Give this to a kid?
Written: Jun 27 '00 (Updated Jun 27 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Wonderful for adults
Cons: Bad for kids -- especially small ones
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| HawgWyld's Full Review: Slinky |
This is not a toy for children. I, as an alleged adult, love the thing, though. I had one of these around my office for years and used it as a stress reliever. The metal was cool and soothing, and I could put one half in one hand, one half in the other and be soothed by the "wave" that travelled through the slinky as I'd rock the coils back and forth. Ahhhhhh. How nice.
I remember watching my three-year-old son playing with one of these at a friend's house. He couldn't get it to go down stairs or anything like that, but he could throw it and had a big time tossing the Slinky all over the place. My son loves to throw things, anyway, and a Slinky looks darn cool when tossed. It makes a unique sound as the coils bang together when the Slinky is air borne, and looks kind of nifty as it alternately expands and compresses.
However, the boy just isn't too selective in choosing targets for the thing, so I decided to take it away from him.
"Give me that Slinky, son," I said.
"No, Daddy!"
"Michael, give it here, boy!"
"No, Daddy! I want to play with it!"
"I'm warning you, son. Hand it over!"
He threw it at me. Typical. I have a feeling that a Slinky could hurt like the dickens if it hit you in the face or other exposed area, but the Slinky bounced harmlessly off my leg and Michael decided on what I suppose he thought was the wise thing to do -- he ran and tried to hide.
That's where I'll leave that tale, as I think the point has been made for the purposes of this review. Michael couldn't think of much to do with the Slinky but throw it, and he rather enjoyed doing that. I've got enough trouble as it is, and I don't need my son hitting me in the head with a Slinky. Or throwing it at my wife. Or scaring the cat with it. Or tormenting the dog with it.
Also, my Slinky was done in by a friend of mine who was playing with it in my office. He got it tangled up, and the thing couldn't be fixed. I doubt a metal slinky would last more than a day or so in the hands of a child. I know they make plastic ones, but maybe I'm just a Slinky purist. Metal is the way to go, although it might be easier to untangle a plastic one.
As much as I dread the idea of my son owning a Slinky, I love the things. Want to buy a present for your child? Don't make it a Slinky. Want to buy a present for you? You could do worse than a Slinky. 'nuff said.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
HawgWyld
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 - Top 200 |
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Member: Ethan C. Nobles
Location: Benton, Ark.
Reviews written: 1438
Trusted by: 495 members
About Me:
The oxen are slow, but the earth is patient.
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