HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Connecting with tweens
November 20, 2008
Comments on this story
(0)
They aren't kids anymore, but they aren't teenagers, either. Tweens have a foot in both worlds.
"I like a lot of things," says Michael Dicarlo, 9, as he plays with the K'nex Amusement Park Speed Coaster, $25. "But this is pretty good ... it would be fun to make."
The coaster stands two feet tall and is built with a colourful combination of 428 pieces, including a motor that provides power for movement. And if you're really into rides, you can make your own amusement park by collecting and building the K'nex Ferris Wheel, Octopus Whirl, and Drop 'n' Swing.
Speaking of building things, the Struxx Robotrixx, $60, takes construction to a new level, with balls, sockets and rods that click together. There are also special effects such as motion detection and automatic movement. Push a switch and witness a two-foot-long T-Rex rumble, roar and swivel its head.
Tweens too young for tattoos can still sport brightly coloured 3-D flora and fauna. Sand Tattoos are created on a stencil, then transferred to your skin.
They're quite stunning and, yes, quite washable. A kit sells for about $7.
Toronto Star