I really enjoyed putting the smart car together. I had fun putting the pieces together and driving it around using my iPhone to control the car. I also liked the challenge. -Sonia, age 13

Materials: I am happy with the materials; the plastic pieces are durable enough so that kids can put it together and use it without being overly cautious. At one point during construction, I noticed my daughter (age 13) having a bit of difficulty; her solution was to use an excessive amount of force while trying to attach a piece. I was worried the toy would be compromised, but when I checked it out later there were no signs of distress.

Building instructions: As a teacher, I was impressed with how simply and clearly the directions were written. My 13-year-old daughter put the car together by herself (without frustration) in about an hour and a half.

Activities: The activities (setting up the app, driving the car etc) engaged my daughter. The projects are open-ended allowing users to branch off, extending the learning and the fun. As a parent and as a teacher, I would recommend this toy to friends with kids as well as to my colleagues for classroom projects. I will not hesitate in allowing my own students to handle and experiment with this car independently.