Toys for Independent Play, Encouraging Creativity, and Family Togetherness!

Thank you to K’NEX for sponsoring this post, all opinions are my own.

Over the past month I’ve talked about independent play, encouraging creativity through open-ended toys, and enjoying family togetherness. I have loved learning and experiencing how my children can not only play independently, as well as with each other as playmates, but also how we can all play together as a family.

Most of what I have been doing recently in terms of how I interact with my children has come from reading the articles and teachings of Janet Lansbury and Magda Gerber. While I feel I have made some progress in how I want to parent my children and what type of parent I would like to be, I am by no means an expert (is anyone?), and continue to seek out new information and learn new things every day.

Toys for Independent Play, Encouraging Creativity, and Family Togetherness!

While we have had lots of fun over the past month playing with new toys thanks to K’NEX sending us some things to try out, we haven’t had time to fit in all of them yet. I wanted to give you a list of what we have lined up in our arsenal to continue our journey of play, both independently and together as a family. I think the K’NEX line of products works wonderfully for encouraging both of those scenarios and they have a great line of toys to match any kid’s interests!

Beatles Yellow Submarine™ Building Set

Build The Yellow Submarine, and help The Beatles save Pepperland from The Blue Meanies! This one-of-a-kind building set lets you recreate the awesome adventures of the iconic Yellow Submarine with passengers, John, Paul, George and Ringo. They can do battle against the two Blue Meanie figures, or get out their instruments and jam, since their ship doubles as a concert stage! Includes over 200 pieces; Ages 7+. Suggested retail price is $34.99. Available exclusively at Toys “R” Us.

KISS® Rock Stage Big Rig Building Set

Build a rock stage big rig, and take your Monster KISS figures on an amazing music tour! This unique building set lets you create the power of a real KISS concert with The Demon, The Spaceman, The Catman and The Starchild. After they rock out, the two roadie figures will help pack up their equipment, and drive the band off to their next sold-out show! Includes over 300 pieces; Ages 7+. Suggested retail price is $34.99. Available exclusively at Toys “R” Us.

New Super Mario Bros.™ 2 Thwomps™ Building Set

Go on a brand new adventure with Fire Mario™ & Silver Luigi™ as they journey through a castle course! Featuring K’NEX’s all new jump disk and launcher that allow Mario to run and jump, like he does in the game. Build Fire Mario & Silver Luigi and drop them through the warp pipe to enter the course. Look out for the Thwomps – slam them down to open your path. Make your way past the Thwomps, collecting coins as you go – don’t forget to grab the Power Up mushroom at the top! Drop through another warp pipe and guess what – there’s another side to play on! Use the sliding platform to cross the lava. Who will you find behind the door? It’s a Bone Goomba™! Hit the target to defeat him, pop-up the flag and you’ve cleared the course! Combine your Thwomps building set with the rest of the K’NEX Super Mario™ building set line to take Mario on an even BIGGER adventure! For ages 8+. Suggested retail price is $59.99. Available exclusively at Toys “R” Us.

Typhoon Frenzy™ Roller Coaster Building Set

Bring a wave of fun from the ocean to your living room with the new Typhoon Frenzy Roller Coaster Building Set from K’NEX! Build with over 640 K’NEX parts & pieces including, rods, connectors and track, and add motorized power to send the silver coaster car twisting and turning through over 19 feet of swirling, non-stop action! Plus, download exclusive instructions to build an incredible second model, the Tsunami Surge™ Coaster! All K’NEX rods and connectors are made in the USA! Ages 9+. Suggested retail price is $39.99. Available exclusively at Toys “R” Us.

Of all the toys we have yet to try, I think the Roller Coaster building set is one i’m looking forward to most. This is one we will probably do together as a family, but it just looks like so much fun to build a functioning coaster!

You can also find the Super Mario 3D Land™ Bowser’s Castle Building Set, 521 Amazing Value Tub Building Set, and Lincoln Logs® Redfield Ranch set that I’ve previously posted about by clicking the above links.