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| Thursday, May 8, 2008 |
Rapelli Review |
I'm always looking for new games to play with my kids and I'm also a big fan of Discovery Toys. Therefore, when The Parent Bloggers Network was looking for people to review Rapelli, I thought it was a great fit.
Rapelli is one of their Bamboo collection games meaning that it's made out of all natural bamboo. Basically it consists of two half cylinders that you press together together to form a tree. It takes about two seconds to assemble it. The pieces consist of 18 caterpillars in 6 different colors. Each caterpillar has 6 sections which alternate between natural color bamboo and the designated color to be easy to see. There are also two dice made out of bamboo. One is a colored die, and the other is an action die. This games is for 2-6 players.
Each players picks caterpillar colors. If there are only two players, each player picks 3 colors. If there are 6 players, each player only gets one color. A player rolls both dice at once. The action die tells the player what to do, and the colored die tells the player which color caterpillar to do it too. If the color die turns up blue, for example, and the action die has a single arrow pointing forward, the player chooses one blue caterpillar in the "tree" and pulls it one section forward. If there are two forward arrows, the caterpillar gets pulled two sections forward. Likewise if there's one arrow pointing backwards, the catapillar is moved back one section. If someone rolls a "J" on the action die, the caterpillar is completely removed. Although thee are little plastic pieces between the caterpillar sections to make it possible for a child to pull only a single section at a time, the alternating colors make it easy. The object of the game is to be the first person to have all your caterpillars removed from the tree.
The game is actually pretty simple and is marketed for kids 4 and up. So what's my honest opinion? Let's start with the positive. It's extremely well made. Everything is sturdy and the caterpillars even bend back and forth. They must have elastic in their bodies. They are also really cute. The pictures on the dice are easy to read. I also thought the directions were pretty straight forward. They are also printed on good quality glossy paper which I really appreciated because I've noticed with other games that the directions tend to get pretty mangled. Overall the quality is superb.
I played this game a few times with my 4.5 year old. Then I brought the game over and played it with my friend's almost 5 year old and her 3.5 year old. All three found the game to be too long. The directions say it lasts about 15-20 minutes. The kids always lost interest by the end and wanted to play with the caterpillars. It is also possible to increase the length of the game when it is necessary to push the caterpillars back in. (It is kind of like drawing a picture card in Candyland that brings a piece back to the beginning of the board.)
However, I would still highly recommend this game for several reasons. First of all, I think it teaches great concepts like playing with multiple dice and how to distinguish between forward and backwards. When you have many players, the child has to strategically decide which catepillar they should take, so as to optimize their chances of wining. Second, it's a really unique game, and, in addition to being well made, it is really cute. The kids loved playing with the caterpillars. Finally, my friend pointed out that this is an awesome game for traveling. Travel-sized games tend not to be as much fun as the standard-sized ones. This game would go well on an airplane. The cylinder breaks down into two pieces that you can stick in your purse with the caterpillars either poked through them or in a ziplock bag with the dice. The pieces don't really roll. Plus when the kids tire of the game, they tend to be completely captivated by the adorable caterpillars.
Personally I would change the age of this game to five and up although I feel that it really is a great game for kids that are probably at least 6. If you're looking for a game for a 6 year old or older, I would highly recommend this. This is available at the Discovery Channel Store. |
posted by Alex Elliot @ 8:52 PM  |
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| Monday, April 28, 2008 |
Raised By Wolves |
I'm going to just start right out and say that I loved this book. It was really good. I learned a lot, and it made me laugh a lot. In fact the synopsis of the book made me laugh so much that I eagerly looked forward to receiving the book from The Parent Bloggers Network to review. What more could I possibly want in a book?
Were You Raised by Wolves? by Christie Mellor offers, as the cover reads, "clues to the mysteries of adulthood." I told my friends that it explained all those little things you somehow missed growing up. Whether it's how to make a bed (something I need to bookmark for my husband,) how make a martini, how to behave at a new job, how to clean your house when you're expecting company and it looks like a tornado blew through it, or even what to do when a friend has a break up. Really it's an eclectic mix of all those little lessons.
The book is hilarious. I had a picture of the author's voice in my mind. She was a cross between a mother, a grandmother and a best friend. She was kind and compassionate, but also didn't take any nonsense and is very aware of modern life. I mean my great aunt can give me advice, but she doesn't own a computer so she can't really give me advice on email etiquette or thong underwear. At least not that I know! Yes, there is advice on thongs in the book.
The part of the book that I really thought was best for young people was the section on first jobs. I was amazed with how accurate it was. Sure some of tips like getting there early and making sure to do a dry run of your commute before your first day are standard pieces of advice that I remember receiving. What was different was the section on how your co-workers perceive you. Again, it was very good. It talked about not wanting to appear like you're best friends with your co-workers for example. Another excellent part of this section was decoding your boss's behavior. I think for people delving into first real jobs, this section is great. Let me also say that she really decodes as in what it means when your boss talks to you when you're both peeing.
If I knew someone who was graduating from college, I would provide this as a graduation gift. I don't think this would be the best gift for someone younger than college age just because it really is meant for the young adult. The only thing I didn't like about the book was that I wished in the laundry section she had actually tried out all of her suggestions because frankly anyone who's reading that section probably isn't going to take the time to try out a method that may or may not work.
Overall though, it's an excellent book and very quick read. It reminded me of an Erma Bombeck book. |
| posted by Alex Elliot @ 8:30 PM |
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| Monday, April 7, 2008 |
Thomas and Friends Engines and Escapades |
I have to admit that my older son has never really been into Thomas. Yes, he enjoys playing with trains but in terms of identifying characters or watching the DVDs, they aren't that big of a deal for him. With my younger son though, it's a different story. He really enjoys Thomas trains. While he doesn't identify most of them by name since he's still pretty little, he does identify them by color. I give you this background so that you'll know where we were at when we reviewed this video.
I wanted to review Thomas and Friends Engines and Escapades for the Parent Bloggers Network because based on YS's enjoyment of the Thomas characters I thought he would like it. I was right. I have to admit though that some of the big excitement that other reviewers gained from reviewing this DVD was lost on us. Why would that be? Because a new character was introduced! Madge is the new character in this DVD. She is a strong female character which is always nice to see!
This DVD is contains 6 episodes. The DVD, like other Thomas DVDs we've seen, focuses on working together. There also were a couple of songs with the lyrics on the screen. Although this DVD did not feature Thomas as much as some of the other DVDs, the other trains had an opportunity to learn the importance of finishing their own responsibilities, listening to the advice of others, and generally respecting each other.
This DVD is very cute. If you have a Thomas fan in your family, I would recommend it. It's available at amazon.com for $9.99. |
| posted by Alex Elliot @ 9:27 PM |
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| Sunday, March 23, 2008 |
Bob The Builder-Building Bobland Bay |
Bob the Builder is always one of those shows that I mean to let my boys watch, but never do. No, it's not because of content, but rather the timing. My kids watch TV at 4 pm each day for 30-40 minutes. It allows them to slowly adjust back from nap/quiet time while I get dinner ready. This means that they generally watch the DVDs that we have on-hand or the occasional show that we remember to Tivo.
I was interested in reviewing Bob the Builder Building Bobland Bay for the Parent Bloggers Network because I was curious as to what Bob the Builder was all about. My 4.5 year old sat down on the staircase overlooking the family room with his plush rabbit ears on his head, and my 20 month old sat down on a kids chair with his baby doll to review a DVD all about building, or so I thought.
The first thing I liked about the DVD was that even though it was tied together by the central theme of Bobland Bay, it was broken down into individual episodes. From a timing perspective, that made it easy to chunk kids TV time into individual episodes. From an attention and continuity perspective, that made it easy to go back to the movie later and pick up where we left off.
My 4.5 year old, after whining that he would rather watch Clifford, was captivated by the movie, and moved from staircase to couch to get a closer look early on during the first segment. He really enjoyed the animation, and he said his favorite part was when they were building things. That appeared to be the part that my 20 month old enjoyed the most too. I was also impressed when they constructed buildings. It was like watching someone put puzzles together. When they put together the houses, you could actually see how the pieces were going to fit together. It was very detailed, and I remember seeing a very realistic latch.
There were lessons learned in each episode. For example, in "Loft the Lifeguard", Lofty was nervous around the camera and kept having mishaps. After being advised to pretend the camera isn't there, he ended up saving the day. In "Bob's Big Idea," Bob built a viewing tower on a house so that he could see all the houses that everyone helped to build. This led to a discussion about the importance of teamwork. My 4.5 year old seemed to pay a lot of attention to those lessons, but honestly my 20 month old played with his toys while they were delivered. However, when they were back to building, both boys paid attention.
There were a few things that I would have liked to see. One is that I wish that they could have announced the titles of the episodes verbally because my kids aren't reading yet. The second (which applies to almost all kids TV) is that I wish that they would list the names of the characters. I went to the website recommended on the cover of the DVD and was able to "meet" the cast of characters, but I sometimes confused names and in the case of two bearded gentlemen, identities. The website was helpful for more than character identification. I also learned about the history of Bob the Builder and found out that the brand message of problem solving, teamwork and having a good attitude run through every show.
My kids enjoyed Building Bobland Bay, and I would recommend it. Of course the show included Benny The Small Digger who is a male and is pink. They got big points from me for that. |
| posted by Alex Elliot @ 10:55 PM |
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| Monday, March 17, 2008 |
Barney Animal ABC's |
My first real exposure to Barney was when I babysat for a family of little girls when I was in college. The older one, who was 3, liked Barney a lot, and watching TV was a treat for special occasions like having a sitter. I got to watch my fair share of Barney...if my fair share is one episode. In fact, I got to watch that episode over and over again. When I happened to mention it in passing to a friend, he pointed out that since adults have their own interests, why wouldn't kids? They're little people too, and they know what they like. This particular Barney episode was what that little girl liked. Ever since then, I have had a soft spot for that dinosaur.
Because of that, I wanted to review Barney Animal ABC's for the Parent Bloggers Network. We have never watched Barney on TV, so I didn't expect much of a reaction. However, my older son (OS) was really excited to see him. There's just something about that purple dinosaur that's really appealing to children.
In this Barney DVD, the kids learn about both animals and letters. How's does that work? Each letter is paired with a different animal. Then the kids learn a little bit about each animal. There are a ton of nature shots too. Plus, the DVD includes all the singing and dancing that you would expect from Barney.
Even after OS's initial excitement, I thought this video would be more appealing to my 20 month-old younger son (YS). At 4.5 years old, he already knows all the letters. I was surprised by how much he liked it; possibly because the video went beyond basic ABCs. The connection between letters, animals, and neat facts about the animals, made the whole experience of learning about letters more enjoyable. I liked the fact that the video was a little longer, not just because it meant that the children were occupied for longer. It really allowed the kids time to get into the movie and to process what was going on. My 20 month-old did have a hard time sitting through the whole thing, but he enjoyed having it on in the room while he played with his toys. He would stop and look up periodically.
I've always liked that Barney appeals to a wide age-range. It's just as appropriate for my younger son as for my older son. My kids really enjoyed it. In fact, I would say that it is one of the best DVDs that we have reviewed. The only one who had a hard time with it was the dog, and that's because he always growls when he sees other animals on TV. |
| posted by Alex Elliot @ 9:16 PM |
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| Wednesday, March 12, 2008 |
Zula Patrol: Explore Weather |
 My older son (OS) is 4.5. He really likes talking about the weather. In fact we even recently checked a book out from the library about how rainbows are formed. I was happy when I received Zula Patrol: Explore Weather from the Parent Bloggers Network to review because I thought OS would really enjoy it. The DVD is aimed at children from pre-kindergarden through second grade. One aspect that I loved about the Zula Patrol in general is that their DVDs stress tolerance and non-violence. I definitely found that to be true from the DVD we viewed. The characters are different colors, and, except for the fact that one character wears blue eyeshadow, there are few differences between the males and the females. The DVD has four sections each explaining something different about the weather: freezing and temperatures, clouds, storms, and seasons. Each section is a cartoon with aliens aka the Zula Patrol, who have adventures. There's even a bad guy in it although he's fortunately not very scary. Finally the video has a bonus weather game adventure and sing along music video. I have to admit, when I first started watching the DVD, I didn't think it would captivate my 4.5 year old. It seemed way too fast for me. A fact was thrown in quickly and then the character would turn around and do something else. We're of more of the Sesame Street/Blue's Clues mentality where everything is articulated slowly and clearly and explained numerous times. Also, the stories seem to have plot lines that were a little more advanced. For example they went to find a golden cloud and had to deal with the bad guy. I personally was not too taken with the first section. There was just too much going on in there, and I found it a little hard to follow. I have to say that my son did not feel that way. He really enjoyed the whole DVD. His favorite section was the section on the clouds. The DVD did a really nice job of explaining the different types of clouds, and I learned a new fact or two as well. My 20 month-old was also captivated by it. My favorite section though was the section on seasons. I thought they did an excellent job of explaining why we have different seasons. In this section, they did repeat the information multiple times. I learned how it's the tilt of the earth that determines the season. OS still liked the cloud section better, but I think that's because the seasons section was just a little bit too detailed for him, meaning that it would be great for a slighter older child. He did enjoy that section though and did learn about the seasons. OS's only complaint was about the previews that they did before each section. He kept on thinking it meant that the DVD was over. After watching it a couple of times though, he understood that was not the case. Personally I wish that they had put the name under each character when each character was first introduced, because I had a hard time understanding the name. That's not unique to this DVD though! Overall, I liked this DVD. It's definitely the most educational DVD we own, but it does a nice job combining fun with fact so it's not boring. It was also very unique in that the characters are very original (I haven't seen anything else that resembles them), they use lots of bold, bright colors which I personally prefer to the pale colors used in a lot of kids TV, and the characters are from outer space. This is the type of DVD that would make a great birthday gift. This DVD is sold at Borders. |
| posted by Alex Elliot @ 8:10 PM |
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| Wednesday, March 5, 2008 |
Highlights High Five |
I have to admit, that I don't really remember reading Highlights magazine as a kid. It's actually celebrating turning 60 years old. Alright, that's not true. I remember reading it once a year at the doctor's office. However, I always wanted to have a subscription to it. For whatever reason, that never happened. When Parent Bloggers said they were looking for bloggers to review Highlights High Five, I was excited that I would finally be able to read Highlights magazine at home.
You may be wondering why I said Highlights High Five instead of just Highlights. Highlights High Five is a magazine specifically aimed at kids ages 2-6. Since my older son just turned 4.5, it seemed like this would be the perfect fit. It was.
The first thing I liked about the magazine was the presentation. It is the size of a regular magazine, and it is printed on good quality paper. I don't care about that with adult magazines, but I have found it makes a difference with kids magazines. Everything is written neatly and clearly. Maybe that sounds a little strange. Sometimes I finnd kids books and magazines to be overwhelming. There can be too many words, too many bright colors, and too many pictures crammed into one page. That was not the case here. The best way to say it, would be that the pages were neat and tidy. They were clear and easy to follow. Each page was numbered and the number was in a circle with a different color background so it's easy to find. There is also an easy to follow index in the beginning of the magazine.
The second thing I liked about the magazine was that it was interactive. It's actually designed to be an interactive magazine and to also allow independent reading of it as well. I sat down with both of my boys (my 20 month old also liked the magazines) and we would read the short stories in them and the rhymes. They also had a English/Spanish story (with pronunciation key for the Spanish) in each issue which the boys enjoyed as well. Their favorite part was the hidden picture. It was nice because some of the hidden objects were pretty obvious while others were much harder to lpcate. Neither boy could ever find the really challenging objects which I think means that the magazine has appropriately hit its target ages. I think a 6 year old would really enjoy the challenge of the hidden pictures.
There are also crafts and recipes you can do with your kids using items from around your house. I'm always lacking on ideas on that area so this part of the magazine was something I particularly appreciated. There are also cutout games. Every issue has a section where they explain something. My 4 year old particularly liked when they explained how you mail a letter. There is also a cute cartoon strip called "The Adventures of Spot". I think that older kids would particularly like this.
I was really pleased with this magazine. It' s good quality with lots of fun activities. My boys also flipped through them on their own. A one year subscription is just under $30.
Parent Bloggers is having a Blog Blast on Friday March 7, where you can win a one-year subscription to Highlights High Five or to Highlights. Click here to read more information. |
| posted by Alex Elliot @ 7:55 PM |
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| Thursday, January 17, 2008 |
Prestone Windshield De-Icer and Washer Fluid Booster |
A few months ago, I decided to the plunge and do something that I've always thought about doing: a triathlon. Yes, a real triathlon as in swim, run, bike hence taking the "plunge". I've really enjoyed my training since then. One of my friends is my triathlon training buddy and the two of us have been working out at the crack of dawn 5-6 times a week. There's only one problem: I don't have a garage. Yeah, I know you're thinking, "What does that have to do with anything?" Well, since I don't have a garage, whenever it's icy out or snowing, I need to wake up ten minutes earlier than usual to scrape my car before I can leave for the gym. Let me also say that my spinning classes start at 5:30 AM.
When Parent Bloggers Network was looking for people to review the Prestone Windshield De-Icer and Washer Fluid Booster, I jumped to review it. Hey, that's ten extra minutes of sleep right there!
The Windshield De-Icer is as other bloggers have described, two products in one. It's a spray that melts the ice in a bottle has a built in scraper. The scrapper is for when your car is really icy. Basically you turn your car on, wait 15 seconds and then get out and spray the windshield. It immediately melts the ice to the point that I was just able to use my windshield wipers to clear away the water. That made me love the product right there. However, there's one other really important feature: it helps prevent re-freezing. After my initial spray, I didn't have any problems with the liquid re-freezing like I have had in the past after scrapping my car.
The second product I reviewed is the Washer Fluid Booster. All you have to do with this product is add it to your washer fluid reservoir. Like the spray, it is specially formulated to melt the ice. It also prevents against re-freezing. Have you ever sprayed your washer fluid only to find that your visibility is even worse than it was before because the fluid has frozen on your windshield? The Washer Fluid Booster keeps that from happening. Honestly my only problem with it was remembering to put it in the reservoir
Overall, I think both of these products are great. My only complaint is that the De-Icer does smell. That's not surprising because it is a chemical formula. That being said, once I was inside the car after having used the De-Icer spray, I couldn't smell it. Particularly if you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, I would recommend both products. Even if you have a garage, you just never know when you're going to have to scrape a car or when it's going to be cold enough outside for your washer fluid to freeze on your windshield. I've had to re-scrape my car in the time I've been at the gym. Until the traveling garage is invented, everyone is in the same boat. |
| posted by Alex Elliot @ 11:57 PM |
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| Tuesday, December 11, 2007 |
Paz's Lift-Off Rocket |
Trying to find toys that interest my kids for more than 5 minutes can be challenging. Finding toys that are not the run of the mill toys can also be difficult. It is a rare toy that meets both criteria. When I saw that the Parent Bloggers Network was looking for people to review Paz's Lift-Off Rocket, I thought that it was a toy that looked like it had a lot of potential. Right away my kids loved it. Although it is marketed for the 3+ group, my 17 month old enjoys playing with it as well.
It's a red rocket that comes with 4 astronaut animals: Paz who's a penguin, Dog, Pig and Rabbit. It also features a lunar explorer buggy and a moon crater. When you press the button, it counts down to take off and the boosters flash. The interior of the rocket is designed to create a hospitable environment. The top compartment is the control room and has nonmoveable dials and steering wheels. The middle compartment has a permanent microwave oven, coffee pot, cups, canisters, toaster, washing machine and drawers. There's even a murphey bed in it! In case your saying "what?", a murphey bed is a bed that folds into the wall when not in use. So what's under the bed then? Why a toilet complete with a roll of toilet paper of course! The bottom compartment is a roomy compartment for the lunar explorer buggy.
Why do I like this toy? First of all, it's red which is my son's favorite color. In all seriousness, I do think that the color is a nice touch because it's bright and inviting. I also liked that the toy is made out of tough durable plastic. My 4 year-old likes to fly the rocket around the house, but unfortunately it has frequently fallen back to earth. It looks none the worse from its travels. The carrying handle is also well built. Most importantly, the rocket passes my one big test: in addition to a volume control, it has an off switch! I'm often not a huge fan of toys with batteries, but this one is a very nice compromise because its compartments and gadgets offer so much room for creative play. Plus, you can turn the sound off if you have a migraine.
I think that the astronauts are cute, and that they are animals. It makes it a little different from the norm, and my boys enjoy it. I find it really cute. The rabbit's space helmet even allows for his ears. This toy is a big hit with both of my boys. It's one of the few toys that makes it out of the toy bin on a daily basis. It also has been a hit with almost all of our playdates.
There are a few minor things that I don't like about this toy. My 4 year-old had no interest in the moon crater. While the animals are cute, they often fall out of the rocket. That's not to say that my kids didn't play with them, but they are as often riding around the parking garage in Matchbox cars (or sometimes flying in outer space in Matchbox cars) as they are riding the rocket ship. My only other complaint is that the top door always falls off of the rocket. This appears to be a safety feature to prevent little fingers from getting caught and to keep the plastic from snapping. Because of the way my boys play with the toy, the door is rarely on the rocket. They don't seem to care.
My overall opinion is that the toy is a good one. My kids really seem to like it, and it is very popular. I think this is a good gift for a relative to give. It's different, fun, will make you the cool relative and you're not the one looking under the couches for the door. I can't honestly say that this toy is a favorite of mine, but it is a favorite of my boys. |
| posted by Alex Elliot @ 10:19 PM |
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| Thursday, December 6, 2007 |
That Baby DVD and That Baby CD Review |
I have to admit that I'm not that into kids music. By that I mean, I'm not into it at all. Sure at times when I'm feeling like a "good mom" I'll turn it on in the house and in the car. However, after a few days of it, the music becomes forgotten. Honestly, it gets on my nerves.
My sons have a CD player/alarm clock in their shared room, and they listen to kids CDs at quiet time and at bedtime so it's not like they are being deprived. Yet, I still feel slightly guilty about it, particularly when my four year-old, older son (OS) starts requesting favorite top 40 songs on the radio. I wanted to review That Baby CD and That Baby DVD because they seemed to offer a good compromise between kids music and my music. Both discs feature non-kids songs, but they're acoustic and sung for families, not just kids. In other words, there are no annoying character voices. For example, These are the Days by 10,000 Maniacs is sung by Stephanie Schneiderman on the CD and DVD to the familiar words and tune.
Who is Stephanie Schneiderman? She is a long-time friend of the founders, Lisi and Rob Wolf. They initially created a line of CDs and DVDs for Jewish babies and kids called OyBaby, which featured her singing. When they found themselves successful, they decided to make DVDs and CDs for all kids, and they again reached out to Stephanie to create the music. Her sisters also performed some of the songs. In thinking of the many times my friends and I have come up with our "big marketing ideas", I am impressed that the Wolfs and Stephanie Schneiderman had the chutzpah to turn theirs into reality.
10,000 Maniacs are not the only source for the tunes in the collection. Songs by other popular artists, including Fleetwood Mac, Neil Diamond and The Beatles are also featured. I find the songs catchy and upbeat, and my kids really like them. It is nice to listen to albums for them that don't make me feel like I'm going to tear my hair out when listening to them.
I think the DVD is a great idea for little kids. The songs are paired up with video images filled with kids, nature scenes, puppets and animation. My 17 month-old younger son (YS) particularly loved watching the images of the babies and kids. I particularly appreciated the fact that he was getting a multiple sensory experience. OS even enjoyed watching it, although not as much as YS. Even though the target age is zero to five years, I think four is getting a little bit old for them.
Not only do I like the content and quality, but I also like supporting a mom and pop (and friend) production team. The three of them do all the the work. If you are doing holiday shopping now, there's a 20% discount on That Baby CD and That Baby DVD. The code is PBN. There's a no questions asked money back guarantee and you can get a lifetime warranty that will replace either product if something goes wrong. A sample video may be found on their website.
I think this is a very good gift idea for the holidays. |
| posted by Alex Elliot @ 12:27 AM |
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I love toy recommendations from other parents. That way I know whether or not to waste my money.
Nothing worse then shelling out a lot of cash for the supposed must have toy and having your kid hate it!