Sid the Science Kids Why Do I need A Jacket? Review

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This is an amazing educational tool for little kids! While I'm still a fan of the magic school bus myself, Sid the Science Kid is one of THE hot PBS kids shows right now. Kids love it because it's fun and answers their everyday questions, parents love it because, well, it answers kids everyday questions about science and the world! Great for encouraging curiosity and exploring the natural world!

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I'm a huge sid fan. I love their shows and having the experiments to go with them make it all the more fun. Great for teaching a homeschooler science (or just for fun).

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My oldest grandson is 4 1/2 years old and loves Sid the Science Kid. I purchased this product as a Christmas present which I know he will love and enjoy doing.

Best Edmund Scientific's Famous Star and Planet Locator Deals

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the item is made well but it is a little small and makes it hard to find all the stars and planes with it

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it came packaged great with a giant red sticker on it do not bend.but the post office bent it completely in half to put it in my mail box instead of putting behind my storm door like fed x . so its broken.but I still love it because in jan 2013 I tried to buy this at American scientific in west Chicago Illinois who said they aren't Edmund sci anymore.i will try another order when I have time to watch for the post man I really like this item my old one is from 1980. Edmund sci Chicago.

Review of Ultimate Geodes Science Kit

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Dr. Cool provided us with this kit free of charge as a review sample.

The box has 15 little geodes from 1 to 1.5 in. in diameter in a bag, the plastic safety glasses and a glossy, illustrated booklet that explains how geodes came into existence and their various types.

The actual fun is the breaking of geodes to reveal the crystals inside and this is where I am deducting half a star. While this is a very interesting activity, it's also something that children, especially children from ages 6-12 simply can't do on their own. The rocks were not easy to break and, as hard as she tried, our 9 yr. old armed with a hammer and a chisel could barely scratch the surface. Our 15 and 16 yr. olds found the rocks difficult to break as well yes, anyone can smash rocks with a big hammer but the goal is to only crack them into 2 halves, 3 (thirds) at most.

Our first session lasted more than an hour and it consisted of reading the 8-page booklet and then the kids and myself worked on breaking the rocks open. Once a geode was successfully cracked we would spend some time trying to identify it using the booklet as our guide, then admire than crystal formations inside. We cracked 8 out of the 15 provided rocks, saving the rest for a second session. I don't know if it was luck but most of the geodes we opened were quite interesting, including a very nice Amethyst geode, some containing nice and clear Quartz crystals and some with smaller crystals but arranged in interesting formations.

This can be a fun and educational activity for as long as the geode-cracking part is left to the grownups.

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I love toys that are educational as well as fun. When I received an offer to test two science kits from Dr. Cool I jumped on that chance. Geodes kit was my first choice, and I was really looking forward to it as I have a fondness for rocks and wanted to share it with the kids. I really thought I would love this kit. However this kit left us frustrated. We (me and two teenagers) had very hard time cracking the rocks. After a fairly long attempt at each geode I was able to open just two.

I am attaching a collage of two photos that I will be referring to in this review.

Photo #1 shows the entire content of the kit next to the ruler so you can see the relative size of the geodes. The kit includes 15 geodes and eye protection glasses. The kit requires you use your own tools: a hammer and a chisel.

The guide gave us two methods for cracking the geodes: the chisel method and the sock method.

Method 1: Before cracking the geodes the instruction said to score the geodes so they would break along that line. We did not have a chisel and use a big screw and a screw driver to score the stone. Perhaps the lack of the proper chisel explains the difficulty in cracking the geodes. After scoring the geodes we tried tapping them with a screwdriver positioned on the scoring line. Kids could not open any, I was able to crack just a couple. Photo #2 shows the opened geode with white crystals on the inside.

Method 2: Putting a geode into a sock (to prevent small pieces flying around) and hitting it with hammer with more force than method #1. This method did not open any geodes.

I wish the kit included a chisel as this is not a common tool like a hammer, and it might have made a difference if we had it.

This is potentially a very neat toy, my recommendation is to have a strong adult present. Clearly, I was not up to par on this. We plan to try again with more muscle power present.

Ali Julia review

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I bought a few different sets of Geodes for my kids for Christmas. These were by far the best quality Geodes and they were larger than I expected them to be. Each one cracked open to reveal a large cavity with great crystals. They took some effort to open but the results were great. We used some books I bought as well as the included pamphlet to identify the type of crystals. They have added these to their rock collection. This was much more fun then just buying the already cut rock samples as they got to do this themselves.

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My children had TONS of fun breaking these geodes open, and I liked the fact that the kit included safety goggles. I'm glad we got the ultimate kit. There were a number of differences in the crystal formations inside, and it was fun to compare the crystal treasure.

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This Ultimate Geodes Science Kit is without a doubt one of the coolest science related sets for kids! We are science enthusiasts and enjoy doing educational project so this Geode kit was a fit for us.

The kit includes 15 unopened Geodes, a glossy manual, and safety goggles. The glossy instruction book is packed full of details on how geodes are formed and is very informative. The geodes range in size from about 1.5" to 2.5" in diameter and most can indeed be broken open by children in the target age range (6 and up). We place the geodes into a thick plastic freezer bag (see video) and we all enjoyed opening them with a hammer (not included), with "Whack it again!" as a common encouragement! The inclusion of plastic safety goggles was a nice touch and very responsible of the kit maker.

Out of 15 geodes, we were able to open 14 of them without much effort and the last one was able to be opened by me with a very heavy hammer. The crystals inside ranged from fairly small to impressively nice, but all of them were good looking and definitely worth having.

This is a great family activity that teaches important geological information and gives you a lasting, pretty reminder in the form of the opened geodes.

Highly Recommended!

CFH

Note: Kit provided by manufacture for review, but that in no way influences my comments or rating

Best LeapFrog Twist & Shout Addition, Leap Frog Deals

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I purchased this item in September as a Christmas present for my son. When it was opened last Christmas it didn't work, number dials don't respond and constantly responds as though dials are always set to 8 and 2. Inserting fresh batteries made no difference. If you purchase this product I would suggest opening it right away as the manufacturer warranty is good for only 3 months from the purchase date.

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My 5 and a half year old son just loves this. We bought it for him for Christmas and he loves it .....A lot of people say that it is loud but it really isn't it does have a volume control right beside the display of the number!

This is excellent for learning! He will be getting the subtraction one for his birthday in Feb.

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My twin six year old daughters fight over playing with this handheld game and within a day they have learned the basic facts for 0, 1,2, and doubles. They've even challenged themselves with the lightning round and have gotten at least 8 points out of that!

This is a must have for a child learning their addition basic facts. This would make a great gift for a child between the ages of 5-7.

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My son received the Twist & Shout Addition several months ago after he turned four. It really made him interested in learning how to add and his step-grandpa who is a teacher was really impressed with his mathematical ability!

I got a version that has volume control (it actually has three volume settings) and headphones can be plugged in as well, so noise isn't much of an issue with it. It has a feature where you turn the dials to add any two numbers and it will give you the answer. I was afraid that my son wouldn't learn how to add, that he will just memorize the answers but what happened was that he was curious as to how the answers came about, so he asked to learn how to add! He's still only four and he can add pretty well, he can add up to the twenties!

I recommend this product over uneducational toys that don't encourage thinking and/or creativity.

Fisher-Price iXL Learning System Software The Penguins Of Madagascar Review

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List Price: $26.99
Sale Price: $9.05
Today's Bonus: 66% Off

i got it for my 3 year old last christmas, shes dropped it and everything still works great,the batteries go dead quick because she doesnt turn it off when shes through.helps her with abcs and to write. she calls it her ipod because you can import pics and music and add extra memory if you need with a memory chip.. i say its well worth the money

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I bought an IXL for my Great Niece Christmas '10 along with a game...I naturally had to play it with her and we loved it. Bought this new game for her and WE love it too!

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My 5 year loved it. Has the same games as the other ones, just a different character. I would not have bought so many games, they are nice to load on and simple to do.

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I really wish FP would do a second gen of this player! It has been the only one to live through 3 little kids! InnoTab 1st & 2nd gen broke quickly. MobiGo lived a lot longer, but not that much more! We still have 2 out of 3 iXLs working and the iXLs are the oldest of all these items! This game is a good one. Not all are, but the nice thing was you could install on as many as you wanted. You don't have to sell a kidney for your kids to enjoy this little marvel.

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This is to soon be a birthday presant for an advanced 3 year old. I am sure he will enjoy it.

Best Captain's Brass Spyglass with Rosewood Box 15" - Captains Spyglass Deals

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I bought this to use as a prop in a short film SPYGLASS, it's perfect. Just the right size and finish.

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I love this telescope. It looks nice, has some real weight to it, and I can easily focus on objects 100 feet away. Came 1 day before estimated arrival. Great bargain

Cheap LeapFrog Explorer Learning Game: The Penguins of Madagascar:

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List Price: $24.99
Sale Price: $16.00
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My son just turned 3 and has been playing on his leapster for a few months now. We have a few games and apps, but this is by far his/our favorite game. It's a fun AND funny game (gotta love those penguins) with age appropriate lessons in math in between the levels. I love the leapster b/c he can use his finger or the stylus pen (similar to my iphone which he's always grabbing for). The math questions are simple and get increasingly difficult as you progress. He can do the easy ones himself...but as they get more difficult he needs my help. He can read and knows his numbers and simple math so it's fun to sit down w/ him and figure out the problems. Sample math questions are:

-which is the largest group?

-which is the smallest group?

-which box has 4 wires in it?

-which box has more than 1 wire in it?

-drag 6 candies into Rico's bowl

-what number comes next in the sequences 6, 7, _, 9

etc...

There are also shapes questions dragging shapes into a box w/ your finger or the pen and rotating them to fit which is pretty neat.

All in all, I think this is the best game leapster has so far. The levels are fun, the math/shapes lessons are great, the spy music is entertaining and not annoying (for me), and your child will be using the d-pad, his finger, the pen etc. and I think it's great for their coordination.

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Out of all of the games that we purchased and/or downloaded for my girls' Explorers, this one is definitely their favorite so far. It adjusts the math level nicely between the 1st grade for my older daughter and preschool for my younger one. From my observation so far they seem to be challenged nicely without getting frustrated and they stay interested in this game for quite a while. They are both fans of the Penguins of Madagascar TV show, though, so that may add to their experience while playing the game.

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My 3-year old son received the leapster recently, as well as two games for it. Wolverine and this game. In addition, the leapster includes a pets game. I was reluctant to get him this game because I had glanced at the cartoon and it was garbage. However, the game was bundled with the system.

After playing the pets game i found that it repeatedly asked to be connected to the internet and disliked it. The wolverine game was extremely violent and the actual educational aspect of it was dilluted by all the slashing.

When I reluctantly put in the Penguins of Madagascar game I was surprised to see how often the educational parts interrupted the penguin as he moved about the level karate-chopping rats. So far, the "violence" seems to be limited to animals which youd want your kids to avoid under normal circumstances (rats, cockroaches, giant crocodiles, ect.)

The game features a variety of puzzles such as counting wires to pick the right amount, which square has the most pins, (1,2,3,_) , and placing blocks where their outlines are. My favorite game so far is one where you are given 4 animal pictures and you tap them as you are given clues (which one lives in the ocean?) . I was surprised at how well my son did these games with little help.

In summary, the violence in this game is slight when compared to other explorer games geared towards boys, or video games for the wii or other consoles. The little karate-chopping that is included is overshadowed by the amount of educational games included. Lastly, the game is great for the younger players who cant add or subtract yet.

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The game contains several violent activities (hitting, spitting candy, dropping dynamite...) that I had not anticipated given the targeted age group. The math components of the game are great, but I'm finding it difficult to get beyond the violence.

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We don't have cable, so we've never seen this show. I bought the game based on the reviews and I have not been dissappointed. This game is really fun and funny. It is also very educational, my 5 year old preschooler has already improved his math skills. He's gotten better at addition and can point out the difference between an isosceles and scalene triangle. It also teaches more than/less than. I am very impressedwith this game.

Review of What To Expect Pregnancy Journal Book

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There are sections for every aspect of yout pregnancy.

Daily Diary, Monthly weights and photos, Dr Visit Journal, Birthing preferances, hospital visit journal, check off lists for baby shower, packing list for hospital,phone call list for after the babys born, a list of things you may want to ask your Dr . Its a great keep sake for all moms, and a great guide for first time moms

Had one for my first born, and ordered a new one for my second child. Love it!

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Cheap Ready Letters 4 Casual Metallic

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I used this book to help me teach my granddaughters basic sign language at the kindergarten and first grade levels. They loved the pictures and games. The vocabulary is very appropriate for this age level. I only wish there were more in the series to use as the girls grow older!

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FAO Schwarz Jacks Set with Drawstring Carrying Bag Review

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If you like to play jacks, then most people know the solid jacks are the best feeling when playing. These feel good. The shipping was fast, the price is ok , wish it was cheaper, but it's worth the money.

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Buy HEXBUG NANO GLOW IN THE DARK STARTER SET

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I got this toy a few weeks ago for my son and it is really well made and was so much fun.But there is one problem with it,the glow only works if you put it by light and it only lasts for about 1 hour but overall it works great and has lasted for a long time.

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LeapFrog Turbo Extreme 2nd Grade Math/Spelling Cartridge Reviews

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This has been VERY helpful in teaching my second grader her math facts off of the top of her head. She was still counting on her fingers. This has helped her get out of this habit and she's able to recite more math facts off of the top of her head since she's been "playing" with it. Fabulous, I highly recommend it!!

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Cheap Twisterz Toys WordGirl Word Builder

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My granddaughter is 4. It is hard to find a super heroine. WordGirl is so perfect. And, smart. My granddaughter loves it.

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My son is a huge WordGirl fan. He has played with this toy non-stop for weeks (which is way past his small attention span).

The toy seems very durable and should last for quite some time.

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I thought this would make the best Cmas gift for some of the many kids in our family. I think this is a great learning toy, but you gotta have a kid that's "into" those kind of toys, and mine seems not to be. :( Our 6 yr old daughter has hardly touched hers since she got it. She immediately recognized Word Girl, & LOVED that part, but has shown no interest at all in actually creating words with this toy. (maybe this just isn't for her...)

Hopefully some of the other kids we gave this toy to are using theirs more than our daughter!

Overall I think it's well built, & a great learning tool.

I would recommend this product to others, but ONLY If they have kids that are interested in this kind of educational toy!

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Me and my toddler like this toy on the walk, she can looked this in the stroller when we are getting to our destination, she cannot change rings on the toy yet but it is very good because books often fall down from the stroller (the table is small for them) and this toy is very good in this case. She likes to name letters and I put the rings that there will be two words, for 19 months old it is enough, but I am sure in future when she can actually read, we will will use it more and change rings for more words. It is very good to take somewhere, it is light and easy to carry.

Daria

Reviews of Galt Pop Up Toy

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It is unfortunate that I am forced to give this toy a one-star review after all, it provided great entertainment for my baby until I realized that the paint on the little pop up sticks was chipping off into his mouth. This happened the first time my son played with this toy, and within 2-3 minutes there were paint chips on his face and in his mouth. I will not be letting him play with this again. Let's face it, this is a toy for babies (12 months and up), and babies put everything in their mouths. With all of the worry regarding lead-infused children's toys, you would think that Galt would construct a better product. I have attempted to contact the manufacturer, but haven't been successful. I felt compelled to review this toy to warn other parents considering purchasing it for their babies.

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This is the gift we give to 1 year olds. It has fabulous staying power. One year olds are fascinated by getting the pegs in the holes. As kids get older, they learn the difference between pegs being upside down and right-side up, the faces on the pegs facing all the same way, and then they start to match them up by color. Of course, the "boing" factor is fun for everyone (including grandparents). I have 4-year-olds at my house who like to play with this toy.

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I bought this to give to a 1-year old. Unfortunately the paint was already chipping on the green-colored pop-up when I received it. It is too bad because I am very partial to wood toys and this one gets such high marks in its use for teaching hand/eye coordination....

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I purchased this for my son who is currently 11 months old... Right now he doesn't really know what to make of it and just blinks rapidly when the little figures pop out of the base... I can totally see him growing into this though since I find it amusing myself. It is such a nice, simple little toy. I hate all of the plastic junk that is out there and appreciate that it is made out of wood. No chipping paint yet as others have experienced. It is priced well to give it a try to see if you and your children like it for yourselves...

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Its been a few years since I've bought this but was so glad to find it once again to give my first grandchild. Our kids have loved playing with these and we've given them as gifts to many other babies for many years. Its small and travels easily, there is a progression as to how kids can learn from it, and its amazing how long they will play with such a simple thing (thanks to the springs!).