The Kids 3D Lab Blog

App skills See Inside Your Build: X-ray, Outline, Layers and Flat Views New in Kids 3D Lab — flat Top, Front and Side views like real CAD, X-ray and Outline to see inside your build, a Layers list to pick any shape, and a right-click menu. 5 min read Grown-ups Tinkercad Alternatives for Young Kids Looking for a 3D design app for a young child? Here is how Kids 3D Lab, Tinkercad and other kids' 3D tools compare, and how to pick one. 7 min read Projects 3D Printing Projects for Kids: 15 Easy Ideas Fifteen easy 3D printing projects kids can design themselves, from name tags and dice to cookie cutters, pen pots and a little train. 6 min read Projects Make a Name Keychain, Step by Step Design your own name keychain in Kids 3D Lab — a tag, your name on top and a hole for the ring — then get it ready for a 3D printer. 6 min read Projects Design Your Own Toy Car Build a toy car in Kids 3D Lab from boxes and cylinders — a body, a roof, windows, lights and four wheels — and learn to turn and copy shapes. 6 min read Projects Make a Pencil Holder for Your Desk Design a pencil holder (a pen pot) in Kids 3D Lab using a box and a hole, add your name on the front, and learn about walls and floors. 6 min read 3D printing Choosing a First 3D Printer for Your Family What to look for in a first 3D printer for a family with kids — size, safety, ease of use and plastic — explained in plain words, with questions to ask before you buy. 6 min read 3D printing Is 3D Printing Safe for Kids? A clear, calm guide to 3D printing safety for families and classrooms — hot parts, moving parts, fumes, small pieces and food — and simple rules that keep kids safe. 5 min read Grown-ups 3D Design Lesson Plans for Grades 3 to 5 Five ready-to-use 3D design lessons for grades 3 to 5 with Kids 3D Lab — shapes, measuring, holes, symmetry and a design challenge — with goals, steps and ideas for checking learning. 7 min read Projects Make Your Own Cookie Cutter Design a heart-shaped cookie cutter in Kids 3D Lab with two hearts and a heart-shaped hole, then learn how to make stars, animals and your own shapes. 6 min read Maths & science What Is CAD? Explained for Kids CAD means computer-aided design. Learn what CAD is, who uses it, how it helps make cars, phones and toys, and how you can start doing CAD today. 5 min read 3D printing What Is 3D Printing? A 3D printer makes real things you can hold, one thin layer at a time. Here is how it works, in simple words. 5 min read App skills Make Your First 3D Model in 10 Minutes A step-by-step guide to your very first 3D model — a name tag with your own name on it. 5 min read App skills Millimetres Made Easy: How Big Is Your Model? Every number in Kids 3D Lab is in millimetres. Learn how big a millimetre is, and how to make your model just the right size. 5 min read App skills How Holes Work (and How to Make a Key Tag) In Kids 3D Lab any shape can become a hole. Learn how holes cut into other shapes, and make a key tag with a hole for the ring. 6 min read Projects Build a Snowman by Stacking Shapes Stack three balls, add a carrot nose and a hat. A fun first project that teaches you how to put shapes on top of each other. 5 min read App skills Draw Your Own Shape and Make It 3D Use the Kids 3D Lab drawing board to draw any shape you like — with a pencil, lines, boxes and circles — and turn it into a 3D model. 5 min read App skills Turn, Flip and Stretch: Change Any Shape Learn three ways to change a shape in Kids 3D Lab — turn it with the coloured turn arrows, flip it over, and stretch it to make new shapes. 6 min read 3D printing Getting Your Model Ready to Print Six simple checks before you 3D print — flat bottoms, no floating parts, the right size — plus how to save the file for your printer. 6 min read App skills 20 Fun Things to Make in Kids 3D Lab Need an idea? Here are 20 fun, easy things kids can design in Kids 3D Lab, from name tags to crowns, rockets and robots. 5 min read Grown-ups Kids 3D Lab for Parents and Teachers How Kids 3D Lab helps children aged 5 to 11 learn 3D design, measuring and problem solving — with lesson ideas for home and the classroom. 6 min read