| Christmas can always be a difficult time for | | | | that contain a nutrient-rich transparent gel that |
| responsible parents. The ads on the TV and the | | | | enables you (and your kids) to see everything that |
| shops seem to be crammed with toys that, though | | | | the ants get up to. |
| they might be fun for a short time, have | | | | Maintenance-free! |
| questionable educational value. | | | | For my money, they make great presents for kids, |
| Educational and Fun | | | | and anyone else who's interested in insects, and, |
| Now, I'm not saying that kids should get nothing but | | | | because the newest versions are completely |
| gifts that will enable them to learn, learn, learn. Kids | | | | maintenance-free (you don't even need to feed or |
| need to play too, but I'm all too aware of the toys | | | | water them) they make great desk ornaments too. |
| which only seem to promote aggression or which | | | | Ant are Best! |
| tend to exaggerate kids' interest in all things gross | | | | But it's really the kids that I'm thinking about. There |
| and unpleasant. You might think I sound like an | | | | are so many sociological and ecological principles that |
| incredibly boring parent but in fact, I've found that | | | | can be learned from these animals that ant farms |
| educational toys are, in the long run, much more | | | | make one of the most worthwhile educational gifts |
| enjoyable for kids. And that's why I'm a great | | | | that you can buy. I have found that some |
| advocate of the ant farm. | | | | educational toys just don't inspire my kids very much. |
| Technology | | | | Chemistry sets, astronomical telescopes - they just |
| We used to make them ourselves when I was | | | | haven't done much for them. But the kit that I got |
| young. Just two sheets of glass and something to | | | | them has really got them enthused, they're up early |
| keep them a couple of millimetres apart was all that | | | | every morning watching what the little creatures |
| it took. Now, the inexorable march of technology has | | | | have been up to in the night. They love it. So, if |
| brought the ant farm up to date and these days you | | | | you're wondering what educational toy to buy your |
| can get three-dimensional ant habitats, | | | | kids then you really can't do better than an ant farm. |
| multi-chambered ant farms and even gel ant farms | | | | |