| I took my family to Winterfest this past | | | | compression. These educational toys were |
| weekend. Science North, a science museum had | | | | demonstrating engineering principles that university |
| an interactive workshop, we had to go. | | | | students study, and these kids were aged 5 to |
| It was a good thing no one told the kids these | | | | 12. |
| were educational toys, it may have quieted the | | | | Next up was Magic Mud. This non Newtonian fluid |
| shouting, laughter and astonishment. The amazing | | | | swirled like a liquid in the bowl, but turned to solid |
| science kits ranged from building bridges to | | | | rubber when you punched it. What really proved |
| exploding candy. The kids had to push aside the | | | | the value of this educational toy is when one boy |
| parents to get their turn playing with some | | | | said it was just like quick sand. |
| awesome science toys. | | | | The kids had the opportunity to make huge |
| What I notice when kids play with science toys is | | | | bubbles, launch air rockets and learn about rocks |
| the enthusiasm, the team work, the | | | | and mining. |
| competitiveness that exudes. These aren't just | | | | The biggest bang of the science toys was when |
| educational toys, these are life lessons. And the | | | | the instructor heated up potassium chlorate then |
| level of parent participation and encouragement | | | | through in a candy as we watched the fireworks. |
| was heart warming. | | | | Who knew you could make educational toys with |
| Kids used K'Nex to build bridges and towers, then | | | | a Pez dispenser to show how your body's |
| used steel weights to test the strength of their | | | | metabolism works. |
| engineering creations in both bending and | | | | |