Toy Review: Be a Detective Curiosity Kit

Calling all inquisitive kiddos! The Junior Bureau of Investigation is recruiting. (Read to the end for EyeJunkie’s special coupon code! Do it, people!)

When I received a request from Action Toys to review one of their products, I had honestly never heard of the company before. But, one look at their product line and I was sold. Their toy selection centers on educational and non-violent play with a huge variety of “kits” from art projects and science endeavors to space exploration and construction. These unique toys are designed to foster creativity and a love of learning. I received the Be a Detective: Forensics Expert “Curiosity Kit” to review, and it definitely fills the bill.

When I got the kit in the mail, I was curious to see how they would make forensic techniques appeal to kids. I mean, I know half of Americans are CSI/Miami/New York junkies, but those shows certainly aren’t what I would call kid-friendly. And, the investigative craze is way beyond the Encyclopedia Brown series I loved as a child. But, the Curiosity Kit really puts a positive spin on police work and scientific investigation.

The Be a Detective kit gives kids everything they need to investigate a home-grown “crime” from presenting their badge and looking for evidence to questioning suspects and making an arrest. The kit includes quickie instructions for how the whole family can get involved in setting up a crime for your youngster to solve – a theft in the backyard, for example. I envision a live action version of Clue.

The tools include a “JBI” (Junior Bureau of Investigation) badge that can be personalized with a picture, crime scene tape, evidence markers, “secret” powder only visible under a black light, a black light with pen, binoculars, flashlight, evidence bags, and even handcuffs (complete with a safety release). Some of this stuff I’ve never seen before in a toy, and frankly it made me want to tear into it myself. But, I refrained.

The concept of investigating to solve a crime requires some pretty advanced deductive reasoning skills. And, the whole JBI scenario looks to be a great tool for fostering those higher levels of thinking we read about like analysis, synthesis and evaluation. The Be a Detective kit is labeled for 7 years and up, and realistically, older children would probably enjoy it more. Although, some of the crime-solving “tools” like the binoculars, flashlight, handcuffs, and even the thumbprint kit are favorites that can foster imaginative play even my 4-year-old would enjoy. The “kit” approach pulls all those cool items together in one box—and at a great price.

The Be a Detective kit might not be conducive to playing as a group, other than designating a culprit. Aside from suspect interviews, your kid detective gets to enjoy most of the fun. However, it would be a great tag-team project for Moms or Dads to play with your child–the perfect gift for a special parent-child “playdate.”

All in all, I’d highly recommend the Be a Detective: Forensics Expert Curiosity Kit for older elementary school children, and I was really pretty impressed by the other Action products as well. There are creative toy kits to fit almost any child’s age and interest.

If you’re interested, the Action Toy team was kind enough to offer a special discount to readers! Visit actiontoysinc.com and enter BLG001 as your coupon code to receive 20% off and free shipping on your purchase through May 31, 2009. Thanks, Action!

[FYI – Equal opportunity reviewing here at EyeJunkie. I was not paid for this recommendation and I don’t receive any percentage of purchases made using the discount code above.]