The Playful Walnut | The Talking Walnut

express yourself: social (e)motion board game

Feb 062012

My 7-year-old has no trouble expressing herself. When she’s not particularly fond of my meatloaf, she tells me so (and in no uncertain terms, mind you). And when she’s just learned that she won a raffle at school, she does nothing short of shouting it from the rooftop (thank goodness she’s still too young for Facebook). But for those kids who need an extra nudge when it comes to social networking the old-fashioned way, comes a board game that makes self-discovery less of a challenge. Call it a modern day charades, Social (e) Motion helps kids age 5 and up better interpret their own thoughts and feelings by making the guesswork feel less like a chore. As each player draws a Face Card, they have the option of either drawing or acting out the specified emotion. (No worries about drawing abilities; amateur artwork gets the message across just fine!). However, the more skilled you are at conveying what’s on the cards, the more chips you acquire and the greater your chance to win. To spice up the game play, Wildcards double your earnings and the fun, prompting players to make unexpected moves with suggestions like trying to make the player on your right laugh (easier said than done!). We like the personal touch of this game: Face Cards are taken from family photo albums and Wildcards ideas are submitted by real kids. As the saying goes, if you play your cards right, you just might win–and not just at this game…

In a Nutshell: Your kid isn’t one to bare his soul? This game may offer him the chance to feel a bit more comfortable sharing his thoughts.

**Stay tuned all next week, as The Talking Walnut goes to Toy Fair and tells you what your kids will be bugging you…eh, we mean asking you to buy them next!**

Tags: family board games, Fun and Function, helping kids express their feelings, kids and socialization, Social (e) Motion, social skills

we bought a zoo: skip hop playspot

The Furnished Walnut, The Playful Walnut, The Safe Little Walnut

Feb 032012

It’s a jungle out there, especially if you’ve got little ones running around at home. When I’m making dinner, I swear there’s a stampede of elephants overhead–and not just two little girls playing. If you’re in search of a way to keep your playroom accident-free and spare newly mobile toddlers from acquiring more bumps and bruises than necessary, consider the Skip Hop Zoo Playspot . A refreshing alternative from the ho-hum hopscotch patterns we’ve seen in one too many kiddie gyms, this fashionable print may just bring out the wild child in your little monkeys. The adorable faces of a dog, bee, owl and monkey are so cute, they may be entertaining enough to coax your constant crawler into actually sitting still for more than five seconds. We like that the puzzle-like pieces snap together easily to create an intimate play space of 4 spots or up to 12 spots wide for multiple movers and shakers. And if you’re extra concerned about safety, you’ll appreciate that these tiles are BPA-, PVC- and Phthalate-free. And that makes for smiles all around.

In a Nutshell: Protect your precious little ones–and your hard wood floors–with this soft covering that’s as playful as it is practical.

Tags: foam tiles for babies, kids' furnishings, playmats, playroom decor, Skip Hop, Skip Hop Zoo Playspot

let me entertain you: tiny love crib mobile

Gear for Baby Walnuts, The Playful Walnut

Jan 302012

My sister’s co-worker just had her baby shower, and judging by the number of gifts she received, this is bound to be one well-stocked nursery. Hard to believe that among the four (yup, you heard that right) car seats, a myriad of adorable outfits and a chandelier (!) for the nursery, she did not score a crib mobile. Because only a new mom knows just how much time newborns spend (hopefully!) sleeping, it’s ideal to provide them with a little stimulation when they’re awake, especially if they’re content to stay in their crib for a little while longer. Tiny Love’s brand-new-to-stores Soothe ‘n Groove Mobile is the perfect way to wile away the hours (okay, minutes) that your little one can spend happily kicking away. Three smiling, little friends twist and turn overhead, as gentle melodies play in time to their movement. Since we know how quickly we can tire from hearing the same three songs over and over, you’ll appreciate the fact that your little one will be treated to a selection of eighteen different lullabies for up to 40 minutes. Musical mommies with varied tastes can choose from jazz, classical and other favorite genres (sorry, no Adele here). Even after your baby has outgrown the mobile, you can detach it from the crib and keep the music box for her continued listening pleasure. Isn’t the greatest sound a cooing little person?…

In a Nutshell: Your baby’s crib is not complete with a mobile that offers plenty of delightful melodies, without the repetition that can drive even the sanest mom a little batty.

Tags: baby shower gifts, crib mobile, music toys for babies, Soothe 'n Groove Mobile, Tiny Love

gung hay fat choy: blue orange games

The Playful Walnut, The Smart Walnut

Jan 252012

Happy Chinese Year! In our house, we don’t just celebrate this holiday by munching on egg rolls, but trying to immerse ourselves in a bit of culture. That means picking up some special library books for bedtime, wearing red (for good luck, of course) and seeking out games like Dragon Face. If you’re a checkers or chess player, you’ll appreciate this game of strategy. But there’s a bit of a twist to this version: when you jump over your opponent’s piece, you not only capture it, but with a flip of a disc, the piece becomes your own. Because, like most holidays, Chinese New Year is largely about celebrating with loved ones, Dragon Face is a great excuse to make a Family Game Night. This is a beautifully designed game that deserves to be played all year long.

In a Nutshell: In honor of the Year of the Dragon comes a game that any chess/checkers player will relish. Polish off your Chinese New Year festivities with fortune cookies, tea and Dragon Face .

Tags: Blue Orange Games, celebrating Chinese New Year with kids, Chinese New Year, Chinese New Year games, Dragon Face, family game night, Yeat of the Dragon

tub treasures: bathblocks

Bathing Walnuts, The Playful Walnut

Jan 232012

We’ve seen our fair share of bath toys over the past 7 years. From waterproof books and foam letters, to squirters and squeaky animals, my girls have had no shortage of tubtime amusement. But when you take a classic construction toy and adapt it for the bath, you know you’ve found yourselves a keeper. We recently got our hands on a set of BathBlocks Ball Run Set, and my 7-year-old was treated to a water-friendly version of Marble Run that she couldn’t get enough of. This 21-piece set contains tons of lightweight construction materials that not only float, but can stick to the walls when moistened. The colorful blocks came in a variety of shapes and sizes that she could assemble any which way she pleased. Whether it was a tall tower that connected to a bridge to create a cascading waterfall, or a more simple construct that resulted in a ball dropping into a hole, these blocks stood up to the play I was looking for: the kind that doesn’t command kids which button to push for a specified result. Instead, she just had a ball (literally and figuratively) making a series of imaginative structures that were completely of her own making. When her 3-year-old sister joined the bath, I was eager to see if these blocks would capture her attention as much as they had with her sister. Much to my delight, she found her own way of playing with them, including stacking them high and sorting them into a pattern of different colors. Needless to say, it wasn’t easy convincing my girls to get out of the tub that night, but it was worth it to see them enjoy a new style of water play.

In a Nutshell: When it comes to tubtime play, BathBlocks really float our boat. They toys offer tons of open-ended entertainment and are ideal for older and younger kids alike.

Tags: bath toys, BathBlocks, blocks, Just Think Toys, toys for mixed ages, water toys

raindrops on roses: elmo’s favorite things DVD

The Playful Walnut, Wired Walnuts

Jan 202012

It doesn’t take much to realize that Elmo still resonates with little kids. A quick glance at the minivan ahead of me on the preschool drop-off line confirms his unmistakeable furry frame, whooping it up on the small screen. (What did moms do before the days of portable DVD players?). Because my girls were often too impatient to wait for “Elmo’s World,” their favorite part of “Sesame Street,” we often turned it on to catch the last 10 minutes of the show. If your kids clamor for that lovable red monster too, they’ll be delighted by the prospect of having all Elmo, all the time in his newest DVD. “Elmo’s Favorite Things” features eight popular EW segments–over 2 hours of Elmo entertainment. EW regulars already know how well the format works: Elmo introducing said topic, followed by nuggets of fun facts and of course, the antics of none other than Mr. Noodle. Featured segments include Birthdays, Pets, Dinosaurs, Schools and the DVD premiere of Building Things. These digestible vignettes are perfect for short attention spans, not to mention long car rides. So, the next time your preschooler needs his Elmo fix, you can pull out this DVD. “Elmo’s Favorite Things” will be available beginning February 7th.

In a Nutshell: A modern-day Julie Andrews? Hmmm…maybe not exactly. But “Elmo’s Favorite Things” tops the charts on preschool play lists any day…hands (er, paws) down!

Tags: Elmo, Elmo's Favorite Things, Elmo's World, new kids' DVDs, Sesame Street, Sesame Workshop, Warner Home Video

all the right moves: furreal friends dizzy dancers

The Playful Walnut

Jan 192012

So you think you can dance? My daughters find themselves in stitches whenever this dancin’ fool tries to bust a move. I don’t kid myself; I’m hardly a a candidate for “Dancing With the Stars,” but I can appreciate fancy footwork when I see it. When they’re not cracking up over Mom’s moves, my girls are busy working with their own dance partners: Furreal Friends Dizzy Dancers . These fuzzy pets twirl and pin at the simple pull of their “dizzy cord; just give it a whirl and watch them go. Once you get the hang of it, check out the Twistin’ Tricks Card and see what you can train your pet to do. And because you can switch out the top and bottom of these pets and snap them onto others in the line, you can collect up to 50 different dancers and create your own one-of-a-kind dancer. And one’s that’s not half as funny-looking as Mom doing the moonwalk. The Furreal Friends Dizzy Dancers will be available in March.

In a Nutshell: Got the moves like Jagger? Neither do we. But we’re getting a kick out of these toe-tappin’ toys…

Tags: collectible toys, Furreal Friends, Furreal Friends Dizzy Dancers, girls' toys, Hasbro, new for spring toys

table of plenty: pottery barn kids spring collection

The Furnished Walnut, The Playful Walnut

Jan 162012

My daughters share a hand-me-down craft table that’s seen its fair share of crafting sessions and tea parties. If the faded marker smudges and discolored tabletop is any indication of its storied past, we know this particular piece of furniture has taken quite a licking over the years. Maybe that’s why we’re intrigued by the Brunswick Play Table. Part of the Pottery Barn Kids Spring 2012 Collection, this good-looking, yet highly functional table is the ideal focal point piece for any spacious play room. Made from a solid wood construction, it’s designed to withstand years and years of play, from one sibling to the next. The table’s dark finish, poised to hold up to potential craft supply stains, is balanced out by six card catalog-style, rainbow-hued drawers that are generously sized to fit everything from unwieldy poster paper to buttons and beads. There’s plenty of work space for at least four young artists to roll up their sleeves and get busy (and another two spots if leg room isn’t an issue). We think the Brunswick Play Table is so appealing, there’s life for it beyond the play room…perhaps as the perfect spot for an aspiring novelist? Hmmmm…

In a Nutshell: If your family’s play room is due for a make-over this spring, let this conversation piece from Pottery Barn Kids take center stage and prove its worth.

Tags: kids' craft table, kids' furnishings, play room furniture, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Kids Spring Collection

undercover ugly: uglydoll umbrellas

Gear for Baby Walnuts, The Accessorized Walnut, The Playful Walnut

Jan 122012

It’s an ugly day out there, in more ways than one. You know the kind of day we’re talking about: the one where you wake up and it’s so dark outside, you’re convinced your alarm clock is mistaken. You open the curtains to discover it’s raining cats and dogs, and you still must make it to the bus stop. Yeah, we know the feeling. That’s why we can’t help but smile at the little things that make our day: a hug from a child, a hot cup of tea and a unique umbrella that will turn any frown upside down. We recently raved about the latest Uglydoll, even going so far as to dub him Man of the Year, and now we’re tipping our hats to a trio of kid-sized Uglydoll umbrellas that bring some much-needed sunshine to our faces. Styled in either Ice-bat, Ox or the simply put Uglydoll Rainy Day, this rain gear accessory is an entertaining way to ward off the bad weather blues, and keep you dry. We’ll raise our cup of tea to that.

In a Nutshell: If into each life a little rain must fall, then let it be ugly. These fetching umbrellas have us singin’ in the rain…

Tags: kid umbrellas, rain gear for kids, Uglydolls, umbrellas

bathing cuties: skip hop tub toys

Bathing Walnuts, The Playful Walnut

Jan 112012

Bathtime boring? Not in our house. Who could get tired of splashing around in a sea of bubbles, all the while getting squeaky? While it may already be my kids’ favorite time of day, it never hurts to kick things up a notch with some new tub time friends. Skip Hop Moby & Friends Bath Squirters are an ideal companions for any soaped-up kid. Six colorful sea creatures are just begging to take a dive and fill up with bath water, so kids can squeeze and squirt them over and over. We love that they’re easy to grasp, especially when you have slippery fingers. And when it’s time to drain the tub, make a game of it by dropping them into the Sort & Spin Fishbowl Shape Sorter (sold separately), which affixes right onto the wall. The next time your kid is ready to bathe, he can spin the sorter and watch everyone dive into the water. Rub-a-dub-dub!

In a Nutshell: Don’t let bathtime become ho-hum in your house. With these silly squirters, your kid is bound to have some good clean fun. Just add bubbles.

Tags: Moby & Friends Bath Squirters, Skip Hop, Sort & Spin Fishbowl Shape Sorter, tub toys

Older Entries

The Talking Walnut

we bought a zoo: skip hop playspot

let me entertain you: tiny love crib mobile

gung hay fat choy: blue orange games

tub treasures: bathblocks

raindrops on roses: elmo’s favorite things DVD

all the right moves: furreal friends dizzy dancers

table of plenty: pottery barn kids spring collection

undercover ugly: uglydoll umbrellas

bathing cuties: skip hop tub toys

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