With the advent of portable DVD players that pop down from the vehicle’s ceiling, hang on the back of headrests or sit in your lap, it’s a wonder that anyone ever spends travel time admiring the scenery instead of staring at a little screen.  But even the most patient parents enjoy having some peace and [...]

We are excited to introduce the arrival of our new Contraptions 50 Plank Set®. This unique construction system provides an entirely new way to build ball track structures using simple stacking planks—no glue or connectors necessary!  The set includes 50 identical KEVA® precision pine planks, two lightweight balls specially designed for maximum action and a [...]

If you think your child’s head is always in the clouds, why not shoot for the stars? Learning about the planets, stars and our exploration into space is a great way to get a child excited about science and technology. This week NASA turns 52 years old. President Dwight D. Eisenhower created the space agency [...]

Have you ever left the room for just a minute when your kids are playing with Lincoln Logs, building blocks or Lego bricks, only to come back to a giant fort or a soaring tower? Kids love to stack, build, and create—and the bigger, the better! Playtime is key to every child’s well-being and development. [...]

It’s the time of year when beaches and pools are busy with families looking to cool off and have some fun.  If your family is planning to spend time in the water, take a moment to review the danger signs of drowning—you may be surprised by which distress signals to look for. Think about what [...]

Can you believe that summer is all ready half over? Before it’s too late, get the kids outside and let them burn off as much energy as possible before returning to the ordered world of the classroom. Just be sure that you discuss with your children which plants are safe—and which ones are best left [...]

As the outdoor temperatures rise, often times so does our anxiety about children playing in or near the water.  According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), drowning is still the second leading cause of accidental deaths in children from ages one to fourteen. So do swimming lessons help? The NCIPC states [...]

I’m a fairly laid-back parent.  I play with my kids, take them to the playground, read with them, and shower them with love.  If I stop and think about the weight of what I’m doing and how vital my daily actions are to their future, it’s daunting.  You know what I mean: the knowledge that [...]

National Ice Cream Day is Sunday, July 18, and the day wouldn’t be complete without indulging in a cone, sundae or float! Here are some fun facts about the world’s favorite creamy, dreamy treat: Ahhh, weekends. More ice cream is sold on Sunday than any other day of the week. Summer is synonymous with ice [...]

Every summer vacation includes some down time indoors, whether the rain dampens your plans or you just need a break from the sun. To keep the troops entertained, make sure that the cabin or cottage is stocked with games for when everyone heads inside. One of my family’s favorites is “Speed Scrabble,” which uses the [...]

Cool have. I'll try that Baby Einstein Toys for my 10 month baby.

Nice hub!Yeah, Baby Einstein toys are really nice for babies!

Game nerds my age all remember the game “GoldenEye 007” with fond memories. For me personally, “GoldenEye” was the reason I bought a Nintendo 64, and that was how I became a gamer at all (my early days of button-mashing on the NES don’t really count). Now, with the popularity of remaking TV shows as films, [...]

Not too long ago, Monday actually, I wrote up a little thing about the newest Scott Pilgrim book and my inability to find a copy when I wanted it: Now. Guess what? I found a copy and read it, so I can give a real review for the conclusion to Scott’s precious little saga. Is [...]

Not too long ago I wrote about one of the best comic books to read at this very moment, Scott Pilgrim. We’re nearing the long-anticipated movie starring Michael Cera, plus, the final chapter is out now…right? Well, there may be a problem. If you, like me, are having some trouble locating the final book, let’s [...]

Funny how toys come about, isn’t it? As we all learned last week, Mr. Potato Head started as cereal prizes attached to real vegetables. A similar history surrounds the foam-based line of projectile (toy) weapons and soft sports balls: Nerf. In 1969, an inventor by the name of Reyn Guyer approached Parker Brothers with an indoor [...]

This year’s E3 was full of a lot of win, assuming you were a Nintendo fanboy such as myself. While some announcements were completely out of left field, others were pretty expected. Donkey Kong Country Returns was somewhere in the middle, having been leaked as a thing currently in development by Retro Studios not long [...]

The world is a very different, very scary place these days. Thankfully, video games are mostly blissful escapes from that harsh reality. But what if aspects of the real world started creeping into the fantasy realm? Here are ten ways the real world would ruin the video games world. Pokemon Protected Under Endangered Species Laws: The lands [...]

We’ve hit our Friday of the week, and at the moment, Kyle and I are rather busy with some big things (we’re recording a separate, legit podcast with a very special guest). That means I’m going to keep today light and nostalgic, which lends itself to a Forget-Me-Nots, the segment Kyle came up with but [...]

The other day I gave a little rundown of the three main options for game rentals. I suppose I should have included “Borrow from friends,” but that’s a given. Today, however, I’m giving you a list of games that work better as rentals. Ready? Here we go! God of War III: I wrote a review a few [...]

He’s a staple of many childhoods. He’s a supporting character in a successful blockbuster series. He’s a family man. And he’s a snappy dresser, too. Mr. Potato Head has had a long history, and is one of the most famous and instantly recognizable toys in the world. How did this mustachioed vegetable rise to super [...]

We’ve hit a point in our life where video games are officially everywhere. We’ve also hit a point where they cost more than the average person has to freely spend all willy-nilly. When I was a kid there was always the salvation of the video game rental, but these days you have to think harder [...]