My two girls are pretty much the girliest girls out there. We have a very barbie-pink-ruffley-tutu intensive household. But I really have a desire to encourage my girls to break away from that and explore other play options besides jewelry making, tea parties and playing with dolls. When they were little, we bought them things like trucks (which they turned into doll cradles) and then we gave up. But now they are getting older and the toy options are becoming much more fun!
So when two tubs of K'NEX arrived on my doorstep last week, there were little-girl-squeals of joy. They grabbed the tubs, ran up to their room and disappeared for two whole hours.When I checked on them, I discovered they had combined all of our K'NEX to make a huge tower that reached taller than their bunkbeds. We already had this 400 piece tub
I love it!! I was so proud of them for thinking big and being so creative! I love that K'NEX have become one of my girls favorite toys to play with. I have spoken before on this site about how much I dislike toys that don't allow for kids to use their imaginations. I perfer toys that allow them to create something and stretch beyond the obvious to really use their imaginations. Plus, K'NEX are so great for building fine motor develoment and teaching them to plan, focus and be creative.
If your kids love K'NEX, they might be interested to know that K’NEX is inviting kids to design a creative, original model made entirely from K’NEX parts. Three imaginative children – one from each of the three age groups: 5 to 6-year-olds; 7 to 8-year-olds; and, 9 to 12-year-olds - will each win a $10,000 savings bond for college. The models made entirely of K’NEX pieces are judged on creativity, uniqueness and detail.
In addition to $10,000 for college, the three grand prize winners will also receive a trip for three to K'NEX headquarters near Philadelphia, PA for the K’NEXpert Award Ceremony, where they can meet each other and discover, through company designers and a factory tour, how K’NEX is made. Seven finalists will each receive $1,000 savings bonds and all ten winners will receive $250 worth of free K’NEX Building Sets, and their very own photo gallery page at www.knex.com.
The 2011 K’NEXpert Search will run through September 10, 2010. Children can enter by printing out the entry form available at http://www.knex.com/club/images/becoming/2011-KNEXpert-Search-Details-Rules.pdf and mailing it in.
The K’NEXpert Search is open to U.S. and Canadian residents and there is no purchase necessary. And - much to my engineer husband and his co-workers dismay - they do not have an adult age division. Maybe next year. For more information on K’NEX, the contest and previous winners, visit www.knex.com.
Melissa talks fashion at b*Stylish and family on her personal blog, Girlymama.
disclosure: i recieved two tubs of k'nex to facilitate this review. i was not compensated financially and, as always, all opinions are mine.
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