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kool kandy: radz gone wild

 The Accessorized Walnut, The Playful Walnut, Wired Walnuts
May 092013
 

If my 3rd grader attaches another object to her backpack, I swear she’s going to keel over. She makes a personal statement while bringing her belongings to school, simply by switching out what’s dangling off the zippers: a flipflop keychain, a translucent dolphin, a Beanie Boo…you name it. Attachable collectibles is definitely trending with tweens, and that’s why I knew when I got my hands on the Radz Gone Wild line, it would be a big hit. These aren’t your everyday collectibles, mind you; Radz offer a sweet surprise, doubling as a candy dispenser that comes with a Radz Plus code for access to free gaming apps. Making up the new line are four animal friends, each with a distinct persona: Scratch the Tiger, Bandit the Zebra, Spanky the Monkey and Squeak the Penguin. With a simple twist, their tops come off so you can load in the fruit-flavored, bite-sized candies. Then, much to my 4-year-old’s delight, just pull back the lever on the back of the animal’s head and he sticks out his tongue to deliver a piece of candy! Even when snacking is done, there’s more fun to be had. Special access codes to RadzWorld let kids play interactive games and make art online. Plus, Radz refill packs include a small toy along with extra candy. And even when the candy has run out, kids will love toting these attachable friends as they head off to school, camp, or anywhere they bring their backpack. Lucky for us, Radz collectibles are just light enough!

In a Nutshell: Backpack-ready: These collectible candy containers are raring to go!

Radz Gone Wild_LR

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she’s got game: haba loco lingo kindergarten

 The Playful Walnut, The Smart Walnut
May 062013
 

Today, my almost 5-year-old had kindergarten orientation, and couldn’t have been more excited (or me for her). After visiting a kindergarten classroom, meeting the principal and taking a spin around the school on a bus, she would have happily begun school today! Luckily I have a few months to prepare myself (read: stock up on Kleenex) and so does she. Before we leave the fun world of preschool, it doesn’t hurt to keep her already-active brain in tip-top shape. How apropos that we received a new board game to help get ready for September. HABA’s Loco Lingo Kindergarten is a visually-driven game that tests memory, storytelling and other basic learning skills that make a solid foundation for that first year of school. Picture cards make it easy for pre-readers to take part in the game play, as they master rhyming, solving riddles and other activities. My preschooler played multiple rounds of this game with her 8-year-old sister as teacher. The girls had a blast together: the older enjoying a chance to prove her smarts to her little sister, while the little one gushing over all the new stuff she’ll be learning, come September. This game comes with plenty of suggested activities, but you can also make up your own games. As we always think, the best part of playing is when the kids don’t realize they are learning as they’re having fun. With Loco Lingo Kindergarten, your little one will as excited about starting school as you are about watching her grow.

In a Nutshell: Get ready for school with a new board game that’s easy to play, especially with an older sib.

HABA Loco Lingo Kindergarten Combo_HR

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wash me: down at the dino wash deluxe

 Reading with Walnuts, The Playful Walnut
Apr 222013
 

My car is in desperate need of a wash. After too many months of wet weather, muddy feet and the like, this mom taxi has taken quite a beating. Of course, the line at our local car wash has been five miles long lately. If only my imagination could transport to the pages of the latest picture book to cross my desk. Down at the Dino Wash Deluxe is the place to be, especially if you happen to live with anyone who knows his T-Tex from a triceratops. It’s also the center of a make-believe business where these prehistoric creatures come to have their regular scrub-down (where else can these guys fit when a bath tub is out of the question?). If I ever thought the job of keeping two kids clean was hard enough, this book makes me appreciate the fact that I don’t have to clean all those spikes and knobs on an Ankylosaurus; now that’s exhausting! Regardless of whether or not your kid has a love affair with these monstrous creatures, this story will certainly make them a little less scary. A T-Rex who’s afraid to get shampoo in his eyes? Who knew!…

In a Nutshell: How do you keep a dinosaur dirt-free? This silly story turns a car wash into a creative clean-up spot that’s dino-mite.

Down at the Dino Wash

 

 

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earth day extravaganza: tree fu tom on sprout

 The Playful Walnut
Apr 192013
 

Is it Earth Day already? This coming Monday marks the day we pay homage to our dear planet, one that seems to be under a great deal of stress these days. (I don’t know about you, but I can’t remember more extreme weather than what we’ve been experiencing this past year.) Since Mother Nature has been wrecking havoc on us lately, it’s definitely time for a superhero to help us out, and the Sprout television network has just the guy. Tree Fu Tom, to the rescue! With the help of a magic belt, this pint-sized boy turns himself into a flying hero with special powers who travels to a make-believe kingdom inside a tree in his backyard (how’s that for using your imagination?) Once there, he teaches viewers about the importance of staying active and the simple joy of playing outdoors. Sounds like a perfect reminder for springtime, now playing in a backyard near you. The animated Tree Fu Tom series airs on Monday, April 22nd at 11 am EST on the Sprout network.

In a Nutshell: Celebrate Earth Day with a brand-new animated TV series starring a young boy who’s small in stature, but big on action.

Tree Fu Tom Image

 

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lift every voice and sing: miss nina sha doo be doop

 Rocking with Walnuts, The Playful Walnut
Apr 162013
 

Still trying to come to the grips with yesterday’s tragedy in Boston, I had a hard time getting myself in writing mode this morning. But after dropping my daughter off at preschool and seeing all those happy, little faces, I found the motivation I was looking for. If reviewing kids’ products and working in the children’s industry isn’t a sign of hope and rejuvenation, I don’t know what is. It was precisely this morning that my 4-year-old and I discovered the just-released CD from Miss Nina. A follow-up to Singing & Dancing Together, Sha Doo Be Doop is a spirited release of toe-tapping tunes that can’t help give you a little bit of a lift. Miss Nina’s music teacher background is evident throughout this collection of catchy sing-a-longs, many of which kids can pick up after just a few listens. From “Angry Song,” which playfully grants permission to let it all out, to “Ridin’ In My Car,” which takes the boredom out of ho-hum errands, these tracks keep the beat without going overboard. Our favorite, by far, was “The Brown Bear Rap,” a hip-hop ode to our favorite Eric Carle story, “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” Miss Nina has a clever way of combining classic kid lit with nursery rhymes to create a unique sound. In fact, it’s just one of several book-inspired tunes that bring a liveliness to the printed page, like “How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?” and “Wild Things”–perfect teaching tools for the preschool classroom.  An upbeat tempo and memorable lyrics make Sha Doo Be Doop a way to enjoy the world as it should be seen: through the eyes of child…or at least, a child at heart.

In a Nutshell: The perfect panacea for tough times, this new kiddie CD delivers smiles all around.

missninacover72

 

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and away they go: cooper & kid how things fly

 The Playful Walnut
Apr 122013
 

My husband is a good dad, even if he doesn’t always think so. A time-pressed, hard-working father (like so many dads we know), he struggles with the fact that he can’t see his girls as much as he’d like to. And when he is home, he’s torn by dividing his time between left-over work, home improvement projects and time with his daughters (oh yeah, and don’t forget about me). He’s great at playing board games and reading with our 8-year-old, but when I see his eyes start to glaze over after the umpteenth round of Richard Scarry’s Busytown, I feel for him. Well, it may not be Father’s Day just yet, but I know my better half might appreciate something new and different he can do with our girls. We’ve got our eye on Cooper & Kid, makers of a dad-friendly all-in-one activity kit that lets your favorite guy roll up his sleeves and dive into a hands-on project (like he needs an excuse). The first kit in this brand-new series, “How Things Fly,” includes everything to get your brood’s (and his) imaginations soaring: a “flight manual” guide, catapult building kit, biplane building kit, parachute man, sky lantern, themed dinner menu with recipes (does that mean he’ll play chef, too? Be still my beating heart!) and, to cap off their great day together, a bedtime story. Even if your guy isn’t as handy as mine is, there’s bound to be something in this box that he can do with the kids that doesn’t involve a pair of dice, or heaven forbid, having to drink pretend tea. Cooper & Kid gets points bonus for getting everyone out of the house, and away from the iPad, TV or gadget of choice–including Dear Old Dad. Available as part of a quarterly, monthly, yearly subscription, or one-time offer, this is one mail-order gift they won’t forget. And neither will he.

In a Nutshell: Because time isn’t the only thing that can fly when you’re with your kids. Cooper & Kid makes for a great Father’s Day gift or any other special occasion to celebrate Dad.

Dad and flying box kid pointing

 

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in the swim of things: ariel, jake and the neverland pirates swim collection

 The Accessorized Walnut, The Playful Walnut
Apr 052013
 

My daughter’s preschool sent home summer camp registration this week, and so I am reminded that bathing suit season is upon us yet again. (Lucky for me, I can work out my own swimwear neuroses by happily buying for two young girls.) If your kids are still young enough to enjoy their favorite characters on their clothing, then let their summer wardrobe include two Disney friends that can accompany them to the beach, lake or pool. The Ariel Swim Collection for Girls includes a wet-and-wonderful swimsuit, cover-up, flip flops, beach towel, sunglasses and swim bag. We especially love the endless waves of ruffles that adorn the swimsuit’s neckline. And for the boys comes the Jake and the Never Land Pirates Swim Collection, a swash-buckling array of hip swim trunks, rash guard, flip flops, sunglasses and beach towel. Stylish, deep pockets in the swim trunks are the perfect place for stashing pirate booty. Each item in these collections is sold separately and available at The Disney Store exclusively.

In a Nutshell: Kids can make a splash with Disney-themed swimwear that looks cool at the pool or anywhere there’s H2O.

Ariel swimJake swim

 

 

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with this ring i thee…: myringpop.com

 The Playful Walnut, Wired Walnuts
Apr 032013
 

When my husband and I tied the knot 16 years ago this coming September, we chose bubbles as our wedding favor….but they weren’t meant to be taken home. Instead of throwing rice or birdseed, we wanted to bring out the playful side of our relationship and commemorate our special day with family and friends sending us down the aisle into a sea of popping bubbles. What a vision it was! With wedding season right around the corner, you may find yourself at a nuptials celebration sometime this season, and if you do, we hope you’ll have a sweet time. Had MyRingPop.com been in existence when I was getting married, well, let’s just say those bubbles might have had some serious competition. The old dime-store candy (well, maybe it was a bit more than 10 cents back in my day!) can now be customized for any special occasion. Wrappers can be personalized with an original message to commemorate any special occasion. We think these would be a big hit as a take-home favor for your favorite kid’s birthday party and are available in quantities from 25 to 500 (for those well-attended events like baptisms and bar/bat mitzvahs.) And sure, weddings, too. The former bride in me definitely approves!

In a Nutshell: Go sweet on yourself and your guests with customizable candies that will steal the show.

MY_RP_Celebration

 

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songs with sustenance: milkshake got a minute?

 The Playful Walnut
Mar 282013
 

Musicians come and go, especially in the temperamental kid biz, but when a band has been around the block, we can effortlessly turn on their tunes and know we won’t be disappointed. One such kid rock band with staying power is Milkshake and the band’s latest concoction, Got a Minute?, is worth more than a listen. Like most seasoned musicians, Milkshake’s sound has matured over the years, but this release reflects a well-rounded sound to suit a myriad of different tastes. From the jammin’ “We Just Wanna Have Fun,” to the more mellow “Starry, Starry Night,” the band exudes a self- assurance that allows them to bounce back and forth between pop rock, to country, without missing a beat. With more than 30 tracks on this comprehensive CD, Milkshake covers a lot of musical ground and rightfully owns up to its eclectic style. On a recent day spent towing kids around on various errands, spot-on songs like “Look Out Window” punched up some otherwise mundane chores. “Rainy Day Dance Party” may just be on our play list this spring when inclement weather keeps us indoors. Giving us plenty of food for thought, Milkshake is a listening treat worth indulging in.

In a Nutshell: Drink in the sound of rockin’ kid band that just won’t quit. Milkshake’s fifth CD takes the cake!

Got a Minute cover art 300 dpi

 

 

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smash, kid-style: peaceable kingdom stack up!

 The Playful Walnut
Mar 262013
 

Day Two of spring break and the sun has finally reared its head (what kind of spring is this, anyway?). But with a soggy backyard to contend with, playing outdoors had to be postponed. And after my couch cushions found their way onto the floor one too many times for my liking, we decided to break out a new board game. Lucky for me (and my nerves), it was a real crowd-pleaser–and with an 8-year-old and a 4-year-old, that’s no small feat. Peaceable Kingdom’s Stack Up! is aimed at preschool-level game play, but can easily be stepped up a notch for older kids (read: good for mixed-age groups). The premise is simple: build a tower of 12 colorful blocks by landing on the corresponding color spots on the game board without having it topple over. But along the way, beware of the Stack Smasher who may get to the end before your tower is complete, at which point your building will come smashing down (everyone loved lending a hand in the demolition). You can up the ante by using wooden stack sticks to transport blocks to the game board; shaky hands are not wanted! Wacky challenge cards like singing “Happy Birthday” or hopping on one foot as you play provide a breather for patience-tested tots, while allowing grown-up players to get up and stretch (yup, sitting too long isn’t good for any age). My girls and I had a blast playing three back-to-back rounds of Stack Up!, which is easy to get the hang of and perfect for short attention spans.

In a Nutshell: Basic building blocks, they’re not. This game lets preschoolers show off their building skills, as they test their patience skills (instead of testing yours).

Peaceable Kingdom Stack Up! with game open_LR

 

 

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