Hannah Scrimshaw said you'd be better off with a couple of yoghurt pots. We conscripted one five-year-old, Joe Caplin, to test it: his father reported limited interest, and his mother overheard him telling Grandma that the orange pips he'd planted that morning would have grown into a tree by tomorrow.***SMITHSONIAN,MICROCHEM XM2000For age 10 plus; pounds 19.99Less advanced than the Microchem 5000, the 2000 is billed as the "safest chemistry set ever made", apparently achieving the same results as regular chemistry sets without glassware, al- cohol burners or flames, and with reduced chemical strengths. But users still have to be aged 10 or over, and Hannah Scrimshaw said it was "a bit boring that none of the experiments need fire". Angela Sutton thought children would be wise to start on this before buying the bigger set, but they didn't think so, and found watching nails of different materials rusting "really boring". Nerida Dawkin summed it up as "educational and no fun", but Emma Newton did make herself a nice bracelet with the multi- coloured molecular models.****JOHN ADAMS CHEMISTRY ACTION 120For age 10 plus; pounds 24.99This set is distinguished by its drawer-style boxes andan instructions book- let written cosily in the first person.
Everyone found the playful aspects of the experiments appealing: a magic trick results in invisible ink and you are told how to make your own pH paper from dark red flowers. Users can also write with tea, make a mini fire-extinguisher and grow crystals. "We could probably do this on our own," said Emma Newton approvingly. Testers warmed to the extremely practical advice given which, Angela Sutton confessed, "we really should have known before embarking on some of the other sets".
It suggests that you should read the whole experiment before starting, and that 'an untidy chemist is a bad chemist'. "You'd definitely want to be in this bloke's class," said Tony Newton.STOCKISTSAll these sets are usually stocked by Hamley's, London W1 (0171 734 3161), or for Physical Science 250, call 01628 500309; Alien Slime Lab, 01438 726002; Science in the Kitchen, 01223 864886; Microchem, 01733 371170; John Adams, 01235 833066.. This year, why not buy your nearest and dearest a work of art? After all, the Saatchis don't have the monopoly - and as the selection below demonstrates, you don't need millions to buy an original piece Above 'Mellowtron II' (detail) by Fabio de Almeida (mixed media, 38x51cms), pounds 200. Contact Sun & Doves Gallery, 61 Coldharbour Lane, London SE5 (0171 924 9950)Right 'Egg' by Amanda Webster (oil and acrylic on canvas, 23x30.5cms), pounds 120. Contact as aboveCentre 'Untitled 20' by Ranpal Gill (oil on canvas, 25x50.5cm), pounds 95. Contact the artist (0181 579 6325)Right 'Little Vera', one of an edition of 10, by Tania Kovats (plastic and flocking, 27x33x6.5cm), pounds 528.75. Contact Camden Arts Centre, Arkwright Rd, London NW3 (0171 435 5224)Above 'Dovecot, Seville' by Christine Woodside (mixed media, 120x90cm), pounds 1,800.Contact Ainscough Contemporary Art, Drayton Gardens, London SW10 (0171 341 9442)Left 'Sea Dream 2' by David Brooke (acrylic on canvas, 46x61cm), pounds 400.