iBrick for Homeschoolers (A Timberdoodle Review)

Hands-on homeschooling just got real with iBrick STEM kits for kids ages 9–12! Have you ever attempted to begin your homeschool day and, instead of finding your kids throwing spitballs at you like you would see in a classroom, you see that your kids snuck bricks into their pockets to play with while you read history? Maybe you eventually gave in and let them play with them while you read (sheepishly raising a hand over here). Now homeschoolers don't need to feel guilty for their desire to build during homeschooling. What better way to teach discipline than to incorporate it into their schooling? Rather than attempting to set aside a certain time of day to play with bricks, or using them as an incentive for completing school—it now is school! The discipline comes with teaching them how to use them productively. 

When my 10-year-old opened his iBrick kit for the first time, he could not believe that it was for school. He still can't, and he has completed dozens of models over the past few months. The kit comes with two layers of bricks, gears, a motor, and miscellaneous pieces for challenging builds with practical real-world applications. Kids learn through play—they just need the right tools and guidance. The iBrick kit provides just that by challenging kids to think outside of the box and beyond the basic brick building concept.

One of the first builds that my son made was a soccer goalie and soccer ball (marble) shooter. This two-piece project has the goalie using the motor to move and try to protect the goal, while your child strategically uses another piece he builds to shoot the ball. This complex and creative project allows for hours of fun, not just building it, but also using problem-solving skills to play with it.

Another favorite was a rubberband-powered racecar. Using your 12-month subscription to the online iBrick platform, you receive weekly project ideas that your child can learn, practice, and perfect throughout the week. These easy-to-navigate lessons provide step-by-step instructions—perfect for the hands-on learner. This is an excellent resource for a child who struggles with reading or following paper instructions that come in a kit. The video tutorials teach the hows and whys of the project, giving kids the confidence needed to not only create the build, but to continue building other projects with the skills they have obtained. Using a blueprint model, kids are able to piece the projects together before completing their challenge for the week. 

What I want to showcase for you in this review is the T-Rex dinosaur project. This build provides your child with a moving T-Rex that walks and moves its mouth. My son was so proud when this one was completed and even found it to be entertaining to play with as he would have it "eat" other bricks. The gears and motor allow it to move, and the size of it is impressive. The project is educational and then, once complete, can be played with alongside a city or town that your child makes with the additional bricks or ones they already have in their personal collection. The possibilities are endless. 

It truly is amazing to see all of the different designs that can be created using the pieces from the iBrick kit. I am continually amazed at what my son shows me. He loves that this is part of his school and it teaches him discipline as he works through his 4th Grade Timberdoodle Kit and marks off the projects that he completes on his digital scheduler. This kit has been the highlight of his school year and will continue to be for months to come!

Disclaimer: Many thanks to Timberdoodle for the above product in exchange for an honest review.