When this K'nex 400 pc building set showed up at my house, I thought I'd show off my ability to follow directions and make all kinds of cool models like they have in the instruction booklet.
So I attempted to make this really cool hot air balloon. I followed the directions carefully and I almost had it done but I couldn't get the last pieces to attach. I pushed, pulled, and tried to force them. I even tried to break them into place. K'nex, you're unbreakable.
I gave up and destroyed my hot air balloon in a fit of rage. (Not really, but I knew it was time for something simpler.)
Hence...this 2-D castle structure. Perfect for those of us who are on the simpler side.
Then I whined to my son that I'm pathetic and I can't even build a thing. He took pity on me and made this big truck for me to show off.
And then the lad got hungry. And I got a sinister glint in my eye. I said, I'll make you lunch if you work on one more K'nex project with me. And that boy said YES!
So my son proceeded to teach me (like I'm 7 years old) how to connect interlocking pieces.
--No, Mom, it goes like this, remember?
--Mom, they slide in from the side.
--Mom, stop. Look. I'll show you again.
And somehow, in spite of me, we managed to put together this most brilliant piece of architecture: a ferris wheel that actually spins!
It pays to have kids.
By the way, K'nex is currently having a video contest where you can win $1000 in Knex toys! Send in a video of your child playing with their Knex toys, and you might win. For all the details, visit the K'nex website.
* You'll find the K'nex 400 pc set for $20.99 at Target, Wal-Mart, and Toys R Us. *
Thank you to K'nex and Team Mom for providing me with the building set for purposes of this review. This review is based on my own personal opinions and experiences. No other compensation was received.
117 comments:
Sometimes I think kids are WAY smarter than we are. I have to think that their level of creativity far exceeds ours...they have yet to be jaded and niched.
OMG, I am so prematurely embarrassed.
I was so happy to see the title since that meant I wouldn't feel like a fool. All by myself.
We got K'Nex also and BoyX and I got all obsessed with being creative. Sadly, I made a mess of things. And I DIDN'T get a truck or ferris wheel out of the deal, only a THING.
my youngest loved Knex - one year for Christmas he got a roller coaster it must have had over a 1000 pieces and he proceded to put that bad boy together with no problem - he must have been 8. I would have a hard time even building the 2-D castle.
ah, you're telling my story. my boys are architectural engineers with those things and i...well...i just try to avoid them when i'm vacuuming.
Awe! I thought it was sweet he was helping you! Warmed my heart a bit. Sorry, I am a little hormonal right now.
My kids have the smaller kits! Of course right now I don't know where all the pieces are located:)
Oh Mat would have a hay day with that. Hay. Day.
my boys love Knex! and yes, they often have to teach me as well. smiles.
As I was reading your post I immediately thought - you need a kid.
heh heh
yeah my youngest can do that. He takes like basic train tracks tht are made tolay out in a a simple plan and twist and turn till he makes the most awesome track lines and you are wtching him doing and still going how did he do that lol
Your castle is genius, seriously, when I play w/ k'nex, I make sticks...
My son moved on exclusively to Legos and he is beyond obsessed. He can make all sorts of awesome spaceships and cars and buildings and stuff. Me? I make blocks. And when I get super creative, I make tall blocks. Oh yes. Amazing.
Love your banner w/ the hummingbird and your love of violets too! Thanks for stopping by my blog! See you around bloggyworld! :)
That looks really cool. I, however, am too stupid to be able to do it. :)
ROFL... that's just way too funny. I think your castle was wonderful. I would probably just make sticks as well. LOL
This post had me laughing all the way. You're too cute. Funny how much we can be humbled by our children.
Thanks for the early morning chuckle!
Hahaha. Very Funny.
Honestly, I love the castle the most. It's just a thing I have...I love castles.
Yeah, my boy can totally kick my you know what when it comes to these engineering feats. Not that I've tried to compete mind you. :)
that looks awesome!!!
and you also sound a bit like my husband.. when he gets pissed at something.. oh no! don't be in his line of vision, he'll either mess it up or throw it.. i know right? real mature!!!
LOL! You are too funny. If it's any consolation, I'm terrible with building things like that too. We've been wanting to try Knex! They do look like a lot of fun. And I'm sure my husband would love them too ;)
See, that is why I stick to toys like blocks or dolls. I'll leave the building stuff for hubby to deal with.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
I hate it when toys are smarter than myself.
I don't have kids but many young people in my life when I can't figure out any technology, I make a call back East. I know, I know, not the same thing, but sort of...
BTW the ferris wheel rocks the casbah! Good job!
wow! i'm really impressed with the ferris wheel!!
nice job guys!! you did a fabulous job. give your little one a *high five* from me! woohoo!
have a great day :)
We just played with Knex this past Sunday with my very young {second} cousins. I mainly just cleaned them up. They looked too difficult for me! ;o)
I love Knex! That is one of the toys I kept from when my boys were little.
I never could figure out the darn step by step pictures though.
My nephew loves his Knex. He's a lego kid at heart but he loves how the Knex stuff moves.
You know, I always see and hear about Knex but have never actually tried the stuff. I guess we're still just a Lego family (duplo, actually..the kids are small).
But, I can bet Max would love this stuff a few years from now. What is the age minimum recommended for this stuff?
I posted my K'nex review today too! We made the same truck! Johnny has the huge ones with motors and they ROCK!
i can see my daughters digging this in 2-3 years..
great review..
Cool toy, I just wish someone had been filming you trying to put that balloon together Lol!
My son loves these things. He can build the most amazing things. Not me.
That Ferris wheel is awesome Great job!
My 4-year-old kicks my but at memory every day.
This is a wonderful review.
You brighten my day.
Thanks
My son loves toys like that!
I find any toy with 400 pieces a bit intimidating.
Glad you had help.
I love playing with these...with or without kids! LOL
You're doing better than I am. I probably wouldn't have even been able to open the box!!
You're just a child at heart.
We have an ELMO one and my son who is 2 1/2 knows how to put him together without directions! I feel so smart sometimes! *sigh*
Woah. I'm impressed. Very impressed.
The only good thing I could ever create with blocks was squares with wheels. I'm so impressed!
I refuse to buy anything that has to be put together...I always end up doing it while my kids watch TV!
You built about 3 more things than I would have been able to build! I was the kind of kid that built lego walls instead of fancy buildings and stuff! Spencer would probably love these though...I'll have to check them out!
K'Nex ROCK THE HOUSE! I used to build all of that stuff, but Legos were the best!
um. wow. I can't even put together ikea.
Sounds like you might need to pick up some Duplos. Can't go wrong with Duplos. Except that they hurt more than Knex when you step on them in the middle of the night.
-Joshua
My son loves those things. But the pieces always end up all over the house.
Kids have so much patience to build something cool!!
This is so funny and I feel your pain! I swear if my 3 year old shows me how to do one more thing I'm going to freak!
That is so cool! I would never enter that contest though... exactly how many little, pieces do you think $1000 could get you?
Hey, you tried, and you concord.Even if a 7yr old had to help you along the way.
So cool he helped you out!
But to me the thought of bringing something in my house that has 400 pieces just makes me shudder!
I remember being crazy jealous when I would go to my friends houses and they would have k'nex. But I was too shy to ask to play with them.
Good for you for the bribing!! I love it :)
Too funny. I'm picturing you on the floor trying to put that together.
We all know that kids are much better at this stuff than we are. I can remember the first computer we got. My then 9 year old daughter stood next to me and TOLD ME what to do and how to do it.
These might be good for my 5 year old grandson.
Damn, I wish you would have taken a picture of the wrecked hot air balloon. The ferris wheel rocks!
Justine :o )
What a cool truck! I don't think I would have enough patience to build something like that either.
That's funny! Hey, at least you got to work on something together! Very impressive ferris wheel!
You know what it would have looked like if I tried putting it together? Just like it arrives in the box
Way to go! I try to put together my nephew's lego stuff and I can't get it to work either. Hello, he's seven and he can do it, you think a 28 year could too!
Wow - don't worry - it's not you. Boys were made for building things , didn't you know?
Suddenly I have the urge to get a tub of Tinkertoys. The classic wooden version ones, not the lame-o plastic ones.
Your Son is awesome...and you are pretty cool for trying. :) Suz
Now that boy's got skills! Mama, you must've done something right. Good sandwich, maybe? :)
AHAHAHAHA! I love it that your son had to show you how to put it together...Princess Nagger would be the one to show me how. ;)
Those look like fun. I can't imagine why my kids never had them.
What a sweet boy to help his Mom!! Matthew loves those things, and lego too. He just isn't any good at keeping the pieces together. And after a few times of picking them up I get pissed off and chuck them.
You guys did a great job!!!!!!!
I was cracking up when you talked about destroying it in a fit of rage--Isabella does that if she can't figure something out...lol!
Love the ferris wheel--that's awesome!!
What ever happened to simple toys, like a ball!? LOL
That is so awesome! I need to get that for my son.
LOL same thing hear the boys get new blocks etc and I try to make what the pictures show ... yup nope but give it to the 5 y/o and tada!!! LOL
When I try to accomplish something like this, I get the major eye-roll, and the "Oh, Mom!" So I'm relegated to playing with my Happy Meal Toys...
This looks fun! Your son and you sound like my mom and I... =)
Isn't it nice that he approached you with such patience? He must've learned that by example...
The Ferris Wheel is really great. I like the truck too. Wow what a smart son you have.
snicker. it is rather embarrassing when the young ones show us up. but the ends justify the means in this case. :)
Simply fantastic job.
Thanks for reviewing Knex. They are an absolute treat for the kids.
Cheers!!
an award for you!
http://www.mynetfinds.blogspot.com/2009/11/thank-you.html
You know what's harder than putting those darned things together? Taking them APART! They hurt like hell to dismantle!!
I played with K'Nex when I was a kid... hmm.
Oh, and I would love to get it for Benjamin, some day... I think he'd just swaller the pieces now... ;)
So funny! Wait until they have to show you how to work a computer! It hasn't happened to me yet since my oldest is just 5 but I know that day will come!
I have a love/hate relationship with K'nex. I can't even begin to tell you how much money I've spent on the sets the kids have wanted through the years! My hubby always ended up being the one to put them together - oh well, kept him out of my hair on the holidays, LOL! :-)
Ugh! I look at those things and just know I'd never figure them out! I'm sure my son will when he is older!
That is so funny. I have had pathetic attempts w/ those things too.
Very cool! My son loves K'Nex.
Have a wonderful holiday Blueviolet :)
I'm so very impressed with the ferris wheel. Girl, you got mad skills!!
These look fun. My son loves to build "contraptions". He'd like this. What is the age range on these?
Your son sounds so sweet and helpful. What a cute image this conjured in my head. It really made me smile! - G
Yeah, I'm forever getting good advice from my four year old about various things relating to legos, the Wii and why that toy and this toy DO NOT belong near each other. Ack. Who knew?
too funny - come look by me and see my 7 year old son - he built that hot air balloon!
Thanks for your kind words. It was a tough weekend.
I love toys like this. My daughters friend can take those beads and without directions build all kinds of things. I love it.
Sounds like a fun item. My son would have loved this when he was younger.
Great post - sounds like a lot of fun. My kid loves to show me short cuts on the computer - geez..
Love to you
kelly
Sounds like a toy made for kids and not grown ups! lol
That ferris wheel is pretty awesome! Even more so cuz it spins and I would so be like you and have no clue how to put these things together... especially cuz they come with instructions and, well, I am no good at following instructions:/
Sweet mushy! I agree. That is a brilliant piece of architecture!
Oh to have the blessings that are our children.
I'm liking this K/nex deal.
haha... that is great!! glad he could help you out!!
I love k'nex! Found 'em here for $14.
http://www.dealsofamerica.com/K39;NEX-400-Piece-Value-Pack/90076.htm
We loved K'Nex when the kids were younger.. great stuff. Expensive but fun.
That is just super cool ... I want one, I want one I say!
Oscar loves K'nex! He doesn't build anything fantastic yet but he does put them together and he THINKS that what he makes is cool. He wears a star he made with K'nex and a piece of yarn as a necklace like almost everyday to school. He pretends its like little tiny gun. I'm sure that the teacher loves me for it. Maybe I should put a video of him wearing it to school in the contest! He is definitely getting more of these for Christmas. I love your review - I don't think I could figure it out either. Thats what sons are for in my opinion.
Oh, how we love K'nex in our house. They stay together so much better than the little Lego pieces. LOL With two boys I have had my fair share of K'nex playtime. They have started to slow down though and I miss the fun. LOL
Cece
Yes, it does pay to have kids, lol!
It was one of the happiest days of my life when my kids were old enough to assemble their own crap. Ahhhh.
haha...so glad you have engineers in the house to help you! LOL.
Sam is SO into Legos right now. I'm sure he would love these, too. (And, so would hubby!)
lol this is soooooo me too!! My kids had knex and legos and would built these really cool things and I couldn't build a thing. I consider myself knex and lego challenged. lol
I can't make cool stuff with playdough either, but I would still manage to entertain the kids by them laughing at me for what I did make. lol
The ferris wheel is awesome!!! You should proudly display it on your fireplace mantel. lol :) I always love your posts my friend!!
This is how I feel every time I play legos with my kids.
My kids were faster on a keyboard at age 7 than I am today!
Love it! Wish I could send in a video of my kids, but the only thing it'd show is my 3-year-old throwing them at his brother.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I'm not k'nex minded at all---can't build anything:)
Happy Thanksgiving!
My son and I are the same way - I swear women think in 2D and guys in 3D - he can figure this kind of stuff out quickly, but I'd be like you with a nice purdy flat structure :D
I'm quite sure I'd fail miserably at the K'nex. It gives me a panic attack just looking at your pics!
Happy Thanksgiving!
That looks so fun tho
Love the castle!! I wouldn't have been able to make anything either.
It's like when I have trouble with my iPhone or computer, I ask one of my kids, they have to help me. Don't feel bad, it's a generational thing!!
Glad you two had fun together.
Sometimes I think KNEX are out to get me by just showing pictures and no instructions. But the little one loves them!
sometimes it takes kids to teach us a few things
When I was pregnant, before we knew the gender of our child, hubs and I would walk through the toy asiles just dreaming. He would pick things up (like this toy) and say, "OH Cool! If we have a boy I'm totally buying this" and then he would ask if we could register for it anyway. I wasn't sure if he was more excited about being a dad or having a legit excuse for buying cool toys!
Your son has talent. Isn't it amazing how simple they can accomplish things that are so difficult for us.
It's the same way for me and my son's Transformers. I can't get those darn things to Transform. They end up looking disfigured.
I loved the Ferris Wheel.
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