PHOTO SOURCE: DepositPhotos.com
Summer is the perfect time to go on a long awaited vacation with your family. Many families take to the friendly skies while others prefer the classic road trip.
Traveling with children is not always easy, or fun. I remember the days when my family would go on trips. After about an hour we’d hear that cringe-worthy “I’m bored” and “are we there yet?” from the backseat.
My kids, who are young adults now, were kids back before smartphones are the way they are now. If they wanted to watch a movie we had to hook up a small DVD player with a tiny screen (they would fight over what to watch too).
Books only worked for so long, as well as typical road games like “I Spy.”
These days parents have iPads, tablets and smartphones to entertain the kids on long trips. If you are like some parents who prefer “screen-free” activities, let me introduce you to Sky Castle’s DoodleJamz JellyPics and DoodleJamz JellyBoards.
DoodleJamz JellyPics are small, handheld boards that contain tiny beads “trapped” inside (for lack of a better description) a layers of malleable clear plastic (?). You can move and mold the colorful little beads with your finger or the included “tool.”
If you are around my age (50’ish or older) you might remember those faces encased with a layer of what resembled pencil shavings where you can move the shavings around with a magnet to create a beard, moustache and/or hair on the person’s face. DoodleJamz JellyPics are similar, except there are beads and not a magnetic material.
The toy comes with a scalpel-like tool to help you move the beads around. You can also use your fingers. Initially you might want to use the tool because things are a bit “stiff.” Once you play with it a bit the beads move around more easily, so your finger will do just fine.
The toy comes with two different faces, so you can create female or male characters. Simply turn the card insert around from the back of the board.
It’s funny how the toy that I remember playing with as a child (the magnetic version) has been updated and in a much better way (using fingers instead of a magnet).
Another foy from Sky Castle is called DoodleJamz JellyBoards. These boards are filled with a soft, squishy gel that you can move around with your finger, or the included tool (the same tool that comes with the JellyPics).
The tool that comes with both sets is safe enough, however with very little children I think I would let them just use their fingers.
Both boards give you the ability to print out your own photos and insert them into the back of the boards. That only adds to the creativity.
Both boards can be purchased on Amazon for $9.99 each.
If you are interested in learning more about Sky Castle’s DoodleJamz, visit DoodleJamz.com. On the website you can create a custom backer as well as download different ones. There are also activity pages and more to be found on the brand’s website.
DoodleJamz can also be found on YouTube. Tik Tok and Instagram. Those links are found at the bottom of the brand’s website.
What do you think about these DoodleJamz toys for screen-free fun? Feel free to comment and share your thoughts. I always love to hear from readers.
The brief video below shows both the JellyPics and JellyBoards in action.
Kimberly
*I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
