Toys & Games Specs Explained

Plain explanations of toys & games specs on Wiki Shopping, such as sizes and ratings, and what each one changes when you choose a product.

Bar chart of the maximum player count printed by publishers for four games. Codenames plays 4 to 8 or more, Sushi Go 2 to 5, Catan 3 to 4 and Forbidden Island 2 to 4.

Board Game Player Counts and How to Choose a Game

Start with the player count on the box, then match age, play time, cooperative or competitive play and how heavy a game feels to the people at your table.

Bar chart of the youngest age printed for five building sets. A DUPLO Brick Box is marked 1 and up, a DUPLO train set 2 and up, a Magna-Tiles Classic set 3 and up, a LEGO Classic tub 4 and up and another LEGO Classic set 5 and up.

Building Toy Ages: DUPLO vs LEGO vs Magnetic Tiles

Big DUPLO bricks are marked from age 1 or 2, magnetic tiles from 3 and standard LEGO from 4 or 5; the age on the box mostly tracks piece size and small parts.

Bar chart of the lowest wind speed six kites are rated to fly in. A sled kite starts at 3 mph, a dual-line stunt kite at 4 mph, two delta kites at 5 mph, and a parafoil and a trainer stunt kite at 6 mph.

Kite Types: Wind Speed, Single vs Dual Line

Most single-line kites fly in about 5 to 20 mph of wind, sleds lift off in less, and dual-line stunt kites are steered with two lines and suit older beginners.

Bar chart of the starting age on six Thames and Kosmos science kits, from 5 and up for the Kids First Science Kit to 12 and up for Chem C3000.

Science Kit Ages: What Age Is a Chemistry Set For?

Beginner science kits with kitchen-safe materials start around age 5 or 6, while real chemistry sets are labeled 10 to 12 and up and expect an adult nearby.

Bar chart of maximum rider weight for six Micro scooter models, 110 pounds for the Mini and Maxi, 220 pounds for the larger models and 250 pounds for the Suspension scooter.

Scooter Types by Age: 3 Wheels vs 2 Wheels

Three-wheel lean-to-steer scooters suit ages 2 to 5, bigger scooters fit school-age kids, and the maker's maximum rider weight matters as much as age.

Bar chart of the clear space needed in front of and behind a swing by top bar height, using the CPSC rule of twice the bar height. A 6-foot bar needs 12 feet, a 7-foot bar 14 feet, an 8-foot bar 16 feet and a 10-foot bar 20 feet.

Swing Set Sizing: Space, Height and Wood vs Metal

A swing set needs clear space in front and behind equal to twice the height of its top bar, plus 6 feet on the sides, so an 8-foot set needs 16 feet each way.

Bar chart of FCC transmit power limits, from 0.5 watt on some FRS and GMRS channels to 2 watts for FRS, 5 watts for GMRS handhelds on 462 MHz interstitial channels, 15 watts for GMRS fixed stations and 50 watts for GMRS mobile and base stations.

Walkie Talkie Range: How Far They Work, FRS vs GMRS

Box ranges of 16 to 35 miles assume clear line of sight; FRS radios need no license and cap at 2 watts, while GMRS needs an FCC license and allows more.