Time was, they told us the age of reason it was 7, but kids are smarter now. (It’s probably the chewable vitamins.) Now you can start their science education at 5, with this Stepping into Science kit. Includes (29) experiments about plants and weather, basic physics, air and water, and beginners chemistry. Includes a 48-page manual and (58) items that you augment with simple household supplies. Made in Germany for Thames & Kosmos for ages 5+.

Actually, it's a Round Stic®, without the “k,” which is the name BIC® gives to its #1 selling ballpoint pen. They're black, and round, with black ink and medium points. Also have separate caps with pocket clips. Hard to go wrong at (10) for two bucks. “Writes First Time, Every Time®,” they say.

Whatever “it” is—that’s your business. But there's always something, isn't there? This 9” clamp, in black and orange heavy-duty plastic, opens to approx 4”. Has soft pads that automatically adjust to whatever’s being clamped. The clampee? Curved inner jaws are serrated for getting a grip, which is something we all need to do at times. Having a few reliable clamps like these around the house, garage or workshop is a good start.

It's not Swedish and not from Santa Barbara, but your beer won't care. Neither will your egg salad sandwiches, because the Santa Barbara cooler bag from Sweda will keep them all as cool as you'll feel carrying it to your picnic, tailgate, cookout, campsite or boating trip. Heat-sealed, insulated and padded, this khaki bag measures 15" wide x 18-1/2" tall with a front pocket and big handy handles. Exterior is water-repellent with a vegan leather bottom, which is more than you can say for yours.

We suggest you take this one. Made as a promotional device, it never got its promo logo and the light only shines for about 30 seconds, we think to highlight the absent logo. But it kept its ability to make your tablet stand up and be seen. The stand measures approx 5" long, and the light measures about 1.5" x 1". Comes with a 3.5" stylus nestled inside to give your finger a break, and a gray velvet pouch to store it in. Runs on (3) AG-13 button cell batteries, included, and you're welcome.

Bugged by no-see-ums? Turn on this rechargeable flashlight and see 'um--along with skeeters and other annoyances--then start waving the built-in bug zapper at your entomological nemeses. The COB LED shines at 1000 lumens with spot, flood or strobe modes, and the 2200 mAH battery charges via a micro USB. Weatherproof in aluminum alloy, it measures 8-1/2" long x 1-1/2" dia, and lasts up to (6) hours on a single charge. And guess what, a great flashlight like this works just as well in the basement or garage in the winter. Let there be light, even when there are no bugs to zap.

No, not a mob problem solver, but a crafty type who doesn’t wait for someone to create the perfect pin-on button. Our Design-a-Button kit comes with (12) 2-1/2” dia buttons. You pop off the back, insert a round card with your message or photo cut to size, snap the back on, and Bob’s your uncle, unless you don’t have an uncle Bob, in which case you’re all set. It’s just an expression. Note to self: Make a “Bob’s Your Uncle” button! For ages 6+.

From the Chinese military, this olive drab canvas recon chest rig is made for carrying SKS rounds. We think it’d also be great for fishing lures, balloons (if you’re a balloon artist or a water-balloon tosser), various nails and screws, bolts and washers and probably a hundred other uses. Business part measures 24" wide x 5-3/4" with (6) 4-1/4” deep pockets, (2) at 2” wide and (4) at 1-1/2” wide, all with flaps that close with little plastic clips. Has 4 holders for items in the 7" long range. (Photo shows 7" long tubes inserted) Fits via adjustable crossed shoulder straps and a buckle. We also think it would hold a nice assortment of snacks for hands-free hiking.

Not you—we were talking to your favorite kitchen knife, or the one that used to be your favorite before it got dull, and it said yes, it’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer. It’s depressed, and it wants you to buy this Mozzbi tungsten and ceramic 2-stage sharpener. Self-adjusting for anything from paring knives to chef’s choppers, it can be used on any straight knife. A few pulls through the coarse side, and same on the fine side, and you’ll be slicing like d’Artagnan through Cardinal Richelieu's guards. Too soon?

This buckish knife from Alpha Outpost is a heavy-duty—and weighty—single-blade pocket knife. Hang it at your side, but you might want to use the built-in belt clip so it doesn’t drag down your jeans. This is a solid piece, understand? Measure 8” long open, 4-3/4” closed with a 3-3/4” locking blade that’s 1” across at its widest. Handle is a wood-and-metal combination, and it’s got a hole to hang keys from.

Add these heavy-duty black rubber treads wherever you need extra safety. In a raised pattern the same as diamond steel plate, each tread is 12" x 12" x 1/4" thick with a peel-off, self-adhesive back. Put ’em on stairs or in the workshop, garage, pool house, deck or shed.

This is our super-compact umbrella, but we think the word bumbershoot needs to be kept alive. So we’re going to say it again: bumbershoot. This one is black polyester and measures 9” long x approx 1-1/2” dia with a wood-like handle. Opens to 36” dia with a 21” long handle. Stores in a black sleeve.

It’s like the Electric Slide, but with no dancing required. Our (6)-port USB hub turns your vehicle into an electric ride, providing device-charging for all passengers, even the ones misbehaving in the back. Plug the matte black gadget into the cigarette lighter port and charge away. Has (2) USB hubs in the plug itself, plus another (4) in a box that measures 4" x 1.5" x 3/4" and easily reaches into the back seat on a nearly 5-foot cord. Ignore the $19.99 price on the box--we’ll give it to you for half that.

Hold the buggy, hold the baby. These mega-useful, self-sticking, clear, hard-rubber bumpers are used to tamp cabinet doors, prevent tchotchkes from moving or marking surfaces, and tons of other things. You’ll get (16) at 3/8” dia and (9) at 1/2” dia.

We’re big fans of USB- and battery-powered gadgets, which is why we love this little dual-powered fan. It’s round, 5" dia, comes with a USB cord, tilts up and down like the lid of a waffle iron (and is the size of a large hamburger when it’s down), and has (2) speeds. If you don’t have a USB port handy, it’ll run on (4) “AA” batteries, which you provide. (We can’t give you everything.) In black or gray, with a blue front grill, and we’ll send you the color we think will go best with what you’re wearing the day it arrives.

Tom Hanks had Wilson, his volleyball companion, but he'd have been much better off, and rescued much sooner, if he'd had this Marooned dry bag kit from Alpha Outpost. Measures 24" x 13" in neon orange with reflective silver strips. Includes a waterproof flashlight that requires (4) "AA" batteries; intermittent red/white strobe light that will need (2) "AA" batteries; a float-able key chain; whistle; signal mirror; and maroonee info card. Don't get in a boat without it. (Also includes a Marooned patch, but we'd wait to sew that on until after you're back home.) "Wilson!"

Well, not giving it to you, but selling it super-cheap. From Velleman® Security/CCTV, this flashing green security light is approx 4” dia at its widest x 3” tall. Comes without a plug but with 15” leads ready to be hardwired into a 12VDC source, as in a standard automobile. The (15) white LEDs inside the green cover will flash, but if green's not your color, the plastic dome unscrews so you can easily repurpose it for your own DIY use.

This polyester laptop case has padded front, back and sides, and measures 15" x 12" x 5" with handles and an adjustable, removable shoulder strap. Has (3) internal sections, a flap pocket on the outside with a zippered internal pocket, two open pockets and (3) pen sleeves. Best of all, it has a 1-1/2” wide strap across the back made to slip over the handle of a wheelie bag so you’ll have one less thing to carry while you’re trying to find your photo ID and take your belt off. Available in black or grey.

Brand new 2' x 2' x 5/16" aluminum frame LED panel lights. 5000k (Bright Daylight) and operates on 120vac with the included driver. These panels fit into standard drop ceiling tiles and draw under 40watts of power making them ideal as replacements for larger fixtures. 30,000 hour life span. Did we mention they are dimmable. Super Eco friendly and make an incredible light table. These will require some wiring as the driver just has wire leads and no plug on the end. 

Please Note: Item is not available for expedited shipping. Retail store customers: available by special order only.

In the traditional arch-top piratical shape, this mini-chest measures 4-3/4” long x 3” tall x 2-3/8” deep with a hinged top and a little gold-tone clasp in front. In sanded but unfinished pine, ready to decorate. Handy for small presents (gift cards sit up nicely inside), cleverly and classily displaying business cards, storing jewels or interring gerbils.

When you run out, you have to run out and buy more. Stay home with this pack of (24) "AA" and (12) "AAA" alkaline batteries from Polaroid. Box says they're good until 2021.

Our eyeglass- and watch-repair screw kit pretty much guarantees you'll have the itty-bitty teeny-tiny fastener you need to fix every little thing. The 250-piece set includes a labeled assortment from 2.5mm to 4.5mm in (4) watch-screw and (8) eyeglass-screw categories. In a 3-3/8" dia rotating caddy. Try not to spill these onto a carpet.

Has the print in your books been getting smaller? Fight back using this 3-1/2" long plastic magnifier with (2) lenses. The 2x lens is 1-3/4" dia., while the 6x lens is 3/4" dia. Kids will love using it to explore bugs, crystals and leaves up close.

These plastic luer lock syringes will take a needle, but they're not sterile, so we’d suggest craft, woodworking or general squirting uses only. Measure 7” long (3-3/4” for the fillable section) x 1-1/8” ID. Will hold 0.3 oz /10ml and has graduated markings. Our each is a bag of (50).

About the size of a iPad mini at 5” x 7”, but 70 times cheaper and without the need to recharge it every night, this annual planner/datebook is year-agnostic--you add the actual dates. Has (80) pages with (12) month tabs and space up front for personal info. Includes both week- and month-at-a-glance formats. Oversized ring binder, black cover, and two-tone gray pages. Useful, classic, timeless and priced right.

Those new-fangled virtual reality games make you wish for a simpler virtual world? If you have, say, medium soldering skills, your sensory overload is over. Now you can make your own Pong-style, TV tennis game and while away days at a time just like your ancestors did. (It’s mysteriously compelling--go find an ancestor and ask.) Will work through any TV with NTSC video (via RCA jack inputs). For one or two players and has (4) levels of difficulty. No case, but there are standoffs. You add a pair of “AA” batteries.

If not, would you like to stack a lot of quarters? Organize beads? Store earrings? This clear acrylic box is made to store lipsticks but the grid design would work for any number of things. Measures 8-3/4" x 3-3/8" x a tad over 1-3/4" tall with an 8 x 3 grid of 1” square compartments. Has little rubber feet and a tiny logo saying “Organized Elegance” at one bottom corner.

Keep your yogurt cool in this cloth-covered neoprene tote. Purse-sized at 9” long x 5” tall x 4-5/8” wide, plus integrated 4” handles, it has a zipper closure so your sandwiches won’t fall out. If you don’t do lunch, it makes a nice foam purse. Black with silver trim. Surplus-priced, so they won’t last long.

And pop-nose, and pop-ears. Everything pops when you squeeze this guy’s head. It’s true of most of us, actually. This one, however, is a classic, sometimes seen as the Martian Popper but in this incarnation he’s Panic Pete. Don’t let your children grow up without having one to take their frustrations out on.

It’s cheaper just to buy your own messenger bag. This one is light beige polyester canvas, 10" x 13-1/2" x 3-1/2" with a front flap with a magnetic clasp and side zipper that opens a 10" x 7" outside pocket. Inside is a 7-1/2" x 10" pocket with another the same size on the back. Two 5-1/2” deep open pockets on the inside, plus another zippered 7-1/2" x 12-1/2" pocket on the inside back. And of course it comes with an attached shoulder strap, 70” long and adjustable, with a sliding shoulder pad.

Amps and volts, go together like pretzels and mustard, at least in Philadelphia. Where were we? Yes, you pick from our 0-10VDC in 0.2 volt increments voltmeter or the zero-adjust ammeter (Galvanometer) that reads bipolarity up to 500mA in 20mA increments. Both are in black plastic housings, 4" x 5-1/2" x 3-3/4" with a slanted face and red & black banana jack terminals.

Because this brown packing tape (aka carton sealing tape) was made in Canada, out of respect for our neighbors to the north, we’re going to give you the dimensions in metric. Haha, just kidding! The tape’s about 216 feet long, and extra-wide at 2-7/8” (aka 3” in the office-supply world). You’ll get (2) rolls, which will make your tape order a double-extra-wide. The Trailer Park Boys would approve.

Penciltype soldering iron imported from Taiwan. Overlook the charming instructions, it works just the way everyone does. 30 watt 110 volt, nice, serviceable unit.

Mega-bungee cords. Just the ticket for tying down motorcycles, refrigerators, or large marsupials. (Tie your kangaroo down, boys!) Our each is a package of (10) of these monsters, approx 1/2" dia x 6-feet long, (Yes 6 Feet!) in black with green accents (colors may change), with 1" x 2-1/2" hooks on both ends. According to the manufacturer, these will stretch to double their length, 144", but you may want to keep it under that just to be safe. That's almost 8-LBS of bungees and just under two bucks a piece. Outstanding!

You don’t want people tripping on your cords, and they won’t when you get this very helpful 4" wide x 15' long x .018" thick Safcord® nylon strapping with reinforced 1" wide Velcro-like “hook” straps on both edges. It’s used for keeping cords and cables in place on industrial or Berber carpeting (which provides the “loops” in the hook’n’loop equation here). Cut it to any length, because it won't fray. Check out our price, too--15 feet of this stuff would list for almost $60 elsewhere. In black with white stitching, but there may be other colors, too. Made in the USA.

Classroom and Science Fair alert: Now you can order an 8-pack of metals and metal alloys for demonstration purposes. Each pack of 1" dia x 1/32" thick discs includes aluminum, bronze, brass, copper, n/silver (w/nickel), m/steel (mild: low carbon), stainless steel, and zinc. Composition of each is stamped on one side of the discs.

Why not take two since they’re medium sized, from 20” to 28”, and shaped like the critters they represent. You’ll get a pair (two different) of very colorful nylon kites, complete with 65-foot lines and 8-foot tails, from our selection of ladybugs, frogs, turtles, butterflies, owls and dragons. Packed conveniently in a clear tube for carrying.

Our fashion buyers are just back from the shows in Milan with these brand new, nice quality, 80% poly/20% cotton lab coats. These are Euro-sizes, which generally (and generously) match chest circumference. The 42 has 34-1/2" sleeves, and the 48 has 36". All are about 39" long, which means fingertip length or mid-thigh, depending on how long you are. Think men's small and XL. They're all five-button, with one breast pocket and two large side pockets and have no name or embroidery added. Notched lapels, no vent-just what all the best-dressed technicians are wearing this season.

Can't beat a classic. These uncoated ceramic donut magnets have a 1-lb pull, which makes them dandy for classroom or refrigerator use. They measure 1-1/4" dia x 3/8" ID x 3/16" thick and are polarized on the faces. You get a wrapped roll of 29 donuts.