Although I thoroughly suck at science, I received a chemistry kit as a present one birthday some twenty years ago and loved it for years on end. J owned multiple chemistry kits as a child and also has fond memories of mixing strange compounds together and "blowing sh*t up." We fully intend on gifting our children with chemistry sets when they reach the proper maturity level, but I have become discouraged at the types of kits that are available at toy stores these days. No actual chemicals? Nothing sharp or breakable? Glass beakers and test tubes that have been replaced by shatter-proof plastic? Nothing that has the potential to create sizzling/smoking/foul-smelling reactions? Where's the fun in that? That's why I let out a chuckle and a sigh...