MomReviews

Despite having a house full of toys that at one time they just had to have, my boys pretty much just play video games now. So, when Parent Bloggers Network offered a review of a Tornado Lab created by the Discovery Channel, I thought to myself well, it’s science, which my oldest son likes, and it’s playing with water, which my other son likes, so why not? When the box arrived, I placed the Tornado Lab on the kitchen table and casually said to the boys, “who wants to play with a Tornado Lab?” And much to my surprise, they put down the controllers and ran into the kitchen. Let me repeat that-they PUT DOWN the VIDEO GAME controllers to play with a toy! It was a freaking miracle, I tell you.

The Tornado Lab comes with a 22 page guidebook that explains how to do different experiments that will simulate tornadoes of different intensities. We poured in the water, added little bits of colored foam that help show the swirling effects (included), and turned the switch to the first setting, F1. The response from the boys? “Cool!” “Awesome!” It also comes with a Bonus DVD – “Raging Planet: Tornadoes and Hurricanes”, which we have not yet watched.

The next experiment suggested adding food coloring to the water to further show how different materials react during tornadoes. Fortunately, I had some liquid food coloring leftover from dying Easter eggs, but it would have been better if a small amount had been included. I don’t know if we added the wrong amount or just didn’t understand the experiment, but all the food coloring did was sink to the bottom, so that was a bust.

After dinner, the boys couldn’t wait to show their Dad how they could make tornadoes. I watched bemusedly from the living room as the three of them huddled around the Tornado Lab playing with the settings. I don’t know what it is about boys and water, but they played with that thing for about 45 minutes! My only suggestion is that you don’t let your son start throwing his sister’s bathtub alphabet letters into the Lab, they just get stuck and make the water stop swirling

The Discovery Exclusive Tornado Lab is so popular, it is on back order until February! But if you have a science/water/tornado lover to buy a gift for then, I suggest ordering one right now. And for more parent-tested toy reviews, check out the Parent Bloggers Network!

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