Too Much Awesome

We’ve talked about Mr. Potato Head before on the site, but let’s dig a bit deeper today and get at the root of what has made the ol’ tater such an enduring toy for generations. When you stop and think about it, the truth is that Mr. Potato Head is actually a dress-up doll, one [...]

One of the most popular children’s toys of the 20th century, Lego formed both the literal and figurative building blocks of many a childhood, including my own. But these simple plastic bricks brought hours of fun to me and my friends as they have almost every child that’s come into contact with them in their [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Remember that useless collection of objects that decided your status in grade school? Tell Beanie Babies to slide down the bench, because the new generation is hooked on Silly Bandz. With Sales Like This, They’re Not So Silly Available in any color, Silly Bandz are silicon-based rubber bands that kids can wear as bracelets and [...]

If I were pressed to defend the educational value of video games, I probably couldn’t do much other than say they can teach reading, math, problem solving, community interaction, cause and effect, and hand-eye coordination skills, so really I’d have an uphill battle talking about their benefits (wink). However, there are a handful of very [...]

I’ve been hung up on video games a lot lately, and I apologize for that. There’s just been an abundance of games getting released in such a short time frame. Plus, it sounds as if half the US has been snowed in for a while. To make up for all this sitting around in front [...]

Quality products from Melissa & Doug have my appreciation and that of others, even in a less-than-booming economy.  The educational toys are fun and designed to last, the puppets are wonderful, and the imaginary play items keep my daughter occupied for hours. Melissa and Doug have hundreds of toys, but most of their toys can [...]