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Connecting with K’NEX

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Disclosure: I received the free product for review purposes. All experiences and opinions are my own. Yours may differ.

K'NEX

My family loves to play together. We often have times when we sit and build legos. We have a couple different sets so we’ll make those, or we’ll get creative and build something with our imaginations. Recently, two sets of K’NEX came in the mail. My kids were very excited to get building. We hadn’t ever played with K.NEX before so it was exciting to learn about this new toy.

The excitement lasted about 5 minutes when we realized that K’NEX were NOTHING like Legos and this was actually going to be very difficult. For Legos you build from the bottom up. With K’NEX you build from the outside in. It is a completely different way of thinking and playing and definitely took some getting used to.

Cosmic-Cruiser-KNEX

 

First up we got out the Cosmic Quest set and decided to start with the Cosmic Cruiser. We thought surely the two of us could get this built. After looking at the directions and realizing we needed to take a moment to get acquainted with K’NEX we looked at the directions, looked at the pieces and slowly began. It did take us an hour to build the car but when we were done we felt a huge sense of accomplishment. I got frustrated and walked away so my 8-year-old daughter steadily worked on it. Every once in a while she would ask for help, but for the most part she worked and tinkered until she figured it out. I was so proud of her dedication! We had a little fun with the car later in the day, check it out:

 

I have been very impressed with how sturdy the car is. Our Lego cars are destroyed within minutes of being made. I have had to reattached parts to the car only once!! This is huge for me! It made me an instant K’NEX lover as soon as I realized I wouldn’t be rebuilding the car all day long. The Cosmic Quest set comes with 5 different ideas of things to make all relating in a spacey way. Make sure you have a zip top bag on hand so you can keep track of the extra pieces. Not all of the ideas require all of the pieces.

Next up was Plants VS Zombie time. My kids LOVE this game so they were very excited to get the set put together and start the fight!

KNEX-Plants-VS-Zombies

First of all it is set up like a Western theme. The Zombies are wearing Cowboy hats and walking amongst cacti. The set comes with 3 zombies and one pea shooting plant. You can purchase extra zombies and plants separately. This set is so much fun because of all the moving parts! On the edges of the set are  targets that spin when they are hit. In the middle is a rig where two zombies stand. If you hit them a certain way that will also spin. You can build a little pea holder for all of your peas, that is so nice because they can get lost easily! This set really encourages pretend play. My kids have had fun making up story after story of why the zombies are attacking and why they are dressed as cowboys. It’s really fun to listen in on their game. We also received some extra plants so each of my kids can be shooting at the same time. We also got plenty of peas for them to shoot. Check out this fun video we made of this set (and yes, I’m the sharp shooter in the film!)

Doesn’t that look fun! There are actually several different Plants Vs Zombies set you can purchase, or you can head over to the K’Nex Facebook page and enter to win the entire Plants Vs Zombies product line. This giveaway runs until June 11 so hurry, you can enter daily!

We have become true fans of K’NEX. There are a couple birthdays coming up in our house and some new sets are definitely on my shopping list! Do you own any K’NEX? What are your favorite sets?

Giveaway Time!

Enter to win a Cosmic Quest set from K’NEX! This giveaway is open to US residents ages 18+. This giveaway will run from June 9 – 16. Winner will be emailed and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen!

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Comments

  1. Beth Ardent says

    I haven’t played with K’nex in years!! I bet the grandbabies would love these!!

  2. Mary Williams says

    I played with them when i was younger, i’m excited for my son to have the chance to play with them now.

  3. Charity Cram says

    Yes, a long time ago. I like that they are toys that let kids be creative =)

  4. stephanie says

    I have never played with them but my granddaughter is really into thought provoking toys.

  8. Sarah A. says

    We have a set of K’Nex here, and my boys LOVE them! They are so fun, and I love how limitless the creations are!

  9. Jennifer says

    absolutely! i love that they build fine motor skills, hand eye coordination, and spacial skills but they’re wicked fun too!

  13. Kelly D says

    I have not, but my son built a K’Nex plane. I always like when he takes time away from the computer to build things.

  16. Nicole Vosburgh says

    Yes, I played with them when I was young. I love how my son can be creative and make just about anything with them.

  21. alena svetelska says

    I haven’t played with K’nex in many years.But my son and my daughter would love too.

  22. Kathy Luman says

    Yes I have played with them along with my grand kids.. I think its great you can make different things with them and children can use their imagination with them.

  23. Michelle Weaver says

    I played with them when I was a kid. I like that they allow for kids to use their imagination. They can build what they see or build their own contraption.

  25. Bobbie Smith says

    I haven’t played with K’Nex before, but I would love to win this so I could with my grandchildren. I like that it lets them use their imaginations…that’s what kids need more of these days

  26. jennifer cervantes says

    I played with them when my they first camne out, i love the way you can make so many different things out of them!

  28. Leigh Anne Borders says

    I have played with them with my boys. What I love about them is that they allow for creativity.

  30. Candace Byars says

    I typically play with K’Nex with my oldest son. These allow him to be creative in more ways than legos. He can manipulate the K’Nex to make objects without needing an obscene amount to attempt to make what he wants. Legos are nice, but they do not allow for the full creative experience K’Nex do.

  31. Cintia Scanlan says

    I have played with K’nex and I love that they are easy to connect. They make it easy to be creative and have good time.

  32. Laura J says

    We are just getting into this stage…so we have not tried them yet! They look so fun…and I love how they can be so creative with them!

  36. Paula Michele Hafner says

    I’ve helped my son build with them. He loves them. I like how they spark his imagination.

  37. Natalie Brown says

    Hello! I haven’t played with K’Nex but my son did when he was young. Now my grandson is almost old enough to start building things with K’Nex. Thank-you for this fun giveaway!

  39. Jill Myrick says

    Yes, I actually have with my son. I love that KNex builds creativity and can be configured in so many ways that they never get boring for him.

    jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com

  40. Stefanie Foote says

    Yes, the kids play them all the time at their Nana’s house…would love to have a set at my own house for my boys.

  44. Stephanie Galbraith says

    I have played with them. I like that you can be as creative as you want to with them.

  45. Jennifer says

    No, I have not played with them, but they look like a great toy to help with fine motor skills.

  52. Leslie L Stanziani says

    We have never played with Knex in my house but my 4 kids have been asking for a few sets for a while.I love that you can let your imagine run wild when building with these.

  56. Marlene Rose says

    I sometimes play with the K-nex that I have bought for my grandkids, that I keep at my house for them when they come over. I really enjoy how they hook together.

  58. Candie L says

    My kids have several sets and they enjoy making lots of different stuff with them.Thank you

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