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TDmonthly Magazine Product Reviews for EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS INC.
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Below are some of the products from EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS INC. TDmonthly has reviewed.
 Name: Sparkle PlayFoam 6-pack
Company: EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS INC.
Age: All Ages
Price: $10.99
Category: Arts & Crafts
What It Is
PlayFoam is a lightweight, colorful foam-sculpting material that won´t crumble, stick to skin or surfaces or dry out.
What We Thought
This product is innovative, high quality and amusing. Kids can play with for a long time. It doesn’t make a mess. However, the label says it “never dries,” which can be misleading, because the foam balls can gather dirt, hair, etc., and very slowly but surely lose their stickiness.
Why They’ll Want It
The addition of glitter should increase the appeal of this popular product. Some retailers, however, have noticed a big drop in PlayFoam sales over the last year. – TDmonthly Review Team, 6/22/08
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 Name: Playfoam
Company: EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS INC.
Age: 5 and up
Price: Not Specified
Category: Arts & Crafts
Please click here to read this TDmonthly's Toy Expert review.
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 Name: Isolate
Company: EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS INC.
Age: 6 and up
Price: $19.99
Category: General Games
What Is It?
Each player is given 4 tiles of either red, green, yellow or blue to place on the board, touching other tiles on at least one side. Then, players move by sliding rows of tiles either vertically or horizontally. This game of strategy challenges players to isolate their colored tiles from other bordering tiles. In so doing, they can remove their pieces from the board. The first player to remove all of his or her four tiles, wins.
What We Thought
The directions were easy to follow, with detailed images to guide players through game play. The plastic pieces slid easily in the grooves on the board during game play and fastened tidily in the bottom of the board for easy storage. It only took about 20 minutes to complete one game, which meant more opportunity for rematches so that multiple players had a chance to win at a single sitting. In addition, players could learn quickly what strategies worked best and use that knowledge to improve during future games. All in all, Isolate is a handy little game, nice for passing the time between conversation and is small enough that it can be brought along on car trips.
Why They’ll Want It
Isolate is so simple to pick up, it nicely rounds out any game player’s collection. It’s perfect for evenings when players want to have a little fun, but don’t want to commit to a long bout of competitive strategizing. It will force players to think in a new, visual way, without taxing their brains after a long day of work or studying. In addition, all members of the family can play this game together, since the game doesn’t require knowledge of facts or trivia.
-- Vanessa VanderZanden, 1/30/06
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 Name: The Amazing Live Sea-Monkeys Ocean Zoo
Company: EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS INC.
Age: 6 and up
Price: $7.95
Category: Science & Nature
What Is It?
It’s the only classic toy that gives you or your family instant pets. This is “The tank that started it all!” That’s right, the oldie but goodie that all the parents out there either had or wanted when they were kids. It comes with everything you need to bring to life these fascinating aquatic pets, including the always hip classic vented tank with magnifying portals and a molded seascape base.
What We Thought
I was very excited when I brought this toy home. Who doesn’t want to watch life spawn out of thin air, or purified water as it is in this particular case. I got my tank all set up and anxiously awaited for the first 24 hours to come to pass, so that I could finally play Dr. Frankenstein and create life as it were. After I stirred in the powder, I stared eagerly into the tank, through the magnifying portals to see the first signs of life. I am a little disappointed that I didn’t see some sign of initial life spark into existence and I am still uncertain as to whether it was the sea-monkeys I was looking at, or some powder that had not completely dissolved. But it was clear to me the next morning, that in fact I was now a successful new owner of about a dozen tiny little creatures swimming around in an almost surreal jittery fashion. Little did I know how much joy these tiny little sea-farers would bring to me as I watched them develop into adulthood in the days that followed!
Why They’ll Want It
Let’s face it. This is fun for all ages. They make a great first step for parents trying to teach their children responsibility, before taking on a more labor intensive pet (you only have to feed them about once a week!) They make an excellent office or cubicle mate as they take up next to no room, and can be left on the weekends with no worries. Best of all, they can’t help but bring a smile to your face and the faces of your co-workers as they suddenly find increasingly inventive reasons to come over to your desk. Bottom line … what’s not to like!?!
-- Shane Raniere, 9/26/2005
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 Name: Sea Monkeys Mini World Hang 10
Company: EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS INC.
Age: 6 and up
Price: $19.95
Category: Science & Nature
What Is It?
Like the beach? Like Sea Monkeys? This has both. First, there’s a small beach-scape monkey-arium that has a plastic beach scene complete with hoops and beach towels and surf’s up for the Sea Monkeys to swim in. It comes with water conditioner, Sea Monkey instant eggs and a packet of food. It has a small spoon for stirring and measuring the food. It has instructions. Follow the instructions, and it has… drum roll please: Sea Monkeys!
What We Thought
So, we conditioned the water, waited 24 hours, put in the instant eggs, and voila… really, teeny-tiny Sea Monkeys. Cool. Granted, quite a few other people couldn’t see them (that’s how small they were)—but they were there. A few days later (no feeding yet)—they were small but quite visible, zooming around on their backs. Each day, they got bigger. Each day, there seemed a few less, but their growth made up for that. At the five day mark, the first feeding. Bigger and bigger they got until they became crowd pleasers. Everyone always stops by for a look. So far so good. Unfortunately, the instructions don’t say what to do about evaporating water, so at the two week mark I’m hoping it won’t be a problem. Should I add more? Without conditioner? How much more? I don’t want to lose these babies, as they are great fun swimming around in a playful way.
Why They’ll Want It
They’re cool, and they’re alive, and they’re called Sea Monkeys. Granted, the first few days the kids might be a little impatient, but once they grow big enough to be cute, they’re easy to grow attached to. Can’t wait to see how big they get (I’m told about one inch, but I want to see—maybe I’ll have the world’s record). They are interesting, cool to watch, and fun to talk about. Recommended with pleasure.
--TDmonthly Staff, 8/26/05
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 Name: Travel Blokus
Company: EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS INC.
Age: 5 and up
Price: $19.95
Category: General Games
What Is It?
A travel version of Blokus -- winner of Dr. Toy’s Best Children’s Vacation Products 2003 -- the game is simple to play. Each player takes turns placing variously shaped pieces on the board, touching corners with at least one other piece of their own color. The goal is to cover as much of the board as possible, at the same time minimizing the area of a player´s remaining pieces. The player with the smaller area when no more moves are possible wins. Although four players can compete against each other with the full-sized game, the travel version is designed for two players. What We Thought
It look literally 30 seconds to learn the rules of the game. It didn´t seem like a challenging game at first glance: After all, what is so difficult about putting shapes on a board? But as you play, you realize there are certain strategies to choosing and placing the pieces to block your opponent from putting down their pieces, or expanding your options to place your next piece. Each game took less than 10 minutes which is perfect for on-the-go. If needed, you can even save your board while jumping out for a quick fast-food break! The box is ingeniously designed in such way that you can pack up within a minute and get back on the road. Why They’ll Want It
Travel Blockus is a game for all ages. Children and adults can develop different levels of playing strategy depending on their spatial planning capabilities. The best part is that the rules are simple! Players don´t have to read 15 pages of instructions to set up the game. The game is short and is perfect for quick breaks while traveling.
Educational Insight´s ToyDirectory Listing -- Raywon Wang, 8/16/05
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 Name: Let’s Pretend Toaster
Company: EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS INC.
Age: 3 and up
Price: $12.99
Category: Infant & Toddler
What is it?
This little toaster is about 5” high and has a weighted base. It comes with two pieces of play bread that can be placed the toaster. Kids just push down the lever at the side and the bread drops down, ready for toasting. A dialed timer allows up to seven different settings for the perfect piece of toast. A mechanical toy that requires no batteries, the timer is sufficiently noisy for the most demanding of tot chefs. The toaster is bright yellow with red, blue and white details.
What We Thought
The bread is removable, which means that little kids can serve their dolls or teddies a good nourishing breakfast every morning. The molded air holes on the bread and its brown crust makes it more realistic looking, though it’s still small enough for small hands. The colors are appealing and the mechanisms are easy to work. This toaster’s a great way to keep kids occupied while Mom or Dad makes breakfast on Sunday morning.
Why They’ll Want It
Two pieces of removable bread means that this bright yellow play kitchen tool is really three toys in one. Kids’ll have fun “toasting” the bread for their toys, or serving up a special snack for Mom or Dad. It’s a great size for them, too. They’ll feel even bigger, knowing that their kitchen toys are well proportioned for their growing hands.
Educational Insight´s ToyDirectory Listing
-- Alison Marek 8/9/05
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