Elmo Live may be the hot toy of the season this year, but it's a cute little baby doll who is getting all the attention right now. Fisher Price's Little Mommy Real Loving Baby Cuddle and Coo doll is supposed to utter only one actual word: Mama. The rest of the sounds emanating from the speakers inside the doll are just cooing and giggling sounds. Or are they? Some say they hear the words "Islam is the Light" among the baby babble are demanding the toy be removed from the shelves.
Gary Rofkahr of Owasso, Oklahoma says he bought the doll and was shocked by what he heard. "I have a 1-year-old granddaughter," he said. "It makes me mad that someone is trying to indoctrinate our children with an innocent toy."
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But wait, there's more. Others say in addition to promoting Islam, the doll also utters the phrase "Satan is King". Now, that makes absolutely no sense to me as Islam is most definitely not a pro-Satan religion. Is someone trying to indoctrinate our children or just confuse them?
This may sound like a few parents getting up in arms over what is in all likelihood just a misunderstanding, but the Wal-Mart in Owasso is taking it seriously. They've pulled the doll from the shelves. And in response to emails from a local television station, Fisher Price's parent company, Mattell, has issued a statement on the matter. They admit that one of the baby noises may indeed sound like the word "light", but insist that the rest is just gibberish. "We have found that if told to listen for a particular phrase, you may hear something similar due to the power of suggestion," the statement says.
Have a listen for yourself and tell us what you hear.
The other day, Bethany Sanders offered up some suggestions for inexpensive gifts for girls. Being a guy, I thought I'd chime in with some thoughts on some cool gifts for boys, just in case you're not quite sure what it is that little boys like these days. (Hint: Little boys are just like big boys, only with a smaller allowance.)
Mind you, I'm not really into the whole boy versus girl toys and, truth be told, I've confused my fair share of drive through clerks at McDonald's when they ask if I want toys for boys or girls in my happy meals. Still, some toys are more sensitive while others are more, well, active. Whether it's nurture, nature, some combination or none of the above, surely any of these toys, when given as a gift, will mark you as a cool parent and ensure your child's name is on every birthday party guest list.
Check these out, see what you think, and if you have any other suggestions, be sure to leave them in the comments.
Kindergarten apparently is the time when kids start including classmates in their birthday parties, because my daughter has been invited to an impressive string of them this month -- all boys. Though I have two nephews, I'm close enough to them to know what their interests are and what kinds of toys they already have. But otherwise, when it comes to the world of toys for boys, I'm a little lost.
I'm all about no-gift birthday parties, not because I'm cheap, but because my kids have too much stuff as it is. But not everyone feels the same way, and several times this month we've found ourselves wandering Target not sure if five-year-old boys like Transformers or Spiderman or Ben10 the best. And what, exactly, are Bionicles?
Next time, I'll call my nephew and ask him for a little direction. In the meantime, since girls are something I do know a little about, here are several great gifts for girls under $20. If you've got a classmate birthday coming up, something on this list is sure to be a hit.
If you've got a teen who hangs out at the skatepark more than the ballpark, leaves textbooks at home in order to have room in their locker for their skateboard, and would rather read Thrasher magazine than Playboy, then chances are, you've got a serious skateboarder on your hands. There's nothing wrong with that, of course -- I used to ride a skateboard pretty much every day, albeit more as transportation than as recreation.
The only thing is, skater life doesn't seem to be all that compatible with high fashion when it comes to interior design. That is, until now. Skate Study House has developed a line of furniture made with actual skateboard parts that would look at home in your teen's bedroom or in Martha Stewart's living room.
There are coffee tables, lounge chairs, and shelving units, but my favorites by far are the Astro Clock and the Hang Up, both of which incorporate skateboard wheels into the design. As for prices, well, if you want a price list you have to ask and if you have to ask... I guess I won't be hanging my hat on a skateboard wheel any time soon.
When Britain Darren Smith started collecting Legos at the tender age of five, he (and his parents) probably had no idea it would turn into an obsession. Smith, now thirty-two, has amassed what is being claimed as Britain's largest Lego collection.
The number of pieces in Darren's collection, which includes over 2,000 sets, is currently at 2,000,000--well over the previous record holder's collection of a paltry 500,000. The collection is worth around $100,000. Darren claims the pieces, which include his beloved Star Wars C3PO collection, are colorful, and timeless, and that everyone wants to see them, regardless of what they think of his obsession.
Smith also says his wife Claire doesn't mind the collection, which takes up the garage and their loft. She doesn't care for it when it starts to take over the house, however. I can concur with that sentiment--those things HURT when they get caught underfoot! Darren's wife would disagree--she says the collection is slowly taking over their house and it's driving her crazy!
If your kids are just casual LEGO users, then you can get away with a shoe box or other basic storage container. If they're a little more serious, you may want to invest in something like the Box4Blox unit. If they're really into LEGO construction, however, they'll want a method that makes it easy to get at the exact pieces they need, when they need them. Luckily, there is just such a method.
Over in the Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories, they have a tutorial that covers organizing your LEGO bricks compactly and efficiently, while still allowing for easy separation when you need them. They illustrate ways to stack different sizes of bricks into the smallest package possible while still allowing for easy separation.
For kids (or grown-up builders), this makes the pieces easy to find and access. For adults (or spouses of grown-up builders), this means fewer sharp-cornered pieces on the floor just waiting for a chance to attack bare feet.
OK, this is AWESOME. Well, at the very least it's humorous. I don't know if you played with Legos as a kid, or if your children enjoy them (and if they do, presumably you do not, as they are always found under your bare feet or in your dog's mouth), but Legos have withstood the test of time, if anything. And, they've done so by continually modernizing and playing into pop culture wherever possible.
Some old Lego figures, for example, sported mustaches, when those were popular. There are plenty of female Lego people and those of color as well. Then, of course, there were the Star Wars Lego's. Nothing in the universe is cooler. Now, Legos are taking on Hollywood. They proudly offer likenesses of Madonna, complete with some sort of bullet-bra inspired corset-wear and a gap-toothed grin, and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, with a mini-Lego baby attached to the front of each character. You can tell which on is Ange based on the ridiculous size of her lips.
Other celebs given the go are Amy Winehouse and the Beckhams. if you don't laugh at the Lego Posh, who is of course wearing something fashionably fabulous, then I don't know what. Seriously, I can't stop laughing when I look at these. I don't know if they're intended to be collectors items or worth the money one would pay for them just to have them underfoot and in the dog's mouth, but they are pretty hilarious on a very basic level. The lips on Ange alone are hysterical. Previously, the likes of Indiana Jones, among others, have enjoyed being made into Legos. Enjoy!
And, here's a parting question: Who would YOU like to see as a Lego?
OK, I get that perhaps these are supposed to be funny, and a little kitschy, but is there any real reason to put a tattoo on a baby? the folks over at PopSugar seem to be asking the same question. They came across these inexpensive and mildly entertaining $5 set of tattoos for babies recently and took a poll.
According to the site, 50% of its readers like the idea of getting a tattoo of their beloved tots on themselves, but I'm not sure how many would agree it's a good idea to pen one on a baby--real or otherwise. I've heard of people getting their kids' ears pierced right after their born, or when they're little, but this is something all together different. Like I said, kinda funny, but way out of the ballpark. That said, many would argue it's fun and no real harm is done. Plus it is kinda cute, in that aforementioned kitschy way.
To be honest, I thought the whole tattoo trend was losing its umph--very been there, done that...and then had pricey surgery to have that removed. The fake tattoos are great for those who want to get in on the trend but not be left with the ugly aftermath once the trend is over. When I was a kid it was seen as a very no-no thing to have a tattoo. When I was a teenager it was seen as the ultimate in coolness. Then everyone got one--real or fake, kids or adults--and the trend became so popular that having a tat became boring. If it's gotten to the point where even your kid has a fake tattoo, isn't it time to move on to something else?
They may be squishy-faced and innocent looking, but Cabbage Patch Kids were the first toy to turn parents into maniacal shoppers, willing to crush other moms and dads in an attempt to snag a little Newton Elwin or Addi Barbara for their own real-life kid.
The dolls turn 25 this year. Created by Debbie Morehead and Xavier Roberts, the dolls were originally all cloth and sold at craft shows. In 1982, Coleco adopted the brand and started mass-producing them, though not fast enough for eager parents. The dolls have changed hands several times, and their appearance has been updated a bit, but mostly they remain the same doll they were 25 years ago.
In the clip below, the crew of The Early Show celebrates the Cabbage Patch's big birthday, (including interviewing a man who has 1,000 of them in his home ... wow). A lot of toys have been reintroduced since we were kids, Strawberry Shortcake, Care Bears, etc. But Cabbage Patch Kids have definitely been around for the long haul.
Did your parents get crushed in an attempt to get you a Cabbage Patch Kid? Would you fight for the "next hot toy" for your own child?
I have an iPhone; I bought it for work, but I have to admit that the Cool Factor was also important to me. I also must confess that it can do some pretty awesome things, most of which are not necessarily work-related, like checking Twitter or downloading music from my college days or seeing what's hot at Fashion Week. (Okay maybe that last one is kind of work related. Possibly.)
My kids are not allowed to mess with my iPhone. They don't watch videos on it or play games. Occasionally they get to check the weather, and if we are stuck somewhere waiting for something, they can flip through my pictures, and of course they sometimes get to talk on it. But beyond that (and those moments are very, very few) my iPhone is off limits. Completely.
But not all parents feel the way I do. Victor Agreda at TUAW lets his kids play with his iPhone, and it raises an interesting question about technology and kids, though: "what's the harm? Is there harm? I've limited their use to the inevitable 'we're waiting right now' moments. But still, no matter what we've done that day that was new and exciting, if my son plays with the iPhone for 5 minutes that's all Mom hears about when he's going to bed. ... I grew up with an Apple ][ in the house and I'm sure that had a hand in my love of tech. But there's also a case for letting kids find their own way, at an age-appropriate level. I cringe when they swing my naked iPhone around using iSaber, expecting Wii-style damage to our windows and the device itself. Yet I can't help but think that getting used to technology early -- something that will increasingly invade their lives as it becomes more embedded in our world -- is maybe a good thing. Everything in moderation, of course."
What about you -- do you let your kids play with your iPhone (or your Blackberry or whatever you're using these days) or is it off-limits? And what about the bigger point here, that technology is an inevitable part of our kids' lives? Is that true in your house, or not so much?
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 10,000 Taggies Strollin' Along Stroller Activity Bars due to a choking hazard. The importer has received three reports of the shiny material on the ear of the elephant detaching and children putting it in their mouths. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
Made in Hong Kong and imported by International Playthings Inc., of Parsippany, N.J., the activity bars were sold in specialty stores nationwide and online from February 2007 through July 2008 for about $23 each.
The recall involves multicolored, fabric and plastic stroller activity bars featuring a yellow giraffe, a purple hippo and a blue elephant attached to a 12" long elliptical base with straps that attach to a stroller. The Taggies and Earlyears® logo labels can be found sewn into the seam on the lower left front of the activity bar.
If you have one of these stroller bars, you should immediately stop using it and contact International Playthings for a free replacement toy. You can reach them by calling (800) 445-8347 or by visiting their Web site.
What is it with the remakes? First every movie we've already seen, then all our favorite television programs (Mister Rogers is around the corner, I'm warning you) and now the boardgames. No, they turned Clue into a movie a long time ago--and it was a mighty good one, with three endings!--but they're actually "updating" the board game. In essence, Clue is getting a makeover.
What is the point of all this? I'm not sure, not sure at all. Clue is seriously my favorite board game of all time. I and most of the folks I know see no reason to mess with or update a classic, but here you have it anyway. I guess it's never too late to try to make a little more money, or to appeal to a new generation of kids. These kids, however, have seriously advanced technology to play with like Wii, PSPs, iPods, etc., so I can't imagine why a young person would be interested in a boring old board game.
Except that the old Clue WASN'T boring. It was fun and required a lot of skill in determining who the killer could be. Plus it was a serious opportunity to play dress up. Tell me you haven't at least had the urge--if not given into it-- to dress up like Miss Scarlett. The updates to the new version include changing the first, if not last, names of the characters as well as their backgrounds. Also, three new weapons have been introduced to the mix. Will these additions actually improve the new Clue and make kids more likely to play it? I doubt it. But, only time will tell. Professor Plum, beware!
Elmo Live may be the hot toy of the season this year, but it's a cute little baby doll who is getting all the attention right now. Fisher Price's Little Mommy Real Loving Baby Cuddle and Coo doll is supposed to utter only one actual word: Mama. The rest of the sounds emanating from the speakers inside the doll are just cooing and giggling sounds. Or are they? Some say they hear the words "Islam is the Light" among the baby babble are demanding the toy be removed from the shelves. 
The other day, Bethany Sanders offered up some suggestions for 
Kindergarten apparently is the time when kids start including classmates in their birthday parties, because my daughter has been invited to an impressive string of them this month -- all boys. Though I have two nephews, I'm close enough to them to know what their interests are and what kinds of toys they already have. But otherwise, when it comes to the world of toys for boys, I'm a little lost. 
If you've got a teen who hangs out at the skatepark more than the ballpark, leaves textbooks at home in order to have room in their locker for their skateboard, and would rather read Thrasher magazine than Playboy, then chances are, you've got a serious skateboarder on your hands. There's nothing wrong with that, of course -- I used to ride a skateboard pretty much every day, albeit more as transportation than as recreation.
If your kids are just casual LEGO users, then you can get away with a shoe box or other basic storage container. If they're a little more serious, you may want to invest in something like the 
I have an iPhone; I bought it for work, but I have to admit that the Cool Factor was also important to me. I also must confess that it can do some pretty awesome things, most of which are not necessarily work-related, like checking Twitter or downloading music from my college days or seeing what's hot at Fashion Week. (Okay maybe that last one is kind of work related. Possibly.)
