K’Nex toys were created by Joel Glickman after he went to a wedding and was wondering what you could create from connecting straws together. He did a ton of research and studies then created a construction-style toy system.
K’Nex building sets were first introduced in the United States in 1992 and were produced and created by K’Nex Industries Inc. in Hatfield, Pennsylvania until the company was sold to a company called Basic Fun! in 2018. That company is based in the Sunshine State of Florida and is still producing the building toys today.
A Knex building set consists of many plastic rods that interlock with each other using connectors, gears, wheels, blocks, and other parts and they can be placed together to create a wide range of things, including machines, architectural structures, buildings, models, cars, and so much more. Kid K’Nex offers a building set that is more appropriate for little hands and is specifically made for younger children.
The K’Nex Imagine building sets are very similar to Construx sets and you can create amazing 3-D configurations if you are using the motorized building set. It offers wheels as well as connectors and rods with the pieces to allow your child to create more advanced projects.
If your kids love these building sets, as do my two grandsons, you may be looking for fresh, new toys instead if they have too many K’Nex building sets already or simply want a different or cheaper option when it comes to building sets.
We have helped you out by creating a detailed list of toys similar to Knex. Check it out below.
Erector
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An Erector building toy is very similar to a K’nex set. The Erector set by Meccano allows children to use real wheels, bolts, and other high-quality pieces to complete the construction of vehicles. This construction toy is great for older children.
Lego Clones
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Lego clones are a Lego alternative to the original Lego building set but are more affordable for a lot of parents and grandparents when they purchase them for their children and grandchildren. The good thing is that they are compatible with a regular Lego brick so you can still add to your child’s collection without going broke.
Mega Bloks First Builders
Produced by the very trusted company Fisher-Price, the Mega Blok version of stacking blocks that you can build with is a great option for younger children and will help develop their fine motor skills and spark their creativity. Even your toddler will be able to create their own animals, vehicles, and more.
Sluban
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Sluban is very similar to K’nex building sets but you can get them at a cheaper price. but you can pick up a set at a lower price. It comes with a variety of different designs so you and your kids can create planes, tanks, and so much more with this set.
Kre-O
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A Kre-O set can be used with a Lego pieces or a K’nex set to create amazing cities or villages and so much more. It is a great building set for both older kids and younger kids and there is even a Cityville set or a Transformers-themed one for kids who are into those themes.
Mega Construx
This construction set replaced the original Construx construction kit for kids. It boasts a building brick in an array of styles and colors and allows, no matter what your kids ages are, to use this educational toy to foster their creativity and motor skills while having a fun time.
Tinkertoy
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Tinkertoys by Hasbro offers both the Tinkertoy Plastic and Tinkertoy Classic building sets. The classic version allows kids to build and create with wooden parts and sets instead of plastic. A Tinker Toy set is a colorful and fun building set for girls and boys that are age three and up.
Gears Gears Gears
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The Gears! Gears! Gears! Construction Set is a stem toy that will keep your kids busy for hours and features tons of pieces that include not only gears, but square pillars, axles, interlocking bases, connectors, and crank handles as well. It is very similar to a K’nex brand building set and introduces your younger children to learn about problem-solving and reasoning but also grouping, sorting, counting, constructing, design, and even physics.
Zoob
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The Zoob set offers many colorful hollow poles with socket-ended rods that your kids can connect together easily and they very much like Construx building sets. Older kids, including tweens and teens, can even create intricate models while younger kids can opt for creating 3-D characters that can move.
Lincoln Logs
Lincoln Logs are an oldie but goodie, so to speak. It will get you in touch with your inner child as you will probably remember playing with your own Lincoln Log Set and now, you can have fun with your own children as they design, build, and create with these amazing wooden construction pieces for hours upon hours. Playing with log sets can increase your child’s hand-eye coordination, spatial recognition, and even their problem-solving skills.
Bristle Blocks by Battat
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For your younger children who are just starting to use building sets to learn how to design and construct things, Bristle Blocks are a great option. East Bristle Block boasts soft, interlocking bristles that connect together with the other bristle blocks and even have eight wheels that come with the set that can add motion to any of your child’s creations.
COBI
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The COBI building system is great for older kids and allows them to create projects that can be used or displayed in their bedrooms or other areas of your house. The Cobi building block system allows each piece to fit with a Lego brick which means your children can still use the Legos they already have at home with this construction set that features more small, advanced pieces that work better for older children.
Little Tikes Waffle Blocks
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Your kids can stack, build, lock, and create until their hearts are content with a Waffle Blocks building set that features building blocks that can lock into each other at different angles so your kids can stack the blocks in a variety of different directions. It may sound complicated but it is actually a construction set, similar to a Lego set, that is very easy to use and will foster the imagination and creativity of your children.
Nanoblock Building Kits
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This affordable block set is very similar to a K’Nex building set. It boasts small, intricate pieces that older kids, such as your tweens, teens, and even adults, can use to create amazing projects, even a Ferris wheel. This free universal construction kit is great for the whole family although smaller children may need assistance since it is a more advanced construction kit than the others on this list.
IQ Builder Set
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The IQ Builders set is better for children who are at least five years old and older since it does contain smaller pieces and it may be more difficult for younger children to use. It can be used with connects building sets so you can add to your collection at a more affordable price.
Snap Circuits Building Set
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The Snap Circuits Building Set is more advanced and focuses on electronics. It is recommended for ages eight and older. It allows kids to use more than 60 parts to conduct over 300 experiments, including a lie detector test, a radio, a photosensitive electronic organ, and so much more. It is a stem educational toy that will hold your child’s attention for many hours as they learn and grow.
Duplo Building Set
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A Duplo Building Set is great for small hands and increasing hand-eye coordination for younger kids. It also helps them learn the different shapes that there are and fosters creative thinking. It features big bricks so that’s smaller hands Kim manipulate them better and they can use this building set to create tons of different things, including houses, cars, a garden, or even a castle.
They come in a nice size bucket which makes cleanup a breeze and you always have somewhere to store them so they won’t get lost. The set is very much similar to the larger brick Lego sets and will keep your young children busy for hours.
Magnetic Tiles Building Set
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These magnetic tiles in the Magnetic Tiles Building Set can be connected together to create a house, a bridge, a castle, an airplane, or even a replica of dad’s pick-up truck. It is a great building set for ages 3 and up and can be enjoyed by the whole family while spending quality time together.
This building set encourages creativity in the magnetic construction pieces their colors while helping them learn as well as shape recognition while using their fine motor skills and creativity and learning new skills such as social ones and design skills.
Marble Run Building Sets
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The Marble Run building sets are great for younger children, even your toddler. This building set will let them feel proud and accomplished when they see what they can create while improving their hand-eye coordination and increase their problem-solving skills. The smooth edges are safe and will not scratch their hands as they build a variety of different models, including a marble track.
Wooden Blocks Construction Set
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Combining a throwback to the old days when all building sets feature wooden block pieces, this amazingset features pieces that connect in a similar manner to K’Nex pieces. For kids ages three and up, it features pieces that can help children use their imagination and fine motor skills to create cars, trains, buses, and even robots.
They will be happy using this set that is very similar to K’Nex building sets to create their very own works of art for hours on end. It is a stem toy that fosters creativity and social skills as well as increases their problem-solving skills.
FAQs About Toys Similar to Knex
Are K’NEX and Legos compatible?
K’Nex pieces are compatible with and very similar to Lego bricks. They boast a post-and-stud connecting system to that of Legos and other brands that are compatible and also have holes between the studs where K’Nex rods can be inserted.
What age is KNEX for?
K’NEX building sets are loved by children of ages five and up to learn how to build and use their creativity.
Is KNEX good for kids?
Kids learn important STEM skills by using building sets of all types, including the Knex system. The pieces force children to use their imaginations and fine motor skills as they put them together with other pieces to create their own amazing creations.
What exactly is STEM?
STEM stands for Science, Technology Engineering, and Mathematics. It is a curriculum used to increase the thinking skills of children in classrooms across the globe.
Why Toys are important for a child’s development?
Educational toys can help develop problem-solving skills, teach about conflict resolution and how cause and effect work. … It also teaches children about sharing, helps develop their fine and gross motor skills, and nurtures their creativity and imagination.
How do construction toys help child development?
Construction toys provide an understanding of how pieces fit together. It also helps children to learn how different directions work along with shapes and sizes. It can even help them to determine space and time along with their problem-solving and reasoning skills.
Why is playing with toys important?
Playtime helps children use their creativity while fostering their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. It is very important as they grow since it leads to healthy brain development and teaches children how to interact with others and the world around them.
Is building good for kids?
Using construction play helps to make learning more fun and engaging. It stimulates a child’s brain, which increases their education and knowledge.
What does a child learn from building blocks?
They learn not only emotional and social skills but building blocks also help children learn how to be patient and to take turns. It also teaches them how to share when building things with others and how teamwork really does matter. It also helps them increase their attention spans, problem-solving skills, and to help develop their self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment.
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