The Toys Store

Making a simple flying UFO took only a few minutes. View larger.

Create your own complex inventions using parts such as the fan motor, alarm speaker, and over 60 other pieces. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Makes learning about electronics fun. The Bad: Physics principles can be difficult to understand. In a Nutshell: Interactive, hands-on way of playing with electronics that is fun and educational. At a Glance Ages: 8 and older Requires: 4 AA batteries

Real Electronic Parts
Electronic Snap Circuits includes real circuit components just like the circuit boards inside radios, televisions, computers, and other electronic devices. This set makes it easy for anyone to create simple electronic circuits and devices. To operate, you simply snap the electronic elements onto a plastic grid, and then connect them together with wire pieces that snap easily into place.

The SC-300 lets you build electronic devices such as a whistle chip, speaker, alarm circuit, LED, lamp socket, fan motor, and a speaker. Additional pieces can be purchased separately, or in different models, and they can all be used together to create larger and more elaborate projects.

Making Electronics Fun and Easy
The included instruction manual offers 305 projects ranging from a simple light switch to a noise-activated burglar alarm. We found the color-coded instruction manual clear and easy to understand, and we had no problems creating any of the projects we tried. The projects are organized by levels of difficulty, and each project teaches an objective such as "To show how electricity can only pass in one direction through an LED."

We definitely experienced a sense of satisfaction as we completed each project, and we definitely learned about electronics concepts. The manufacturer recommends the set for ages 8-108; younger engineers should be able to easily follow the diagrams for each project, but will probably require their parents to help explain how everything works. So a word of warning to parents: Brush up on your high school physics! Although the instruction offers some good information, we found that we still needed to brush up on the physics we learned years ago so we could understand concepts such as the difference between a circuit in parallel and in series.

Unique Learning Experience
Creating a flying UFO from "scratch" with rudimentary electronic pieces was highly satisfying to us, and we think Electronic Snap Circuits may well help young students gain and foster an appreciation for, and interest in, how electronics work and are built.

For students who are already learning about electronics in school, this set creates a hands-on experience that makes for more fun than reading about how these things work in a textbook. So don't be surprised if report cards come back with higher grades after playing with this toy.

Parent-Child Bonding Experience
The Elenco Electronic Snap Circuits would make a great parent-child bonding experience that is both educational and fun. As you work through each project with your child, don't be surprised when you, too, are learning something new and interesting. And after you've completed all the projects, you can create your own! The combinations are limitless!

The Bakugan Launcher sends your Bakugan flying with three shooting modes. View larger.

There are many colors and varieties of Bakugan to collect. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Wide variety of Bakugan make them fun for kids to trade and collect The Bad: No instructions with some toys In a Nutshell: Clever and exciting interactive game that kids will enjoy even if they're not familiar with the TV show At a Glance Ages: 6 to 12

NOTE: The Bakugan Launcher includes a single launcher with a wrist strap. Bakugan warriors are sold separately.

Ready, Aim, Fire!
There are no instructions with the optional Bakugan Launcher, which is made of sturdy, lightweight plastic. But it's a straightforward accessory: simply load the Bakugan and fire away! There are two additional Bakugan compartments on either side of the launcher. The wrist strap is a great accessory that your child can use to help steady the launcher as he fires.

Exciting Magnetic Action
The Bakugan Launcher has three shooting modes ("curve," "angle, and "distance"). It holds three Bakugan, and straps to your child's wrist -- just like Dan's! Though kids can roll the Bakugan just like marbles, the Launcher adds an element of excitement to their Bakugan battles.

Room for the Imagination
Though we thought the launcher was a great accessory, but our attempts to fire it proved somewhat difficult. Instructions would have helped. If you and your child can figure it out how to fire it effectively -- especially how to use the three shooting modes -- the launcher is sure to increase their enjoyment of the game and add variety to their play.

The tiny flier fits easily in the palm of your hand.

Not just for meant flying solo, the Havoc copters are designed for fun with others. In what is almost like a live video game, each helicopter uses its infrared beam weapons to engage in a mid-air battle against the other. The first pilot to hit his opponent three times with the beam (complete with battle sounds) will be victorious as the enemy heads into a wild tailspin. Six AA batteries are required, but not included, for the remote controls. The helicopters are powered by rechargeable lithium batteries, and the charger comes with the set.

The Smart Cycle combines the fun indoor activity of video game playing with the physical activity of the great outdoors. View larger. View product demo (requires Flash).

By using the bike's joy stick and buttons, your child can navigate through many other games and adventures. View larger.

Pedal and steer your way through different environments. View larger.

The Smart Cycle games provide different levels for growing kids. View larger.

Turn on your TV and Start your Engines!
The Smart Cycle plugs directly into your VCR or TV and requires no need for a separate game system. Simply connect the Smart Cycle to your television's input jacks, insert the included game cartridge "key," and your child can start riding -- and learning -- right away! Your child pedals the bike to keep the game going and "steers" with the movable handlebars. A large, easy-to-use and conveniently placed joy stick and bright buttons control the games and educational tools.

The Smart Cycle comes with a "learning adventure," in which your child drives a car by pedaling the bike and turning the handlebars. She can splash through mud puddles and take treacherous corners as she tries to catch letters of the alphabet along the road. She'll learn to keep pedaling to keep moving, while at the same time learning her alphabet!

Versatility Adds to the Fun
The Smart Cycle includes a game cartridge that features several fun and educational adventures that will keep your child happily entertained. A trip to "Math Mountain" will help her practice her numbers, while an adventure-filled trek to "Shape Lake" will introduce her to a wide array of different shapes. The Smart Cycle also includes an exciting car racing game that two children can play at the same time, while a "creative journal" lets your child create pictures and snapshots of her "worldwide" travels.

The fun doesn't have to stop when your child gets her fill of exercise: she can stop and rest, and continue the fun and learning by using the bike's joy stick and buttons to navigate through many other games and adventures. And best of all, several optional game cartridges that can be used with the Smart Cycle (sold separately) will keep your child continually entertained, including games that feature favorite characters such as Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, Barbie, and Hot Wheels cars.

With its wide array of games and height-adjustable seat, the Smart Cycle is designed to grow with your child. So as your child grows both physically and intellectually, the Smart Cycle will grow with her.

The Ultimate Test Drive
We found the Smart Cycle easy to assemble and very simple to install with our television set. All we needed for assembly was a Phillips screwdriver and four "D" batteries (not included). As long as your television or VCR is equipped with the red, white, and yellow RCA jacks to connect the Smart Cycle, you're set to go. We simply connected the included plugs to the television's jacks, turned the television on, and we were ready for hours of fun. Once the game started, the cycle seemed easy enough to operate, making it not too much of a challenge to result in frustrating a child, but not so easy that it would soon become boring. With the additional optional game cartridges, we believe the Smart Cycle promises to be a long-lasting source of entertainment.

The Smart Cycle comes with an easy-to-follow instruction manual, and the set-up only took a few minutes. However, one minor set-back we experience was that we needed the paper instruction manual on hand to understand how to play the video game; we found some elements of the games to be nearly impossible to understand without the instructions. An intuitive set of online instructions designed for children to follow, without the need to consult a paper manual, would make for a near-ideal gaming experience for any child (and parent). Also, although the seat offers four height levels, the handlebars are not height adjustable, which may present a problem for some smaller children.

Pros:

• Provides a source of indoor exercise for young children
• Designed to grow with your child's physical and intellectual development
• Helps develop your child's motor skills
• Easy to install and use
• Includes several fun and entertaining educational games

• The instructions to some of the games are difficult to understand
• The cycle's handlebars are not height adjustable

The party box includes over a thousand cards for many card combinations. View larger.

Unexpected and funny comparisons make the game fun to come back to again and again. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Quick set up; inspires quick thinking and creativity; fun for whole family The Bad: Not as fun without at least five players; subject matter targeted for mid-teens and older In a Nutshell: Quick-paced board game requires just a minute to set up and will have everyone laughing for hours At a Glance Ages: 12 and up Requires: At least four players

Smart, Award-Winning Fun
Apples to Apples has won numerous awards including "Party Game of the Year" by Games magazine and "Mensa Select" by Mensa International. And for good reason: it involves quick thinking, humor, and strategy. For teens, the game teaches them to think about how different things can be compared to one another and how analogies are formed. One of our criticisms is that although the game states that it is designed for ages 12 and older, many of the subjects are clearly for older teens.

Hilarious Comparisons and Analogies
The name of the game is a play on the phrase "apples to oranges," and the game is about making comparisons between different things. General game play is as follows: players are dealt red cards which have a noun printed on them, and the judge (a different player in each turn) draws a green card on which an adjective is printed and places it for all players to see. Each player then chooses a red card they are holding that they think best describes the green card. The judge then decides which adjective she likes best.

The fun is in the variety of unexpected comparisons people make, sometimes apt, funny, creative, or simply absurd. For example: people might match "Awkward" with "Oil Spills," "My First Kiss," "Dandruff," and "Gold Chains. " Or: "Painful" with "High School Reunions" and "Regis Philben. " Strategy comes into play since, because each player takes turns being the judge, you begin to pick up on the preferences of each player and tailor your choices accordingly.

Players can also try variations on the basic game play. For example, instead of choosing the most apt comparison, players might try choosing the red card that is least like the green one. These variations keep the game fresh and interesting every time.

Conversation Kick Starter
Part of the fun is in standing up for your choices. For instance, you might discuss why you think "Regis Philben" is painful, or segue into a discussion of the embarrassing situations you got into on your first day of school, or your first kiss. Apples to Apples excels as an ice breaker and promotes a good amount of social interaction, as many conversations will be kick started thanks to these little cards.

More Players, More Fun
Although the box states that the game is playable with just four players, we found that the game is a lot more fun when there are at least five or six players. This increases both the frequency of funny answers and also requires players to refine their strategy a little more. Once we got going, hours passed, and it was only the lateness of the hour that reminded some of us that we had to go home.

This Party Box set comes with more than 1,000 cards total, and will entertain for a long time. Additional expansion sets are available to further increase the variety of word combinations.