Make your own rainbows
Interplay’s Technokit range sounds like it would usually be aimed at boys, but two sets are out to prove that science is for girls as well.
The Solar Rainbow Maker and Solar Butterfly Technokits, each priced around £12.99, are designed to catch the eye of girls aged six and over. The Rainbow Maker comes with crystals, a solar panel and an electric motor. Assemble the pieces, hang in a sunny window and the motor will turn the crystals to create a rainbow effect.
The Solar Butterfly lets you paint the transparent wings of your own butterfly and then attach a motor and solar panel. Attach to a window and whenever the sun peeps out the butterfly will flap its wings, with the sun casting pretty rainbow patterns on the walls (how pretty depends on how well you’ve painted the wings).
The Solar Butterfly kit, and Interplay’s Dangerous Book for Boys Science Discovery Kits , have been shortlisted in this year’s Gift of the Year Awards.
That actually sounds cute. I was worried at first because a lot of girl 'science' toys remove the science entirely as an excuse to sell some art or fashion toy under an educational brand. But there's no reason why mechanical toys can't be pretty!