K'Nex

From Wikipedia (what is K'Nex?): K'NEX is a brand name of a construction toy system invented by Joel Glickman, designed and produced by K'NEX Industries, Inc. of Hatfield, Pennsylvania, USA. Currently Michael Araten is the president of the organization. The name is, presumably, a phonetic variation of connects, and is pronounced the same way. The toys building system consists of interconnecting plastic rods and connectors, which can connect together to form all kinds of contraptions. K'NEX is a construction toy, and therefore in the same genre as LEGO, Fischertechnik and Meccano.

From Team Mom: It’s time to start building! K’NEX, the next generation of construction sets, is giving kids the chance to imagine, build and play! K’NEX inspires creativity, builds self-confidence and encourages interaction among children and parents. The possibilities are endless!

For ages 7 and above, K’NEX has created the 400 PCS Tub that comes with building ideas for 20 different models and a convenient storage tub. Kids can also use their imagination to build whatever they are inspired to create.

For ages 2-5, K’NEX has created the Sesame Street Neighborhood Collection Building Sets. These sets let children build and then play with their favorite Sesame Street friends, including Elmo, Cookie Monster and Ernie.

Bonus: K’NEX is also holding a Make a K’NEXion contest (11/4 - 12/7/09). You could win over $1,000 worth of K’NEX Toys and be featured on the KNEX.com web site. How? Make a video and include select K’NEX products (email entry to knexvideocontest@knex.com) . The possibilities are endless! Construct your own story or showcase your child’s K’NEX building skills - use your imagination! The 10 best videos will be featured on KNEX.com and the winning video will receive $1,000 worth of K’NEX Toys. Click here for all the details!!

400 Piece Value Tub

Age: 7+ Item Number: 12077B Price: $21.99


Loaded with 400 parts, including bricks, for lots of open-ended fun and endless building and play opportunities! Includes instructions and ideas for 20 models or use your imagination to dream up your own creations. The convenient storage tub means there is always a place to put your parts or take the fun with you wherever you go! For ages 7+.

Packed with 400 parts, including bricks, rods and connectors, for lots of open-ended building fun

Includes ideas/instructions for 20+ models or use your own imagination

Handy storage tub means you can take the fun with you and clean-up is easy

For ages 7+

NEIGHBORHOOD COLLECTION POLICE STATION BUILDING SET

Age: 2-5 Item Number: 85373 Price: $20.99

Officer Ernie reporting for duty! Your child will enjoy hours of fun building the SESAME STREET Police Station - plus the NEW smaller scale buildable Elmo and police officer Ernie - and creating his own Sesame Street neighborhood! Includes "Play & Learn" activity sheet and additional building ideas. Loaded with 44 parts to build the police station, Elmo, Ernie, a stop sign and traffic light. Pairs perfectly with the Neighborhood Collection Police Car for lots of building fun and after building play.

Your child can build a SESAME STREET Police Station!

Loaded with 44 parts, including 2 smaller scale buildable Elmo and Ernie

"Play & Learn" activity sheet with additional building ideasPairs perfectly with Neighborhood Collection police car

Collect all 4 Neighborhood Collection sets and your child can build his own SESAME STREET Neighborhood!

My take: Legos, puzzles and K'Nex. "These are a few of my favorite things...." Well, they are my 7 year old future architect's favorite things. He loves to build and create and K'Nex tubs are perfect for his skills and imagination. I first introduced him to K'nex back when I did a review for them last year. This time we received the two products you see above. I gave the tub to him and the Sesame Street police station to his 5 year old Elmo loving sister. As expected, they both loved, loved, loved these toys. Our son immediately set out to build another of his monster trucks and our daughter put together the police station with her dad's help and started playing with Elmo and Ernie. I think poor Elmo was arrested by Ernie all afternoon!

What do I, as a mom, like about these toys? I like K'Nex because they work with all the myriad of Legos my son has already so it's like one big building system for him. I also love the big storage tubs for easy clean up - I had to buy storage tubs for the Legos. I also love that what my son can build is only limited by his imagination! I like the Sesame Street Neighborhood Collection Building Sets because the parts are big and chunky so easy for my 5 year old to handle (she's not quite ready for the smaller Lego and K'Nex). I also like the Play & Learn activity sheets that come with the set so she can have even more fun and learn too!

All and all, you can't go wrong with K'Nex. Be sure to check out their site to see all their many, many fun products - Santa would be well advised to shop here this year!

This post was written for K'Nex and Team Mom who provided the products for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary products.

I am proud to be a member of Team Mom, which sponsored this review.