XP: K'nex for a 5 year old?

sunnydays99 · August 2014

I also posted on school aged kids but this board gets more traffic :-)

We have a friend bday party coming up and I was thinking of getting him a k'nex set. I'm not sure if it's age appropriate for a 5 year old though. Most of the ones I'm coming across are labelled as 7+ or the tinker toy sets that are 3+. Would the 7+ ones be way too hard for him? He's the oldest of 4 kids so his parents are crazy busy and I want him to be able to do these independently. Any other recommendations for similar toys would be great!!

sunnydays99 · August 2014

Thanks CJ! The trio blocks look cool...but are they not made anymore? I'm only seeing them on amazon selling for $100-$200!! I can't even find them on fisher price's website even though that's the first google result.

kcisthebombdotcom · August 2014

My ds is obsessed with these and can do them independently-- https://www.walmart.com/ip/LEGO-Juniors-Construction-Building-Set/31196168

divinemsbee · August 2014

Can you ask the parents if he's already into k'nex/legos or stuff like that? My godson is just about to turn 6, but he loooooves legos, so we don't even really pay attention to the age limits on them anymore. He has some that are ages 10+, and he can do them because it's what he likes to do. So if it's something he already likes and knows how to do, I don't feel like the difference between a 5 year old that already puts things together and an age 7+ set is too much. But that's just my personal experience with a boy who really loves legos and k'nex sort of things.

Andrewsgal · August 2014

kcisthebombdotcom said:
My ds is obsessed with these and can do them independently--
https://www.walmart.com/ip/LEGO-Juniors-Construction-Building-Set/31196168

I wouldn't do these for a 5 year old DS was way past these at 5. Any small regular lego set would be good at 5.

sunnydays99 · August 2014

I do know that he likes building stuff but I'll ask what level he's at.

DS (who's basically the same age) started getting really into Lego a few months ago but struggled with the smaller pieces. I bought some of the Lego junior sets but those were too easy and boring for him. He's since gotten the regular lego mastered :-)

sunnydays99 · August 2014

I should also add that I'm not opposed to a regular lego set I was just hoping to get something a bit more unique. If that makes any sense!

sunnydays99 · August 2014

Our lego jr pieces are mixed in with regular lego too, and he definitely uses the pieces when just playing with Lego and making his own creations. However if he had to choose between buying a jr set or a regular set he would choose the regular one.

sunnydays99 · August 2014

Yeah I shouldn't have said bored really! Once he builds the set though he's not interested in rebuilding it over and over like he will with other sets. The pieces just end up mixed into the bin. He asks to keep some other sets separate bc he likes to keep the pieces together to rebuild them. I'm probably just not explaining myself well!

Andrewsgal · August 2014

DS liked to put his sets together then put then together again the jr ones are just too easy and bore him. He will play with them but the sets are easier to put together and he prefers regular lego sets.

kcisthebombdotcom · August 2014

Andrewsgal said:

My ds is obsessed with these and can do them independently-- https://www.walmart.com/ip/LEGO-Juniors-Construction-Building-Set/31196168
I wouldn't do these for a 5 year old DS was way past these at 5. Any small regular lego set would be good at 5.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say many brand new 5 year olds are not fully assembling/disassembling lego sets marketed for the 6-12 range. Like cj and steeler fans kiddos mine still needs assistance with the bigger sets so if op is looking for something for a new five year old to do solo a bigger set may not be it. At worst it's a bit under his age range and he just has more Legos to add to his collection. Mine mostly uses Legos for his own creations in pretend play anyway and that seems to be a common trend with his peers.

Andrewsgal · August 2014

Mine rocks at pretend play in fact we are in a minecraft stage right now and everything you can imagine in minecraft is built out of Legos although we own zero minecraft sets. I would rather have sets that are too hard and he needs some help than too easy that he gets through with them in like five minutes but that's just my preference. I am a fan of toys kids can grow into not out of. I also don't mind playing with and helping DS with lego sets if he needs it. I enjoy that time with him. He has plenty of independent creative play time.

superToots · August 2014

Another vote for legos. My 3 1/2 is almost a pro. Or playmobil is great too.

kcisthebombdotcom · August 2014

Andrewsgal said:

Mine rocks at pretend play in fact we are in a minecraft stage right now and everything you can imagine in minecraft is built out of Legos although we own zero minecraft sets. I would rather have sets that are too hard and he needs some help than too easy that he gets through with them in like five minutes but that's just my preference. I am a fan of toys kids can grow into not out of. I also don't mind playing with and helping DS with lego sets if he needs it. I enjoy that time with him. He has plenty of independent creative play time.

I agree with your logic but op is looking for a toy the child can do independently. While it's nice to get toys your child can grow into, having some at age level are nice too.

Want a personalized experience?

XP: K'nex for a 5 year old?

Re: XP: K'nex for a 5 year old?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards