I bought these for my nephews - 5 and 7 years old. They are wild boys, so 'quiet' toys don't usually excite them. However, this was an absolute HIT. The hatching was instant and exciting (in fact I think they were a little anxious) - with frothing and what looked like a real alien. The heart started beating at the appointed moment and the alien started growing immediately. It doesn't look cheap or gimmicky. Over the seven days I was with them the boys anxiously looked after and fed their aliens - which had pretty much grown to full height within 7 days, and it kept their attention. I seriously doubt they will remain interested for too much longer. HOWEVER I had really fed them a whole story about the registering of the birth on the website - which says it scans the alien and tells you how you are looking after it, as well as help you interrogate your alien. You are supposed to be an agent interrogating the alien to find out his story. THe website at first glance looks fantastic, but is COMPLETELY confusing about what to do and how to play the games as well as how to move up the hierarchy of secret agent. My poor 7 year old nephew is still sitting there desperately trying to get to the top level and I have no idea how to help him. He now thinks the alien is going to die. I wrote to the site - with only bounced emails in return and expect that it has closed. SO 10 out of 10 for cool toy, 1/10 for website game. And if anyone can help me with website instructions....I am looking for help on how to use the website! To end the story - the boys desperately want the rest of the family, but have a LOT of questions about how and when this alien dies and what to do with him when he's dead....