Customer Reviews for KEVA: Contraptions 400 Plank Set with FREE Bonus Planks

Wow. I really cannot understand the reviews in which people complain that there is nothing to hold the planks together. That is the point of these blocks. They stay 'together' by balance and gravity. My kids ages 7 - 12 love these. They have over 500 and are asking for more so that they can build bigger structures. They have built tunnels and ramps, which work very well with the ball, and they have built towers, houses, stairs, a robot, a train, and who knows what else. The structures stay in place for hours, days or weeks, until someone decides to knock them down (which, by the way, is half the fun). They use them with Playmobil and Breyer Horses and any toy that can use a wall, building, or ramp. These are certainly different than Legos or Lincoln Logs - nothing holds them together, so you have to stack them carefully so that they balance. Go to the Keva or Kapla website and you will see how to use them; then decide if they are something your own child would enjoy. If you use them properly, you can certainly create structures that work well as ramps and tunnels, and that are very sturdy. I have seen my kids do it with my own eyes. ;)

I was hoping for an open ended game, my VERY advanced 5&6 year olds who are obsessed with creating and building, could work into over the next few years. I bought the largest set that was said to include, tracks, tunnels, bridges etc. Upon opening this game I found hundreds of planks, all the same size, all of which need to be balanced upon each other, all of which need to be used in an environment void of any movement or the structures completely topple. It came with a small booklet with distant pictures showing what tunnels, tracks, bridges etc. could look like- but no instructions and or images of how one could attempt building them. They are building with them- homes of their own and walls etc. that they are incorporating into open ended play- but it’ll be at least 4-5 years and will require a seperate building table and space before they can use them in the way they are designed to be used. HORRIBLY DECEPTIVE AND MISLEADING DESCRIPTION - ABSOLUTELY NOT AGE APPROPRIATE UNTIL 10 and up in my teacher/ mom opinion

I bought these for my 10 year old son who has wanted them for about 3 years. He has played with them at our local library and children's museum for years. He LOVES building with them. I have 3 younger kids that also enjoy them. The book has some good inspiration but not step by step as some kids might prefer. Many creative possibilities. I also bought the 200 piece structures set so he had idea book. I got 50 extra planks with each set so have 700. Only regret is I didn't buy them sooner.

My 8, 10, and 12 year olds will play with these for hours. I am happy to see them using their minds and not just setting infront of a video game or TV with a glazed look on their faces.

Bought this as a gift for my seven-year-old grandson for his birthday he has not put it down he plays with it everyday takes it everywhere he goes he loves it it was a great gift I would recommend it to anyone he takes it camping he takes it to his cousin's house to play with his 13 year old cousin and they love it.

The KEVA Contraptions was pretty much what I thought it would be, except I thought the Contraption set came with a few chutes. (it did not) You must construct your own and when you drop a ball from any height, it knocks apart the chutes you've built. Every plank is the same size; I think it would be more fun to build if there were some half -length and perhaps some quarter-length pieces. It would be more realistic to build that way. Planks were all smooth and straight; I hope they do not warp.

10 year old daughter received it for Christmas and loves it. Her 14 year old brother uses it as well. Great purchase.

My grandson's favorite Xmas gift. It was first on his list. He started building right after he opened it. Nothing else mattered.

My eight year old grandson constantly builds ramps and architectural designs every day. He enjoys himself without the television on. He creates and imagines for hours on his own.

We were excited about this gift for our 6 year old. He loves to build with Legos, Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs so it seemed a good fit. But I think the pictures make it look far more fun than it really is. Just a bunch of wooden blocks, all the exact same size. No interest for a 6 year old. Hasn't looked at it again since Christmas....don't think it will ever get used.

Such a disappointment. The photos in the catalog show very cool contraptions you build with this set. My son put this at the top of his Christmas list. The point of failure: each block is exactly the same with no way to 'lock' them together. You are building a house of cards. My son is a whiz with legos, erector sets, etc. but this set is full of frustration. It's too easy for the whole thing to fall apart. The trough for marbles to run down like in the catalog? How the heck are you going to get blocks of wood to hold in place like that? For $90, you get a bag of identically shaped wood pieces that don't hold together. Unfortunately, this was an expensive bust.

My kids have enjoyed these very much. I have kids between 6-13 and they all enjoy building together. I have never played with the maple ones, but these are just right and for a lower cost. I think 400 was a great starter set for four kids - enough to have everyone building and all fit in a nice bag!