It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s—oh wait. It actually is a plane.
With Thames and Kosmos‘ Aircraft Engineer kit, kids can follow in the footsteps of the Wright brothers with an engineering adventure that’s sure to make their STEM skills soar.
Designed for kids ages 3 and up, this 73-piece science kit impressed me quite a bit. As I progressed through my regular motions of getting to know a  product, I slowly became aware of how multi-faceted the Aircraft Engineer set is. Like a jet preparing for a landing, let’s start from the top.
Housed in a durable storage case, the large, colorful plastic building pieces are easy for kids to handle. They even have a certain soft, smooth feel to them. Fine motor skills: check.
From the beginning, I assumed this kit was just like the rest—an assortment of multi-colored parts just waiting to be assembled into what they were always meant to be. And technically, that’s what this product is. Until you open the instructions and realize it’s so much more. We all know what happens when you assume…
Thames and Kosmos takes a different approach to the traditional construction instruction (try saying that five times fast) booklet by serving up a 24-page illustrated storybook that kids and parents can follow along with as they build their model aircrafts. Tongue twisters: check. Product originality: check.
The story follows two inquisitive siblings, Ty and Karlie Omega, who live in a small city fittingly called Makersville. With a writer for a dad and a mechanical engineer for a mom, these siblings are creative thinkers that will inspire and intrigue any child. Ty loves figuring out why things work the way they do and Karlie loves building things. They eat, sleep, and breathe engineering, and can probably build a teleportation device in a fraction of the time it takes me to locate the right sized screwdriver to use.
As kids follow the story, they’ll help Ty and Karlie build various flying machines in an effort to help the Omega family find their way. By the end of the tale, they’ll have built 10 different vehicles using their pieces, including a passenger jet, a helicopter, a space shuttle, a hang glider, and a supersonic jet. Genius kids: check. Play value and versatility: check.
Keep in mind that kids will have to deconstruct each model in order to move onto the next one. I don’t necessarily see that as a downside, since it will allow kids to enjoy individual playtime with each model before continuing on to the next. It encourages them to be patient and appreciate the process of constructing, deconstructing, and building something better. It’s also important to note that some of the dowel pieces, which fit into the holes in the rods, are a tight squeeze for younger kids to assemble on their own. Nothing a little adult supervision can’t handle.
Combined with the storybook, this kit offers kids the opportunity to channel their inner engineer, laying down a strong foundation of STEM skills. The kit even promotes the use of fine motor, visual-spatial, and concept development skills. It’s educational fun that kids will love and parents will appreciate.
