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Hands-on Learning with Tinker Boxes

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By Michelle Wendt of SRI & ETTC

A Reggio-inspired tinker box is a learning tool inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to education. This approach emphasizes the importance of hands-on, experiential learning and encourages children to explore, tinker, and discover for themselves. A Reggio-inspired tinker box is filled with various materials and tools that children can use to explore and create. The box's contents might include craft supplies, beads, buttons, scissors, paper, tape, and more. The purpose of the tinker box is to allow children to use their creativity and problem-solving skills to create and explore on their own. It is a way to encourage open-ended, imaginative play and promote learning through hands-on exploration and discovery.

In addition, some Tinker boxes are tech-enhanced or STEM educational kits that contain materials and instructions for children to engage in hands-on, creative problem-solving activities. They are designed to encourage children to explore and experiment with different materials and concepts and to think critically and creatively. Some examples of STEAM tinker boxes include:

LittleBits: LittleBits is a company that makes electronic tinker boxes for children. Their kits contain various electronic components that can be snapped together to create various projects, from simple circuits to more complex devices. 
K'NEX: K'NEX is a company that makes tinker boxes focusing on engineering and construction. Their kits contain various interlocking plastic parts and other materials that can be used to build structures, machines, and other creations.
You can come to play with both in our MakerSpace! Register here

Here are three examples for you to get started! 

  1. A tinker box filled with recycled materials such as cardboard tubes, bottle caps, and egg cartons, which children can use to build and create their own structures and designs.

  3. A tinker box contains various loose parts, such as beads, buttons, and popsicle sticks, which children can use to create patterns, designs, and structures.

  5. A tinker box with natural materials such as pinecones, acorns, and rocks, which children can use to create nature-inspired art projects or engage in sensory exploration.






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