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My wife could never understand this mania, or “neurosis,” as she puts it, until a few years ago when the San Francisco International Airport featured a full concourse exhibit of souvenir monuments from around the world…. I’m getting one set for my little boy to place between tracks of his train set (yes, the scale is a bit off), and one to go up on the shelf until I get a call from the museum asking to take my collection on tour.
Category Archives: Gifts for kids
Simple toy teaches counting – the Imagiplay Number Snail
January 24, 2008 – 11:53 am
I don’t know how many times I’ve put this thing together, but I always sit with him a minute and try to think of another angle on the activity…. While he has learned how to count to ten (a not small achievement), I’ve relearned an important lesson on the value of sitting down with your kids and engaging with them even on something as seemingly infantile as this silly puzzle.
Review of Marble Runs
January 22, 2008 – 4:38 pm
The plastic marble run – Marble Run” (Quercetti Toys) This is a fun set, but requires some skill to balance towers so that as you grow them, they still stand up…. The prices here are far more affordable at $55.00 for this big set, but the toy is a lot more free form (think erector set) and requires more imagination (or dad involvement) to get excitement out of it.
For Thomas lovers – new train cake pan
January 10, 2008 – 10:13 am
My son has had a love affair with Thomas that now encompasses a Thomas train whistle (throw that away), three different size Thomas trains and track, numerous accessories, puzzles, books, DVDs and even a stuffed Thomas toy. He’s turning 4 in April and says he wants to have a kiting party, but I’m sure if we just stuck five friends in a room with his trains, he’d be just as happy.
We love the Banana Bunker
December 18, 2007 – 8:46 am
For a dad who packs a lunch every day wondering whether the good stuff will get eaten, finding variety is a big issue…. I could never pack bananas because by the time the lunch box was tossed around the playground a few times, the banana was too mushy to be eaten.
A new Advent calendar
November 23, 2007 – 2:39 am
Okay, so maybe it brings Christmas down to even a crasser commercial level, but the kid in us kind of likes these Advent calendars from Lego and Mattel…. So, if you’ve bought into Christmas as a big day full of gifts for the kids, with all the baggage that comes with it, you might like these.
On my list
October 19, 2007 – 3:26 pm
Enrico Cheese Grater – This is a Great gift for the cook who is also green-conscious. This beautiful tool is hand crafted using incredibly hard, renewable Moso bamboo , the hardest bamboo species available.
Just in time for Halloween – Dracula binky!
September 11, 2007 – 7:16 pm
I can’t believe I’ve never seen this before. It is just plain scary.
My 3-year old loves this fire truck
August 28, 2007 – 8:07 pm
He plays with trucks inside it for hours and it’s always a hit when little pals come over…. This Fire Station Playset is one toy that lived up to the catalog description from Back to Basics Toys .
Gotta give it – dads might enjoy this too.
August 27, 2007 – 8:24 pm
Uncle Milton Undersea Encounter Aquarium I’m not a big fish person…never touch them, never eat them, but this aquarium is pretty cool. It makes care and feeding easy, and the “viewing scope” helps kids look for details. If you’re thinking of a first pet, this might be an option.