Spinmaster Moon Sand Castle Play Set
by Spin Master
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Our Price: $59.95 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $54.99 (click here) Category: Toy See more product details |
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Toys and Games Reviews of Spinmaster Moon Sand Castle Play Set
Customer Review: Fun ... but too expensive
Summary: 3 Stars
This is terrific sand, and I'd use it exclusively if it was affordable - but the price point is just insane. Both my 3 year old and 4 1/2 year old love it. They will play with it over and over again, and entertain themselves wonderfully. This may not be as messy as regular sand, but it's not exactly clean enough to use in any room of the house. I actually bought a bulk pack (10-lb bag) of the white sand and used it in their sand and water table. However at $7+ per pound, I just can't keep refilling the sand. It does perform as stated - it molds, it wipes off easily, it stays moist and pliable, and it does not mix with water. However unless you have older children who are very neat, the sand just doesn't last long enough for the price. Unfortunately children enjoy messy play - mixing sand with water (you can't easily separate it, it's a time consuming process), moving sand from place to place and some gets spilled. Used by 2 young children 10 POUNDS of sand lasts approximately 22 hours. The rest is in the dirt, on the patio, and generally scattered in the wind. I do have to say we have not had one incident of sand thrown around, in eyes, etc. It is far superior to plain old sand as far as use, but it isn't significantly more durable and just doesn't last for the price.Customer Review: incredibly messy toy
Summary: 1 Stars
I've never been compelled to write a review before, but the horror of this toy has driven me to it. What a shocking mess! From the moment we opened the package of sand, there were pieces of sticky sand all over me, the table, the floor, the children's clothing, the bottoms of our feet. Plus, molding the sand into neat shapes is no mean feat. Definitely way above the capabilities and patience of a 3 year old, because you have to pack the sand just so and then very carefully work the thing out of the molds. After 10 minutes of frustrating play, it then took me about an hour to vacuum the house, wash our feet and hands, change our clothes, pour myself a drink, clean the mold (using a toothpick to get the gunk out of the nooks and crannies), and then put the stupid stuff away. I'm throwing it away, as the thought of every bringing it out again makes me break into a cold sweat. I would definitely recommend passing this toy over and sticking with playdoh. At least a kid can play with it independently, its non-toxic, and the cleanup doesn't leave you in a foul mood for the rest of the day. Maybe it is fun for kids over the age of 10 who are playing with it in a dirt-floored hut.Customer Review: Huge Dissapointment
Summary: 1 Stars
My husband and I saw the commercials for the Moon Sand products and got very excited because our daughter loves to play in her sand box when the weather is warm. We thought it would be fun to play with it indoors when it's cold outside. What a mistake! We bought the farm set and the castle set and just threw them both in the garbage this morning. In all fairness, the consistency of the product is pretty cool but there's not much of it. It's kind of like a cross between sand and playdoh or clay. That's also part of the problem. It will stick together when you mold it but unlike playdoh it is very fragile and comes apart easily, getting scattered EVERYWHERE, sticking to EVERYTHING. It's in our carpet, on the kid's clothes, in my tile grout, and I'm sure some other places I've yet to discover. The included molds are nearly impossible for a child to use and the sand gets stuck in all of the nooks and crannies. I had to use an old toothbrush to get all of the sand out of them.
After using this product I have a new found appreciation for playdoh. It may get hard after awhile, but it is cheap, clean, and consistently reliable.
Customer Review: Pretty cool stuff
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought several tubs of Moon Sand for my son last week at WalMart, and we both really like it. I can't speak specifically about this kit, but the substance itself is pretty cool. It's like crumbly, packable, finely shredded foam of some sort. Not grainy like sand, but not as "doughy" as clay. Somewhere in between.
Worst feature: It's messy (to a 4-year-old, this is probably an attractive feature!) It wants to escape whatever container we're using to control it. I gave my son an old jelly roll tray (cookie sheet with a lip around it) and today my 13x9 Pyrex baking dish, but still quite a bit spills over the sides while he plays. It sticks to clothes and feet, so it's hard to keep it from getting tracked around the house.
Best feature: it doesn't dry out. Occasionally I'll forget to put his PlayDoh away promptly, resulting in petrified PlayDoh. No Moon Sand fossils- we've left it out overnight in the tray to come back to it the next morning, and the consistency was just as soft.
Customer Review: My kids love it
Summary: 4 Stars
I was actually introduced to this at a friend's house - we were there for a "Mom's night out", and she had this on the table. I had a blast with it, so I got if for my kids. My kids have loved it. It can be messy, yes, but my kids are pretty good about keeping their hands above the inflatable tray, and that cuts down on some of the mess. We play over our tile, in one specific area, and I haven't had any trouble with getting it out of the grout. I sweep and it's gone.
I agree with the comment that there isn't enough sand. I've bought Delta Sand from a local educational store to supplement, and have noticed no difference between the two compounds, although the starter kid for Delta Sand has molds that are easier to use, contains more sand, and contains a larger inflatable tray (granted, the Delta Sand set is twice the price, so I guess you get what you pay for?).
My kids love it, and have spent hours playing with it. It folds up nicely for easy pick up.