Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! 100-Piece Deluxe Building Set
Learning Resources
Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! 100-Piece Deluxe Building Set
46 gears, 26 square pillars, 21 six-way axles, 6 interlocking bases, and a single crank handle that snap together and actually turn when a child cranks it. It's fully manual, no batteries, real mechanical cause and effect, and reviewers consistently praise how open-ended the building is, kids design their own creations rather than following one set of instructions. The most common real complaint isn't a defect, it's wanting more of one thing: only one crank handle is included, so two kids building separate moving pieces at once have to share.
See current price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Highlights
- 100 pieces: 46 gears, 26 pillars, 21 axles, 6 bases, and 1 crank handle
- Grows with the child, listed for toddlers through elementary school ages
- No batteries, fully manual hand crank, compatible with other Learning Resources gear sets
About Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! 100-Piece Deluxe Building Set
This is a well-reviewed, currently active set, 4.7 stars across nearly 4,700 ratings, for a straightforward, non-motorized building experience. Kids power every spin themselves with the included crank, and the core experience, snapping gears onto pegboards and watching motion transfer across a build, is what reviewers consistently praise as genuinely open-ended rather than a single-instruction kit.
The most common complaint is simply wanting more pieces, not a defect: only one crank handle is included, so two kids building separate moving creations at once have to share or take turns, and ambitious builds can run through the connector and pillar pieces faster than the gear count allows. A handful of pieces also need real hand strength to snap together, which can be a hurdle for the youngest end of the 3+ range.
The Honest Take
What We Like and What We Don't
What we like
- Genuinely open-ended, kids build their own designs rather than following one set of instructions
- Visibly teaches cause-and-effect mechanics without feeling like a lesson
- Compatible with other sets in the same Learning Resources gear line, expandable later
- Gears snap onto pegs easily enough for preschool-age hands, with occasional adult help for younger kids
What holds it back
- Only one crank handle included, a real constraint if two kids want to build separate moving things at once
- Connector and pillar piece count runs out faster than gear count on bigger builds
- A handful of pieces need real hand strength to snap together, a hurdle for the youngest end of the 3+ range
Is This For You?
Who Should (and Shouldn't) Buy This
Get it if…
Get it if you want an open-ended, screen-free STEM toy for a preschooler through early-elementary kid who likes building without being told exactly what to make.
Skip it if…
Skip it if you have two kids who'll both want to build a spinning creation at the same time, you'll need a second set or extra crank handles, or you want a motorized or light-up version, that's a different Learning Resources listing.
The verdict
A well-reviewed, currently active set for open-ended, hand-crank gear building, kids power every spin themselves and design their own creations rather than following one instruction set. The most common complaint is simply wanting more pieces, only one crank handle is included, not a defect.
What Real Buyers Say
“Great quality, kids like it, I got two sets already.”
United States
“Bought these for my grandkids and they had lots of fun with them. The colorful gears kept them entertained while helping them learn and be creative, plenty of pieces to build different designs.”
United States
“It only has one crank handle, there should be more. If we both make two things, one person has to crank by hand while the other gets the handle. I also wish there were more connector pieces.”
United States
“A few pieces require a bit of strength to snap together, so younger players may need a little help at first, but otherwise great.”
United States
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this set include batteries or run on power?
No, it's a fully manual toy. Kids turn a single included crank handle to make the connected gears spin. Learning Resources sells a separate motorized version if you want an electronic one.
Is this set safe for a 2-year-old?
The listing's own safety warning says no, it carries a choking hazard warning for small parts, including a small ball component, and is labeled not for children under 3, even though the general recommendation on the box is 3 and up.
Can this set be combined with other Learning Resources gear toys?
Yes, it's designed to be compatible with other sets in the same line, so pieces from other Gears! Gears! Gears! sets can be mixed in to expand what a child can build.
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