I’m always on the lookout for fun and interesting toys. I love giving unique gifts and trying new things with my kids. Even better if I can find them at my local Target store! I know it’s only August but I feel like Christmas really sneaks up fast! I start tucking things away for Christmas gifts as soon as school starts so I’m not overwhelmed with last minute shopping. At the very least, it can’t hurt to have a few gift ideas in your back pocket! I’m here to help!
Smithsonian has a great selection of Science based toys that are fun and education at the same time. I had the opportunity to check out a couple of them myself. The Smithsonian Mars Dig is perfect for kids who love rocks. My daughter LOVES rock collecting and has enjoyed dig kits in the past. This one is a little different in the ones we have tried in the past. It comes with safety glasses, two digging tools (chisel and mallet) and a little build your own Mars Perseverance Rover kit complete with wheels, antenna, and a robotic arm.
Inside a large chalk type block your child will be able to unearth the same type of rocks found on Mars! It’s really fun to chisel and dig out the rocks. Older kids can do this on their own while younger kids will enjoy a little bit of help learning about Mars from the included 23″x17″ color STEM poster which features information on Martian geology and space exploration. This kit is only $12.99! The Smithsonian Rock & Gem Dig Kit is another fun option for the same price.
Do you remember having Sea Monkeys as a child? The Smithsonian Prehistorian Sea Monster Kit reminds me those. It comes with a small aquarium, one dinosaur themed background, one bag of Triop Eggs, one bag of sand and a color poster with instructions.
This is your perfect first pet. They are easy to grow and take care of. Just add half a bag of Triop eggs to your aquarium with water and wait for them to hatch! Save the other half of the bag for later. Once assembled, this kit is more for observation rather than a toy to play with but still really fun to experiment with. The Triops eggs are packaged with a moss-like nutrient which will float to the top while the eggs sink to the bottom. The eggs will hatch in 2-4 days but could take up to a week or more so they do take a little bit of patience!
Your Triops need food, water and light so it’s best to keep the tank in an area that gets some sunlight. The water needs to be at least 72 degrees and not more than 86 degrees so most indoor spaces should accommodate this just fine. You can also put the tank under a desk lamp to help keep them warm.
Once hatched, kids will love experimenting with feeding their Triops. They can eat just about anything in very small pieces. Try bread crumbs, cooked rice, tiny bits of crackers, vegetables or if you’re more comfortable, your typical fish food will work just fine. For the first 3 weeks, feed your Triops 5-10 crumb sized pieces of food every other day. Once your Triops have grown to a half inch size you’ll find each Triop in the tank 5-10 crumbs daily.
Bigger Triops will eat smaller ones so if you want to hatch the second half of your eggs, it’s best to do it in a separate container until they reach a similar size at which time they can be combined in the same tank. With proper care, Triops with live 2 months or more. This is a really fun kit to enjoy with kids and is reasonably priced at $12.99
If you really want to have some fun indoors or out, the Groovy Glow Wubble is a must! This large squishy bubble-like ball is unlike any other ball we’ve experienced. It is engineered to be gentle — it molds around whatever it touches then bounces away. Most kids giggle if a Wubble hits them — it’s that gentle! Wubbles come in a variety of different styles. We got a 2 pack in a tye dye pattern that glows in the dark. No two Groovy Glow Wubbles are exactly alike but they are ALL super fun for the whole family!
Use the included inflation tube to blow the wubble ball up with your mouth or use a pump — just about any pump you have will work! They deflate easily for storage and come with a patch kit for repairs if needed. The Groovy Glow Wubble 2 Pack sells for $19.99 but you can get a Wubble for as low as $6.99 for a tiny size which would make a super fun stocking stuffer! A Wubble is often compared to a bubble because of the way it wobbles, morphs and floats through the air. If you haven’t tried a Wubble yet, I highly recommend it!
If you’re looking for a super fun gift for an 8+ boy who enjoys playing outdoors, especially if he is interested in football, the All-Pro Passer is it! This robotic quarterback delivers an accurate throw every time! It has been programmed with the skilling, timing and accuracy of a pro quarterback and will launch the ball over 25 yards. You can set it to throw into nine different passing zones so you can practice hundreds of different plays. Just pump it to the desired distance (short, midfield or long), select your play from the different passing zones, then press hike or long for the perfect spiral throw every time!
This robotic quarterback can be used to play 1 on 1, 3 on 3, to practice catching on your own or with as many players as you’d like. It’s perfect for the park or a nice grassy backyard. The football is included but it does require 4 “C’ batteries that do not come with this toy.
I hope these toys help you with your holiday gift ideas this year!