Learning Resources Wacky Wheels STEM Challenge, Engineering Toys, 15 Pieces, Ages 5+

I picked this up for my 5 and 8 year old boys. Right out of the box I noticed that all the pieces are well built and durable - this is not going to fall apart on you (or the kids). The set comes with 9 different challenges to complete that show off what the different pieces can do. The challenges are illustrated well with no reading required. My 8 year old had a blast following the 9 different challenges, while my 5 year old preferred to build his own sets and use some PVC piping to create paths and obstacles. I like that the set introduces very rudimentary physics such as force and angles. You could also use the scientific method with this (which way will the ball go? Make a hypothesis and test it...) and get creative as well! My only concern with the set is that there is only so much you can do with the pieces themselves, so my boys were tired of it after an hour and haven't touched it since. The set would probably be more interesting with additional challenges or by pairing it with additional STEM kits. I received this for free in return for my honest review.

I picked this up for my 5 and 8 year old boys. Right out of the box I noticed that all the pieces are well built and durable - this is not going to fall apart on you (or the kids). The set comes with 9 different challenges to complete that show off what the different pieces can do. The challenges are illustrated well with no reading required. My 8 year old had a blast following the 9 different challenges, while my 5 year old preferred to build his own sets and use some PVC piping to create paths and obstacles. I like that the set introduces very rudimentary physics such as force and angles. You could also use the scientific method with this (which way will the ball go? Make a hypothesis and test it...) and get creative as well! My only concern with the set is that there is only so much you can do with the pieces themselves, so my boys were tired of it after an hour and haven't touched it since. The set would probably be more interesting with additional challenges or by pairing it with additional STEM kits. I received this for free in return for my honest review.

The Wacky Wheels Stem Challenge set is great fun for a variety of ages. It's a fun twist on the Pendulonium set; in this case, you use a spinning wheel to propel the objects in each challenge. I would say this set is more challenging because finding the right speed to spin the wheel proved challenging for my 10 year old. The Pendulonium set seems more suited to beginners; this one feels like a step up. As an added bonus, I LOVE that the sets coordinate and that children are encouraged to combine sets for added challenges. That is something that my 10 year old has loved--combining sets. Also, I have included a photo here of one of the pages of the directions for Wacky Wheels because I wanted to show another great feature. I love how the instructions encourage your child to create their own challenges with objects from home--like the books featured in the photo. I received this toy as a part of an incentivized review program.

This was such a great way to introduce more STEM related products to my 4 year old. It was great to see how he was excited to build the ramp and keep trying when it was not working. It is challenging for him to think outside of the box. I would not think he would play this on a daily basis but bringing it out from the mom's hiding spot from time to time will keep him entertained.

The packaging is bright and colorful and easy to open. The pieces were separated making it easy for a child to follow the directions. The box is sturdy enough for storage after use and will last a long time if cared for correctly. The instructions are easy to follow and my nephew learned rather quickly that he could create his own design. In fact, he preferred to use his own creation and spent a lot of time making necessary adjustments to ensure his targets were correct. He enjoyed placing the stickers on the items. He did use the box/instructions as the guide. The quality and construction of the toy is very sturdy and not easily breakable. This is truly a toy I would recommend because the child will use skills to develop many different obstacles. We made a game out of it by counting how many times he was able to get the item through the circle. Again he made adjustments as necessary. Highly recommended, your child will experience hours of fun.