Assembly Required
By Avelino C. Tuason

Summer vacation doesn’t mean children have to stop learning. That’s the beauty of activity kits. It’s sort of like slipping vitamins into their dessert.

Don’t worry, these chain mail kits have nothing to do with annoying letters you must forward to 50 people to avoid bad luck. The ChainMailSmith Series happens to be an arts and crafts project, a history lesson and a protective suit in case you run into Vikings, all in one. The do-it-yourself medieval armor kits come with all the necessary rings and links, and two full color 16”x20” posters describing the process of constructing the chain mail armor.

The next time someone tells you “when they made you, they broke the mold,” prove them wrong by showing off a precise duplicate of your face, torso or hand. Artmolds utilizes lifecasting, the ancient art of taking molds directly from the human body. These anatomy immortalizers are the only casting kits certified safe by the Art and Creative Materials Institute, Inc.

For an interactive literary experience, families can take a trip to Gingerbread Farm, a 40-page full color book and kit. As young readers explore Pixieville, they will learn how to create and decorate Garden Pixies, mobiles, picture frames and more. Kids, play with your food: The kit comes with attachments that bring your fruits and veggies to life.

Design Your Own Soccer Ball Kit

Thanks to Design Your Own, children can have fun with their soccer ball even before the game begins. Dr. Toy has gotten a kick out of the kit too, acknowledging it as one of the “Ten Best Active Products” for the year 2000. Due to the popularity of the World Cup, the innovative item is already surpassing its sales gooooooaaaaaaalll!

The Eiffel Tower? Ha, even a kid can make it! In addition to the Paris landmark, Paperlandmarks line of paper model kits features 15 other striking replicas, such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Big Ben, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Great Wall of China and the Egyptian Pyramids.

The producer of museum quality fossil replicas has turned its attention to molding boys’ and girls’ fantasies. Skullduggery’s Fire Fighter Kit allows kids to use molds and paint to create a fireman, fire hydrant and the firehouse dog (just make sure to keep the latter two away from each other). Meanwhile, the Princess Kit can be transformed into a beautiful princess, her palace, a magical unicorn and a whimsical dragon.