• Wired Walnuts Archive

    Happy (almost) New Year! Have you joined the resolution-making camp? You know the drill: The road to 2014 may be paved with good intentions, but as most folks know–whether they’ll admit to it or not–most resolutions fizzle out before spring. If you vow that this year will be different–you will put that gym membership to good use and get up at 5 a.m., even if it kills you–then we commend you and aim to help you achieve your goal (just don’t expect a gym buddy). Instead, we’ve been checking out some of the newer activity bands, and have found one worth treating yourself to. Oregon Scientific’s Ssmart Dynamo has all the bells and whistles you expect from a fitness tracker, but with an ease of [&hellip

    Read More...

    Let the countdown begin! Our eyes and ears are peeled for the sound of Santa’s sleigh. Did we just hear reindeer hooves on the roof? If your kids can hardly wait another moment, we’ve found an entertaining way to maintain the momentum and keep them occupied (you do have all those presents to wrap, don’t you?). We got our hands on School Zone’s new app Jolly Try-n-Spy, a clever app that lets kids show just how observant they can be. Each of the 10 jolly Christmas scenes contain hidden pictures. They start out black and white, but once you locate the hidden images, the screen turns full color as Santa and team ride across the sky. Each time you play, the time it takes for [&hellip

    Read More...

    Is a tablet on your kid’s wish list this year? If you’re in the market for a model that will keep him happy, but that won’t break the bank, we’ve found what you’re after. We got our hands on an advance copy of the VTech InnoTab 3S, and think it’s going to make many a kid very happy this Christmas. Targeted at ages 3-9, this tablet spans a wide age range–and with good reason. It comes loaded with plenty of apps–20 in all and others you purchase separately–including a MP3 player, art studio, calendar and friends list. We don’t personally know any 3-year-olds who are penciling in their playdates, but this definitely offers big-kid appeal for budding tweens making note of their friends’ b-days and [&hellip

    Read More...

    “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

    Read More...

    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

    Read More...

    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

    Read More...

    One more week of summer vacation, so naturally it was time to bite the bullet and take the kids backpack shopping. Amazingly, it was relatively painless; my 9-year-old grabbed the first blue bag she spotted, and my 5-year-old made a beeline for Hello Kitty. Not a big surprise there; all things kitty continue to reign supreme in this kingdom. So naturally, when we got wind of the new Hello Kitty Sweet Little Shops game for the Leapster Explorer, I knew she’d be in heaven. Designed for ages 4-7, this game teaches kids all types of basic (and not-so-basic) math, including how to estimate, recognizing numbers and shapes and even how to read a bar graph (wow, already?). Of course, the learning is cleverly disguised within [&hellip

    Read More...

    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 [&hellip

    Read More...

    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 [&hellip

    Read More...

    Ever imagine what you might look like if you were animated? What if you could sing, too? Well, if you happened to be Laurie Berkner, you’d soon get your chance. Beginning this Monday, March 25, the well-known children’s indie musician will celebrate her latest incarnation as the star of Sing It, Laurie!, her own very own animated TV show on the Sprout network. No stranger to performing for TV audiences, Laurie gained a strong following on Nick Jr. and can now add a new network to her growing fan base. In this new series, Laurie’s unmistakable voice will be adopted by a little girl who uses her music and songs to better understand the world around her. Episode themes will include dressing up, having a [&hellip

    Read More...