ThinkPlay STEM Junior Xtra from Timberdoodle Review

Today I want to share with you the ThinkPlay STEM Junior Xtra set from Timberdoodle!  This set is geared for children ages 4-8 and F and G (ages 4 and 7) are simple loving it.

A close up of our tub.  I love that this durable tub holds everything and makes storage a breeze.  It's also labeled nicely which brings me joy.

 

Opening our set!

Our Spiral Bound Guide Books

I love that they lay flat and the laminated pages are sturdy.

A close up of the pieces.

 

You can see how the pieces connect above, you line them up and they kind of slide and lock together.

 

There are also special Xtra connectors.  These pieces are specially shaped (like t's and r's) and allow children to change the direction of their builds.  

 

This 400-piece set (squares, triangles, wheels and Xtra connectors) is extremely durable and I love that it comes with a plethora of project ideas within our guide books 🙂.  Our guide books have easy-to-follow photographs with step-by-steps on how to build each model.  The boys can easily follow the pictures.  As children progress through the book, the models increase in difficulty and shape.  The first creations lay flat while the later creations are 3-Dimensional.  The boys can play and build independently and they love showing me their creations as they complete them.  I also love seeing their "out of the box" own build ideas as well.

Some of the boys builds

 

Above you can see the boys following the picture to build their frog.

 

In some of the easier builds, the photographs are to scale with the blocks pieces.

The finished frog side-by-side with the build page.  It shows them which pieces they will need and the quantity as well.  As the builds get more complicated, the pages have more steps and photographs.

 

Basically, prior to their builds, kids will find the correct number, shape, and color of pieces that they will need.  The boys really appreciate that the pieces connect easily and stay together for sturdy structures; however, they also disconnect easily so builds can be taken apart and rebuilt or the pieces can be used for other constructions.

Above you can see the build steps for the flower, a more complicated structure.  These photos are not the same size as the actual build structure.

G with his flower!

I love this one, it truly looks like a vase or pot with a large flower.

 

 

Above you can see all the build ideas from just one of our guide books.  In this book kids are shown how to build a teddy, chair, swimmer, rocket, clown, lady, man, small plane, helicopter, butterfly, bird, sail boat, dinosaur, pig, bear cub, elephant, car driver, flower, soldier, plane, road roller, drummer, lion, turtle and spider.

 

 G loved building Teddy.

One of the many cars...

This set is great for fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, cognitive/creative thinking, problem solving, spatial skills, and so much more!  The possibilities of what they can build and create are truly endless.

 

 

The boys combined numerous builds to make this "crazy creation" as they call it.

A close-up of one side, I love the lion coming off the front and the wheels on the back - so fun!

ThinkPlay STEM Junior Xtra is part of Timberdoodle's PreK Curriculum Kit.  This set is a great hands-on resource to have in our homeschool and the younger boys are truly loving it!

 

Disclosure:  Huge shout out to Timberdoodle for selecting me as a Timberdoodle Blogger.  I received the ThinkPlay STEM Junior Xtra set in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own.