Crafts & Fun

Our lead-free policy: We have sent all painted infant, toddler and preschool toys to the McMaster University Labs in Hamilton, Ont., to test for lead content. The toys listed here have all tested as lead-free.

More toys! • Top Toys 2007 • Latest Greatest Toys 2007 • Pick-a-Present toy-finder

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Shrinky Dinks (7+, Creativity for Kids, $15) Colour in your choice of charms, cut them out, then watch them shrink in the oven. When they’re done, these tiny, detailed pieces combine with cording, beads and other stuff to create one-of-a-kind jewellery, magnets and more. Different themed kits appeal to both girls and boys. (Note: Because ovens vary, it’s best to test-bake one or two charms to start.)

Squiggle on-the-go (5+, Random Line, $10) Use your imagination to incorporate the different pre-printed doodles into quick sketches. Very portable.

Duck Duck Bruce (6+, 2–5 players, Gamewright, $13) This fast-paced game is fun and full of suspense: You have to decide over and over again whether to play it safe or risk losing what you’ve got as you try to collect more points.

SceneIt? Travel Junior Edition (7+, Mattel, $20) The perfect diversion in vehicles with a DVD player. Even a bumpy road won’t upset this game since dice are rolled and cards drawn onscreen, while magnetic tokens stay put on the game board. (Caution: Keep small magnetic parts away from young children.)

Pete's Pike: Hot Spot and Cover Your Tracks (8+, ThinkFun, $19.95 each) Our testers enjoyed all three of these new puzzle games — and since each one challenges a different set of strategic skills, we leave the choice to you. The solo-play games do have a common format: puzzle cards with increasingly complex challenges, in a portable, self-contained design.

Bananagrams (8+, 2 or more players, Bananagrams, $17) In this clever game, each player simultaneously tries to make his own crossword puzzle with randomly drawn letter tiles. The rules as stated are challenging, but easily adapted for younger players. Great to take along too — all 144 tiles zip inside a fabric banana skin.

Amazing Magic & Mentalism Anyone Can Do! (10+, Sankey Magic, $20) This entertaining DVD is easier and better at teaching the art of illusion than any kit we’ve tested through the years. And our testers liked how everyday items are used in the illusions, rather than special “trick” gear.

Originally published in Today's Parent, December 2007