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Crafts
Children like making things. Arts and crafts give you a chance to do things together as well as helping to wean kids off the TV. We have chosen gifts that are not over-sold by their packaging and have instructions that are easy to follow
Play-Doh Operation Hasbro
£10.00
Play-Doh was very popular with lots of our testers, boys and girls, and all ages. This Operation set was judged to be 'fun' although the more traditional, plain tubs of Play-Doh were popular too. Body parts can be moulded and there is a 'patient' with a big, open tummy to operate on. Children liked using the stitching tool to 'sew' up the patient after surgery.
Aqua Draw Tomy
£17.00
Tomy's big, canvas mat is the answer for little ones painting without any mess. Fill the magic pen with water and simply draw on the mat. There are letters and numbers around the edges for colouring in or copying. As the mat dries, the drawings disappear leaving the mat clear for more creative play. The mat is plenty big enough for two - the set comes with two pens.
Tin of 16 block crayons Stockmar
£11.50
Christmas is a good time to splash out on a presentation box of crayons that, if looked after, will last for many years. Stockmar Crayons have brilliant colours, are smooth to colour with and are durable. The binding agent is pure beeswax and colours are based on the natural gradation in Goethe's colour wheel. These block are perfect for under-five's as they encourage correct finger grip. Stockmar Crayons are also available as sticks and come in a tin or a wooden presentation box with sliding lid.
Making Fairies Klutz
£10.00
Making Fairies was a big hit with our girls. The fairies are easy to make and each one is different depending on which petals you choose and how you decorate the fairy's beaded head. There are enough materials for 12 fairies. Making Fairies avoids that feeling of having failed when what you have made does not look exactly like what is on the front of the packaging.
Marvel Comic Super Heroes Klutz
£9.00
Our boy testers loved the Marvel Comic Super Heroes. It gives you hundreds of tips on drawing comic strip characters. Starting with tracing figures, you master overlines, curves, movement, muscles and faces. Tracing paper is bound into the book and it also contains the coloured crayons that you need. There are crib sheets on how to draw Marvel's most famous characters including Spiderman and Wolverine.
PegSculpture T-Rex Casdon
£15.00
Every wondered how scientists at the Natural History Museum turn a load of bones into lifelike creatures? PegSculpture kits use the same forensic reconstruction techniques that the museum uses to bring skeletons of T-Rex, Julius Caesar and Neanderthal Man to life. Packs contain a model, display stand and features such as eyes, ears and nose. Numbered pegs are placed around the model and guide where and how to apply the clay-like moulding material. Once started, our testers did not want to stop. Endorsed by the Natural History Museum as a great combination of art and science with learning and fun. Recommended for ages 11 +
Crayon Maker
Crayola £24.99
This novel, creative machine created excitement, enthusiasm and a sense of achievement amongst the children that tried it (6+). It does take a long time for the whole process - a good 15 minutes 'from melt to mould' so boredom can set in, although generally they were quite happy to leave it and come back to it. Sturdier moulds, and more of them, would have gone down well. Realistically, once they've had more than one go, the crayons turn out a rather mucky brown rather than the colourful rainbow effect as advertised.
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