“How was school?,” I asked my daughter one day last week. “Good,” she replied. “Anything exciting happen today?,” I offered, hoping to illicit more than a pat reply. “Not much” was the response (hey, at least it was a two-word answer.) If talking to your kid feels like pulling teeth some days, then try speaking their language: combine tech talk with a little bit of humor. That’s the m.o. of Moji Mis, a gaggle of colorful creatures who utter all sorts of silly sounds when tickled. And if you have more than one Moji Mi, you can rub their spiky heads together and they’ll start up a huge gab fest. While these giggly guys can be a riot, they only speak when kids interact with [&hellip
collectible toys Archive
Did you hear the news that KISS won’t be performing during their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this spring? The band nixed the idea once they realized the original line-up wouldn’t be on stage together. If you happen to be a devoted fan who’s bummed out that you won’t get a chance to see the iconic 70s band known for its music almost as much as its make-up, then consider making them “play nice” with their latest counterparts. Uglydoll has just released its own tribute to the band with a line of plush dolls that mirror each band member. Outfitted as their alter-ego comic book characters, the Uglydoll KISS assortment includes OX Demon, Wage The Spaceman, Big Toe Starchild and Babo [&hellip
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
My girls adore Beanie Ballz (if you happen to live under a rock, they are a round version of the plush dolls that have been taking toy/gift stores by storm for the past decade). Their favorites are the pint-sized plush that double as key chains, and my older daughter alternates which ones she carries around on her backpack. So when I was at Toy Fair last month, I wasn’t surprised to see the Ty booth (makers of Beanie products) hopping with activity…but little did I know, there was another plush ball maker in town with an added twist. ShtankOut is a scented collectible toy that attaches to anywhere that might benefit from a little nosegay: kids’ lockers, backpacks, closets and gym bags. Each key chain [&hellip
Like me, my girls are developing a love for all things Japanese (food, culture, and of course, everyone’s favorite Hello Kitty). Unlike me, my girls do not–and I repeat, do not–play with dolls. Never had, and looking like they never will. (It breaks my own mother’s heart, but that’s a whole other story…) Because there never was a “Barbie stage” in our house, I don’t have to worry about “de-pinking” my house anytime soon. But just because my daughters are not into dressing up their playthings and sending them off to the spa in a sporty coupe, it doesn’t mean they can’t experience living in another place and all the excitement that comes along with that fantasy. For the anti-fashion-doll audience comes Kimmidoll Junior, a [&hellip
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 [&hellip
When my brother and I were kids, we played endlessly with our Smurf figures. It didn’t matter that each character had a given name; we liked to assign individual ones ourselves. Brainy Smurf became Bookie (because he was book-smart, naturally), Smurfette was Girly and Papa Smurf was Santa (the red suit is a dead-giveaway). We had a blast because we were able to name and take our Smurfs on our own adventures…kind of like how I feel today as a mom with my kids. Not exactly, but I still enjoy making up silly names for my kids and taking them places. I recently noticed that my 7-year-old may have inherited this crazy (let’s call it “unique”) gene herself. She has taken to giving code names [&hellip
Whether or not I choose to admit it, summer is officially over. No matter what the calendar says, I refuse to put away my flip flops, suntan lotion and shorts in case Indian Summer decides to stick around for a while. While our kiddie pool may have been deflated, that doesn’t mean we still can’t savor those last warm weather days and still mild nights with some fun playthings, like FyrFlyz. This is not your average spinning toy, but one that’s cleverly disguised as a mini lights show. If you’re a wizard with a yo-yo, then you’ll want to get your hands on this very hands-on toy. Somewhat difficult to explain, but easy to play, FyrFlyz works by swinging two strings while pulling them tight [&hellip