K'nex is something which seems to come out in our house sporadically. It is a construction toy so is classed as "educational" in the same way that Lego is .

It is basically lots of different sized sticks which fit together using either straight connectors or wheell like peices so that either multiple joints and angled joints can be made as these "wheels" can slot together to make a 3 dimensional shape.

The instructions you get with the kits are pretty good and the peices are all colour-coded so you know you are looking for a purple piece or a white wheel.

The trouble is it is quite time consuming and sometimes interest is lost half way through making something. You can make some really big models - we have aset which makes a crane which is about 1.5m high, there are also some sets which willm ake big fairground wheels.

The big sets are not cheap(£80-£100) but as they bring out new sets fairly regualrly some of the older versions can be very heavily discounted in places like Toys R us - so there are bargains to be had.

They do a good cross section of sets which are designed for all ages and now they have brought out a version for even younger children.

It is also worth buying one of the starter kits so that different models can be made. A good investment toy which children and adults will keep coming back to.