Science Kits

If you’re thinking about getting this inflatable set, make sure you’re putting it in a big room as this thing is huge! The sun alone is about three feet in diameter and Jupiter is pretty big as well. Of course the planets aren’t to scale with the sun or else the smaller ones would be about as big as a BB with a three-foot diameter sun. But don’t let that detract you as this really is a pretty cool set. The Giant Inflatable Solar System comes with a foot pump for easier inflating and the valves have little rings on them which make each of them easy to hang with strings. My son has this set hanging from the ceiling in his room (all but the sun which ended up being too big) and it makes for an excellent decor for any kid interested in the solar system. Note, the pretty picture above is not my son. My son’s room is a little more cluttered with books, dinosaurs and Legos.

Overall review: this is one of the cooler science toys out there. It’s pretty pricey, at about $43 US in late 2008, but I think it’s worth it and my six-year-old can now easily name all the planets starting from the sun going out, and even Jupiter’s four biggest moons.

Create an out-of-this-world playroom or bedroom with this unique solar system set. Each colorful planet inflates easily, turning any room into an intergalactic experience. Includes a sun, nine proportionally sized planets with hanging hooks, moon, convenient foot pump, Activity Guide with fun planet facts and repair kit.

I think Uncle Milton has come out with two of the best toy planetariums around. The Star Theater 2, and slightly more expensive Uncle Milton Star Theater SE are both great little kits for any kid interested in the solar system. Both come with a pretty standard planetarium, but this one also has a laser pointer type device for pointing to the stars that you’re looking at. Very cool. It’s also got a pretty educational CD. And the general quality is just pretty good. I played with the planetarium that Slinky Science put out last year and can easily say that the two by Uncle Milton are much nicer.

Overall review: even for the fairly steep price (almost $50 US), it’s one of the better science toys out there. This one even made a couple of lists of the best selling christmas toys of 2008. I can in good faith recommend this one.

I thought this was a pretty clever toy by Uncle Milton. The Solar System in my Room made the list of top 12 best selling toys of 2008. It comes with the light-up solar system model (almost like a mobile, but a bit cooler), a CD that walks you through a tour of the solar system, and even a light-pointer you can use to point out each planet and even make meteors and comets streak through the sky.

As educational toys go, or toys in general, this one is a little more expensive than some: about $36 US, but as far as the learning aspect you’ll get from it, I think it’s well worth it. Most of us know Uncle Milton for their ant farms, but their line of solar racers and solar system toys have given them a nice introduction into the market for science toys.