Thames & KosmosKids First: Intro to Gears STEM Experiment Kit for Ages 3+ | Build 4 Models, Learn About Gears, Power & Motion | Intro to Mechanical Engineering for Young Learners | Durable Parts

Grandson Loved these

Gave this as a gift for both a 6 and 4 year old. They loved playing with this toy!

Keeps me and the grandkids busy for hours fun to create many things

This gear kit is for very small children. Because of the pictures, I thought the gears were a little smaller. If you have children above the age of eight or nine, get them a nylon gear kit with motors that can teach them more. This is for small children up to the age of six, who may have fun playing with it, with adult assistance. It will teach them the basics of gears.

Kids First: Intro to Gears is designed with durable and sturdy materials, ensuring a reliable and lasting play experience for young learners. The pieces are crafted to withstand the rigors of hands-on exploration, providing a solid foundation for kids to engage in creative and educational activities. The sturdy construction of the toy contributes to its ability to withstand repeated use, making it a reliable choice for fostering learning and play and encouraging an interest in STEM. And the pieces in this kit are compatible with pieces in other Kids First kits, creating opportunities for continued play and learning.

I ordered this as a Christmas present for my 3yo. When I added this to the pile of presents waiting to be wrapped, I realized that he essentially had plenty of presents already. So I gave this to him early. There are quite a few pieces that come in the set, but it's not overwhelming and it's easy to put together. What's great about this is that my son has been able to create many different gear contraptions that this has kept him very busy for several hours at a time. In fact, it was the first thing he wanted to play with when he woke up yesterday morning.Every piece is very easy for him to handle and super simple for him to put together. In fact, the moment will open up the box and I poured all the pieces out on the floor, he got right to work I trying to figure out how to put everything together. He was engaged from the very moment the box opened. The first night he played with it he fell asleep with a gear in his hand. It's really really awesome when you can see your kid really enjoying themselves with a meaningful toy that also incorporates an educational experience and helps with their motor skills at such a young age.Overall this has been very fantastic. They could easily charge another $10 to $20 for this and would still be worth every penny.

The best "educational" toys are so much fun that kids don't realize that they are "educational". This toy falls in that category. Bright, colorful, kinetic - everything that grabs a child's attention. At its simplest level it can be "see the pretty colored gears spin" but as the child plays they learn how the gears interact to make them spin.I see this as a toy that will stay in the toy chest for years. A very young child will like the big colorful pieces and will learn how to put them together. As a child matures, they learn more about gears, ratios, etc. and can advance into some of the more sophisticated projects. Even an older child who has an interest in mechanical engineering will still enjoy playing with this.I prefer to gift education toys, but I also like to be the cool uncle who gives really fun toys. This covers both.

I didn't like how there wasn't a bag to store all the bits and pieces. Purchased as a gift and they lost parts or didn't count them when opened box. Good for cognitive process though.