When everyone is stuck inside, a project with a clear finish line beats a pile of toys. These are some of the builds parents tell us hold attention the longest.
- A walking robot. Motor, gears and legs. When it takes its first steps, the whole family gathers round. Robotics aisle
- A crystal garden. Mix it today, check on it every morning this week. Science Lab
- A marble run on the wall. Design, test, fail, redesign: real engineering in an afternoon. Math, Logic & Brain Games
- A spy mission. Invisible ink notes and a UV light turn the house into a clue trail. Spy aisle
- A magnetic city. Houses, towers and cars that snap together and apart in seconds. Magnetic Builders
- A music box. Crank it and hear how sound is made. Music & Sound
- Indoor soccer. A hover ball glides on smooth floors and bumps off furniture safely. Active Play
Tip: set out the kit before you announce "no screens". A ready project is the difference between a complaint and a yes.