Thames & KosmosKids First Boat Engineer STEM Experiment Kit for Young Learners, Build 10 Non-Motorized Models, Play & Learn with Storybook Manual, Parents’ Choice Gold Award Winner

This is a great toy for my almost 4 year old. However, it's quite annoying that (for the price) it doesn't have enough components to add creative touches to a more complex boat or make 2 boats at the same time. All that would be required are a few extra dowels and interlocking pieces, and an additional pair of eyeballs to be included with the kit. Unless T & K sells a bag of extra parts for this line, the only way to solve this problem is to buy a whole additional set, which I am opposed to doing. I docked a star because of this.

My 4 year old loves this kit! Each night we build a new boat and test it out during tubby time. He likes using his Lego Duplo figures with the boats and will play until the water turns cold.

5 year old loves to figure things out, he can do this and Not get frustrated, and loves the story with it.

A good basic kit to build a boat, kind of like large duplo blocks. What was missing for me was something that would facilitate conversation about boat design or different "experiments" to do with the boats once built. Overall, perfectly functional and a good basic set of blocks.

For what it is, it's a pretty good kit. I do wish it would have been taken one step further.You're using the lego style blocks to build the boats in the story. It gives you instructions, just like lego. But then according to the story, you need a different boart. It gives you different instructions. You take apart the old and build it again. It trys to teach you about different kinds of boats through this process.But it only takes things to a certain level. The hydroplane boat doesn't even have a sponsons (the part that goes in the water when hydroplaning). The river boat has two sideways propellers to show the paddles. It's ok, but I don't think it gives the kids a real idea of how a real one works. The book says they need a swamp boat because paddling through the swamp would be tough, but they don't explain why it's tough or why you would want a swamp boat instead of a speedboat.We supplemented with some youtube videos and we got a lot more out of it. With imagination, the boats all make sense for what they are. But if your kid(s) hasn't seen these boats in real life before they have no frame of reference nor do they know what makes each boat different or why you need different boats. The book doesn't do a good job of explaining why we really need different boats.I understand that three year olds don't need elaborate backstories, but I think you can tell them a little more than what's here. I also think six year olds need more than what's here. I think what's here can be good, but I wish a kit like this gave you everything and that you didn't have to go searching for more material to round it out.

First, the reviews can be confusing as to which product is being reviewed so to be upfront I am reviewing the Boat Engineer Science Kit. I didn't really know what to expect, I just knew my 3 and 6 year old boys love playing in the tub and I thought maybe this would keep them occupied. It's a very cool, interesting set. First, we read through the book and built various boats. Once the boys were good with that we took it in the tub and built boats there. Much like large Duplo blocks. The packaging was also larger than I anticipated so it does have a certain wow factor when you open it.My six year old needed no help making the boats. My three year old needed much more help following the instructions (although he made his own versions just fine).The only reason I'm deducting a star is that while it's a great toy, the Amazon price of almost $50 is more than I'd be willing to spend. Otherwise, highly recommend.

This set is rather cute and you can actually make 1 or 2 boats the float! Instructions are included to make about 10 different boats, and the pieces go together rather easily. Some parts required an adult to help with (a couple of the pieces were hard to snap together), but my daughter is only 5. It may not be an issue for older children.You can make 2 boats that actually float (we tested this in a pool), or one large boat. She put her My Little Ponies on the boats and it inspired all kinds of creative play.It comes in a container that snaps closed easily and is really nice for transportation. Really cute, and you can arrange the pieces however you like. Good for bath time or if you have a pool. Recommended!

This is a great engineer set. My 6 year old can "engineer" different boats on his own using the instruction manual, without my help, and then make the boats float on their own in the bathtub or other body of water. He's completely independent with it, and really likes making the different boat structures by himself. He has played with this set longer than duplo sets, and he's not really ready for legos. He particularly likes it because he's learning to use the pieces in different ways, but has guided instruction, which he prefers. He tends to get intimidated by building toys that don't have instructions that are geared towards his developmental stage.This is an excellent toy, and I definitely recommend.

A gift for my nephew. He loves to build.