Reviews (1)

sparks the imagination
This thing is fantastic.It has 75 possible experiments that can be done without help if you stay within the age group recommended.Kids can use the included wires to make bells, buzzers, lights, sirens, and more.It's all about following the diagram and connecting the included wires to the terminals.That's all there is too it.It travels well too for hours and I mean hours of fun in the car. The parts are all connected to the board so there's nothing to fall out.You can buy extra wire anywhere.This "toy" is a great value. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Science   

Features

• Illustrated manual
• Ages 10 and older; 6 AA batteries required
• Build 300 electronic projects

Reviews (4)

Excelent learning tool
I rate myself as a complete beginner when it comes to
basic electronics. As with anything the best way to
learn is to practically do it, which can be difficult
and extremely expensive when it comes to electronics.
This project kit has to be probably the best starting
point for anyone who wants to get into electronics
because it focuses on the practical side which is a great
experience.

Looking at the product packaging the box looks high quality
until you look inside. It would have been extremely nice to
have batteries included to get working on the projects as
soon as possible.The electronic device itself is plastic
and can shatter to bits if you are not carefull.
The manual itself is wide making it extremely difficult to
handle. Probably the most irritating thing about the manual is
the layout. It starts off in English only to suddenly move off
to other languages. Each project section is actually split into
different languages increasing the size of the manual.

Apart from that I found the instructions were pretty much
easy to follow and straight to the point. The most noticable
thing about the manual I found was that it will get you
on your feet and going but thats about it. A paragraph or two
is included for each section summarising what the circuit does
but chances are you will want more information on what is going.
A good electronics book should help although you wont need
it if you are already familiar with whats going on. A simple
look at the a good website should be enough to increase your
understanding.

The most surprising thing I found about this product
was that a lot of the interesting components happen to be
on the main device itself. You only connect the
necessary components to the appropriate connectors - placing
the ICs, capacitors, transistors and wires on the rather
small breadboard. A good pair of thin pliars is probably
recommended as it can get seriously messy especially with the
more complex and demanding projects.

All in all a superb product, looks cheap for the price but
dont let that fool you. Dont expect to make a full fledged
electronic game or a full fledged radio out of this but do
expect to learn enough to be able to get a grasp of advanced
electronics. With 300 projects on the list, chances are
you'll probably think of something cool yourself after you've
completed all 300.

Finally I have to say this - the kit is pretty advanced for a
bunch of 10 year olds. If you do decide to give it to the
younger enthusiast, be sure to help out. It takes patience and
practice otherwise the components could break or become damaged.
Another important note is that a lot of the components will
damage if static gets hold of them.

Not what I hoped for
I agree with the first reviewer. I purchased this kit for my 10 year old son, who is above average intelligence and has a voracious appetite for scientific knowledge and experiments. He is fascinated by the kit, but the instruction book is so poorly written that he cannot even begin to make sense of it. I am taking the other reviewers advice and purchasing some other basic electronics books in hopes of salvaging the [money] spent on the kit.

Excellent tool for learning Electronics
I've always been interested in learning at least the basics about electronics and finally decided to do something about it.I bought a couple of 'intro to electronics', 'electonrics basics' type books and I bought this toy.While rated for 10 years and up, they'd be pretty bright 10 year olds.The kit comes with capacitors, resistors, diodes, wires, transistors and even IC's.The other reviewer is correct.Resistors are all color coded -- and very small --- and very many in this kit. I finally spent about 4 hours labelling over 50 tiny plastic bags so I could easily find the appropriate parts to do the projects.
The manual explains how to identify all the parts, and for the projects uses a step by step approach to instruct one on how to put the project together.For example, "Insert 100 ohm resistor in B12 and J12 on the breadboard".In this respect, yes, a 10 year old could easily follow these instructions.The diagrams show the breadboard layout as well as showing you the "real" schematics.That coupled with my reading through my "electronics for dummies" books -- it's actually all starting to make sense as to why components are laid out they way they are.Without the other books, I would not have figured that out just from this kit -- but, if you just want to make things flash and make sounds etc and follow the instructions, that that won't matter.The manual does attempt to explain why something works -- but I was lacking the bare basics, so it didn't make much sense.

All in all, I would highly recommend this kit to anyone who really has an interest in learning about basic electronics and wants to put things together.

It would be a great kit for family projects.However, there are a ton of very small parts and good eyesight or a magnifying glass and a flashlight would be recommended for those of us with less then perfect eyesight.

Well worth the cost, working out to much much less then $[money]/hour of enjoyment to work through the 300 projects. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Science    3. Chemistry    4. Activity    5. Experiments   

Reviews (2)

Lots of Fun
Highly recommended. Nice detail. Can also be used for Jello, Pudding and Chocolate as well. Makes for some nice quality time with your kids and children or adults who like dinosaurs will especially enjoy this. The price is right and the quality is good so it can be used over and over again.

School Project
Excellent school project!We purchased the Velociraptor kit for our 8 year old daughter not knowing what to expect. Afterinspecting the contents my wife came up with the clever idea of pouring melted chocolate chips it into the dinosaur molds, instead of using the plaster mix that came with the kit. We experimented with white chocolate chips and created realistic looking dinosaur bones! We buried these edible bones in ground up Oreo Cookies. What a thrill to see our daughter's 2nd grade class excavate these delectible prehistoric fossils!We can't wait to try the other Eyewitness Kits! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts and Crafts    2. Craft Kits    3. Painting    4. Painting Kits    5. Learning    6. Science    7. Archaeology    8. Geology    9. Dinosaurs    10. Activity   

Subjects:  1. Astronomy    2. Space    3. Learning    4. Science    5. Activity   

Reviews (2)

Disappointed with this leap pad book
My 6 year old daughter received this book for her birthday.In the past we'd gotten lead pad 1 and 2 level books which have been great.She loves the Wizard of Oz so I hoped this would be a good purchase. The story cannot be read to you (like the earlier leap pads) unless you want to go word for word with the pen.My older daughter (age 9) read the story and enjoyed it, but I would have rather just gotten a Wizard of Oz book.I don't see any benefit to buying the leap pad verison (there are no games or activities to enhance the story - just comprehension questions at the end of each chapter).

Great leap pad book
This is a wonderful book for ages 7 and up. I would say any younger it would be a little difficult unless you have a child who is advanced in reading. But if you have a younger child you can let the leap pad tell the story. My daughter loves this book because she is a Dorothy fan. This book is like Baums original Wizard of Oz book with silver shoes not ruby slippers. It is a great reading tool for new readers who are just beyond the Dr. Suess level. The sounds are great too!! Highly recommend! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Reading    3. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    4. Electronic    5. Alphabet   

Editorial Review

The marvels of the microscopic world around us are accessible tochildren over age 8 through this high-quality microscope made of metal and hardplastic. This model includes three rotating optical glass lenses and a 10xeyepiece for variable magnification power of 40x, 100x, and 400x. A rotatingdiaphragm and an adjustable small mirror underneath the instrument work tocontrol the lighting, and there is also an additional battery-powered light fordirect illumination (requires two AA batteries; not included). The focusingknobs and spring clips to hold slides are easy to use, and a clear directionsheet describes the microscope's use and care. A set of 10 slides is included:five prepared slides and five blank slides for individual experimentation. Amicroscope is a basic tool of scientific inquiry, and this sturdy, well-builtinstrument provides an excellent introduction to microbiology for any curiouschild or young adult. --Marcie Bovetz, mother and former children'slibrarian ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Don't waste your money!
I bought this for my eight-year-old daugher thinking it would be a decent entry-level microscope for her.It turned out to easily be the most disappointing Christmas gift I got.

First of all, it's very cheaply constructed almost entirely of plastic.More importantly though, the focusing knob didn't work at all.Right out of the box there was no way to adjust the focus.It was completely useless.What a disappointment!

(...)

Don't go into the light! With a Meade 8200
This could be a very nice item for its intended use.However, a major drawback that would have me express concern to future buyers and recommend against its purchase has been mentioned before in these reviews.The light not only doesn't work, but the batteries fit loose with over 1/4" of play.This was apparently designed by a committee who could not decide whether to wire them in parallel or series because neither is complete.The whole mechanics of the light is dangerous to sell to the intended market as it can result in an 8 to 12 year old attempting to repair and wind up creating an excessive and dangerous amount of heat.Since "only" 40% of the buyers of the Meade 8200 have a problem with a crucial part of the microscope according to these reviews, it equates to a coin toss on receiving a Meade 8200 that is not defective.I would recommend caution to those whose light works and be aware of not leaving it on unattended.If the manufacturer left contacts and tension springs out of mine, et al, there may be workable ones that are inferior also.Since this was a gift for my niece I bought her a small light and a mirror to reflect to the microscope.

No Problem with Mine
We have not had a problem with the light or batteries. This microscope works as we expected and we have been very pleased with it. The quality of the images is very good. The manual is very easy to follow, even for my nine-year-old. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Science    3. Microscopes    4. Astronomy    5. Biology    6. Activity    7. Space   

Reviews (2)

Big Disappointment
This toy is a make-believe metal detector.The panel is only stickers and makes one long beep when you turn the volume up.This is a high priced pretend toy and was a very big disappointment.

DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!
This metal detector is useless - only registers when it actually TOUCHES metal - it would never find anything even BARELY below the soil or sand. Piece of junk - very disappointed that Smithsonian would allow its name on this product ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning   

Editorial Review

By the time they're 10 years old, every kid should experience the wild adventures of the notorious pirate, Long John Silver, and John Hawkins. As characters in this classic story voyage in search of buried treasure, children will learn new, complex words; build their vocabularies; observe complex usage, syntax, and paragraph forms; experience detailed chapter-book reading; and understand plot, theme, setting, and individual character roles.

It's simple to use (kids insert the cartridge and book into their LeapPads, and use the attached stylus to hear information), but this system is an innovative technology that provides entertaining, effective learning, designed by a Stanford-trained reading expert. As well, the system has been credited with the TMA's Educational Toy of the Year and People's Choice awards. The books are designed to correlate with national academic standards for the grade levels they target.

Two notes: Make sure the LeapPad book you get is appropriate for the child's educational level; this one should be a challenge for kids between 7 and 10 years. As well, know that some LeapBooks work on both LeapPad and LeapPad Pro, like this one, but some books only work with one system. --Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (2)

One of the only Christmas toys we're still playing with.
My 8 year old daughter and I live alone.We spend every free minute doing activities together.Her Leap Pad has been a blessing.She loves Treasure Island and all the Leap Pad accessories.Rather than complain about how much TV our children watch, or how much time they spend playing video games, etc.entice them to be creative by sharing Leap Pad games and accessories with them.

Great learning aid...
I purchased this book to add to the ever growing collection of books, and it is a great addition..They definately help with teaching children to read.The leap pad products are just great. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    3. Reading    4. Electronic    5. Alphabet   

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Reading    3. Science    4. Talking    5. Dinosaurs    6. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    7. Electronic    8. Alphabet   

Reviews (1)

Awesome Fun for kids
My 5 and 3 yr. old absolutely loved this excavation.It was very rewarding, because they would not have to dig too long to find a bone or mini dinosaur. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Science    3. Geology    4. Dinosaurs   

Editorial Review

Someone's in the kitchen with Auntie Pasta, cooking uppizza-specific ways to teach younger children the basics of beginningfractions. This game for two to four players includes a spinner and aplaying board with circles divided into halves, thirds, or quarters.Players receive cardboard pieces of pizza in different sizes (withcorresponding numerical fractions on the back). The sections are placedon the circles during the game to create complete pizzas, with tinycardboard pizza boxes to cover each completed pie. The game requiresvery little reading (just a few basic words on the spinner), and it's agood way to introduce the concepts of pie-chart fractional divisions aswell as simpler fractional concepts. Adaptable for preschoolers as wellas for older siblings, it's a good choice for home schoolers or family gamenight--with pizza for dinner, of course! --Marcie Bovetz ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cards    2. Learning    3. Games    4. Numbers    5. Preschool    6. Math    7. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    8. Electronic    9. Activity    10. Family Favorites    11. Board Games   

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    3. Electronic    4. Alphabet   

Editorial Review

There are only seven pieces in this puzzle, so it should be easy. Right? Guess again! Sixty puzzle cards show 60 three-dimensional structures for players to replicate using the seven pieces. Each of the pieces, based on three or four connected cubes, is unique. One is an L shape, another a T, and they get more complicated from there. If a player is stumped and can't figure out how to build the Long Wall, the Snake, or the Bad Dog, there are helpful clues on the back of the cards. Players also can use the pieces to invent their own structures. Originally known as the Soma Cube, Block by Block is an excellent way to develop and refine spatial perception skills. Includes drawstring bag for storage. --Wendy Slotboom ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I played this 30 years ago and loved it.
once you start on this you're hooked! my friends and I worked on those puzzles when we were out at sea and the images and feel of the cubes remains with me to this day.

Wow this is hard!
For the ultimate challenge in spatial relations try out this game.It's like a three dimensional tangram and it is really tough.For a great time bring this to a party and work on the solutions as a group.Personally, Ithink 8 years old is probably a little young for this game.I'd suggest12+ unless the children are teamed up with an adult. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Family Favorites    2. Puzzles    3. 3-D Puzzles    4. Brain Teasers    5. Learning    6. Games    7. Board Games    8. Brain Games    9. Activity   

Reviews (7)

IGNORE REVIEW FROM WOMAN ABOUT GIVING TOY TO LITTLE BABIES!!
AGE IS LISTED FOR 3 AND UP SO WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD THAT WOMAN GET THIS FORA LITTLE BABY! THIS IS A WONDERFUL TOY FOR THE RIGHT AGE. NOT A BABY!

Toys are dangerous for young babies!!!!
I have a 9 month old and 75% of the toys that are included I would NEVER allow him to play with even with me beside him.The letters and numbers are way too small and he could easily slip it in his mouth and choke.Example, they have a lower case "L" the size of a small french fry.The only ones that are acceptable to me are the aquatic animals and there are far less of them than the letters and numbers.SECOND, although it's super easy to put together, it doesn't fit well in my bathroom.The pelican only extends so far to hang over the tub- so if your tub is like mine and gets wider at each end, don't count on putting it at either end- it won't fit.So that leaves me with putting it in between the middle of the tub and the end.So I'm battling for elbow room to bath my son although I will admit our toilet is at the other end making space limited. <br /> <br /> Bottom line- toys are not for young babies who could choke and you need a tub that nothing is beside like the vanity or toilet and a tub ledge that doesn't get bigger at the ends.

Just doesn't work in tub
Didn't think of it when I ordered but can't be used if you have sliding glass doors on tub.Ended up costing me $6.00 shipping fee to return & a $4.00 restocking charge.Lesson learned, be careful what you order. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Learning    3. Reading    4. Bath Toys    5. Activity   

Reviews (2)

It's a great tool for learning to tell time
This item is a bit pricey for what you get, but it is really a helpful tool in teaching children to read time.I ordered it two months ago, and by the time Christmas rolled around, my daughter wasn't having trouble with time so much.Still, it is very interactive with her daily life, including magnets for kids to practice time in conjunction with their daily activities.I highly recommend this item, especially if your children are just starting to learn to tell time.

Educational and great time teacher!
We received this item as a gift for our 4 yr old son's birthday.The concept is great in that the child can relate activities in their day to certain times on the toy.Our son can now understand half hours, 45 minutes, etc!
The only complaint is that the magnetic hold on the magnets is pretty weak...so they don't stick real well and fall off easily if you brush up against the board.The pen also doesn't stick well to the surface and the magnet has already fallen off of it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Learning    3. Math    4. Numbers    5. Time    6. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    7. Electronic   

Reviews (2)

Previous Reivew Misses the Point
I'm afraid that the previous reviewer misses the point about the maze.It is designed to allow the user to shift the walls as they progress through the maze; it is not intended to be a static maze as if on paper.

There are 16 starting configurations listed on the back of the product, and they increase in difficulty as they progress.Early settings require either no or very limited manipulation of the walls to complete.As you go on to more advanced settings, however, you encounter ever-more-complicated mazes that require you to plan ahead to determine whether moving a given wall will help you or hurt you in the long run.

This is a great toy to teach strategic thinking, and is suitable for a variety of ages (some of the more advanced maze configurations are quite challenging).

not really "16" ways
I was very disappointed to find that only one setting allows you to get all the way to the end of the maze.Yes, you can change the maze path but then you can only get part of the way to the finish.My kid LOVES mazes but this toy was a bust! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Games    3. Board Games    4. Brain Games    5. Puzzles    6. 3-D Puzzles    7. Strategy Games    8. Brain Teasers    9. Activity   

Reviews (2)

Not getting what is pictured
Very disappointed when the product arrived. The discription says styles may very, and they were right. I received product that was about half as cute as what was pictured. Compared to what they have pictured what I received is second rate. I didn't expect much for the quality item and it still was not very good. I would not recommend buying this product and would suggest looking at other options.

Barbie Photo Gift Set
It's a perfect gift for a child and it helps to get skills in take pictures at early age. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning   

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Wacky    3. Learning    4. Science    5. Magnets   

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Reading    3. Games    4. Numbers    5. Activity    6. Family Favorites