Baby Buggy challenge

Please help - our baby doll isn't old enough to walk yet, and we need to take her shopping. Could you build a baby buggy for us, to keep her comfy and safe?

Levels of difficulty:
Level 1 - Make a simple baby buggy for the doll.
Level 2 - As level 1, with a seat belt.
Level 3 - As level 2, plus brakes to hold the buggy stationary on a slope.

Equipment: K'NEX set including small wheels, plus a doll about 20cm high

Approach: Think about how you could make your baby buggy. How will you make a box big enough for the doll to sit in or lie in? How many wheels will you need? How will you fasten them on? Will you need a handle to push the buggy with?

For level 2, think about how seat belts in real baby buggies or cars work. Can you build something made of K'NEX onto your baby buggy that will work just as well?

If you are moving on to level 3, think about how you could make a brake. Will it prevent the wheels turning, or will it stop the buggy in some other way?

Handy Hints (Please click to view):
A2 - 3 ways to connect rods and connectors
A4 - Making corners with blue and purple connectors
W5 - Wheels and tyres

Teachers' Notes

The aim of the project is to encourage the children to consider the design characteristics of a familiar object, and then to design and build a model which achieves the same result. For level 2 and 3, to also consider the safety issues involved in baby buggies.

Possible solution: See photo.

Before starting: Look at an example of a baby buggy, and discuss why they are used.

Conclusion: Test the completed buggy, by taking the baby for a walk. Draw a diagram showing how all parts move. Then (for level 3) ask them to consider the need for the seat belt and brake. What factors will affect whether the buggy moves (eg pushing it, putting on a slope, brake on/off, baby in/out)? Finally carry out an experiment to determine what angle of slope the buggy will move down with the brake on/off and the baby in/out, and produce a table of the results.

Copyright © Andy Shercliff 1996 and K'NEX User Group 2004

KNEX resources > 90 Challenges > 30 traditional K'NEX challenges > Baby Buggy challenge


Useful links Advanced search About us Contact us News Sitemap Website conditions of use Are you selling K'NEX?	Terms and conditions Payment methods Credit card security Value Added Tax (VAT) Shipping Order confirmation Delivery Guarantee Privacy policy Cancellation and Returns policy	Frequently Asked Questions Product safety How to order Which set to buy? Countries and currencies Languages Your email address Ordering offline Quotations Site navigation Accessibility Error messages