Birthday Bash Review: Smooshies

Manufacturer: Creativity Inc.
Price: $5.99 Body + $1.99 per Accessory
Buy this Toy at: Michael’s or Jo-Ann’s

Doing Lil B’s birthday bash has exposed me to a number of fun and awesome toys that I probably would not have learned about, otherwise. One of those toys comes from Creativity, Inc and is known as a Smooshie. A Smooshie is a stuffed toy, of sorts, that allows kids the room to design their toy however they want. They can make a normal looking stuffed friend or they can whip up a monster in no time. It’s fun because it allows the kids to change the Smooshie’s look whenever they feel like it. It’s hard to get bored when your toy is constantly changing an evolving.

Before we get into the meat and bones review, I want to say that I think this is an adorably fun toy. I am all for creative play, so I thought this was great. It reminds me of a cloth Mr. Potato Head almost because you can completely rearrange the look whenever you want. Still using the Velcro tabs, this goes a step further by allowing you to move the hair, arms, and legs rather than just swapping them out for other designs. The Smooshie is also cuddly too, which gets it a few extra points.

The biggest downside here is that there is likely to be a limited age range. Young kids are going to adore this, but it’s not going to be something that an older kid will pick up more than a few times. Still, if you’re shopping for the young ones and want something creative that will keep them busy in the car and on the go, this might hit the spot.

Pros:
Fun for parents and children
Promotes Creativity
Promotes Independent Play
Works well as a gender neutral toy
Inexpensive add-ons available
Endless possibilities of what the kids can make

Cons:
None that come to mind

Lil B had plenty of fun playing with his Smooshie. As you can see from his video, he whipped something up pretty quickly. I teased him as he proclaimed…”That’s the best I could do,” but he managed to come up with a few designs once the camera was turned off. We both had a ball playing with this. He likes how you can change it around and make new designs with just a press of some Velcro. Parents will like that you can buy add on pieces for next to nothing.

The only downside is that this is not something that Lil B chooses to play with at all times. There are toys that are considered his “go-to” toys that he always wants around him and then there are things that he plays with occasionally. This is an occasional toy. Considering the price that isn’t too big of an issue. However, if you’re looking for something that will receive everyday use you might want to look for something else if your child thrives on activity and more boy-oriented toys. This would be perfect for the creative, artsy kids though.

When you consider the creative, fun nature of Smooshies, they are going to be great for some kids. More active boys and girls may not be in love with them, but kids that like building toys or toys like Mr. Potato Head, which offer some artsy expression and freedom, will like them quite a bit. Parents will enjoy the excitement in their child’s eyes when they make some new creation.

This is a fun, rainy day activity and great for some quiet, independent play. The price is also very reasonable, though it will add up as you add more accessories, which ups the fun level. The good thing is that you can start out small to ensure they will like their Smooshie and then add accessories when you can.

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Technorati Tags: Smooshies, Creativity Inc, Toy, Make Your Own Monster, Velcro, Birthday Bash Review, Fun, Kid Friendly

Written by Ashtyn Evans - Visit Website
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Ashtyn is in her early 30s. She is a mother, writer, college student, and music lover. Ashtyn has had a successful career as a writer since 2003. She turned to blogging in 2005. Ashtyn attends Wright State where she is getting a degree in Psychology. She has extensive knowledge in SEO and Social Media Development.