November 2006
| Arts and crafts toys Here's the list of tested arts and crafts toys, in order of kids' preference |
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MOON SAND CASTLE SET by Spin Master: $20 |
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| What it is: A sand version of moldable clay. It includes castle-shape molds, tool, play mat, and inflatable sandbox carrying case. Unlike
typical modeling clay, it will never dry out. For ages: 3 and up What's cool about it: With no instructions needed, this is one of those open-ended toys that lets young kids explore and create. Kids used the molds to make pieces of the castle. The mess is very similar to the residue of sand. It was a favorite toy among kid testers. What's not so cool: It can be difficult to get the sand out of the molds. It breaks up into small pieces and is messier to clean up than traditional modeling clay. Even though it does not stain it can get ground into carpet or upholstery, making removal difficult. What the kid testers said: Kids of all ages liked playing with this toy. "It's soft and cool to play with," said one tester. Other comments: You may need to purchase additional sand, available in a variety of colors. |
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CRAYOLA COLOR WONDER SPRAYER: $25 |
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| What it is: Create airbrushed artwork with no mess. Includes sprayer unit, 4 spray cartridges, 2 markers, 12-page color wonder paper
pad, stencils, white crayon, and play mat. For ages: 5 and up What's cool about it: It won't color on anything except the Color Wonder paper, so you don't have to worry about a mess. It's also very open-ended--a new way to explore arts and crafts. What's not so cool: Additional spray cartridges and paper will need to be purchased quickly, at $16 for 9 spray cartridges and $5.50 for 30 sheets of paper. What the kid testers said: Even though this toy had mixed reviews among some kid testers, others really liked it: "It's like it magically appears," said one kid. "It sprays sparkly colors," said another. |
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CREATIVITY FOR KIDS MONSTER TRUCKS CUSTOM SHOP: $25 |
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| What it is: Customize your own fleet of monster trucks. The kit includes four different trucks to decorate with stickers and paint. When
customization is complete you can rev up the friction drive-wheels and watch the trucks race across the floor. For ages: 5 and up What's cool about it: Since there are four trucks included, one kit allows a few kids to play together. Trucks are hand-powered, so they don't need batteries. What's not so cool: Includes acrylic paint, which dries permanently on most surfaces, so be careful when customizing your trucks. What the kid testers said: It was voted a favorite toy among the kids, especially the boys. Kids liked how the trucks kept going after they let go. One kid said, "Decorating it is pretty cool!" Other comments: We didn't see the trucks get much play time; kids lost interest shortly after customizing them. |
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CRANIUM GIGGLE GEAR: MEGA MASK KIT: $20 |
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| What it is: Kids use pieces to create funny faces and new voices. They can connect interchangeable pieces to a mask and choose a voice
to match the mask. Three different voices to choose from: robot, bug, or alien. For ages: 5 to 8 years What's cool about it: Kids really got a kick out of the voice distorter. Some, mostly younger, kids enjoyed the mask all by itself. What's not so cool: Sometimes it didn't work, and it's hard to plug in the mouthpiece securely. For a toy that appealed mostly to younger kids, it was too difficult to attach the mask pieces together. What the kid testers said: It didn't hold their attention for long, but they did like the voice distorter. |
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KLUTZ CROCHET: $25 |
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| What it is: A kit designed to teach how to crochet. Includes two kinds of yarn, a crochet hook and yarn needle, and a step-by-step instruction
book. The instructions include how to crochet a jewelry roll, flower, bath bag, envelope purse, hat, and scarf. For ages: 10 and up What's cool about it: The instructions are well illustrated and detailed, showing all the steps to complete each project. What's not so cool: The crochet hook is small and the yarn is thick, making it hard for kids to use it well. What the kid testers said: Kids tried, but had a tough time making it work. Other comments: If you make it through the basics, plan on buying more yarn. |
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