KiwiCo Domino Machine: Educational Science & Engineering Toy for Creative Thinking

all good

The KiwiCo Domino Machine is a cute idea, especially for little engineers who love building and problem-solving. The tiny train design is adorable, and when it works, it’s a fun way to set up domino runs. However, it’s very hard to put together, which can be frustrating, and the rubber bands fell off time and time again, making it even trickier to use. Definitely requires patience and adult help! Once assembled, it’s a neat concept, but I wish it was a bit easier to use.

Breaks so fast it's not worth the cost

Must have completely flat, smooth surface. No patterns or ridges. Will not work on low pile carpet either. Dominos won’t stay put with the tiniest indent in the floor. Wasn’t worth $30. Putting it together was the most fun we had, just to be let down when he could only get 5 dominos to stand up before they toppled.

Worst purchase, it’s completely in pieces. My Granddaughter opened the box ready to play and you literally are building the toy from scratch. Would not have purchased had I known this.

I spent time to assemble this and my kids were so excited then I turned it on and it went backwards. I made sure everything was in there correctly and even checked to see if maybe I put the motor in upside down but that isn’t possible because of where the holes are and how much space is available. It looks just like all the pictures but goes the wrong way so it doesn’t dispense the dominos, it just scoots them along

I think there are easier options out there. This one was cheaply made and designed. What holds it together is not great.

It works, but it is flimsy and the small plastic washers come off very easily. It’s not difficult to repair, but some parts require partial disassembly. I would not purchase this again at full price.

This is a fun diy project for older kids or younger kids with help from a parent! I helped my 10 year old build it and we had fun putting it together and then playing with it afterwards. I would recommend it!

I received this product as part of the Hey, Bullseye program. This product had clear instructions that included pictures to help build the domino machine. My 7 and 9 year old kids had a great time playing with it and it helped them to understand how machines are built. It was a little advanced for my 7 year old but right on for my 9 year old. This is a a great educational product that helps children to learn. This product uses engineering skills and includes a booklet that explains chain reactions.

This is the coolest toy. My 12 year old built this within a few hours and we have played with it everyday since we got it. It was very easy to put together and the instructions were very easy to follow. If you are looking for a more hands on toy this is it.

This project was a big hit with my 7 year old. Though shy of the recommended age, he had no trouble constructing the robot with a little help navigating the instructions. Aside from the kit being an engaging STEM project, I love that the enjoyment extends beyond the build. After about an hour of assembly, my son got to appreciate the robot he built in action, helping him set up an alternate type of play. The kit come with a lot of dominoes, much more than the robot can carry. While the manual notes that you can continuously refill the robot to extend the line of dominoes, it's more difficult in practice than in theory. The area where there is most room for improvement is the design of the wheels; they are lined with rubber bands that tend to slip off while the machine is in use. Aside from that, I was particularly impressed by the comprehensive reading material that accompanies the set. The Tinker Zine anticipates questions the project might raise regarding the way things work, providing insight into the science behind chain reactions at an age appropriate level. That's just the tip of the iceberg, it includes the history of dominoes, domino art and so much more. My son and I both learned a lot.

The packaging is eco friendly from the box to the tissue paper. It’s made from recycled materials. KiwiCo makes a wide range of STEM toys like levitating lanterns to chess sets to kinetic light-up speakers that are fun, cool, and educational. The train domino set was interesting to build. It took about 30 minutes to build. Build quality was decent. But the washers felt a little cheap, the wood base felt like cheap popsicle sticks. I used the mini screw driver to punch a hole through the washer. That was the most convenient way to do it. Then you connect the color coded wires together. It’s ready to go with an on/off toggle switch. It’s nice that they included batteries since most battery operated toys require you to have or buy batteries. After a few runs, it seemed to run fine. The first time it went backwards. I thought that was wrong. When I switched the wires, it went forward and the dominoes jammed. I guess it’s suppose to go backwards because it runs smoothly that way. Now is it fun? It sure is. The dominoes lined up and you knock it down in a satisfying way.

I’ve always wanted to check out a KiwiCo box with my kids, so I was excited to receive this product for free from the Hey, Bullseye sampling program in exchange for my honest review. The box includes everything you need to complete the project, including instruction/idea books, supplies and all the tools. My kids enjoyed building the domino machine step-by-step using the directions, then exploring fun ways to make domino runs. I’d definitely recommend this set to any looking for a cool STEM gift!

The concept is cool. We decided we want to add more domino's but other than that, this project was cool.The pieces are nicely made and are sorted and packaged well. The instructions are very clear and include both text instructions as well as pictures for every step. The instructions also include "stop & check!" Points that have you test what you have done so far to make sure everything up to that point is working right before you move on to the next step to ensure you don't go too far with a mistake that you would not be able to correct easily later on. I also like that it has a troubleshooting section that includes tips and a link to video instructions for assembly. They really seemed to put a lot of thought into making it easy for kids (and their parents) to build this kit.

The Kiwico Domino Machine was easy to assemble by myself but may be more difficult for younger kids. I think the 9year old age recommendation is acceptable to build this. The rubber tires become loose and fall off too easily but the machine works well setting up 20 dominos at a time.

We loved using Kiwi crates when my kids were little and were super excited to check out this Tinker Crate domino machine! We didn’t get it fully assembled yet, because a piece was potentially misplaced and we can’t finish assembly. I think this is definitely geared towards 9+ year olds, as my 8 year old kept getting frustrated. Most issues were simple, like installing a piece upside down, and outside of the missing piece, we had a great time building!

My 6 and 8 yr old got really excited when they saw this and immediately opened up the package. They both tried to build it, but my 8 yr old really took the initiative and got about halfway through, pretty much on her own. She had some questions and a little help, but overall she seemed to follow the instructions pretty well. So in my opinion they are well written and the pictures are very helpful and detailed. Although we have not finished building it, I love how this product is made and kids from different ages will enjoy this.

I love kiwico projects! These are so fun! The domino machine was very easy to put together, even for my 7 year old. The instructions are very easy to follow, and all the parts are bagged separately in the box.

Be prepared to build this by yourself if your child isn't into tinkering. My child didn't have the patience to complete. While the steps are easy to understand, it will take time. I do like the hands on aproach and showing the fun side in science. It comes with a booklet that explains how dominoes work and how you can stand and build. The blocks are on the thinner side, very light and brightly colored. With or without the robot machine, this is fun to play with.