Outdoor Family Fun for Memorial Day Picnics

The smell of hotdogs and burgers is in the air. The long Memorial Day weekend is almost here. And so far, it looks like we're going to have sunshine. But if the thought of spending a hot afternoon in Uncle George's backyard with nothing to do but listen to Aunt Marge complain about her bunions has you dreading the weekend, we're here to help. Here are a few fun ideas that all ages can play outside.

1. Boochie: This bean bag and ring toss game is great fun for all ages. Pick your color and put your special score-keeping, instruction-giving wristband on. As you click your wristband to keep your score, it tells you how you have to toss your items: between your legs, with your eyes wide shut, etc. Toss yours the closest to the Boochie to score a point. The first one to 11 wins. Great, active fun that is simple enough for a 5 year old and challenging enough to keep adults entertained. Different wristbands have different challenges, so switching them up will keep interest high for a long time!

2. Water Cannon: If you don't mind getting a little wet, bring a water cannon (or 3!) to the family picnic. All you need is a bucket of water to go with it, and let the fun begin. Shoot at each other, or set up fun targets to see who is the sharpest water shooter. It's easy to load and easy to empty. Just keep it away from the grill so those burgers don't get ruined.

3. Stomp Rocket: Okay, I know I've talked about these before. But they really are that fun! No one can resist stomping on the launch pad to see how high he can make the foam-tipped rockets go. Kids can't seem to help chasing them either. Just be sure you're far enough away from the potato salad to avoid a messy landing.

Hopefully, at least one of these ideas will work for you and yours so you don't get stuck rubbing Aunt Marge's bunions. Enjoy the holiday weekend! And look for us with Mrs. Fisher Cat in Hudson's Memorial Day Parade!

Silly Bandz: What Makes a Toy Craze?

Toys come and go. But when some toys are hot, boy do they go! Just a few years ago at My Little Red Wagon, we had waiting lists for Webkinz. Before that it was Beanie Babies. Now, we're fielding dozens of calls a day for Silly Bandz.

This latest craze--shaped rubber bands that kids wear as bracelets and trade--has me scratching my head, to be honest. I never would have guessed that rubber bands could create such a frenzy. Yet they clearly have mass appeal. We see all ages coming in looking for them, even teenage boys.

So I find myself wondering what makes a toy become a "craze." To answer that, I did a little research. The first toy craze in modern history I could find was...drum roll please...Crayola crayons! In the early 1900's, their box of 8 colors for a nickle was all the rage. Apparently, Crayola struck the right balance with this product. It was simple, affordable to many, and appealed to kids and parents alike.

Many hot toys have followed Crayola's recipe for success. Most must-have toys over the years can be placed in two categories: dolls and building toys. In the doll category, Raggedy Ann (1910's), Madame Alexander collectibles (1920's), G.I. Joe (1960's), Cabbage Patch Kids (1980's), and Tickle Me Elmo (1990's) all sent parents to stores in droves. As far as building toys, Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, and Erector sets are still selling to this day. Play doesn't get any more basic than pretending with a doll and building with sticks. And let's face it, if these products didn't appeal to adults on some level, I doubt the throngs of moms and dads would have been fighting in the aisles to get their hands on some of these products during the height of their popularity.

When compared to these other hot toys, Silly Bandz definitely fits with the formula for a toy craze. They are nothing new. They are just a new twist with a price that appeals to parents ($2.99-$5.99). And I'll go out on a limb and say that parents like the innocence of them. After all, what is more innocent than rubber bands shaped like unicorns and footballs? Moreover, in an age when kids seem to spend more time texting behind a screen than talking to each other in person, the trading of these bracelets returns us to a simpler time. Perhaps they remind us of trading Star Wars cards with our friends on the playground in the 70's. Perhaps they are a welcomed reprieve from high tech, pricey video consoles and games. Whatever the reasons, they are hot and hoping to be around as long as Crayola crayons.

Sort and Share: Getting Rid of Toys

I have three kids and a small house. My house is maybe 1,100 square feet if I count the dark, creepy space in the basement behind the hot water tank where spiders like to hang out. In other words, I don't have extra storage space for toys. So each spring, we do the sort and share to keep our toy population under control.

Basically, sort and share is dividing all the toys into four piles: 1. keep 2. give to a friend 3. sell 4. donate. Of course, the first year I did this drill with my kids, everything kept getting put in the "keep" pile. But with a little coaching and talking, our other piles grew. Here are the ways we help our kids think about each pile to make getting rid of toys a little easier.

1. Keep Pile: In order to go in this pile, the toy must be played with on a regular basis. If we keep it and no one plays with it for 6 months, I'm allowed to donate it as I see fit. If it's a seasonal toy, we put it in the appropriate box in the garage for that season.

2. Give to a Friend: This pile is the next easiest to get kids to build. It's less threatening than just donating to Goodwill or the Salvation Army because the toys are going to someone they know. We offer toys that we have outgrown to friends with younger children. This puts the emphasis on how big and grown up everyone is getting, rather than giving toys away. Plus, there's always the chance that they will get to see and play with the items again when visiting that friend.

3. Sell: Very few toys fall into this category for us, to be honest. But we do use Craigslist or a yard sale to sell some bigger items. For instance, we sold our old Little Tikes slide and outdoor climbing set. We talk this category up with the kids by pointing out that the money we get will go toward a new toy they are all wanting or a special outing as a family.

4. Donate: This category is a great opportunity to talk to kids about others who are less fortunate. But it still isn't easy for most kids to pack up a toy in a plastic bag and drop it off at a donation center. We helped our kids ease into straight donations by looking for places that were more connected to them. Toys that are in great shape can be donated to the library, a doctor's waiting room, a church nursery, or day care center. Soft cuddly friends can even be dropped off to animal shelters.

If there are toys you're not sure about, create a holding tank. Put them in a box and place that box out of sight. If no one asks or looks for an item in that box for 3- 6 months, you'll feel better about donating them. If someone does indeed go looking for a specific item, you'll be able to pull it out. And if you only successfully get rid of a couple of items, that's okay, too. Each time you do a sort and share, it will get easier for everyone involved. Eventually, your toy population will be under control enough that you won't have to store any boxes in that creepy space with spiders.

Outdoor Fun: Give a Jump Rope a Try

I'm afraid to write it. Living in northeast Ohio, I'm aware how the weather can change from sunshine and singing birds to blowing swirls of snow before I finish this post. Yet I'll go ahead a say that spring seems to be on its way! It's time for running and playing outside again.

We get a lot of folks in the store this time of year looking for fun outdoor activities. We have plenty. We have stomp rockets, Beam-os, and kites (oh my!). All of these are fun, active ideas for outside play. But the often overlooked toy is a jump rope. In fact, when I suggest a jump rope, many people literally wrinkle their noses as they ask, "Any other ideas?" Okay, I kind of get it. A jump rope is anything but a new concept. But I'd like to make a case for getting your kids a jump rope or two this season.

1. Jumping rope is great exercise. Ten minutes of jumping rope is equivalent to running one mile! But it's not as hard on the knees as running.

2. If you add music and/or rhymes to the jumping, it's now building the brain right along with those leg muscles. The added rhythm and coordination involved in jumping to a chant or beat gets the brain working more in tune with the body.

3. It can be played alone or with friends. Taking turns twirling and jumping is a great way for kids to play together and encourage one another. A single-length rope is great for alone practice time and speed building.

Still not convinced? Maybe the jump rope rhymes below will inspire you to try. Have a rhyme of your own you remember? We'd love for you to post it! Pictures of your kids jumping? We'd love to see them to help inspire others! Happy jumping!

RHYMES:

Down in the valley
Where the green grass grows
There sat ______(girl's name)
Sweet as a rose
She sang so long and she sang so sweet
Along came ______(boy's name)
And kissed her on the cheek.
How many kisses did she get that week?
(count & jump until you miss)

********
Apples, peaches, pears, and plums
Tell me when your birthday comes.
(Jump to the months until you come to your birthday month and then count to your date.)

*********

Cookies in the jar, candy in the dish;
How many pieces do you wish?
1, 2, 3, 4, . . (count & jump until you miss)

*********
Teddy bear, teddy bear turn all around (spin as you jump)
Teddy bear, teddy bear touch the ground (touch)
Teddy bear, teddy bear tie your shoes (jump on one foot while you "tie" one shoe)
Teddy bear, teddy bear read the news (hold hands up like your reading paper)
Teddy bear, teddy bear go up stairs (alternate feet while jumping)
Teddy bear, teddy bear say your prayers (hold hands in position and close eyes)
Teddy bear, teddy bear turn out the light (reach hand up to flip the switch)
Teddy bear, teddy bear spell "good night"
G-o-o-d N-i-g-h-t (try to jump and spell as fast as you can)

********
Cinderella, dressed in yella
Went upstairs to kiss a fella.
Made a mistake,
Kissed a snake,
How many doctors did it take?
1, 2, 3,...(Count & jump until you miss)

What's in Your Easter Eggs?

It's almost time for that little bunny to hop into our homes and leave goodies in baskets. And if your kids are anything like mine, they love searching for the plastic eggs filled with treasures that said bunny will hide. I don't mind this delightful game, but it is a challenge. I don't like it when the Eater Bunny fills the eggs with just candy But the challenge to find fun, inexpensive, small items that will fit into those eggs requires some help. Here are some of the ideas that I've come up with. I'd love to hear from others out there: What's in your Easter eggs?

1. marbles
2. polished stones (I separate a bag into several eggs)
3. sticky stones
4. Japanese puzzle erasers
5. robot erasers
6. caps for cap bomb dropper
7. refill rocket balloons (roll a couple up per egg)
8. coins
9. stickers
10. hair clips/bows
11. fun socks (it's a tight fit, but if you roll a kid's pair tightly enough, you can get them to fit)
12. fun underwear (a three pack will fill 3 eggs! We have TTE undies in stock!)
13. play tattoos
14. ice cream lip gloss (so cute, comes in the shape of an ice cream cone!)
15. Chinese jump rope
16. glitter popper (one of those rubber toys you turn inside out and wait for it to pop!)
17. mini kaleidoscope
18. shark teeth
19. arrowhead
20. mood ring

Understanding Toy Age Ratings

At Lake Wobegon, "all the children are above average." I love this line from A Prairie Home Companion because it states what we all believe about the children we love. As we should, I might add! But we need to guard against letting this opinion influence our choice of toys too much. We might think that Johnny is ready for the 3+ toys because he's so bright, but we might want to reconsider.

We all know that all toys come with an age recommendation. Still I get many questions about why one toy gets a rating for under age 3, while another is for 3 and above. Indeed, it is this age group that I see people struggle with the most. The under 3 toys can seem "too easy" or "to baby-ish." And the above 3 toys seem more appealing because the child can "grow" with it. While the temptation to buy up an age is understandable, it's not always the safest choice.

First I would like to clarify that all toys for kids under age 12 go through vigorous testing. All toys must be made with non-toxic paints, inks, and fillers. There are significant, differences, however, between toys approved for the younger age groups. The CPSC lists in more detail the criteria for the different age ratings, but to simplify, there are two main differences between toys for the under 3 rating and those for the 3 and above. To be approved for children UNDER the age of 3, the toy must:

(1) be unbreakable to a great degree, even with some abuse. (Think about Johnny dropping it repeatedly or banging it on the table.)
(2) contain NO small parts or pieces that could become lodged in the throat. No exceptions. If one piece is small enough, then the rating must be raised to a higher age.

In contrast, toys for 3 and above just have to label that they contain choking hazards. Toys can get this rating for containing just one piece, either externally or internally, that could get lodged in the throat. Likewise, if a toy can shatter into small pieces when broken, it can require this higher age rating. The ratings at these ages have little to do with the abilities of the child, in other words.

So should people never buy a 3+ toy for a child under the age of three? Only the parents can decide their comfort level for sure. But each individual toy and child should be taken into consideration. One strategy would be to remove the tiny pieces from the set until the child is older. This tactic is common with sets like Calico Critters and play foods which appeal to all ages but contain small pieces. Another approach would be to keep toys in question out of the child's reach. Then they child has to ask for assistance to play with it. Puzzles and building toys work well with younger children when they are supervised while exploring them.

We hope this information helps keep all our above average children safely and happily playing.

Birthday Gift Ideas for $15 and Under

This time of year always starts to feel like "Birthday Party Season" to me. Now that Christmas is far enough behind us and the snow is starting to melt (even if just a little), people are throwing birthday bashes again. Indeed, I wrap many gifts on Saturdays and Sundays for families in route to the party.

A customer said to me last weekend, though, that she was embarrassed to ask for my help because she could only spend $15 on a birthday gift. She also commented that she was sure we wouldn't have much in that price range. I was happy to show her how many options we have for gifts $15 and under! And for the record, I think that's a generous gift amount for classmates. Just think, if your child gets invited to 5 parties in the year, that's $75! We understand how quickly gifts for friends add up!

So I thought I'd share a few examples of fun gifts for $15 and under.

1. Stomp Rockets ($14.99): Great active fun for boys or girls! The soft foam rockets fly into the sky when a kid stomps on the launch pad. Fun alone or with a friend. For ages 3 and up.

2. Potato Spud Gun ($3.99): This gift can be fun to give an older boy. Get two guns (it will be more fun to play with a friend), a few potatoes, and wrap them up in a box together. They will never guess what's inside! Best for ages 5 and up.

3. Water Flutes ($14.99): My kids love these! Kids can make music in the tub! A great gift for the 3-7 crowd.

4. Pass the Pigs ($14.99): What a fun spin on a dice game for kids 8 and up! Instead of rolling dice, roll little pigs to get your score!

5. Various Stamp Sets ($11.99): Choose from dinosaurs, horses, and others. This gift works for a large age range since it is open-ended and creative. Younger kids will enjoy making pictures to hang on the fridge, while older kids can use them to make cards, book marks, etc.

6. Porcelain Tea Set ($14.99): A nice, classic toy, beautifully painted with pink butterflies.

7. Silly Bandz ($4.99): These are the new craze. One pack has 24 uniquely shaped rubber band bracelets. Shopping for a dinosaur lover? Get the dinosaur pack with a small Schleich dinosaur ($6.99). Shopping for a girl? Get the spring mix and a few Japanese puzzle erasers ($1.25) to go with them.

8. Butterfly Mobile Craft Kit ($13.99): This beautiful craft project will add sparkle to a kid's room for years to come! For the 7 and up crowd.

9. Metal Locking Toy Cash Box ($14.99): It really locks with a combination and key. What a great place to store one's diary, eraser collection, or anything else special. Ages 5 and up.

10. Rocket Balloons and Pump ($12.99): I'm not really sure why these are so fun, but they really are! Use the balloon pump to fill up the rocket balloons, pinch the bottom, count off, and let them go! The balloons whistle and whirl around on release. Great fun, active play indoors or out as kids chase and retrieve the balloons. Refill packs of balloons are only $5.99. Ages 5 and up.

We also have games and large sticker books and infant toys in this price range. So don't be embarrassed to ask us! And we'll happily wrap it for free so you can get to the party on time.