Thames & Kosmos - Heck Of A Holiday Review and Giveaway

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Logan and Adam like to build and construct.  The boys are alsways so proud of the things they construct when assembling from a kit.  I like that  it gives them focus and helps teach them patience.   Thames & Kosmos is a company that offers technology and science kits for children of all ages.  Being able to try one of their kits was exciting for me and the boys.

The Remote Control Machines construction kit includes 182 building pieces and assembly instruction for ten different vehicles.  With it, you are able to build motorized vehicles and control them with a wireless remote control unit.  A unique six button infared remote allows you to control three different motors simultaneously, moving each of them forward or in reverse, with touch sensors.  With the three motors, you can combine them to make complex vehicles or use them separately for a more basic vehicle.  The kit comes with three motors, remote control unit, battery holder, and building blocks.  The 48-page color instruction book gives illustrated step-by-step instructions.  Some of the creations that can be assembled are a car, a crane, a bulldozer, and more. 

The Remote Control Machines kit became somewhat of a family project for us.  Me or my husband would sit down with and supervise the boys while they worked on it, to help guide them and give direction.  There are several small pieces so we first started out by sorting them and putting them in a Ziploc bag and labeling them.  From there, Logan and Adam decided which vehicle they wanted to create first.  The illustrated instructions were helpful in showing where each piece needed to go.  Watching the determination and focus on the kids' faces as they worked towards a completed goal was uplifting.  Building the projects with my husband, an automotive technician, gave him an opportunity to talk about each piece and how they fit into the equation.  For example, he told the boys what sprockets, axles, and chain units were when it came time to put them together.  It took longest to create the first piece, a crane, because we had to figure it all out.  The second, a car, was easier because we had already learned from our first mistakes. 

This construction set does take patience and some skill, but the end result is worth it.  Once the vehicles were constructed, the boys were able to control them by remote.  By using the touch pad, they were able to lower or lift the arm of the crane and it swiveled around.  The boys were amazed at their finished creations and what they could do with them.  It's not just a kit; it's something that one can build with from their own hands and be able to use. 

I recommend that you keep a close eye on the pieces when building, as they are somewhat small and could easily get lost. I also recommend that the age guidelines be followed on theconstruction set due to the

small pieces and involvement needed to construct the machines.  So far, Logan and Adam have only constructed the crane and car.  They are eager to keep making vehicles with the kit and play with them as well.

Win It!

One person will win a Remote Control Machines kit.