• Monthly Archive:: November 2012

    I’m amazed that my 4-year-old still likes doing the wooden preschool puzzles at our local library. Maybe it makes her feel proud to show off just how fast she can complete them. Or maybe it’s because they’re unlike the same old, same old puzzles at home. If you know a preschooler (or even an ambitious toddler) looking for the next step up in the puzzle world, but who’s not quite ready for the 24-piece jigsaw variety, check out Skip Hop’s Animal Zoo Match and Play Puzzle, made up of 6 mini vignettes of playful animals just begging for little hands to uncover. Because each of the 10 pieces corresponds with the correct letter in its background, it’s a fun way to teach matching, letters and [&hellip

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    Until earlier this week, when our electricity was restored following the wrath of Hurricane Sandy, family time was all about board games, crafts and anything that could be played by firelight. While those first few rounds of Candyland were doable, the novelty soon wore off. (I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t envisioning an escape plan–for one.) And with school closed for more than one week, I began seeing signs of brain drain I hadn’t seen since summer vacation. Before I was ready to throw my hands up, our mailman delivered a welcome treat: a trial sample of Little Passports, one of the more entertaining boredom busters we’ve seen in a long time. This subscription-based service lets kids ages 7-12 play armchair traveler [&hellip

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    No, The Talking Walnut hasn’t gone nuts just yet…but after five days of no power, thanks to Hurricane Sandy, we are currently on hiatus. (Today’s post is the result of a quick check-in at a local Starbucks with WiFi.) Please check back in with us next week, in the hopes that our electricity will be restored and we’ll be able to resume regular posts. Thanks to our loyal readers for your patience. Stay tuned&#

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