Put a Bow on It: HEXBUG Nano

A few weeks ago, I was one of several bloggers contacted to review HEXBUG Nano, touted as “one of the hottest finds for both boys and girls ages 3+”. Not one to pass up hot finds, I agreed to receive a whack of HEXBUG toys.

Truth is, I had no idea what the heck HEXBUGs were.

So sue me. I’ve got toddlers, okay? They still play with toys that are shaded in primary colours. But, I had seen mentions of the micro-robotic bugs popping up all over the place. “Best Innovative Toy of 2011”. “Top 25 Toys for Christmas”. “Best Toy of 2011”. And my personal fave – from Time Magazine, “The 15 Smartest Toys for Young Geniuses”. Interested? You bet I was.

The box arrived. Inside, I found:

• 1 HEXBUG Nano 5-Pack
• 5 Glows in the Dark HEXBUG Nano bugs
• 1 Glow in the Dark HEXBUG Nano Habitat Set
• 1 HEXBUG Nano Spiral Starter Set
• 1 HEXBUG Nano Bridge Battle Habitat Set
• 1 HEXBUG Nano Elevation Habitat Set
• 1 Carton of “Bug Food” (batteries)

Still, I was unmotivated to set it all up. Call me crazy, but I worried that it was too complicated a concept for my two boys. So, I sat on it.

Then the blog reviews started popping up. Here, there, everywhere – the toys were universally adored. And I began thinking… perhaps I should really see what all the fuss is about.

So what has everyone buzzing?

Programmed to behave like real bugs (ew! but educational nonetheless), HEXBUG robots encourage young minds to develop a balanced appreciation for both science and nature. In addition to designing habitats for their high-tech bugs, children can go online to register their critters, where they’ll be privy to real-life insect and habitat facts. They can also play games, learn cool science tidbits and keep on top of the latest in HEXBUG news.

All of a sudden, I started to understand the fascination with HEXBUGs.

Last night, we popped open the packaging and my husband helped our little guy build the Nano Elevation Habitat Set. After some prodding (and a few screams and whines), they managed to put together what roughly resembled a race track. And OMG. Both the boys absolutely LOVE the toys!

Ryder loves that HEXBUGs behave like real critters; they flip, crawl and find the tiniest cracks to crawl through. Reid, although young and therefore requires full supervision, loves that they move (I know, isn’t it lovely to be so easily amused?). And hubby and I love that Ryder is asking questions – questions about how they move, why they behave a certain way, and what happens when we change the course of the play set. A truly intellectual toy that will grow with them for years to come.

(Oh my! I just realized that the boys are dressed the same. TWINSIES!)

I’ll say it – TOTALLY my bad! I can’t believe I didn’t catch on to these little wonders sooner. There are a few days left before Christmas, and I encourage you to put a bow on it! If you’re wondering if 3 years old is too young to introduce the toy… not true! My little guy is already addicted to his HEXBUGs (threw a massive tantrum when playtime was over) and I can see him getting a lot more play out of them in years to come. The sets are attractively priced at between $19.99-$49.99 depending on the size and complexity.

Click here to visit HEXBUG.com.