New exhibit looks at the 'Inside Story' of toys - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Oh Wow1 Children's Center for Science and Technology has a new interactive exhibit of 12 hands on stations that illustrate simple mechanisms commonly found in toys.

Executive Director of Oh Wow!, Suzanne Barbati, says the hands on exhibits shows kids how Operation, Etch a Sketch, a Jack in the Box, and other popular toys work.

Each exhibit has a detailed and simple explanation that parents can read to their children on how gears or the mechanics in a toy work.

Jim, who was visiting from Nevada, said the play stations allow his son Benjamin to learn the engineering behind toys. Other parents also loved the idea behind this interactive exhibit at Oh Wow!

Rebakah Wiley was visiting from West Virginia. She said the exhibit lets the kids learn to appreciate the toys they have so they know somebody had to think about the toy they enjoy, and put it together to make it work.

Barbati said kids are encouraged to take apart old toys at home, with supervision, to explore how many gears and linkages there are. There are hopes this exploration will help encourage the engineers and scientists of the future.

Toys: The Inside Story Exhibit will be at Oh Wow! until mid January.

For more information log on www.valleykids.org or call 330-744-5914.