Reviewer:
not a roboticist
from mountain view, ca, usa
This is a great kit. My son was not quite three when we went to MakerFaire and put together one of these kits at Anne & Chris's booth. Nothing in the assembly was too hard for us parents but a good number of things were still too hard for him, which made for a perfect collaborative project that held his attention from start to finish. He spent a long time with the SpinBot there, and still pulls it down from the shelf and takes it for a spin. I think putting it together really helped him understand that robots aren't just Bender-style people in metal suits, but things that people make to do things - he really gets it now when the Google self-driving cars drive by and we refer to them as the "robot cars."
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
SpinBot
December 13, 2012
Reviewer:
from San Ramon, CA
My daughters, (7 & 9), attended a party where there were a mix of boys and girls ranging from 6 to 11 years old. The party theme revolved around the building of the SpinBot. I wasn't sure if they were going to be successful or not, but when I arrived to pick them up, they were super excited about what they had accomplished. The SpinBots were challenging enough to make it exciting and educational, but easy enough for the children to be successful. They were so proud of their finished product. Unlike other "toys" around the house, they treat their SpinBots like a treasure and use them constantly. The SpinBot is now my "go to" gift!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Great toy!
December 3, 2012
Reviewer:
Lizan Gilbert
from Austin, TX United States
I have been looking for a toy that introduces my 7yr old son and 10yr old daughter to robotics in a hands-on, creative, engaging way that isn't limited to 'remote controlled cars and helicopters'. This is it! My son loved the challenge of putting it together - his only issue being his excitement at wanting to get it done so hurrying through steps, and my daughter was excited about using it as a drawing tool. Both were very happy - that is until they had to share. I really appreciated the simplicity of the parts but the creativity in the way it went together. As I said, my son was jumping around, but slowing him down and redoing a couple of steps was easy with the parts. As a parent, I always appreciate a toy that will hold up to a bit of 'love'. The parts are sturdy and haven't fallen apart or broken. We're really happy with it and looking forward to the next robot!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Kids liked this Spinbot kit
November 28, 2012
Reviewer:
LG
from San Jose, CA United States
Both my 7 year old and 11 year old enjoyed building this mini robot. It kept their interest and they have continued to think of other ways to use it -- lights, paints, pencils and even some other wild ideas. Instructions were fairly easy and with some guidance, they were able to build it i about an hour. Biggest fun was attaching small LED lights and putting them to work in the dark. Very cool. I wish the kit was complete and included the markers (and battery)--more convenient and parent friendly, especially for gift giving. Overall, a great kit.
fun even for an under-3 
