Too Much Awesome Podcast: Episode 5

Today we have the fifth episode of the Too Much Awesome podcast with the return of Kyle Martinak. In this episode, Chris and Kyle discuss the general topic of childhood trends, including what Kyle calls “Schoolyard Currency,” Pogs, Super Soakers, Nerf, Mr. Potato Head, Toy Story 3, and video games. Plus, Chris makes a point of wishing Bob Chipman, the Game Overthinker/Movie Bob, was his friend. So sit back, relax, and listen to two boys reminisce about their childhoods.

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Talking Cars, Space Ships, and Classic Americana: The Most Popular Die-Cast Toys

I’m taking another day off video games to go into one of my favorite things from my childhood: Die-cast cars. The term can be applied to a lot of things, such as Hot Wheels and the like, but I actually won’t be bringing Hot Wheels into this since, well, that makes for an article in of itself sometime next week. Okay, not the classic thought of what makes a car a Hot Wheels car at least. I can’t lie, I’m talking about the most popular die-cast cars right now, so Hot Wheels are going to show up in some way or another. Read more

Let The Good Times Roll: Ideas For Popular Ride-On Toys

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 of the TV, I think it’s time to take a look at the complete opposite here and talk about getting those kids outside and on something that moves. No, not a car, not even a bike, but one of these handy active outdoor toys. Grab your helmets and kneepads and let’s talk about some popular ride-on toys.

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Toys That Get Kids Moving

With America’s waistlines growing by the minute, one of the year’s most uplifting toy trends is toys that try to get kids moving. The Wii Fit, a game for the Wii console in which the player does mini-exercises from pushups to running, is quite popular among a slightly older crowd, but now toy makers are targeting younger children for their activity-encouraging toys.

The Fisher-Price Smart Cycle is one of the most promising of these new toys. It’s essentially a stationary bike for young children, which hooks up to a television like other game consoles. Children must continue to pedal and steer to keep the game going. Several games are already available and more will surely be developed.

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What Toys Were Popular In The 1950s?

This year classic toy designs are enjoying quite a renaissance. Parents are turning away from toys that they perceive as unsafe, or risqué, as well as expensive electronic toys, like Nintendo’s Wii game console. Especially popular right now are toys from the fifties. But it would be a stretch to call this a revival for these toys—many of them never went out style at all! Here are some of the most popular and beloved, both then and now.

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