Dad Blogs - Useful Parenting Tips for Dads » Toys and Games

Review: Dinosaur Train All Aboard Game

Eric Cooper — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:08:54 +0000

We're a board game family. There, I admit it. In an age of family Wii games and the internet, there is something soothing about turning off the electrical hum that surrounds most of the day and playing a game (one with physical pieces, no less!). With more and more games coming out geared toward younger people, you have to separate the “just for fun” games from the “fun and educational” games. I prefer the latter with a smattering of the former for good measure. Sure, a game should be fun, but when it comes to youngsters, you might as well incorporate some learning time while you're at it. If more adults played games like Trivial Pursuit and less Act Like an Idiot (I'm so creating this game; it'll be a hit!), the average person may actually know who the current Speaker of the House is (this stems from a video I saw shot on the UMN campus where people couldn't name a myriad of people that run the country. I mean, really!).

Playmobil: My Take Along Puppet Theater

Eric Cooper — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 02:06:51 +0000

Ok, so you're going to see some of the snark that I mentioned earlier pop on out (later on in the post). I actually got the

My Take Along Puppet Theater before I got the Dragon Castle. There are a lot of wonderful things about this toy and at least one not-so-great ones.
Firstly, I think the toy overall is great. As a lot of you know, I really like open-ended play. It makes the child think and interact with the objects in front of them. The parent(s) can also throw different scenarios at them or create "problems" that the child has to solve. I love doing that. There's nothing better than telling your child "Oh no, the poor man fell down a broke his leg! Now how is he going to get over to the other side?" and then having them figure it out.
Now, hear me out before you make your mind up about the toy. If nothing else, I love to give you the full spectrum of a toy before I build it up or knock it down too much.

Review: Playmobil Dragon’s Land: Great Dragon Castle

Eric Cooper — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 01:47:27 +0000

I'm back – which means I've got a lot of reviews in me and, boy, has the snark really built up. Just kidding...kind of. I'm starting out with a few good products, hoping they will ease the sleeping snark-dragon back into hibernation. Speaking of dragons...

I got a few products from Playmobil. On the box, their products look like the standard Lego-esque type of toys. Having been disappointed by cheap-looking toys lately, I opened the box with only minor enthusiasm. Well, it turns out, Playmobil products are way better than they look on the box.

The
Great Dragon Castle was like the toys of yesteryear – built solid, great detail, and with a lot of “extras” built right in. My kids really enjoy the Playmobil line and the older one went crazy over the castle.

Space Shuttle for sale: $69.95

Paul Banas — Wed, 12 May 2010 17:09:49 +0000

Something always gnawed away at me and I figured that for 20 to 30 bucks, they had to be made out of cardboard. ... It's not for older kids, but for 3-9 year old set, who can still enjoy the fun and imagination of playing with a big cardboard box. We brought ours in to my son's kindergarten class and the kids went wild. ... At $69.95 ($10 less for a house version), it's not for everyone, especially since it is at some point disposable, but it is easy to construct and will provide an imagination space kids love. The KidsCraft line of cardboard was developed by a couple of dads who marveled at how kids will play with cardboard boxes for hours, while $50 toys become boring after a few sessions. ... Giving back to the community is an important part of their business plan and several national children’s charities will benefit from their inaugural year of sales and product donations.

Mini-Review – Pocket Doodles for Kids – a good book for a plane ride

Paul Banas — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:59:59 +0000

Pocket Doodles for Kids is a fun book for kids who like to draw. When my daughter first saw this book at nine, though she fancied herself a budding an artist, it was hard for her to know what to do. ... It's a lot of half-finished drawings that give just enough detail that a young artist can add on to complete the picture. Depending on the artist, the end result can be a funny cartoon with a caption or just a completed drawing. This is not a coloring book, but a good idea starter for young (or older) illustrators.

Review: My Tool Box by WJ Fantasy

Eric Cooper — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:38:48 +0000

Oh, who didn’t have a kid’s toolbox growing up? Then you could walk around and be just like dad (or mom). Who didn’t? I didn’t. Not for lack of wanting one, mind you, but because Santa thought I’d rather have some other little doodad. I’m sure I enjoyed whatever was in the toolboxes place, but [...]

Review: Felt Tales by Babalu

Eric Cooper — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:33:23 +0000

“Felt? What kid wants to play with felt?” was my initial reaction. And I stood by it – what kind of gift is the gift of felt? But, importantly, I kept an open mind and I played with the kids and 3 of the Felt Tales boards: Busy Day on the Farm, Heroes to the [...]

Review: Cloud b Twilight Ladybug

Eric Cooper — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:36:17 +0000

In general, I like toys that teach – stationary toys that don’t do anything quickly become one-hit-wonders in my household. Instead, I reach for toys that educate in some way – they needn’t be fancy, only captivating. The Cloud b Twilight Ladybug is anything but a one-hit-wonder. Honestly – it is the one toy that [...]

ZipBin mini bin/play surface

Paul Banas — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:47:58 +0000

My son (not pictured here) loves his ZipBin Mini Speedway from Neat Oh . ... These very affordable toys are a good find for little kids who collect lots of little items like dolls, cars, or farm animals. ... And, the Zip Bin comes with 2 cars (or other item) so the child feels like he's getting a toy, and not just a storage bin.

Card games for budget-conscious dads

Paul Banas — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 03:20:06 +0000

However, with just a simple pack of cards, you can play a lot of games. Here are a few ideas: 1. ... How can anyone ever understand the many references to "go fish," without playing this game where each player collects sets of four cards by asking another player for a specific numbered card. ... There are lots of ideas for kids (and adult) card games, played with a simple pack you can find at the drugstore.