Can someone give an ignorant mummy a quick rundown on beyblades please?

[Bozza]

DS says he wants a beyblade. This is because he is in reception and now exposed to "older" toys. What are they and what to do you do with them? I asked DS and he said "its this thing that you pull and then this thing turns around". DH thinks they are a kind of modern spinning top.

Also how much do they cost? I asked DS again and he said "four and a half pounds fifty". I just looked for them on Toys R Us and they had only 3 items with the cheapest being £2.99. I think Santa could afford £2.99 but wasn't sure if he needed something else first.

I'm all up on the Thomas trains, lego, vast quantities of toy cars etc but obviously need to move on.

They are like a spinning top. You hold them in a holder thing, pull a ripcord and they drop off the holder, spinning. The idea being that you "battle" another Beyblade in a cheap and nasty plastic "stadium".

They can be a pain in the ar$e to build.

Cost wise, you get several different versions from bog standard to "metal gear" and "magnacore" ones. I have absolutely no idea what the merits of these are but would imagine that a reception child wuld be happy with a basic one for now.

Oh yes Toysrus had a stadium thing. They were actually well reduced in price making me think they were no longer the current thing. Sure DH would build so not too worried there. I think I might see if his interest continues nearer Christmas and, if so, get one then.

thanks.

You don't need anything to go with them really - each Beyblade comes with a launcher (the "holder thing"!) but you can buy launchers that look like a gun.

Have a look at the Hasbro site if you dare.

They're only about 5cm diameter BTW.

TBH they look pretty awful but I suppose they sound fairly harmless. But they all say age 8+. Would they be OK for a nearly 5yo?

I think they say 8+ because they are so fiddly to put together. DS2 has been OK with them since he was 3 (older brother!) although he needed help to put it on the launcher to start with. The only thing I would watch out for is the rip cord if you have younger children as well. The 'teeth' on it can be quite sharp if it's pulled out of someones hand (or mouth ) so keep an eye on them!

Yes, it's the constuction that's really the age restriction. Although I'm well over 8 and I struggled with DS1s first Beyblade! I think the basic ones are easier.

Well I have an 18 mo that makes a bee line for all her brother's toys. So potential problem there. I think he basically wants it to take to school in his pocket for lunchtime though. There is a cheapy one with a dragon on top for £2.99 that I might get him.