Glow Station Ages: 6+ Requires: 3 "AAA" batteries (not included)

What We Think Fun factor: Durability: Ease of assembly: Educational factor: Novelty factor: The Good: Glow-in-the-dark fun with loads of ways to play and create. The Challenging: Stencils not as stimulating as freehand drawing. In a Nutshell: Glowing canvas with light wand lets kids make amazing luminous creations.

The Glow Station comes with plenty of stencils and texture sheets for your child to experiment with. View larger.

Using the light wand, kids can create luminous, glow-in-the-dark drawings. View larger.

The perfect poster size for creating and displaying drawings, the glow canvas hangs well from a wall or bedroom door. The darker the location, the better it is for glowing. Made from durable blue plastic, the top and bottom of the canvas provide spaces for everything, including stencil-sheet hooks and holders for the light wand, crystal tip, and stencil shapes. And when it's time to be put away, the canvas rolls up for easy storage.

Start from Scratch or Take Some Pointers
Packed with stencils and texture sheets, the Glow Station gives kids lots of places and ideas to start. Stencil sheets and shapes of animals and space objects let kids trace with the glowing light wand.

With the light texture sheets, they can give these shapes -- and their own creations -- lifelike effects, like spider webs and exotic animal prints. Of course, it's also fun to use the light wand to make luminous freehand drawings. Or, with the crystal tip attachment, create sparkling stars.

Ready, Set, Glow!
The Crayola Glow Station stands out from ordinary glow-in-the-dark toys. Not only does it glow exceptionally well, but it encourages kids to play, use imagination, and create art in new ways. While the texture sheets give a cool dimension to stencil tracings, it's just as much fun -- and less cumbersome -- to draw freehand on the glow canvas. But with so many options, kids won't ever have to choose just one way to create with light.

What's in the Box
Glow station light canvas, light wand with crystal attachment, 2 stencil sheets, 13 stencil tracer shapes, and 2 light texture sheets.

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What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Detailed robot moves, makes authentic movie sounds, and holds your beverage The Bad: R2-D2 occasionally has trouble deciphering voice commands In a Nutshell: Star Wars collectors are sure to enjoy this cool, interactive droid At a Glance Ages: 8 and up Requires: 4 "AA" batteries and 4 "D" batteries

The realistic details of R2-D2 will please collectors young and old. View larger.

More than 15-inches tall, this sophisticated R2-D2 model boasts a secret cargo compartment, a unique swing-down utility arm that's also a beverage holder, a removable sensor scope, a working light beam, sound-processing microphones, and an adaptable droid mood-status indicator. Sonar navigational technology and infrared location sensors help make him one the most advanced droids around.

Take Advantage of Three Interactive Modes
Intergalactic missions will be more fun with a reliable droid at your side. In companion mode, R2-D2 responds to commands like "Go on patrol," "Light Beam," and "Play Message." Star Wars fans are sure to appreciate the accuracy of the messages, which are culled from famous missions he remembers.

You can even ask R2 about friends including Luke Skywalker, C-3PO, Darth Vader, and Jabba the Hutt. He has a different reaction to each name based on his "feelings" for the characters. And if you hit R2 on the head, he'll make irritated beeping sounds and try to move away from you. As you get to know your droid, you'll realize that the noises and motions he makes correspond to his "mood."

In game mode, R2 responds to more complicated commands. He'll act as a sentry to protect your important stuff, dance to cantina music, spin around, or play light tag. The third mode is the most complex. This command mode lets you give pointed directions that control R2's movements. Tell him to turn left and right or go forward whenever you want, or set a preprogrammed course for him to follow.

While R2 responded to simple commands with no problems, we had difficulty getting him to respond reliably to more complex requests. We trust that, like with any voice-operated electronic system, over time it will get easier to produce a wider range of commands that R2 consistently responds to. Until then, his movie-accurate look, the way he responds to simple commands, and the convenient beverage holder make him a fun comrade.

What's in the Box
Droid body, two steering legs, projector piece, telescope piece with sensory array, and an operation manual.

R2-D2 can respond to commands. View larger.

And can double has a beverage holder. View larger.

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At a Glance Ages: 8+ Requires: 4 "C" and 3 "AAA" batteries (not included) Screwdriver for battery installation

What We Think Fun factor: Durability: Ease of assembly: Educational factor: Novelty factor: The Good: Adults and kids guide a foam ball through obstacles using the power of their minds. The Challenging: Players unable to perceive a relationship between their minds and the ball's height may grow impatient. In a Nutshell: Foam ball really does rise and fall, and choice of games and obstacle courses provides hours of amusement.

Your telekinetic fantasies becomes a reality with the Mattel Mindflex. View larger.

The challenging obstacle course will hone your mental focus. View larger.

You'll feel like a character in a science fiction movie as you strap on the headset, connect the clips to your ear lobes, and align the metal forehead sensor just above your left eyebrow. But even this strange accessory won't prepare you for the sight of a foam ball quivering five inches above the game console!

Move the Ball with the Power of your Mind
Skeptics will be quick to point out that the console's moveable fan nozzle holds the ball aloft on a cushion of air. However, as players learn to alternately focus and relax their minds, the ball will respond by rising and falling. An instruction manual provides various concentration and relaxation techniques to try such as math problems or visualization and practice exercises.

Once you feel like you've mastered the art of telekinesis, you can test your mental acuity with five challenging games designed for groups of one to four players. Use the game console to select your game, set the difficulty level, and track your scores.

Design a Mind-Bending Obstacle Course
A variety of hoops, hurdles, funnels, and a teeter-totter can be positioned however you choose on the game console. Players use their minds to move the ball under, over, or through the obstacles. Several games test speed, while another challenges players to lift a ball up and through a funnel, shooting it across the game console to score points.

While Mindflex's advanced technology is sure to intrigue, mastering the games may prove difficult for some. Because concentration techniques will vary from person to person, the game rewards patience and a willingness to experiment. Fans of mazes and brain teasers will appreciate the mental challenge, and creative types will like designing the obstacle courses.

Mindflex's game console requires four "C" batteries (not included), and the headset requires three "AAA" batteries (not included). The four foam balls should be handled with care to keep their ability to levitate. Fortunately, the game console features an inner compartment for safe ball storage.

What's in the Box
Game console, headset, four foam balls, and various obstacles. (Batteries not included.)

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