Crayola Crayon Maker 529020

Creativity. It's what every parent wants to instill into their children at young ages. One of the benefits of the crayola crayon maker, is its educational and creative value. Children love to create different colored crayons. Children love drawing pictures and doing math problems. It encourage children to write more. Melting and molding the new crayons is also fun for children. Having fun is perhaps the main pull of any toy.

Using the crayon maker is a very simple concept. Mix in the crayon bits, melt them down, pour into the mold, and let it harden. Once the mold hardens, it is ready to color again with swirling crayon creations. The clear hood allows them to watch as their old crayons melt into swirls of new color. The product is meant for children, but parents mayl want to participate as well.

The favorite crayons are always the shortest and broken ones, since they are used the most. By melting and remolding the old, broken ones, they can be enjoyed over and over.

Quick note: It requires a light bulb to melt down the old crayon. It uses a 60-watt bulb and is sold separtely. There are two metal trays that can be filled with broken crayons. Once they're completely melted, you tip the trays into four molds. You allow the melted crayons to cool, and then pop them out.

It takes the equivalent of two full crayons in each side of the metal holder. Close the lid, turn the knob, and wait for about 20 minutes for the entire process to complete.

The pack also comes with new crayons that can be used to create new colors, so old crayons are not always required.

There are a few warnings that the potential user should take into consideration. The crayon maker is intended for children ages 6 to 14 years of age. So it may not be good for chidren 5 and under. The small parts included with the product could be a choking hazard for younger children.

Since it uses a light bulb to melt wax, it can cause burns if not used correctly. An adult should always plug and unplug the machine, change the bulb when necessary and supervise children while they use it. Be sure to plug the toy into a regular wall outlet, not one with multiple adapters, and put the toy on a level surface while using and storing. Don't overload the melting tray; use a single layer of crayons. Be sure the halves of the mold fit together and the frame is snapped on securely so that melted wax won't leak while making the crayons. Turn the timer knob in a clockwise direction only, and don't heat the melting tray in any type of oven or microwave. Don't obstruct the vent holes in the cover while using the toy. And don't attempt to open the lid while making the crayons, since the lid locks. Wait for the lid to unlock to avoid the risk of burning..

Since the bulb is not included, there is a warning on the box saying that it can't be used right out of the box. This could take away some of the excitement.

There were some complaints about trays getting off track, and users being unable to pour the wax directly into the molds.