Planets – Create A Solar System Mobile

Manufacturer: Creativity for Kids
Recommended Age: 8 and up
Retail Price: $29.99
On the Web: www.creativityforkids.com
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Planets – Create a Solar System Mobile combines astronomy with crafting to create a solar system mobile. Children have the opportunity to cover nine foam balls with eight colors of air dry clay to create an array of planets. Sun and planets are attached to the galaxy base and can be hung anywhere. Included in the box are the following items:

Preprinted mobile base (103/4″ x 153/4″)
Nine foam balls in assorted sizes
Nine hanging cords in assorted lengths
Eight colors of air dry clay (.5 oz. each)
Craft glue
Cardboard ring (for Saturn)
Instructions and ideas (the instruction booklet also contains planetary science facts)

The review team was excited to get their hands in to this project – parents were thinking back to solar system projects they created as kids, and, well, all kids love the planets! Our team was pleased that all of the pieces were included in one box – no searching around a craft store for different size foam. The mobile assembles easy enough, but the clay was a little tougher to work with than expected (it started to get hard a little too quick). Plus it took a little experimenting to get used to how much clay was needed to coat each ball.

A key to the package is the fast drying clay, and for project purposes that does make sense. But, as far as durability goes, the fast drying clay doesn’t necessarily add stability. The review team felt certain that once you completed the project you really wouldn’t want to touch it again to keep it in one piece.

Bright colors and a super fun project add to the appeal of Planets – Create a Solar System Mobile, and that’s what helped earn high visual marks from our team. The reviewers did comment that obviously some of the visual appeal would depend on the artist! To help, the instructions do include ideas on marbling techniques, how to add bands of colors, clouds, and even directions to make new colors.

In general, our review teams love fun projects that help reinforce subjects learned in school – and Planets – Create a Solar System Mobile helps teach kids the solar system in a fun way. As a mobile, once complete, there really isn’t too much use other than to hang it up and admire.

Most of the parents on our review team priced this at between $20 and $25. With an actual retail price just under $30, Planets – Create a Solar System Mobile was just a little higher priced than they would have liked.

For generations, kids have been creating solar system mobiles, so this isn’t actually a brand new idea. On the other hand, the review team did like that it all comes in one kit, and using the clay was new, as anyone who worked on a project like this in the past had used paint.

Overall the review team, parents and kids alike, had a lot of fun working with Planets – Create a Solar System Mobile. As always, kids love getting into an art project, and parents love that it has a bit of an educational spin. One complete, the mobile does have some limitations – not much else to do with it other than admire your work. All in all, the project was great for an afternoon of fun.