Thames & Kosmos Big Engineering Makerspace | Science Kit | 22 Physics Lessons & Experiments | Toy of The Year Award Finalist | Homeschool | Learning Pod | STEM Kit

Great gift idea for inspiring engineers!

fairly intimidating to me, but an excited and confident 8 year old good with directions could handle it. Lots of play potential with instructions for a range of projects. Designed simply, without relying on warm engaging graphics, this is for kids who are ready to build and work through challenges. Patient kids who don't give up could use independently, while easily frustrated kids could find this a tool for building persistence if caring adults play together, coach, and praise. Precocious 7-8 year olds might enjoy, easily frustrated kids (and those without building experience in their play) might need to be 11-12 to enjoy without help.

I think my greatgrandson who is 9 will enjoy this gift.

I was disappointed with this kit, only because at the price point, I thought it would be better. There are still great projects in it, but having purchased plenty of Thames and Cosmos, this almost felt like a knock off- the parts are cheap and flimsy, and the instructional book is difficult to follow, I know there is a program to use instead, but it is nice to have a comprehensible book as well.

EXCELLENT

I have such mixed feelings about this. The builds are awesome. You can make different working machines like a hydraulic lift, or a crane, etc. And they all work. Hands down better than Lego technic which is just sculptures of things but no working parts. This Big Engineering Makerspace kit comes with really parts for compressing air, building power with gears, and all kinds of goodies.Instructions are usually easy to follow. Some of the machines used compressed air, and the pics of how to connect tubing are hard for me to follow. There are a bunch of machines. Each has instructions, then a two page spread describing how the machine works. Builds are basically sturdy enough for my 3 and 5 year old to play with (under close supervision). Builds can be fairly complicated, and this is a toy for an older child with good manual dexterity up to being fun for me as an adult. (Actually, maybe more fun for me, because I appreciate it.) My kids are way too young to do the builds, just in case you saw the ages. I feel like 8 year old me could have done them but would irresponsibly have lost pieces left and right.The major drawback is that there are just about no extra parts. So far the builds I've done will each use all of the basic pieces. So, you could loose one little piece and be left unable to build half the machines in the instruction book. This is why the mixed feelings. I am cringing knowing it's a matter of time before I loose a piece and the kit is totalled. This also makes it not great for teaching unless it's just your own child. In a group setting pieces will get lost.

Perfect gift for a 13 year old who's into science, engineering or mechanics. There's a lot in this set and you have the instructions to build a variety of machines, incorporating and utilizing standard engineering concepts of gearing and movements based on those. These projects delve into water-based devices for above and below surface projects. There are pneumatic bits included as well as motion and movement concepts. Some of the connections were difficult to make happen but over it's quite a challenge for the aspiring engineer.

Quite nice to teach children basic physics like leavers pulleys gears some pneumatic

When my kid first assembled the pump it wasn’t keeping any pressure thats when I noticed it came broken