Customizable Wind-up LEGO Car

Interaction

Children can reconfigure the car and add to it with any LEGOs they may already have so that they can create a working wind-up car to their imagination. They can experiment with different configurations by combining different shapes and sizes of wheels with different axle widths and car lengths and weights to see how well the car runs. They can of course run the car on flat or sloped surfaces, and try it out on surfaces of different textures. The bricks that house the gearbox could either be wound up by turning a crank, or by rolling the wheels a few times to wind up the spring inside. They can just as well make cars without the "engine" and just let it roll from gravity, or from any push that they give.

Principle

While building the car and fitting the parts together in various ways, children can improve their spatial awareness and finger dexterity, as well as the concept of mechanical energy. They can also learn about what type of wheels with get their car to go further, as they may have to wind up their cars a lot with the smaller wheels to get it to go the same distance as if they used the larger wheels, where they'd only have to wind it up relatively less. 

Cost: $40-50 for a set. Includes different wheels, wind-up and plain axles, and connectors.

Durability: Very.

Safety: Be wary of leaving LEGOs spread out on the floor. Potential choking hazard for smaller parts. Suitable for ages 5 and up.

Reflection

I wanted to come up with something that could be LEGO-compatible, as I remember LEGOs being very popular when I was younger.  They were probably my favourite toy set to play with, and came in so many variations, with so many different custom sets, such as Star Wars. The goal here was to make something that could be easily integrated into their LEGO sets. Though, it was difficult to think of something that would be interesting and not too complicated that kids can play with together.