Turn crushing, squishing, and smashing into an exciting hands-on science experiment with the CrunchLabs The Crunchinator STEM Toy Experiment Kit for Kids. Created by CrunchLabs, the engineering company led by former NASA engineer and YouTube creator Mark Rober, The Crunchinator lets kids explore the science behind powerful machines while having plenty of satisfying, destructive fun.
Kids simply load an appropriate object into the chamber, choose a crunch plate, and crank the handle to multiply their force and watch the object crunch, smoosh, squeeze, or pop. Along the way, they can explore STEM concepts including force, torque, and mechanical advantage, turning every crunch into an interactive physics experiment.
With interchangeable crunch plates, reusable construction, a built-in phone holder, and access to a Mark Rober How-To-Play video, The Crunchinator combines experimentation, engineering, and play in one memorable STEM toy.
Product Features
Harness More Than 30X Crunching Power
The Crunchinator uses mechanical principles to multiply the force kids apply through the hand crank. Its design can provide more than 30 times a child's bare-hand crushing force, offering a fun demonstration of mechanical advantage in action.
Explore Real STEM Principles
This isn't just about smashing things. The Crunchinator introduces children to concepts such as force, torque, mechanical advantage, and machine design, helping make abstract physics concepts easier to understand through hands-on experimentation.
3 Interchangeable Crunch Plates
Kids can mix and match three interchangeable crunch plates, each designed to produce different crushing effects. Experiment with different configurations and discover how changing the contact surface affects what happens to the object inside.
Crunch, Smoosh & Pop
Load suitable items into the chamber and slowly turn the wrench to experience different crushing results. The gradual build-up of force adds anticipation while allowing kids to observe what happens to different materials under pressure.
Hands-On Physics Learning
Instead of simply reading about mechanical advantage, kids can actually see and feel it working. The crank mechanism demonstrates how machines can transform the force applied by a person into significantly greater output force.
Built-In Phone Holder
Want to capture the experiment? The Crunchinator includes a phone holder designed to make recording each crunch easier. Kids and parents can film experiments, replay them, and compare the results of different objects and crunch-plate configurations.
Learn Alongside Mark Rober
Scan the included QR code to access an exclusive Mark Rober How-To-Play video, which explores how to use The Crunchinator and explains some of the science and engineering behind the machine.
Reusable Experiment Play
The Crunchinator is designed for repeated experimentation rather than one-time use. Kids can test different suitable materials and plate configurations to see how the results change from one experiment to another.
Easy-to-Clean Chamber
Crushing experiments can get messy, so the toy is designed to help contain the mess within its chamber. The Crunchinator can be cleaned in the sink after use so it's ready for the next experiment.
No Batteries Required
The Crunchinator is mechanically operated using its hand crank, so no batteries are required. Kids provide the input force and the machine does the rest.
Age & Weight Compatibility
- Recommended Age: 8 Years+ according to Crunchinator retail/product-line information
- Child Weight Requirement: None
- Maximum User Weight: Not applicable
- Battery Requirement: None
- Play Type: Hands-on STEM / physics experimentation
- Adult Supervision: Recommended during use
Some retail listings specify 6+, while other Crunchinator product-line information lists 8+; for a conservative KidsCompanyPH listing, 8 Years+ is the safer recommendation.
STEM Skills & Concepts
Playing and experimenting with The Crunchinator can introduce children to concepts including:
- Force and pressure
- Torque
- Mechanical advantage
- Simple machines
- Cause and effect
- Material properties
- Observation and experimentation
- Problem-solving
- Engineering thinking
CrunchLabs' broader approach is centered around encouraging children to think like engineers through hands-on building, experimentation, testing, and problem-solving.
What's Included
- 1 Crunchinator Crunch Toy
- 3 Interchangeable Crunch Plates / 5 accessories
- 2 Googly Eyes
- 1 Wrench
- 1 Instruction Manual
- Integrated/adjustable phone holder functionality
- Access to How-To-Play content
Retail package information specifies 1 Crunch Toy, 2 googly eyes, 5 accessories, 1 wrench, and 1 instruction manual.
Exact packaging and accessory configuration may vary by market or production version.
Additional Information
- Brand: CrunchLabs
- Product Name: The Crunchinator
- Product Type: STEM Science & Engineering Toy
- Recommended Age: 8 Years+
- Educational Focus: Science, Physics & Engineering
- Key Concepts: Force, Torque & Mechanical Advantage
- Crunch Plates: 3 interchangeable plates
- Phone Holder: Yes
- How-To Video: Yes, via QR code
- Battery Required: No
- Reusable: Yes
- Adult Supervision: Recommended
- Approximate Dimensions: 28 cm H × 24 cm W × 11.6 cm D
Important Safety Information
The Crunchinator should always be used according to the supplied instructions and with appropriate adult supervision. Only place manufacturer-approved or instruction-approved materials inside the crushing chamber. Keep hands, fingers, hair, and other body parts away from the crushing mechanism while operating the toy.
The product contains small parts and should be kept away from children below the recommended age. CrunchLabs/Moose Toys also provides dedicated safety and material-use guidance for The Crunchinator.
Do not attempt to crush hard, sharp, dangerous, pressurized, explosive, electrical, or otherwise unsuitable objects. Follow the instruction manual when selecting materials for experiments.
Why Kids Will Love It
The CrunchLabs The Crunchinator STEM Toy Experiment Kit makes physics feel anything but boring. Kids get the immediate satisfaction of crushing and squishing objects while discovering how a machine can turn a relatively small amount of effort into surprisingly powerful force.
With 30X+ mechanical force, three interchangeable crunch plates, repeatable experiments, a phone holder for capturing the action, and educational content from Mark Rober, The Crunchinator combines the excitement of experimentation with genuine STEM learning—making it a standout choice for curious kids who love science, machines, and figuring out how things work.