Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Dump the assorted pieces onto a play surface in a pile. You may wish to sort them by size, color or type. This can be a learning exercise in itself for small children.
Connect the pieces. Tinkertoys come with four dozen rods, 20 spools, several connector clips and couplings as well as tubes, rail holders and even robot arms. A design guide is included but children rarely need help in coming up with designs of their own. Self-guided play is the secret to Tinkertoy's appeal.
Build in teams. If several children are playing, they may enjoy deciding on a project and then dividing into teams to see who can build the biggest or the best design. Working as a team with Tinkertoys fosters cooperation and valuable social skills for children.
Connect the easy fitting spokes to rods and spools in any way you desire. Attach flags or arms with coupling pieces to the rods and spokes to create a three-dimensional shape with personality. Imagination is more important than direction in putting together rods, spools and spokes. In the original kits, pieces were made exclusively of durable childproof wood. Today, plastic Tinkertoy sets are available.
Return the pieces to the cardboard container. When the children are finished playing with the Tinkertoy pieces, encourage them to return all parts to the original container to avoid losing any pieces.