Learning Resources Gears Machines in Motion Playset

My grandson was able to assemble 2 or 3 gears and get the idea immediately, but it will be some time before he is able to follow the instructions to make the suggested models. He likes the fully assembled models which is motivating. We felt the similar kit aimed at 4 year olds would be a bit limiting and not interest him for long. What is important is that he is happy to experiment which should give him an intuitive idea of the basic principles. Appears to be well made, but prologed frequent use might mean that it becomes hard for the pieces to hold together.

Got these for my sons fifth birthday following the success of giving him the easier, more basic set, for his third birthday. Its one of the toys that he goes to the most, very good for imaginative play, he's always building fantastic little machines. This set will require a bit more adult help I think until he gets the hang of the possibilities.

Gift for a 3 year old with the engineering skill of Brunel...

This is today's edition of Meccano, for those who remember it. Loads of bits and pieces for a child to fix together in endless combinations, bringing out the engineer in them. Meccano was metal but this is plastic but still very sturdy. Amazing the creations that can be put together and taken apart again. Lots of decent sized building pieces to fix in primary colours for added pleasure. A nice size for childrens' hands.

The box for this 'Machines in Motion' playset is chock full of chunky plastic pieces - consisting of (a) cuboid pieces used to build a machine's underlying frame; (b) many, many gears of different sizes; and (c) a few accessories, such as a wrecking ball and winch. My 6-year old needed quite a lot of help to put this together - the instructions aren't as intuitive as Lego, which he's very used to and copes with well. So, although this comes with a 5+ age range, it is actually very challenging at that level and the building part of the process would keep an older child entertained. The resulting toy is very chunky, sturdy and brightly coloured, and may appeal to younger kids. There are instructions for 3 "builds". I was slightly disappointed with this, as we got through those quite quickly and my children struggled for inspiration to put the gears together in other recognisable ways. It would be better if they'd included more examples. The pieces also fits back into the box quite easily at the end of a play session, which is definitely a plus!

This is excellent! In terms of fun, it combines the fun of lego and meccano all in one. I especially love that this is not a kit so the kids (and me) can stretch our imaginations as much as we want. I don't hesitate to recommend this - it's pure gold and stands head and shoulders above all those lego kits that get used once and tossed in a cupboard for the rest of eternity.

A fascinating set of cogs, belts and propellers for the inventive child to fit together in a variety of ways so that they move. A simple toy but such a hit with my 5 year old child guinea pig. He played with them for a lot longer than I expected and came back to them again the next day which is always the sign of a good toy. They're great for the imagination; they look appealing and are perfect for developing interest in how things move.

My grandchildren love LEGO and I thought this kit was something different they could add to their growing collection. Works well alongside more traditional construction kits. The idea here is that the individual pieces (belts, cogs, propellers and chains) are assembled to create movement. It's all about how one piece can effect another. Not an easy kit to construct and though recommended for children 3+ years it requires adult supervision due to the complicated instructions. Each of the pieces are well made, resilient and I particularly like the larger sized pieces and bright colours.