Disclosure- The following toys have been awarded the Mr. Dad Seal of Approval.  The items were provided in order to review them.  All opinions are my own and honest.  All photos are my own, with no filters used during or after, or weird photo shoots done- just items in real life (you know, the way they are used).

The Light Up Trace Case by ALEX is a great toy for kids who love to draw. I’m not sure “toy” is an accurate description, perhaps art product? This item is very cool, and good for both boys and girls. The product is rated for children ages 5 and up, but I would say that some younger kids would be able to do this activity as well.  The light box is battery operated, and pre-printed sheets with different backdrops let kids draw their own silly characters onto the backgrounds with traceable bodies, heads, eyes (etc) that they can choose and “mash-up” to create.  It’s fun, easy to do, and kids can really get creative while learning some basic drawing principals. Available for $35 at http://www.alextoys.com/product/light-trace-case/

Get kids outside with the Lazer Light Bug Vacuum.  It’s not as weird as it sounds. Kids like bugs. Kids like checking out things they find in the dirt. Enter the Lazer Light Bug Vacuum from Backyard Safari. This is a pretty cool insect catching tool- it actually sucks up bugs without hurting them into a viewing chamber.  Check them out, study them, and learn about our tiny friends. Release the bugs with an “escape hatch” that opens with an easy twist.  The lazer light makes it easy to see the bugs in dark, dank places (you know, where bugs like to be and where kids go to catch them….gross, kids). This toy- I mean, science equipment- needs 4 ‘AA’ batteries. You can pick this up at http://www.backyardsafari.com/

Remember “Creepy Crawlers”?  Those little ovens that would let you make your own wiggly bugs, in the process, giving you burns on the metal cast plates that you can still see on your hands and fingers?  Yes! Those.  OK, well Scientific Explorer Gelly Wiggle Bugs are kind of like that- in the cool way of making your own wiggly bugs, sans the melty-plastic smell and burns, hooray!  You and your kids can make colorful, wiggly insects and bugs by mixing included powders with water and pouring them into molds. Let it set for the allotted time, and viola!  Bugs. The instuctions say to keep them in the airtight container, since they are basically gelatin (don’t eat them!), but we didn’t and they shrank to about half their size, so….word to the wise. You can’t play with them in a container though, so, we stand by our choice. Also, the worm didn’t come out super well- everything else worked out fine. Recommended for ages 6 and up- I think kids a little younger will be OK if you can keep them from trying to eat the bugs.  They look like Jell-o Jigglers.

How much more basic can you get?  Not much- but this toy has occupied my son far longer then almost anything else in the past six months. The Citiblocs 200 piece natural color wooden building block set is awesome for kids of just about any age- recommended for ages 3 and up, that seems about right. Build towers, ships, the whole town- anything you (or they) can think of. There is a building guide included, my son and his daddy loved trying to make the creations inside. One of his favorite things to build were complicated staircases- which sounds strange, but they are really cool looking.  He might have found his calling….This block set is made of all natural precision cut wood. Available for $60 at http://poof-slinky.com

The ZOOB Galax-Z Z-Star Explorer is completely out of this world.  Really!  Look, see?  It is. Construct space ships and saucers to explore outer space, infinity, and beyond. This kit is really cool- and you can create some truly awesome things.  There are included instructions to build a Drifter, Light Speeder, Cosmic Craft, or Z Star Explorer, but kids will have just as much fun making their own vehicles and creations. It also comes with 2 space people, or Zoobonauts, to man your vehicles. This kit is massive, and comes with 304 ZOOB pieces, engine shells, domes, tail wings, shells and blasters, support beams, cockpits, turbines, and 2 helmeted Zoobonauts. The box is reusable for storage as long as you don’t tear it apart opening it- so don’t do that.  Let kids use their imaginations, create, design, and read instructions to build- there is learning potential as well as endless fun in this set. I love it, and you will too.  Available for $15o at http://poof-slinky.com/