of building fun and after building play. The fire house door even opens to drive the fire truck through! Look for all the Neighborhood Collection Building Sets so your child can build his own SESAME STREET Neighborhood!
Price:  $23.99

Vertical Viper Building Set



Collect & Build Vertical Viper, #2 of 3 in the new Amusement Park Series! Motorized for exciting performance that sends the car up the chain lift and speeding down the track! This set comes with over 300 parts, primarily rods & connectors, to build a K'NEX thrill ride that stands over 1.5 feet tall! And if you collect Corkscrew Coaster and the Ferris Wheel (sold separately), you can have a working amusement park right in your home! Recommended for builders ages 7+. Requires 2 "AA" batteries, not included.
Price:  $21.99

350 Piece Value Tub



Loaded with 350 parts to build anything you can imagine - cars, planes, boats, ferris wheels and more! Plus, building ideas for 20 different models are included to get you started. The sturdy storage tub makes clean-up easy and is a great place to store all your building parts or partially built models. And, the 350 PC Tub works with other building set brands, so there are even more building possibilities! For ages 7+.
Price:  $21.99

Of course, the 3 K’NEX building sets mentioned above are only a few of the many, many sets available! 
Make sure you check out the K’NEX website for a complete product listing. 

You can purchase all of the above mentioned K’NEX products wherever K’NEX products are sold! 

K’NEX building sets make the perfect holiday gift for every child on your list…so make sure you pick a few up on your next shopping trip!  And make sure you check out Misadventures in Baby Raising’s 2010 Holiday Gift Guide for the latest and greatest holiday gift ideas!