May 2010 Notable Toys — Kits

Ideal for the budding scientist, this slime lab allows kids to make some of the strangest, most anomalous slime they have ever encountered - weird slime that changes color with body heat, magnetic slime that slithers towards magnets, and even slime that glows eerily in the dark. Kids can learn the science behind these amazing hydrophilic polymers while mixing up gobs and gobs of slime.
— As of 05/12/2012 this product had 4.3 out of 5 stars from 15 reviews on Amazon.com. Cons: Too messy; supplies run out too quickly; does not come with containers for the slime.
— John Blair, owner of Science Safari in Cary, N.C., told TDmonthly in late Spring 2011 that he sells 3-4 kits from Scientific Explorer each month.

The Discovery Channel's Mythbusters find the truth behind urban legends using the scientific method and plenty of curiosity and ingenuity. Their unique, offbeat and often-explosive approach to science comes to a science kit that helps kids discover the powers of air pressure.

Using this kit, aspiring Mythbusters will have a gas with 'the deadly belch' and other air-powered experiments. They'll discover that although they might not even notice the air around them, it packs a powerful punch, while finding mythbusting answers to these questions:

• Can air cause your stomach to explode?
• Will air help your bones predict the weather?
• If you get the air free, can you save your house during a tornado?

The 44 pieces in this kit from Elenco Electronics include a miniature motor and a working solar panel. Children can assemble six different machines and watch their creations come to life while learning how the energy in sunlight converts to powerful electricity. A detailed instruction manual is included with the kit.
― “I can't keep those in stock,” remarked Casey Sartain, buyer for Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City, Utah, of Elenco's 6-in-1 Solar Kit. Sartain listed the 6-in-1 Solar Kit as his best-selling activity kit during an April 2010 survey of 48 storeowners.
— In a Fall 2013 survey, Kim Emigh, manager of e-commerce at Growing Tree Toys in State College, Pa., told TDmonthly that this solar kit is one of their best-selling science toys.

One of many adventure kits from Mighty World, the River Explorer set comes with two character figurines and a load of other accessories to stimulate kids' imaginations. The bright yellow, heavy-duty truck and trailer both have free-rolling wheels and are accompanied by a raft, boating and camping gear, and an alligator.
― “Our rack is empty right now, so they've been doing good,” Wallace Harvey, manager of Three Cheeky Monkeys in Los Angeles, Calif., told TDmonthly of Mighty World, which he listed as his best-selling playset during an April 2010 survey.

Measuring 4” x 5” each, the three blank books are packed with markers and sticker accents. Kids create their own stories, photo albums, journals or anything else they can think of. The books are unlined to accommodate any style of contents imaginable.
― Three out of 43 retailers in an April 2010 survey listed Creativity for Kids as their top-selling provider of activity kits and playsets.
Awards: Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products - 2010

This kit comes with over 200 pieces, including 10 sturdy mask forms with elastic cords, double-stick tape, pompoms, jewels and fringed paper, plus ready-to-decorate cutouts of hats, glasses, funny lips and more.

Build your own electric vehicles and machines, and then power them up with a hand-crank generator. Assemble 11 models including a racecar, “flying” car, radar car, satellite car, propeller airplane, drilling car, bulldozer, space station, well-digging machine, and portable camping torch. Experiment with your electric generator and your models: Alter the crank-time and the crank-frequency and see how these variables affect the performance of your cars and machines. The 36-page color instruction book included in this kit illustrates the step-by-step assembly of each model and related principles so that children learn through playing. The 122 building pieces included in this set are compatible with those in all Thames & Kosmos Construction Series kits, Physics Series kits, Wind Power, and Hydropower kits.

Build wind-powered generators to energize your electric vehicles and charge your rechargeable batteries! The wind spins the turbine, which turns an electric generator, which in turn charges your rechargeable AA batteries (not included). You can then use those wind-charged batteries to power the model vehicles you build. The six models include a glider, sail car, jet car, tractor, racecar, and tricycle. This kit includes two styles of wind turbine blades and a gearbox with three different gear ratios for experimenting. You can adjust the angle and number of wind turbine blades to make best use of wind, to make the LED light up brightly, and to charge the rechargeable battery as fast as possible. Explore this amazing, free source of renewable energy and store the electricity you generate for use in practical applications. Included also is a 40-page color instruction book with illustrated step-by-step instructions for assembling two windmills and six model vehicles, and conducting various experiments. The 133 building pieces included in this set are compatible with those in all Thames & Kosmos Construction Series kits, Physics Series kits, Wind Power, and Hydropower kits.

Pneumatic-Hydraulic Engines. Build your own models powered by air and water pressure to learn about the laws of physics. This unique kit allows you to build two different air-and-water-powered systems: water-jet propelled cars and hydro-pneumo (which simply means air pressure and water pressure) powered engines. The hydro-pneumo system uses a self-contained air-and-water turbine system as a motor. Construct 15 models including a truck, excavator, radar car, tank, antique car, helicopter, motorbike, backhoe, rocket car, forklift, roadster, propeller plane, grinder, and cutting machine. The water-jet propelled cars are a fun outdoor activity, while the self-contained hydro-pneumo powered models are fun both indoors and out. The 48-page color instruction book included in this kit illustrates the step-by-step assembly of each model and related principles so that children learn through playing. The 165 building pieces included in this set are compatible with those in all Thames & Kosmos Construction Series kits, Physics Series kits, Wind Power, and Hydropower kits.

For birthday parties, classroom projects and even fund-raisers. The party pack comes with ten 1 lb. bags of different colored sand and 25 bottles with caps. The Sandtastik Colored Sand included in the Party Pack is blue, black, red, emerald green, mauve, orange, pink, light blue, white and yellow.

This extra-large kit is designed to give kids everything they need to start cooking. Once they don their chef’s had and apron, kids can use the included measuring cups, bowls, whisk and other utensils to create their own meals. With a little adult guidance and supervision, the BPA-free nylon, silicone and plastic items in the kit can foster a lifelong love of food and cooking.
— Katie of Time 2 Eat Yall praised Curious Chef’s products for being durable and dishwasher safe. Katie explained, “With Curious Chef's products, young ones can experience and learn a ‘hands on’ approach about kitchen basics and safety with Mom assisting headache free.”
— A mom reviewer at Brimful Curiosities tried some Curious Chefs utensils with her daughter, who “proudly arranged them on the counter, excited to have her very own kitchen tools just like Mommy.” The utensils proved safe enough for a child yet effective enough for an adult as the mother-daughter team prepared an apple crisp together.

The Create-a-Clip craft kit has been stringently tested and is CPSCA certified. The clips, appliques and ribbons, as well as the glue and non-slip liner, have been custom designed by Kensey Lu. Each kit comes complete with eight stainless steel hairclips, 11 non-fraying ribbons, 10 stylish appliques, 20 Swarovski crystals, one bottle of non-toxic ribbon and crystal glue, eight non-slip liners for stay-put styling and one craft stick. Launch date: 2009.

With more than 60 activities, this set can serve as a great introduction to the wonders of science. It allows kids to set up their own science lab and investigate activities in chemistry, physics, biology, geology, weather, magnets and electricity. Activities include Insta-Snow , the Geyser Tube (Mentos and diet soda geyser), Water Gel, Gravity Goo, Windbags, Twister Tube and more.  "We have billed it as “the best of Be Amazing!” since it contains many of our signature science activities," Renee Whitney, president of Be Amazing Toys, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2010.

This solo activity kit doesn't require reading and comes with 13 interchangeable parts for three spaceships, plus 60 decorative stickers. Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010

Kids can store up to 20 HEXBUG Nano specimens in their tubes within this Nano Specimen Case. The specimen case has a removable insert, zipper closure, nylon cover with EVA backing, and elastic loops to hold HEXBUG Nano tubes. Launch date: 2010.

This craft kit allows one to create the Beaky Family: Mama Owl, Papa Owl and their little 'un. Young sewers can design their own color scheme from a selection of felt sheets (brights or pastels). The owls are approximately 3.75", 2.75" and 1.75" tall when sewn. The sewing kit makes all three owls and includes re-usable patterns and full instructions, wool felt (5 colors), stuffing, embroidery thread, buttons and needle. All the crafter needs to supply is tracing paper, scissors, pencil, pins and dried beans for balance. Owner Sarah Ketchley of Kit and Caboodle Designs told TDmonthly, "Kit and Caboodle Craft Kits are designed and developed to emphasize the natural, the reusable and recyclable and are ideal for the beginning crafter with scope for embellishment and personalization by those more experienced." Launch date: June 2009.

The Frosted Ruff N' Ready pack contains ten 8"x10" sheets of the exclusive Frosted Ruff N' Ready Shrinkable Plastic. It's the plastic found in kits and books produced by Spin Master, Curiosity Kits, and Klutz. This plastic is actually clear plastic that has been machine roughened on one side. Recommended for use with children because colored pencils can be used to trace and color one's selected image. The sheets are unprinted, to be left up to the imagination of the user to fill in.

This pack of Shrinky Dinks features ten 8"x10" plastic sheets that are crystal clear. They can be used for projects where you would like a more transparent finished piece that the Frosted Ruff N' Ready can give you. The plastic can be colored with paint markers, permanent marking pens, acrylic paints or stamped on. Each pack includes instructions for use and project ideas.

The Shrinky Dinks Ultra Thick Misty White creative pack contains six 8"x10" sheets of thick plastic, making it very durable, but also light weight enough for use. Smooth on both sides to use with permanent markers, acrylic paints and pens. Complete instructions and ideas enclosed in each pack.

These 2” ceramic planters are filled with rye grass seeds and a growing medium. Kids can pose them on a stand, water them, and watch them grow. Their grass hair can then be trimmed into various styles. Choices include a duck, pig and frog.
— These little planter sets were popular in spring 2010 at My Club Tabby in Lake Charles, La., according to Owner Natalie Comeaux. Customers were looking forward to the arrival of spring, and the items had been selling well for over a month in March.

This root growing kit can be fun for the whole family. It allows growers to observe the process from planting to harvest. The kit includes a wooden stand, three plastic root toobers, a growing medium, and enough seeds for several plantings of radishes, carrots and green onions. Instructions are also included.
— These garden root viewers were listed as a top-10 best seller at My Club Tabby in Lake Charles, La., by owner Natalie Comeaux in spring 2010. They had been selling well for over a month in March.

Mesh walls allow for close-up viewing of butterflies and insects. A sliding plastic door makes catching and releasing easy while avoiding pinched fingers, and a carrying handle makes it portable.
— With warmer weather approaching, these backyard exploration critter cases were on the top-10 best-seller list at My Club Tabby in Lake Charles, La., in spring of 2010. Owner Natalie Comeaux reported in March that the kits had been selling well for more than a month.
— June Hargrove, co-owner of Black Forest Books & Toys in Charlotte, N.C., told TDmonthly that they sell 24-30 of Toysmith's Critter collection each month.

Young bird watchers can get in on the fun with this kit for building and painting a birdhouse. No hardware is required, and the kit includes everything needed to create and paint a 5.5” x 7” x 7” birdhouse.
— With the eagerly anticipated arrival of spring around the corner, birdhouse kids were popular items at My Club Tabby in Lake Charles, La., in March 2010. Owner Natalie Comeaux reported that they had been selling well for over a month.

This kit comes in various colors and includes a pair of jersey knit garden gloves, a trowel, a rake, a shovel and a metal watering can.
— Spring items were very popular in March 2010 at My Club Tabby in Lake Charles, La. Owner Natalie Comeaux reported that the kids watering can kit had been selling well for over a month.