The Extraordinaires Design Studio - A Timberdoodle Review

The Extraordinaires Design Studio from Timberdoodle is a ONE OF A KIND learning tool!  It guides your child to think, create,  and invent some very out of the box ideas.   This design kit can be used for ANY age - like so many Timberdoodle products.  My oldest girl Punkin, who happens to be a Marketing Major heading into her senior year of college had this to say;

 "This would be a great product for anybody interested in business, entrepreneurship or engineering.  I know some college professors who would love to have this to use in their classrooms!"

 The design kit comes with a great sturdy magnetic closing plastic case, a set of Extraordinaires cards, think cards, object cards, award cards, a drawing pen and special pad of paper.   

 Bentley, the worlds cutest dog who thinks he's a cat, gave his typical product review on comfort factor and was quite impressed yet again.

 Your child will choose an Extraordinaire to design for, and then an object card which tells them what they need to design, or invent for their Extraordinaire character.  The think cards and object cards help them to process the details and needs more carefully - this is an incredible tool to develop those all important critical thinking skills.  I have to admit, it was a little tough getting started.  I was asking my kids to use a part of their brains they don't often use.  They really had to think outside of the box.  Did you know 16-year-olds don't always enjoy doing that?  HA! The 10-year-old was a little more interested, but only a little.   Biggest sister was giving directions and encouragement - in the typical biggest sister fashion.  It didn't take long though before those wheels were turning and they both came up with incredibly creative ideas for their characters.   Not only does it provide incredible creativity and critical thinking, it also incorporates art into the entire thinking process.  Having to draw what they are thinking makes it a very rich and engaging learning tool.

 Boo had to design something to sit on for her fairy-like character.

 Exercising those brain cells isn't easy..... deep in thought....

 She came up with a brilliant solution - a "Wing-Hole Chair" - a chair that has holes in the back so that the fairy wings don't get crushed.  I love how the cards really encouraged them to think of the needs of their specific character.  

What a great tool this is for our future leaders of tomorrow!  It teaches them to problem solve in a creative way and come up with new ideas in such a fun way.

 Boo quickly got to work on another card that seemed a little more difficult and abstract. 

 The think cards give more questions to take their ideas to the next level asking things such as how they can take it apart, how it can work with other things the Extraordinaire uses, how to make it work better, can it be used in more than one way, etc. 

 After Banana did some thinking, she got to work on her superhero Extraordinaire.  She had to invent a light source for her character. 

 Boo was creating a place for her VERY LARGE character to sleep.

 Boo created a "Treetop Bunk" for her very large Extraordinaire  (who also happens to wear boats for shoes) and Banana created a "Necklight" for her Superhero.

We loved this product because it really makes you think in a new way.  It wasn't easy at all, which would be the only part we didn't like about it - haha.  The creations and inventions can become SOO much more detailed and involved than the simple ones that we did.  This kit is part of Timberdoodles Fifth Grade Curriculum Kit - which we just happen to be using this coming year! 

I am giving away one Extraordinaires Design Studio to one lucky blog reader - to enter to win just leave a comment below telling me why you would love to have one!  Winner will be chosen at random. Be sure and leave your email address so I can contact the winner for your mailing address.  Good luck! 

I was sent this product to review as a member of Timberdoodle's blog team.  All opinions are strictly my own. 

You can see more Timberdoodle Product Reviews by clicking the links below! 

History Over Time USA Puzzle
Marie's Word Cards
Mixed By Me Thinking Putty Kit
Simbrix Expert Kit
Paint by Number Museum Series
Ravensburger 3D Puzzleball Globe
Aquarelle Monet Watercolor Paint Set

Edited to add that the winner of the Extraordinaires Design Studio goes to Alicia! I have sent you an email!