What if I told you that someone had invented a flexible brick that mimics the science of motion that we observe in the natural world? What if I told you that these hyper-elastic bricks are compatible with LEGO and other popular bricks on the market today? What if I told you these bricks could take play to a whole new level?

Enter bionicTOYS, patent-pending flex bricks for ages six and up…

bionicTOYS Flex-Bricks: Because Nature is Flexible

Our family loves STEM play, and we try to incorporate it into our daily lives, whether that is in the bathtub, in a box, or in the backyard. STEM strewing is one of my go-to homeschool strategies!

Needless to say, we were over-the-moon excited to check out a prototype of bionicTOYS. Our prototype was made using a 3D-printer. That alone got the kids excited because my oldest thinks Santa is bringing him one for Christmas (sorry, kid).

bionicTOYS are the brainchild of German product designer Marcel Pasternak. Pasternak created these colorful flex bricks as a way to improve children’s STEM-based play. bionicTOYS help children to learn about several scientific principles including flexibility, elasticity, friction, levers, energy potential, and pivots.

Each bionicTOYS set, when constructed, teaches different principles found in nature and science. By combining bionicTOYS with other bricks, such as LEGO, children are able to take their play to the next level…and they will be dabbling in physics! With these bricks children can create tools with functions, or mimic actions they observe in the natural world. Depending on the kit, children will learn about how a frog jumps, how a shark swims, and how a claw grasps.

bionicTOYS are now on Kickstarter

bionicTOYS is now on Kickstarter. With a successful Kickstarter campaign, bionicTOYS will be manufactured in Germany and there will be two types of brick flexibility available, leading to greater play possibilities.

Do you want to see them in action? Of course you do! Check out the Kickstarter trailer:

What did the kids think of bionicTOYS?

They loved them! We received the fish tail kit and as soon as it graced our doorstop, my kids were hooked. They took turns assembling the fish tail, over and over and over.

Here is my little guy, exploring bionicTOYS:

My kids love the possibilities bionicTOYS offers. They have been busy combining their bionicTOYS with our LEGO in hopes of creating an amazing Rube Goldberg machine or new invention.

And what did mom think?

Here’s something I love about this product… and I don’t believe this was Pasternak’s goal in creating the toy: they are calming.

As a school psychologist and mom to a tornado-full-of-boy with sensory processing disorder, I love the possibilities that bionicTOYS offers, not only as a building toy but as a fidget tool. Any parent or educator who has experience with children who struggle with attention and focus is always on the hunt for successful fidgets. The most successful fidgets offer a range of movement and input while remaining soundless.

There is an almost-mesmerizing quality to the movement these toys provide and I have observed, time and time again, how quickly they calm my kiddos.

Be sure to follow bionicTOYS for the latest updates

You can find bionicTOYS on Kickstarter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.

Now, it’s your turn. Tell me: What is your family’s favorite play-based STEM activity? Share here!

*Disclosure: I received a prototype of bionicTOYS Flex Bricks in exchange for a review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

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