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Zyrofoam: imagine a garden of rounded shapes

Explore Zyrofoam’s bright sculpted shapes and plan an imaginary sculpture garden with a spiral, a star and a flower.

Historical toy profileContext reviewed
Purple Zyrofoam display with blue, yellow, pink and pale gray sculpted forms, a spiral, a flower and a small illustrated chart.
Original Zyrofoam - Zyro Foam image from Toysit’s earlier coverage.

The play at a glance

Bright shapes for an imaginary garden

A pale spiral, a bright flower and several rounded mounds sit against a purple Zyrofoam display. Their surfaces look dotted and pebbly in the photograph, giving each colored shape a busy texture. Imagine those forms enlarged into sculptures along a garden path: a curling entrance, a star-shaped stopping place and a flower at the far end.

Look for a shape inside a shape

The pictured spiral invites the eye to follow a curve toward its center. The flower has a contrasting middle and petals around it. Each is a small arrangement of parts, but together they could become a place: an entrance, a landmark and a destination for a visitor.

The earlier account describes four colors of Zyrofoam and directions for a snail, star and flower. It also records a particular group of young testers’ response to the material. Here the photograph supplies the starting point for a fresh design: think about outline, color and where each form belongs.

Try a sculpture garden map

Draw a large garden outline on paper. Leave enough room for a visitor to walk between three invented sculptures.

  1. Mark three plots. Give one to a spiral, one to a star and one to a flower. They might sit in a row, around a pond or at the corners of a winding path.
  2. Name the sculptures. Try “The Path That Curled,” “A Star Taking a Rest” and “The Flower That Greets Everyone,” or invent names that suit your garden.
  3. Add a visitor’s observation. Beside each plot, write one thing someone might notice: “The spiral has a blue center” or “The tallest petal points toward the gate.”
  4. Draw the tour route. Connect the plots with a path and choose the first stop. Tell a guest why the route begins there.

Color the forms directly on the map, or make small models with a suitable, identified modeling material according to its label. The drawing alone is a complete garden. A different material brings its own directions and character to any model you choose to add.

Let a visitor change the tour

Invite another player to choose a favorite sculpture and give it a new title. Then imagine the garden at night or after a pretend snowfall. Which outline would still be easiest to recognize? Add a bench, a sign or a second entrance to make room for the visitor’s idea. The sculptures can stay simple while the place around them grows into a story.

The historical record

Original Toysit coverage

The original product account and commentary are preserved below as historical coverage.

This moldable compound feels like a cross between Styrofoam and Play-Doh.

This moldable compound feels like a cross between Styrofoam and Play-Doh. It has enough stiffness to retain shapes, so children can mold it into numerous critters and objects. The package includes directions for making a snail, star, and flower, but the imagination is the limit with this toy. A group of 9- and 10-year-old testers weren't thrilled with the bumpy, sticky texture of this putty, finding it less satisfying than Nickelodeon's Gooze. However, children who like to sculpt with clay may find it a fascinating new material to explore. Comes with four colors of Zyrofoam, storage bags, a playmat, and a formula chart for mixing colors.

Zyrofoam: The Unique Moldable Sculpting Art Compound

Zyrofoam is an exciting and innovative art compound that has captured the hearts of both children and adults. It feels like a cross between Styrofoam and Play-doh, offering a unique texture and endless creative possibilities. Here's what makes Zyrofoam so enjoyable:

  • Unique Texture: Zyrofoam's texture, which combines the lightness of Styrofoam with the moldability of Play-doh, provides a one-of-a-kind tactile experience. It's soft to touch, easy to shape, and fun to play with.
  • Creativity Unleashed: The moldable nature of Zyrofoam allows for endless artistic creations. From sculptures and figurines to decorative pieces, the possibilities are limitless.
  • Safe and Non-Toxic: Designed with safety in mind, Zyrofoam is non-toxic and suitable for children, making it a great addition to classrooms and art studios.
  • Colorful Fun: Available in various vibrant colors, Zyrofoam adds a splash of color to any art project. Mixing different shades can create new hues, adding depth and dimension to the creations.
  • Educational Benefits: Zyrofoam not only offers fun but also helps in developing fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and creativity. It's a fantastic tool for educators to engage students in hands-on learning.
  • Therapeutic Qualities: The sensory experience of molding and shaping Zyrofoam can be calming and therapeutic. It's often used in therapeutic settings to provide relaxation and stress relief.
  • Reusable: Unlike traditional Styrofoam, Zyrofoam can be reshaped and reused, making it an environmentally friendly option for creative play.

Zyrofoam's unique combination of features makes it a versatile and engaging art material. Whether used for educational purposes, therapeutic activities, or pure creative enjoyment, Zyrofoam offers a delightful and inspiring way to explore art and creativity.

Sources and editorial notes

Original text and photograph are preserved. USPTO gazette page TM 417, September 25, 2001, identifies Flying Colors Toys and ZYROFOAM as a moldable toy compound. The exact pictured kit guide and formula chart remain unrecovered. Surface appearance is observed from the image; tactile descriptions and the nine- and ten-year-old tester comments belong to the earlier account. No new testing, therapeutic, safety or environmental claim is made.

Images and descriptions are retained as historical material. How Toysit covers toys.

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