One of the most popular toys introduced this season is the Orbeez line of toys. Just what are Orbeez, you might ask. Well, an Orbeez is a tiny colored bead that will swell up to many times its original volume when it is placed in water for several hours. What you end up with are gum ball sized balls that are ready to play with. The real magic with Orbeez is that this is a toy that motivates children to use their imagination and creativity to unlock the fun found by playing with them. While there are themed sets for Orbeez, the real fun is what you can make of them. Here we want to take a closer look at this original toy, and what you can expect from Orbeez.
Orbeez really are quite amazing. They were initially designed is the agricultural sciences and soon found their way as a playful toy for children. They start off as very small shiny beads about the size of BB. Your child must soak the Orbeez in water for at least three hours and then they grow multiple times larger than their original size. What you end up with are colorful balls that are squishy, slimy, bouncy, wacky, funky, and really fun just to play with in your hand.
I know that some of you moms may be thinking that these could be dangerous for my child. No worries here, as the manufacturer has taken more than adequate steps to ensure that they are safe to play with. Orbeez meet all industry safety standards for toys, as well as surpassing all ASTM regulations. Orbeez are non toxic and environmentally friendly. In fact, it is better to discard old Orbeez in your garden than to throw them away. All toy industry tests for chemical and polymer materials have been subjected to Orbeez and they have passed with flying colors. The company has ensured that their product exceeds all mandatory packaging and labeling requirements as well.
Orbeez Magic Maker – This Orbeez kit is really where you need to start, and it is the most popular kit as well. With the Magic Maker you will get a water tank to grow your Orbeez, along with almost three thousand beads in nine different colors. Grow the Orbeez in the water tank and watch then grow. Once swelled up you can use the attached air pump and shoot the balls through the hoops and float them on top of the water. You can then pull up on the pump handle and watch the Orbeez exit the tank and whiz down the spiral ramp in to the collection tray below. The kit includes the water tank, air pump and handle, play an display collection tray, the Orbeez, and an activity book.
Basketball Aquarium – This kit is very similar to the magic maker but it has some additional games your child can play with. The kit has a magical ocean floor on the bottom on which to grow your Orbeez on. Once swelled you pump up the buoy and float the Orbeez to the surface. It is here that you can play a one and one basketball game against Sponge Bob and try to shoot hoops. This is a wonderful kit to play with a friend or two. The kits includes the Sponge Bob themed aquarium, almost two thousand Orbeez in three colors, buoys and hoops for the basketball games, and a sixteen page activity fun book.
Mood Lamp – Think back to the crazy nineteen sixties hippy generation and lava and mood lamps and you will instantly understand this kit. This is a genuine working mood lamp with a creative Orbeez twist. Your child will fill up the lamp with Orbeez balls and the lamp will illuminate them. There are endless combinations and patterns you can make with this kit. The magic mood lamp is included along with almost two thousand Orbeez in three colors, and an activity book. This kit does not include three tripple-A batteries that are needed to activate the light. The lights are LED and change colors making beautiful sights with your Orbeez.