The Bottom Line
Pros
- Creative idea extends sidewalk chalk play
- Comes with a sharpener and chalk
- Gets kids outdoors and moving around
Cons
- It is too difficult for kids to release the top from the launcher
- If they launch it while standing, the chalk breaks when it hits the sidewalk
- Comes with two tops but only one launcher
- Only works on very smooth pavement
Description
- Attach the launcher to the top and wind it up.
- The launcher spins the top and the chalk makes a spiral pattern.
- Kids must take turns with the one launcher included.
Guide Review - Crayola Spira-Chalk Blaster Toy
When I saw Crayola's New Spira-Chalk Blaster toy at a toy preview event it seemed like a really fun idea. Kids stick the chalk into a top, then wind it up and launch the top to make spiral patterns on the sidewalk. What a fun outdoor toy!
At the event we were invited to try it on a smooth board painted with chalkboard chalk. I later played with the Crayola Spira-Chalk Blaster on an asphalt driveway, a paved street and a smooth sidewalk with kids ages 2-10.(It became a mini block party, which happens when new toys arrive!) The driveway and the street were too bumpy for the top to move around and the spiral pattern to appear. It worked fine on the sidewalk but it was a narrow canvas for the design.
Unfortunately at home I had a really had a hard time getting the launcher to release the top. It should be as simple as pressing a button, but I couldn't make it work consistently and none of the kids could make the chalk release every time. The release button became very difficult to push and we all got frustrated.
I also didn't like that the Spira-Chalk Blaster comes with two tops and only one launcher. This made it impossible to get both tops spinning simultaneously and the kids had to take turns launching their chalk. It would have been more fun if they could spin together.
The kids had to be very careful to hold the launcher just a few inches from the ground so the chalk wouldn't break when it dropped. The Spira-Chalk Blaster comes with a handy chalk sharpener but that didn't help when the chalk broke off in the holder.
Overall I think this was a great idea that should be redesigned to be easy to operate. For now I'll stick with Crayola's marvelous 3-D Sidewalk Chalk. It really works and the kids love it!