Disclaimer: We were sent these Kid K’Nex Rockin’ Robots and Oodles of Pals sets to review free of charge, but words and pictures are mine. This post contains affiliate links, see more information here.
K’Nex is a construction system which has been around since the early 90s. Made of rods and connectors which click together, it’s a classic STEM toy which encourages children to create 3D models and use their imaginations to engineer working systems.
K’Nex is now owned by Basic Fun Toys.
What is Kid K’Nex?
Kid K’Nex kits are made for younger children aged 3 and over; they contain larger, softer, colourful plastic pieces which are easy to slot together.
We received the Oodles of Pals Kid K’Nex kit to review, which has 116 pieces; a mixture of rods, connectors and accessories including eyes, shoes, wheels and horns, which you can use to make 60 different ‘pals’.
We were also sent the smaller Rockin’ Robots kit which contains 50 pieces – again a mixture of rods, connectors and accessories – which you can use to create 20 different robots.
Of course the pieces from different Kid K’Nex kits are all compatible and can be combined and used together to create anything your imagination can concoct!
Oodles of Pals Kid K’Nex set
As mentioned this is a large, 116 kit containing various sized rods and connectors, wheels and accessories like diggers, feet, eyes and horns, all in bright colours, which slot together easily to make any number of different creations.
The different lengths of rod are all colour coded so that you can easily find the right piece. There are even a pair of long, bendy connectors.
The rods slot into the connectors along the edges and at right angles so that you can easily create 3D designs that can stand by themselves or be pushed along on wheels.
The Oodles of Pals Kid K’nex kit comes with a double-sided instruction sheet and box covered with 60 ideas for creations including animals, robots and machines.
The 116-piece kit has an RRP of £39.99 and is for children aged 3 and up.
Rockin’ Robots Kid K’Nex set
The Rockin’ Robots set is a smaller kit with 50 pieces including rods, connectors, eyes and robot pieces. It comes with 20 building ideas to create fun little robots!
It has an RRP of £19.99 and is recommended for children aged three and over.
It is very similar to the larger kit with the addition of a few ‘robot’ pieces.
What did we think of Kid K’Nex kits?
Both of my children (ages 5 and 6) enjoyed playing with the Kid K’Nex. They played quietly for several hours so for that alone Kid K’Nex get a positive review from me!
It was interesting to note that they played with it in different ways.
My youngest enjoyed making the robots and pals suggested on the pictures, then taking them apart to make a new one, while my oldest constructed her own designs using string to make working models.
Together the kids have had fun making their own creatures, and even vehicles for their soft toys!
I think that these would make a great gift for a creative young child and I am really impressed with how much they can make. The kits pack away back into the boxes or could be bagged to take up less room in storage.
It’s worth noting that the pieces are also less painful to stand on than some classic construction kits.
What age is Kid K’Nex aimed at?
The kits are aimed at children aged three and up, although I imagine that young children of 3-4 years old will probably need help to follow the instructions.
Children of maybe 4-5 years old will probably be able to do this on their own by looking at the pictures and working out which pieces are needed and how they fit together.
Older children will, like my oldest, enjoy making their own creations from the kit. This gives the toy a bit of longevity before they move on to the older K’Nex kits, which are intended for children aged 7, 8 or 9 and up depending on the complexity of the kit.
How much and where to buy
The Kid K’Nex kits have RRPs between £19.99 and £39.99. Kits can be bought from toy shops including Smyths and Argos, and online from Amazon using the links below.
