One of the most popular toys introduced this season is the Orbeez toy line. What are Orbeez, you might ask? Well, an Orbeez is a small bead of color that will swell up to many times its original volume when placed in water for several hours. What you end up with are bubblegum-sized balls that are ready to play. The real magic of Orbeez is that it is a toy that motivates children to use their imagination and creativity to unlock the fun they find when playing with them. While there are themed sets for Orbeez, the real fun is what you can do with them. Here we want to take a closer look at this original toy, and what you can expect from Orbeez.
Orbeez really is quite amazing. They were initially designed for agricultural science and soon found their way into a playful toy for children. They start out as very small shiny pearls the size of BB. Your child should soak the Orbeez in water for at least three hours and then it will grow several times its original size. What you end up with are colored balls that are squishy, slimy, bouncy, crazy, funky, and really fun just to play in your hand.
I know some of you moms may be thinking that these could be dangerous for my son. Don’t worry, as the manufacturer has taken more than adequate measures to ensure that they are safe to play with. Orbeez meets all industry safety standards for toys, in addition to exceeding all ASTM regulations. Orbeez is non-toxic and environmentally friendly. In fact, it is better to dispose of old Orbeez in your garden than to throw them away. All of the toy industry tests for chemical and polymeric materials have undergone Orbeez and passed with flying colors. The company has also ensured that its product exceeds all mandatory packaging and labeling requirements.
Orbeez Magic Maker – This Orbeez kit is really the place to start, and it’s also the most popular kit. 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 it grow. Once inflated, you can use the attached air pump and shoot the balls through the hoops and float on the water. You can then pull up on the pump handle and watch the Orbeez exit the tank and quickly go down the spiral ramp to the collection tray below. Kit includes water tank, air pump and handle, display drip tray, Orbeez, and activity book.
Basketball Aquarium – This kit is very similar to the Magic Maker, but it has a few extra games that your child can play with. The kit has a magical seabed at the bottom on which to grow your Orbeez. Once inflated, pump the buoy and float the Orbeez to the surface. This is where you can play a one-on-one basketball game against SpongeBob and try shooting hoops. This is a wonderful kit to play with with a friend or two. Kits include the SpongeBob themed aquarium, nearly two thousand Orbeez in three colors, buoys and hoops for basketball games, and a fun sixteen-page activity book.
Mood Lamp: Think of the crazy sixties hippy generation and mood and lava lamps and you will instantly understand this kit. This is a truly functional room lamp with a creative touch from Orbeez. Your child will fill the lamp with Orbeez balls and the lamp will illuminate them. There are endless combinations and patterns that you can make with this kit. The magic mood lamp is included along with nearly two thousand Orbeez in three colors and an activity book. This kit does not include three triple A batteries that are needed to activate the light. The lights are LED and change color creating beautiful views with your Orbeez.