Fat Brain fun: Trio for tots to pre-teens (and beyond)

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The holiday gift-giving season will soon be upon us, and Fat Brain Toys is among the tops spots for grandmothers and others seeking screen-free fun to give the grands.

 
 

Fat Brain Toys sent me a special trio of toys to try out with my favorite boys — two ideal for my tiniest grandson plus one that’s fun for the bigger kids (and grownups, too).

FOR TOTS

Whirly Squigz silicone spinners (Ages 10 months-5 years)

 
 

These colorful spinners are tagged “It’s A Keep Their Attention Toy!” and they did exactly that for Benjamin (who was mere weeks away from one year old when he first tried them out). The three spinners, each with a different number of propellers, pleased my grandson from the get-go.

The whirly fun stuck securely to assorted surfaces for spinning and such.

And when not stuck to something, the silicone softness assuaged Benjamin’s teething woes. Or simply served as something worthy of sucking and savoring as toddlers do with most everything.

Pros:

  • Encourages fine motor skills in a fun way

  • Smooth and fast spinning

  • Sticks to nearly any flat surface, for horizontal or vertical spinning

  • Make ideal tub time toys, too (high-quality plastic won’t rust!)

  • Made of 100 percent food-grade, BPA-Free silicone

  • Fun for older kids and adults, too (which is nice when a little one wants to see them spin again… and again… and again!)

Cons:

  • Not a single one!

Whirly Squigz (msrp $21.95) can be found on Fat Brain Toys and Amazon.com (affiliate link; thank you for clicking!)

SpinAgain (ages 12 months-4 years)

 
 

More spinning fun for little ones! SpinAgain features brightly colored, chunky discs that spin down the corkscrew pole that holds them. The base can be set for wobbling or standing securely in place — which doubles the fun.

spinagain floor1.JPG

Benjamin wasn’t quite at the recommended age, so the concept of playing the pieces on the pole eluded him, but he still thoroughly enjoyed watching pieces spin when others put them on the pole.

 
 

As with the Whirly Squigz — and everything — Benjamin especially enjoyed tasting the toy.

 
 

And, naturally, SpinAgain is far more fun when played with big brother.

 

Big brother James shows Benjamin how it’s done

 

Pros:

  • Unique stacking AND spinning action

  • Encourages hand-eye coordination

  • Colorful spinning creates a sense of wonder

  • Brightly colored pieces are tactile fun even without the pole

  • Entire toy is made of high-quality BPA-free plastic

Cons:

  • The corkscrew pole proves potentially dangerous for toddlers who enjoy the taste and toddle about with it in their mouth

 
 

SpinAgain (msrp $29.95) can be found at Fat Brain Toys and Amazon.com (affiliate link; thank you for clicking!).


FOR AGES 8+

Morphy (ages 8-adult)

I had the good fortune of receiving this game before heading to the desert to visit my grandsons who live there (and having it fit in my suitcase for the trip). Which means the first round of Morphy — and a few more that followed — was played with Brayden (age 11) and Camden (age 8). Declan, age 5 was too young for the fun.

 

Brothers pose with the package

 
 

Doing their cheesiest product presentation

 

Morphy is a game all about change … and concentration. The object of the game is to garner the most discs, and those discs are earned by morphing one characteristic at a time.

Sound confusing? It’s not, really, but the Fat Brain Toy direction is far better for understanding such than any explanation you’d get from me.

Like I said, Morphy takes concentration. Concentration to figure out the best tactic for changing one and only one trait — color, hole size, or pattern — at a time yet providing a path for more morphing and disc collecting before your turn is up.

 

Camden concentrates …

 
 

… and makes his morphing move!

 

Morphy also takes concentration in getting the game play right to begin with. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit this but must: Morphy seemed so simple upon surface reading of directions that when Brayden, Camden, and I first played, we skipped a few vital steps. The error made Morphy seem like a sure-fire dud and it was only after re-reading and re-starting that we found success of sorts.

I say “of sorts” because upon returning home and playing a few times with Jim then challenging James and Brianna to rounds did we all learn there was yet another important step we’d overlooked.

Considering the error of my ways in my initial game play efforts, I clearly need the brain workout Morphy provides. Which is fine with me as Morphy is loads of fun … for everyone!

Pros:

  • Challenging yet simple enough for those on the younger end of recommended age

  • Can be played one player or more, meaning one can challenge themselves or play with a couple of others or a crowd

  • Game board and discs are made of high-quality plastic for many years of fun to come

Cons:

  • None! Fun for everyone — as long as game-play directions are followed from the get-go.

Morphy (msrp $24.95) is available at Fat Brain Toys and Amazon.com (affiliate link; thank you for clicking!).

Find many more unique toys, games, and gift ideas for kids at Fat Brain Toys.

Disclosure: I received these toys free for review from Fat Brain Toys; opinions are my own.