National Geographic Real Bug Dig Kit Review
Reviewed by Louise Totton
We have been lucky enough to have tried out a few of Nat Geo’s Dig Kits – the kids both absolutely love them, and I will freely admit to having a bit of a ‘thing’ about educational toys. Earlier in the year, we tried out the Gemstone Dig Kit and the Shark Tooth Dig Kit, both of which were fantastic ways to fill a rainy afternoon as well as the kids actually learning something too. This weekend, we have been playing with the Real Bug Dig Kit which, just like the other kits in the same range, contains genuine specimens in the dig brick, along with a set of excavation tools and a full-colour learning guide. In full, the kit contained:
- Scorpion-themed Dig Brick with 3 genuine bug specimens hidden inside
- Full-colour learning guide
- 2 excavation tools
- Magnifying glass
The dig brick isn’t massive – it’s about the size of the palm of an adult’s hand. Having said that, it doesn’t need to be, as the specimens inside are genuine bugs, so not very large, and if the dig brick was too big, you’d be spending an awful lot of frustrating time looking for them. We found that the size was just about right for the treasure to be well spaced out and fun to search for.
I had wondered how Nat Geo would manage to safely bury the bugs in the dig brick, and was concerned that the kids might damage some of them with some over-zealous digging. They are, actually, safely contained in little clear acrylic counters which serves two purposes: they protect the bugs whilst you’re digging and they also allow you to examine them in far more detail that you might otherwise be able to as you can hold them in your hands and look at them from all angles.
The samples contained in the kit are that of a fortune beetle, a spiny spider and a scorpion. They really were perfectly preserved in their little acrylic counters, and the kids were really excited each time the found one. The images and information contained in the learning guide were fantastic and allowed the kids to quickly identify what their specimen each time one was excavated. As well as facts about the three types of bugs contained in the kit, there was also an awful lot of useful information about different arthropods, as well as lifecycles, habitats and some cool fun facts.
All of the information is presented in a really child-friendly and engaging way which really encouraged the kids to read on and want to learn. They found the tactile element of excavation great fun and thoroughly enjoyed digging the specimens out as well as carefully cleaning them with the brush and examining them using the magnifying glass. The kit kept a 10-year-old and a 7-year-old happy and entertained for an hour or so whilst they were digging and excavating as well as another hour or more reading the learning guide, examining their bugs and even writing their own little fact files about the bugs they had discovered.
We have loved all of the Nat Geo Dig Kits that we have tried out, both for the entertainment and educational value, and we will certainly be seeking out more in the range. As well as the many Dig Kits, there is also a Geode Kit, a Build Your Own Volcano Kit and a Crystal Lab Kit, so there is something for every little scientist. These little kits are only £9.99, which I think is fantastic value for money, and makes them the perfect price for a nice stocking filler as well as a great Christmas present idea.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £9.99
Available to buy from Amazon here.
