Cole's Toys, Games, Gift Ideas, and other kidstuff

Go To Sleep - Planet Earth

2008-05-14T20:40:00.007-05:00

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

2008-05-13T16:08:00.009-05:00

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

The Art of Noelle Dass

2008-05-13T06:30:00.001-05:00

These simple but rich prints from the artist Noelle Dass are perfect for a newborn's room or for a general playroom. She has a large number of other prints, all involving a variety of animals. The prices are reasonable at about $24 per print.

The Art of Noelle Dass at oompa.com

New Poll

2008-05-12T12:16:00.003-05:00

Hi all, in the interest of making Cole's Toy Blog a better place I have added a poll to get some feedback. It is in the right hand margin near the top. If you are subscribed via a feed, please take the time to follow the link to the site and make your selections. I value your input and appreiate you taking the time to respond.

-Pop

Skimboard Surfer

2008-05-12T06:36:00.001-05:00

At some point, probably when Cole was old enough to walk, summer stopped just being about staying cool and started being about staying cool while physically wearing Cole out (preferably while he was having fun). Even though adults will probably pull a groin muscle when they go for a slide (you know you will) the Skimboard Surfer will keep you cool and wear out your kid. I came across a skimboard in the store the other day and wondered what it was. It looked like a giant guitar pick, too big for a skateboard, too small for a boogie board. Now I know, it is a mini-surfboard to use with what is basically a slip 'n slide. With short run and a little balance you can get some good speed up before you have to abort at the end of the slide. One skimboard comes with the slide, but you can buy more relatively inexpensively and they come in a wide array of graphics.

Skimboard Surfer (Color May Vary) at amazon.com

Where's the Poop?

2008-05-10T09:13:00.001-05:00

I unknowingly gave my 11 month old daughter some double fiber bread this morning from my own breakfast. She was very happy to get it and made a big deal of eating it after getting it good and slobbery. After I finished my breakfast I realized what I had done and started to wonder if I made a mistake (probably). We are probably still a year away from actual potty training, but like most activities involving children, it is usually good to give them lots of warning ahead of time. In fact, just about everything around here is preceded by a countdown, it's like NASA or something: "Five minutes before we leave for school!" and "You've got fifteen seconds to put that diaper back on your sister or else!" are good representative samples. There's no reason that potty training shouldn't also be foreshadowed as well.

Where's the Poop? is a great little book for a 1-2 year old before you start potty training that helps them understand not only that everyone poops (the title of another popular poop book) but that there is a place for everyone's poop to go. You get to look at various animals and see where they poop (Tigers in the jungle, Kangaroos in the outback, etc...) by lifting a little flap to see the "prize". The last page of the book is a little boy telling his mommy that he pooped and beneath the flap is a potty. A great idea for a book, not only are you teaching your kid that it is normal to poop, but that there is a specific place that it is supposed to go, as opposed to whenever and wherever he feels like it. No longer will you have to wonder if that double fiber bread was a bad idea. Eligible for free shipping at Amazon.com

Where's the Poop? at Amazon.com

Video review of Speedracer toys

2008-05-09T16:38:00.002-05:00

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

2008-05-09T07:00:00.002-05:00

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

Learning Resources Money Bags, a Coin Value Game

2008-05-08T06:27:00.003-05:00

Money Bags sounds like a simple game, you move along the path on the board and earn money as you go along. Whoever has the most money at the end is the winner. The educational part of the game comes from the spinner, which tells you which coin denomination you are NOT allowed to use to make change, this encourages familiarity with money and quick addition/subtraction. The age range is pretty small for this game (7-9 years is recommended) although advanced youngsters can probably handle it with a little help. The fact that you earn money for doing actions qualifies this game for the "Teaching Kids About Money" group of games that I have come across.

Learning Resources Money Bags A Coin Value Game at Amazon.com

related posts:
Teaching your kids about money part 4
Teaching your kids about money part 3
Teaching your kids about money part 2
Teaching your kids about money part 1

The Politics of Preschool

2008-05-07T15:33:00.001-05:00

This.Is.Funny.

Manbabies

2008-05-07T12:25:00.002-05:00

ManBabies.com has an interesting collection of pictures of kids and dads that have been slightly photoshopped. I know what project I'll be working on tonight.

(via Neatorama.com)

The Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments

2008-05-07T06:47:00.004-05:00

It turns out that someone got tired of complaining about the sorry selection of home chemistry sets out there (like me) and decided to do something aout it. Robert Bruce Thompson wrote the Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments to replace some of the old home chemistry books from mid-century (you have to go back that far to get a good one). The book was just released today and is available at Amazon.

"From the 1930s through the 1970s, chemistry sets were among the most popular Christmas gifts, selling in the millions. But two decades ago, real chemistry sets began to disappear as manufacturers and retailers became concerned about liability. The Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments steps up to the plate with lessons on how to equip your home chemistry lab, master laboratory skills, and work safely in your lab. The bulk of this book consists of 17 hands-on chapters that include multiple laboratory sessions..."

"With plenty of full-color illustrations and photos, Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments offers introductory level sessions suitable for a middle school or first-year high school chemistry laboratory course, and more advanced sessions suitable for students who intend to take the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry exam. A student who completes all of the laboratories in this book will have done the equivalent of two full years of high school chemistry lab work or a first-year college general chemistry laboratory course."

Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture (Illustrated Guide) at Amazon.com

(via BoingBoing.net)

Eyeclops Activity Kit

2008-05-06T06:26:00.003-05:00

It is no secret that I am a big fan of the Jakks EyeClops Bionic Eye. Now Jakks has added an activity kit with eight "microprinted" posters. They are full of tiny stuff that you have to find with the Eyeclops. The kit is not very expensive and is eligible for free super-saver shipping at Amazon.

Cole loves seek and find books, I have no doubt that he will have a blast looking across a much larger canvas for tiny clues and items. I am also interested in encouraging him to be meticulous when as he searches. I think that attention to detail and being methodical are good traits to have in adulthood (if not carried to an extreme).

EyeClops Activity Kit at Amazon.com

Related Posts: here and here.

Little Hands Playing Card Holder

2008-05-05T05:47:00.004-05:00

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

2008-05-04T10:41:00.002-05:00

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

Vacation Is Over Already?

2008-05-04T10:20:00.003-05:00

Hopefully no one noticed, but the last week I was on vacation with my family. Guest posts were made by my friend Ronnie all week, thanks Ronnie! We went to South Florida for a little sun, fun, and beach time, although we spent more time at the pool than the beach. Anyway, I'm back now, not too badly sunburned, and will be posting in person again. Thanks to everyone for all of the responses to the "9 bizarre toys" post, and a special thanks to Neatorama and the other sites that picked up that post (mostly gamespy.com and ueba.net) I'm working on a new one like it that I hope to have ready soon. In the meantime, enjoy the toys and posts, and if you go to Florida don't forget your sunscreen.

John

I love you Pee, I love you too Poo

2008-05-03T07:00:00.004-05:00

"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?)

Power House

2008-05-02T07:00:00.001-05:00

In the Power House science kit your kids will learn about powering a model house using wind, light, plant, and electrochemical energies. In addition to the house, they will also build an electric train, a solar cooker, and even make their own chewing gum. There are 20 building projects and 70 experiments, plus an instructional manual. Sounds like several fun weekend projects for a future scientist or inventor.

link

Kettler Sprint Balance Bike

2008-05-01T07:00:00.001-05:00

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

Map Tangle - Put Your Right Food on Liberia

2008-04-30T07:00:00.001-05:00

You know how this works. The game is like Twister, but played on a large map. Considering the general state of Geography knowledge with kids, this is a fun way to learn some world Geography while being active and socializing with other kids. Cards are drawn instructing the active player where to place a hand or foot, the object is to figure out a way to stretch and contort yourself to accomplish the instructions.

link

Fraction Learning Pie Game

2008-04-29T07:00:00.001-05:00

Learn fractions while playing this game. Get your piece of the pie by spinning a wheel, complete your pie first and win the game. Along the way, learn how to combine 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/12 to become the pie-master. The game comes with 29 pieces, pie tins, tablecloth, chipboard, and spinner. I must be hungry, I keep posting food related games and toys. It looks like the next post will need to be some kind of activity related toy to work off all of these sandwiches and pies.

Fraction Learning Pie Game

Wooden Sandwich Toy Kit

2008-04-28T07:00:00.001-05:00

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

The Great Big Vegetable Challenge

2008-04-27T08:21:00.004-05:00

Getting your kid to eat vegetables, heck, even try vegetables sometimes can be difficult. Cole will eat green beans and broccoli like a starving man, but other things like artichokes, or even squash he looks at like they just crawled onto his plate and died. Here is the Great Big Vegetable Challenge and a seven year old boy named Freddie, his mother is working to get him to try two vegetables from every letter in the alphabet.

"The GBVC Rules of Engagement: To eat our way through as many vegetables as we can find in the A to Z, trying out at least two recipes per veggie, inspired by ideas from around the world. Cook, taste, try and Freddie rates them."

link

(via Metafilter)

Live Butterfly Garden

2008-04-27T07:00:00.001-05:00

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

Mommy Says No!

2008-04-26T10:10:00.005-05:00

My favorite hometown swing/early jazz/rockabilly/something else band The Asylum Street Spankers cleaned their act up just long enough to make an awesome kids album. To make it even sweeter, it is completely listenable for parents too. It is full of great songs like "Be Like You" and "You Only Love Me For My Lunchbox" but Cole's favorite is "Boogers" of course. Follow the link to Amazon and listen to snippets of the entire album before you buy.

Mommy Says No!

related link:
NPR's Morning Edition reviews Mommy Says No!