Holiday Toy Guide 2008: Toddlers

1. Crayola Beginnings’ TaDoodles™ Scribble And Sing™ Art Station: Recommended for ages 18 months and up, this station will keep your kids busy with over 15 activities. Most little ones like to scribble and/or color so I especially like the fact that the five markers in this set are shaped for the hands of young children. I also like that both singing and drawing are combined in this one product. (Sean’s aunt is getting him TaDoodles for Christmas and I look forward to spending time making some fun “creations” together with my little musical one!) Note: This toy requires 3 AA batteries.

Price: $29.99

2. Fisher-Price’s Little People® Learn About Town™ : Kids ages 2 years to 5 years will enjoy these four play sets in one. They can choose to play at the doctor and dentist office, the pet shop, the ABC school or the pizza shop. Wherever they decide to go, there’s plenty to learn (including the alphabet, counting, colors, shapes, etc.) and experience (opening and closing, pressing, etc.). The songs and sounds also help to make the learning more fun. This is a classic toy with a new twist that both parents and kids will like. Note: This toy requires 3 AA batteries.
Price: $45.00

3. Leap Frog’s Fridge Phonics® Magnetic Set: Appropriate for ages 24 months to 5 years, this is a set that will grow with your child. At first I was a little thrown off, because Leap Frog has changed the look of this set. (I and many of my friends have the former version on our refrigerators!) However, I was happy to see that the core of the product is still the same. The set comes with 26 colorful, magnetic letters and a magnetic letter reader that easily attaches to your fridge. When placed in the reader, each letter both talks (teaching the name of the letter and the sound that it makes) and sings (fun, little learning songs). Many kids love playing with magnets on the refrigerator and this is a great toy to make that playtime educational.
Price: $21.99

4. Little Tikes’ Jungle Jamboree™ Tiger 2-in-1 Piano: Kids ages 1 1/2 years and up will love playing music (AKA banging) on this little combination piano and xylophone. There’s a reason that I see this toy in almost every home with young kids that I visit (including my own home) – it’s cute and fun! Four music sheets with the notes to popular nursery songs are included with the piano. (Most young kids - except musical prodigies - won’t use the sheets, but they are enjoyable for the adults to play songs for their kids.) This is an item that I highly recommend and often give to toddlers as gifts
Price: $19.99

5. PLAYSKOOL CLIPO CREATIVITY TABLE : For ages 18 months and up, this is a great little play station. CLIPO pieces are already fun to connect by themselves (my kids love playing with their CLIPO sets). Combine the pieces with the toy’s spinning turntables and the creative fun is taken to a whole other (better!) level. Also, on a practical note, the shape sorter and drop slot will also help kids’ motor skills. Note: This toy requires 2 “AA” batteries
Price: $32.99

6. Radio Flyer’s #46/#46G Classic Lights & Sounds Trike: For ages 2 years to 5 years, these retro-styled bikes cannot be beat. Practically every kid loves getting a bike for the holidays. There are plenty to choose from, but this is my bike pick for 2008. First of all, these bikes are both well-built and beautiful to look at. Besides the aesthetics, kids will enjoy the electronic aspect of the bike (the dashboard has a turn signal, music, and a honking horn) as well as the fact that they can store their little “treasures” under the bike’s seat. Note that 3 AAA batteries are needed for this bike.
Price: $59

7. Step2 50’s Diner: Kids ages 2+ will enjoy hours of pretend play in this (multiple!) award-winning retro-styled kitchen. Normally, I try not to include large toys as picks (due to urban space restraints), but I just had to make an exception for this great toy. (Besides, I know that some of you have basements, play rooms, etc.) Both adults and kids will enjoy this fifties styled 2-sided designed diner (there is a kitchen on one side and booth-style seating on the other). There’s so much for kids to love in this diner including a variety of accessories (coffee pot, sound-making griddle pan, dishes, silverware, etc.) as well as play food (burgers, fries, ice cream, etc.). Note: This diner requires 4 “AA” and 2 “AAA” batteries.
Price: $149.99

8. Thinkativity’s Soar & Explore Storyteller : Ages 2 years+ will enjoy this airplane-shaped storyteller. Kids will be able to build their own stories as they spin each story block and listen to the plane “read” their various adventure stories. What’s especially neat is that the storyteller introduces kids to eight different languages!
Price: $24.99

Holiday Toy Guide 2008: Preschoolers

1. American Girl’s Bitty Twins Dolls: Little girls (or boys) ages 3 and up will love playing with these adorable dolls that come dressed in plaid and denim outfits. There are many top doll brands out there to choose from (several of which you have seen/will see on this site) but this is my doll pick for 2008. I like the quality construction of the dolls; that the buyers have a lot of choice (skin tone, hair color and gender) and that you get two dolls for the price of one!
Price: $95 (two dolls with outfits and a book)

2. Cranium’s Hullabaloo: Kids ages 4 and up (and their parents!) will love this high energy game. There are so many games out there that are fun for the family, but this my 2008 game pick. (You can read Mom in the City reviewer Lesley Thompson’s thoughts on this game here.)
Price: $24.99

3. Fisher Price’s Computer Cool School™ : Kids ages 3 to 6 years will learn so much with this computer keyboard that features five learning centers. They use it along with your computer to learn a variety of skills (reading, writing, math, science, art and music). It really does help to make learning fun. The thing that I especially like about this product is that (unlike many other computer styled programs) it helps kids with their writing skills by including a writing and drawing tablet for right or left-handed kids (which is great for my little lefty!). On a computer safety note, the system has password-protected controls that blocks access to parents’ computer desktop and websites. Note: This computer works with Microsoft® Windows Vista™ or Windows XP operating systems. It’s not Mac-compatible.
Price: $60.00

4. Hasbro’s The Incredible Hulk - Hulk Smash Hands : Little boys (or girls) age 3 and up will love punching things (and people!) with these talking Hulk mitts. Don’t worry though…they’re plush/soft to the touch. As I have written before, my four years old son Michael was jumping up and down yelling “Hulk Smash!” while Sean (who’s 1) kept saying “Wow” even before I finished opening the box holding the hands. They both then proceeded to try to “Hulk Smash”/attack me with the hands. Very cute! Their friends enjoy playing with the hands and I’ve also heard from other Mom in the City moms that their kids love them too. My favorite fist line (that I’ve borrowed in other scenarios) is “You’re making me angry! You won’t like me when I’m angry!” Note: This toy uses 3 AAA batteries.
Price: $19.99

5. LeapFrog® Tag Reading System : Kids ages 4 to 8 will learn that reading can be fun with this web-connected system. I’m a big fan of educational toys (obviously) and this is one of the more exciting ones out there. With this touch reading system (a small infrared camera at the tip of the reader “reads” letters, words and
symbols) words talk, pictures sing and much more. The reader only works with the 20 books and activity sets in the system library. Parents download each book’s audio, then drag and drop content onto the reader (like digital camera or MP3 files). That can be a bit of a hassle for non-techy parents (like me!) but on the positive side, each time that parents connect the reader to their Mac or PC, they can view their child’s progress and get more content to keep their child’s interest.
Price: $49.99

6. Little Tikes My Real Digital Video Camera : Kids ages 3 years and up will have fun recording video and taking pictures of their activities with this video camera. I especially like that the video camera is both sturdy and waterproof so that kids can film underwater (or simply just so that the camera doesn’t get ruined when it gets exposed to water – which most electronic items “happen to” in the hands of young kids). What’s also fun for the kids (and parents) is that there are movie making editing features as well as the ability to add graphics and sounds to both videos and pictures. Note: This camera requires 2 “AA” batteries.
Price: $99.99

7. Mattel’s Matchbox® Power Scouts™ Vehicles & Playsets : Kids ages 3+ will enjoy playing with these track systems and line of 4 x 4s that are designed with smaller hands in mind. These battery-powered vehicles really are tough (they’ve been riding over and under all types of things in my house!) and kids love them. They work either by the kids pushing them manually or in the battery-powered all-wheel drive mode. I prefer the manual use, because the noise from the battery-powered mode gives me a headache after a long while. (Of course my kids have the opposite preference, so I sometimes have to “hide” the cars or slip out the batteries to get a brief break!) In any event, you simply press down on the back of the trucks to activate the motor. If your kids want or need something special to test our their new 4 x 4s, they can try one the three new Power Scouts™ Playset and Challenge track system assortments. (We have the “Skull’s Challenge” one which both boys enjoy.)
Vehicles Price: $6.99+; Adventure Playsets Price: $16.88+

8. Vtech’s KidiJamz Studio™ : Kids ages 4 years to 7years will love recording and listening to their own songs and music with this interactive music station. This is Michael’s #1 Christmas wish item - it knocked another toy off his list. (He’ll be getting his wish, but don’t tell him!) After recording, kids will be able to play their pieces back on a detachable music player. Kids can also mix their music with a variety of kid friendly tunes. They can also choose from 10 different musical instrument sounds and several other stylistic options. A microphone and digital voice effects are also included for your little singers. Lastly, there is a musical scratching disc (Michael’s favorite – he wants to scratch like a DJ) and a light-up keyboard. I’m already thinking about which earplugs I’ll need….Note: This studio requires 4 AA batteries.
Price: $59.99

AND ONE STOCKING STUFFER…
-eeBoo’s Tell Me a Story / Creative Story Cards: eeBoo is such a smart company, that I just had to include these cards as a “stocking stuffer” idea for kids ages 3 years and up. Kids (and parents!) will enjoy using their imaginations to combine the 36 different images on the cards in order to play a variety of games and activities
Price: $9.95

Holiday Toy Guide 2008: Video Games

This past year, my family has officially become a “gaming” family. As long as we also do other active and mentally stimulating activities outside of the Wii and DS, I’m okay with that. So, here are my top 8 video game picks:

1. Active Life Outdoor Challenge: I reviewed that here.

2. Carnival Games: This game was included as one of my Favorite Things for April after we bought it for Michael’s birthday in March. I wrote: “I like this Wii game that my son received for his birthday. Of course he beats me at many of the games (he has incredible hand-eye coordination!). I don’t take it personally though — he beats most visiting adults! The only thing that I don’t like about this software is that you can’t choose a black or brown character to represent you like with the other Wii games. They need to change that. Other than that, it’s really fun. (Be forewarned that the carnival game “hosts” talk a lot of trash when you miss/don’t win at games.)”

3. Celebrity Sports Showdown: You can read my review here.

4. EA Sports All-Play: Back in June, I was able to preview this new line of sports games. I really like them because they have various levels so that both young kids and experienced adults can enjoy the game. So far, there are five different games in the series (golf, 2 football games, basketball and soccer). Recently we have been playing with the basketball game (my husband will be writing a review of it soon). Our schedules have been so full that we haven’t taken the time to figure out the various levels yet. We’ve mainly been playing, 2-on-2 at the beginner level (basically, you just point the remote when you want to pass or shoot). We’re superstars in this mode…I haven’t lost a game yet! (I’m sure that I’ll be “humbled” as we go to higher levels of play…)

5. Guitar Hero: I had the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock game at home. (I recently gave it away in anticipation of getting the new Guitar Hero World Tour which I previewed back in August.) Both games are great. The World Tour one just has a little more variety and features. With either choice, you’ll have a blast “rocking” (really, even when you’re not good – there are easy levels that can fool you into thinking that you are!) It is fun to play alone, but it’s also a fun party game. You’ll see…there’s a rocker waiting to get out of most of us. (Just note that you might need to get earplugs.)

6. Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir: I reviewed this DS game here.

7. Wii Fit: I’ve shared tidbits about this game in various posts. It’s one of my favorite Wii “games”. It’s a great addition to your exercise routine, because it offers both a body test and fitness training. With the body test, the system measures your center of balance, your BMI/weight and how well you control your body. (It’s encouraging when you’re sticking to your routine, but not so much fun when you don’t. For instance, I ate a lot a couple of weeks around my birthday and gained a couple of pounds. The Wii Fit asked me WHY had I gained weight and gave a few options. It’s hard to get defensive with a system, so I just had to admit the reason was because I had been eating more and get back with the program!) The training party is fun too because there are a wide variety of exercises (yoga, balance games, strength training and aerobics). The favorite around here (group-wise) is the hula hoop competition – for girls and guys.

8. Wii Music: I reviewed my favorite family-friendly music game here.

In Case You Missed It (Carter’s Clothing Warning)

In an Associated Press article called “400 reports of baby rashes prompt clothing warning“, parents are warned about Carter’s Inc. baby garments (the Fall 2007 line) with tag-less labels. The Consumer Product Safety Commission encourages parents to stop dressing their children in these garments if they develop a rash, but a recall of the product line has not been issued. On Carter’s site it says:

“If your child develops such an allergic reaction, you should stop using the garment that caused the reaction. If the condition persists, please contact your pediatrician for advice. You may return any item that you are not satisfied with for a full refund. Our Consumer Affairs staff can help with that return.”

For more information, consumers can call 888-282-4674 or visit http://www.carters.com/corporate/tagless-message.aspx or http://www.cpsc.gov.

Mom Review of “13″ The Musical

“The seventh and eighth grades were for me, and for every good and single interesting person I’ve ever known, what the writers of the Bible meant when they used the words hell and the pit. Seventh and eighth grades were a place into which one descended. One descended from the relative safety and wildness and bigness one felt in sixth grade, eleven years old. Then the worm turned, and it was all over for any small feeling that one was essentially all right. One wasn’t. One was no longer just some kid. One was suddenly a Diane Arbus character. It was springtime, for Hitler, and Germany.”
-Anne Lamott, Operating Instructions

I can’t read Lamott’s spot-on description of the seventh and eighth grades without getting that heebie-jeebie feeling that someone has just walked over my grave. In one simple, cringe-inducing paragraph, she perfectly nails the horror so peculiar to those years. The same cannot be said of the new musical, “13”, which opened this month at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theater, although in its defense: a) its target audience might not be a 37-year old mother of toddlers (despite the fact that its composer and lyricist, Jason Robert Brown, best known for “Parade” and “The Last Five Years,” is 38 years old and the father of a toddler) and b) its intent may not have been to dredge up particularly painful memories of the ‘tween (although that term had not even been coined when I was that age) years.

Evan (an earnest and likable Graham Phillips) is about to turn 13 and his world is falling apart. His dad left his mom for a stewardess and now his mom is moving him from the security of his Upper West Side enclave to Appleton, Indiana, touted as “the lamest place in the world” by one of the show’s songs. To make matters even worse, all of this has happened on the eve of what Evan calls the “Jewish Superbowl”—his bar mitzvah. How in the world will he ever get all of the cool kids at his new junior high to come to The Most Important Event of His Life when he’s not only the new kid in town, but also the first Jewish person any of them have ever met?

Things start looking up for Evan when he meets Patrice (singing powerhouse Allie Trimm) and they hit it off splendidly—until school starts, that is, and Evan learns that he must choose between his new friend, who just happens to be the biggest geek in school, and being part of the in crowd. The leaders of the pack at his new junior high are Brett (Eric M. Nelsen), a shaggy blond skater dude and football player who apparently was cutting class the day they handed out brains, Kendra (Delaney Moro), the willowy, virginal cheerleader after whom Brett lusts and who evokes images of Jennie Garth as Kelly Taylor in the original “Beverly Hills 90210” (but I date myself here), and Kendra’s queen bee mean girl BFF, Lucy (Elizabeth Egan Gillies).

Evan, single-mindedly focused on throwing the best bar mitzvah ever at any cost, initially ditches Patrice and panders to the popular crowd. After a series of mishaps involving a slasher movie, an unexpected kiss, and a show-down at the Dairy Queen, however, he has a rare moment of clarity for a 13-year old and realizes how much he wants to make things right with Patrice–and what a complete bunch of morons the popular clique really is.

Both the show’s rock band and the 13-member cast are all bona fide teenagers ranging in age from 13 to 15, with one lone 17-year-old thrown in—quite refreshing in this age of 26-year-olds cast to play budding adolescents. Aside from the all-teen cast, though, there’s nothing else that really sets this show apart. “13” will not make you laugh until you have tears running down your face like the irreverent “Avenue Q” nor does it pack the emotional punch of the innovative “Spring Awakening,” two Tony-award-winning coming-of-age shows also currently on Broadway. It is not a show for the 30-something set—or probably any age group outside of its own cast’s age range—but if you’re looking for some age-appropriate entertainment for your ‘tween, this simple, sweet, and mildly entertaining fare—a sort of Broadway version of “High School Musical”–may be just the thing.

-Jennifer Lehner

Walt Disney World: Epcot Center

I only went on one ride (The American Adventure) at Epcot. I think that older kids might enjoy it, but I think my little ones would have been bored/not able to appreciate the history that the ride covered. (The images were amazing though – it took me a few moments to realize that they weren’t actual people!)

For me, the two highlights at Epcot were the Party for the Senses and IllumiNations:

-Party for the Senses – Eat, Drink and Celebrate was excellent (especially for a “foodie” like me!). There were more than 25 chefs from all over the world. They were serving samples of their top dishes at tasting stations as well as over 70 wines and beers. What was so ironic to me was that my favorite dish at the event was from a local (NYC) visiting chef - Bill Telepan of Telepan Restaurant in NYC. (I had written about Bill and Telepan here back in May.)

- IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth was also fun. We had a beautiful view of the pyrotechnic show. There was an Earth Globe floating across the water showing “wonders” of the seven continents on its curved LED screens. The music, lasers and cool breeze combined to make that night truly memorable. This was the best shot that I was able to take that night:

In any event, I would like to go back to Epcot one day. There are a lot of other attractions (and food items!) that I would like to try out.

NYC Halloween Events 2008

New York City is a fun place to be on Halloween. There are so many different ways to celebrate with your little ones. The events listed below will help to make the day thrilling and memorable.

Bronx
-Boo at the Zoo (October 11–13, 18–19 & 25–26): Families will enjoy magic shows, spooky stories, music, costume parades, storytelling, musical hayrides, pumpkin painting, giveaways and much more at the Bronx Zoo. This year they have a special offer where one child in Halloween costume will receive a free child’s limited admission ticket with the purchase of one full price adult limited admission ticket. (718) 367-1010.

-Halloween Fun Run in Van Cortlandt Park (October 25, 2PM. – 4PM): Kids ages 2-10 years old can race in their costumes as part of this free Halloween Fun Run in the Bronx. Meet at the Tortoise and Hare Statue at Broadway & 246 Street. (718) 430-1890.

Brooklyn
-Halloween at the A-scarium (October 25-26, noon – 4PM): Kids (ages 6 and up) will enjoy celebrating the holiday at the New York Aquarium. Deadly creatures from the deep will be featured at this annual Halloween festival. In addition to the Haunted Pavilion, there will also be arts and crafts. This event is free with aquarium admission (costumed children are admitted for free). (718) 265-FISH.

-Monster Mash (October 31, 5PM): Kids of all ages will enjoy celebrating Halloween at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum (especially since the museum just finished undergoing a huge makeover). Visitors will be able to touch slithery snakes, have their faces painted, hear spooky stories and more. Visitors are encouraged to come in a costume. This event is free with regular museum admission. (718) 735-4400.

Queens
- Halloween Haunted House (October 25, 26, and 31, 4PM – 7PM): Kids (ages 4 – 12) will enjoy hayrides ($2 per person) and fall foods (mulled cider, pumpkins and apples will be sold). Admission to the event at Queens County Farm is $4. (718) 347-3276.

-Halloween Festival (October 25, noon – 4PM): Enjoy a day filled with games, hay rides, crafts, pumpkin patches, goodie bags and much more at this free event in Queens’ Fort Totten Park. (718)352-4793

Manhattan
-Spooktacular Halloween Celebration (October 31, 4PM – 7PM): Kids will trick-or-treat, create origami, make crafts and more at this annual family favorite at the American Museum of Natural History. I (Kimberly) attend this event each year with my family and we always enjoy it! It costs $10.00 per person ($9.00 for Museum Members). (212) 769-5100

-Clifford the Big Red Dog’s Spooktacular Halloween Party (October 28, 6PM – 7PM): Kids can make their own spider cupcakes; design a Halloween mask; listen to stories and much more. Parents/guardians can bring their cameras for fun photo ops. with Clifford the Big Red Dog. The cost for this Scholastic Store event is $10 per child. (212) 343-6166

In addition to the events mentioned above, there are many events planned at local parks and libraries. Visit http://www.nycgovparks.org for Parks events. Library events can be found at http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org (Brooklyn); http://www.nypl.org (Bronx & Manhattan) or http://www.queenslibrary.org (Queens). Enjoy!

(For a more comprehensive list of NYC area Halloween events, visit here.)