Best Kids Gadgets and Toys for 2013: 2014-03-30

Saturday, April 5, 2014

What is a good quality toy for a toddler girl that she can pass down to her kids one day?

Deedee

When my brother was a kid, he always got Tonka trucks for Christmas and my Dad made him take really good care of them so that he could pass them down to his son one day. And he did. He's 32 years old now and has given the trucks to his new son. So my Dad wants all his grandkids to be able to do the same thing. So he's been buying his grandson's really nice pedal tractors for Christmas so that they can save them and give them to their kids (and they're going to be worth a ton of money one day). But he hasn't been able to figure out what to do for their girls. What can he get for them that they can play with now (gently) and take good care of for the future so that they can pass them down to their own daughters one day? Anyone have any ideas?

Answer
A Steiff bear seems the way to go. Or how about the precise same thing you get the boys, gender equality and all that. But Steiff bears are nice, I think any kid will be able to feel the quality and realise it is an important toy to keep through time.

Have a look! http://www.steiffteddybears.co.uk

What are good toys for kids under 4?

freebird31

examples appreciated!

Answer
I love Montessori stuff...it tends to be high quality, and keeps the kids entertained for a long time! Kids under four, especially, really like to do "real life" stuff...like helping mommy and daddy clean up. So if you can get them child sized (and safe) cleaning tools and supplies, they are usually thrilled! Most Montessori sites sell all of these items in their "practical life" section. They also like the practical life sets that let them practice pouring, spooning, etc. Try Montessori n Such or Montessori Services online.

Other toys that have been popular in my house (I have a 2, 4, and 5 year old) are:
- a big rubbermaid container (18 to 32 gallons) filled with pinto beans, cups, etc. They can play forever in there like they are at the beach! I recommend putting a big sheet underneath so it is easy to clean up the beans...some will spill out no matter how neat the child is.
- a marble run...we have the Marbulous brand from Lakeshore Learning and all three of my kids love it and play with it often. This is only good if you are with the kids or you know they aren't going to put the marbles in their mouths.
- train sets. We like the GeoTrax stuff by Fisher Price. I don't always have it out, but every now and then we set it up on the living room floor and all three kids will play with it for DAYS.
- a folding, portable slide. We have on by Step2 and it was one of our best purchases ever. We put it in the living room on rainy days, and in the yard on nice days. It is easy to move around and the kids have so much fun with it.
- We also love Playmobil. They have so many cool sets and my kids love the creativity built into each set. Lots of little parts, so you have to sure that your kids are safe with that, but they are so much fun and you can get whatever your kids are into. Animals, pirates, castles, whatever!
- Crafts! Playdough, moon sand, painting, crayons & paper, etc. They loooove all that!

Hope that helps.
-

what will the must have kids toys be this christmas?

peter

id like to know what you guys think the must have kids christmas presents will be this year?
thanks to all that take the time to answer.im in the uk so was hoping to see what was popular in other countries.with internet shopping i was hoping to surprise the kids with something fun for them that maybe isnt well known at home

Answer
Hi

Looking at what various sites are suggesting I think we are going to see the following being very popular this year:

Calico Critters Townhouse
Cuponk
Disney Princess and Me
Toy Story 3 Landfill Play Set
Fast Lane Wild Fire Monster Truck
Big Foot the Monster
Leapster Explorer
Loopz
Minotaurus
Monster High Doll Set
NERF N-Strike Stampede ECS Blaster
My Pillow Pets
Sing-A-Ma-Jigs
Squinkies
Tomica Hypercity Mega Station Set

Hope that helps?

Take care

Paul

christmas toys for my kids?

Jhoanne

I am going to get the toys for my kids. since we are going to a roughttime we are going to get free from toys for tots. Can i go alone there *(they already have my info). or do i need to take my children. they are 12,9.7,11 years old. I don't want them to fell bad if they are getting free staff.

Answer
I don't think your kids need to go with you. They should have the information on all your children and have some things put aside for them already.

I don't see a reason for the kids to have to come. It might be better for them not to because like you said they may feel embarrassed, and it will ruin the surprise.

You shouldn't feel embarrassed lots of people are having a hard time this Christmas. I wish you the best for the new year and happy holidays.

what can a 8 yr old boy do for a winter birthday?

frogger

my son will be 8 in dec and we never seem to have a good party planned out. we cant spend a lot of money considering i just had aother boy.....any ideas?

Answer
I have kids with late November and December birthdays, so I feel your pain! Try these ideas.... bowling, movies, arcade, batting cages or chuck e cheese. Bake your own cake, hand out capri sun for drinks and if you hand out gift bags, fill it with a small toy, candy (will go on sale after Halloween) or popcorn. You can also throw a gross happy "barfday" party at home. You can get disgusting recipes online, make a green punch and use gummy worms in the cake. Make boogers on a stick by heating up cheeze whiz, adding green food color and dipping pretzel sticks in it...let it cool in the fridge and right before the party set it on the table. You can have popcorn mixed with gummy worms, chocolate pudding (use your imagination), etc.....the kids love it and the parent marvel at how disgustingly creative you are. For prizes you can hand out fake vomit, squishy eyeballs or any age appropriate gag gift! Good luck!!

Does anyone have an 8-yr-old? I need ideas!?

Angelia

I provide home day care for babies and preschoolers. I agreed at the last minute to watch two children tommorow that are 5 and 8. I don't have much for the 8-yr-old to do. The only thing that I can think of is the Playstation! I don't even have movies that are appropriate for his age! My son is one! I need some ideas...The kids will be here for ten and a half hours!

Answer
The eight year old can color and build puzzles. He can play with cars. As far as movies, just turn the TV to PBS kids if it's before about 10 or 11 AM. Noggin has some stuff on in the daytime that he might like, if you get that channel. And there's always cartoon network.
Have him help you make a cake or a batch of cookies while the younger ones take a nap. See if he has any homework that his mother would like to see get done, and provide him with an area to work on it. Give him some old magazines, construction paper, posterboard, paints and found objects to make a collage with. Have him make a Christmas card for his mother. Give him an old shoebox and some cardboard and paints and googly eyes, and let him build a pet rock and a house for it.
You can also encourage his mother to have him bring a few toys, books and/or puzzles of his own to keep him amused.

Friday, April 4, 2014

Old 90s Educational Game for PC?

John M

All I can remember was there was a short kid, maybe had a hat on, has some sort of electrical gun or something, and seemed to be stuck in a science lab at night. You had to solve riddles. That's about all I can remember! Thanks....

Answer
had a hat on? probably one of the Super Solvers games
either Midnight Rescue
or Gizmos&Gadgets

What are some good computer games for kids that involve math and logic?

Dustin Pad

My older kid played "Zoombinis: Logical Journey" (but the program won't run in Windows 8). Anything similar would be great for my 7 year old.

Answer
I used to play a lot of games by The Learning Company and Humongous Entertainment.

The learning company had many great educational games like:
*ClueFinders (A series which uses a lot of maths and logic skills)
*Gizmos and Gadgets (Get parts to build vehicles to race against the evil villain)
*Outnumbered (same series as Gizmos and Gadgets)
*Treasure series (cove, galaxy, mountain, math storm)

Humongous Entertainment had a lot of problem solving games that were really fun and educational at the same time. Click and point basically.
*Putt Putt
*Pajama Sam
*Spy Fox
*Freddi Fish

I am not too sure if these games work on the newer computers but you can definitely get the Humongous Entertainment games to work using SCUMMVM (an emulator that allows a lot of old games to be played_

Cognitive Table Top Toy for School Age Children- ANY IDEAS?

Pammyla

I need a creative idea for a cognitive table top toy. In other words..i need a game which involves any sort of subject that will catch attention to school age(4-12 yrs). I need as many ideas as possible. ;)

Answer
Ok..you say Cognitive Games--and MANY ideas!!!
I've copied a few ideas from my website that is dedicated to school-age care professionals. The following are from the "Table Top Games and Literacy Threads" ...

WHY?...â¦.BECAUSE
Each person writes down a question beginning with âWhyâ
Example, Why do cats meow?
Fold the top over to hide the question, and pass it the next person-- who without looking at the question-- writes an answer starting with âBecauseâ (for example, Because I hate broccoli!) Then read out all the questions and answers. Why do cats meow? Because I hate broccoli!

HANG MAN FOR KIDS WHO CANâT SPELL!
Most people know how to play the traditional version of Hangman. This is for children who canât yet spell!
Play it like 20 Questions. Think of something (like you would for 20 questions) and have your partner think of âyes-or-no questionsâ to guess what it is. Each time there is a no answer-- add another part to the Hangman.
You may find the older kids also like this version!!!

BEAT THAT! ......Dice Game for Age: 5 to adult
Skills: Number, Place value, Strategic thinking
Need: 2 dice (up to 7 dice for older players)
Paper and pencil for scoring
How to play...
Roll the dice and put them in order to make the highest number possible. If you roll a 4 and an 6, for example, your best answer would be 64. Using 3 dice, a roll of 3, 5 and 2 should give you 532, and so on. Write down your answer, pass the dice, and challenge the next player to âBeat That!â
Play in rounds and assign a winner to each round.
For a change, try making the smallest number possible! This is a great game for reinforcing the concept of place value. If you are playing with younger children, explain your reasoning out loud and encourage them to do the same

Silent Hangman
Need: Flip Chart or board and marker or pen.
Like original hangman, children guess the mystery word; however, they are not allowed to speak while trying to find out the letters. This game is a good way to settle children down. When a child wants to guess a letter they must draw the letter in the air with an invisible pen. Caregiver or leader will then write it in if it is correct--- or write it to the side if not. The caregiver or leader should also not be able to talk.

Donât Forget Table Games of:
Mad-libs (done with enthusiasm), Cross-word puzzles, Word Games, Word Search, Hangman...
Board Games of: Boggle, Scrabble, Scrabble Jr., Nerdy Wordy, Banangrams. Balderdash, Staff made Jeopardy (tic-tac-toe style). Taboo
Traditional Bingo and for younger children â
Bingo using pictures (a great variety of themes may be downloaded at: http://www.dltk-cards.com/bingo/index.htm
also Uno as mentioned above.

What are some toys that kids of all ages can play with?

What are some toys that kids ages 6-12 can play with together? There is also a 1 1/2 year old. Preferably something that can be played with outside and at least 4 or 5 kids can play with at a time or take turns playing. Something the 1 1/2 year old would enjoy too if you can possibly think of anything to fit with that age. We are already buying a slipping slide and sand toys. Does anyone else have any suggestions? Something that isn't very expensive either. Thanks.

Answer
these are things my kids play with and they are a girl 6 and boy 3.

soccer ball

jr football or foam one might be better

Frisbee

a rubber ball for playing kick ball with bases. you can make ur own bases and the dollar tree did carry them

jump ropes

kid size rakes

plastic t ball

paint, lots of paint and boxes or posters are 2 for a dollar at $ tree
Spray paint a big huge box, let them i mean, and make a play house outta it.

How bout a tent? If not that, they could make a fort using kit chairs and blankets and sheets and stuff

if you have a table, uno and other games without tiny pieces might be good. My daughter loves uno!

horse shoes is fun too, they make them mobile kinds so you can bring them in when your done with them

kites are a $ at the $ tree too

who doesnt like bubbles or bubble blowers? You can get an awesome bubble blower at wal mart for not too much like 10 or 15 dollars and its GREAT LOADS OF FUN

potting soil and seeds is fun too

dont forget the boom box, gotta have tunes outside right?

I hope this helps it was just off the top of my head!

Traveling with a toddler?

hellothere

My son is 2 1/2 years old. He still sleeps in a crib, but is small for a portable crib. We would like to take him to the beach this summer. But what should I do about the sleeping? I know he could sleep in my bed, but I would like him to sleep in his own. Are there any good traveling beds for toddlers? Any suggestion?

Answer
You can get toddler air beds with attached sleeping bag. They are usually about Â£30ish, and come with different designs that I'm sure your son would love (cars, toy story ect..)
I advise you get an electronic pump though, as blowing them up by mouth can be a bloody nightmare!

Toddler playing with guns?

Jessica Da

My 2 1/2 yr old wants to play with gun toys. I'm not sure how he developed an interest in them (he watches only non-violent cartoons like Dora the Explorer, Blues Clues, etc). Perhaps he picked it up from a kid at his daycare/preschool. Anyway, he makes guns out of anything -- he'll hold an L-shaped puzzle piece as a gun and say "bang bang" for example.

Now that it is summer, and hot outside, some of the neighborhood kids are playing with water guns...My son desperately wants to participate, but I am uncertain as to how I feel about it all. One one hand, I don't want to promote violence or make him think its okay to use weapons against other kids... On the other hand, its just water!!

Parents -- do you let your kids play with water guns or toy guns? Why or why not? I just don't know what to do about this situation with my toddler.

Answer
I don't see anything wrong with it, especially water guns in the summer. It can help build imagination. He's only 2 1/2, so he might not understand, but make sure you talk to him about the dangers real guns impose and that toy guns are fine, but real guns are not. If you guys keep a gun in the house for hunting/protection, make sure it's locked up where he has no chance of getting it, of course. It doesn't hurt to let him play with toy guns, but as he gets older, talking to him about the dangers a real gun can have will help make him aware that some things you just don't play with.

We played with guns when we were kids and didn't grow up to be homicidal, LOL. My dad had a rifle he kept locked up, and we knew about it but never touched it because my parents told us it was real and it can hurt/kill others.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

what can i do with 4 kids ages 10 months-3?

isabellau

I have 2 kids of my own- a 10 month old and a 2 year old, and i babysit 2 little girls who are 20 months and 3, 5 days a week. It's winter so theres not much we can do. I have asked the girls mom to bring boots so we can go to the park, but she says she has no boots for the 20 month old, and Id feel kinda bad to take 4 kids to the park and just make the 20 month old sit in the stroller while the others played. The 20 month old is pretty behind, so she doesnt do much. I try to do crafts with the 2 big kids when my youngest takes her nap- but that leaves the 20 month old alone (she doesnt do anything.. she will just stand around chewing on toys no matter what i try to get her to do). They do independent play and because they get here so early in the morning, I usually let them watch a movie before breakfast. My house isnt huge, and they make a huge mess of the livng room within minutes. I often let them play in my sons bedroom, but that gets trashed and Im pregnant so i usually dont have enough enegery to clean the entire house every night just for it to get trashed again 12 hours later. any ideas on whats fun for kids this age to do? we do read stories and lots of colouring. . im.clueless otherwise.

Answer
There really isn't a whole lot you can do with those kids while being pregnant. I think you're doing great. Crafts, coloring, playing with toys, it's really all you can do with kids at such a young age. I used to play matching games with my nephew, we'd watch cartoons, run around the place, build little forts. Or dance. You could introduce the kids to that if you haven't already, play some fun music and teach them how to dance around and have fun. My nephew and baby cousins would do that for a looong time after they got into it and would dance together. it was fun and super cute.

Help - my kids aged 5 and 3 fight all the time?

Caro

I have a 5yo son and almost 4yo daughter. Ever since my daughter was born my son has been jealous and not nice to her. It is driving me to my wits end as they fight so much I just can't handle it. I have tried everything, even been to a child psychologist and done a positive parenting program but I end up losing my patience with them as it happens so many times during the day. I have tried ignoring, time out, smacking, talking calmly, removing toys or priviliges but nothing has stopped it. I feel so disappointed with myself as a mother as all I want is happy kids and most of the time I feel stressed out or angry. It's awful. The oldest is very full on and loud and they both antagonise each other all the time. I don't live near any family so don't have any support in that way. Any useful suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Answer
Two of my brothers were like this as children. Siblings are in a very combative situation, and they've both found they get lots of your attention when they attack each other.

They may also be happy with the situation between them. Does either of them seem distressed or like the underdog? From your question it seems like they're both participants in the fights. Maybe they're not going to stop until they're ready.

You need a strategy to deal with that. (You may also need earplugs and the hide of a rhino.)

Do they have lots of activity and outside play? Children who are indoors most of the time have no outlet for their energy and can become aggressive. If they don't, you need to try and schedule time every day for a family walk, or a visit to a playground, if you don't have a yard. Buy some simple toys like bats and balls, a frisbee and a skipping rope, and make sure they get used every day.

Do they play with other children? Maybe they're just bored with each other. You could allow them to have friends over or visit friends as long as they aren't mean to each other during the visit. As you don't have family close by, make friends with some of the other parents at school or nursery. They may be having similar problems!

For behaviour at home, why not sit down and make a list of the things you want to happen? Keep feelings out of it - not "I want happy kids" but "I want mealtimes and drives in the car to be quiet with no arguments going on."

Then write down some ideas for how that could work. Keep them very simple and practical, aimed to achieving what you want, which is to limit arguments and fights. In reality you're not going to manage this all the time, so focus on the situations where fights really irritate or upset you.

For instance "One of the children will sit in front with me in the car while the other sits in the back. I decide which sits where."

Or "The first person to say something nasty at the table will go to their room immediately and stay there until I say they can come down."

Once you've sorted out what you want to happen and what the consequences of not doing so will be, sit down with the children and tell them that you don't like them fighting because it makes you unhappy, so you've decided that in future they mustn't fight at these times and these situations. Keep it simple, and tell them what you want and what will happen if they don't do it.

Then you need to be very consistent and apply your simple rules all the time. Small children need consistency, but the hardest part is to stick to it even when they try to get around you.

My brothers, by the way, grew up to be happy young men, good friends and good fathers.

Best of luck!

Gifts for a 14 year old girl?

Kate

What are some things on the market this year that a 14 year old girl would want. Please don't say makeup or a laptop whatnot, please be specific like with brands of the cool new toys or gadgets of 2012! (She's really mature for her age, but she also isn't afraid to play with young kid toys because they're fun!)

Thanks!

Answer
Maybe you shud geet something like nah i mean? like some dat' she be nah i mean? word nah i mean maybe a thing dat' be all flash and nah i mean? Word nah i mean?

What kind of car should I get?

ScorpioChi

So, my parents are getting me a car. With that being said, I do work and I will be paying the car payments including for gas and car mechanical failures. I am 16 and this is NOT my first car. Yes, my parents don't mind spending money, etc. on me obviously and I was just wondering from your opinion - what kind of car I should get or what do you think is better.

*NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT HOW YOU SAY RICH KID AND PARENTS WHO WILL DO ANYTHING FOR THEIR KID, ETC. THAT'S VERY RUDE!* (Yes, I said it in all caps haha!)

I was looking at these cars:
2012 Chevy Volt
2012 Hyundai Tucson
2012 Hyundai Sonata
2012 Cadillac SRX
2012 BMW X6M
2012 Porsche Cayenne
2012 Porsche Panamera
2011 BMW M3
2012 Mercedes Benz CLS 63 AMG
2012 Lexus IS F

MY OPINION:
I have close enough in money to afford a Porsche Panamera & Porsche Cayenne because I have been modeling and acting and I have been saving up with that money since I was 10 when I started. I still do modeling and acting but, little of it now since booking have been slow so I got myself a job at a local restaurant and at a lawyers office. I am home schooled so I have enough time to work, etc.

HERE'S WHERE YOU COME IN:
For value and performance overall, especially for a car that I would like to keep for years from now, what car should I get?

I KNOW: You are going to say also, what is she doing driving a high performance, luxury or everyday car if she doesn't even know how to drive and she is just 16. In my state, the driving age is 14. I have never been involved in a car accident, never caused one and have never gotten any points taken off my license. I know how distracting it is to have friends in the car as my friend has died from that fatal accident but, I honestly don't drive with friends in the car. I only drive with family members in the car or on my own. No music. Just listening to that good old sound of car horns and the environment. (:

From your point of view, like I said, which is better? Please no negativity. Just answers. I know someone is going to put something negative on this post but, I did ask for an answer. I did not however ask for a mean one.

I hope you reply with what you think! Thanks! (:

*p.s. I know that I will have to go to driving school if I wanted to drive a high performance vehicle to know how to control the car, etc.* #JustSaying. (:
@mechanic_girl_C: Thanks for responding! (: I'll keep the Hyundai's in mind. ^_^
@iwastypingthat: Yes. No music seriously. (: Thanks for responding also! ^_^ I'll keep what you mentioned in mind about resale and safety with those cars.
@Raff: Thanks for responding! (: Ouch! That's off of my list for good. Haha yes, I do actually. ^_^
@apeweek: I've read through the information given on the volt and yes, it's reliable & very safe, etc. but I have come to the conclusion to just leave the volt off of my list. I did go down to test drive the Volt today and it's not really for me. It's safe, has the features but it also balls down to how much room is in the vehicle. It's great for someone who wants something small but I like to have a more space. (:
@GM Customer Svc: Thanks for the information on the SRX. (:

Answer
You should get a Chevy Volt. I'm sure this will make many readers scream, but hear me out. There is independent support for this position.
*
Consumers Reports has the Volt as one of their "recommended" cars. In fact the Volt is the ONLY recommended American car in the small car category. See link:
*
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/types/new-models-by-category.htm
*
The Volt in fact came in first place - beating every other car Consumer Reports tracks - in their Buyer Satisfaction survey. See link:
*
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-57334967-48/chevy-volt-scores-highest-satisfaction-rating-in-consumer-reports-survey/7
*
It also aced their first year reliability rankings. Note that Consumer Reports did not initially like the Volt - they trashed it in an article after the car first came out. But after testing it for a few months, they radically changed their opinion. This is the key - test drive one and see for yourself.
*
Volt got top 5-star scores in safety testing from both NHTSA and the Insurance Institute - see link (yes, recent "Volt fire" stories are sheer nonsense):
*
http://green.autoblog.com/2011/06/03/chevy-volt-earns-five-star-nhtsa-crash-rating-w-videos/
And
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/04/chevy-voly-nissan-leaf-crash-test-iihs-top-safety-pick/1
*
The Volt's little secret is that this is a wickedly fun-to-drive car, great acceleration, full of technological gadgets, and it attracts a lot of attention. Driving past gas stations is fun, too.
*
Plus - it's not even as expensive as most people assume. Depending on your driving pattern - and taking into account that electricity is much cheaper than gasoline - the total cost of ownership could even be cheaper than a comparable car. Below is a spreadsheet where you can input your own driving needs and see what kind of car is cheapest to drive:
*
http://www.squidoo.com/a-free-calculator-for-economy-hybrid-and-electric-cars
*
Yes, I own one. It's the best car I have ever owned. If you go with a Volt, be prepared for arguments with everybody. Do your research so you can answer your critics. This is a great car, the car of the future.

what do kid models do?

Starry Eye

i know have to be pretty but what do they do do they get paid is it free i'm going to the modeling industry so i waz curious.Do they travel and get to wear alot of pretty clothes.do they model in front of casting directors

Answer
They model kiddie things like clothes for kids, toys for kids, food for kids, etc. Of course they get paid.

http://keerok-photography.blogspot.com/2012/09/can-i-be-model.html

Where are good ideas for Christmas present for kids?

Jasmine

I have 4 neices/nephews from 3 to 10. Where's a good place to get ideas for gifts for Christmas? And is it better to buy online or fight the lines of Black Friday?

Answer
There are many lists put out by different toy stores, kids magazines,etc.

There is the Toys R Us Fabulous 15:
http://www.santaschristmascorner.com/toys-r-us-fabulous-15-toys-r-us-2012-holiday-hot-toy-list/

Also, K-Mart has it's own Fab 15 list:
http://www.santaschristmascorner.com/k-mart-top-15-christmas-toys-for-2012-part-1/

There are others, but I don't know the URLs off the top of my head.

As far as online vs black friday, I personally shop online. One, I don't like to get up early. Two, I don't like being trampled by people trying to get the 3 TVs for the special price. And Three, you will usually find bargains just as good or nearly as good online if you keep your eyes open.

i have a son aged 2 years, what sort of knowledge building toys can i buy for him ?

jay

I am living in Chennai, India, any knowledge building toys that makes the child involved and interested, which is availabel in india(if possible in Madras(new name Chennai) is what i am looking for. I am also looking for parental tips for my son aged 2 years and daughter aged 5 months.

Answer
The Lamaze Company makes excellent toys for infants, as does Baby Einstein. The Lamaze toys are great for sensory stimulation, which increases the infants vision and spatial awareness, attention span and motivates them to hold their heads up, roll over and want to reach and grab, etc.

Building toys are wonderful. My son always loved the basics: Lincoln logs (which are making a big comeback, now) and the Legos/Duplos. If your child is 2, he would be better off with just the Lincoln logs (made of wood and easier to put together, and not a choking hazard) or the larger Duplo blocks.

My son also loved Tinkertoys, but I think they may not sell those anymore, because they have sticks that may be considered hazardous.

Other toys that are great are puzzles, building blocks that don't have to be put together, just the colored, different shaped ones that your son can stack and build forts with. Those let him be creative and fun without making him stick to any kind of pattern.

You can find many, many things on Ebay! Lots of things you can't even find in stores any longer people will have on Ebay.

Other things I always encourage my students' parents to have on hand is plain paper and lots of crayons and markers. Let them draw and write and create. I don't like coloring books, because they limit their imaginations. Kids have very vivid imaginations, and they can create many magical things!

One word of parenting advice: whatever your child is doing, do it with him! He needs you to be an active parent, to help him see other ways of building, stacking, creating or just having fun. Otherwise, he won't learn as he plays, and he will just become isolated. Children need some alone time, but they need their parents, too. Even your daughter needs lots of interactive play time with you.

Have fun and don't be afraid to be silly with your kids! Every day should be a magical, fun day!

My twins that are now three years. love toys and dont share with any othe kids??

Nathalie A

I once bought my girl twin Alessandra a dora toy and my neice came over the house her cousin. Well i took them to the toy room and what Aless went for was the dora toy her cousin who is 2 yrs. wanted it too and there were like pulling it from each other i said share Aless and she just started to cry and wouldnt stop same with my boy twin Alexander i bought him a spiderman toy and he wouldnt share on his play date!! What should i do there driving me crazy!! help

Answer
Sharing is so hard at this age, especially if it is a toy they really love. Before you have friends over to play you might talk to them about how you would like them to behave and why it is important to share but also give them each a chance to pick one or two toys that they do not want to share and let those toys be put up for the play date. That way they feel they have a little control and know no one will harm their favourite toy. The more you can have them around other children the better. Next time they play at a friend's house you might point out how nice it was of that child to share his/her toys with them. Good luck, its a hard age!

Please name the newest board games for kids?

ages 8 - 10 years of age. These kids have a lot of toys so the latest thing on the market is my best bet. The games can be for boys or girls, but they are girls. Thanks for your help!

Answer
Several hundred board games for kids were released so far in 2010....

Here's the list:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/search/boardgame/page/1?advsearch=1&q=&include[designerid]=&include[publisherid]=&range[yearpublished][min]=2010&range[yearpublished][max]=2010&range[minage][max]=&range[numvoters][min]=&range[numweights][min]=&range[minplayers][max]=&range[maxplayers][min]=&range[playingtime][max]=&floatrange[avgrating][min]=&floatrange[avgrating][max]=&floatrange[avgweight][min]=&floatrange[avgweight][max]=&searchuser=quardlepleen&playerrangetype=normal&propertyids[0]=1041&B1=Submit

Are there going to be any toys giveaways for christmas 2010 ?

lonnie

I will like to know of all the places to sign up to receive toy giveaways for my kids this christmas. because im out off work and tring to do the best i can with all the bill and rent

Answer
There are toy giveaways every year in our town. Check out organizations online like "Angel Tree" and "Toys for Tots" - I'm sure they will have information on how you can get on their lists. I always give to those organizations - I know what it felt like as a kid to not have anything for Christmas sometimes. I hope you can get in touch with them. Good luck and whatever happens, a Merry Christmas to you and your family. :)

Here is the Toys for Tots website - if you click on where it says "Request Toys" it will let you find a place to request in your area:
http://toysfortots.org/

And here is information for the Angel Tree organization - you may want to get in contact with your local Salvation Army to find out more:
http://charity.lovetoknow.com/Angel_Tree_Charity

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Indoor activities for kids?

Sadie

So we live in Dallas Texas and it is sooooo HOT! So hot that my kids dont want to go out and play. So I would like some suggestions on activities that we can do indoors. In our home and anywhere else.
We have three boys. Ages 4,2 & 5 months.
And I know they get bored inside all day so help! :-)
Thanks and God Bless

Answer
Maybe let them play in the tub in cool water with toys and or tub crayons
Art coloring cutting gluing
movies
story time
Let them help you make lunch
Build fortes
im going to leave you a link :0)
hope I could help a little

Good building blocks to make towers?

Daniel

What would be a good inexpensive block system to use to build tower sculptures etc. ?
Im looking for something interlocking such as LEGOs but less expensive and easy to find in large quantities

Answer
when i was a kid, we had some blocks that were cut off the bottoms of fence pickets, to make the pickets shorter. the blocks were twice as long as they were wide, and of normal fence picket thickness - around 3/4 of an inch. I've never seen them for sale anywhere, but they got used more than any store bought blocks that i've ever seen. Interestingly, my younger sister never played with them -- only the boys did. By stacking them 2x2 on their sides, we could make a tower that reached nearly to the ceiling. They were sort of like Jenga blocks, but larger -- 3 1/2 x 7 inches or so. When our daughter was born, I looked for something that i could make them out of, but when i realized that it's a boy's toy, not a girls toy, i dropped the idea.

What are the most wanted video games and toys for 2011 holidays?

Daniel

Answer
I am sure most kids want Battlefield 3.

One of the sleeper toys for 3 to 8 year olds is Rokenbok. It is a building set with RC machines. A combination of Legos, train sets, rc machines and tinker toys. Very fun and my kids play for hours.

What are the best space related toys for kids for 2011?

sunny

Answer
Define best? If you're looking for shopping suggestions, how about Lego Star Wars?

Toys! Toys! Toys!`?

Lucovia

Hey all you smartshoppers and gift-givers, list me all the toys that are appropriate for 4 year old boys. They have to be educational and nonviolent. Name the merchant also if you know. Christmas is coming up and I have to get my nephew gifts!!!!
thanks for your help.

Answer
Brand names like Leap Frog (educational), Legos, especially the themed versions, (creativity), and books.
Toys R Us or any chain Book Store will be able to help.

Building toys were my kids favorite. They may not be under the title of "Educational", but it taught them how to read maps/follow directions when buiding the objects, and it taught them to think independantly when they wanted to create something new.

Any good tips about how to keep the house clean with 3 kids UNDER 4?

sobusy

I feel overwhelmed everyday ! My house is dirty , unorganized,full of toys&toys parts&books everywhere and I clean all day . I have a 4 yr old,3 yr old and 20 month old and everyday they make the house looking like after a hurricane. I believe play and reading to them is important so I use a part of my time for that,the rest for cooking (from scratch) , laundry, and cleaning. I take about 30 min for myself when I put them down for a nap but that's all .I never catch up with work and my house is never clean. Don't give me the link to flylady.com , it does not work for me as I have 3 under 4 . Some say to clean at night after I put them to bed, but at that time I am exhausted too. They are helping but they are still too young . The mess happens while I am working (from home about 30 min day ) or in the kitchen cooking or while I change the diaper , the other 2 make mess. I can't afford to pay a housekeeper and don't have any family to help. How do you do it moms with children under 5?

Answer
I have three kids as well and at one point had three under 4 years also.

I picked up in the main room several times a day and had them help as best I could. I also got rid of lots of their little toys with parts. We waited on puzzles for a while and waited on blocks for a while. I couldn't handle having them spread all over the house the whole time.

I feel your anxiety. I am living it too. I just do the best I can with one room at a time. I feel most of the time like I pick up the same things from the same places over and over and over again. I sweep the dining room and kitchen probably three times a day. It's crazy!!

The best advice I can give is to give yourself one room to keep clean and when you are stressed out, go there and enjoy the serenity. Another tip is to have an easy place to put all the toys in the room where they always tend to end up. If your kids don't want to play in their rooms with their toys because that is not where you are, then get a toy box or a large bin and keep it in the room where they play the most. That way when you want to quickly clean up you can put it all in there and not have to carry things from room to room. We have a toy box in our living room and we just throw everything in there a couple of times per day. I organize their toy box about two or three times per month.

Also, encourage them at an early age to begin picking up between activities. After one activity gets done, work on picking it up together before you get something else out.

I have found that this is my lot in life. My house looks like I am raising kids. I tell people that our family is in the business of raising good kids so sometimes other things get put aside.

Sounds like you are a great mommy!! I am sure you hear this often, but someday you will miss all the mess of the little ones and long for the extreme amount of attention they require now. All too soon they will be in school and then gone. I just sent my first one to Kindergarten this year. WOW!!! Can't believe it.

Good luck. Happy Thanksgiving!

My 4 year old doesnt like to listen?

Kym

My daughter is 4 years old and refuse to listen to anything I have to say her behaviour is uncontrollable and is leaving me in tears I'm at my wits end and have tried everything possible If I ask her to eat she'll eat but then will demand treats if she doesn't get a treat she throws a tantrum her toys get launched around the house clothes are dragged out of there wardrobes if our dog is in her way she will kick him she will punch pinch slap bite and kick me. If where out in a shop she will run stright to the sweet section and demand every item of chocolate and sweet treat she can hold if I say no or put a couple things back she will throw herself down on the floor throw things all over the shop floor and scream as loud as possible Basically her mind is constantly revolving around sweet treats and is sugar mad she's very demanding and likes to get her own way its getting to the point where I dernt say no to her for fear she will have a tantrum and have a lack of disrespect for not only our home but her toys clothes pet and anything around her in her waysI have tried giving her time out on the step explaining to her why she is there and returning her until she has completed her 4 minutes I have tried putting her in her own room I have tried removing her toys I have tried shouting and i have even tired throwing myself down on the floor screaming I just don't know what to do next I have taken her to the doctors because I thought she might have ADHD like her bio father or autism and I stressed to the doctor the seriousness of the matter and how she is hurting herself by throwing theses tantrums and they just said they can't test her until she's 5 and referred me to our health visitor who then referred me to someone else to help me manage her behaviour they gave me a few tips to set a routine and managing her behaviour and I did and things worked fine for a month or so and she just slowly slipped back to her old ways She's still in a routine and sometimes has good days...

Answer
I have four year old twin girls. I feel your pain. Be firm. You are the mom. You make the rules. If she wants to throw a fit and start acting up. That's fine. I know it sounds silly but just ignore her. Make sure there is nothing in the area that can seriously hurt her and then leave her to it. She will run out of steam. She will not seriously hurt herself and she will eventually realize that this behaviour no longer works. As for her hurting the dog. That needs to be stopped before the dog fears her. Sit her down and explain that when she hurts the dog she is making the dog lose his trust in her and if he doesn't trust her he may bite her, and if he starts biting her then he can no longer live at your house. The most important thing to remember is that its ok to let her cry. If she is going to act like that you should not be rewarding her. Next time you take her shopping explain to her in the car before you get there that if she is good and behaves the way you would like her to then she can pick one treat. If at any point she is bad or misbehaves then no treat, spend the car ride home explaining to her what she did right and what she did wrong. If she didn't get a treat tell her next time she can try again to be a good girl. Again be firm. If you start down this path there will be hard days but it is beyond worth it.

My girls realized early on that mommy doesn't like bad girls. Mommy cant see girls that are being bad. It is easier with two kids but it also works if you have a dog. If she is throwing a fit turn your back on her and play with the dog,(be really animated) tell the dog what a good dog it is, and tell it as a reward for being such a good dog he can have a treat. Let your daughters tantrum run its course and let her catch her breath and then she has to come to you. She will. My girls in total threw half a dozen tantrums and now they are angels. they clean their room, set the table and use manners (please, thank you, may I be excused from the table?) How many four year old kids do you know ask to be excused from the table?

Another thing. Don't be embarrassed by her having a fit in a store. Most people that are out shopping either don't care whats going on or are parents and can sympathize. I took my girls to wal-mart with a friend of mine so I had one and she had one. figures the one my friend had decided that since she couldn't see me it would be a good time to test her boundary's. In the middle of the store she starts thrashing about in the cart screaming at the top of her lungs "help I don't know this lady, she took me from my mommy, why did you steal me?" that got everyone's attention. I was livid. I walked up behind her and asked very calmly who she was speaking to like that. I guess she was expecting someone else. I asked my friend if she would mind taking my other daughter for a bit while i took the other one out to the car to calm down. we had a serious chat in the car about what the consequences could have been from her actions. I asked her is she wanted mommys friend to go to jail. and how she would feel if someone said mean things about her that got her in trouble like that. we also discussed what she needed to do to make things right inside the store. when she finally calmed down i took her back inside and made her apologize for her behaviour to EVERYONE in the store staff and customer. she had to sit down with my friend and talk about her actions and she had to decide her own punishment. If it wasn't severe enough we told her to keep thinking. she finally decided on helping me bake an "im sorry" cake for my friend and losing the right to play with toys for the rest for the weekend. It may seem harsh but kidnapping charges are also pretty harsh. Thank god I walked up behind her before anyone called the police.

Hope this helps.

My almost 5 year old drives me crazy?

Supermommy

We can't get thru a meal or a store trip without him driving me up the wall. At the table he can't just eat his food. He will fidget all over the place run his silverware all over the table, make noises and since he moves all over he spills all over and makes a huge mess and it takes him forever. You have to continue to tell him over and over eat eat eat. It drives me crazy and everyone else crazy. He is like this most of the time. Doesn't focus you have to tell him the same things over and over. I realize he is only 5 but he should be able to follow some directions. For instance in the morning I get him up and get his clothes out and tell him to get dressed he will take all his clothes off and then be running around or it will take him 10 mins to get 1 sock on. His doctor said he thinks he has ADHD but that he is too young for meds. I'm afraid when he starts kindergarten he will be behind his class because everyone will be listening to the teacher and he will be running around or fidgeting at his desk coloring on it or something! What can I do to get him to focus and listen!?!?! HELP
I have a 3.5 yr old and she does not fidget like he does. She is not good ALL the time but she is not such a handful and listens better than he does.

Answer
Discipline and patience.

Kids don't remember what you tell them. Some might. But for the most part, they need more incentive. Send him to timeout when he doesn't obey.

Some things that are just annoying, or if he takes a little longer to do something but is working on it, you need patience.

With my 3 and 4 year olds, I often do, "I want you at the top of the stairs by the count of 8 or you can't play with your favorite toy today" etc when they get really distracted and aren't listening. For bad table manners, they have to leave the table or lose their flatware (after a warning of what is coming of course).

The discipline with consequences might seem mean. But what would be even meaner would be not disciplining him and having him have a harder time his entire life. Listening is hard and it is a habit children need to learn. Some are better at it than others. Yes, if he is AHDH, there are meds. But if it is behavioral, it would be better to fix it instead of meds.

Also, I've found that being very clear about what I want helps immensely when the kids start doing stuff on their own at 2 or 3. At almost 5 they don't seem to need it as much but if your kid has difficulties or needs more practice following directions it might.

Not "Go to the bathroom". But, "open the door, go into the bathroom, pee in the toilet, pull up your pants, wash your hands." Or not, "get dressed", but "Take off your shirt and pants, now put on your new shirt and your new pants and your socks".

Another thing I do with my impulsive 4.5 year old. I catch him before he does something bad when he is just about to do it. I remind him not to and remind him why he shouldn't do it. Then when he refrains from doing it, I praise him. He was really impulsive when he came to us a year and a half ago and drove everyone else up the wall but when I spent enough time with him and could catch him to prevent him from doing the impulsive behaviors, he would be so proud and try really really hard to pay attention to what he was doing and think before he acted.

My kids I think the issue was just a lack of discipline coupled with other emotional stuff. However they were concerned about AHDH for the oldest boy and even after your son is medicated so it is easier for him to pay attention, he will still have to learn how to do it and make it a habit.

How do you safely disinfect kid toys?

vgibson81

I have 3 babies that I take care of and 4 older kids as well, How do I safely disinfect the toys and how often should I do it?

Answer
Definitely use bleach water. One of my teaching classes was about communicable disease and they said we had to use bleach water. You only need about a capful or two for a whole gallon. Don't make it too strong or it will bleach your clothes or carpets.

Go to the dollar store and get some of the mesh laundry bags, preferably white. These bags have the holes in them so the bleach water gets in, but it makes you get more toys done quicker. Also have a plastic bin for the bleach water.

Lay the toys out on towels to dry. We would put down a couple of shower curtains and then would put some towels on top. They'd be dry the next day.

How should I put toys inside a balloon?

c�

I'm going to my mom's work tomorrow. There are bunches of kids there and I wanted to put a few toys and stuff into a normal latex balloon. Then I plan on blowing it up (with my own breath, not helium). How should I put the toys inside the balloon? Toys first, or breath first?
The toys are just little things like lip gloss tubes and snakes and little things like that.
How DO you put toys in a balloon?

Answer
The toys should not have any sharp edges or points on them, of coarse. I suggest you cut off the top of a water bottle to make a funnel, stretch the mouthpiece of the balloon over the bottle opening, and drop the toy in that way. Then inflate the balloon preferably with an electric inflator instead of using your breath so bacteria won't come in contact with the toy. If the bottle opening is too small, put the toy in the toe of discarded panty hose and stuff it through the neck of the balloon. (The panty hose should be a tunnel or tube instead of a sack). Once the toy is in the balloon, slip the hosiery out and inflate. Reason is to avoid damaging the balloon so it wouldn't burst upon inflation.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Wish your kids already knew?

kidsmom3

Does anyone else wish that their 8 and 9 year old kids already knew that the easter bunny and toothfairy didn't exist, maybe Santa too, it would save so much time, effort and money than having a closet full of toys that were only used for a couple of months, they could choose exactly what they want.

Answer
Your kids are at the age now, they will soon figure it out! As far as all those toys in the closet go, donate them to Goodwill or some less fortunate children. Let your children play a part in this as well.

Father of 2, been there done that

Kids Furniture.Children's Toys.?

Mikah

Hello I am moving and I don't have any furniture for my 3 Kids. I want to surprise them with something new. I studied their personality and style and i have a great idea. could someone give me some great sites that have children furniture sets. and I also want to get them some new toys what are the kinds of toys That's they should be playing with or into. Their ages are below and thanks for the help.
Do you think 5 is too young for a Playstation system?

Moriah~ she is 2yrs
Tramayne (trey)- 5yrs
Jaleigha(jay Jay)-9 yrs

Answer
Hello,

Wow, that's great you want to get your kids some new stuff! I'm sure they'll be really excited.

This site has the best toys, and they're all organized by age, etc. I would take a look there.

http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=81139&U=272547&M=12666

Good Luck with the move!

Jessica

ps. In my opinion, 5 is probably too young for a playstation, just because there are so many other things that s/he could be doing. But, it's not for me to judge, and there are probably lots of 5 year olds who happily play with playstations.

Monday, March 31, 2014

Rate Sims 2 Expansion packs?

Chayvon

I want to go get another Sims 2 expansion pack. I already have nightlife. I was going to get university but it seems like some people say its a little boring. Could u please rate ur sims 2 expansin packs and why u rated them that way? Now im really torn between seasons and open for business? i'm buying two so i will pick the two with the best rates. thanks. U dont have to rate nightlife but if u want to u can.

Answer
I would rank Seasons as the top choice, because of the awesome weather effects, gardening, 6 new careers, and lots of little goodies (like being able to store leftovers in the fridge). The clothes and new hairstyles aren't too bad, either. The seasons will affect your Sims every single day of their lives, and unlike OFB, it blends well with normal gameplay. It's incredibly fun, IMHO.

I would rank Nightlife second.

University can get boring, but there are many safe game modifications out there which will speed up the college "years" and make them easier to bear. It adds many new careers which are high-paying, and cool objects like the drum set and the guitar. Plus, the Sims can have two more Wants and can lock two once they graduate.

Pets is nice, but it adds very little other than the pets themselves and all the objects and interactions related to them. If you really, desperately want pets for your Sims, go for this one. It's also kind of glitchy, but you can just d/l the patch.

I wouldn't recommend Open for Business because unless you enjoy having to deal with running businesses with needy employees and demanding customers, it really just doesn't show itself much during regular gameplay (when you're playing families on residential lots). In other words, it's kind of its own little side game. It makes the Sims almost into a "Tycoon"-type game. It does include some cool objects like new kids' toys and robots, but these can only be made if your Sims spend a long time gaining "badges". If you like a challenge, this is a good one to consider.

my daughter is five, what play kitchens do you recommend for her age group?

Momof2

Answer
Cook ân Learn Interactive Kitchen which has interactive foods that work with the kitchen to help your kids learn while using imaginative play.

Step2 also has some nice kitchens in their lifestyle collection depending on how big you want to go try the Party Time Kitchen, Dream Kitchen or the Grand Walk In Kitchen. The Grand was actually one of the top rated toys for kids this holiday up here in Canada. They all are very nice kitchens with plenty of accessories to keep little ones busy and since there are no specific parts needed for interaction you can use any types of kitchen accessories available on the market with them

http://www.littletikes.com/toys/toys-detail.aspx?Product_ID=6391&Ntt=kitchen&N=26&Ntk=Product+Search
http://www.step2.com/category.cfm?subcategory_id=1024

kids meal toy ban question?

~Holly~ th

is taking the toy out of the kids meals really going to stop parents for buying them for their kids?

I really don't understand how this is going to help the child obesity problem.

Answer
I totally agree.

I'm watching "The Talk" and just heard them talking about this.

I wrote on Twitter to them - Happy Meals are very rare treat for our kids Money is tight fast food is rare I grew up with the Happy Meal I hate to see it go

What will be next? No more crayons at restaurants? No more fun place mats? No more playgrounds at fast food places?

I think this is wrong. But I also think it is sad some parents take their kids daily to fast food places or reg. dining restaurants. Kids need a good healthy home cooked meal.

We have a family of 5. Money is tight and it can cost us anywhere from $25-40 just at a fast food place like McDonalds! No way we can afford it daily.

We got it for Halloween but the last time before that was around Aug.

I feel it is up to parents to teach their kids to eat healthy not the government.

Next thing you know they will be taken away desserts saying it is a prize and encourages kids to eat sugar.

Since most kids spend more time playing with the toy than eating the happy meal, did?

Conservati

it really accomplish anything when Santa Clara banned them from McDonald's? Why do libs try and cure the headache by cutting off the head?

Answer
It's the lib DNA.....stick their noses up everyone's a$$ so they can think and be your kids nanny. If my kids want a happy meal with a toy, I'll drive to the next town - Cupertino ( 5 minutes away ) to get it. As a parent, I'll decide what my kid eats and doesn't eat. To libs, the government makes better parents than the kids own parents.

I've always wondered why lib parents who need the government to make parental decisions for them, why did they have kids in the first place - if they can't even make decisions on their own kids as to what they eat or don't eat?

Sunday, March 30, 2014

How can I keep the wifes kids from playing with my mint condition star wars toys and mint hotwheels?

Zorro

I have an entire bedroom for my star wars toys and hot wheels that are in mint condition. They are quite valuable too, some of those toys have sold for upwards of $3 or $4 on ebay. The wife thinks that I am a big nerd for collecting toys, so I am certain that she purposely lets the kids in there to destroy my toys so she doesn't have to be ashamed of the toy room when her girl friends come over.
lol Faith, I dont know which is funnier

1. that you dont get the joke in the other question
2. that you wrote a book on a question you think is fake
3. that the question IS fake but not because I dont have kids...

LMAO, seriously Im not making fun of you though It just really strikes me as humorous.

Answer
I think you forget but not to long ago you wrote "I don't have any kids I just like the parenting section." You wrote it 3 days ago & thanks to Google I found it.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120601112147AAenWVz

No kids, not problem.

Now if this was a real question I'd say your kids early on should have learned respect. Even when my kids were babies I'd knock on their door before entering and just say "Can mommy come in?" As little toddlers they learned to know on the door of someones room before entering. Plus it showed them I respected their room privacy too.

One of the biggest rules in our house is going into someone elses room and touching things. Drive my 16yr old NUTS if this happens. Yet she does it to her siblings at times too. lol But it is a big rule and we remind the kids of the rule when they break them and they lose something like video game time for the day. Often' it is a forgotten rule which can happen but kids need to respect other peoples privacy.

So these kids in the question above haven't learn that respect. Again if this was a real question I would suggest sitting the kids down and talking about their rooms. Ask one kid how they would feel if another sibling went into their room and touched their favorite toy, lamp or something they love. They would feel upset. Then tell them "Daddy, feels that way too. I have my room for my favorite things. I don't like someone going in there without asking first. Just the way you feel protective over your teddy bear collection I feel that way about my Star Wars & Hot Wheels. Please ask if you can look at them and I will go in with you."

Most likely the kids are fascinated by the large collection. Who doesn't love Star Wars? I grew up watching that. It's great and cool. I wasn't allowed the toys because my mom said they were for boys and I was a girl. (roll of eyes) Take the kids in there and talk about them. Watch the movie together. Bond & so on.

As for the wife again if this was real she should respect your hobbies while you respect hers. My husbands family love to hunt. I hate it. But I respect that and I don't talk down about it out of respect for my husband. My hobby is video games. He at times respects that. lol

All in all though like I said at the start. You have no kids so no problem. ; ) Enjoy the peace and quiet.

What are the popular Star Wars toys with kids these days?

Spiceman

So, my almost 6 year old boy is starting to get into Star Wars. I let him watch episode IV - A New Hope (he's going to watch them in the same order as they were released so 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3 so he can appreciate the older films)....anyway....my wife and I are starting our Christmas shopping already and wanted to get him some Star Wars stuff.

We just got him a Darth Maul light saber and the Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar, so check those off.

What else are today's kids playing with? I know when I was a kid, I had almost every Star Wars action figure and some of the play sets and ships. Thanks!

Answer
You should look into the new Star Wars Black Series. So far they have released two series in 6" and 3.75" like the ones seen here: http://www.lindseystoyroom.com/star-wars-black-series-3-3-4-inch-action-figures-wave-2-case-of-12/
The quality and detail is awesome. He can play with them now but they'll probably be worth a lot later on as they are very sought after.

"Big Kid" Themed 30th birthday party ideas needed!?

Balou0017

So my husband is a big kid at heart, and I want to throw him an awesome bash for his 30th birthday this fall. It'll still be warm then, and I'm thinking of doing a "big kid" theme. We just got married this winter, so I want it to be a hit!

It'll probably be a superhero/comic book type theme like for a little boy. I'm thinking an inflatable jumper, pool games, pinatas filled with adult friendly items (plastic liquor bottles, scratch off tickets, spicy mexican candy). I'm also thinking of spiking the koolaid, jello(shots), having pigs in a blanket, spicy macaroni, chicken fingers, and cupcakes or hostess treats, etc. as food. Maybe a guitar hero competition. Some of my friends even suggested making it a slumber party (no drunk driving)

I'm wondering if anyone has done this before and has some tips, or if anyone has any ideas to really push it over the top and make the party a big success! I'd love extra food/drink ideas, as well as ideas for activities and decorations.

Answer
you should have a big wheel race! pick up a few big wheel tri-cycles (or borrow them from friends with kids) and have the adults try to squeeze themselves onto them and race! maybe set up some road blocks out of toys or something that they have to navigate around. maybe make it a kind of obstacle course! you could get some kiddie pools with items in them they have to fish out with their toes (like marbles, make the water super cold!), have them jump rope 10 times while singing itsiy-bitsy spider, hop-scotch, blow bubbles, then fill up a water balloon and throw it through a target ..... the list can go on forever! make it all fun stuff you did as a kid just in a whole obstacle course- maybe find a little trophy for the winner.

for food make it fun kid foods like hot dogs, ants on a log, cheese and fruits cut into shapes, chicken nuggets, pickles, black olives (who didn't love playing with black olives as a kid!) candy, build your own ice cream sundae bar....you can get a picture cake made of one of his cute kid pictures- maybe one with him and his favorite toy or something.

decorations make it all the bright primary colors for a boy party- red, blue, green, yellow- get streamers and balloon arrangements.

Kids Carnival Party on a Budget?

Ashley

My little brother will be turing 4 in September, and I love to throw parties so I want to help plan it. My mom does not believe we will be able to do it for $200, but i'm really good with money and think we can. So what are your ideas for doing a carnival b-day on a budget? Please nothing cheesy! Also do you think I can do this for around $200 or do you agree with my mom that it will cost $500

I'm estimating around 40-50 people
* we are already borrowing a bounce house, popcorn machine and Son cone machine from friends.

Answer
About what Live and Learn said - Some kids are afraid of fish and giving away goldfish is just asking for disappointment. ... I do like the ideas :) But I think you should make sure none of the guests are afraid of clowns and only get fake fish / lizards / whatever. ((not trying to be rude))

I LOVE the idea of a carnival party! I worked for a carnival until I got pregnant. ... $200 will make it hard, but it can be done. Does that price have to cover cake and stuff too?

You could buy a couple of boxes of cake mix, some frosting, and strawberries for $15. Place frosting on top of the cupcakes and a strawberry in the middle of the frosting. Label it as the "Berry Go Round" (carnival ride). Or save even more money by adding gummy bears and pretending like they are riding the cupcakes. ... Get some plastic cups and gallon jugs or use existing pitchers to get water, tea, and koolaid for cheap drinks. (Another $15?) Baby carrots, pigs in blankets (mini corndogs), and chips / nachos would be OK snacks. If you try - you could serve food to 50 people for about $50. (Or use your imagination for other food and drink ideas. You will already have sno cones and popcorn. - That's a good start.

For the rest - I would put $75 into games and $75 into cheap prizes. Maybe grab a $10 CD of background music (if you don't already have some). You might could even print your own "tickets".

For the prizes - orientaltrading.com has some nice stuff, but I'd just hit the dollar store and walmart for ideas. Try both the party section and the toy section for things like bubbles, glow bracelets, plastic and stretchy animals, silly sun glasses, etc ...

Games:

Collect toilet paper rolls to paint or make your own tubes out of construction paper. Wad up paper or get a soft ball. You can easily recreate those games where you throw something at bottles. If the party will be outdoors, you could also get cheap plastic bottles and fill them part-way with water or make paper targets.

Depending on how old and well behaved the guests will be, you could consider the balloon games at http://texascarnivals.com/2009/02-27/balloon_popping/ . Scroll down past the online game part. That site also tells about duck pond games at http://texascarnivals.com/2009/10-21/duck-pond/ .

Another fun, easy to recreate game is throwing ping pong balls into fish bowls. Plastic cups filled with water are good fish bowl replacements. You could add food coloring to the water for different prize levels or just to make it more cheerful.

Whatever you choose to do, have fun! I hope he has a great birthday :)

Kids and toys?

mrjts

I have one daughter age of 7 and one step-son he is 10 and they both are always fighting over toys. how can I teach them to share?

Answer
1.Tell them about the poor kids who wish they had these toys!
2.Let them play with the toys at different times!
3.Take their toys away until they learn to share!
4.Show them how it feels when someone refuses to share with them
Example:Go buy something like a toy that both of them wants and say it yours and when they ask to play with it you say so you want me to share?( Then they are suppose to say yes)(they may not but if they do)!You say no im not sharing my toy! Then if they ask why then say becasue you guys dont know how to share! Then ask them how they felt when you said that you are not sharing your toy! Then say well thats how each of yall feel when yall dont share you make a person sad because ou wont share!If this doesnt work sorry with my kids it did!

Learning toys for kids, any suggestions?

Nitalaksha

I'm glad that some companies think ahead and design toys that have some practical use but finding them is tough. Sure they say they have something that is practical but then you get it and it's all gimmick. I can't stomach a toy that's useless as it's hard earned money I'm spending. Anyone with any suggestions for where I can get learning toys for kids?

Answer
Teacher stores have lots of learning toys for kids Barnes and Noble has a whole section of learning toys hope I helped :-)

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