If it’s Tuesday it must be toys and tours

"Brown Teddy Bear" by Lydia Jacobs

Today we take a look at rainy day pastimes, which come in the form of pre-packaged kits that are guaranteed to provide hours of entertaining fun, and perhaps, the start of a new hobby for children or teens. We’ll also check in with the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission for their most recent toy and sports products related recalls and news.

The items, which appear below, have been researched for quality as well as value, with consideration that many of these kits might be assembled individually for a lower cost by shopping for needed items through craft stores. Each of these kits is considered a “convenience” to have on hand for inevitable rainy day activities, and most require some parental supervision or suggested involvement.

When possible, the best available current price has been provided. However, it is suggested that you cross-compare pricing with various on-line as well as stick and brick retailers.

CRAFT KITS

Jacquard Tie Dye Kit

Teens will enjoy this introduction to the process of fabric dyeing and textile handling. Adult supervision is recommended.

The kit provides enough supplies for tie-dyeing ten to 15 adult t-shirts, and includes the following: Easy-to-follow multi-lingual instructions; pre-measured Procion MX Dyes in red, blue, and yellow; an extra  mixing bottle for creating different colors; latex gloves, rubber bands, and 1/3 LB of soda ash dye fixer.

More product details are available through Amazon.com with best available pricing through Amazon Marketplace for $13.85.

Alex Toys Shrinky Dinks Kit, Cool Stuff

Shrinky Dinks is a time-tested favorite craft that has been around since the early 70’s. It is not recommended for children under three years of age, but is perfect for age’s five to ten. It does require some adult supervision, but parents or caregivers will most likely have as much fun working on these crafts as do the children in their lives.

Each kit contains 20 pre-printed and pre-cut Shrinky Dinks, which is a theme-oriented designed shrinkable plastic. When decorated and then heated in a conventional or toaster oven for a few minutes, the Shrinky Dinks shrink to approximately 1/3rd their original size and actually become 9 times thicker. They can then be turned into key chains magnets or lots of other fun things.

The kit also includes: Eight colored pencils; two key chains; sticky back magnets, pipe cleaners, stands, and easy-to-follow instructions.

More product details are available through Amazon.com with best available pricing through Amazon Marketplace for $2.95.

There are a wide variety of Alex Toys Shrinky Dinks sets with different art themes such as jewelry, insects, fairies, ballerinas and transportation vehicles with set prices ranging from $2.25 to $39.95.  Simply follow this link to view the entire product line.

The video below shows how easy and fun Shrinky Dinks projects are to do.

 

Alex Toys Knot-a-Quilt

 

Not a true quilt, but a colorful quilt-looking light weight blanket, this is a fun project but does require hand dexterity, some patience and adult supervision at least initially. The manufacturer suggests ages’ six and above, but I personally encourage ages ten and above. (Children under three should not be involved in this project.)

Kids will be able to craft this lightweight, six multicolored fleece blanket that measures 42 by 54 inches when completed. There is no cutting or sewing involved in the process – just knotting 48 individual fringed, nine-inch squares together. The instructions are easy-to-follow.

More product details are available through Amazon.com with best available pricing through Amazon Marketplace for $17.88.

 

Melissa and Doug Lace and Trace Farm

These are bright and colorful barn animal cards featuring a cow, pig, sheep, horse and rooster that children ages 36 months to six years can learn to lace, which provides fun and promotes key hand/eye coordination, cognitive and visual perception and fine motor skills.

The set comes with five double-sided lacing panel cards with color-coordinated laces, and comes packaged in a sturdy wooden case for storage.

More product details are available through Amazon.com with best available pricing through Amazon Marketplace for $4.64.

Alex Toys My Giant Busy Box

This set provides multiple craft projects for children ages 36 months to five years. (There are small parts in this kit and it is not recommended for children under the age of three.)

Children will enjoy creating tissue paper art pictures, collage and sticker art projects, paper bag puppets and molding dough animals – 16 fun projects in one box.

Kit includes easy-to-follow instructions for each project along with 10 colors of dough, four animal punch-outs, two peel and stick tissue art pictures, two plastic frames, lots of extra tissue paper, glue and is all packed in a 12 inch by 12 inch by four inch box with woven handle for carrying. 

More product details are available through Amazon.com with best available pricing through Amazon Marketplace for $21.84.

PRODUCT SAFETY RECALLS AND NEWS

The following is a compilation of notices from the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC).

 
Below you will find the most recent recalls and product news updates from the CPSC for the last 7 days.

In case you happened to have missed any of the announcements, just click on the following links for complete information on each of the items and breaking news.

TOYS

Cost Plus Inc. Recalls Wooden Animal Drum Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Swing Sets Recalled by Adventure Playsets due to Fall Hazard

SPORTS AND RECREATION RELATED

Club Car Recalls Golf Cars and Hospitality, Utility and Transport Vehicles Due to Crash Hazard

GAMMA Sports Recalls Children's Tennis Racquets Due to Risk of Lead Exposure

CPSC NEWS

No general news releases since last week’s posting but there are specific releases for items not in the toy or sports categories.

If you are searching for other consumer product items such as household, outdoor products, utensils, furniture and clothing that may relate to all family members, please review additional listings at the CPSC’s search page.