A toy that may not exist - robot that can be taken apart and reassembled?

[Queen0fFlamingEverything]

DS is 3 and loves robots. He also loves taking things apart and putting them back together - he was doing it yesterday with a clicky pen, reduced it to a pile of bits then spent a happy 15 minutes working out how they fitted back to make a working pen.

Lego isn't quite what I'm after - he does have Lego but prefers to just build at random with it, he can't follow the instructions yet. More like a toy with interesting fiddly parts, that comes assembled but can be disassembled and then reassembled...?

What do I want to look for, anyone? It doesn't have to be a robot I suppose, if there's something else that fits the rest of the criteria!

Early learning centre do some 'nuts and bolts' style construction toys.

Like meccano but toddler friendly.

Meccanno also do a child friendly version but possibly slightly too young for that.

..he might be a little young at the moment - but what about considering the Transformer range of toys for the future

These toys can be converted from cars/lorries to Robots - with the added advantage that there are no "spare parts" left over as each piece is permanently connected and then moved/twisted etc into the new shape...

At that age with a similar ds we bought our son his first real kid sized drill and hammer and nails...needs a lot of supervision, but he adored them.

Marking place because my Ds1 (2.5) would love this too. He's taken his sister's bike bell to pieces this morning and often tries to unwire the xbox, tv box etc just so he can rewrite them all

*re wire.

Mmmmm not sure Transformers would fulfil his need to take things apart, he really loves the whole having-a-pile-of-bits moment

Will look at ELC website now.

www.amazon.co.uk/Meccano-Set-Easy-Construction-Box/dp/B0014C9ZUY/ref=sr_1_3?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1385286648&sr=1-3 this is suitable from 4, from your description sounds well within your sons capabilities.

www.elc.co.uk/Build-It-Construction-Starter-Set/115621,default,pd.html

Got this for my 3 yo. It was half price at the time and may be again soon x

What about getting him a Makedo robot kit so that he can put his own robot together and then take it apart and switch other bits and pieces in?

What about this? Ds had something similar and loved it when he was small.

I recommend the ELC sets, got my DS a load of them a few years back, I found the bolts work there way lose, but DS doesn't mind that, he got them at 3yo and still plays with them now at 6, money well spent IMO.

K-nex have a build a robot set - it is aimed at ages 6 and up, but you could sit with him and build it.

www.knex.com/building_toys/robosmash.php