Paper airplanes are cheap, easily replaceable toys that can serve dual purposes; anyone ever write a love note and then air-mail it to the recipient? That impresses guys and girls alike. They even make for good improvised activities when lost in the desert…I know from experience.

Grab your favorite folding material and let’s take a look at paper airplanes! (For everyone’s interest, the best material for a paper plane is probably paper…I prefer college-ruled notebook sheets).

History

Naturally, paper planes are as old as paper itself, dating back to 490 BCE. The interesting historical implications of paper airplanes are that they helped define man-made air travel; Leonardo da Vinci folded some paper aircraft in order to develop his ornithopter and parachute designs. Sir George Cayley and other pioneers of flight began testing paper gliders in wind tunnels and natural environments in the late 1800’s as well.

Also, who would have thought that Wilbur and Orville Wright were using paper airplanes to test their designs at the turn of the century? I sure didn’t know that. Someone should tell my third grade teacher that my “wasting time” with aerogami (clever, eh?) actually lead to the first manned flight in Kitty Hawk all those years ago.

Someone's always gotta be a smarty pants and overachieve.

My Encounters

Back before school libraries became “media centers,” which are little more than computer labs with books as decoration, we were required to do some independent reading. Early in my student career, the library was a wasteland of “Babysitter’s Club” and “Choose Your Own Adventure” novels.

The kids that chose not to read prose (a considerable amount of my class) instead found the pile of instructional books, and only the cool kids were able to snatch a paper airplane manual. They were the first books checked out every year, and they never came back until June.

Beyond that, my most memorable encounter with paper airplanes involved a road trip in Eastern Oregon. After the pick-up died in the middle of the desert, my father took great delight in teaching me how to bank a paper plane to the left or right (the plane was made from receipt papers out of the glove box). This kept us from losing our minds as we waited for a tow truck.

The Best Way to Learn

While origami is more of an art, paper aircraft involve more science. Kids and adults alike should study up on aerodynamics and physics in order to achieve expert status, but who needs status? I’m here to play, Jack!

It's much simpler than the instructions make it look.

As before with origami, books and kits that come with custom paper are surprisingly cheap. One that is friendly to all ages is Zoom!: The Complete Paper Airplane Kit by Margaret A. Hartelius, illustrated by Cameron Eagle. Complete instructions to start the creativity are necessary, but then one’s mind needs to wander with the possibilities of custom designs.

The Benefits

Even if your paper airplanes don’t fly too far (many of mine have taken dramatic nose-dives into the ground), you’re always learning something by trying one out. If experimenting outdoors, one sees the effects of airflow and the physical properties of their materials in action. Indoors, the emphasis can be heavier on aesthetic design and competition (the same environmental conditions mean a fair game of “which plane goes further”).

Paper airplanes are the perfect activity, because everyone likes to see something bend the rules of physics. In the classroom they may be a dastardly distraction, but there is scientific and artistic merit to the design and experimentation of paper aircraft. Plus they are a whole lot cooler than those dopey fortune teller thingies (can you tell how my fortune was always unfair?).

Fly! Fold your first prototype and become the small-scale, paper version of Howard Hughes. Maybe you can win a contest, such as the one sponsored by the Scholastic publishing company, who put out all those great books I read in grade school…because the paper plane books were taken. …Hope you enjoyed part 2 of our Folding Paper series. Read part 1 on origami here.

I always wanted a microscope as a kid, but I didn't have one. Is that why I'm a writer instead? Perhaps.

A few days ago I made a point of talking about telescopes and how simple it should, in theory, be to encourage kids to learn via the usage of such a simple and relatively inexpensive technology. But now that you’ve got that telescope and space is all learned up, where do you turn next? Simple, take that practice I preached about space being free and apply it to things a whole lot smaller. How? Time to buy a microscope.

More Endless Free Fun

You see, whereas the beauty of the telescope is in the vastness of space, the beauty of a microscope is in the vastness of small objects, like leaves, hairs, and even water droplets. Everything when viewed on a microscopic level starts to look awesome. We’re talking star constellations awesome here.

But if you don’t have a microscope, that would also be a problem. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. When haven’t I been able to provide a reliable Amazon-based suggestion? Never, that’s when, and today is no exception. Right now the bestselling microscope in the Toys & Games category is the My First Lab Duo-Scope Microscope by C & A Scientific coming in at a very fair $59.

As I mentioned, microscopes, like telescopes, have a near-endless supply of free material to check out, but in case you’d rather have something pre-planned, the Learning Resources Prepared Slides Combination Set, a $20 Amazon purchase, is a great option since it includes 48 slides to inspect. Otherwise, anything that can fit under the lens is fair game to be studied.

Colorful AND educational. That's a double score!

Here’s a simple idea for how to make things more interesting: Kids love mysteries, so giving them the chance to determine what sample belongs to what can be a fun game. Make them close their eyes as you change slides and see if they can figure out what they’re looking at. Or pretend that they’re a forensics investigator on a serious crime and they need you to analyze the data. Essentially, there’s no escaping how vital it is you get their interest going with your own involvement. Still, it requires minimal work, plus you might just enjoy yourself.

While it doesn’t particularly sound that cool, suggest your kids bring along their new microscope when camping. You remember that camping trip I told you about last time? Yup, I’m still expecting you to plan that. Once in the woods, a bounty of new things to scan becomes available. While on a hike, pluck some interesting plants or find anything that looks like it could be interesting and take it back for examination. Even something like a bloody cut can become a fun event. Put a bit on a slide and have your child take a look. They might even forget they hurt themselves and just be fascinated with science. Science of all things!

Getting your kids interested with subjects like astronomy or forensic investigation are naturally gateway interests that open up to real-world career possibilities, so get them young and get them hard. For all you know you’ve just started the next big scientist on his path to discovery.

That's a pretty sweet telescope right there. I wish mine was this nice when I was a kid.

It can be really, really hard to get kids interested in anything even remotely related to science or education, especially when it comes with the word “toy” somewhere. Kids aren’t clueless. They know when you’re trying to sell them something other than what they want. That’s why you have to find science and learning toys that also happen to be really cool, and for that you don’t have to look much further than a telescope.

Sneaky, But It Gets The Job Done

I’ve ascertained that the ultimate way to cheat with kids is include something related to space. For some reason, space is just awesome. Why is it so many video games these days take an otherwise dull premise and plunk it into space, thus making it amazing? Now just think of how easy it is to focus that potential into a child’s learning process. Guess what? Space is right up there. For free. Every night. But you’ll need something handy to access this wealth of free space.

Enter the Celestron AstroMaster Refractor Telescope. This is currently Amazon’s best selling telescope in the Toys & Games category i.e. the For Use By Children category. It’s also currently priced at just over $90. Stop! Before you consider the price, consider what a telescope can really do.

Telescopes are essentially super binoculars. While a good pair of binoculars will enable you to see a plane in the sky a bit closer, a good telescope will let you see craters in the moon and make comets look a heck of a lot closer than they really are. Of course, you can always use a telescope for the usual nosey neighboring business, but you didn’t hear that from me (though your kids WILL try spying on everyone).

Look how close you can see the moon with one of these babies. Kids love this sort of thing.

And there’s nothing really wrong with the process of dinking with a telescope for whatever devices your child ends up using it for. For all you know, this is just step one towards their career as a government intelligence agent. But to really encourage the use of a telescope you should keep some things in mind.

First, there is the problem of space being boring. There are nights when clouds have covered everything or there just isn’t anything really worth looking at. That happens, you’ll just have to accept it. But when you hear about meteor showers or a planet being visible, make a point of turning this viewing into an event. “Maybe we’ll see a shooting star up close!” Kids will eat that right up.

Secondly, to deliver on these promises, don’t forget about light pollution. While turning off some lights in your own house can be helpful, it won’t guarantee that everyone else in your neighborhood will turn their lights off as well (possibly because your kids are spying on them with the telescope). If you live in the country this problem is usually solved, otherwise try scheduling some camping trips or just plan to head into the country for the evening when you know there will be a lot of celestial activity. Kids won’t even know they’re supposed to be learning anything.

Essentially, a telescope is a free pass to interact with your kids in a really cool way. You may need to do some research beforehand to ensure that you sound like the expert, but I promise you that it’s research well spent. Do waste the opportunity while you still have it.

Technology never ceases to amaze me. At times, there are products that seem years ahead of their time, making what once seemed impossible a reality. Recently, Mindflex has been released and already is making new advancements in the entertainment industry.

Like something out of a science fiction movie, Mindflex by Mattel is operated by the user’s mind, as the name suggests. No, you won’t be able to levitate objects after using it, but it’s as close as you’re going to get. Rather, there are sensors that must be attached to your forehead and earlobes. These sensors measure your brainwaves and how much or little you are concentrating. Based on your level of concentration, a fan inside the console will blow, causing a foam ball to rise and fall.

Once the ability to control your concentration has been acquired, you can the guide the ball through an obstacle course. Numerous parts allow players to create their own course designs, providing potentially limitless entertainment. There are also games for up to four players, allowing for further enjoyment in finding out who has the best mental control.

Of course, there are some drawbacks. For one, understanding the relationship between the mind and the ball’s levitation will not come easily to many and frustration could easily set in. For around 200 bucks, that really would be a shame. Secondly, in order to play, the Mindflex requires a whopping four C and three AAA batteries. Lastly, the sensors look nothing short of ridiculous on the user’s head, but that’s more of a judgment call.

Either way, these shortcomings seem so inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, as this truly is an experience unlike any other. If you ever see a demo of it set up anywhere, don’t hesitate to try it out, no matter how silly you look.

If you can master your mind, there’s no telling how much fun you could have.  Mindflex  retails for under $250.

While a simple mechanism, this line of Stomp Rockets is a surprisingly entertaining for a number of reasons.
First, it is quite easy to use. Children as young as three can properly send the rocket flying with a well-placed stomp.  The rockets are soft enough that the toy is quite safe, and damage-resistant.  As well, while the premise of the toy may sound simple, it is effective – rockets launched from the Stomp Rocket Junior Glow Kit can fly up to heights of 100 feet.

The entire toy is lightweight and portable, meaning it can be easily transported to the beach or a cottage. It could even be used indoors… though it would be a good idea to keep it away from any easily breakable objects.

The Benefit of Science Toys

An additional benefit that toys of this type is that it gives you a great opportunity to discuss basic science with your kids.  The mechanism of the propelled rocket is a good demonstration of force and air pressure, and of the aerodynamics of the dart itself.  You could think of it as a simple household science project, showing the ways in which very simple elements can combine to produce something dramatic and impressive.

This toy does have its downsides, like most science toys.  The rockets, being quite light, may have a tendency to be caught in the wind or blown away. There is the possibility of losing one of more rockets, which will quickly render the toy inoperable.  Fortunately, should this occur, packs consisting of extra rockets may also be purchased from the company.

The box contains the bell-shaped, hand-held Hyper Dash base unit and five target discs in different colors with numbers on them.  The Hyper Dash base calls out commands based on the difficulty level selected. The easiest option requires color identification, the next is number and color recognition with an increase in call/command speed.

The third level of play adds a variety of calls to increase coordination.  The most complex level requires some basic math skills with calls such as “four minus one” to lead the players to the correct number target.

The game may be set up inside or outside, which offers a great activity at the park as well as an active indoor rainy-day game. The targets may be set up close together or very far apart depending on the player preference, and the game may be played in teams or with as little as one player.

Find Wild Planet Hyper Dash here.

So, if the idea is to work on the math skills the distance between targets can be minimal, but if the goal is to increase physical endurance the targets can be set up on opposite ends of a tennis court.

Three AAA batteries are required, and changing them requires a screwdriver. There is no on/off switch, but the hand-held unit turns off after a time of non-use to preserve battery life. The recommended age range is 7-12, but since the beginning level is colors only it could be a game for younger kids if the targets are set closer together.

Recommended for ages 8 and up, this kit is great for those who show an interest in learning more about how electronics work as well as for those who simply love to build.

The kit requires 4 AA batteries (not included), and comes with a “circuit board” or base for the projects, and lots of connecting pieces such as wire, resistors, and other parts specific to certain projects.

Other Snap Circuit systems may be combined with this one to add to the creative options and additional pieces may be purchased separately. Smaller kits (SC-100) are available for those wanting to start out with a smaller price tag.

The instruction manual groups projects by the level of difficulty and offers color-coded instructions for each, making the assembly easy and fun. The projects are set up with an objective so that parents and kids can see just what they are learning when they build each one. The younger kids will probably need a bit of help understanding the concepts behind the individual projects, and those answers – available in the instruction booklet as well as online – may educate the grown-ups helping out too.

Find the Electronic Snap Circuits Kit here

The assortment of projects offered in the instruction booklet gives an opportunity for increased challenges as the basic concepts are understood. The pieces can be used to create projects not included in the instruction booklet too, which allows those budding engineers to design their very own projects.

Awards for this toy include Dr Toy Best Educational Products, Dr Toy 100 Best Children’s Products, and The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval. This kit is a great educational investment for kids of nearly any age.

The hand-held microscope attaches to a belt clip battery pack (5 AA batteries required) so that it can go all over the house and outside without dragging along a bunch of equipment. The hand-held “eye” takes digital pictures and video which are viewable on the hand-held LCD and may be saved to the included USB memory stick.

Once the batteries and USB stick are inserted, the camera can be used immediately without the need for a lot of instruction. Controls on the handset let the user zoom (100x, 200x, or 400x magnification), choose to save photo or video, view the gallery on the LCD screen, or delete items. The focus during magnification must be done manually and takes a bit of practice to get just right; this might be frustrating for younger kids, especially initially.

The included video cable allows the close-ups to be viewed on a TV. The BioniCam is operational while plugged in this way, offering fun family play with a larger screen to view the real time close-ups of Uncle George’s wrinkles. The saved images and videos can be transferred for editing and storage to a computer without downloading any extra software.

Find the Eyeclops BioniCam here.

The instruction booklet offers some tips when starting out, giving recommendations for items with intricate patterns that kids will find interesting. Once they get started they’ll be off and running, inspecting everything around the house with their new toy.

This kit by Insect Lore is for ages 4-14

At some point we begin to ask “Why?”

And when the answer isn’t readily available in the brain of some adult, kids need another hands-on way to find out.

Science toys to the rescue!  So many things are available now as kits and simple lessons that we are sure to find the right one for the question at hand.

The Live Butterfly Garden by Insect Lore is  one of the most popular science toys today.  The kit includes butterfly habitat and you mail away for three butterfly larvae.  This is so cool because you can actually watch the butterflies’ metamorphosis close up!  The kit retails for less that $20.

Rainy Days Great for Science

On a recent rainy day I did an online search (since we didn’t want to go out in the rain to begin with) and found a page of free science experiments that can be created from items already in the house.

We decided that making ice cream would be a good one (you can’t snack on a radio when it’s finished), and it was so easy!  When we finished I got the “why did that work, mom?” question, and I was actually able to answer it from the information provided on the site.

For those not wanting to tackle homemade projects the kits are great because the items needed are already included and it can be tucked away on a top shelf to be pulled out for your own rainy day.  Some science toys have instant gratification and others, like the Live Butterfly Garden, will take some time to grow into the full experiment.  The hands-on time is great for growing brains!

Choosing the Right Science Toys

I have found kits that go as young as 4 years in the science sections at some stores, but most will be for at least age 8.  Be sure to check the age range when purchasing a kit since nothing is more frustrating than trying to do something beyond your ability (or comprehension, as is the case for some of these).  More and more of the kits are offered at around the $20 range making it a reasonable option for an afternoon activity.

Another side effect from these kits and experiments is that adults and children might actually learn to enjoy science in a way they never have before.  Making ice cream at home might start one on the path to culinary wizardry, so be prepared for the unknown.