Let’s talk toys. Lately, I’ve been seriously working on downsizing everything in my house. This includes the kids’ rooms. I usually don’t get worked up about their room being messy as long as it stays IN their room. I like them to play, and sometimes playing is just messy.
However, I draw the line when I can’t actually walk into the room because there is no clean floor space for my feet. When it gets to that point, I usually look around and think, “What is this stuff?! Where did it come from?!” It’s like toys, stuffed animals, and objects from the recycling bin started oozing from the walls.
After making sure the kids are busy elsewhere, that’s when I go into trash it mode. They can get emotional when I throw away their most cherished coloring page that I found crumpled up behind the toy box.
Next, I start evaluating their toys. I don’t like things that are just a waste of space or are just around to make noise and annoy me. (It’s bad when you realize you’ve been singing “Camptown Races” in your head for days because every time you turn around it’s blaring from the same little toy.)
I like toys that are open-ended and spark thought, creativity, and learning.
That’s why I wanted to tell you about my little discovery…electronic snap circuits. They are now one of my favorite toys for the kids. I had actually never heard of them until a couple months ago.
My parents and my in-laws always want to know what to get the kids for their birthdays and Christmas. Well, Miss G was about to have a birthday a few months back, and I was at a loss as to what to suggest as a gift. So, I did what any good Millennial would do. I Googled it.
I found a pretty cool list of things that creative homeschoolers would like. The coolest, most awesome thing on the list was Electronic Snap Circuits by Elenco. I suggested this gift idea to my mom, who immediately said, “Order it and use my debit card.” Bingo. That’s my kind of lady.
Now, I would like to take a moment to diffuse the thought that electronic snap circuits are just for boys or not girly. Maybe I’m crazy, but I just don’t see how snapping circuits together to make super cool projects is boyish or girlish. It’s just coolish! In my opinion, there is no limit to learning. Circuits are good, useful, and fun learning for boys AND girls.
I’m sure my husband was glad I enjoyed such things a few years back when I was big, round, and pregnant and wiring the entire new breaker box in our garage so we could have electricity. I enjoyed every minute of it. I didn’t feel boyish; I felt powerful. Muahahahaha!
I picked Elenco’s electronic snap circuits because the reviews were AMAZING; it had 5 stars on Amazon, and there were about 5,000 reviews. After some research, I chose the SC-300 model. They make sets that are smaller (and less expensive), but people were saying that those sets didn’t include all the pieces needed to create every project in the instruction booklet.
The SC-300 was the first of the big sets that included everything to make each project, and there are over 300 different projects you can build. The price point wasn’t bad either.
When Miss G unwrapped the box, she was a bit confused. I expected that. She had no idea what they were. So, I picked a simple project, and we started building. We built a little circuit that had a fan on it. When you flipped the switch, the fan blade would fly up in the air like a flying saucer, and you had to catch it.
From the screened porch, you could hear shouts of “This is the best day EVER!” and “This is the best present EVER!” The rest is history. She has eagerly built circuits ever since. Even my 3-year-old says, “Can Sissy build circuits now?” And I’m like, “You haven’t even had breakfast yet!”
Miss G has built circuits that have LED lights that light up, fans that spin, flying saucers, speakers that make space war sounds, musical doorbells, voice activated lights, motion detectors, and on and on. As a side note, I always thought my singing voice was a nice blend of Carrie Underwood and Mariah Carey until Miss G built a lie detector test that proved it otherwise!
One day, she built a circuit that simulated a breaker box. So, I showed her our breaker box in the laundry room and explained how (just like on the circuit she built) if the breaker is thrown, you don’t get any power to your switch. She thought that was pretty cool.
Then she built a light with a two-way switch. You could turn the light on with a switch on one end of the circuit or a button on the other end. So, I took her to the foyer and showed her that the lights in there work the same way; you can turn them on from the front door or the living room. (I love teachable moments!)
The electronic snap circuits box actually says it’s for ages 8-108 but Miss G got the set for her 7th birthday and hasn’t had any trouble with it. In fact, my 3-year-old son loves it too! We don’t let him actually snap any of it together because we wouldn’t want him to accidentally break anything. His special job is handing Miss G anything she needs out of the box. So, from the living room, I often hear her say, “I need a 5.” or “Hand me the whistle chip.”
I’m really impressed with how well the set is made. Each piece is sturdy and easy to snap together. The set comes with a plastic grid system to snap all the circuit pieces on. You don’t technically need it to make the circuits work, but it keeps them nice and straight.
As for people who are over 8 years old and not quite 108…it’s loads of fun. I’ve put some circuits together by myself when the kids are off doing something else, because it’s that much fun! It’s kind of therapeutic, as well as quick, easy, neat, and satisfying. There aren’t too many things in my line of work that qualify for all four of those things at once!
So, here’s a link if you want to pick up a set.
I would like to mention that there are also upgrade kits! We don’t have any of them yet, but there are plenty of birthdays in our future. One upgrade kit is for a remote controlled RC Snap Rover! Hello! That sounds AWESOME!
They also have an upgrade kit for learning about Alternative Energy. It has 125 projects that teach about geothermal, wind, solar, hydro, and tidal energy. I’m SO excited about that one!
The last one that I can’t wait to get is the SCL-175 model that LIGHTS UP!! Snap Circuits in the dark?!?! Yes, please!!!
So, what’s our next project? I’m glad you asked! We’re going to build a circuit that emits a sound only dogs can hear!
We would love to talk! Leave us a comment below.
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All the best,
Lindsey
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