Powerful learning toy
The Spirograph was a magical, steady go-to toy for whiling away my kid-hours ... before computers. I  would run through a ream of typing paper like a paper shredder ... sometimes with carbon paper just to pass my creations around . Now as a physicist & grandpa, I relate to the Spirograph as a mathematical experiment that teaches important relationships.<br /><br />I bought the big Spirograph set for my granddaughter. My granddaughter has a creative streak, not particularly mathematical, but she spins the Spirograph in a perfectionist artsy way. The Spirograph is a fantastic elementary school entrée into critical thinking, proportionality and creativity. It's a trial and error superstar. Some combinations are pleasing to the eye, others are a visual dissonance. It's been a delight to watch her progression ... "What do you think about this, Grandpa!" ... she quietly discards ones that aren't ready for prime time Grandpa eyes.<br /><br />It's been great fun suggesting variations that she takes away and goes to work on with her own twist and fancy. You can see her mind working as her choice of 2 templates and a starting `point' reveals unexpected patterns within patterns .<br /><br />This set has all the bells and whistles of the original and then some. It's the 50th anniversary set. The number and configuration of templates just make a fascinating learning toy.