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December 2005 | Vol. IV - No. 12

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Homeschooling Moms Rate Toys

Five Moms Judge the Effectiveness of Six Science Toys

By: Alison Marek
Nov 15, 2005

To view the full article, click here: Tween Girls Go Scientific

Products:
  1. Respond! by JAX LTD. INC. (ToyShow)
  2. Our Amazing Earthquakes by POOF-SLINKY INC. (ToyDirectory)
  3. Energy Wiz by NORMAN & GLOBUS INC.
  4. Weather Station by SMARTLAB TOYS
  5. Sam’s Science Adventures Pond Investigation Kit by TREASURE BOX PRESS LLC (ToyDirectory)
  6. Electric & Magnetic Combo Kit by HUNTAR COMPANY INC. (ToyDirectory)
Homeschooling Moms' Roundtable Questions Product
1 2 3 4 5 6
How appealing is the packaging? 6
8.6
 9.4
 9.2
 9.2
 9.2
How likely would you be to buy this product in a store, based on packaging alone?
5.4
 8.2
 8.8
 8.2
 6
8.6
Once the product is open, how appealing are its contents?
6.8
 7.2
 9
8
8
6.4
How easy are the instructions to understand … for Mom?
7.8
 7.6
 9.4
 10
9.4
 9.6
How easy are the instructions to understand … for kids?
6.4
 6.8
 9.2
 8.8
 8.6
 9.2
How satisfied were you with the amount of time it took to set up or prepare the toy?
9.4
 4.2
 9
8
8.2
 9.6
How excited were the kids about the prospect of using this toy?
8.8
 9.2
 9
8.4
 9
9.4
How involved were the kids when getting ready to play with the toy?
8.6
 7
9.2
 8
9
9
How interested in the toy were the children once play began?
9.8
 4.8
9
6
9
9
How much fun did your kids think it was to play? 9.8
 3.2
 8.6
 5.6
 9
7.8
How much did they think they learned while playing with the toy?
7.4
 3.2
 8.6
 6.6 9.2
 6.8
How much did you think they learned while playing with the toy?
7.6
 5
8.6
 8
9.4
 6.4
Is this toy an appropriate addition to a homeschool curriculum?
7.4
 4.6
 10
7.6 10
7.4
Is this toy an appropriate learning tool outside of the classroom?
8.4 3
10
8.4 9.2
7.8
Knowing what you now know about the toy, how likely would you be to buy it for your children or recommend it to other parents?
9.2
3.2
9.6
7.4
 9.2
 8.2
Knowing what they now know about the toy, how likely would your children be to buy it, request it or recommend it to other children?
9.6
2.2
8.8
5.4
 9
4.8
AVERAGE SCORE OVERALL
7.7
 5.5
 8.6
 7.1
 8.8
 8


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Alison MarekWriter's Bio: ALISON MAREK is an award-winning writer, director and cartoonist whose work has been published by Fairchild Publications and DC Comics (Piranha Press), broadcast on Showtime and other cable networks, and viewed worldwide in film festivals. See her short films and print work on www.alisonmarek.com. Watch her nefarious villains in the web series www.MuggsMovers.com. Get inspired by her cartoons "Daily ARFFirmations to Unleash Your Inner Fido" at www.ARFFirmations.com. Phew! And then ...  Read more articles by this author


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