Reviewing Toys

Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund

April 16, 2007, will be remembered as one of the darkest days in the history of the Virginia Tech community and the world beyond.

To remember and honor the victims of those tragic events, the university has established the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund to aid in the healing process and generate financial support.

The fund will be used to cover expenses including but not limited to:

• Grief counseling
• Memorials
• Communication expenses
• Comfort expenses
• Incidental needs

If you plan to give, please click the link below:

When I saw this toy I thought I was having a flashback to my own childhood. I didn’t come across him in a consignment store or my parent’s crawl space, he’s on toy shelves and making a huge comeback. Teddy Ruxpin is back and better than ever.

We all know this animated bear, and the stories he tells, we remember putting the cassette taps in his back and crossing our fingers. Teddy has come a long way. This new age Teddy is fully loaded. Standing tall and reciting stories from small cartridges. There are 5 software packages available this year, all complete with songs, stories, sound effects and the needed data to make Teddy more flawlessly to the story. Younger ones can tuck away for a bedtime story, while older ones cultivate their reading skills and follow along with their new friend.

Complimenting this new toy is an interactive Teddy Ruxpin site for kids. Your children can follow the adventures of Teddy Ruxpin while learn new songs and stories about their bear. There are games and coloring sheets too!

At $69.99 I think Teddy Ruxpin is overpriced, still the nostalgia gets me and I can see adding this bear to our collection soon.

Teddy Ruxpin, Teddy, Ruxpin, toy

I’d hate for one of my first posts to be so negative, but this product gives me the heebie-jeebies in all those ways that push me to rant write. Mom’s on Edge features the Naughty Spot Time Out Mat For Tots. Well, I have my own opinions about the actual effectiveness of the typical Time Out (and by typical I mean the way they usually happen, not the way we claim they come about), but this product takes it one step further and in my opinion is completely unnessesary.

It’s one thing to ask your child to take some time away, to think about the incident, to gain their composure, then to return for a discussion. It is quite another to lay out a mat with a pouty face and send them to sit there as punnishment. Really, I mean sitting on a frowning face, let’s not forget to scold them for pouting when they’re there!

I’m not arguing the need for consistence, nor am I arguing the benefits of taking time away from a situation in order to compose yourself, but the timer feature basically affirms it’s use as a punishment. The time out is then not tied to the child’s need for space or reflection (a time that is not something that can just be set) but to a preset punishment.

This might work short term, but if it’s your “can’t live without” tool then it’s obviously not working.

I don’t want to like Chapters. They are so big and impersonal. Still, the truth is, I simply love them. From their super fast shipping, to their endless supply of kids book, to their new and innovative toy ideas, they are a regular family playground.

This new line of paint called Funky Artist by Alex is no different. The textures brushes are big enough for little hands and the washable paint allows your kid’s to really explore the paint without leaving you with a hugs mess. At $24.95 I can’t help but feel like it’s a bit much for four paints and a few brushes, still, probably a welcomed addition to your craft cupboard.
What are craft supply essentials around your place?