Posts Tagged ‘educational’

Royal and Spencer are like any other boys out there. They are amazed and amused at most things science and space. We are big watchers of a show that busts myths and the love going to the local college planetarium. Because of there interest in this stuff, I was totally geeked when I was asked if I would like to review some products from the infamous Steve Spangler.

Steve Spangler is a teacher, science toy designer, speaker, author and an Emmy award-winning television personality. Spangler is probably best known for his Mentos and Diet Coke geyser experiment that went viral in 2005 and prompted more than 1,000 related YouTube videos. Spangler is the founder of SteveSpanglerScience.com, a Denver-based company specializing in the creation of science toys, classroom science demonstrations, teacher resources and home for Spangler’s popular science experiment archive and video collection. Spangler is a frequent guest on the Ellen DeGeneres Show where he takes classroom science experiments to the extreme. Check out his pool filled with 2,500 boxes of cornstarch!

Fun Fly Stick – Static Generator

The Fun Fly Stick is an ingenious battery operated static electricity generator that allows you to float tinsel shapes on a cloud of electrons. Press the button on the Fun Fly Stick for a few seconds to generate a static charge. Drop the tinsel shape onto the stick to quickly transfer the negative charge to the tinsel. Since like charges repel each other, the negatively charged tinsel shape floats above the negatively charged stick. The learning curve is about two minutes and you’re ready to amaze everyone with the Fun Fly Stick. Recommended for children ages 5 and up. This was one of the coolest things I have seen in a long time. Since the boys are only 3 and 8, they were TOTALLY amazed at the fact that could “make something fly like Harry Potter”

Mentos Geyser Tube

The Geyser Tube™ is a loading tube for the now famous Diet Coke geyser powered by MENTOS®. If you’ve ever tried doing the experiment, you know how difficult it can be to drop the MENTOS® into the bottle before the reaction takes off… and you’re soaking wet. The Geyser Tube will give you a perfect launch every time with time to stand back. You want to talk about 2 boys laughing so hard they almost throw up? I don’t know why they found it so but they were in tears laughing. Royal had seen this many times on the myth show we watch but he was still “OH MY GOD MOM LOOK!” when it shot up. I will admit that is is much cooler to see it in front of you than on TV!

PLAYSKOOL believes that children learn through play — that’s why it’s called More Than Play! When your child plays with the BLOCKSTERS BLOCK SPOT, it helps him or her gain hand-eye coordination and learn shapes. The BLOCKSTERS BLOCKIMALS, in addition to providing animal fun, also increase finger dexterity.

Babies will giggle with glee as they stack and explore these adorable block toys! Each whimsical block is home to a friendly face and a busy activity like squeaking or rattling. Little ones love all the fun and parents love how these toys encourage hands-on play and help develop fine motor skills. When you’re done, all the blocks pack up into the handy travel case, which can also be used as a shape sorter! Ages 12 months and up. Approx. Retail: $22.99

Spencer loved these blocks. He sat playing with them for over an hour! A mom’s dream toy! The thing I loved best was that it closes up into a nice carrying case so that we were able to take them place with us. It was a lot nicer than throwing a handful of toys that he may not want into the diaper bag. My younger neices and nephews were able to play with these as well.  I did notice that 15 month old babies had a hard time holding onto the bigger blocks. The size is great to prevent choking but you want the kids to be able to play with it as well.

Playskool Blocksters with Shape Sorter Case is available on Amazon for $20.00 or you can purchase it directly from Hasbro online for $22.99. It is also sold at many retailers.

Register for free to sample 7 books, including 1 Look and Listen book plus 1 Story-Builder creation. Disney Digital Books is offering 7 free digital books including one look and listen and one story builder creation when you register on their site. Click Read Free Books to get yours

KLUTZ.com Books Girl & Boy Gift Picks for this Holiday Season!

PAPER FASHIONS FANCY
Price: $21.95
Paper fashions get glam! In the Klutz paper fashions custom, young designers get to turn colorful paper, ribbons, beads, sequins, and jewels into glamorous fashions and accessories.

INVASION of the BRISTLEBOTS
Price: $19.95
#1 Award winner 2009 Toy of the Year Award, FamilyFun magazine Invasion of the Bristlebots comes with two mini-robots —basically motorized toothbrush heads. These guys zoom around like caffeinated cockroaches, spinning, skittering, and bouncing off walls. Resistance is futile. The book bristles with ideas for robot games and activities: race robots against each other, use the included punch-out walls to construct a bristlebot maze, stage a robot sumo-wrestling match. You can even customize your Bots with the provided wire legs, feelers, and beady eyes.

Sale begins at 10PM PST on 11/25/09

(click the image above to visit the sales page)