Joel Glickman founded K’nex in Pennsylvania, U.S., in 1992. Joel had a background in industrial engineering and envisioned a construction toy that offered more interactivity than simple building blocks. He conceived the idea of K’nex whilst playing with drinking straws. In 1993, the first box of K’nex was launched in the U.S. Basic Fun! purchased all of K’nex’s assets in 2018. The Basic Fun! website lists the current kits and includes downloadable instructions.

K’nex uses plastic rods and connectors to create models. Wheels, gears, motors, and pulleys add further functionality, making K’nex an ideal tool for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) activities. In addition to the original K’nex, there are also micro K’nex, frequently used for rollercoaster builds and architecture sets, and Kid K’nex, a chunky version designed for smaller hands.

We use regular-size K’nex for our models and kits, but we can also rent play trays filled with Kid K’nex.