Blast off with Discovery Kids!

The Discovery Channel Store and the Parent Bloggers Network sent us an awesome toy to review recently — Paz’s blast off rocket from the Ready Set Learn! line.  As a former NASA scientist and lifelong enthusiast, I was absolutely thrilled to be selected to review this product, one that I might not have splurged on but one that I was totally thrilled to get.  As it turns out, if I had seen these in person first, I totally would have splurged on it.

The rocket is a durable, sturdy, armful of rocket sized and shaped just right for an older toddler or preschooler’s hands and arms.  I say arms here because the toy has been so popular with my son and his friends that I frequently find one boy or another with both arms wrapped around it in desparate attempts to “own” it himself.  After we’ve pried off the little visitor and exhorted the boys to take turns, the other mother and I invariably laugh it off.  But the truth is … this is a FUN toy!

The rocket has three levels of fun.  The top level is the cockpit of the rocket, with room for 2 of the 4 action figures included.  (But not the bunny, who has ears sticking out the back of his space suit helmet. This has caused some consternation in my house.)  The bottom level is storage for the lunar rover and possibly one more action figure.  The middle level, though, the middle is a dollhouse in miniature, with tiny shelves, a coffeemaker, and rows of cups in the kitchen.  The murphy bed folds into the wall to reveal a toilet underneath.  The detailing is exquisite, if a bit odd — I wouldn’t actually expect to see books upright on the bedside table in space, for instance, or toilet paper on a roll, but for this age, it’s acceptable.  In fact, it’s charming.

This toy is a true winner.  Yes, it’s plastic, and yes, it’s made in China, but its play value is high and the source appears to be reputable.  It’s not a cheap disposable toy.  This is a quality toy that can be used in three ways — as a rocket, as a dollhouse equivalent, and as a base for “lunar explorations” with the enclosed crater.  It meets my criteria and I totally recommend it for the holiday gift-buying season!  Find them at the Discovery Channel Store online.

This rocket is the hot new toy at our house … and a playgroup favorite!

Cranium SuperFort

Quite simply, we are in love with the Cranium Super Fort.  We discovered this kid-size (and by that I mean BIG) building toy at a friend’s house recently and we were immediately hooked.  This is a life-size tinker-toy set that is easy enough for a two-year-old to assemble and exciting enough for his engineer daddy to keep playing with long after bedtime.

The basic set contains 16 bendable foam cylinders, 16 magnetic connectors, 6 rigid foam tubes, 6 bases, and a colorful assortment of tenting material (and clips) to drape over, around, and through the creation after assembly.  It comes with instructions for the focused 5 and 6 year olds in the crowd, but kids older and younger won’t want or need them. 

The colors are bright and attractive, beckoning kids over to play.  The foam tubes are light enough for a toddler to lift and hold in place while the group decides what to build (and foamy enough to bounce off foreheads if there is an unfortunate disagreement).  Assembly is a snap, as the foam tubes snap right into the magnetic connectors with a satisfying click, and the connectors can snap on bases for stability. 

The resulting structures — rockets, castles, ships, houses (with basement, according to my 2-year-old), even a car – are sturdy enough for a team of kids to play in and around.  Even my 6-month-old likes to grab the pieces and sit in the finished product with his big brother.

This toy is a hit, and a fantastic addition to our playroom.