Even my digitally-native, young millennial kids prefer printed books these days. And a recent weekend together at home had us busting out some craft kits.
There might have been Netflix in the background, but everybody’s hands were busy with markers, paper clay and pompoms. We all agreed that being hands-on creative, instead of tapping with our fingers, was a simple and satisfying distraction we wanted more of.
Many people, apparently, can relate. Among the innovative gadgets and gizmos at recent toy and consumer products fairs were lots of booths offering kits that explore art, science and a lot in between.
Several newly launched craft kits caught the eye of James Zahn, senior editor of The Toy Insider. One is Purple Ladybug’s groovy Prismic art, geared toward crafters age 12 and up.
“These 3D ‘puzzles’ are essentially works of art,” said Zahn. Six styles are available; you fold and connect the pieces to form a sparkly lantern, USB-powered light string included.
“My 14-year-old daughter and I have enjoyed building these together,” he said.
NEW SPINS ON CLASSIC TOYS
Zahn also mentioned a collab between two well-known toy brands: On its 50th anniversary, Playmobil has teamed up with Crayola to relaunch the Playmobil Color collection. You can use Crayola markers to color plastic clothing and vehicles for Playmobil’s little figurines.
Zahn himself is drawn to the Hot Rod or Motorbike set.
This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Sanrio’s Hello Kitty character.
This story is from the May 25, 2024 edition of Techlife News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 25, 2024 edition of Techlife News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
NASA SAYS MORE SCIENCE AND LESS STIGMA ARE NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND UFOS
NASA said this week that the study of UFOs will require new scientific techniques, including advanced satellites as well as a shift in how unidentified flying objects are perceived.
EUROPEAN UNION ACCUSES FACEBOOK OWNER META OF BREAKING DIGITAL RULES WITH PAID AD-FREE OPTION
European Union regulators accused social media company Meta Platforms of breaching the bloc’s new digital competition rulebook by forcing Facebook and Instagram users to choose between seeing ads or paying to avoid them.
CONFUSED BY ALL THE TIKTOK TRENDS? THIS GLOSSARY MIGHT HELP
Anyone who shops or uses the internet probably has encountered a TikTok trend - whether they know it or not.
CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY ON SHOW AT EURO 2024 IS CHANGING THE FACE OF SOCCER
From smart-enabled match balls and artificial intelligence to cryogenic recovery chambers, soccer is being transformed by the cuttingedge technology available to players, coaches and officials.
EVER FEEL EXHAUSTED BY SWIPING THROUGH DATING APPS? YOU MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING BURNOUT
While plenty of happy couples can trace their meet-cute moment to an online dating app, many others find the never-ending process of likes, swipes, taps and awkward DMs that go nowhere to be exhausting — leading to a phenomenon known as “dating app burnout.”
NASA ASTRONAUTS WILL STAY AT THE SPACE STATION LONGER FOR MORE TROUBLESHOOTING OF BOEING CAPSULE
Two NASA astronauts will stay longer at the International Space Station as engineers troubleshoot problems on Boeing’s new space capsule that cropped up on the trip there.
JAPAN SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES AN ADVANCED EARTH OBSERVATION SATELLITE ON ITS NEW FLAGSHIP H3 ROCKET
Japan successfully deployed an upgraded Earth observation satellite for disaster response and security after it was launched on a new flagship H3 rocket Monday.
US NEW-VEHICLE SALES BARELY ROSE IN THE SECOND QUARTER AS BUYERS BALKED AT STILL-HIGH PRICES
U.S. new-vehicle sales rose only slightly in the second quarter, despite larger discounts and slightly lower prices.
GOOGLE FALLING SHORT OF IMPORTANT CLIMATE TARGET, CITES ELECTRICITY NEEDS OF AI
Three years ago, Google set an ambitious plan to address climate change by going “net zero,” meaning it would release no more climatechanging gases into the air than it removes, by 2030.
AS AI GAINS A WORKPLACE FOOTHOLD STATES ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WORKERS DON'T GET LEFT BEHIND
With many jobs expected to eventually rely on generative artificial intelligence, states are trying to help workers beef up their tech skills before they become outdated and get outfoxed by machines that are becoming increasingly smarter.
