Welcome to the new site!  We hope you enjoy your visit to the Konstruction Zone.  Everyone here is really revved up about the great things waiting to be built.

The crew needs your help moving a giant rock in the quarry! Can you create something to push, pull or lift the rock out of the way? This fun episode, along with several others, is available for viewing in the Challenge Zone.

Some of our other builders have already built some creations for the “Big Ole Rock.” Here is SassyTexas’ Friendly Forklift:

That looks like a really strong forklift! We’d love to see even more ideas for this challenge. What can you create?

This is one of the best seasons of the year for playtime. Summer break gives us more opportunities to have fun throughout the day, especially outside. However, playing outside when it is really hot can actually be dangerous. You don’t want to overdo it out there, so follow these 10 safety tips!

1. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. It is best to drink the water before you even feel thirsty, as you will be sweating a lot and don’t want to become dehydrated.
2. Avoid going outside during the hottest part of the day. You might want to plan your outside play for early morning or later in the afternoon before night falls.
3. Wear sunscreen if you are going to be outside for longer than a few minutes. Even a mild sunburn can be annoying, so why risk it?
4. Try to find a shady area to have fun in, such as next to some trees or on a covered playground.
5. Don’t wear thick, dark clothing — this will only make you hotter! Try something nice and comfortable, like shorts or light-colored clothing with thin material.
6. Cool off with some fun water games. Water balloons and squirt guns are always a crowd pleaser.
7. Take breaks from the sun if you plan on playing for a long time. If you feel yourself getting overheated, go inside or rest in the shade until you feel better. Never make yourself stay in the sun if you are feeling too hot or exhausted. There is plenty of fun stuff to do inside, as well!
8. Watch out for hot playground equipment. A metal slide, for example, can burn you when it is really hot outside. It is a good idea to test the equipment with your hand before using it.
9. Avoid drinks and foods that are high in sugar, as they will drain your body of much-needed water.
10. Wear a hat with a wide brim to cover your face and neck. This will help to keep you cool and give you more protection against sunburns.

If you are looking for a fun challenge, try out one of our newest games — Quarry Racing! In this game, you will use one of your vehicles to race around a series of tracks. The object is to gather Koinz and get the best time.

Have you played the game yet? It is a bit challenging at first, so here are some tips for starting out.

Off-Roading Can Slow You Down

When you drive your vehicle off the main path, it might slow you down or worse. As you can see, a vehicle can get stuck in a rocky area. That will really eat into your time, so be careful!

Look For Koinz Everywhere

Playing Quarry Racing is a great way to earn some Koinz. They are found all over the tracks. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for Koinz in unusual places, as you might pass them up.

Search For Hidden Shortcuts

Finding a shortcut will help you complete a track in record time. Although the main path allows you to cruise along quickly, you might cut the track in half with a shortcut. You might even find some extra Koinz along the way, which is even better!

Fuel Up When Needed

Running out of fuel can end your race early, so watch your fuel level. A warning sound will go off when you are low. Keep your eye out for fuel cans along the way, but don’t fuel up too early or you’ll waste that can!

Be Careful On Corners

Although you may want to drive as quickly as possible to finish the race fast, that may not be so helpful. Going fast around sharp corners, for example, will just cause you to wipeout and lose time. Ease off the accelerator on corners and steady your path so you don’t lose control.

Lil’ Dig is one of the youngest members of the Konstruction Zone crew. He is full of energy and loves to have fun. Although he has a lot to learn about working in the quarry, he is always eager to try his hardest to get the job done!

Don’t let Lil’ Dig’s size fool you — he is as strong as he is brave and his friends can always count on him. One of his favorite things to do is use his long arm to dig around the quarry. What else would you expect from a guy with a name like Lil’ Dig?

Did you know that you can make friends with other builders on the site? By clicking on a builder’s name or vehicle, a Builder Info Screen should pop up. It will look like this:

This screen tells you more about a builder, including what his or her vehicles look like. You can press the button that looks like two hands shaking to invite that user to be your friend! Once the builder accepts your invitation, he or she will be added to your Friends List.

By the way, you can access your Friends List at any time by going to the Builder Central page. Just look for the big button that reads, “Choose Your Friends.” This is what a Friends List looks like:

This screen will allow you to view and manage your Friends List. If you have received any friend invitations, this is also where you will go to accept or deny the invitation. You can search for other builders on this screen, as well. Just type someone’s name into the search bar at the bottom, then press “Invite!”

By adding new builder pals to your Friends List, you can keep track of all their achievements in the community. Some of the things you might want to know about your Konstruction Zone friends are:

• Game high scores
• New creations
• Favorite episodes

In the future, we will be adding more interactive features for friends. You might even get to challenge your friends to a game, so stay tuned!

Have you tried building some trading cards on Konstruction Zone yet? You can create free, printable cards out of your many vehicles and game high scores! Here is an example of a trading card I made that shows my gaming history with Hill Climb:

As you can see, the trading card shows my best time, my high score and how many Koinz I have earned from the game. According to the current Leader Board, I just made the top 10 with my Hill Climb score. Maybe those new treads I bought will help me climb a little faster!

In the mean time, I am having fun designing new trading cards. If you buy backgrounds from the Parts Catalogue, you can even decorate your trading cards with different backgrounds!

Click here to make your own trading cards. You can easily print them off from home. If you don’t know how to work the printer, just ask one of your parents to help you out. Good luck with the cards and don’t forget to show your friends. That’s what trading cards are for, after all — trading!

Are those bumpy hills giving you a hard time in Hill Climb? Do you want to beat your best time in Quarry Racing? You can improve your game performance by purchasing new parts for your vehicle! Things like a turbo boost engine or new wheels can make a huge difference.

New parts can also give your vehicle a whole new look. From funny hats to a fresh paint job, you can express your own unique tastes by changing up your vehicle from time to time.

Of course, by saving up a LOT of KoinZ, you also have the ability to buy more vehicles! The fun never stops and the possibilities are endless.

Here is what my first vehicle looks like right now:

I labeled some of my newest parts, which include:

1. The “Free Spirit” racing hat and goggles.

2. A cool red and blue paint job.

3. A steel roller to smooth out everything in my path.

4. Tough treads to help me make it through the bumpiest areas.

Another new addition, which you can’t see in the picture, is a turbo boost engine. I’m zooming through the games so fast now — it’s amazing!

Earning KoinZ to buy parts and vehicles from the Konstruction Zone catalogue is actually a lot of fun. You will receive KoinZ every time you share a new creation and when you play games. So, what’s stopping you?! Get out there and have some fun. Then, show us your vehicles’ cool new looks.

There are many different types of play, including free play, creative play, constructive play, quiet play, social play and active play. The latter is the most physically intensive and helps children to hone their motor skills.

Of course, all types of play are equally important and should be explored on a regular basis. However, active play can sometimes be a seasonal activity.

Many of us don’t have room inside the house to foster a lot of active play. “Don’t play ball in the house!” isn’t a parenting cliche for nothing. Naturally, the weather has to be cooperative in order for you to send the children outside. This is one of the reasons why the coming months will present the greatest opportunities for active play.

Another reason why you should start thinking about active play is that many children are now entering their summer break. While their days were once occupied with school, now they have the chance to run off their energy. This can be their greatest weapon against childhood obesity, in fact.

Try not to overschedule the kids this summer, as playing jump rope in the backyard can be just as rewarding as organized programs. In fact, many experts warn parents about the repercussions of keeping your child too busy. Alvin Rosenfeld, M.D., a child psychiatrist and author of The Over-Scheduled Child: Avoiding the Hyper-Parenting Trap, states:

Overscheduling our children is not only a widespread phenomenon, it’s how we parent today. Parents feel remiss that they’re not being good parents if their kids aren’t in all kinds of activities. Children are under pressure to achieve, to be competitive. I know sixth-graders who are already working on their resume’s so they’ll have an edge when they apply for college.

So, when your builders aren’t having fun on Konstruction Zone, make sure they go outside and get dirty!

If you are like everybody else, you have fallen in love with Hoss! This guy cracks me up every time I watch him. I can’t wait to buy this front end loader and trick it out. Check out my latest crew at Bigzee’s Garage.

I have to say that one of my favorite scenes is from “Sorting Things Out.” Hoss is sitting there watching his best “little” buddy Lil’Dig put the finishing touches on a pile of rocks they have been so busily sorting out. Then he utters, “don’t even breathe Little Dig…” I catch myself saying this one out loud whenever I see a tense moment starting to occur.

Let me know about some of your favorites, and what you liked about ‘em. We’ll get some of those special shots up for everyone to talk about.

- Bigzee