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The
Best Educational Products of the Year!
Are you confused by all
the choices out there? We have narrowed it down for you.
Homeschool.com's product testers and editors have made their picks of
this year's best educational toys, kits, games and more-just in time
for the gift-giving season. But hold on to this list-these products
will educate and inspire your kids all year round!
Best Educational Kits
 HOMEMADE CARD KIT
(Chinaberry; 1-800-776-2242)
Most of our testers already had this exclusive card kit from Chinaberry at home, and many had re-ordered it several times. Store bought cards do not measure up to a card made by a child and filled with their love and friendship for the recipient. Children (and parents) can create cards with the charms, ribbons and beautiful paper trimmings that would sell for between $3.50 and $6.00 in stores. Keep one of these kits on hand for all those special events that require a special card. An incredible value! (12 cards $14.95; 24 cards: $24.95.)
Click Here to Purchase
 HOLIDAY DECORATING KIT
(HearthSong; 1-800-325-2502)
Whip up some hot cocoa, put on some holiday music, then sit down with your kids for a very special holiday evening creating beautiful ornaments with this kit. With the embossed metal ornaments, pierced tree-light covers, foil paper chains and other creations, your family can create delights to light up your tree and your children's eyes! (Ages 5+ with adult help $19.95)
Click Here to Purchase
 COOK
IT
(HearthSong; 1-800-325-2502)
Join the Cook it Club! What a wonderful idea to inspire your budding young chefs! Each month for six months, "Cook it" club members receive a set of kid-tested recipes, along with good quality "real" cooking utensils. Children learn how to mix, measure, whisk, puree, and bake as they follow step-by-step recipes guaranteed to please even the pickiest siblings. At the end of six months,
club members will have assembled over 90 easy-to-read, yummy
recipes in their own durable stand-up easel binder. And, as an added bonus for
parents, children can share in the daily cooking routines! (Ages 7+ $99.95 for all six months.)
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 CREATE YOUR OWN BOOKS
(Creativity for Kids)
This drawing and writing kit is sure to inspire the author in your house! This kit provides the opportunity for kids ages 5 and up and to write and illustrate five of their own "keepsake" books. Children will enjoy doing this again and again, so buy more than one kit! Great for younger children with stronger drawing abilities, than writing
skills. (Ages 5+ $16.99)
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 WEE ENCHANTED GARDEN
(Creativity for Kids)
This award-winning kit combines science and fantasy. Children can grow a tiny garden with this enchanted kit, which includes everything needed, except the fairies! A great project for the spring and
summer. (Ages 7+ $21.99)
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 WIGGLE WHISKERS PAINTING KIT
(HearthSong; 1-800-325-2502)
A perfect gift for cat lovers. This pair of hand-carved wooden pussycats
come already assembled and ready to receive the personality that your child
adds with paint. Meow! (Ages 8+$14.95)
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 LITTLE MASTERPIECES KIT
(HearthSong; 1-800-325-2502)
Not only will young children be proud they created three one-of-a-kind little masterpieces on small canvasses, they will be proud when family members display these collectable "museum" pieces. The kit includes paint, canvasses, handcrafted frames and hooks. An excellent value! Recommended for ages 6 and up, but
is great for younger children with a parent's help. ($19.95)
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 CREATE-A-FOUNTAIN KIT
(HearthSong; 1-800-325-2502)
HearthSong has created a kit that allows children and teens to paint and assemble their own indoor fountain that brings the soothing sounds of flowing water into their room. Everything is included in this well-made
kit, except water and a few rocks from the beach or garden. (Ages 10+
$49.95.)
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Here to Purchase
 WHIRLING ILLUSIONS
(Patail Enterprises, Inc)
Reach out and try to touch - It's there but it's not! This fabulous kit has everything to create a "reflectogram" holographic-type image. Our testers were fascinated with the illusion effect created by the rounded parabolic mirrors. Children can create a butterfly image or turn their own creative designs into a virtual 3-D image. A fantastic way to combine art and science! (Ages 9+ $39.85)
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 YOUNG ARCHITECTS
(Patail Enterprises, Inc.)
In this box your child will find everything needed to design a floor plan, draw it out and build a three-dimensional model just like a professional architect. Decide where to put the windows, walls and furniture with the reusable stencils, tracing paper and enough transparent building pieces to create a mock-up of your next home or office. There are hours of reusable fun in this box. A very well designed kit! (Ages 10+ $79.95)
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 ROBOTIX G-REX
(Learning Curve; 1-800-704-8697)
Robotix makes this wonderful, put-together, motorized dinosaur. The kit is fairly easy to put together and the results are
impressive–a huge walking dinosaur that you can control with 4 "C" batteries and the wireless remote. (Ages
10+ $74.95)
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 ROBOTIC ARM TRAINER
(OWI Inc.; 1-800-638-1694)
We looked for a robotic kit which could teach basic robotic
principles, but was not too expensive. This arm kit was relatively easy to assemble
(4 hours) and was fun to construct. If you order this kit, you may also want to request a copy of the "Robotics Technology Curriculum" and the "Personal Computer Interface," which are very useful resources. (Ages
9+ $70)
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 POND SYSTEM
(Carolina Biological; 1-800-334-5551)
A great family project that will enhance learning as well as add beauty to a porch or backyard. The 36-gal pond kit comes with a water bell fountain attachment; the 72-gal pond kit comes with a fish
fountain. Each pond also comes with a water lily; a generous selection of other assorted aquatic plants, and snails. After several weeks, add several small fish (not included). ( $169.00 for 36-gal pond)
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CHAMELEON STARTER KIT
(Carolina Biological; 1-800-334-5551)
A great way for kids to learn about the amazing chameleon. Kit includes cage, tree branch, water dish,
3 Anolis (chameleons), and instructions. Great at hiding, you might have a tough time finding these guys for feeding. ($35.95)
Click Here to Purchase
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