Build a series of adorable, motorized robotic animals with this introductory mechanical engineering kit for kids ages five and up. A beautifully illustrated 32-page storybook centers around the adventures of the Omegas — the family of makers and engineers featured in other Kids First early engineering kits. This story takes the characters to a robotic pet shop where they encounter all sorts of cute robotic pets, including an owl, french bulldog, sloth, panda, chameleon, cat, turtle, and rabbit. As they follow the story, kids can build models of these eight robots and experiment with them to see how each one uses the battery-powered motor and mechanical parts to move in a different way. Large, cubic plastic building pieces make it easy for small hands to put the models together.

Robot Pet Shop provides an engaging way to teach simple engineering concepts to young children, allowing parents, teachers, and caregivers to lay the groundwork for strong STEM-related skills and comprehension at an early age. Model building and experiments develop fine motor skills, mechanical engineering skills, visual-spatial skills, and reasoning and concept development skills.

Thames and Kosmos makes great kits and the manuals are so full of great science information.  They are truly a step above other science kits!

Thames & Kosmos was founded in 2001 by a science museum director and her son, who saw the great need and demand for better science education materials — resources for parents and their children that are more engaging, more effective, more relevant, and more fun.