People often ask me for STEM ideas for Children's birthday and Christmas gifts and the kit I always recommend first is the Electro-Dough kit from Technology Will Save Us. It's easy to use, a great price and provides endless creative learning opportunities. Two years ago I helped my daughter's infant school get a grant for science equipment and one of the best things we spent the money on was a classroom Electro-Dough kit. The children LOVED it and some of their creations were amazing. The children were Year 1 at the time, yet grasped the concept of a circuit very quickly thanks to the hands on approach the Electro-Dough kit allows.
I've been admiring the products from TWSU ever since and couldn't wait to try the new Dough Universe range. There are three dough Universe products: Bright Creatures Kit, Techno Sounds Kit and the Electro Machines Kit. Each kit comes with an app providing instructions to get you started. The Techno Sounds Kit allows you to make working electrical instruments using play dough, the Electro Machines Kit creates figures that rotate and spin round and Bright Creatures Kit lights play dough creations up!
Each kit teaches the basics of electrical circuits in a fun and imaginative manner. They are perfect for younger children as they are very easy to use. You don't need to worry about batteries or wires and the results are instant.
Bright Creatures Kit
The Bright Creatures kit comes with 6 shaped LED light helpers, 3 pots of dough and a smart controller.
The brightly coloured story book app guides children through the process of creating a circuit and includes over 30 project ideas. Younger children can start with simple circuits while older children can create parallel or series circuits featuring whatever wacky creations they want. The possibilities are endless.
My 7 year old made a sea monster which lights up. She realised that the more LED light helpers she used the less bright they were.
My 9 year old made these light up snails which she said are kissing the smart controller 🙂
The best thing about these kits is that they don't get used up, you can come back to them again and again creating something different every time. At £39.99 it's not cheap, but the quality is amazing, you won't be sorry you bought it. The kits are the perfect way to introduce kids to the fundamentals of electricity, and how amazing for children as young as 4 to have a basic grasp of a tricky subject.
Thank you to TWSU for sending us the wonderful Bright Creatures kit to try out.
Last Updated on September 9, 2022 by Emma Vanstone
Tracy Nixon says
A play pen with puppies!
Hilda Wright says
I'd pass this on to my grandchildren, I know they'd love it!
Emma says
I'd like to make the elephant!
justine meyer says
we could try out some sort of shopping trolley x
Kim Carberry says
I think my girl would make some animals. An elephant maybe...
Solange says
A dinosaur.
Minimouse says
Would love this for my sciencey year old
Robyn says
Love it! My little guy would be cat-i-fying this kit 🙂
June Lord says
My daughter is dog crazy, so it would have to be a dog with possibly a light up basket or collar.
Tina Hewitt says
My Granddaughter says we would make dinosaurs
Elisa marks says
I would make a light up butterfly. Or maybe an arrow that lit up pointing the way to a chore chart for the kids to see how to earn some money around the house LOL.
helen tovell says
I would make a zoo
Lisa Wilkinson says
A circus
Sarah says
I'd help my grandchildren make ladybirds and bees.
leanne weir says
A farm or zoo!
Jodie A Green says
my son loves vehicles so probably a fire engine and ambulance
matt allison says
My daughter would make a dog!
Pat Healy says
my grandchildren are dinosaur mad so it would have to be a dinosaur
Diana says
Butterflies 🙂
Hazel Rush says
My daughter would probably want to make ponies!
Kim Neville says
My son would like to make a funfair ride