Happy (almost) Thanksgiving! If you’re looking for something to do with the kiddies over the long holiday weekend, may we suggest a movie or two? Just released on DVD The Snow Queenis , an animated version of the fabled tale by Hans Christian Anderson that demonstrates the power of family (a fitting tribute to the holiday season). In this story, the title character threatens to freeze the entire world in a blanket of ice as she takes a young boy captive. When his sister Gerta sets out to save him, she is faced with a number of patience-testing challenges along the way. Be sure to have plenty of popcorn on hand for this edge-of-your-seat story…And if you’ll be heading out to the movie theater, we’re [&hellip
The Playful Walnut Archive
How many toys are on your holiday shopping list this year? If you have kids, or are buying gifts for your nieces, nephews, grandkids or any other special little someone in your life, we’re betting that there are plenty of playthings topping the list. If you’re still trying to figure out what’s hot for kids this year, let us help simplify your shopping by turning to the just-released 2014 Toy of the Year Awards (TOTY) list of finalists. We were invited to a product showcase highlighting all of the nominees earlier today, and boy was it a feast for the eyes and ears! Set against the backdrop of New York’s Bryant Park ice skating rink, a total of 84 toys in 12 different categories were [&hellip
With the holidays approaching faster than I can handle, I’m starting to realize that the kids will be home from school before we know it. And with this year’s Christmas break lasting a full two weeks (!), that means lots and lots of family time. If you’re looking for something that will take the sting out of all that ‘quality’ time, may we suggest a weekend away? If that’s not possible (hey, join the club), how about updating your toy closet with some new board game titles? One new game that has us salivating–and with good reason–is What Would You Do For A Klondike Bar? Call it ice cream charades, if you will. Players begin by rolling the Challenge Cube and then choosing a fellow [&hellip
“Did the mail come?” It’s the same question my 9-year-old asks the minute she steps off the school bus. And sadly, unless it’s her birthday or another holiday, the answer is usually a resounding no. Because both my daughters have always enjoyed playing post office–we’ve even gone so far as to create a makeshift mail stop in our backyard tree, complete with leaves as letters–it’s no surprise that someone would someday make a toy that sends mail…for real. This year, we’re in awe over Toymail and Mailmen, a unique plaything combo that goes beyond standard post office delivery. It starts with toy Mailmen, a line of silly-faced mailboxes that connect to your home WiFi via a free app. Next record any message you like, at [&hellip
It’s not even Thanksgiving, and it feels like the holiday crunch has already set in. People are racing around town like they’re trying to score the last Big Hugs Elmo before it’s sold out. The shopping malls are already piping in “Jingle Bell Rock,” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is scheduled to air two days before you’ll be gorging yourselves on turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. (Is anybody ready for a nap yet?) Since the holiday season tends to take its greatest toll on the kiddos, we make sure to ramp up the sleep quotient as the clock ticks closer to Christmas Eve. That way, we’re assured a jolly holiday and hopefully a virus-free one, too. If you happen to have a little one [&hellip
My 9-year-old loves her Nintendo DS more than me. I don’t take it personally, and of course, I’m only half-kidding. But the truth of the matter is, if I were to take a toy away from her as a form of punishment, it would be her DS. Much as I’d love for it to be otherwise–for me, taking my books and magazines away would be pure torture, and her 5-year-old sister, her crayons and markers–I know who I’m dealing with. Because in our house my fourth grader can only play her DS after a set amount of time (and, of course, after all her homework is done), she knows she must make her choices wisely. If you’re thinking I’m a cruel mom, then hold that [&hellip
One of my 5-year-old’s favorite toys these days is a dress-up playset with a cut-out of a girl desperately in need of a wardrobe change. Simply by swapping out one swatch of fabric for another and closing the frame, she can update the look of her playmate in seconds. I can only wish changing clothes was this easy in real life! What mom hasn’t followed the parental advice of laying out the next day’s outfit the night before…only to have a temperamental tot change her mind the following morning? Well, we may not be able to fix that, but you may be able to strike a deal with your little fashionista with Lotty Dotty, a line of girls’ designer shirts with interchangeable elements that can [&hellip
My 5-year-old still loves playing in the tub, but I must admit that I tire quickly of mopping up the soapy aftermath. Her latest “trick” is floating miniature bunnies on a foam board and having each one “dive” off into the sudsy depths below. Fun for her, not so much fun for my ever-expanding laundry pile. When we found out about a new toy that balances playtime in the bath without compromising mom’s sanity (too much), we were all over it like a dirty kid on soap. The Tubby Table is the ingenious invention of two moms who’ve ‘been there, done that.’ It’s a colorful tabletop surface that attaches to the bottom of your tub via suction cups, keeping it safe and secure in one [&hellip
Has your kid set her sights on a new ride-on this Christmas? Amazing to me that these cars still appeal to my 9-year-old…and who can blame her? The latest models appeal to a variety of mini motorists, from a feline-friendly car, to one that even dear old dad would approve of. Two new ones that caught our attention this season are the Dynacraft Hello Kitty Coupe and the Famosa Range Rover. Any HK fan worth her salt will relish this sweet ride, complete with an MP3 speaker to play all her top tunes. Our favorite detail is the kitty cat ear-shaped bucket seat–purr-fectly divine. The 6-Volt Hello Kitty Coupe comes in white or purple. And if your driver-in-training is pining for something more like Dad [&hellip
I confess: I kinda like doing laundry. I find the chore of sorting colors and whites rather soothing and the sounds of a tumbling dryer, a familiar comfort. Because I wind up folding clothes during our nightly DVR catch-up, this mindless task comes full circle as my day wraps up. I wish all household tasks didn’t require me to expend that much energy (for instance, I loath loading/emptying the dishwasher)…as long as the batch of clothes I’m folding doesn’t reveal any mismatched socks. No matter how much my family tries to keep those pairs together, a lone sock somehow ends up without his mate, and that’s just no fun. Where does that illusive sock go, I sometimes wonder? Could he have taken on another persona, [&hellip