Weird and Cool Toys
September 17, 2005 8:21 PM Subscribe
Where (online) can I find really cool, weird, odd and unusual toys for young kids?
Personally, I think Giant Microbes are some of the neatest, weirdest, geekiest "toys" ever, but I've been giving them as gifts to my friends in microbiology majors.
You might also try Ufly Dolls
posted by nelleish at 9:00 PM on September 17, 2005
You might also try Ufly Dolls
posted by nelleish at 9:00 PM on September 17, 2005
Also, there are a great variety of quirky, educational toys at Hearthsong. When I was little it was the biggest treat to go visit their store.
posted by nelleish at 9:04 PM on September 17, 2005
posted by nelleish at 9:04 PM on September 17, 2005
Edmund Scientific, for the semi-educational but still cool sort of thing.
But please remember that because something is cool, weird, odd, or unusual to you doesn't mean that a kid is going to like it. There are good reasons why Tonka trucks, Lego(s), Tinker-Toys, Lincoln Logs, and all that jazz are classics, even if they seem boring to you. A good toy is one the kid likes, not one you like to give the kid.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:35 PM on September 17, 2005
But please remember that because something is cool, weird, odd, or unusual to you doesn't mean that a kid is going to like it. There are good reasons why Tonka trucks, Lego(s), Tinker-Toys, Lincoln Logs, and all that jazz are classics, even if they seem boring to you. A good toy is one the kid likes, not one you like to give the kid.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:35 PM on September 17, 2005
What kind of age are you looking at?
I'm not sure my young child would really understand a microbe toy. Maybe if I emphasized the germ thing.
Anyway, my recommendations:
Basic Fun (I haven't tried their more interesting-looking products, and you'll have to find a dealer, but they have a lot of online dealers too)
American Science & Surplus (I've had good luck shopping here for kids, and given the surplus nature of it, you always find something unique).
There's the Exploratorium of course, which does have toys for younger kids as well.
riffola, I can't wait to try those stores, but I think I would trust kid-o more for my kids. Kid Robot looks like toys for adults like me who still think they're kids. :D
posted by artifarce at 9:57 PM on September 17, 2005
I'm not sure my young child would really understand a microbe toy. Maybe if I emphasized the germ thing.
Anyway, my recommendations:
Basic Fun (I haven't tried their more interesting-looking products, and you'll have to find a dealer, but they have a lot of online dealers too)
American Science & Surplus (I've had good luck shopping here for kids, and given the surplus nature of it, you always find something unique).
There's the Exploratorium of course, which does have toys for younger kids as well.
riffola, I can't wait to try those stores, but I think I would trust kid-o more for my kids. Kid Robot looks like toys for adults like me who still think they're kids. :D
posted by artifarce at 9:57 PM on September 17, 2005
artiface, depends on how old the kid is. If the kid is like 10 or older, and a boy, he'd squeal with delight for Japanese weird toys like those. And yes, even as an adult, I *love* kid-o! :)
posted by riffola at 10:32 PM on September 17, 2005
posted by riffola at 10:32 PM on September 17, 2005
oops I thought I typed your name right, sorry about that artifarce!
posted by riffola at 10:33 PM on September 17, 2005
posted by riffola at 10:33 PM on September 17, 2005
No problem (about the name)! Though surely toys that could appeal to both kids and adults could likewise also appeal to both males and females?
**Prompted me to remember Stikfas models.**
posted by artifarce at 11:18 PM on September 17, 2005
**Prompted me to remember Stikfas models.**
posted by artifarce at 11:18 PM on September 17, 2005
For kids 9+ I can't recommend K'Nex enough. Contstruction Toys, linked above by Sangre Azul, has some, but not as wide a selection as I'd have expected.
posted by Goofyy at 3:06 AM on September 18, 2005
posted by Goofyy at 3:06 AM on September 18, 2005
Zedo Zoo are the toys a friend of mine (more friend of a friend I guess) creates.
posted by substrate at 8:17 AM on September 18, 2005
posted by substrate at 8:17 AM on September 18, 2005
Sci-Toys used to be a good line-up of unique fun stuff, but they've kind of diluted the range by adding lots of not-so-interesting stuff. The gems are still in there, but there is more run-of-the-mill stuff to wade through to find them.
They also sell stuff that while not toys, would have fascinated me as a kid. (For example, when I was young, I loved mercury, but for obvious reasons, shaking it in a sealed glass tube was the most I was able to do with it. Sci-toys sells stuff like non-toxic liquid metals, and metals that melt in your palm, can be used to dissolve (alloy with) solid metals like aluminium, or make trick teaspoons that the metal comes apart when you stir your tea, etc.
posted by -harlequin- at 2:25 PM on September 18, 2005
They also sell stuff that while not toys, would have fascinated me as a kid. (For example, when I was young, I loved mercury, but for obvious reasons, shaking it in a sealed glass tube was the most I was able to do with it. Sci-toys sells stuff like non-toxic liquid metals, and metals that melt in your palm, can be used to dissolve (alloy with) solid metals like aluminium, or make trick teaspoons that the metal comes apart when you stir your tea, etc.
posted by -harlequin- at 2:25 PM on September 18, 2005
Archie McPhee
go to the website. Sign up for the catalog and love it!
Its wonderful!!!
posted by JonnyRotten at 2:32 PM on September 18, 2005
go to the website. Sign up for the catalog and love it!
Its wonderful!!!
posted by JonnyRotten at 2:32 PM on September 18, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
They always seem to find quite a few interesting things at the Toy Fair every year.
posted by parttimesaint at 8:31 PM on September 17, 2005