Fat Brain Toys offers a large catalogue of toys for children of all ages and abilities. One of my favorite things about their website is that you can search for toys based on different special needs. When I selected Sensory Integration Disorder (also referred to as Sensory Processing Disorder), the Crystal Growing Hedgehog popped up. I read its description and thought it would be fun to write about!
The Crystal Growing Hedgehog is a fun science toy that helps children “become a master of minerals!” Unlike your usual hedgehog, this toy has no spikes – until children create them. Here’s how it works:
“Following the detailed instructions, young scientists simply mix the special solution into a container of boiling water and then set the poor, spineless hedgehog into the mixture.
One day later and – (insert drum-roll) – Ta-da! Covering the hedgehog’s entire back is a huge, spiky cluster of glimmering, colorful, sturdy, solid crystals!”
Overview of the Crystal Growing Hedgehog:
- Science kit for growing gypsum crystals on the back of a hedgehog
- Encourages scientific learning and exploration
- Very simple instructions – crystals take only one day to grow
- The kit comes with:
- Crystal powder
- Growing container
- Gypsum base
- Stirring stick
- Hedgehog figurine
- Hedgehog figurine measures 3.25 x 2 x 1.5 inches (before crystals are grown)
- For children ages 10 and older
- Available in blue, green, pink, orange, and red
Who knew that hedgehogs could be such great teachers? The Crystal Growing Hedgehog is not only a fun toy, but it also provides a hands-on learning experience for children to become experts in minerals. As someone who’s always been fascinated by science, I wish I had a toy like this growing up. But let’s be real here – the real reason I want this toy is to see a hedgehog covered in crystals. It’s like a little punk rock hedgehog! And what child (or adult) wouldn’t want to see that? Plus, the instructions seem simple enough that even I, a grown adult, could follow them without any issues.
Overall, I think this is a great toy for kids who love science and exploration. And who knows, maybe it’ll inspire them to become geologists or crystallographers in the future. But let’s not forget the real reason we all want it – to see a hedgehog with some serious bling.