I wanted to share this because it’s such a unique and clever concept even though I’m not sure where you can purchase one. A product of Charlotte Friis Design Studio, this paper chair is shaped like a roll of toilet paper. It’s essentially a drawing board, and each side can serve as a seat. It [...]

I have geeky interests, and so when I heard about the PicoCricket (via Boing Boing), the first thing I thought was “Man, I wish I had that when I was a kid.” If you have older children who have been giving you a hard time for not getting them a PlayStation or Nintendo Wii, I’m [...]

If you’re into the Uglydolls that I posted about yesterday, you should definitely check out biggerCritters. Each biggerCritter is one-of-a-kind and handmade by creator Krissy Harris. With names like Ole Bard (left), Raul (right), and Festerbock (below), these stuffed critters have big(ger) personalities. Festerbock reminds me of a really bad hair day.

I think I [...]

Sometimes I wonder: why didn’t I think of that? I wondered that when I first saw the Uglydolls. Such a simple concept: let’s create a weird looking doll and call it an Uglydoll. They kind of remind me of Garbage Pail Kids. On second thought, I think Garbage Pail Kids were uglier.
Winner of the 2006 [...]

For secular Jews like me, this time of year can get confusing, and not just because we can’t figure out how to spell the name of our holiday. Here’s a fun blog post from Working Dad about one Jew’s relationship with Hannukah, including the funny-because-it’s-true observation that “Hanukkah ‘is a minor holiday with the same [...]

Winner of the 2006 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award, the Quadrilla Marble Railway Twist comes with 205 pieces that will definitely keep your child (and you) entertained. I love the flexibility of these types of toys because you can play with them over and over again and end up with something different every time. Recommended [...]

One thing you really need as a new mom or dad is a good sense of humor. I remember those first few weeks - heck, those first few months - when everything seemed so serious. It was as if Josh and I had been fitted with these panic buttons that were constantly being pushed. Oh [...]

There’s no telling what type of doll a kid will create when you give them a blank slate. These dolls come with a set of markers. The only worry is if you let them draw on one doll, are they going to start drawing on all their dolls? Price: $40
The pants-wearing doll is on sale [...]

Space travel without the space travel. The Moon Rocket is 5 feet tall and made out of recycled cardboard. If you’re not handy enough to build a treehouse, you can make it up to the kid by putting together this Moon Rocket. Price: $50
You can find this at Modernseed.

It’s a hat!
It’s a chair!
It’s . . . whatever you want it to be!
It’s Bilibo!
Made in Switzerland, the beauty of the Bilibo is its simplicity. It’s a toy that’s intended to stir up your child’s imagination, and that’s why I like it.
Some of Pooky’s favorite things to play with are mundane, simple objects. This is [...]