Time (Tracker) Is On Your Side

I debated putting this little gem on this site, since it is not really a toy. It is only by virtue of the coolness of design and usefulness to parents that the Time Tracker made the cut. Before we had kids we used to meet some friends for breakfast every other weekend. They had two kids and we used to joke about how if we were supposed to meet them at 9:00, we should actually expect to see them until 9:30 or so. At the time I just thought they were just people that were late for everything. Now I know, the adults were on time, the kids made them late. For Everything.

The Time Tracker is basically a cool looking timer. The first use that comes to mind is to time your kid's visit to "time out". One common problem with time out is that you have to answer "can I come out now?" every 10-15 seconds as long as they are in there. With the Time Tracker, you can set the timer and it will answer those questions for you via sound effects and a traffic light style display.

This little sanity saver can also be used to keep fun time on track as well "you can play video games for only half an hour". The manufacturer also suggests that you can use the Time Tracker for school work and projects, I'm a little unclear on how exactly it would be used, but I'm sure those of you with older kids can think of ways.

How about it? Can you think of other ways that a Time Tracker might come in handy? If so, leave a comment!

Learning Resources - Time Tracker at Amazon.com

Go To Sleep - Planet Earth

For the last couple of days Nickelodeon has been pushing Sleepytime Lullabies via several blogs. I've sampled the album on Amazon and I'm sure it is very good, especially for younger kids. But it got me to thinking of the best media we have used to get Cole to take a nap, especially when he doesn't really want to take a nap in the first place. I use the word "media" because it is not actually a music album, it is a video series.



If you've never seen Planet Earth before it is a nature film series of superior quality. The cinematography is breathtaking sometimes, and at other times serenly beautiful. It is full of aerial photography of fantastic landscapes and animals in action. Cole is usually not willing to lay in bed and take a nap, but I can often talk him into watching television with me. Slide in an episode of Planet Earth to the DVD and get comfortable. This is one show that it is easy to sit down and watch with them. The smooth filmwork and calm narration are soothing and if you are a little bit sleepy it can push you over the edge into a relaxing sleep.
Warning: There are a few scenes that may be disturbing, usually scenes involving predators and prey. If you are like me you remember watching scenes like this on the Wild Kingdom when you were a kid. It is the real world and shouldn't necessarily be hidden from children, but it is probably not something you want to watch while trying to go to sleep. I suggest you keep your finger on the fast forward button or better yet screen the 11 episodes to find the ones that work best for you.

Planet Earth 5 DVD Set - Standard

Another Nine Bizarre Toys

Hare Krishna Zombie
The scary thing about this action figure is not that it is a zombie and not that it is a Hare Krishna (ok maybe a little). The scariest part of it is that it looks like Andy Dick.

It looks so much like him that I had to go to imdb.com to make sure I was wrong. It turns out it was some guy named Mike Christopher. Finally the nightmares can end.




Vincent Van Gogh Action Figure
Finally you can have an action figure of you you favorite depressed/bipolar/schizophrenic/alcoholic artist. Best of all, it comes with two interchangeable heads, so you can play with the single and dual earlobed Vincent Van Gogh. You can relive his frustration when his cousin refused his marriage proposal. You can re-enact his strange co-dependent relationship with Paul Gauguin. You can even recreate Vincent's eventually successful suicide, where he had to walk back home after shooting himself in the chest. Oh, and you can pretend to paint some pretty pictures too.



Cold War Unicorns
The Cold War between the USSR and USA has always been fought by proxies. North Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, most of Central and South America for example. In spite of the fall of the USSR, the Cold War is far from over. The epic struggle between two major political and economic systems has evolved to using fantasy creatures in their battles.



USA Vs Commies

"I can no longer sit back and allow Communist infiltration, Communist indoctrination, Communist subversion and the international Communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids. "

Major Jack D. Ripper (from Dr. Strangelove)

Now you can go where Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev were too afraid to go. With the USA vs. Commies army figures you can fight the next to last battle of the war the would have ended the Cold War. Don't worry about breaking or even destroying these little guys because when the next to last battle is over and the winning side is celebrating, the losing side launches their missiles and starts what would have been the last battle of the Cold War.



Devo Action Figure w/ Interchangable Heads
I am a Devo fan. I saw them at the Palmer Auditorium in Austin when I was 13. The high point of my junior high career was getting searched by a female cop at the gate. I chanted "jump, jump" like everyone else as one of the roadies adjusted the lights above the stage. Now that my Devo fan credentials have been thoroughly established, I have to admit that I am freaked out a little by the Devo action figure with interchangeable heads. I want it, but it scares me. Then again, maybe it is just Devo in general: fans like them but are a little freaked out by them at the same time (everyone else is just freaked out by them).



Monty Python Plush Black Knight

"Like most women, I don't 'get' Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I've tried to watch it with my boyfriend but it's just so stupid. Who would waste their time with such a stupid movie? Oh, when the special edition DVD came out he tried again, 'Honey, it's got an extra 24 seconds of previously cut footage!' Like that would help. He thought he was fooling me by giving me the bunny slippers too, like how could a harmless little bunny bite through an armored man's jugular vein? So Stupid. Then he gave me the Plush Black Knight. Who would want an doll of a man wearing armor? My boyfriend is the one that doesn't 'get it'. I thought he was the one, but he just doesn't understand me. I got so mad I ripped the doll into pieces and beat him with the bloody stumps."

Gi Joe G I Joe Search for the Yeti
I don't want any comments about how this is really an adult novelty toy. GI Joe is definitely a kid's toy. What confuses me about this is why is GI Joe searching for the Yeti? Did the USA declare war on the missing link? Or is the USA trying to capture the Yeti for part of a secret weapons project? It's hard to tell from the picture, but G.I. Joe has his rifle jammed in the Yeti's stomach while the Yeti looks like he is screaming in pain and is about to swipe at Joe with his giant Yeti paw. More pictures here from a guy who really likes this toy.



LEGO Orient Expedition: Yeti's Hideout
I always thought that Bigfoot/Sasquatch was cool. Ever since I was a kid and saw that In Search Of... Bigfoot episode and the Six Million Dollar Man episode where Andre the Giant played Bigfoot. At one point I was even pretty sure there was a bigfoot living in the woods near my house in Texas. I never really felt any love for the Yeti, though. Maybe it was because he was so far away, or maybe because it is so dang cold in the Himalayas (I don't do cold). Maybe it was because there is no way the Yeti exists. Come on now, if you were nine or ten feet tall and could throw boulders like they were baseballs, would you choose to live in one of the least hospitable places on Earth? Sasquatch could be real, because it is conceivable that someone (or thing) might want to live in the forests of the Northwest US and Canada. Hell I'd like to live there myself if I didn't have to live in constant fear of a wookie attack.



Plaid Shirt Zombie Action Figure

(sung to Monty Python's Lumberjack song)
I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay
I lurch at night and eat brains all day

(chorus)
He's a lumberjack and he's okay.
He lurches at night and eats brains all day.

I punch through walls, I catch humans
You can't hid from me.
I think I'll catch more humans,
and eat their brains, yummy!


Related post: The original 9 bizarre toys

Video review of Speedracer toys

Stinkhead at nontoxicreviews.com has a pretty good video review of some of the Speedracer toys out there.  I think the automated track looks awesome, although I don't care too much for the 3 3/4 scale toys.  I also like the fact that he was not afraid to put the blooper of him shooting himself in the face with a toy missile in the video.

link

note: I will be working on my first video review this weekend, so watch for it Sunday or Monday at the latest!

Bedtime With The Beatles

My wife came home from a scrapbook marathon weekend (yes 48 hours of scrapbooking - they do this voluntarily) and told me how lots of the women were raving about Jason Falkner's Bedtime with the Beatles. He has put together a full album of instrumental versions of 11 classic songs meant be soothe your little one to sleep. Included are some of my own favorites like Blackbird, In My Life, and The Long and Winding road. Amazon has samples of all of them, give them a listen. The album is also eligible for free shipping.

Bedtime With the Beatles (Blue Cover) at Amazon.com

related posts:
Pop Muzik
Rockabye Baby

Little Hands Playing Card Holder

I have been reluctant to recommend many card games, at least for little kids since they have so much trouble holding the cards. We play most of our card games with cards face up in front of us, which adds a level of strategy to some games (my wife always plays dirty when we play Uno by playing the color/number that she knows I don't have) but there are many games where this takes away from the fun if you play this way. I wondered why no one had ever come up with a handy device targetted for little kids to help with this problem. Well it turns out they have and I just didn't know it. The Little Hands Playing Card Holder holds as many cards as you can fit into it, has a convenient handle for holding upright, and it is inexpensive to boot. Look out for more card games to be coming soon...

Original Little Hands Playing Card Holder at Amazon.com

Iron Monger

Cole and I went to see Iron Man last Friday, and except for a couple of bumpy scenes, I have to say that it rocked. Cole already had an Iron Man Mark III action figure, now we are trying to get our hands on an Iron Monger action figure. This is the suit that the bad guy in the movie makes, so it is only natural to have this one also so Iron Man and Iron Monger can "fight". It turns out that I'm not the first one to have this idea, and they are a little hard to find. Amazon has one new one left as of right now, so I'd suggest starting there, possibly buying it from one of Amazon's alternative sources (listed on the right hand side at the amazon link) and then checking on ebay if you don't have any luck.

Iron Man Movie Toy Series 1 Action Figure Iron Monger at Amazon.com
Iron Man Movie Toy Series 1 Action Figure Iron Monger at ebay.com

I love you Pee, I love you too Poo

"It's OK Johnny, don't be afraid."
"But Daddy, I'm scared of the potty."
"There's nothing to be afraid of, Pee and Poo are your friends, and they like to go swimming. Won't you take them to the pool?"
"I like to go swimming too Daddy"
"Not in that pool, that is a special pool just for Pee and Poo"
"Oh... then why does Fido drink out of it?"


Yup, that's right, these are Pee and Poo plush dolls. They are a great way to help your kid get over any anxiety they may have about going to the bathroom, and (thank God) let you stop changing those diapers every few hours. Give these as a gift and they will be remembered long after everyone else's gifts are forgotten.

link (search for "poo" when you get there. How often to do you get to do that?)

Kettler Sprint Balance Bike

Cole is still learning to ride his bike, he struggles with keeping his balance and pedaling at the same time, add in the occaisional turn and it is obvious that it is going to take a lot of practice. The great thing about "training" or "balance" or "push" bikes is that you can remove one of these variables (pedaling) while your kid masters the others. Movement is achieved by pushing with their feet on the ground and coasting. When balance and turning is under their belt, move them to a regular bike and they will take off like a shot. Another great thing about the Kettler balance bike (pictured) is that it has a limited turn radius, so little Johnny won't overturn by over-turning.

Kettler Sprint Balance Bike

Wooden Sandwich Toy Kit

This wooden sandwich kit is a lot of fun, especially for kids that are still too small to help out in the kitchen. The pieces of the sandwich stick to each other via a small piece of velcro. The kit also comes with a wooden knife so the veggies and cheese can be "sliced" by cutting through the velcro, which makes a satisfying ripping noise. Everything comes in a wooden storage box so everything (in theory) stays together.


Wooden Sandwich Making Play Food For Kids

Live Butterfly Garden

A friend recommended this to me, it is a "butterfly garden" or more like a caterpiller habitat where they are allowed to turn into butterflies. You get a foldable net covered cage along with a feeder and a voucher to get the butterfly larvae and food, the only other things you need are sugar and water. Using it is pretty easy, you set up the habitat, add the larvae and food, and wait (and watch). It takes about a week or so for the larvae to begin building their cocoons, and when they do it happens fast. After about another week the painted lady butterflies emerge, which you can set free after a couple of days. It is a great way to expose your kids to the natural world.

Live Butterfly Garden at Amazon.com

The PlasmaCar

If you have never seen the Plasma Car being used, then it may be hard to understand how it moves. The car moves by the rider moving the steering wheel back and forth, preferably while on a smooth surface. It doesn't move all that fast, but it does move and it is fun to ride. The fact that it is not a speed toy means that, given some free space, it can be ridden inside the house or the garage, so even in bad weather you can work off some of that endless childhood energy. The Plasma Car comes in a variety of colors, including blue, red, pink, purple, green, and yellow. It is also eligible for free super-saver shipping from Amazon.

PlasmaCar at Amazon.com
PlasmaCar at ebay.com

Evel Knievel Toys For Sale

Since Robert Craig "Evel" Knievel's death in 2007, toys related to the one-time insurance salesman turned daredevil have become much more interesting to toy players and toy collectors. The Evel Knievel Signature Racing set available at Back to Basic Toys is very similar to the toy you may remember from the '70s. It includes Evel and Robbie Knievel action figures, chrome plated motorcycles, jump ramps, and two cycle launchers. Evel even comes with a cape and swagger stick. The set is individually numbered and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Evel Knievel Signature Racing Set at Back to Basic Toys

Colorforms

The original Colorforms set from 1951 has been re-released for a new generation of sticker loving, vinyl applying kids.  In case you don't remember them, Colorforms are vinyl shapes that you use to make pictures by applying them on a special canvas or other surface (windows are common).  Kids who love stickers will enjoy them because they can be removed and reapplied repeatedly without damaging them (there's nothing sticky on them, they stay applied via static electricity... I think).  The kit comes with 350 shapes and a slick cardboard canvas.  It is also 40% off and is eligible for free super-saving shipping from Amazon.

I found this picture on Flickr to show you what can be done with a little imagination (that is a window not a canvas):

 

The Original Colorforms Setat Amazon.com

The Original Colorforms Set at ebay.com

Would you pay $30 for a car or truck?

I don't know how I feel about spending $30 for a toy car. The good news is that you can tell yourself that you saved almost $5 off of the original price. The picture above is one of the Automoblox line of toy cars. Cole and I have never played with them, so I can't give your firsthand knowledge of them, however they are highly reviewed on Amazon. Click on the picture or the link below and go take a look at the details.

Automoblox T9 Truck- Green

Does this Bilibo make me look like Mushmouth?

In 2005 the cardboard box was inducted into The National Toy Hall of Fame. That's right, a cardboard box. The cliche that kids prefer the box over the toy that came in it is quite possibly true. With this in mind, it is worth wondering if our children are not nearly as particular about their toys as give them credit for. Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of interest in cardboard boxes as raw material for play constructions (see here and here and here). The bigger question is that given the sheer number of toys out there and the specialization of many of the toys (example) is it possible that even today's techno savvy kids (even the little ones are surprisingly advanced compared to us when were kids) enjoy a return once in awhile to a simpler time when they could look at a cardboard box and see a castle, or at a bucket and see an astronaut's helmet. The bilibo (pictured above) is essentially a plastic bucket (it looks a bit like a washbasin) with two holes on one end. That's it. A plastic bucket that is flexible enough to be a space helmet (the eye holes help here), or a mountain with a tunnel to drive cars through, or a toy to sit and spin in, or a sled to go down a hill in, or a bucket to carry toys around the house in, or a shell for a turtle... I think you get the idea. They are made of sturdy polyurethane and come in a number of bright colors. Buy one for your kid and watch them enjoy the simplicity of design and creativity that it brings out.

Bilibo - Yellow
Bilibo - Red
Bilibo - Blue
Bilibo - Pink
Bilibo - Orange
Bilibo - Green


Note: for those of you who don't know who Mushmouth is, he was the kid on the old Fat Albert cartoon with the funny stocking cap.

Wooden you like some sushi?

This orderly looking wooden sushi toy from Melissa and Doug toys is more than just a novelty, your kids will have fun "cutting" through the velcro attached pieces with the wooden knife (included) and re-assembling them based on your order. Velcro chopsticks are included as well as wasabi sauce, ginger, soy sauce, and all come in a wooden bento box.

Melissa and Doug Wooden Sushi at amazon.com

Melissa and Doug Wooden Sushi at ebay.com


Also available at Cole's Amazon Store

More Cowbell! - Encouraging kids to be noisy

As much as I love peace and quiet, I realize that I won't have any ever again as long as there are kids in the house. It is a trade off that I'm willing to make, in fact sometimes I even help make a little noise myself. Kids are little noise factories, and they will find a way to make noise out of just about anything. One thing I have often pondered is at what point does noise become music? Obviously the answer to this is different for everyone. It is entirely possible that the noise your baby/toddler/child makes IS music to him even though it sounds like noise to you. Maybe we developed into the sophisticated music makers and music lovers that we are today after banging on pots and pans/the wall/the back of the airline seat in front of us when we were children ourselves. With that in mind, we should encourage our kids to make as much noise as possible, maybe with enough sophistication there won't be a Britney in our kids' generation.

There are lots of children's music sets out there, with a smattering of different instruments. We've bought and received several over the years. There is one thing that they never have, and it is the one thing that I remember always fighting for back in grade school music class to get to play. I'm talking about the "guiro", or as we always called it back in the day, "the scratchy fish":

Recognize it now don't you? In case you don't, the little stick is rubbed quickly back and forth across the "ribs" of the fish to make a unique sound. When it comes to percussion instruments, the guiro is actually pretty harmless and, most importantly, relatively quiet. There is also a younger kids version of the instrument, made out of plastic so they can gnaw on it as well as make noise, preferably not at the same time.

Happy noise making!

12" Wood Fish-Shaped Guiro
8" Multi-Colored Plastic Guiro

Iron Man Action Figure #1

The other day Cole and I were watching cartoons when an Iron Man movie trailer came on. Both of us froze completely still (a rare thing for him) and were silent for the entire two minutes or so (even rarer). The movie looks like it will be a popcorn fueled blast. I have been looking for good Iron Man toys for the last month, and unless you want to shell out $50 for some collectible type stuff there hasn't been much, or if there has been, it has been buried and hard to find. Not anymore, there is finally #1 in a series(?) of Iron Man action figures available. Get one while you can...

Iron Man Movie Toy Series 1 Action Figure Iron Man Mark 03 at amazon.com

You can view the trailer here (youtube) the movie premiers May 2nd.

Take a hike Ugly Dolls, CurlyQCuties are here

Hand-made (and home-made) in the US, CurlyQCuties are a unique alternative to the more and more commonplace Ugly Dolls. The cuties are made of soft fleece with a poly/cotton fill. They are the conception of an Austin designer who makes them out of her home. She can also do custom dolls, so if you want one with a different color, or extra spots, or a belly button you can have whatever you want. This is a good find and is the exact type of thing I like to put on this blog, unique toys with a pinch of weird mixed in. If only I got a commission from this one...

link

for other plush dolls click here