We love our local Mastermind Toys store! I stop by all throughout the year when we’re shopping for birthdays, and now with the holidays rapidly approaching, of course I’m doing some shopping there. What I love the most about Mastermind Toys is how amazing the friendly staff are at helping me come up with the perfect gift idea for any child. 8-year-old girl who couldn’t care less about dolls? Check. Active two-year-old nephew who loves anything with wheels? Check. Or what about a girl in my daughter’s class who I think is turning five, but I have no clue what she likes? Check!
In that spirit, Mastermind Toys has just released their Holiday Gift Guide to help parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles, and pretty much anyone find the perfect gift. You can browse the guide by type of toy or by age group. We had so much fun looking at all the toys!
I’ve had my eye on this award-winning Snap Circuits Arcade Kit for a while, and it’s my pick from their Holiday Gift Guide to share with you. I’m all about the science, and I love that Snap Circuits teaches kids STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) concepts, specifically electricity and circuits, through fun learning activities. It’s so satisfying to build a circuit correctly and watch everything work!
This kit comes with a plastic base reminiscent of a circuit board and 36 building pieces (snap wires, LEDs, jumper wires, switches, transistors) that snap in to build different electronic circuits. This kit includes an internal microcontroller pre-programmed with some interactive games, a programmable word fan, a tri-color light orb, an alarm, a speaker, and a dual LED display. It takes 3 AA batteries (not included).
The set comes with instructions to build 203 projects and 21 games. No, the games aren’t going to rival MarioKart, but the fact that your kid built it herself counts for a lot! The diagrams are easy to follow, and the booklet briefly introduces and explains each new concept as they come up. Everything snaps together (no need for stripping wires or soldering) so it’s safe and easy to use and reuse the parts for all the projects.
This disco ball is an example of a fairly simple project. The three LEDs light up and the “disco ball” spins, projecting spinning lights onto the ceiling.
Whereas this Arcade project uses almost every piece in the set. Build it correctly, and the LEDs light up, the speaker plays music, the disco ball spins, and the word fan displays its message.
In the top view, you can see it says Arcade.
The box recommends ages 8 and up, but I think my almost 6-year-old will love it. With a little help from mom or dad, she’ll do just fine.
Tie on Some Goodness
One of the things that I appreciate most about Mastermind Toys is how they give back. Every holiday season, they partner with a children’s charity. This year, Mastermind Toys has partnered with Me to We for the Tie on Some Goodness initiative. When you check out, consider buying a Me to We Rafiki bracelet and/or adding a $2.00 donation to your purchase. Together with Mastermind Toys and Free the Children, your gift to a kid you know and love will double as a gift of education to kids in your community and around the world!
Connect
Canadian owned and operated, Mastermind Toys is Canada’s largest specialty toy and children’s book retailer. They’ve been operating for over 30 years in the Greater Toronto area and have recently expanded to 45 stores across Canada and growing.
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Gift It
Elanco’s Snap Circuits Arcade Kit retails for $79.99. Find the perfect holiday gift at a Mastermind Toys near you or go shopping online anytime day or night. Mastermind Toys offers free gift wrapping in store and free shipping in Canada with the purchase of $60 or more!
Win a $100 Gift Card!
Mastermind Toys is generously giving a $100 gift card to one lucky winner to do some holiday shopping! The gift card may be used towards shipping costs too. This giveaway is open to residents of Canada, 18+. All entries will be verified.
While you’re here, check out my other open giveaways on my Giveaway Page!
Disclosure: I received sample items for review. All opinions expressed are completely honest and my own, based on my personal experience. Your experience may differ.
My daughter would love LEGO Friends Heartlake Grand Hotel for christmas!
In the go-big-or-go-home spirit, I’d love the Meccano Tech Meccanoid G15KS Personal Robot Building Set. Please. 🙂
I would most like to give Lego Friends as a gift this Christmas season
I would like to gift Magformers.
I would most like to give the K’NEX Mighty Makers Home Designer Building Set to one of my children.
Would love to gift the Hape Happy Grand Piano to my niece!
the digi owls for sure..but i saw many things on that page..love to know if they have telescopes
I think we would have fun with the Meccano Tech Meccanoid G15KS Personal Robot Building Set.
I think I would have to get Zoomer Chomplingz for my little granddaughter.
I would love to get the LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box! My boys would have such a blast creating things!
The Star Wars Millennium Falcon LEGO set would be a great gift for my brother.
I’d most like to give the Zoomer Kitty. My niece would be a big fan of that!
would love Pictionary Game
The 7 Wonders Board Game! Looking to play with some friends~
Hi – I would get the Electronic Trampoline!
I would most like to give the Lego Star Wars advent calendar as a gift! Also, my son received a Snap Circuits set last year for Christmas and played with it for longer than anything else he’s ever gotten!
I would most likely to give to my friend’s daughter Our Generation doll as a gift.
Country Critters Wooden Play Cube! My baby boy is turning 6 months soon, so he is on his way towards using this play box as a great learning tool.
my son is big time into legos and star wars. I know he would love the Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon for christmas
OMG, Minecraft the Nether fortress lego set. . Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity. 🙂
I would love to give this away–Perplexus Star Wars Death Star Labyrinth Game–maybe so I can try it out too! 😉
And maybe with a couple of movie tickets too.
I would get the Zoomer Chomplingz for my nephew! It looks like a very fun toy!
My daughter would love the Meccano Tech Personal Robot Building Set
My daughter collects Ty Beanie Boos so I would get her a couple of those. I would maybe get her Ty Beanie Boos Sophie the Pink Cat and a few others. thank you!
I would buy the Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon to enjoy at the same time as the new Star Wars movie.
i’d pick the Bruder MACK Granite Garbage Truck. my son wants a garbage truck.
Country Critters Wooden Play Cube
I would like the DigiOwls!
I would give the Kapla Blocks 200 Pieces Set for a young boy or girl.
I think the sno-castle kit would be fun, we love to play in the snow.
6/2015
I would like to get my daughter the LEGO Minecraft Crafting Box
My son would like the LEGO® Minecraft The Nether Fortress
I would like to give the Valtech Magna-Tiles Clear Colours 100 Pack to my grandchildren.
I would love to pick up the VTech Sit-to-Stand Ultimate Alphabet Train for my son
i want to give my daughter a our generation doll
I’d give “Ticket to Ride”, it’s a great game.
Any kind of Lego. Lego rules at my house.
I would love to gift the Super Spirograph to my daughter.. she would love it!
I think the Snap Circuits Arcade would be so educational for a child. My grandson would really benefit from it if I won.
I would love to get the Brio Lift and Load Set. I can see my sons playing with it for hours. The fact that there are cranes makes it even cooler!
The Alex Complete Art Set is what my daughter wants since now she is taking art class, she has such interest in the subject so this would make a wonderful gift for her. There are 200 supplies in the kit which is amazing!
I would love the Sands Alive Paver Pete set for my son
I think my son would love the Brudermack Garbage truck.
My son would love the Lego Star Wars Millenium Falcon.
I would most like to give Meccano Tech Meccanoid G15KS Personal Robot Building Set as a present….but at this point in time, anything would be lovely! 🙂 Thank you for the opportunity! Good Luck everyone!
lego pop star tour bus
my duaghter would love the Enchanted Forest game
I’d love to get my son the Wonders Above Play Mat. He is very curious.
The Squeak and Stack blocks look very appealing for my daughter.
Both of my girls would have endless hours of fun with the Hape Piano. I would love to gift it to them as a special surprise.