Teaching Kids About Nature Via Toys

Nature toys give children an opportunity to learn about living things in a hands-on and fun way.

Such toys can peak kids' interest, and enable youngsters to teach themselves about the wonders of Mother Nature and the Great Outdoors, according to FamilyFun magazine contributing editor Deb Geigis Berry.

Kids have a natural connection and fascination with live creatures, anyhow, and these products enable youngsters to get close to creatures such as insects and observe them with ease.

Most importantly, the editors of FamilyFun have tested all the toys with children, to be sure they make the grade and will provide a great experience for kids and parents as well.

Butterfly Garden Kit, by Insect Lore
(Ages 4+, $24.99)
This is a classic nature toy. Children can send away for caterpillars and watch them go through their life cycle (caterpillar to cocoon to butterflies). Then they can let them go. The 2-foot high version includes five caterpillars. Also available are a 3-foot classroom version with 10 caterpillars ($30) and a gigantic 8-foot butterfly pavilion with 100 caterpillars ($300).
www.insectlore.com

Backyard Safari Bug Vacuum, by Small World Toys
(Ages 5+, $14.99)
Awesome toy for kids that allows them to catch bugs and get a better look at them without touching them, squashing them or having them fly or jump away. Has two adjustable power settings, two different nose cones for picking up insects of all sizes and two capture cones to hold them in. The observation cones have built-in magnifying lenses so kids can easily observe insects and see details invisible to the naked eye.
Available at www.amazon.comAnt Habitat, by Antworks
(Ages 8+, 19.95)
This product is truly a space age habitat for ants. Kids will really be wowed as they watch the ants' tunnel through a translucent space-age gel. Gel includes all the nutrients necessary for ants to live. The ants will start burrowing paths within a few days. After about a week or so, the ants will have burrowed an amazing maze of paths. Can be illuminated for awesome glowing view at night (this is an add-on product, at an additional cost). Send away for ants or capture your own. Available at www.fascinations.com

Audubon Bird Call, by American Bird Products, Inc.
(Ages 6 and up, $5 - $7)
Twist the wooden and metal instrument to recreate an amazing range of bird-like twitters and tweets. Twisting at different speeds or in different ways creates different bird calls.
Web site: www.audubonbirdcall.com

Owl Puke
(Ages 8+, $13.95)
Kids dissect the pellet to find out what the owl's meal consisted of: tiny bones, fur, feathers. Then, use the book to try to identify the parts. Sound gross, but it really is not — it's very cool and kids LOVE it! This dissection project gives kids an understanding of how owls digest, where they live and what they eat. The kit comes with the owl puke and a book that takes the young scientist through each step of dissection and examination. Includes book and owl pellets.
Available at www.amazon.com

Root Vue Farm, by HSP Nature Toys
(Ages 4+, $26)
Another classic. This is a fascinating garden laboratory where kids of all ages can watch the action below the ground. It includes everything needed to grow root vegetables — carrots, radishes, onions. The view window lets kids watch the changes in the roots from day to day. It requires very little maintenance because it waters itself through wicks that are planted in the bottom of the dirt, and sit in the water tray. Keep the view window closed when not viewing, and simply slide it out to view the vegetables and their roots.
Web site: www.hspnaturetoys.com

Hermit Crab Island, by Uncle Milton
(Ages 8+, $14.99)
This is a sandy beach environment where kids can watch their hermit crabs play all day. The shells can be personalized with the decorations they come with, eyes, sequins, glitter and stickers. Decorating will not harm or hurt the crab. They will need crab food (the crab food is easy to find at a local pet store and is about $3) or you can feed them food such as trail mix and fruit. Crabs sold separately, and can be ordered from the company. Web site:
www.unclemilton.com