#1 Orbeez Gun On The Market

Orbeez are tiny, super-absorbent balls that, if you have a young kid, will probably take over your life and home: assuming they haven't already…

This is what Orbeez look like in the tub – by which I mean “the tub they came in,” not the bathtub: that part comes later…

At this point, if you haven't been introduced to the fascinating world of Orbeez, you're probably thinking to yourself, “Ohhhh-kaaaaay. What am I supposed to be looking at here? And why should I care?”

My kid has seen his fair share of toys in his time, but I can honestly say that I've never seen anything entice him so much – or keep him occupied for so long – as these little water beads. He was, to say the least, obsessed with them – and he still is now: even though he's played with them more times than I can remember, his reaction is virtually identical to the one above anytime we bring them out. Oh, and ever since these arrived, every other kid that comes to the home has been similarly enthralled with them: I mean, I kind of get it because they do feel nice to touch – somewhat like a tension toy – but, yes, I was completely caught off guard by just how much he'd adore them. I'm not sure if these are the sort of cat toys that Jay considers to be “toy cats,” or if he just thinks they're hilarious. (Or, perhaps, for how long I'd spend picking them off the floor: because I may not be able to count the hours of joy Jay has derived from these things, but I am able to count the number of times I've found them in various nooks and crannies around the house: it's currently at approximately 3,749).

What are Orbeez, and what are they made of? They're also called water beads, and they're tiny little “seeds” that expand when soaked in water. That's it, really: who would've thought that such a thing would be so interesting to little people?, right?

What do you intend to do with them? You can run your fingers over them, put them in the bath, use them as décor, or plant them in the ground (Plants will suck the moisture out of them, so they're a great way to keep your house plants hydrated…). I'm sure they'd make beautiful ornaments, but I don't think they're strong enough to stand up on their own. They seem like a good alternative to potholders because you can just squeeze them and run your hands through them, which is strangely addictive; however, some people use them as foot spas, in which case, you might want to invest in a bigger bag.

How long do they last? Once they've been soaked, Orbeez will last for weeks – although I've read that if you leave them out in the sun, they'll dry out and eventually die (I haven't tried this because I'm not ready to say goodbye to mine just yet).

However, if you try to pick them up when your child has thrown them across the room for the eleventy-ninth time, you'll be frustrated pretty quickly. That is, after all, rather apparent, yes?

So are Orbeez cool? Yes, they are – but you know what else is cool? Not having to pick them up all the time.