When I received Brush with Genius courtesy of University Games for review, I knew my daughter would be the coolest kid in preschool. After five failed attempts at trying to impress her friends on "Share a Toy" day, I knew this would be THE toy that would do the job. Just like its name, the idea is pretty genius and I couldn't wait to test it out.
The battery-operated brush makes a sound with each stroke. As you get better at using the brush, you can make different sounds like making a kitten "purr" or the river "whoosh" (both are examples right off the box). The brush comes with a pad of watercolor paints, but you only need water to make magic happen.

How does it work? You create a brushstroke and then place your fingers on a metallic strip and use your other hand to touch the line which then creates a sound. It's pretty amazing and addicting. But I have to warn you: Some of the sounds can get pretty annoying if you're not into those high-pitched squeaky type of noises.

Is it age appropriate? While it's recommended for kids ages three and up, my almost two year-old figured it out immediately and my five year-old was using it to create all sorts of sounds after only using it a couple times. Both my kids have good fine motor skills, so this wasn't really hard for them to use--but I read a review from one parent saying that their three year-old had issues using it and another parent who said it was way too easy for their ten year-old, but that she still enjoyed it, so the results will vary from child to child.

Why would I buy it? I love that it's simple to use and it takes painting to a new level of enjoyment. For parents looking to develop their child's hand-eye coordination, this toy would be perfect for that purpose. in addition, it enhances your child's imagination enabling them to create stories with the added element of having sound effects.

Also, when my kids use paint I end up with this huge messy clean up job which I don't look forward to. Since the Brush with Genius paint is so faint (which some may not like), it's mess-free which is a definite plus in my book. Priced at $14.98, this product is a steal, but you can find it online for less.

If you've run out of things to do with your kids, this toy will definitely get them engaged and encourage them to build upon the skills they already have. No matter what age your child is, it's something fun to try because it's different. I think this toy would also make for a great gift idea. While the idea is genius, it doesn't take a genius to use it!

As an added note:  University Games, maker of Brush with Genius, is sponsoring the Colorforms 60th Anniversary Fine Arts Camp Contest for kids ages 3 to 12.  For contest rules and details, check out the ugames.com site.

Are there any toys that you've bought or tried that were just simply cool and innovative? Tell me in the comments below because I'm always on the lookout for the next best thing...