Kid Culture features fun and educational books and toys for kids.

RADICA: Fijit Friends Interactive Toy By Mattel, $49.99

Ages 6 and older

Toy Tips: B+

Fun: B+

Movement: C

Thinking: B+

Personality: B

Social Interaction: B+

This interactive robot showcases technology.

Fijit has personality, talks, dances, laughs and becomes almost like a real play-date. This toy is ideal for any child interested in technology or robots. Kids can squeeze, hug and hold the toy, which promotes tactile stimulation and interactive play. The soft skin on the robot enables real-life movements.

A child can give verbal commands, and the robot can understand and respond from more than 150 built-in phrases and jokes. With a quick turn of the music dial, Fijit transforms into a dancing machine promoting social interaction and gross motor movement.

The beat detection functionality can recognize different types of music and perform different dance moves for each beat. Integrated Sonic Chirp technology is special audio coding embedded into an external device or media platform (mobile applications, webisodes, television commercials, etc.) that when detected by Fijit, triggers various programmed reactions. Overall, continued play rated high on the fun value but even higher with our team of tech reviewers.

Testers’ Tip: “For classroom use, this is a fun rainy day option for recess. For home use, this is a great tool to explain how technology works to inquiring minds before play.”

The Magic School Bus — Jumping into Electricity By The Young Scientists Club, $19.99

Ages 5 and older

Toy Tips: B+

Fun: B+

Movement: A

Thinking: A

Personality: B

Social Interaction: B+

This science kit focuses on teaching all about electricity. There are experiments with instructions on how to generate lightning bolts, use anti-static sheets, make cereal dance, bend a water stream, create static hair, construct an electric circuit, build a light switch, how to experiment with insulators and conductors and design an electric game. These experiments are not difficult, though testers in the 6-8 age group enjoyed them the most. Whether this is done individually with a parent, as a classroom project or as a home-school activity, there is a lot of science discussion to be had. What we liked best about this set is that minimal materials are needed from home and the experiments showcase different elements of science and how and why things do what they do.

Testers’ Tip: “Ideal as a birthday present for any child that shows an interest in science and technology.”