Saturday, 18 May 2013

Science Kits

Science kits are  both educational and fun.  Introduce your child to the basics of chemistry, physics, gears, electronics, vulcanology, paleontology and DNA. We've got some really good ones in recently from the Museum of Victoria and the CSIRO.

CSIRO Forensics Double Helix Science Kit ($29.99) - Age 10+



Become a forensics science specialist as you dust for fingerprints, analyse handwriting, examine hair and fibre evidence, trace secret documents using chromatography, make plaster casts of shoes, determine the chemical within some white powder and apply DNA profiling to solve a mystery!

17 science experiments in total.
Choking hazard: Not suitable for children 3 years and under.



Museum of Victoria Make Your Own Volcano ($19.99) - Age 8+





With this easy, safe and fun kit you can recreate the spectacular sight of an eruption of a mini-Vesuvius in your own home or classroom. 
Discover fascinating facts about volcanoes and learn more about them in four exciting volcano-related activities:
  • Make a simple lava lamp
  • Sticky runny stuff — viscosity, magma composition and lava flow
  • Honeycomb — produce your own edible version of gas filled volcanic rock
  • Food fun — replicate a bubbling mud pool
Great for school projects or fun anytime.

CSIRO Slime ($29.99) Age 10+





This is a kit with a difference - it's gooey, slimy and slippery - a specialist branch of science called polymers!
In this Double Helix science kit, you'll discover the properties of those strange fluids that don't obey the usual scientific rules!
Learn about silly putty that stretches, snaps, bounces and shatters. Extract plastic from milk, sizzle the flesh of a slime monster, and create your own slime gel!
The kit includes an easy-to-read instruction book, along with most of the equipment needed to perform the experiments at home.



Museum of Victoria Dinosaur Discovery ($24.99) Age 6+




Explore the prehistoric world of dinosaurs with this excavation kit. Find out about Australia’s own dinosaurs, where they lived, what they ate and how they nurtured their young. Also included is a life size replica of a Tyrannosaurus rex tooth which vividly shows the scale of the dinosaurs. The T-Rex skeleton is assembled from 13 pieces to make a model 34 cm in length. Great for school projects and budding paleontologists!


Jurassic Eggs ($16.99) Age 6+





Geo World is bringing the Jurassic world back to life with their fun and exciting range of dinosaur products.Kids will feel like real life paleontologist’s discovering, cleaning and assembling the 14-piece bone replicas! These semi transparent dinosaur eggs contain a skeleton that needs to be assembled creating hours of fun and entertainment. Each egg comes with an informational leaflet outlining fun facts on the replica. There are 12 of the most famous and interesting dinosaurs to collect!


Liquifly Water Powered Rocket ($29.99) - Age 8+





This seriously fun experiment uses air and water to power the bottle rocket more than 30 metres into the atmosphere. Within two minutes the Liquifly rocket is ready to launch - all children need is a windless day, an adult, a 1.25L soft drink bottle, a bike pump, 1-3 litres of water and a fun-loving and inquisitive attitude. Liquifly works on the same principles as other rockets, sourcing its energy from water and air to create a thrust to send it sky-high. Pack includes: fins, low launch valve, high launch valve, 6m of launch hose, release fittings and an instruction booklet.



Jitterbug Electronic Kit (14.95) - Age 8+





This robotic ladybug-will shiver and scamper her way across the room. She’s easy to assemble, requiring only the included screwdriver. A gentle introduction to the amazing world of robotics, kids of all ages will be fascinated by the jittering, skittering movement.


Construct-a-Clock ($24.99) - Age 6+








This easy-to-build clock whips up in a jiffy, and will fascinate young minds with its turning cogs and swinging pendulum. The clock is spring-driven, so requires no batteries, promotes cognitive development and is the perfect way to teach children basic mechanical principles, and how to tell the time.


Horrible Science - Shocking Rocket ($19.99) - Age 5+







Make your own water fueled rocket using the Horrible Science Shocking Rocket Kit. Simply prepare for lift off by attaching the nose cone, fins and stickers to the plastic bottle body. Fill your rocket with water, attach a bike pump and expect to get wet as you rocket blasts into the sky! The child friendly experiment leaflet explores how rockets work and includes crazy space shuttle related facts. In the box you'll find: 1 x plastic rocket, 1 x nose cone, fins, 1 x rubber stopper, 1 x valve attachment, stickers, sticky tape and an activity leaflet. The Shocking Rocket Kit does require a bike pump and bike valve adapter (not included)

Friday, 19 April 2013

Parenting Evening

Hi everyone,

Having had many conversations in the shop with fellow parents, it seems likely that many of us are experiencing similar challenges with our children, whether it be emotional or behavioural.

So we thought it might be helpful for us to join with our local psychology practices to offer some evening talks that will give us some strategies for managing some of the most common issues we all face.

Over the next six months. we'll be holding parent evenings targeted at specific topics where we can all come together over a glass of wine and nibbles and listen to our local practitioners, with a question and answer session after.

Details of the first of these, is below with more to follow every six weeks. Please let us know if you have any ideas or feedback.



Temper Taming Evening
How to manage difficult behaviour in children 2-12
led by James Brown, Clinical & Counselling Psychologist*


How to discipline without arguing, shouting or smacking
How to sort behaviour
How to handle challenging and testing behaviour
Choosing your strategy: the three choices

When: Thursday May 2nd
Where: Crackerjack Toys
Cost: $10 pre-paid (includes wine and nibbles)
How: Book by phone 3399 44 with a credit card or come into the shop

* James, from 'Bulimba Psychology' is a father or four and a full member of the Australian Psychological Society and has undertaken research into the use of humour  in the home and the importance of relationship closeness between fathers and their children.
Read more about James:



UPDATE (1 May 2013) - We've had such a phenominal response to this (all spots went in a matter of a couple of hours) that we scheduled another session which also booked out. We promise to do more. Keep your eyes on our facebook page where we'll announce the next session first and if it doesn't get booked out within 24 hours, we'll send an email out to everyone on our mailing list. If you'd like to join the mailing list, send us a message on facebook or email us at crackerjack.info@gmail.com

Nic

Saturday, 16 March 2013

20 Under $20 - Boys


Impossible to find a great gift under $20? We say' no way!' Here are 20 great present combo's for boys.
Happy Shopping!

1. Usborne sticker dressing pirates $14.95 add pirate eye patch/earring set  (age 3+) $2.50 = $17.45

2.       Bobbleart tin dinosaur  money box $8.95, dinosaur coin purse $8.98 = $17.95 (all ages)
3.       Space links construction (age 3+) $19.95










4. Traffic Noughts and crosses game (age 3+) $19.95
5.       Woodies Tony the T-rex flexi dino (age 3+) – Stegasaurus and robots also available  $14.95 (special offer, was $24.95)


6.       Large foam rocket launcher (age 4+). A constant favourite. $14.95



7.       Neon go-go horn (age 4 - 99!) Top seller - once you buy one, you'll buy 5. Put it onto the handlebars of a bike or scooter and it makes a revving brmm brmm sound! $16.95


8.   Melissa & Doug decorate/build a racing car(age 4+)  $9.95

9. Foxtail Softie (age 4+) $19.95 . Large soft ball with a tail for easier throwing and catching.


10.   Djeco Knights stencils(age 5+)  $11.95, add pirate pencil pack $3.95 = $15.90

11.   Mighty rescue book and model kit  (age 5+) $19.95

12.   Two-way bug viewer (boxed) (age 6 +) $16.95
13.   Hand held microscope $11.95, add UV dino laces $5.95 = $17.90

14.   Klutz book of Jacks (age 6+) $16.95

15.   T-rex wooden 3-d building kit (age 6+) $7.95 add Dino Top Trumps card game $12.95 (or Dino 4D puzzle $4.95 or glow in the dark large dino sticker $5.95, an endless list of dino stuff!)


16.   Slimy slugs/Shocking Rocket science kits (age 6+). Slimy slugs makes gloop, shocking rocket a model rocket that propels off the ground with household chemicals - all included $19.95


17.   Djeco paper planes $13.95(age 7+), add a handball $5.95 = $19.90




18.   Nano blocks drum set $14.95(age 8+) , add cap bomb $2.50 = $17.45



19. Zingshot (age 8+). A slingshot with a soft ball - very safe as nothing else fits into the sling. $17.95

20. Sitting Ducks card game - great quick card game - brings out your competitive streak! Age 10 + $19.95
































Not forgetting Lego Lego Lego! From $12.95

Saturday, 9 March 2013

20 Under $20 (for Girls)



It seems like birthdays and parties stop for no man, so we thought it might be useful in these busy times to give you some ideas for lovely original gifts that don't bust the budget. With Easter also on the horizon, below are some of our favourite/best selling combo's for girls - boys to follow! 
Happy Shopping!
Nic

  1. Melissa and Doug 24 piece jigsaw(age 3+)  $19.95


 2. Cuddly Puppy and kitten (all ages) $14.95

 3Fuzzy Felt creations play board (age 3+) – Red Riding Hood, princesses, you name it! $14.95

  4. Sylvanian Families Popcorn cart (age 3+) $14.95

5. Style Princess Design book (age 4+)  $17.95

 6Fairy snow globe $12.95 – add a sparkly princess crown (age 4+) $6.95  = $19.90


 7. Mermaid porcelain tea set (age 4+) $12.95


   8. Melissa and Doug wooden bead set (age 4+)$13.95

9. Happy Handles stamp kit (age 4+) $16.95

 10Djeco Ballerina stencil kit $11 (age 5+) and Fairy colouring pencils $3.95 = $14.95 or add some ballerina hairclips $4.95 = $19.90

11. Dancing Feet (all ages) – $17.95 – you won’t find these anywhere else! Turns any normal shoe into tap shoes! check them out on You Tube!!


 12. Princess/Ballerina Stationary set (age 5+) $9.95 – includes writing pad, stickers, glitter glue

13. Melissa and Doug Make a Face sticker book 12.95(age 6+) , add a headband $3.95 = $16.90

14. Bobbleart large drawing book $10.50 (special offer) and Djeco watercolour pencils $10.95 (age 6+) ($1.45 over, but a nice pressie!!)


15. Sun print Kit $13.95(make photo's using just sunlight!), add UV shoelaces (age 6+) $5.95 = $19.90



16. Klutz Chinese Jump Rope(sometimes known as elastics) (age 6+) $19.95
17. Djeco Woodland origami set(age 7+) – $12.95, add Owl lip gloss $3.95 = $16.90

18.Top Model diary $12.95(age 7+) , add a cupcake pen $4.95 = $17.90

19. Bobble art jewellery box(all ages) $19.95

20. Correspondances Unlined Notebook $9.95, Fridge Magnet $4.50 and doggie pen $3.95 (age 7+)  = $18.40