droolicious : games

7 Days of Dad: Can You Picture This?

JeanneSager — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:01:00 GMT

He ponied up for Mother's Day, so now it's time to get cracking on how to make Dad's day. Lucky for you, we were wondering too. So we're offering up seven days of what we'll be giving the guy who reads bedtime stories and changes stinky diapers.

Pictures of his little munchkins always make Dad's day, but do you think he really wants another t-shirt he'll have to shove to the back of the closet? Another coffee mug with their mug?

Greet him on Father's Day morning with a giant canvas made from his favorite pic. The folks at Shutterfly take art-worthy shots to the next level of presentation with high quality prints wrapped around immense wooden canvases (my husband's only words? "wow, just wow" when he saw a pic I picked of our daughter remade as a 20 x 30 shot for our wall). They'll take dad's appreciation for art to another level too.

A few tips:- depending on what size canvas you're going for, pre-crop your images so you get exactly what you want. Remember: a lot of today's digital SLRs do not take a standard size photo, so you can leave it up to Shutterfly, but they will have to do some adjusting to make it fit the canvas. Also, key in on the focus in your pictures - at 20 x 30, mistakes show up big time! You want to pick a picture that reprepesents the best of your kids' scrapbook.

The canvas prints are on sale until June 16. At $50 off, now's the time to get one, so check them out at Shutterfly.

Want to save a little dough and still go the photo route? Shutterfly's 252-piece puzzles give him something to do WITH the kids. Their photo is superimposed on a sturdy cardboard sheet, then cut to make a game for the whole family. At $24.99, it's easy on the pocketbook and did we say it gives them something to do? That's priceless!

A few tips: choose a photo that's VERY colorful. Monochromatic photos or those with a lot of one color in the background make for a major puzzle challenge. The pieces are small, so this is for your older kids (age four at the minimum - although it depends on your child's puzzle skills).

Check out more gifts for Dad this week on the 7 Days of Dad.

I Like That Boom Boom Pow!

Cathy Hale — Sun, 31 May 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Believe or not, the 4th of July is right around the corner. Where does the time go? Wanna be festive without doing all of the shopping yourself? Here's a bucket-o-fun for the kiddos with a sprinkle of excitement.

Aptly named the 4th of July Bucket, this treat spells star-spangled fun with fireworks that won't really get anyone in trouble. It comes with lots of red white & blue goodies like a festive headband, gumballs, cookie cutters and a meteor storm toy. It may have some small pieces in it, so check for choking hazards if little ones under three are playing with it. Retails for $49 at Chasing Fireflies!

Make Your Pencil Do the Robot

JeanneSager — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:01:00 GMT

The pencil may be the simplest tool there is, but it gets geeked out with this robot.

I haven't tried it myself yet, but sharpening pencils apparently winds the Walking Robot up (although the key winds him too, so you can have your fun when the pencils are done). Best of all, your kids will never be caught putting off homework because they don't have a sharpened pencil again!

Get it for $8.99 from Boys to Men Gifts.

More Robot fun:

Robotcha? You Betcha

Take Super Mario Bros. Off the TV and Onto Your Walls

SunnyChanel — Sat, 23 May 2009 20:00:00 GMT

For the hardcore old school gamer in the house, here is a set of wall decals that will take the video game out of the TV and onto the walls. bilk has created the Re-Stik movable and reusable decals that are based on the graphics from the original super Mario Bros. game (and it’s officially licensed so it’s all on the up and up). You can pick up this set and create your own game space anywhere in your home, well where ever there are walls that is. You can pick them up here for $75.

Puzzled: Where Do Babies Come From?

SunnyChanel — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:00:00 GMT

To answer the delicate question of “where do babies come from”, instead of investing in a cabbage patch doll, going to visit the storks at the zoo or buying your kid a porno, opt for getting them the Beleduc Mother Body 5 Layer Puzzle. This German import is a plywood puzzle that depicts what happens to Mommy’s body when she’s knocked up.

This 29 piece puzzle starts from a naked mom and as you add layers and put the pieces together, you create the nervous and digestive systems, muscles, skin and layers of cloths…and of course a growing baby and belly. You can educate your kid on the facts of pregnancy here for $22.50. With telling your kid how Mommy got knocked up in the first place, well that’s up to you.

7 Days of Wii Games – Wii Music

SunnyChanel — Sun, 17 May 2009 05:41:00 GMT

Get your kids that musical fix without having to force them to listen to Mozart or drag them to piano class. Nintendo's Wii Music allows your kids to get their much loved video game action in with creative, spontaneous musical magic. The Wii Music game includes up to sixty, yes sixty different instruments. Guitar, flute, drums even the sitar which are playing with the Wii controller and the nunchuk controller. They can do some solo jamming, conduct an orchestra or get the whole gang together for hot band action (minus the booze and groupies).

The “band” can make videos to save or share later. Yeah, instant rock star status. But if you’d like some solo fun you can play music based games like Handbell Harmony, Pitch Perfect, or just improv with your virtual band mates called ‘Tutes’. You can use your music magic with the guitar, bango, or, my personal favorite, barking like a dog (your Mii character appears in a furry dog suit for howling and dancing around). With the variety of games, ways to play and all these instruments, there are “virtually endless” ways to make music.

One of the truly great things about this game is that all ages can play it. Which you don’t really believe till you see it in action. From a toddler just shaking the maracas in the improv jam, to an adult testing their ear with the highest level or Pitch Perfect. Literally, it’s fun for the whole family and how many things can truly stand up to that label? You can pick up a copy here for $49.99

7 Days of Wii Games: Mario Kart

SunnyChanel — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:01:00 GMT

There is one big problem with the Wii Mariokart game. It’s totally addictive. Although my young daughter loves to pretend she’s a ‘big girl’ and can drive, it is totally obvious she is far, and I mean far, from being ready, especially after seeing her attempt to play Mariokart. She found much amusement in trying to hit the other racers while I tried to explain the game was not a version of ‘bumper cars’. Me? Oh I am oh so ready to take this game for a spin, again and again and again. Mariokart is pretty much a wheel barrel gift of sorts for your kid, since it’s a game that is as entertaining for the hard to impress adults as it is the game happy kids.

Mariokart comes bundled with a Wii Wheel that houses your Wii remote in a comfortable touse steering wheel. This enables you to race through crazy courses like a gold mine, the street of Venice and the mall (which slyly features your various Mii characters along the sidelines and in the billboards around the track – it’s always nice to see a familiar face). And speaking of faces, there are oodles of characters you can choose from for your avatar or you can just use your own Mii. With your avatar selected, you race away. Along the way you can earn special powers that can really give you a racing advantage. But you must always be on the lookout for the rogue banana peel, dancing crab or wayward racer.

The game can be playing solo (for after the kid goes to bed), or you can compete with up to three people in the comfort of your own home. You also have the option of logging in to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and race against, well, the world.

You can pick up your own Mariokart for Wii here for $45.99. But be warned you family will be racing the day (and morning and night) away. So if your kid has homework, you better keep Mariokart hidden.

7 Days of Wii Games - Active Life Outdoor Challenge

SunnyChanel — Fri, 15 May 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Active Life Outdoor Challenge is not a game for the confirmed couch potato. There is no passive game play here. This Wii game (from Bandai Namco) gets your whole entire body – from head to toe- into the action.

Outdoor Challenge is bundled with it’s own mat controller which captures all your many jumps, hops skips and steps. There are oodles of options for games - twelve in all -that allows you to delve virtually into river rafting, mine-cart adventure, log jumping, see-saw, jump rope and water trampoline among others.

If you are in a loner mood, you can play solo or do some basic physical training to work on different body parts. If you like playing with others, like your kids, you can participate in some battles or work on some good old fashioned teamwork. My daughter’s favorite? Jump rope. We played as a team but didn’t get very far. She was more amused by missing than actually jumping correctly. But hey, she was amused and that’s what counts. The Mini-Cart Adventure elicited from her shrieks of delight not unlike the kind you’d hear on a roller coaster and she became a pro with a lumberjack like deftness at jumping logs in Timber Trail.

And for those augmenting their fitness regime with the Outdoor Challenge, your avatar (you can use your own Mii) will show physical signs of your workouts with your character’s body changing over time.

All in all, Active Life Outdoor Challenge gives you a great excuse to get off the couch and do something all without having to leave the comfort of your own home. You can pick up the bundle here for $56.99.

7 Days of Wii Games: Carnival Games MiniGolf

SunnyChanel — Thu, 14 May 2009 05:08:00 GMT

I learned something about myself this week. I suck at mini-golf. But my three-and-a-half-year-old? She’s apparently the Tiger Woods of the pre-school set. 2K Play’s Carnival Games: MiniGolf takes the standard video golf game and adds in dinosaurs, candy canes and farm animals to create a whimsical and wacky adventure for you and your little putter.

Where does the mad mad mad golfin’ go down? At lands like “Prehistoric Times, Wild West, Amazon Jungle, Pirate's Cove, Fairytale Land, Egyptian Pyramids, and the Haunted Mansion.” During your game play, if you happen to get the hang of it, you can earn coins to trade in for ‘prizes’, like upgrades to your customized avatar, special clubs and unique golf balls.

The game accommodates single player or multiplayer (up to 4 Wii remotes at once) so you can enjoy some lone player action or go for a full on party. But we warned, this ain’t just your regular run of the mill mini-golf. Things fly, come out of nowhere and your competition even has the ability to distract you with their own Wii remote while you’re playing. Yeah, the game can get rough. It’s time for a rematch with my little preschooler, just proving that this game is good for the young and the old…like me.

You can pick up your clubs and hit it here for $29.99.

Roadtripping with LEGO

JeanneSager — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:00:00 GMT

If you want to keep a kid busy for hours, you can hardly do better then a LEGO set. Two new lines out from our favorite bricklayers take the building occupation on the road.

The LEGO Racers' Tiny Turbo Fold-Out Race Tracks give a whole new meaning to backseat driver. The plastic case that carries their bricks on the road doubles as a race track when opened up. Each set lets them build two different cars while they're riding along in the back of the car, and than it's all about the racing action. So keep your hands on the wheel while they do the steering. Get the Ice Rally (for kids who drive to extremes), Thunder Raceway (above), or take on a Desert Challenge, all straight from LEGO for $14.99.

LEGO Creator Minis pack three times the fun in a plastic container that's three times smaller than your average LEGO product box - leaving more room in the suitcase for extra swimsuits. There's more room in your wallet too; the new toys are a steal at $4.99. Get the Mini Jet or the Mini Off-Roader from LEGO.

Want more LEGO fun? Check out:

Blocks that Rock: LEGO Boombox

Sneak Peek at LEGO Rock Band

Wubbzy's Gone Soapity

JeanneSager — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:25:00 GMT

I should just come and say it: I'm a sucker for bath toys. Maybe it's all the good memories - the hours languishing in a tub as a kid getting good and pruney.

Suffice it to say, my kid is benefitting big time from my tub time treasure hunts. Our latest find? Let me just say Wow.

Because Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! has gone soapity - specifically Soapity Suds, the cuddly bath toy from Fisher Price that can double as a hugable buddy for the bath or a critter that oozes bubbly fun. Made for kids who dig bubble beards, Wubbzy's squishy body soaks in the soap and lets out a steady stream of foam "hair" when you give him a squeeze.

A good way to get bath-resistant kids to cover themselves in soap (yes, I'm devious), Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Soapity Suds is available at Amazon for $14.99.

More Wubbzy fun:

Beyonce Shines on Wubb Idol

Go Green in a Flash

JeanneSager — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:32:00 GMT

Going green is a big job for little kids, but you can make it easy on them with this set of 52 flashcard tips.

With kid-friendly pictures on one side and eco-friendly ideas on the other, the flashcards from Easy Going Green Kids help kids navigate the right and wrong way to manage every day tasks like brushing their teeth (turn off the water) and finishing up a can of juice (crush it and chuck it into the recycling bin).

One part memory tester game, one part challenge for them to develop new ideas, the Easy Going Green Kids flashcards come packed in a cloth bag to keep them all together at the end of the game. And when you're done, you can pass them on to another family - the "reuse" part of the green chain of life.

Get them straight from Easy Going Green Kids for $19.95, and a portion of the profits goes to green charities.

Family Game Night With Your Favorite Monkey

JeanneSager — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:26:00 GMT

We've hit that magical age in my household where board games can keep my child occupied - and me tied to the dining room table - for hours. I had to find some that made family game night bearable for the whole family.

And since I'm a bit of a monkey nut, Curious George it is.

I Can Do That Games has rolled out a new line of games featuring the mischief-making monkey, and although they're directed at ages three to eight, they have the one thing every parent NEEDS to find in a board game. Absolutely no teeny weeny pieces.

No little bits of plastic to take apart piece by piece. No sharp bits of plastic to get stuck under your toes in the middle of the night. No plastic pieces that disappear between the table and the game closet, rendering the game utterly useless after the first family play.

For the kids, the big draw is their favorite monkey, natch, and his trademark curiosity lends itself nicely to games that give the kids plenty to do. They can try finding little sea critters hidden in the "ocean" in the Discovery Beach Game (bonus for parents - the sea and the creatures are all contained inside the game board, they shake the board to set things loose, but you don't end up with blue pieces of "water" across the dining room) or donning animal masks for the big hunt for the missing animals in the Hide and Seek Zoo Game.

They're simple enough for toddlers, with new challenges for the early elementary schoolers, and I Can Do That's Curious George games keep them thinking - and doing - instead of lounging in front of the TV.

Both under $20, they're a cheap Friday night's entertainment available exclusively at Target and on Target.com, so get them there - the Discovery Beach Game is $16.99, the Hide and Seek Gameis $17.99.

Better Batter Baseball is a Home Run

Cathy Hale — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:30:00 GMT

We got this toy when my oldest turned three and it's been a blast ever since! If you're looking for a fun activity that will entertain your little guy (or gal), you've got to check out the Better Batter Baseball from Fisher-Price. The tee-free design lets toddlers play without having to routinely reset the ball. They simply tap the plate and the balls automatically load thanks to the Velcro on the arm (it sticks to the ball). The trainer is height adjustable too. It says ages 3+, but I think younger children can easily get the hang of it. Retails for $40 at Target. Batter up!

Egg & Spoon Race Without the Mess

SunnyChanel — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 15:07:00 GMT

For some Easter Sunday fun, or pert near any other time or occasion, the Egg & Spoon Race game provides the merriment without the mess. Now the old school version of an egg race is a ball and all, but it’s messy and pretty damn wasteful, all those cracked eggs just going to waste. This Egg & Spoon race game by I Play features four easy grip spoons, four re-breakable eggshells and four egg shaped beanbag “yolks.” After the egg “breaks,” you can still play, play and play some more and you can save those real eggs for breakfast. You can pick up this game, suitable for ages 3 and up, here for $12.99.

It's a Fair Trade Out on the Soccer Field

JeanneSager — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Big news! My daughter's finally old enough for us to sign her up for soccer (yes, my baby's growing up).

Bigger news! I found her a soccer ball that's eco-friendly and made by folks who practice fair trade.

Fair Trade Sports stocks soccer, basketball and footballs made by workers who get a fair wage, and their after-tax profits go straight to children's charities. The Fair Trade soccer ball we picked up for our daughter to start kicking around the pitch was eco-made of synthetic leather, so vegan kids can eat her dirt when she leaves 'em in her dust on the field!

With sizes for the under seven kids, the eight- to eleven-year-olds and the twelve and ups, they're the right size for kids regulation games, so you can stock the team bag with eco-friendliness.

Buy two and get free shipping! Enter FAIRSHIP at checkout at Fair Trade Sports.

Or get them from Amazon: size three, size four or size five.

Stacking Chair Game

AmandaHill — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Stacking games are a huge hit in my house. The Chair Game is a stacking game that involves stacking the miniature plastic chairs as demonstrated in the picture above. The Chair Game comes in a tin with twenty four chairs for stackable fun. The first person to knock the tower over loses!

Check the Chair Game out at the MoMaStore.

Blast Off Teeball

AmandaHill — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

It's been warm enough in my neck of the woods for lots of outdoors play. The Blast Off Teeball set seen above is a unique air powered teeball set. The set helps with hand-eye coordination and timing.

Check it out at Diana's Toy Store.

Make Your Own Puzzle

Heather Kuldell — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 22:04:00 GMT

Whether you’re trying to occupy the kids on a lazy Saturday or you have a crew over for a birthday party, Create-a-Puzzle Kits can fill the time. Each kit comes with 12 blank, pre-cut jigsaw puzzles made of heavy cardboard that can be colored on with crayons, markers or even paint. The game makers can take their time coming up with unique images, then swap puzzles and try to put them back together.

For kids under 7 years old, select the “large piece puzzle,” which measures 4 inches by 5 and half inches and breaks down into nine pieces. For older kids, the same size puzzle breaks down into 16 pieces.

Available at Dick Blick for $5.59 for a pack of 12.

Games To Play With During Family Time

Lisa Estall — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:28:00 GMT

I received a sample of the Gather 'Round Restaurant Game recently to review. What you get is not a board game with pieces but cards with questions relating to mealtime. There are almost 100 games to play with while you wait for your meal at a restaurant or at home. There is a push-button light but it doesn't emit any sound. The light stops by itself at a question on each card.

Created by familyfuntime.com, this is recommended for ages 5 and up. I'm not sure how many people would want to bring a game to a restaurant but for home, it would probably be more fun for the older kids.

The price is $24.95 and sold at familyfuntime.com

Collect Caterpillars With HaPe Rapelli Bamboo Game

Heather Kuldell — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:35:00 GMT

Spring is still about seven weeks away, so freshening up the game selection might help keep the cabin fever in check. For little ones three and up, the HaPe Rapelli Bamboo Collection Game can occupy two to six players at a time. The game starts with multicolored caterpillars poking out of holes in a 10 and 1/2 inch tall cylinder. Players take turns rolling dice to remove each caterpillar by segment, though sometimes, they will have to be pushed back in. The bamboo set costs $28.90 at Hazelnut Kids.

Sale Alert! Zoob Jr. 50 Piece Set for $15!

SunnyChanel — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:30:00 GMT

Zoob’s are totally addictive, cool and creative. Zoobs are construction pieces that have a special memory material that is flexible and can return to it’s original shape. They bend, move and snap together.

This 50 Zoob Jr. Set comes in a zippered plastic storage bag and is available for the crazy low price of $15 from high end department store Barney’s, the set usually goes for $60 so this is a great deal. Check it out here.

Go Ahead, Touch and Feel

Lisa Mulcahy — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:28:00 GMT

Usually we’re telling our toddlers “Don’t touch!” But here’s a chance for them to quench that insatiable desire to touch everything in sight and learn in the process.

This Montessori-style feel and find puzzle set, $22, challenges kids aged three and up to reach into the drawstring bag to find the right puzzle piece without looking. What a great way to build their senses and keep them occupied.

Indoor Bowling ... At Home

Erin Behan — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:32:00 GMT

The holidays make me think bowling and this holiday is having me bemoan how few bowling alleys are left in the world. (I just found out my go-to Christmas bowling stop in Springfield, Va., is on the verge of closing.) Well, if you can't bowl out, you can still bowl at home, and this adorable bowling pin set from Sassafras is a rather stylish way to do it. The six wooden frog pins are about four inches tall and the set comes with a bag to keep everything together and a ball for knocking 'em down. Find it at Pink Olive Boutique for $12.

Professor Plum Gets Fancy

SunnyChanel — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:30:00 GMT

I come from a game playing family. So I cannot wait until my young daughter can delve into something with just a little bit more depth than Candyland. And I mean that literally.

Clue was one of the first “big kid” game I played, and I'll always have a soft spot for it. The Clue Premier Collector’s Edition is a three-dimension rendering of the famous (and dangerous) manor. The nine rooms are sunken into the ‘game box’ and are detailed to represent each environment. This is an exclusive to Restoration Hardware and is now on sale for $125.99 (regularly $159). Just watch out for Colonel Mustard and that candlestick of his.

Recommended for 8+