Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Gifts for gears, motors, electric mad 7yo DS

21 replies

IAmLadyWhistledown · 18/10/2025 20:02

Hello,

My DS is absolutely crazy about anything gear, motors, electronics related. We have had so many Lego sets and want to try and avoid this where possible as he just wants to do his own thing with it instead of building them 🤣

Hes had michano (?sp), kinex and an electric wheel thing with wires, plus a mechanics tractor which we thought was a bit naff.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good toy for Christmas or something just like it please?
Costs no issue as we are severely struggling for ideas 😆

Thank you!

OP posts:
Sunshineandlollipop · 19/10/2025 00:04

Raspberry Pi kit or something from Science Hut?

tinybeautiful · 19/10/2025 00:20

Kiwi Co boxes - they have individuals rather thsn just subscriptions.

Tinkerer boxes too but thsyre subscription

Classiccar1 · 19/10/2025 00:43

Or if he's got an adult to help him how about a proper radio controlled car kit? https://www.jadlamracingmodels.com/products/tamiya-rc-58570-lancia-delta-tt-02-1-10-standard-stick-radio-bundle?

Eatinghurts · 19/10/2025 01:28

Has he got a marble run? Days out to a science type museum

Pryceosh1987 · 19/10/2025 01:29

Action man toys worked treats for me.

IridiumSky · 19/10/2025 02:31

If cost no object, and you live in the countryside and have space, a car. Some old banger MoT failure which can be driven around a field as soon as he can reach the pedals.
And a toolbox, which may then be gradually filled.
I did this for my son at nine. He grew up to be a very competent engineer.

Forgottenmyphone · 19/10/2025 07:42

Geomag mechanics
Vtech marble rush
Georello Tech

busybanana · 19/10/2025 08:40

How about a Turing Tumble?

persisted · 19/10/2025 08:43

The Science museum online shop has some great kits.

Solasum · 19/10/2025 08:44

Spintronics is excellent

DisplayPurposesOnly · 19/10/2025 09:02

On a thread about advent calendars yesterday, someone linked a build-a-radio one from Amazon.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 19/10/2025 09:03

so many Lego sets and want to try and avoid this where possible as he just wants to do his own thing with it instead of building them

But that is the point and beauty of Lego. Leave him to it.

Eatinghurts · 19/10/2025 17:16

The klutz lego books may interest him as more about building machines.

IAmLadyWhistledown · 19/10/2025 17:22

Eatinghurts · 19/10/2025 17:16

The klutz lego books may interest him as more about building machines.

Thank you!

Are those the gear bots books? I see them regularly but unsure as they seem pricey for a book. Do you know what they’re like and if they’re worth the cost please?

OP posts:
Eatinghurts · 19/10/2025 19:18

I was thinking of chain reactions or the gadgets book def more of a toy rather than book https://amzn.eu/d/dBMUDGJ

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.co.uk

https://amzn.eu/d/dBMUDGJ?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-christmas-5429558-gifts-for-gears-motors-electric-mad-7yo-ds

SmellsLikeTeenArmpit · 19/10/2025 19:22

busybanana · 19/10/2025 08:40

How about a Turing Tumble?

I was coming to suggest Turing Tumble too. Absolutely brilliant.

DS also enjoyed a set called Laser Maze. You have to build mazes with mirrored pieces to bounce a laser light round different routes.

The Klutz Lego chain reactions book is also quite good. Not a set, just some extra pieces and details of how to use them.

IAmLadyWhistledown · 19/10/2025 20:04

SmellsLikeTeenArmpit · 19/10/2025 19:22

I was coming to suggest Turing Tumble too. Absolutely brilliant.

DS also enjoyed a set called Laser Maze. You have to build mazes with mirrored pieces to bounce a laser light round different routes.

The Klutz Lego chain reactions book is also quite good. Not a set, just some extra pieces and details of how to use them.

Lazer maze sounds like good fun! Do you have a link to the toy as there’s quite a few online. Thank you 😃

OP posts:
SmellsLikeTeenArmpit · 19/10/2025 20:28

IAmLadyWhistledown · 19/10/2025 20:04

Lazer maze sounds like good fun! Do you have a link to the toy as there’s quite a few online. Thank you 😃

It's the ThinkFun one :)

New posts on this thread. Refresh page