The provocateurs at F.A.T. Lab and Sy-Lab have created their “Free Universal Construction Kit“, a set of 80 adaptor bricks that allow popular construction toys to work together with custom-printed connectors for the first time. Lego, meet Tinkertoy. K’Nex, meet Lincoln Logs. This is nothing short of a construction toy revolution.
The *free* set of downloadable files allow people to print their own connectors (as they need them) or use them with a 3D printing services like Ponoko. This is so mindblowingly cool that it might just be the last excuse I (or any parent for that matter) needs to justify the purchase of a 3D printer. Since the connectors are for personal use, the set avoids patent infringement. They do a great job of walking folks through the legal implications.
This electronics kit requires no soldiering and is a perfect way to introduce kids to electronics. The components are designed to be snapped together with small magnets to make all kinds of contraptions and devices. The $129 starter kit includes a button, potentiometer, a pressure sensor, LED light, a vibration motor and more. Young inventors can easily create things just by snapping the components together. Its a great way to introduce kids to basic electronics. As the kids want to do more complicated circuits, they an snap together other littleBits.
Here’s a great little video they made to explain littleBits.
A couple of years ago, I was building stuff from paper towel and toilet paper tubes with my two kids, then 3 and 4. We assembled a bunch of random sculptures using tape, scissors, and lots of glue, then I had a light-bulb moment, “If only there was a way to easily connect these things.”
So playtime turned into a product brainstorming session with my kids, then 2 and 4. Over the following weeks, I couldn’t stop thinking about tubes. Everywhere I looked, I saw cardboard tubes that needed to be connected. I regularly pulled them out of “recycling” bins and trash cans with a view to giving them a new life as a cool new sculpture. At first, I thought an eco-friendly set of connectors would work. But tubes are tricky: they come in different diameters and thicknesses and injection molds aren’t inexpensive.
This is an awesome kit that I stumbled upon on Kickstarter. The bidding is closed to fund the project, but it looks like designer Rafael Atijas had no problem funding his project – got 437% of his funding goal and, from what I can tell, looks like he’s getting ready to ship out the first Loogs soon. This is a three string guitar made specifically for children – comes as a kit so that you build it with your kids – what a great way to let them see the fundamentals of how the instrument works.
He recommends an open A tuning at the outset, so pretty much everything sounds good, but you can also tune the three strings as a traditional guitar.
And his site says that the shop is “opening soon”. Sign meup Rafael. I think lots of people missed the kickstarter round, but think this is a very cool project and I’d love to get my hands on one!
I love this idea. Our all time favorite toy is a simple cardboard box. And this is a really ingenious way to make cars, trolley’s, houses on wheels with your cardboard boxes.
Of course, kids are going to want to get inside it and wheel each other around, but that’s just not going to work, is it? (via Gizmodo)
Portland-based artist Jason Greene makes toys and furniture out of old skateboards. These buses are very cool and he’s only charging $25 a piece (plus shipping) Only two are available as of this posting. So you gotta move fast! He also makes chairs, yo-yo’s and tops. This is one of those times when sifting through all the handmade tea cozies and doilies over at Etsy can pay off with something very cool for the kiddies.
I’m a big fan of covering pretty much anything with chalkboard paint. Naef’s Colorum are a set of wood cubes that come with a set of crayons to add to the fun. Would be fun to make instant picture puzzles and try to solve them.
You know what my knitting circle is missing? Awkward anatomy lessons. Why knit a boring old hat, scarf, or sweater, when you can knit a uterus! Well, follow the link for full plans to knit an “anatomically correct” uterus. You can hang it from the tree and imagine uterus fruit, as this picture so wonderfully demonstrates.
