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This is a well designed, well documented, sturdy toy/study tool that my son is very interested in. At 9.5 he can almost do it all by himself. The design is SO MUCH better than K'nex, less bulky, more realistic a product, more flexibility, etc. K'nex seems to be a toy that tried to grow a cap and gown, while this seems to have sprung from educational roots. (My son still makes monsters and guns out of it.)
We are using this as part of 4th grade homeschool, to seat the mechanics we have studied via manipulatives, and I whole-heartedly endorse this.
There are 6+ models in each booklet, a parts list on the back of each booklet, so you can lay out your parts ahead of time, clear instructions, a study guide and a small, non-onerous workbook with clear illustrations and a quick quiz at the bottom, covering a couple of projects from each booklet. Not all are "typical" projects, e.g. a pantograph and Peaucellier Lipkin linkage in the linkages booklet.
I would have given it 5 stars, but it came missing some pieces. While my emails were promptly responded to, and the missing parts were mailed right out, it did mean I spent 30 minutes going over the additive parts lists on the backs of each booklet and jotting down what parts I was missing. So -inventory the moment you get it.
ETA: if any of the connections seem tight the first time you use it, you can disassemble it easily by running hot water over the female part and icing the male part. More science to teach kiddo!
We are really enjoying this kit. Last year we read Sally Walker's books called Wheels, Inclined Planes, Gear, etc and did the simple hands on things. This year, ready for much more complex hands-on, this has been a perfect "step up" for a 9 year old.
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My kids are Lego fanatics, so I wasn't sure if this would compare in enjoyment. They love it, though! 10 year old daughter and 9 year old son could do it all independently, but my 6 and 4 year olds needed a little help. I would have given 5 stars except that one or two of the machines, once built, did not function smoothly because the axle bent. But they still got the idea:) I while-hearted lay recommend it for educational play or homeschool.Best Deals for Engino Simple Machines
Kids love to build things with it not only from the manual but also from their creativity. They include great lesson plan and curriculum. I think it is educational and better than Lego.Honest reviews on Engino Simple Machines
I am not one to write reviews, although I use them regularly when choosing products to buy on Amazon. But, as my two boys sit on the floor this morning, playing with this set, I feel compelled to tell you how wonderful it is. We gave this to my son for his 6th birthday as his big present from us and he fell in love immediately. I knew he was probably a little young for it, but thought it would be a good set to grow in to. Just a bit of background: our son is the kid that can't get enough Legos, that will sit for hours putting together and taking apart one set, that builds above his Lego level often with very little help. I was wanting something to challenge him and give him a little more of an education on how mechanics work. Enter the Engino Simple Machines set!My son LOVES it, but it is definitely challenging and requires Daddy to sit with him, teaching him along the way. It's a GREAT way for the two of them to get in some quality time together. The pieces snap together much differently than Legos and take a bit of practice. It can be frustrating, but is good at teaching my 6 yo self-control. So far, they've made 6 or 8 of the sets, the coolest of which was an airplane whose propeller turned as it sped down the runway! When built, the machines are much bigger than Lego sets which make them very cool to fly or drive around the house.
Currently my 4 and 6 year olds are sitting on the floor building together with the pieces and their own imaginations. I would never say that a product is better than Lego (the BEST toy EVER invented), but this is a GREAT toy for those who love to build and want to learn using their hands. It is not a toy that is played with every day the way Legos are at our house, but it is regularly pulled out and just this morning produced the comment, "Mommy, thank you so much for buying this set for me for my birthday. I LOVE it!"
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We always buy learning toys for grandsons, and I did my homework before choosing this. The 8-year-old opened another birthday gift first, a small wood box I'd made for him, wrapped in a saved box from an Oxo salad spinner. He shoved it aside, thinking it actually WAS a salad spinner.Then he opened the Machines box and played with it quietly for over an hour. His older brother left him alone all that time. (Another nice gift to all of us.) After dinner, he went back to assembling different machines. The rest of us didn't disturb him by "helping."
My daughter told the next morning that instead of sleeping till 9 as usual, both boys quietly got up around 7 and played together at the dining table for several hours. She sent a picture of them elbow to elbow at the table, creating their own machines. Such interest is very unusual for them, with no squabbling. They like Legos, but loved the different engineering of the Engino pieces. They can exercise creativity in many different ways.
This is a well-designed, well-made, high quality set that teaches how simple machines actually work. If you see value in teaching kids to understand how things work, this is for you.
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