Halloween is almost here but so is another important day: Election Day! Now is the perfect time to get your kids excited about the election process. Talk to them about what's going on and, of course, what's going to happen on November 4.
Not sure where to start? Time Magazine for Kids has some fun Election 2008 resources for kids including Campaign Games where kids can see what it's like to run for President or be a member of the Electoral College. Children's book publisher Scholastic also has an extensive Scholastic News: Countdown to Election 2008 site with lots of information tailored just for kids as well as games and quizzes.
To really ramp up the election excitement, why not bring the candidates inside your own home? Advanced Graphics makes life-size cardboard cutouts of Senator Obama and Senator McCain.
Or, you know, there's always Hannah Montana if you prefer to keep things neutral in your home.
All right moms and dads, Halloween is only 1 week away! I hope you set some time aside this weekend to put those final touches on your homemade costumes or to run to the store for some last minute necessities.
Personally, I've never been as crafty as my sister. She's always whipping something up with her sewing machine whereas I've only got a glorified mending kit. But I still love homemade Halloween costumes. Take it from me: you don't have to be a master seamstress to put something together for you and your kids.
I recommend going to Marshall's or T.J. Maxx. I went there looking for cheap clothes I could turn into a pirate costume and ended up with several outfits to choose from! Before you go, make sure your kids have decided what they want to be and that it's something you can reasonably make on your own (like a pirate,princess, gypsy, etc). Then try to brainstorm some clothing that would work for that costume. That makes browsing so much easier and you might find something perfect (like bright red sailor pants, in my case.)
A little creativity, scissors, and some safety pins go a long way towards an original costume. Plus it can be like a treasure hunt for you and your kids. So have fun and good luck!
Halloween is only a week away and that means the holiday season is upon us. Halloween is a great time to take your kids to the local pumpkin patch and then to sit on the front lawn and carve (or decorate with markers, depending on their age) the pumpkins they've picked. But as the days get colder and colder, I find myself wondering what families can do during the holidays that doesn't involve the mall.
(I've tried baking festive cookies with positive results but you can only bake so many cookies--because once I run out of people to give them to I start to eat them all and that's not good.)
So here's a suggestion: do a puzzle. It's certainly not a new form of enterainment but it's a good one. A puzzle is a great way to bring the family together around a table. All ages can contribute and--unlike a movie--you can talk while you spend time together.
Get into the holiday spirit with a festive puzzle from Masterpieces. The All Hallows Eve 500 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle is perfect for Halloween. Pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns, and even a few ghouls populate a town on Halloween night and there's lots of clever details for children to discover as the puzzle comes together.
Masterpieces also makes a wide selection of Christmas puzzles that would be fun for cold nights in November and December. Why not start a new tradition? I suggest hot chocolate and puzzles on Friday nights for some guaranteed family fun.
For Jewish families looking for some festive puzzles, I recommend Melissa and Doug. They make beautiful 30 piece puzzles that depict Jewish holidays such as Hanukkah with instructive text. These would be wonderful for younger children and parents to do together. They're also a fun way to encourage family discussion about holiday traditions.
I'm excited to let you know that tomorrow we're launching K'NEX on Toys and Games Online. K'NEX makes building sets for a wide range of ages. From Lincoln Logs to Sesame Street these building sets will spark your child's curiosity and imagination.
I love their new The Road Rigs Connect n' Build Collection, which is recommended for ages five and up. If you're looking for a fun holiday gift for a little boy in your life then this is it! Choose from the Tow Truck, Big Rig Semi Truck, Pickup Truck, or Dump Truck Set. Each set includes all the K'NEX rods, connectors, and bricks needed to build the toy truck. But the fun doesn't stop once the truck is built! Each truck is motorized (you'll need to pick up some AA batteries). Not only will your child enjoy putting the set together, but he'll love having a special motorized toy that he built all by himself. Plus at only $20 this makes an affordable gift that provides hours and hours of fun.
Take a look at all of K'NEX's creative building sets tomorrow when they go live on Toys and Games Online!
I'm really excited about a new collection of dolls recently added to Toys and Games Online. They're Speaking Dolls by Language Littles.
I have to admit I'd be partial to the Speaking Dolls even if they didn't speak. I've always had a (wait for it) soft spot for rag dolls and these are particularly cute and cuddly with their removable outfits, yarn hair, and happy expressions. Note they're also dressed in age-appropriate clothes. These are most definitely not Bratz Dolls.
But these rag dolls do speak, which makes them extra special. Each doll has her own nationality and says a series of greetings and phrases in her native language as well as English. The recording is done in a human voice, which makes the doll and the languae come alive. You can choose from French, German, Spanish, Russian, Italian, Greek, Japanse, Chinese, Korean, and Hebrew. Plus each doll comes with a translation booklet and a unique pass code that will allow your child entry to specialized language games on the Language Littles Web site.
This is a great way to introduce, encourage, and reinforce language skills in children at a young age. If your child is lucky enough to be learning a foreign language in elementary school, then a Language Littles Speaking Doll could be the perfect gift to reward your child for a job well done. These dolls make foreign language fun and accessable and hopefully, especially with the addition of the Web site, spark your child's curiosity to learn more.
I really like the fact that there's a fairly diverse range of languages to choose from, though if you're looking for visual diversity, the choices are limited. All the dolls have the same white skin tone. Lizzie, the Spanish speaking doll, who comes in light or dark skin, is the only exception. I'll just have to hope that in the future this New York city-based company continues to expand into other Nationalities and languages.
If your child has been begging for a puppy or kitten but you just "know" that Santa isn't going to bring one this year, then Perfect Petzzz might be just what you need. These incredibly lifelike, handcrafted kittens and puppies even "breathe” (with the help of batteries, of course).
There's a wide range of kittens and puppies so you're sure to find the perfect pet for your child. Each pet includes a bed, brush, collar, pet tag, 1 “D” Alkaline battery, pet carrier and adoption certificate. It offers kids all (well, most of) the fun of having a pet without the cost or responsibility.
These toys will make sweet, cuddly companions for your child for years to come. It may also be a great way to teach your child about responsible pet ownership before he or she graduates to a real pet (although maybe he or she will want another Perfect Petzzz instead!)
A Perfect Petzzz toy would make a very special holiday gift. You can choose from cute accessories like a bandana or Play Pet Tote to add to the fun. Which pet would your child choose?
