birthday gift idea for 9 year old boy....considering these...need opinion

[kfeusse]

my to be ds9 loves to make things work...is always asking HOW things work...loves remote control toys...so I am conisdering these...and would LOVE opinions of them...but totally open to other options too.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Thames-Kosmos-Remote-Control-Machines/dp/B003KYXAQO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371659603&sr=8-1&keywords=thames+and+kosmos+remote+control+machines

 

or

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Elenco-SCROV-10-Snap-Circuits-Rover/dp/B000GG7XXK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371659638&sr=8-1&keywords=snap+circuits+rover

 

thanks.

[trulycrabby]

Both look fantastic, and thank you, I have added them to my Christmas list!!!

[Spryte]

We have the first one, not the second. It's fun, it definitely gets used, and if I remember correctly it connects with other T & K sets, so you can expand. We have their physics kit as well, and I think they work together. So that's a bonus. We've had it for several years, and it's still pulled out now and then. :)

 

The Snap Circuits look like fun, too - who doesn't love Snap Circuits?

[Alte Veste Academy]

DS10 still loves his Snap Circuits Rover. I highly recommend it. You can add on more and more Snap Circuits and then eventually (or now, even) buy the Teaching Guide they sell, which takes Snap Circuits from educational toy to a pretty solid intro to electronics course.

[kfeusse]

we have the basic set....the 300 set...they actually don't get played with as much as I thought or hoped they would...but I am sort of thinking that if I got the rover which has been specifically asked for...that might resurrect the rest of the snap circuits into play again. Do you think that might be possible? The rover is sort of expensive for it to be a flop...so I am sort taking an expensive gamble...

[Alte Veste Academy]

Well, that is tricky. My DS asked for Rover because he liked SC so much already. Yes, Rover might help resurrect interest. What really got DS into his SC though, was the how and why he got working through the TG with his dad. If he was playing with the SC before, following the instructions and enjoying the cause and effect, but and maybe fizzled out because he was ultimately craving more, Rover could reignite interest that could be sustained with the more explicit instruction in the TG, if your DS would be into that.

 

ETA: Sorry, it is the Student Guide. http://www.snapcircuits.net/products/product_details/student_guide_for_sc300--sc500--sc750=Mzc= (I know I have seen it cheaper elsewhere, but I can't remember where.)

[Snickerdoodle]

This comes with a bunch of little booklets of things to create. Some of them are quite amazing.

[kfeusse]

This comes with a bunch of little booklets of things to create. Some of them are quite amazing.

 

that looks cool, but we hardly spend that kind of money on Christmas...let alone a birthday. Wish is was cheaper...but Lego stuff is expensive...good....but expensive.

 

The price tag on the SC is really too much as well...so I am not sure what I will do, espeically if adding a student guide would be helpful...

 

I am not sure what we will do yet.

 

thanks for all of the ideas...and opinions...

[whitestavern]

My ds sounds like yours. He wasn't crazy about the snap circuit products, but got the remote control machines for Christmas and LOVES it! He's almost 11. He's also a big fan of metal erector sets and Legos (of course).

[kfeusse]

my son likes Legos when there is a specific item to build (like those 3 in 1 sets Lego has)...we haven't tried erector sets yet....but we have a small OLLO set that he loves too. So I am hoping that the SC Rover he will like. Is there any other place to buy one cheaper than $62??

[gardenmom5]

we have rokenbok. it is compatible with lego. we had some for older sons, and dudeling has been going after it since he was three. the older sons still consider it "theirs".

 

you can control up to eight RC vehicles/functions (i.e. conveyor belt) from one control pad.

[kfeusse]

those are cool too...but they are expensive too...I guess I better realize that I will have to spend more than I want if I want anything of quality, huh??

[Alte Veste Academy]

Is there any other place to buy one cheaper than $62??

 

The National Geographic Store has it for $40 today. Probably because of the one star review from the guy whose disc launcher doesn't work. (Ours did, btw. :D) http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=1076214&code=SR50004#ReviewHeader

[kfeusse]

Knex also makes much less expensive stuff like that. DS has built a ferris wheel, roller coaster, cars, etc. over the years.

 

 

what specific sets have you built before. The amazon reviews are very mixed and I am not sure what to think.

[kfeusse]

The National Geographic Store has it for $40 today. Probably because of the one star review from the guy whose disc launcher doesn't work. (Ours did, btw. :D) http://shop.national...04#ReviewHeader

 

 

THANK YOU....even with the shipping I am still saving over $10...I can afford that price...you are awesome!!!

[gardenmom5]

The Rokenbok stuff looks like it's for younger kids.

 

umm, no. it's in pieces like lego and they build. my boys were older than that when I started buying it for them. they've added by choice.