Review: Build Your Own Microscope by Build Your Own Kits *

Build Your Own Kits – Microscope

[Ad-gifted] As we enter week 5 of the summer holidays, is it just me or is anyone else struggling to come up with ideas to keep the kids busy, especially now Storm Francis’s blown in? The Build Your Own Microscope Kit couldn’t have arrived at a better time!

After trying out their terrific flatpack telescope kit earlier this year, we were thrilled to be asked to review their newest Build Your Own kit and the microscope was just as fun to bring to life.

The super cool kit contains everything needed to create a microscope that’s able to see with 30x magnification. You simply follow the easy-to-understand instructions, pop out the pieces of the precut parts and then slot them together. And of course, my absolute favourite part is the fact there is no need for any glue! No mess, no fuss – ideal!

When it’s complete, simply use the dials to adjust the zoom and use the torch on a smartphone to illuminate whatever you’re examining through the built-in periscope. There’s also a choice of three specimen trays to use to hold different types of items on the microscope table.

Whilst the recommended age for the toy is 8+ I had no problems letting Seb, aged 7, loose on the box. He’s quite handy and enjoys a challenge so with a little help from dad – who was tasked with all the fiddliest of bits – Seb got to work putting it together.

He was able to build most of the elements on his own and enjoyed the satisfaction of each part slotting together perfectly. He said it was really fun to pop out the pieces and work out how they go together from following the instructions and whilst he admitted it was tricky in parts, this only gave him a bigger sense of pride when he’d completed it.

Things we loved about Build Your Own Kits

As with the previous Build Your Own kit, I love the fact it’s mess-free and educational. I enjoy seeing my children engage with STEAM toys that aim to encourage exploration and engineering with a fun and hands-on approach and especially love it when there’s nothing to clean up after! I am also really impressed with the functionality of the microscope.

You get a really clear image of whatever you’re examining and it was great seeing Seb out foraging in the garden for mini beasts and flowers to look closely at. Another thing that makes it a top notch toy is the fact it’s so environmentally responsible as it’s made out of sustainable cardboard and hardly any plastics so for me, it ticks a lot of boxes.

Things we didn’t like about Build Your Own Kits

The only gripe we had is we struggled with knowing which way round the lens needed to go in but after some trial and error we were able to figure it out. It would be helpful if the instructions were clearer at this stage but it doesn’t detract from it still being a fab toy.

How much is it and where can I buy one?

The Build Your Own Microscope Kit is priced at £16.99 and can be purchased from Build Your Own Kit here.

How can you win a Build Your Own Microscope worth £16.99?

How to Win a Build Your Own Microscope by Build Your Own Kits worth £16.99?

Terms & Conditions:
*The prize is fixed, is not negotiable or transferable. No cash alternative will be offered.
* Open to residents of the United Kingdom Only
*Entrants and winner of the competition must be 18 or over
* All entries must be received by Sun, 20 September 2020.
* The winner will be chosen at random and notified via the email address.
*They have up to 28-days to respond and claim their prize after being notified, after which time the prize will be considered unclaimed and will be re-assigned using a random selection method.
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* By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website
* The winner will be published on the original giveaway blog post.
* Prizes are administered separately by the team at Build Your Own and Yeah Lifestyle cannot be held responsible for problems related to fulfillment of prizes including non-delivery of the item

About Build Your Own

Build Your Own, part of Paper Engine Ltd in Hampshire, are awesome creators of a range of exciting cardboard flatpack toys made from sustainable cardboard and paper which have been designed to be as eco as possible.

They came up with the idea of designing toys that kids would enjoy building and which captured their active imaginations in a fun, engaging way.

The team were concerned about how the majority of plastic toys would eventually end up in a landfill, so decided that cardboard was definitely the best way forward. Whilst they haven’t eliminated plastic entirely, cardboard and paper are always the main components.

Review by: Libby Wilkinson

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* We were sent the telescope kit for free in return for a review. All opinions are our own.