For the Little Mommy/Daddy

Loveable Look-A-Like
These dolls are awesome for all the right reasons. They might not look like something your child would initially take to, but if they have anyone in their life that they miss or wish was with them, the Loveable Look-A-Like could be the perfect solution! On the outside, the Loveable Look-a-Like dolls are androgynous and rather basic. They have on a white shirt and some jeans, which makes them perfect for both boys and girls. It also makes it perfect for turning a doll into your child’s favorite person no matter who they are. You just take a picture of your child’s favorite person or the one they miss the most and iron it onto the doll’s face. This is absolutely perfect for young kids that have parents in the military. We had a young reviewer check this out for us and we put her daddy’s head on it, because he is away in the war. Alexis pointed out that the head looked kind of funny (it is ironed on, after all), but it reminded her of her daddy and for that reason alone, she loved it.

We received the Do-it-Yourself Doll Kit which was easy to handle and its cost effective at $25. Loveable Look-A-Likes also offers personalized kits for $10 more or $15 more if you’d also like a personalized t-shirt. Either way, this is a great gift for children that have recently lost someone or have a parent that is currently away from home.

Fisher Price – Little Mommy Play All Day
If you know a little one that wants to be a parent (boy or girl) this is going to be a fabulous toy for them and it will be sure to make their holiday brighter. The Little Mommy Play All Day also works as an excellent toy to get back at a friend or sibling. Just give it to their child and watch the parent pull their hair out. This only works if they do not like toys that produce excessive amounts of noise, so keep that in mind, if you’re purchasing solely for revenge. The Little Mommy Play All Day is a talking baby doll that has plenty to say! She is motion activated so if you so much as nudge her she is talking! The one we received even speaks in Spanish occasionally, though I am not sure if that makes her defective or if they all do that. In fact, she knows up to 50 phrases and responses to basic play activities like rocking, flying like a birdie, and dancing. The doll takes 3 AA batteries, but they are already installed, so you will just need more for later. Alexis loves this doll so much she wants to play with her all day.

With that in mind, I am sure that $35 is more than a fair price for the Little Mommy Play All Day!

Precious Baby Doll – Katya
Precious baby dolls allow your child to adopt a baby from another destination. While it’s nice to have a doll that shares the same features, it’s even better to have a doll that is unique. Precious baby dolls are absolutely gorgeous with fine details down to a tee and a sweet baby smell that is reminiscent of real children. We received Katya Irina to check out and I fell in love with her. Our child reviewer, of course, feels the same way!

Each Precious Baby Doll is 17 inches long and has a cloth body with arms, legs, and has a face made of vinyl. The hands and feet even look real, which goes to show the amount of fine detail put into each doll. All babies are dressed in accordance to their culture/home location. Each doll (there are currently four to choose from) costs $69.99. In addition to the dolls, books about the dolls homeland are also available. Each book costs an additional $9.99. With or without the books these dolls are highly recommended. They are so beautiful it almost seems like a crime to let them be toys, but knowing the joy a child will get from one of these dolls makes it a worthwhile gift consideration.

The Precious Baby Dolls are our most expensive doll option on this guide this year, but they are also the most precious and well crafted in the bunch, too. The folks over at Precious Baby Dolls want to extend our readers a special deal, which makes this holiday gift even sweeter. You can use the following coupon code to get an additional $10 off on each doll:

Katya doll = 1000
Kimberly doll = 1500
Sophia doll = 2000
Li Ming = 2500

For the Little Professional

“The Budding Artist”: – Kidzsack
Kidzsack is perfect for the kid on the go that likes to color and has an artistic streak. This great back sack comes in a variety of designs and includes eight washable markers so your kids can create the perfect scene for the moment. Then when they are ready, they can wash it out (or you can, of course) and start all over again. In the meantime, they can use the bag to carry their favorite possessions when they are out and about. Whether they are going to school or to a friends house, the Kidzsack can transport all of the items they need. They can even toss their markers in there and finish coloring their bag in the car, if it’s not completed when they leave the house. If you’re looking for an inexpensive, but fun, eco-friendly gift idea for kids, you should really consider Kidzsacks. Not only are they practical, they are lots of fun, too.

The main Kidzsacks designs include Jungle, SeaLife, Sports, and Castle. There are plenty of custom designs available as well to suit the taste of most children. You can pick up a Kidzsack for $23.00, which includes shipping and handling charges. This might be a bit pricier than your average book bag, but this is one that your child can create and re-create as the mood strikes. The artistic quality alone (and the eco-friendliness) makes it well worth the purchase!

“The Banker”: Zillionz Savings Goal ATM Bank
If your child uses a jar or standard piggy bank to hold their money, the Zillons Savings Goal ATM Bank might be something that they would enjoy greatly. There are a number of great things about this bank. First off, it teaches your kids about ATMs and banking. It’s always a nice lesson to let them see that the ATM isn’t an endless money pit and that you need to put money in to get it out. If they have siblings, this is always a great way to keep the money safe and hidden, as you need the credit card and pin number to deposit the money and to get it out. CT loves banks like this, so we knew we had to check this out. It ends up being a great solution for kids that are saving up their money for something and it allows them a little independence in handling their money, too, which is a good thing. Some people have had problems with change being miscounted, but we have not experienced this issue. It ends up being both a practical present for older kids and a fun, amusing toy for younger ones.

Amazon has the Zillions Savings Banks available for just under $30. If you’re hoping to buy something for a younger child I would recommend looking for something else, as the Zillions Bank is not going to be as popular with the kids that just want a toy and not a safe way to handle their money. However, if you have a child looking to keep track of their dough and have a safe way to do it, this would be perfect!

“The Sports Star”: One World Futbol
I could say plenty of great things about the One World Futbal. I could talk about how it seems sturdy enough to last for life or how great the blue color is. I could even go into the fabulous concept behind the futbal and why I feel the way I do. What it all comes down to though is that your kids are gonna love this! From a purchase perspective, you can’t go wrong with this ball. It will never go flat even if it is punctured because it is made using state-of-the-art technology that requires no stitching. It also carries the same rebound characteristics of traditional soccer balls.

However, the real reason to buy a One World Futbal has little to do with the pretty color or the durability (though these are certainly nice reasons). More importantly, when you purchase a ball for yourself, someone else receives a ball through an organization that helps people in need. So, buying one of these balls for your budding sport’s star means that someone in a third world country or another impoverished area will also receive a present, as well.

Purchasing a One World Futbal is simple. Just visit the One World Futbal website and you can purchase them right there. The balls are listed for a price of $39.50, which secures a ball for you and one that will be sent to charity. Two One World Futbals for under $40 is not a bad deal at all. In fact, it’s one of the best on this list!

“The Sports Star”: The Pro Mini Hoop
The SKLZ Pro Mini Hoop is by far the best constructed and most durable mini-hoop I have ever seen for home use. While I was not expecting much for this relatively inexpensive product, I am happy to say that this really does appear to be a mini basketball hoop. Basketball fans will absolutely adore this whether it’s for a younger child needing some excitement in their bedroom or some older kids wanting to have some dorm room fun. Sporting a shatter-proof backboard and a spring-action breakaway rim this is the closest thing to real basketball you’ll find inside a house. The backboard can take shots with ease and the rim won’t break should you decide to practice your jump shot. The weakest part of this set is the basketball and even that is fine, should you decide to keep the one that comes with the set. Everything you need construction-wise is included, with exception to the pump required to inflate the basketball.

You can learn more about the Pro Mini Hoop or other SKLZ products by visiting the SKLZ website. The Pro Mini Hoop is available on the site for just $29.99 or if you’d prefer a larger backboard you can opt for the Pro Mini Hoop XL for just $39.99.

“The Roadster”: Road Rippers RC Motor Muscle Car
Perfect for car lovers of any age, the Road Ripper RC is suited for kids seven years old and up. These great remote control cars come in a small variety of popular car models and various colors. We received the yellow car from the various product options and it was a hit with everyone in the house. The best thing about Road Rippers is the level of realism that you will find here. These babies have working radios, lights that come on and off, and realistic sounds. They are controlled completely via a remote control and they are simple to use. If you have a boy (or girl) that loves cars and is growing up, but isn’t too old this would make a great gift. Toys like this are still toys, but they are a little more adult, so the kids can’t say you’re treating them like babies. They will love it and chances are, so will you.

Road Rippers RC cars take three AA batteries for the remote, which are included in the box. You will need an additional four AA batteries for the car, so you might want to keep that in mind. You can learn more about these cars at the Road Rippers website. The Road Ripper RC cars are available at most major retailers for under $30.

For the Little Builder

NASCAR 88 Amp Energy Car Building Set:
Knex offers some of the coolest building products on the market. Whether you’re five years old or 25, Knex has something inventive and challenging for you to create. This building set, the NASCAR 88 AMP Car, was made for budding race fans. Kids interested in NASCAR and current fans of Dale Jr will really enjoy building this stock car and playing with it when it is all done. The Knex NASCAR 88 Amp Energy Car includes 100+ K’NEX bricks, rods and connectors, as well as wheels for push play. There is also a Dale Jr. K’NEX-man to complete the set! After all, it wouldn’t be a true 88 car without Dale Jr!

You can learn more about the Knex NASCAR 88 Amp Energy Car Building Set at the Knex website. According to the Knex website the 88 car is suitable for ages five years and up. You should be able to find this in stores that sell Knex including the Knex site, which has it listed for just under $15.

K’Nex Speed Demon Coaster
Unlike the 88 car, the Speed Demon Coaster by Knex is suitable for someone nine years old and older. Standing over three feet tall, the Speed Demon Coaster includes over 625 colorful K’NEX pieces, including a coaster car, motor, chain lift and track. That’s right, this is a fully working coaster! I don’t know who enjoyed this more, the kids or the adults. I suppose it didn’t matter, the point is that everyone truly enjoyed it! It takes some time to build but that is because it’s just that big! The instructions are easy to follow and are color coded so there shouldn’t be any problem putting this together. Once it’s together your kids (or the adult that gets this bad boy) can watch the coaster car move to the top of the peak only to fly down through 19 feet of twists, turns, and loops!

Available for only $30 the Knex Speed Demon Coaster is definitely a bargain! You can learn more about the Speed Demon on the Knex website. The website should have a link for purchasing, but you shouldn’t have a hard time finding these locally at stores like Walmart and Target.

Miscellaneous Goodies

Glide Table Top Shuffleboard:
I know what you’re thinking. Shuffleboard?!? For kids?!? I thought that too, until we received the Glide Shuffleboard. Suitable for pairs of players or teams ages six years old and up, the Glide tabletop Shuffleboard game will have kids and adults competing and having a ball! Zabazoo offers plenty of unique gifts for the whole family. Glide comes with four different colored stones that you slide along the four foot long board. The rules are the same as traditional shuffleboard and it will take some talent to ensure that you knock our your opponents with ease. Whether the kids win or lose though they are bound to have loads of fun. Parents will also appreciate the easy cleanup and the ability to have this out or fold it up and keep it up and away unless in use.

You can learn more about the Glide at the Zabazoo website. The Glide is available at numerous stores online, including Amazon where it can be found for $24.99.

Z Wind Up Toys:
The holiday would not be complete without some uniquely fun and totally outrageous stocking stuffers. I remember a time when parents would use the stocking to add all those little gifts that wouldn’t go over well if they were wrapped up. You know, things like shampoo and toothpaste. Well, if you must you can still add those things, just throw in a few Z Windups and it will transform your child’s stocking into something fun and exciting for them! As they plow through the deodorant and the chewing gum, a few of these windup toys are guaranteed to put a smile on their face! Z’s Windups come in a variety of designs that are sure to please every child in your house.

The Z’s Windup store will give you a clue as to just how many options are available. At around $5 a piece (some toys are more or less), these make a great inexpensive addition to the stockings in your home. Some personal Windup favorites include Larry Slider, Cookie, Ferris, and Basie!

We hope that this list has helped you to complete your shopping this year. If you’re looking for other gifts make sure to check out our other guides and suggestions!

Food

Technorati Tags: 2010, Holiday Guide, Hot Holiday Toys, Dolls, Building Sets, Unique Gifts, Holidays, Presents, Kids, Board Games, Children’s Gifts, Shopping, Gift Guide

In the past, we reviewed The Simpsons Operation and we loved it! The kids had a great time playing it and the fact that we got to Operate on Homer’s donut hole made the entire experience hilarious. However, I have to say, seeing the little Martian men attempting to operate on Buzz Lightyear made my day!

I have always had a hard time choosing my favorite character in Toy Story. I always seem to go between Buzz and Woody. Lil B has always been a Buzz fan and CT used to carry around his Woody everywhere he went when he was younger (this was when the first film had come out). So, we all loved being able to play Toy Story 3 Operation because these characters are near and dear to our hearts.

The package includes:
Buzz Lightyear Gameboard
Tweezers
24 Game Cards
12 Funatomy Parts
Play Money
Storage Drawer
Instructions

The Game Details:

Buzz Lightyear’s not feeling all that great… can you lend a hand to operate? Radar Rash and Asteroids have Buzz Lightyear in a tizzy—and that Battered Blaster sure is making him dizzy! Grab the tweezers on command and see if you can lend a hand! Careful—a tap on the buzzer will set you back and give Buzz Lightyear an Asteroid Attack! Can you fix up Buzz Lightyear and get him back to Andy’s room?

Operation is recommended for kids ages six and up. Of course, the rules are simple and most kids won’t have any problem playing any of the Operation games. The biggest problem I could see is letting a smaller child play with small parts (they do note a choking hazard, so if you’re kids chew on things, this isn’t for them) and the fact that you need a steady hand since not all young children have that. Otherwise, kids of all ages can enjoy this with little to no problems.

Toy Story 3 Operation is available through the Hasbro Store and you should be able to find it wherever board games are sold. At the Hasbro Store, this version of Operation is available for $19.99. If you have kids that love Buzz Lightyear this will be a necessary edition to their game closet.

Buzz Lightyear Operation is loads of fun! It takes a little bit of skill, but no more or less than you ever needed to play the classic version of Operation. We highly recommend it for Toy Story fans and for people that play lots of games and like to add movie-themed games to their library of options.

Technorati Tags: Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story 3, Woody, Operation, Hasbro Games, Product Review, Toy Review, Game Review, Board Game

When we were offered the game and accepted it to review, all I knew about the game (or assumed at that point) was that it was a word game. Based on the title I had a feeling that people would be blurting things out. It sounds pretty easy and that is exactly what it is! Blurt is listed for kids as young as seven years old and as old as adults. I believe they also offer a version for younger kids, too.

A five or six year old might be able to play this, if they are up on their vocabulary skills or if you’re trying to build up their word usage you could use this as a learning tool. Still, the average child of those ages might become frustrated because knowing the answers will be harder for them. Kids around the age of seven should find it challenging and fun at the same time. As for adults, it’s probably going to be more fun than it is challenging, but that will depend on you and the cards that are drawn.

Speaking of cards, each Blurt game comes with a number of “basics.” These include:
Game Cards (these are the foundation of the game and give you the answers and clues)
Blurt Game Board
Game Marker/Pieces
Die
Playing Guide

It seems funny to say that a playing guide is included because this game is literally as simple as it can get when it comes to learning a new game. You start by rolling the die. Next, you read the clue on the card. Now it’s up to the players (you should have at least three of them, so you and two additional or more) to guess what the word is based on the meaning they were given. As you might guess, thanks to the English language and depending on the clue, things can get crazy with plenty of words being blurted out because so many words have similar meanings. When the correct answer is said that player gets to move ahead on the game board.

The instructions say that Blurt is for up to 12 players, though you could easily play this in teams if you were playing during a party. In fact, the game tends to be a lot more fun based on the amount of players that you have. It’s enjoyable with three, which allows you to have one person against another at all times, but it’s loads of fun when you have several people yelling and shouting the answers in hopes of winning.

Blurt is a great game for the entire family. You can find it on Amazon as well as at other online stores. If you’re looking for a family-friendly or party-friendly game, you should check this out.

Technorati Tags: Blurt, Word Game, Board Game Review, Family Friendly, Party, Product Review, Fun

Global toy industry stalwart TOMY Corporation today announced they will be introducing Japan’s number one selling die-cast car and train set brand to North America this September. TOMICA has been the most popular and dependable toy car system line in Japan for the past 40 years, and is celebrating this grand milestone with a move to North America.

“We chose the well-respected TOMICA line to essentially re-awaken our North American toy presence,” said Mark Shinohara, executive vice president and COO at TOMY Corporation. “It is important for us to carve a new niche in the North American market with a product that has truly left its mark in Japan. The TOMICA line has experienced massive mainstream success, and we’re thrilled to bring such a widely loved property to a whole new audience.”

TOMY Corporation has partnered with a leading national toy retailer for the first year, offering patrons exclusive access to the product line. Released in the initial launch will be seven die cast cars, three train sets, six accessory sets, six destination sets and five deluxe play sets. All elements of the line can be merged together to create a TOMICA city with limitless building and exploration opportunities for kids.

Players can build a Hypercity to protect and serve with a fire station, rescue with police headquarters and three rescue train liners fully equipped for an emergency, and drive TOMICA cars officially licensed from Toyota, Nissan and Suzuki. If players have car trouble or need to fill up, they can drive into the TOMICA repair garage or gas station. As an added bonus, the TOMICA car and train system features a robust combination of auto- and locomotive play, teaching kids the rules of the road, and helping them expand their imaginations with massive building potential.

In this US launch, Tomica will be offering seven die cast car models, three train sets, six accessory sets, six destination sets and five deluxe play sets ranging from $4.99 to $79.99. For more information regarding TOMICA and TOMY Corporation’s consumer products, please visit www.TOMY-USA.com.

Technorati Tags: Tomy, Tomica, North American Launch, Die Cast Cars, Train Sets, Toys, Accessories, Boy Toys

CT was excited because of the nostalgia associated with the franchise, especially for kids his age, who grew up with Andy, Woody, and Buzz. When he was very little, he was obsessed with the original Toy Story movie and he became equally as obsessed with it’s sequel, Toy Story 2, when it was released. He even had a Toy Story bedroom. Lil B is a new generation who is just starting to appreciate the franchise. It was nice for the boys to be able to see it together. So, you can guess what their reaction was when they were told we were receiving the Toy Story Army Men on Patrol Lego set.

Now, let me tell you a little bit about Dom. He never really got a chance to play with these kinds of toys as much as he wanted to, as a kid. So, as a grown man, he is a big kid. He loves toys, especially Legos, as much as the kids do. Dom is also in a wheelchair, because he has a progressive muscle disease, so putting things together can be a daunting task for him. Usually, he just lets the boys put the sets together, because it can take him a while to snap things in place, and they grow bored waiting for him. This set wasn’t huge, so Dom set out to have the boys help him put it together.

CT is a very helpful boy. He was more than willing to find pieces for Dom to snap together. Lil B is too young to realize that this was a big deal for Uncle Dommy Vomit (as he so calls him!), and instant results would not be achieved. Instead, he wandered around the house, coming back every few minutes to ask, “Is it done yet?” He is also too impatient, at this point, to sit and build anything without some help, so Dom and CT would be building it anyway.

You gotta give Dom credit. He was wiping his brow as he put the last piece in place but he did it! You could almost hear a collective sigh of relief as all three of them were glad the building was done. Dom didn’t really care about playing with it. He was just thrilled he’d built something…anything without asking CT to push anything into place! The boys even let me put together the Army men. It was a true, family effort, all around. The boys had way more fun playing with the set together. That’s all Lil B really cared about. They played out scenes from Toy Story and also made up their own. CT has since put this Lego set together and taken it apart multiple times.

While the picture shows a small army jeep, it actually had quite a few pieces to put together. It was a lot more than a few snapped pieces here or there. That’s great because CT especially loves to build. It would have been disappointing if it only took a minute to put together. Even the army men have a few pieces to put together. Despite this being a small set, there was a lot to do to keep all three of my boys busy during the construction of this set and the play that proceeded it.

If you have small kids, you will want to be careful of the Toy Story 3 Army Men on Patrol set. There are many, tiny pieces to put together and those under the age of 2 or 3 face a serious choking threat from them. Little kids shouldn’t even be allowed near this set, and Lego agrees with this assessment, as the set is recommended for ages 6-12. However, a slightly younger child and most older kids will enjoy this set, as well. Lil B turns 6 in July, and he had a blast playing with the set. However, he wasn’t very interested in the actual construction of the set. Adults who like Legos and/or Toy Story will also get a kick out of the Toy Story 3 Army Men on Patrol Set. I know Dom had a great time helping the boys put it together and watching them play.

For those with kids who have a physical disability, but who have minor strength in arms and hands, this set is accessible. There aren’t as many pieces as the big sets, and most of the pieces should go together with minor assistance. Dom struggled occasionally, but always managed to get the pieces together. We always like to mention how accessible toys are for all kids, and this one gets a fairly decent rating for accessibility! In any case, it would be a fun way for parents and kids to put the set together if help is needed.

The quality of Legos is outstanding. They are as durable as they were when I was a kid. When they are built into objects (like Army Jeeps) they hold together well and shouldn’t break with minor bumps or drops. However, rough play is going to break up the set. That is to be expected of Legos. The actual Legos would have to be hit with incredible force to break the pieces, so most kids couldn’t actually break the Legos. They are made of hard plastic too strong for most kids to destroy. They’d just have to rebuild the set if it fell apart during a collision of some sort.

Overall, the entire family had (and continues to have) a lot of fun with the Toy Story Army Men on Patrol Lego Play Set. Dom and CT loved putting it together. CT and Lil B had fun playing with it once it was together, and I had fun watching the boys create memories that will last a lifetime thanks to Lego. The Toy Story Army Men on Patrol Set comes highly recommended.

Technorati Tags: Kids, Family, Toys, Toy Story 3, Legos, Toy Story Army Men on Patrol Set, Building Blocks, Play, Toy Review

I’ve Never is not going to be relevant for anyone, but a tween or a younger teenager really. While adults could play the game with no problem, they are not going to find the same level of fun answering a question like, “I’ve Never…Picked my Nose on the School Bus?” Kids should enjoy it quite a bit with that in mind. Of course, this is just one of the questions in the bunch. There are quite a few, allowing for new questions to be enjoyed during several games.

Many of the questions are basic and what you might expect to find in a I’ve Never style game for teenagers. You have the basic questions on boyfriends/girlfriends, school, crushes, and things along that line. These questions I don’t have any issue with in the least. Kids will have fun answering them and doing the silly things on the cards. All in all, it’s a good game.

There are some questions that I wasn’t fond of for a variety of reasons. Some of them lacked purpose, others seemed to encourage bad behavior, and some just had seemingly stupid orders if you’ve done the item in question on the card. For example, there are a variety of cards that say “Make Up Your Own…I’ve Never…Question and Pick Someone to Answer it.” The options vary from card to card, but the one in front of me says that if it’s true you’ve never done the thing you get to move two spaces, but if you did the thing (whatever it is) you have to pretend that you’re a dog begging for treats.

Then there are questions that have simple to answer questions, with pointless actions. “I’ve Never been late to class because I went to the wrong class.” If you have done this you need to imitate the opposite sex. Perhaps it’s just me, but it seems that some cards have well matched actions and others do not. Another example of this is the “I’ve Never Fallen Asleep in Class” card that has you holding hands with the person to your left for a round if you’ve actually fallen asleep in class. I don’t get the point of this either, unless maybe the person is meant to keep you awake, just in case!

There are some questions that seem to penalize you for being a wimp if you haven’t done something that was somewhat delinquent. For example, there are two cards (the second is worse than the first) that say “I’ve Never Made a Prank Phone Call” and “I’ve Never Egged Someone’s House.” If it’s true you’ve not done these things you are forced to move back two spaces on the grounds that “You’re a wimp.” If you’ve done them, at least in the case of egging someone’s house (I don’t think I would recommend something that could be deemed destruction of property) you get to move forward a space.

Kids will enjoy this, though if you expect your child to behave in a certain way, you might want to take a gander through the cards before they play the game. Ultimately, this is not your standard board game, but with that in mind, if your child does not find interest in games like this or have lots of friends to play multi-player board games with this is not going to be necessary for your family. This works out for girls that have a lot of sleepovers or kids having parties where a board game would be great for entertainment purposes.

You can pick up the I’ve Never Board Game through the Game website or through retailers like Amazon where the game retailers for around $20.

Technorati Tags: I’ve Never, Outrageous, Board Game, Tween, Teen, Fun, Truth, Game

How much or little you consider them to be a positive idea of a role model for your child will depend on you. You won’t find any of the four Liv Dolls to have the motivations of a Barbie. The Liv dolls are teenagers and Barbie is supposed to be a grown woman. It’s hard to compare the two. While Barbie is already set in her career path, as a doctor, lawyer, or astronaut, the Liv Dolls want to be pop stars and fashion designers (like most teen/tween girls) and are interested in working at the mall when they aren’t hanging out with their BFFs or doing their school work.

When you buy a Liv doll it comes with an access code that gives you access to the doll’s online world at LivWorld.com. Here kids can check out the diaries for each doll and do other fun things. This is only one of the ways that Liv differs from Barbie. One of the things that I was most fond of was the ability to change the look of the Liv dolls.

Alexis, the doll that we received, is the African American of the group. I picked that doll specifically though it was not my intention. I thought she was the cutest of the four dolls actually and later figured it out. Based on look the only real clue is that she has a darker skin tone than the other Liv Dolls. I liked the fact that they made her realistic and in a lighter tone. Many dolls made for African American girls either are incredibly dark or light skinned, Alexis is somewhere in the middle making for a nice change.

A nice feature for parents is the ability to save a little bit of money by buying one doll (to begin with) and buying accessories. Alexis and the other Liv Dolls come with some basic accessories like a fashion outfit and both long and short wigs. You can buy additional wigs separately, as well as outfits and other perks for the dolls.

On the other hand, a nice feature for the kids is the fact that Liv dolls are poseable. They aren’t stuck in that stiff position like some dolls. They even stand on their own. It makes it more fun for kids because the dolls are able to be moved with more realism. Once you get to a certain age, bouncing Barbie along to make her walk and the fact that she can’t really stand on her own gets boring.

Liv has made a fan out of me. The purchase price of roughly $20 for one doll with a cute, age appropriate outfit and two wigs is not bad. Furthermore, the fact that the kids can do more with them and can access Livworld.com to learn more about each of their favorite dolls makes it worthwhile. If you’re going to be looking for holiday toys and you have a child that likes dolls, you might want to consider Liv.

Holiday Recommendation Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Liv Dolls, Website, Barbie, Alexis, African American, Teen, Tween, Dolls, Doll, Holiday, Age Appropriate, Recommended

Manufacturer: Hasbro
Price: around $18
Buy this Toy at: Amazon for $17.97

The first board game I ever played was Candy Land. Back in the day, my brother and I played a lot of board games, especially Monopoly, Clue, and Life; pretty much all the top games from Hasbro. Hasbro has always been the leader in board games, and their Candy Land game, recommended for younger children, is a classic board game, dating back 60 years. For 60 years, children, like me, have experienced Candy Land as their first game.

Now that I’m the parent, I’m always looking for games the kids will want to play together. With a teenager and a five year old to consider, it can be hard to find something both of them will enjoy. While the original Candy Land is enjoyable for the youngest, the teenager can only stomach so much time playing the game. When Hasbro decided to release a new, 60th anniversary version of Candy Land, I figured this might appeal mostly to the five year old, but what I didn’t expect was the teenager would be into playing this game, too.

For the older kids in your house (and mine) the appeal of this game is the construction of the game board. Our teen loves to construct pretty much anything he can put together. He was all in, when it came to helping the five year old construct the board. We try to play our games at the table, so we didn’t have to worry about the board falling apart. The kids played this game together. The five year old was primarily excited about all the new characters and locations that are available in this new version of one of his favorite board games.

The best part is that the boys worked together to build the various game boards they played with before each game. They found some pretty creative ways to construct the board. The board can be shorter, it can be extended for longer game play, and there are some fun new locations to explore across the board, such as Chocoslovakia and The S.S. Neapolitan. While this board set up isn’t ideal (you can’t pick it up and move to a new location or play on carpeted surfaces) it does offer an alternative to the static board games with repetitive objectives that have you going the same route over and over again. With this in mind, it is easy to see why the creative nature of the board is more of a benefit than a hindrance.

Positives and Negatives:
While, overall, the new Candy Land game, Candy Land: Sweet Celebration, has many positive features that make it worth the purchase, the game isn’t perfect. There are a few negatives that are a detriment to this game. The main problems have to do with the construction of the game board. While this is an innovative concept for Candy Land, and board games in general, the construction of the pieces make the board fall apart and the entire construction process may not be easy for younger children, who love the original Candy Land.

Positives:
-new spin on old classic
-ability to make your own game board – design a new board for every game
-play as new characters
-experience new locations
-same theme as children’s beloved classic game, Candy Land
-appeals to older audience as well as younger
-fun for the whole family

Negatives:
-game pieces used to make the game board don’t always hold together
-game is limited to play on hard surfaces
-game construction may be confusing to younger children

Pricing and Availability:
The retail price for Candy Land: Sweet Celebration is set by Hasbro as $19.99. You can pick up a copy of this game, online, at Amazon for $17.97. This is pretty close to the price I found for this game at other retailers, both online and off. This is a board game. Most board games cost around $20, so the price of Candy Land: Sweet Celebration is no big surprise. If you are buying this for a birthday or holiday gift, you are probably expecting to spend this amount for a Hasbro game. However, it might be a little much to pay for one of those every day presents.

Requirements and Instructions:
Everything you need to play Candy Land: Sweet Celebration is included in the box. This game is recommended for 4+. It requires 2-4 players. There are four new pawn pieces that you can play as. These are Lolly, King Kandy, Princess Frostine, and Mr. Mint. Lord Licorice serves as a fifth pawn and is moved around the board to block the path of those playing and prevent them from getting to King Kandy’s castle.

The game also includes a cardboard, color spinner, 16 treat tokens (each player has to earn four of them to proceed to the castle), 5 different sweet locations, and 36 pieces to make the board. These paths are double sided, so you and your children can make a variety of different board game setups. With these things, all you need is players and you’ll be off to the races!

Durability:
This is one of the areas where I feel not having a traditional board game is a problem. The traditional board games are made of hard, plastic material. The board pieces in the Candy Land: Sweet Celebration game seem to be some kind of plastic, but they aren’t nearly as hard as the regular board material. Kids who play rough or intentionally try to bend the board pieces could do so. The game isn’t so breakable that just playing with the pieces will make them bend or rip, but you can’t expect to continuously bang or throw these pieces and have them hold up.

When the board is put together, the pieces easily come apart, but you can just pop the pieces back together. They pop off if you play on a surface that isn’t hard. This can be a bit frustrating, but as long as you aren’t jerking the board around, this won’t be a major problem. The kids didn’t have much to complain about, but then again, they were sitting at a table the entire time.

Ease of Use:
For an adult or older child, this game is a piece of cake to use. For younger children, who will definitely want to play, the gameplay won’t be a problem. However, four and five year old children may not be able to put the game pieces together without some help. I didn’t find this to be a huge problem for the five year old in our house, but he also had the teenager there to help and supervise what he was doing. You should involve younger kids in the design process, but you may not want to make them put the pieces together on their own.

Fun Factor:
The best part of this game is how fun it is. The boys loved playing with the new game pieces. The game is very bright and vibrant. The boys played numerous games, and when the older one grew tired of playing, the youngest wanted to continue so I had the chance to experience the new game myself. This may be a new version, but the entire point of the game remains the same. You are taking a trip to King Kandy’s castle and the trip is a candy filled adventure!

Bottom Line:
Whether Candy Land: Sweet Celebration is worth the purchase or not is going to depend on your child/children and your frustration level. If you prefer to play games on a bed or carpet area and not a table, you will be disappointed with Candy Land: Sweet Celebration. If you prefer to take the board out of the box and start playing, as opposed to spending some time building a board, Candy Land: Sweet Celebration won’t be for you.

Despite being recommended for children 4+, the building of the board might be too complicated for 4 and 5 year old children and they may grow impatient waiting to play the game. However, if you have older children and younger children, Candy Land: Sweet Celebration is the perfect way to get all of them involved, bonding as they help build the board and explore the domain of King Kandy together.

Price: 4 out of 5 stars
Durability: 3 out of 5 stars
Ease of Assembly: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Fun Factor: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Child Readiness: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Lasting Appeal: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: 3.93 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Candy Land: Sweet Celebration, Hasbro, Board Game, Children, Candy Land, Toys, Review, Holidays, LI Kids

It isn’t surprising that one of the things Lil B has been asking his dad for is a pet. He loves to play with our wildly unruly dog, Oliver, whenever he visits. Since dad lives in apartment, certain pets are out of the question. This is why I was so excited when I found out I was selected to review Zhu Zhu Pets. These are the perfect toys for kids who live in situations where they cannot have pets (i.e. apartment living, pet allergies, etc.).

There are many different Zhu Zhu Pets playsets. Each individual playset connects together to form one very big playset. If you have limited space an individual playset such as the Hamster Wheel and Tunnel or the Hamster Funhouse is perfect. However, if your child has the room, the entire playset is awesome! It took up my brother’s (Lil B’s dad) entire dining room table. That’s how big it is!

Lil B received the entire set. It includes the:

-Hamster Funhouse
-Hamster Wheel and Tunnel
-Skateboard and U Turn Ramp
-Surfboard and Sleep Dome
-Spiral Slide and Ramp
-Hamster Car and Garage
-Go Go Adventure Ball

Lil B also received two of the four hamsters available. The hamsters they sent were Pipsqueak and Num Nums. The funny thing about this is that Lil B believes that Num Nums name is Dum Dum! I tried to tell him that it is Num Nums, but he is pretty sure I’m wrong and it is, in fact, Dum Dum!

Lil B absolutely LOVES his Zhu Zhu pets playset. He has to take the playset apart when he isn’t playing with it because there isn’t enough room to keep it together anywhere in his dad’s apartment. However, he takes his two hamsters with him everywhere. If he can’t take them with him, he’s always sure to make sure a grownup who is with the hamsters knows how to care for them.

For example, when he goes to his mom’s house he always reminds his dad to take care of Pipsqueak and Dum Dum. In fact, the first time he left them at the apartment he told his dad to be sure to feed them little pieces of cheese, thinly sliced and lettuce while he was gone! Just in case, he reminds his Nana to remind his dad to feed them! He’s just like a true blue pet owner, always looking out for his pets!

While the Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters are not real pets, they are lifelike. Each hamster has its own personality. When you press on their backs, they move. They can move through the maze and if they get stuck or run into a wall they will back up and try a different route all on their own. Occasionally, they get stuck, but it is easy to open the playset and move them forward. We didn’t have this problem too much.

The playsets are made of hard plastic. They seem to be pretty durable, though I’m sure if your child was slamming them into walls intentionally or someone steps on them they could break. A lot of the pieces are arched which means if excessive force is thrust upon the plastic, it is going to break. If your child isn’t trying to break them though, the pieces aren’t just going to fall apart on their own. When completing the bigger playset, the pieces pop apart and together relatively easy. If the playset fell, the pieces would snap apart, but the individual pieces wouldn’t break. You or your child would easily be able to put the set back together.

One of the most disappointing areas is the price. I have no problem paying $40 for a piece of the playset, which is obviously big and is going to get a lot of use. This is how the Zhu Zhu pets playsets are priced at Amazon. You can also purchase them at Toys R Us and Walmart. The part where I am disappointed is in the price of the actual hamsters. Each hamster is over $30. That’s quite a bit just for one hamster. I was thinking they’d be priced around $20.

Since Lil B has informed me Pipsqueak and Dum Dum are lonely without their two brother hamsters, Chunk and Mr. Squiggles, I’m apprehensive about shelling out $60+ to complete his set. Add in the fact that kids will probably not just want one part of the set and you’re looking at spending a few hundred dollars to complete the set. That’s not counting over $120 for all four hamsters. As awesome as this toy is, it’s not very friendly, price wise, in this troubled economy.

**After completing this review, Toys R Us prices are now more reasonable. For example, you can get a 3-Pack of the hamsters for the price of 1 at Amazon. Our advice, buy these at Toys R Us, instead!

You can find out more about Zhu Zhu Pets by visiting http://www.zhuzhupets.com. While I hate that the whole set isn’t available in one big box, the idea of Zhu Zhu pets is great and the fun kids have with this toy makes it worth the purchase! With this in mind, I highly recommend this toy!

Note: This review was updated October 3, 2009 to add in videos of the Zhu Zhu Pets play set.

Technorati Tags: LI Toys, Review, Zhu Zhu Pets, Playset, Hamsters, Pets, Fun, Kids, Toys Review, Lil B

Doing Lil B’s birthday bash has exposed me to a number of fun and awesome toys that I probably would not have learned about, otherwise. One of those toys comes from Creativity, Inc and is known as a Smooshie. A Smooshie is a stuffed toy, of sorts, that allows kids the room to design their toy however they want. They can make a normal looking stuffed friend or they can whip up a monster in no time. It’s fun because it allows the kids to change the Smooshie’s look whenever they feel like it. It’s hard to get bored when your toy is constantly changing an evolving.

Before we get into the meat and bones review, I want to say that I think this is an adorably fun toy. I am all for creative play, so I thought this was great. It reminds me of a cloth Mr. Potato Head almost because you can completely rearrange the look whenever you want. Still using the Velcro tabs, this goes a step further by allowing you to move the hair, arms, and legs rather than just swapping them out for other designs. The Smooshie is also cuddly too, which gets it a few extra points.

The biggest downside here is that there is likely to be a limited age range. Young kids are going to adore this, but it’s not going to be something that an older kid will pick up more than a few times. Still, if you’re shopping for the young ones and want something creative that will keep them busy in the car and on the go, this might hit the spot.

Pros:
Fun for parents and children
Promotes Creativity
Promotes Independent Play
Works well as a gender neutral toy
Inexpensive add-ons available
Endless possibilities of what the kids can make

Cons:
None that come to mind

Lil B had plenty of fun playing with his Smooshie. As you can see from his video, he whipped something up pretty quickly. I teased him as he proclaimed…”That’s the best I could do,” but he managed to come up with a few designs once the camera was turned off. We both had a ball playing with this. He likes how you can change it around and make new designs with just a press of some Velcro. Parents will like that you can buy add on pieces for next to nothing.

The only downside is that this is not something that Lil B chooses to play with at all times. There are toys that are considered his “go-to” toys that he always wants around him and then there are things that he plays with occasionally. This is an occasional toy. Considering the price that isn’t too big of an issue. However, if you’re looking for something that will receive everyday use you might want to look for something else if your child thrives on activity and more boy-oriented toys. This would be perfect for the creative, artsy kids though.

When you consider the creative, fun nature of Smooshies, they are going to be great for some kids. More active boys and girls may not be in love with them, but kids that like building toys or toys like Mr. Potato Head, which offer some artsy expression and freedom, will like them quite a bit. Parents will enjoy the excitement in their child’s eyes when they make some new creation.

This is a fun, rainy day activity and great for some quiet, independent play. The price is also very reasonable, though it will add up as you add more accessories, which ups the fun level. The good thing is that you can start out small to ensure they will like their Smooshie and then add accessories when you can.

Price: 4 out of 5 stars
Durability: 4 out of 5 stars
Ease of Assembly: 5 out of 5 stars
Fun Factor: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Child Readiness: 5 out of 5 stars
Lasting Appeal: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Smooshies, Creativity Inc, Toy, Make Your Own Monster, Velcro, Birthday Bash Review, Fun, Kid Friendly