Immerse Your Kids in an Open-Ended Tinkering Experience
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This post was created in partnership with Tinkering Labs. I was not financially compensated for this post but did receive a sample for review purposes. As always, all opinions are entirely my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support me! #STEM #TinkeringForAll
From the time kids start crawling, their world is quickly bounded by rules. And, don't get me wrong rules are great. I love rules, but sometimes kids need the opportunity to just create.
Full-fledged, no rules — just using their imaginations to make something amazing kind of creating. I mean — that's what inventors do, right? They take a general idea and turn it into something new and innovated.
I believe every child deserve that opportunity.
Plus, we all know they would love throwing the rule book out the window and now they have the chance with Tinkering Labs.
A Little About Tinkering Labs
After having such great success with tinkering schools and camps, Matt Brocchini decided to bring the love of tinkering to our homes and schools. He created a really neat Robotics STEM Kit called Electric Motors Catalyst.
In this DIY kit, you are given 50+ parts, two electric motors, wood wheels & connectors, and hardware so you can create your very own fun robotic creations.
And, the best part?
There are no instructions!
After all, there's no right way to tinker. However, they do give some helpful techniques and examples to get you started.
Challenge Cards
Instead of giving you a rule book, this STEM kit gives you a set of 10 challenge cards. Each card gives you an idea of something to make like ‘Build a machine that draws curvy lines.' or ‘Create a vehicle with a suspension system'.
And, literally, that's all the cards have on them. It's totally up to your child to use their minds and create these inventions however they see fit.
But, to help you out, the resource book gives you three examples so you can see how all the pieces go together.
Here are two of the example:
Challenge #3 Build a Machine that Draws Curvy Lines
In Challenge 3, the goal was to build something that draws curvy lines and that's just what we built. The resource example gives you basic instructions of what you will need and how to make it.
The guide does not have a lot of detail and that is on purpose. They want you to actually think and in the process come up with your own unique take on this project.
It was fun trying to figure out how to place the marker just right so it would actually draw a circle. And, that's half the fun — figuring things out, right?
Challenge #10 Create a Vehicle with a Suspension System
My son practically made this car all by himself! I just gave him the example book and he went to town.
I'm so glad he has something a little more ‘grown-up' to tinker with now.
Even the cats were really intrigued by this vehicle creation. They were chasing it everywhere and we totally had a blast watching them.
This invention even accidentally flew down the stairs and the only part that came undone was the wires. It was easily fixed and back running in a flash.
We love that this Electric Motors Catalyst kit gives kids endless hours of thinking and fun. Once you are done making something, just take it apart and create something brand new. Nothing is better than that especially from a parent's perspective!
Shop Tinkering Labs on Amazon today! Happy tinkering guys!!
Krystle Cook – the creator of Home Jobs by MOM – put her psychology degree on a shelf and dived into a pile of diapers and dishes instead. She is a wife and mother to two rambunctious boys, sweating it out in her Texas hometown. She loves cooking, DIY home projects, and family fun activities.
I’ve never been into tinkering myself but I know some children are. I think it’s great for developing creativity and imagination and I would definitely buy these!
This kit is awesome, tinkering with things is so important for their learning experience! I definitely think that free thinking and doing things hands on is the best way to learn.
Tinkering Labs would be a great intro for your kiddos! Granted they may be a little young but they’d probably enjoy seeing someone build them and then use them.
I think this great, especially for kids that need to focus more–if they are interested in it. My son had ADHD, as does my grandson, and something like this would have been perfect for them.
I love STEM activities. With 3 engineers in our family, we love seeing these types of activities for girls and boys in the family! My girls would be super interested in these! I love to tinker and work with my hands as often as I can. I am so busy with 3 little ones, I do not get to work on my hobbies and fun activities as much as I like unless it involves them. This would be great for us as a family.
They don’t have enough free thinking hands on projects in schools these days. This sounds like some great activity time to get the engineering process in gear!
I love getting stem toys for my grandchildren. What a great and fun way for our children to learn. My grandson would love this. Thank you so much for sharing
I love this kind of stuff; ever since I was young, I enjoyed making robots and doing science experiments. I’m bookmarking this page for when my nephews visit; we could do this together.
I think STEM is very important but it is not for everyone. As a child I loved to tinker. I was always taking things apart and putting them back together again.
I think this is a great idea!! They get to create their own machines from a kit instead of having to make everything like everyone else. Thinking outside the box.
I personally am not a tinkerer. But I’ve always encouraged my children to participate in a variety of interests & activities. STEM is so important for our young people…and I’m glad to know that my daughter is now a budding-architect because of the STEM classes she took in her earlier school experience.
The tangible element of tinkering brings a different and necessary perspective of STEM. Troubleshooting a computer or coding, while extremely valuable in the toolbox for learning, doesn’t engage a learner through this psychical avenue.
STEM is so important for kids today………. our local schools have classes and clubs for it and WVU offers special classes in the summer for middle school kids
Very cool! It’s actually a great idea! I think it’s an awesome gift choice, especially for kids, as it helps their brains develop and improves things such as memory and critical thinking.
I really like to focus on STEM, but I add an “A” to it and call it STEAM. The “A” is for art. I think art should be added. It reaches yet another spot in the human brain, for development.
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hours of thinking and fun, great idea.
Yep, can’t go wrong with tinkering!
This kit looks very fun. Thanks for sharing!
It really is – kids love Tinkering Labs!
I’ve never been into tinkering myself but I know some children are. I think it’s great for developing creativity and imagination and I would definitely buy these!
Yes, so great for getting kids to actually think and create!
This does sound really great for children. Me myself I have never been a tinkerer but my granddaughter would love this.
You should totally get your granddaughter Tinkering Labs for Christmas. She’ll love it!
This kit is awesome, tinkering with things is so important for their learning experience! I definitely think that free thinking and doing things hands on is the best way to learn.
I completely agree with you – sometimes we have to let go of structure and just be free to create!
STEM is a great idea for kids! I’ve never tinkered, but it looks really cool!
STEM is awesome and so is Tinkering Labs!
I would have loved something like this when I was growing up. It was only 10 years later that I got into electronics.
Yes, that happens to a lot of us – our tastes change as we age.
I’m a preschool teacher and love STEM experiences. It’s important to give children the opportunity to tinker and explore open-ended materials.
Tinkering Labs would be a great intro for your kiddos! Granted they may be a little young but they’d probably enjoy seeing someone build them and then use them.
Awesome!
i really love STEM and STEAM activities. tinkering is learning!
I love that – tinkering IS learning!
This Robotics STEM Kit is a super gift for all children. Terrific for imagination and I do like to tinker, it would be fun for me too.
You should totally try Tinkering Labs then!
I love kits like this! I do have to say that I like STEAM better than STEM, which includes art.
I like the addition of art too!
I think this great, especially for kids that need to focus more–if they are interested in it. My son had ADHD, as does my grandson, and something like this would have been perfect for them.
Yeah, it is always great to get kids to do activities in which they actually like. They stay way more engaged that way.
I love STEM activities. With 3 engineers in our family, we love seeing these types of activities for girls and boys in the family! My girls would be super interested in these! I love to tinker and work with my hands as often as I can. I am so busy with 3 little ones, I do not get to work on my hobbies and fun activities as much as I like unless it involves them. This would be great for us as a family.
Wow – three engineers. That’s awesome! Yes, Tinkering Labs would be a great activity for your family especially.
They don’t have enough free thinking hands on projects in schools these days. This sounds like some great activity time to get the engineering process in gear!
I agree – more free-thinking is needed for our kiddos!
I love getting stem toys for my grandchildren. What a great and fun way for our children to learn. My grandson would love this. Thank you so much for sharing
Tinkering Labs would be a great Christmas present for your grandchildren!
I love this kind of stuff; ever since I was young, I enjoyed making robots and doing science experiments. I’m bookmarking this page for when my nephews visit; we could do this together.
Your nephews would totally love Tinkering Labs!
My grandsons love to build robots and circuit boards.
What do they use to build their robots? Or is it just from scratch?
Wow
I think STEM is very important but it is not for everyone. As a child I loved to tinker. I was always taking things apart and putting them back together again.
That’s true – not everyone is into STEM stuff but when they are Tinkering Labs is a great choice!
I think that STEM is important to the future of our society. Yes, I am a tinkerer. Not the best one, but I do try every now and then.
What do you like to tinker with?
I like Stem for helping teaching my kids and hands on learning. I also like they learn problem solving with it.
So true – the benefits of STEM are awesome!
I think this is a great idea!! They get to create their own machines from a kit instead of having to make everything like everyone else. Thinking outside the box.
Mishelle G
Thinking outside the box is a great skill to have, I think.
I personally am not a tinkerer. But I’ve always encouraged my children to participate in a variety of interests & activities. STEM is so important for our young people…and I’m glad to know that my daughter is now a budding-architect because of the STEM classes she took in her earlier school experience.
Congrats to your daughter! She must also be a great artist 🙂
Thanks! That’s what makes a great architect…being able to combine artistic ability with engineering concepts. She’s got both…lucky her!
So awesome!
these is great experience/ activity for your kids to at home in there free time
Yes, Tinkering Labs is a great activity for kids to do at home when they are bored
I like to work on these with my kids.I believe all of the basic skills combined help understand this and make it fun.
Do you have a favorite kit?
You know, I really love this concept. This holds a child’s interest and I believe you retain more when you figure it out yourself.
I think that’s true too – if you figure it out, it’s def getting stored for way longer than if someone just said it to you.
I think that’s true too – if you figure it out, it’s def getting stored for way longer than if someone just said it to you.
Thinking is good! Total fan here LOL
kids to be creative. Who knows maybe they’ll invent something that the world would find useful one day.
True, you never know what they may create especially if they stick with it.
The tangible element of tinkering brings a different and necessary perspective of STEM. Troubleshooting a computer or coding, while extremely valuable in the toolbox for learning, doesn’t engage a learner through this psychical avenue.
That’s true – Tinkering Labs is def a different learning experience.
I think STEM is a great idea, especially for women. I’m a software engineer by trade, so I do like to tinker. Thanks for the giveaway!
STEM is great for anyone who leans towards those fields!
Stem toys are amazing. They get kids to think outside the box and learn how things work.
Learning how things work is so important for kids!
I built robotics in summer camp a lot, these kits are great for kids, educational fun.. at home!
Sounds like you had great summers as a kid!
I really don’t know what I think about stem. Tinkering is great for all ages. Kids could really get into it
Kids love Tinkering Labs!
This is a fantastic activity for kids. I would love to tinker with my godson.
Your godson would love Tinkering Labs!
STEM is so important for kids today………. our local schools have classes and clubs for it and WVU offers special classes in the summer for middle school kids
Our schools have after school STEM classes too. I’m glad they have those options.
I would have enjoyed something like this as a kid. I like to be challenged to this day.
Being challenged can def be fun!
I am a big STEM fan…. WVU has summer sessions/classes for STEM for middle school kids. A lot of schools have the robotic clubs.
I love that schools offer STEM activities these days!
Tinkering is really interesting! I would love to try a kit like this with my nephews!
Your nephews would love this kit!
Very cool! It’s actually a great idea! I think it’s an awesome gift choice, especially for kids, as it helps their brains develop and improves things such as memory and critical thinking.
Tinkering Labs does make a great gift that keeps on giving!
I think these are awesome, kids would love to do them and play with them. This would be fun and learning for them. I do sometimes love to tinker
What do you like to tinker with?
I really like to focus on STEM, but I add an “A” to it and call it STEAM. The “A” is for art. I think art should be added. It reaches yet another spot in the human brain, for development.
STEAM is great too, I think!
I wish I would have it and I would like to have this for my family and for my friends,
It’s a great activity for kids!
This really inspires creativity! I’m not particularly science / engineering minded but even I think this would be fun. Great toy!
Inspiring creativity is important for kids, I think.
Creativeness is an important skill to teach kids. They may become one of the great problem solvers.
Yes, it’s great for kids to be creative. Who knows maybe they’ll invent something that the world would find useful one day.
this would help out the kids. learning new skills are great