Blocks. Books. Boxes.
Anything and everything functions as construction material at my house, so I was curious to see what my kids would think of Roominate — “the wired dollhouse building kit.”
Available in the Maker Shed, the Deluxe version comes with round connectors, four plastic panels to create an open room, and assorted square and rectangular pieces that can be assembled into a variety of furnishings.
The package alone held my five-year-old son rapt, and the instructions, made up almost entirely of photos, were right up this just-learning-to-read boy’s alley.
“I really love this already,” he said, his imagination rife with possibility.
To keep it simple, we stuck to the included examples. He quickly put together a sink — complete with a drinking-straw faucet and orange connector-plates in a drying rack — as well as a desk, chair, and computer. Three square pieces and some stickers morphed into a fish tank.
The highlight, though, was the electronics: a small motor and light.
My son was enamored of the idea of the motor-operated fan, and quickly set about putting that together with his dad. He required very little help — assembling it easily from the photo instructions alone.
My nearly 3-year-old daughter was obsessed with the light, and asked, “Can I try?” She, too, promptly clicked the connectors together and switched the light on.
“Brother, let me show you something!” she said, running to him and squealing, “Look, it lights up!”
The kids and I spent a fun afternoon assembling items for our room, and we are all looking forward to using the included felt, string, stickers and shiny tape to further customize it.
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