ReCon Rover From SmartLab Toys Review | Countdown to Black Friday Giveaway

Toys sure have come a long way since I was a kid. Being the inquisitive child I was, I was always into science kits and other toys that taught me something as I played. I remember one Christmas when I got a chemistry set, and I had a great time making volcanic eruptions and looking at things through a microscope. These types of science kits and educational toys are so much more these days!

If your kids like to explore, create and experiment through hands-on learning, then they will love the educational toys and kits offered at SmartLab Toys!

SmartLab Toys makes educational toys with a book component for kids ages 4 - 12. We believe that kids learn best through hands-on exploration, so we offer that experience wrapped up in a fun toy and a cool book. In 2004, SmartLab started out with eight science kits. Two years later, we expanded into arts and crafts. Our roster of award-winning toys now stands at nearly 50 products that stimulate both sides of the brain.

There are so many fun, educational toys and kits at SmartLab Toys! You will find kits like the Extreme Secret Formula Lab in which your child can brew up concoctions that fizz, glow and disappear. If you have a kid that likes to craft, she will have a great time making her own jewelry with the Snap Fashion Jewelry Studio. One of the coolest toys you will find at SmartLab Toys is the ReCon 6.0 Programmable Rover!

The ReCon 6.0 Programmable Rover is a toy, a robot, and a tool for learning. A child programs ReCon 6.0 to navigate specified courses that can deliver a treat to a pet, surprise a family member with a personalized message, carry a soda, guard a bedroom, or just dance. No computer required!

We were given the chance to review one of these programmable rovers. My husband, being the "tech geek" that he is, was excited to try it out. The ReCon Rover comes with the Rover, a 48 page Owner's Manual and a tape measure.

The Owner's Manual makes it very easy to learn how to use the Rover. It starts out with simple "missions" and shows you step by step how to program it.

The missions become more difficult as you make your way through the manual and you "advance" to different levels. Once you become familiar with all of the different maneuvers the ReCon Rover can perform, you can use the blank Mission Maps in the manual to create your own missions.

Are you wondering what the measuring tape is for? It is so you can measure the distance you want your ReCon Rover to go. You can program it to go straight for a certain distance, turn, and even play sound effects and pre-recorded messages.

Brian's first mission with the Rover was a pretty simple one. He recorded his own beeps and had it circle around the kitchen.

The ReCon Rover is recommended for ages 8 and up, and even though my kids are still too young to program it, Rylie was able to help her dad complete a very special mission at snack time.

She even sent "money" to pay for her snack!

The ReCon 6.0 Programmable Rover would make a great gift for older kids, and even some adults! We feel that the 8+ age recommendation is right on, as younger kids most likely wouldn't be able to understand the programming. The Rover retails for $69.99 and is available at SmartLab Toys, Amazon, and other select retailers. (When I found it on Amazon.com, it was listed at $54.95.) We don't purchase many toys like this just yet since our kids are still little, but this seems in line with what you would pay for a toy such as this.

SmartLab Toys Discount Code: Save 25% at smartlabtoys.com by entering BLOGDEAL1211 at checkout! (Code expires December 31, 2011.)

Follow SmartLab Toys on Facebook and Twitter for deals and discounts, playtime ideas and free stuff! And speaking of free stuff, SmartLab Toys has free download-able activities for kids! Check them out at The Free Zone!

Countdown to Black Friday Giveaway:
~*~ReCon 6.0 Programmable Rover~*~

Visit Shibley Smiles for another chance to win a ReCon Rover!

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received the ReCon 6.0 Programmable Rover at no cost for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. A big thank you to SmartLab Toys for providing the giveaway prize!