My 4 year old passed away three months ago.
Dear Oops Scoops: when I first saw you, my kid was very ill, but I still had hope for his recovery. However, due to our national mail (almost non-existent), you arrived after his departure.
Having a toy intended for a beloved one who is no longer in this world is something too big for words, and I was at a loss as to what to do with you really.
My seven year old was at home the day you arrived, Oops Scoops, and asked me what you were. I told him the truth: that you are a toy meant for kids from four years up, and that you were intended for his brother.
I′m writing you this review because my seven year old (almost eight now), who is going through this phase of too-old-for-some-toys-but-not too-old-for-others kind of thing, fell in love with you.
So… we opened you for him.
You see, ever since my kiddo was diagnosed, fell ill, and departed (a horrible and far-too-quick four-month span, my unique and personal time in hell), I think his older brother had the hardest time of all of us. We devoted ourselves to my youngest, and kind of forgot about him: the fact that he had started summer vacation the same week of the diagnosis didn′t help either. He has been with relatives and staying at home with uncles and aunts for far too long, and I still feel guilt every time I see him. One kid passed away, but that death meant a lot for the surviving one, too.
The fact that he can share you now—not with his brother but with his friends, neighbors and cousins—has a bitter-sweet flavor for me as a mom, and, maybe for him as well… but, kids are resilient, and they allow much more room for their imagination to help them recover, at least, that is my hopeful belief.
And now, well, we are trying to figure this out, Oops Scoops, this new family of now one only son, and we are glad you helped. Thank you for that, my kid is enjoying you, and my little boy would have, too.
As for your specs:
You are suitable for 2 to 4 players, and are an ice cream stacking toy.
Contents:
Product number: A-75662690
1x vibrating ice cream cone
12x ice cream scoops
2x difficulty level base scoops
1x cone stand
1x scooper with spinner
Batteries Required: 2 x AAA Batteries (Not Included)
Coolest Features:
You can choose one of the 2 base ice creams, to set the difficulty of the game, and decide whether to hold it in your hand or place it in the base.
The scoop instructions—to scoop 1 time, scoop 2 times, or pass on the cone—are very easy to follow.
It′s really fun to stack over and over again; I′ve heard it can be compared to Jenga, but the stacking of circular plastic cones with holes in them seems to me far more difficult than Jenga.
Ease of Build:
On a scale of 1-5, this set is a definite 1; it′s really easy to put together.
What I am not a fan of is the battery. I know kids enjoy vibrating things but I would really have loved a version you can play near water, near the pool, or inside the bathtub, and having electric parts ruins that.
The storage box is fairly small and now my kid counts his ice cream flavors every time before packing them.
He recognizes each one for its different sprinkles (neat detail), and has named each color as a flavor to sell (a variation of the game when he has no other players around): we get to buy mint, pistachio, vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry, and sometimes he chooses to not charge us with any imaginary money and gives them to us for free, because he is a nice ice cream seller like that.
Here′s a link to the website, Oops Scoops is a toy by YULU.
Price: $17.99
Disclosure: This is an item sent to me for review purposes, but all opinions remain my own.
