A rainy Saturday with a restless ten-year-old can feel very long by lunchtime, especially once the quick toys have been played with and set aside.
This Black & Decker Jr. constructor set answers with 287 metal pieces and the two tools needed to join them. Piece by piece, the parts come together as a shiny racer in black and red, and the work of matching each part to its place offers a real introduction to basic engineering.
Sturdy metal parts stand up to being taken apart and rebuilt, so the kit is ready for another build day. It’s recommended for ages 10 and up, and grown-ups who enjoy a project are welcome to pull up a chair. By dinnertime, there’s a finished car on the table and a proud builder beside it.
