Posted on Leave a comment

Geomag Pink Panels

The new set of Geomag magnetic construction sets for girls – GEOMAG KIDS Panels Girl – contains not only large panels, but also small ones – square and triangular. A large square pink panel in the center is two-sided, it is supposed to hold pictures in it on both sides. Pictures are also attached to the set – two with images of dogs, but my girls rejected the pictures, they didn’t like them. A large number of picture-inserts are present in sets with a house – GEOMAG KIDS World my House and a castle – GEOMAG KIDS World my Castle, there are even black-and-white insert pictures for self-coloring. Small panels from the pink set can be used on their own with small Geomag sticks.

Geomag Pink Panels
Posted on Leave a comment

Quercetti Kaleido Gears Crank

Kaleido Gears by Quercetti has no motor of any kind – you will need to turn this crank to make them rotate.

This Kaleido Gears set by Quercetti has all the essential things you’d desire in a gear system. Firstly, their construction quality is top-notch, and the pieces have a robust and solid design. The set also has a seamless gear interface, so they interlock securely. With these reliable connections and sturdy pieces, the set allows you to build machines that can perform real work.

The set includes several base plates that fit together like puzzle pieces. Sadly, this set has no poles or pillars, you make a basic construction from the puzzle pieces only. You can also build 3D structures with these pieces, like boxes or buildings. There are also no bands or chains, so this set has fewer building options than the other Quercetti gear sets.

The gears, however, are great – they have different sizes, colors, and ornaments, and they move! Together, they create very bright and flashy crafts, hence the set’s name. It also includes the axis pieces and a crank to move the gears. This set is great for explaining basic physics to the children – they will learn the basics of gear connections without any trouble. Since the kit mostly has big, colorful parts, the recommended age is 3-12 years.

Quercetti Kaleido Gears Crank
Posted on Leave a comment

Knexomania Continues – Antilope

A pretty symbolic antilope my son built from K’Nex 522 Piece set all by himself.

K’Nex comes in two sizes: regular and mini K’Nex. There are also matching thick and thin rods, as well as some rods that can connect large and small pieces together. Not all sets include mini parts. K’Nex 522 Piece set, for example, doesn’t.

Just like with any other K’Nex sets, this one has pieces that securely fit together. You can easily take apart your creations and use the pieces to build something else. Regular K’Nex pieces have stronger connections and can handle even very active play. Mini K’Nex creations are a bit more delicate.

While the crafts you make with K’Nex can be quite large, some of the pieces, especially the mini ones, are very small. This makes K’Nex sets unsafe for small babies who might accidentally swallow the pieces. These pieces can also be a bit challenging for younger kids to assemble correctly. That’s why it’s recommended for kids aged 7 and older to use K’Nex sets.

It’s also important to note that most K’Nex sets don’t come with detailed crafting instructions. Some packages may only show completed toys without step-by-step guides. However, K’Nex offers a lot of versatility and possibilities, so this is usually not a major issue.

Knexomania Continues - Antilope