• Addictive arts and crafts activity
  • Twist, bend and mould into any number of shapes and creatures
  • Make 3D accessories for action figures or vehicles
  • Decorate walls, doors, windows and furniture

Have you heard of Bendaroos as seen on TV? I’m sure your children have been watching the many adverts – I know my son has. Anyway if you’ve missed all the hype, in short they are flexible building sticks that should keep your children quiet for a few hours if they are into arts and crafts.

Each Bendaroo is basically strong string covered with thin wax that makes it an ideal tool for creative activities. They are easy to use and can be moulded into different shapes by twisting and bending. The sticks stay as you put them until you are ready to make a different shape when you just remould them. They are durable so can be used time and time again. They stick to all types of surfaces, such as paper, walls and windows, but they do not need glue so there is no mess and no stains.

The Mega Pack of 400 sticks, which are divided between 12 rainbow colours, also includes some templates for modelling ideas, a cut and join tool and an instruction manual. They can be used for many different activities from building to drawing to decorating and can create all sorts of creatures and shapes. The options are endless but here are a few ideas: jewellery, accessories for action figures, race tracks and bridges for cars, furniture for dolls, signs and pictures for walls and doors, window art, liven up photo frames, vases and more.

Are They Any Good?

For around 5p per stick, you can buy a set of craft materials that are great for developing your child’s imagination and refining their motor skills. They will learn patience, planning skills and how to see a project through to its conclusion. They can use the Bendaroos toy on their own, with you or with friends. They can practice sharing and having competitions for who can make the best design. For children that love arts and crafts such as Play Dough, they are ideal and more so for you as there is no mess. Watch they do not get trodden into your carpets though.

They come with a cutting and joining tool but it is not really needed as a pair of scissors can easily cut them and the warmth from your hands can join them.

The wax covering does not dry or flake meaning they really are reusable over and over again. It can feel a little greasy but is not messy. They are easy to use and the enclosed instructions and templates make good starting points from which to grow in creativity. The only trouble comes when the artwork your child makes is so good that you do not want to reuse the Bendaroos. You then end up with an expensive masterpiece!

Are There Any Downsides?

They are a bit like a magnet for fluff and hairs so if you want to reuse them keep them off the floors and away from pets. They are also tricky to remove from carpets if they get trodden in. Bendaroos are smaller than they look on the box or on TV and if you buy a small pack you may run out of the colour you want before your creation is finished.

Some people have had trouble sticking the Benderoos together but most find they stick to anything and are easy to pull apart or off of a wall. No stains may be true but beware of the waxy residue that will collect if you leave them stuck to anything for days or weeks. Make sure you supervise where your children stick them – a hard, wipeable surface is best.

For what they are, they are probably overpriced but children seem to love them, so you have to look at it as a cost per hour of entertainment rather than a cost per piece of waxy string.

Where To Buy Bendaroos & The Packs Available

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As well as the Mega Pack you can also buy:

Theme Packs for around £5 which include 80 sticks and associated templates.

  • Beautiful Garden
  • Fun With Food
  • Creepy Crawlers

Activity Packs for around £10 which include 170 sticks and associated templates.

  • Ocean Creatures
  • Princess Fantasy
  • Zoo Animals
  • Tropical Island

Bumper Packs for around £20 which include 500 sticks (250 rainbow colours and 250 neon colours) and associated templates.

Other Packs

  • Underwater Set Mermaid – 200 sticks
  • Crawling Critters Pack – 100 sticks


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