Nice for Making Ice Cream with your Kids-Novelty

I purchased this item as a Christmas gift for my daughter (6 years old).  I realize it is not a toy, but wouldn't let her use the item entirely on her own anyway. 

She actually wanted the Bratz ice cream maker which is in the $40 range and has horrible reviews.  After reading the reviews on this and other units and considering the price ranges for this and other units, decided this would would be a reasonable one to start with.  I purchased this item on ebay for $28.  Considering the price I did not expect top of the line quality, which it is not.  But I consider it a decent ice cream maker.  She LOVES IT.

The unit is plastic, has a metal drum that does require at least 24 hours in the freezer.  Instructions and assembly are simple.  Ice cream takes appx. 25 minutes to make.  This makes soft serve ice cream.  There is a lever for dispensing the soft serve, does not dispense continuously since it is actually being pushed out with each turn of the paddle so you can't make an actual ice cream cone like an ice cream shop.  My kids dispensed in coffee mugs and ate with a spoon, and they loved dispensing it themselves even though it comes out in clumps.  Although it makes soft serve the remaining ice cream can be put in a container and frozen.   They were so proud to serve their homemade ice cream.

The quality of the ice cream was good, but I have had better.