Tinkerlab: A Hands-On Guide for Little Inventors Kindle Edition

I have somewhat followed the authors blog for a while now, but when I decided to purchase this book I thought it would just be a simple 55 projects. It is much more than that. With several variation to each of those 55 projects which appeal to young children as well as teen-age boys and adults, I was so very impressed as I read it cover to cover in one day. As an early childhood educator I feel it is difficult to find fabulous books such as this one, which has lots of appeal and some very creative projects with some unique spins on the variations. My seven year old is fascinated, as is my 22 year old son. Lots of great ideas for everything from making marks with crayons and markers but also delves into simple machines, robotics, electronics and some really unique hands on art experiences that are not widely published in the typical make and do books. Love the drawing machine that kids can construct with a simple motor, tape and markers, the geodes inside egg shells, the lava lamp, the photography ideas and the ideas to make art in nature (Which doesn't have to be permanent, still respectful, and fun even for others to enjoy after you're gone). My 7 year old's first project was the straw rockets, and he was hooked on this book. Fabulous ideas for the tiniest of tots to teachers who are not easily impressed, such as me. If I could give it 6 stars I would have. Beautiful photography and simple guidelines throughout the book make this the go to for many hours of fun, unplugged creativity well worth the cost of this great find! Well Done Tinkerlab!

I borrowed this book from my local library and as soon as I was done reading it, I ordered it from Amazon. There are plenty of great ideas and activities to do with toddlers and young children. I'd say 10 years and younger would be interested. The layout is good and descriptions detailed, yet not overly wordy. Each activity is complete with a picture or two. I wanted to buy this book to have on my shelf for reference, and also so my kids can look through it to pick something to do. So far, "cloud dough" has been the favorite (flour and vegetable oil)

This book gives me ideas for how to give my kids a fun childhood, and as we do the projects, I feel like I'm back in my own childhood!Cloud dough! Who would have thought it would feel SO good to play with oil and flour? Adding the essential oil in it is an extra bonus that will someday be a trigger for the memory. We'll smell lavender in 15 years and my son will say, "remember when we used to make cloud dough and I spilled it all over the floor and then dumped out even more when you went to get a towel?" Yes, I remember.

You’ve probably seen the pictures on Pinterest and maybe other social media, but perhaps didn’t realize the activities were Tinkerlab. What is Tinkerlab? Maybe you have heard about Tinkerlab classes or activity events in your area. What is the difference between Tinkerlab and loose parts? Minnesota even has Teen Tinker Lab events, and I’m sure events and classes are available in many states. If you want to know more, this book will make it easy to set up this kind of learning in your own home or classroom as a special event for for indoor recess. The book has 55 activities for children to explore their world with creative experiments with easy to find materials.

This book is AMAZING and has transformed my home into a child-friendly place to create and tinker. I tentatively set up a Tinkerlab in an area in my kitchen, and even though it takes up space, it is space well-used. What a valuable asset this is to our home! I like things to be tidy and organized, so I had to find a way to make this creative space work for my personality. I bought a three-tiered turquoise cart on wheels from IKEA, a customizable 3-door cabinet/TV stand from IKEA, and a variety of "Coloration" containers from the Container Store to house the materials. I also got a couple TV trays from IKEA to periodically set out "invitations" in a contained space. My kids (and I) are now constantly creating, and it looks neat and tidy after our project is complete.

Super great book for kids and teachers/parents/grandparents! Love it for all the practical and different ways for art with kids. Bought another copy to share….that good! Buy it; you’ll be glad you did!

I love this book! I love the idea of finding and creating a space for the little ones and invite them to experiment and create. I can't wait to do all of the 55 activities with my girl, so fun!

Tinkerlab is one of the first blogs I followed and it remains a constant source of inspiration. I'm thrilled to see Tinkerlab in print! The projects in this book cover a wide variety of subjects but the guiding premise, that kids should make and create, remains strong and clear. I love how Rachelle Doorley walks you through how to set up your home for creative success. I also enjoyed reading the essays from seasoned professionals in the educational and professional world. This book is not to be missed for kids and grown-ups who love to create and tinker!

This is a great book with lots of ideas for activities for young children. It would have got a 5 star review, however it is an American book, so you have to translate some of the quantities from 'cups' to 'ml' etc. There are also some items that you can't buy in the UK any more such as Borax, which are used in several of the experiments (although you can probably find replacements to use instead, but it's not as easy as just following the instructions).

A useful practical book with interesting ideas for promoting invention in young people.

Full of great ideas

Amazing ideas, we have loved planning loads of cool experiments and interesting outcomes!

I really love this book.lots. It has loads of great activities but is also a fantastic read about why and how to encourage creativity in children.