Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Curious About: TED 2012: The James Bond of Robots: Vijay Kumar
THIS IS NOT A REVIEW
This is merely a "HOLY COW!"
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Marbulous Marble Run: Runs Kids' Imaginations Wild
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| We also added marbles from others sets to our creations. Having marbles of different weights and materials also created more learning opportunities. |
WHAT: Marbulous Marble Run at Lakeshore Learning Materials
DOES: Offers endless opportunities of physics-based learning, a charmingly social activity that allows kids to cooperate or just let one be the dropper while the other be the builder
INVEST: $29.95
TOOLS: Social Scene Helper, Think Like a Scientist/Engineer, My Body Needs to Move
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Guidecraft 3D Feel & Find: Practice Making the Right Decision
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| If these went into an opaque sac, would you be able to discern which fits in each puzzle plate? In your first try? If so, I want video proof. |
INVEST: $18-30 (we saw it on Amazon today at around $18)
TOOLS: Lose and Win Gracefully, Remember to Learn
Friday, February 17, 2012
Toy Fair 2012: Curious About: Crazy Forts and Ukloo
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| Princess Playset is new. Will be available later in the year. |
Toy Fair 2012: Curious About: Eni Puzzles
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| Every puzzle is available now except the black and white one (March) |
Toy Fair 2012: Curious About: Makedo
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| Cannot show this to Number 1 unless they are in my hands. This retails at $20 |
Toy Fair 2012: Curious About: YayLabs! Ice Cream Ball
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| The Ice Cream Ball's got a new jacket that turns it into a balloon ball. |
Toy Fair 2012: Curious About: Klutz
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| Klutz has unveiled new packaging for their books-plus products.* |
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Toy Fair 2012 - Curious About: Think Fun: More Products
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| Pathwords Junior - Visual Spatial Strengths Tackle Reading |
Toy Fair 2012: Curious About: Tangle Creations
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| Tangle Creations- this one is not yet available. I wasn't even allowed to touch it. Sigh... |
Toy Fair 2012: Curious About: Smart Tangoes
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| CEO Marcel de Groot shows Toys are Tools the Smart Max lineup. |
WHO: Smart Tangoes
TOOLS: Tools will be discussed if there is a review.
Toy Fair 2012: Curious About: Blue Orange
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| New Tell Tale cards: Remember our post about wordless books? Available in April for $12.99 |
TOY FAIR 2012 COVERAGE:
WHO: Blue Orange
TOOLS: Tools will be discussed should there be a review
Toy Fair 2012: Curious About: Fat Brain Toys
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| one of the new games at Fat Brain Toys this year |
TOY FAIR 2012 COVERAGE:
WHO: Fat Brain Toy Co.
TOOLS: Tools will be discussed if there is a review.
Toy Fair 2012: Curious About: Eeboo
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| Even the box feels like felt. |
TOY FAIR 2012 COVERAGE:
WHO: Eeboo new games and toys
TOOLS: tools will be named if we do a review on a product.
Toy Fair 2012: Curious About: Zibits Gauntlet
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| This Zibit is only exclusive to Gauntlet set. |
TOY FAIR 2012 COVERAGE:
WHAT: Senario Gauntlet
WHEN: much later on in the year... can we wait?
DOES: see the video
TOOLS: Tools will be discussed if we do a review.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Toy Fair 2012: Curious About: Mindware
TOY FAIR 2012 COVERAGE:
WHO: Mindware games and toys
WHEN: most if not all are available now.
INVEST: $ prices vary
TOOLS: tools will be named if a product is reviewed but take a look at the photos and try to guess
Toy Fair 2012: Curious About: Fantasma Magic for Girls
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| This reminds me of my old fortune telling days.... |
TOY FAIR 2012 COVERAGE:
WHO: Fantasma Magic
WHAT: Girl Stuff
WHEN: July
INVEST: $ 9.99 and up
TOOLS: we'll let you know once we get to review it.
Toy Fair 2012 - Curious About: iPod Controlled Cars and Helicopters
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| Control cars and helicopter with your iPod |
WHAT: Fantasma Toys
WHEN: not yet, later this year.
INVEST: $no price yet
TOOLS: these toys have not been reviewed yet so it is hard to say but take a look and see what you think.
Toy Fair 2012 - Curious About: Educational Insights
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| Math Slam is new for 2012 |
WHO: Educational Insights
WHAT: a whole bunch of games and toys
WHEN:
DOES: I think they are all available now.
TOOLS: none of these items have been reviewed yet but they certainly look like they can be tools
Toy Fair 2012: Curious About: Learning Resources
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| Can you make learning Upper and Lowercase letters anymore fun? |
TOY FAIR 2012 Coverage:
WHO: Learning Resources
WHAT: so many new products!
WHEN: most have just become available this year.
TOOLS: none of them have been reviewed by me yet just look and you can make lots of guesses
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Toy Fair 2012 - Curious About: Elenco Snap Circuits Light
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| you can use this one with an iPod but you |
WHAT: Elenco Snap Circuits Light
WHEN: will be available later this year.
INVEST: $75.00 MSRP
TOOLS: can be discussed more in depth during a review but check out the video for now!
Toy Fair 2012 - Curious About: Little Kids No Spill Bubbles
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| How important is 'no spill' to you? |
TOY FAIR 2012 Coverage
WHAT: Little Kids Bubble Products
WHEN: now
INVEST: $ 2-3 and up, various products
TOOLS: Tools will be identified after we do a review.
Toy Fair 2012 - Curious About: Perplexus Twist
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| And it's not just for show, there is a ball in there and everything! Alas, I couldn't solve this one either. Sigh.... |
WHAT: Perplexus Twist (not pictured) but read below
WHEN: June-July 2012
DOES: it does share some traits with the Perplexus but the added twist is literally a twist function; there are 30 transition points; this is not one continuous track like the Original
TOOLS: please read the previous review on the Perplexus Original. More TOOL ideas will come should we do a review.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Toy Fair 2012 - Curious About: Rockboard's RBX
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| Coming to you in Spring 2012 |
WHAT: Rockboard's RBX
WHEN: Spring 2012
DOES: Propel yourself on a scooter in a totally new way
INVEST: $110
TOOLS: Tools can be identified should we do a review.
Toy Fair 2012 - Curious About: Distraction
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6,8,3 What month was it two months ago? December. Okay say the numbers again. 6,9,3?
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TOY FAIR 2012 COVERAGE:
WHAT: Distractions by Think Fun
WHEN: now, yes, now!
DOES: Works on working memory (they are good at this) while throwing in some fun distractions along the way.
INVEST: $11.99
TOOLS: Tools will be identified after we do a review.
Toy Fair 2012 - Curious About: Gyro Wheel
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| There is a battery but the power comes mostly from you! |
TOY FAIR 2012 Coverage
WHAT: Gyro Wheel by Leading Edge Novelty
WHEN: NOW! Yeah!
DOES: instant gratification for having your eyes, wrist, and arms cooperate with each other; practice brings even more thrills
INVEST: $9.99 (found it on Amazon here)
TOOLS: Tools should be named if we do a review
Toy Fair 2012 Coverage - Curious About:Tall Stacker Mighty Monkey Playset
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| Tall Stacker Mighty Monkey Playset by Lauri |
TOY FAIR 2012 PREVIEWS......
WHAT: Tall Stacker Mighty Monkey Playset by Lauri
WHEN: Spring 2012
DOES: you have to build a playground- and you can build it in your own way - that's exciting; think make-believe play skills meet spatial-relation challenges, I bet it's not easy as it looks and that's a good thing.
INVEST: $29.99
TOOLS: Tools will be identified after we do a review.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Ravensburger Puzzle: Extra Benefits
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| These boxes are great! Very sturdy! |
WHAT: Ravensburger Jigsaw Puzzles
DOES: allows you to use and adjust your solving tactics, give you a chance to work cooperatively, must be courteous of other's space and their "projects"
INVEST: some 100 piece puzzles cost $9 and up (Pictured is $9-12 "Fire Department")
TOOLS: Family Fix-it, Foment Love of Language, People are People
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Ravensburger Jigsaw Puzzles: Clearly Defined Goals Make Working Together Easier
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| This play led to a lot of talk about past and future vacations. |
WHAT: Ravensburger Jigsaw Puzzles
DOES: Allows kids to work together towards a clearly-defined end goal, allows for conversations about themes on your puzzles, wide arrange of themes can motivate varied interests of both boys and girls of different ages.
INVEST: 35-piece puzzle usually costs $9.99, larger puzzles are more expensive. pictured: Busy Airport $7-$10
TOOLS: Social Scene Helper, Foment Love of Language, People are People
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
GIVEAWAY: Time Timer: Time to Build Independence
WHAT: Time Timer 3"
DOES: provides a visual and spatial representation of elapsed time; 3-inch model is great for individual use at home or at school (or at work for the grown-up)
INVEST: $30.00 (sometimes you might find it on sale on other websites)
TOOLS: Family Fix-it; I Can Take Care of Myself; Social Scene Helper (helps those who needs more defined time limits during open-ended playtimes)
Giveaway details below