This kit has three project types to choose from. The first is Mystery Pictures, where you put in a jumbled picture template and line up one of the colors with the arrow and trace everything in that color. Then you rotate it 1/3 of the circle and do the next color and rotate and trace one more time. Then you have an unscrambled picture.Another one is Dial-a-Pattern. There is a template with a bunch of shapes on it. You pick a shape and how many “clicks” to turn and trace the same shape all the way around the circle at each interval. You end up with a really neat pattern that is similar to Spirograph, but easier for small children.The third project is Sprial Art. This one is true Spirograph, but better than the Spirograph I had as a kid. The one I used to have had a plastic thing you had to punch through your paper to hold the ring to do the Spirograph around. This kit is super awesome because it is a hinged lid with magnets. So you lift the lid, put the paper down, put the lid down, and everything seems to stay in place really well. The gears slip some of the time, but it is easier to use than the Spirograph I had.The kit comes with a small amount of paper that fits it, but you can use any paper. My kids have a ream of legal paper and it works just fine as is without cutting it down to size. I think it came with one pen that was terrible, but you can use any colored pencil or pen and some markers would work too. I don’t think regular crayons work very well, but twistables would with the Mystery Picture and Dial-a-Pattern.It says it is for 4+. I’m not sure a 4yo could do the Spiral Art very well, but they can do the other two. Both my 7yo girl and 10yo boy have been enjoying it for several years. It has not broken at all and while I wouldn’t say my kids have been rough on it, they have used it fairly heavily off and on and aren’t extremely gentle with it either.