When I was growing up there were tons of learning toys out there that were either boring or extremely dangerous or both.  I remember a chemistry set that I got to use unsupervised that could probably have made battery acid if I mixed the right chemicals together.  I also had a very boring and complicated electrical circuit set where if you were lucky you could make the light turn on or buzzing noise that (I think) was supposed to be a doorbell.  This was all provided that you did shock the hell out of your fingers and give up in the process.

Now there is the from Elenco.  With American kids woefully lacking in sciences, there need to be more toys that inspire a love for engineering and chemistry.  It looks like Elenco has solved that issue, the one about kids getting interested in science anyway.  The Snap Circuits SC-300 is basically a circuit board with 300 different electrical projects your kids can make.  The pieces look very colorful and sturdy and most importantly, un-intimidating.  There is noting worse than a learning toy that looks like just that, a learning toy.

With the Snap Circuits SC-300 you and your kids can create things like a lamp & fan, musical doorbell, laser gun, police car symphony, reflection detector, spinning rings, pencil alarm, race game and yes even a lie detector.  The Snap Circuits SC-300 has even won the National Parenting Center-Seal of Approval.  At less than $60 it seems like a bargain for all the time you and the kids can spend time creating projects.  You can pick it up at Amazon.com