Two things worth your attention before we get down to serious play:
Safety:  The dyes we are using are non-toxic.  However, these  The dyes we are using are non-toxic.  However, these interesting parts are small enough to swallow, and the non-toxic dyes are not food any more than are any other sort of toy or furniture finish. That's why we do not recommend QUARKS^TM for children younger than 36 months (3 years) of age.  We have not seen children over the age of three mouthing QUARKS^TM parts, although it probably can happen.  Under the age of three it is a common occurrence.  In fact, the Federal Consumer Products Safety Commission mandates an age of 3 years below which small parts are regarded as unsafe for children.  
We further recommend that QUARKS^TM not be given to any child who has a tendency to put everything in his or her mouth, much less to a child with a history of swallowing non-food objects. It all comes down to competent supervision of any activity of very young children; but that goes without saying. QUARKS^TM Creative Building System complies with all relevant parts of the European Union EN71 Standards.
Break-in:  To make a satisfactory toy, we designed the parts to fit tightly where they are supposed to stay together; since, with use, they will wear and loosen a little.  
If any parts fit too tightly for small hands to work, an older person with greater strength should assist with the break-in.  Once the parts have been worked a bit, they will assemble easily, but will stay in place as desired. Remember, wood is a "live" material (which is why we like it, right?), and precise tolerances such as can be achieved with plastic are not possible.

BASIC INSTRUCTIONS

The black blocks have one "locking" hole. The natural wood hubs spin or slide; the black hubs "lock". The rings are spacers for exact placement of parts. One cylinder = 4 rings. The panels fit the grooves in the hubs and blocks. The balls lock onto the dowels to hold everything together. The basic relationship of the parts is shown here (the uses of the panels & wheels should be obvious). The dowels slip through some holes and fit tightly in others. The locking blocks are used where a cranking action is needed.
The locking hubs can be used as a part of an assembly to transmit rotary motion to another  part. The Rings and Cylinders are used to take up space so that the other parts of a construction fit properly and work together properly.

A basic unit for many structures is the "GEAR", using a hub and 5 dowels.

If a sliding hub is used, the gear rotates passively when moved by another part or assembly. If a locking hub is used, motion is transmitted through the axle, either from other parts or to other parts. Using just 3 dowels makes a "propeller". top of page

Let's try making a "Moto-Crank"! A dowel is pressed into the locking hole of a black block. A cylinder is placed on the dowel, and the other end pressed into a hub (locking or sliding). Two more dowels attached to the hub make a "propeller". (Or use four.) Another dowel is inserted into the through-hole in the locking (black) block, and secured in place with a ball on each end. Hold the cylinder in one hand and crank the sliding dowel with the other hand.

Now we can try making the GEAR GADGETTM, shown in the package illustration.

First, assemble 2 "Basic Gear Assemblies", using one sliding (natural wood) hub and 4 five inch (colored) dowels for each one.  *Next, put a 10" dowel into any hole in a base board. Add: 2 rings, 1 cylinder, and a block (not black, or locking). The block can be used to construct the decorative support shown on the package. Add 1 cylinder. Now add 1 colored block with the groove on the lower side; that's important! Slide a dowel through one hole. Add 1 ring to one side, and 4 rings to the other. Place one of the gear assemblies on the end of the dowel with 4 rings. Cap each end of the dowel with a ball, to keep everything in place. Finally, place one ring over the end of the 10" dowel which is sticking up from the block. Now add the second Gear Assembly. Cap the top of the 10" dowel with a ball. Turn one gear: it should mesh with the other, and cause it to turn. If it does not work perfectly, experiment with using more or fewer rings to change the spacing. The gears may not operate as well in both (clockwise & counterclockwise) directions. A little Butcher's wax may help them spin. Look again at the package illustration. All other parts shown are decorative. Why not do it your way?

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Perhaps you are ready to try making the Walking Machine, or the Vehicle with 4-Wheel Steering, shown on package. We provide here a few hints, that's all. What fun would it be if we told you how to do it? These are problems in mechanical design, and are plenty difficult. If you are looking for something you can do in one easy sitting, better try something else.