and what are the kids going to do? Already I've noticed people are talking about the kids on summer vacation, needing structure and activities! And it's only the first week of vacation here!
We recently received a package of new products from Crayola. I've used Crayola products since I was a child, and always had great results - the lack of artistic ability wasn't Crayola's fault! :) Now, with their great washable products, you can be pretty sure that if an 'accident' occurs, you're going to be able to get it clean. And, did you know they have a great customer help centre, with tips online and by phone on how to solve dilemmas such as: "What do you do if a crayon has been washed in the dishwasher?" Yes, unfortunately, I know the answer to that one! :)
Back to our summer pack. In the box was 3 new items: coloured bubbles, Presto Dots car set and Crayola Beginnings Colour Me a Song.
Model Magic Presto Dots car set
There are several different Presto Dots sets: animals, creatures, cars, pizza/popcorn. What's nice about these sets is that everything is included. (no disappointed kids who receive this one, and can't do it right away because you need something you don't have) Jonathan was very keen to make his Presto Dots car. Like most Crayola products, you can follow the "guidelines" or make your own design, which is what Jonathan did. Unlike markers, or other clay sets, however, this one only makes a car, and only once. The model magic "clay" is easy to manipulate, comes off hands, tables, etc etc easily :), and sticks very well to itself, making the model making very easy, and something Jonathan (age 5) could do completely on his own. This would make a great present for a creative child, or for someone needing some creative stimulation, as there are instructions, and you could follow them exactly to make the car in the example.
Coloured Bubbles
Ok, this is a messy one. But very fun! :) Bubbles of any kind seem to amuse kids of all ages, and colour seems to just add to the fun! Crayola calls these washable - the colour is meant to wash easily off skin, clothing, etc etc. Be warned: wear play clothes and stay away from the house, deck - any surface you don't want to have to clean later! :) So, there we were, standing in the middle of the grass, blowing orange and green bubbles! (they also come in purple, blue and pink), wearing our oldest paint clothes. Spatters got on all 3 of us, and washed off our skin easily with only water, except Daniel's hands, which I didn't get to until later, then we had to scrub with soap. Some spatters got on a plastic kids table, and they washed off right away too. One splotch (when you hold the bottle sideways, solution leaks out!) landed on Jonathan's shorts, and I had to work at the stain to get it out. Crayola recommends laundering bubble clothes right away with Tide - I don't use conventional laundry soap, so I can't comment on that way of cleaning. But my special stain bar did take out the colour eventually. The bubble jars have a flap over the opening, to prevent big spills, but it seems to make it hard to get the wands out without spattering the solution everywhere, or popping the bubble before you get to blow. Also, a lot of solution seems to stick to the wand, as well as in the blowing place. I think this is a fun product, but I'm not sure I would buy it again - I'm not sure the extra cleaning up the kids and myself is worth it.
Like an electronic clipboard, as you colour on a paper on top of the "color me a song," music plays. The faster you colour, the faster the song! Choose from 4 different instruments, or make a combination for your piece. At first, we only heard one song, but happily, there are several! If no one touches the colouring surface for 10 seconds, the song shuts off. When touched again, a new song plays. Something I really like is the volume switch (off, low, high)! Because this is touch-sensitive, it works if you touch the surface with your fingers too, not only with crayons (8 triangular crayons are included with the set). It's an age 2+ item, probably because of the motor skills needed to colour. Daniel is quite keen on this, and is just starting to become interested in colouring on paper - he's much more of a "run-around" kind of kid. Very cool, and a great way to combine art and music!
**Disclosure: The product/s mentioned above have been given free of charge from Veritas Canada for Crayola in exchange for being featured on Glimpse. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Glimpse and have not been influenced in any other way. Please see the full Terms of use.
