Reviews for Crafts & Hobbies
The Magic School Bus - Soaring Into Flight Science Kit$19.99 at Amazon.com |
We like the Magic School Bus science kit series for several reasons. First, it’s geared to children as young as 5, and, with some guidance from you, they can actually do the experiments and learn a thing or two. We also like the instruction booklets included in the kits. Your grandchildren will enjoy following along because they feature Ms. Frizzle, Ralphie and all of the Magic School Bus characters they already know and enjoy. You’ll appreciate the easy-to-understand, yet informative curriculum provided, as well as the format of the booklet. For instance, each experiment follows the same format: 1) Question; 2) Hint; 3) Hypothesis; 4) Materials Needed; 5) Methods 6) Results; and 7) Conclusions. There is also supplemental information included with each experiment in the form of dialogue from each of the Magic School Bus characters. Clever! My little scientist at home was thrilled to test the Soaring Into Flight kit. This is a perfect Spring or Summer activity — however, these experiments can also be conducted indoors, with guidelines and plenty of space. The kit is ideal for children who enjoy airplanes or anything that flies. Twelve age-appropriate experiments explore basic concepts essential for various types of flight, such as: air pressure and resistance, wings, Newton’s third law of motion, gas pressure, spinning rotors and gravity. Your grandchildren will build and fly paper airplanes and gliders, conduct a balloon experiment, launch tiny rockets, propel spinners, compare the effectiveness of different-sized parachute sails, and more. Soaring Into Flight is one in a series of several Magic School Bus science kits, including: The Secrets of Space, A Journey Into the Human Body, and The World of Germs. The Series was created by The Young Scientists Club, who also sells its Young Scientist Series and Adventure Science Series. The company’s products are designed by a team of Harvard graduates, scientists, educators and parents — and have won all of the top educational toy awards.
| Buy Now |
to learn more at our trusted vendor's website |
These live butterfly kits provide an awe-inspiring activity for children and grownups alike. My two children and I observed the butterfly metamorphosis process at their preschool last fall, and each of us had a chance to set a beautiful Monarch butterfly free. We found ourselves mesmerized throughout the entire process. This popular kit by Insect Lore comes with an observation chamber, feeding supplies for the butterflies, an instruction booklet that includes butterfly facts, and a certificate for 3-5 “painted lady” caterpillars. Once you choose the right time for the project (during warmer months), you simply send in your certificate and the caterpillar larvae arrive in a small container with all of the nutrients they need for their trip. The metamorphosis from larva to butterfly takes about 3 weeks from the time you receive the larvae. During this process, you and your grandchild will be able to watch the larvae grow, form chrysalides, and transform into beautiful butterflies that you can set free together. It’s a little bit like watching your grandchildren grow, only faster! Note: the butterflies shouldn’t be set free in temperatures lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This is an intergenerational activity that’s sure to engage children of all ages!
| Buy Now |
to learn more at our trusted vendor's website |
Project Table Two Stool Set$375 at Ecotots |
We’re always looking for children’s products that are made here in the U.S. using eco-friendly materials and practices. Ecotots furniture, including this table and stool set, are all that and more! First, every one of this company’s pieces are beautifully designed for aesthetics, function, and ease of assembly. The parts are made from 100% formaldehyde-free renewable birch Smartwood, and fit together in minutes without any hardware, tools or glue. Ecotots’ patented Lip & Groove and Slide Lock assembly system also makes disassembly, storage and transport easy. We love the clean, modern look of the furniture, as well as the colors to choose from (fire, leaf, cocoa and clear) — each derived from non-toxic water-based stains with U.V. cured finishes to minimize greenhouse gases. Ecotots takes their environmental practices seriously, and are Forest Stewardship Council accredited, Rainforest Alliance certified, and a member of the Sustainable Furniture Council. The pieces also come with a lifetime construction guarantee. Ecotots produces upscale and stylish children’s furniture that is also practical and environmentally responsible — this is a gift you can feel great about giving!
| Buy Now |
to learn more at our trusted vendor's website |
Dazzlin Dough was essentially developed for the educational market, but we found it for you at the 2008 Toy Fair. It’s far superior to other play dough or modeling dough, and it’s a great activity to do with your grandchild. When stored properly, its shelf life is longer than any other dough out there. And that means fewer dried-out messy crumbs! It comes in many vibrant colors and 10 different long-lasting fruity scents (our kids love to guess the smell!). And for budding artists, it can be air-dried, microwaved or oven-baked, and then painted with watercolors or acrylics — yet it’s completely non-toxic! This assortment set includes patties of five colors and scents, each in one-pound buckets. Those are the facts — you and your grandchild can take it from there!
| Buy Now |
to learn more at our trusted vendor's website |
We know you love it already, but it’s possible to make cooking with your grandchild even more fun, as well as a perfect teaching moment. Just as you feel comfortable cooking with your own set of kitchen tools, so will your grandchild with this kid-tailored set. Included are 5 age-appropriate laminated recipe cards, an overall guide to teaching children how to cook, and pint-sized dishwasher-safe utensils (whisk, spoon, spatula, pastry brush, mixing bowl, timer, baking pan, safety scissors, measuring cups and spoons color-coded to match each recipe), as well as a denim tool belt apron and a vinyl backpack on which you grandchild can write his or her name. Of course, this experience wouldn’t be complete without a recipe featuring our favorite ingredient… chocolate! You and your grandchild will indulge in baking — and eating — delicious “Chocolate Mountain Lava Cakes!” The kit is appropriate for 3 - 10 year olds, and when they’re not using the kit “professionally,” younger grandkids can use it to whip up fabulous imaginary meals. It’s called the Playful Chef Kids Cooking Kit, but it takes intergenerational cooking time seriously. Some great lessons, such as nutrition, food safety, measuring, and following directions, are built into the set, not to mention the obvious — priceless time together creating delicious treats and lasting memories.
| Buy Now |
to learn more at our trusted vendor's website |
Our young mechanically inclined son has been aching to learn more about electronics and how things work. Snap Circuits Jr. are a perfect fit for him and other children like him, who enjoy building, creating, and learning. Snap Circuits have been a huge hit with children and parents since they were introduced a few years ago. Although the recommended age is 8-12, younger children (like our son) still love the projects but need some assistance from an adult. What makes Snap Circuits so accessible and fun for most children is that the electronic components are neatly packaged within Lego-like blocks that are easy to manipulate and seem more like “play” and less like “learning.” Yet learn they do! Children can configure the 30 Snap Circuit pieces to build a.m. radios, burglar alarms, doorbells, and other electronic gizmos. Most importantly, the kit is safe, powered only by 2 AA batteries. And who can resist the price? It’s a wonderful value considering the hours of delightful learning it provides. We weren’t surprised to find that the kit has won several awards, including the National Parenting Seal of Approval and Dr. Toy’s Best Children and Educational Products awards. Larger kits that enable more projects are also available.
| Buy Now |
to learn more at our trusted vendor's website |
This art kit by Ooz and Oz is an outstanding gift, and a winner of 16 National Toy Awards. It re-introduces a 500-year-old art form called Anamorphoscopes — yup, that’s what it’s called! The kit inspires 5 to 14 year-olds (and grown-ups, too) to create art, and explore science and magic. Curved mirror decoders transform secret squiggles and swirls into astonishing reflections. The kit comes with 48 optical antics including: morphed pictures, “finding” games, a maze, and a “4-Dot Challenge.” It also comes with 2 child-safe mirror decoders, crayons, and instructions, all in a portable “desk”. Of course, this is perfect for children interested in art or magic, but most anyone, even you, won’t be able to stop making these fun and educational crafts!
| Buy Now |
to learn more at our trusted vendor's website |
This is a gift that keeps giving… all year if you wish! Different craft kits are mailed to your grandchild each month, based on the child’s age, gender, and interests. You can choose from standard or deluxe kits, and purchase 3-, 6-, or 12-months worth. The first shipment is sent 1-3 days after an order is placed (unless it is a holiday advance order) and subsequent shipments are made around the 1st or 14th of each month, depending upon when the initial shipment is sent. You can choose the kits yourself, have ChildCrafter select the kits based on information that you provide, or include a survey in your grandchild’s first shipment. Examples of kits include soap-making, candy-making, sewing, needlepoint, painting, coloring, jewelry-making, decorating, and more. Kit manufacturers include ALEX, Curiosity Kits, Quincrafts, and Dimensions, all reputable and kid-tested companies. Shipping cost is additional. Recommended for kids ages 4+.
| Buy Now |
to learn more at our trusted vendor's website |
This is a great educational toy for kids 6-12, or younger, with supervision, who will never look at their everyday surroundings in the same way again. Objects become 200 times their size when viewed through the fun hand-held device, and then projected using LED lights onto a TV screen. An observation dish and clear tube are included to allow kids to view things like liquids and insects more easily. It’s more powerful than a magnifying glass and unlike a microscope, there’s no fuss — it hooks up directly into any television and the imaging is great. Mom and Dad will love joining in the fun, and also appreciate the educational value in this perfect gift.
| Buy Now |
to learn more at our trusted vendor's website |
Melissa & Doug Victorian Doll House$149.99 at Amazon.com |
This dollhouse by Melissa & Doug is all about the details. Modeled after an authentic Victorian home, it boasts many of the dainty accents one might find in Victorian construction and interior design. It begins with the high quality wooden construction we’ve come to know and love from Melissa & Doug toys. You’ll also find two mahogony finished staircases, scalloped, peaked roofs, molded windows, and lots of tasteful floral and striped accents. The furniture and other accessories are sold separately, and can be found on Amazon.com by searching under “Melissa & Doug Doll House Furniture.” The house measures 26.5 x 28 x 18 when assembled.
| Buy Now |
to learn more at our trusted vendor's website |
