Oppenhiem Platinum Award Winners 2009

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Hasbro Electronic Hyper Slide

Be quick, pick the right colored hyper disc, and flick it under the arch before time runs out. The Hyper Slide from Hasbro packs three fast-paced electronic table-top games into one compact unit. Recommended for ages eight and up, these fast-sliding games for one or two players are fun and exciting for kids and adults.

Fun, Futuristic Table Top Game

With its sleek, arched design, Hyper Slide looks like a futuristic game. Resembling a hockey game for a table top, the object is to flip the pucks through the goal. However, in these games the goal can be scored from both sides of the arch, and there are four different-colored pucks, called hyper discs. The game's electronic unit calls out a color, and you must pick that color and sent it through the arc. It automatically detects whether you've passed the right disc or not. When not in operation, the hyper discs can be conveniently stored in a compartment on the side of the arch.

Three Games for Solo Play or Two-Person Play

The Hyper Slide offers a few variations of play for your enjoyment. Two lighted buttons on the top of the Hyper Slide make it easy to choose which of the three games you want to play.
While the objects of the games are simple, playing them can be a fun challenge. The first game, "Fast Pass," is all about speed. The game commands a color and you've got to pass it through the goal quickly before the buzzer blasts. With "Add One," you've got to remember the order of colors. You start with a color and add one to the sequence each time you complete a round. "Code Buster" gives you 90 seconds to decipher the secret series of colors.
Best of all, you can play all these games with a friend or by yourself. With both "Fast Pass" and "Add One," you can even play head-to-head with another player or team. For solo play, the rubber "hyper band" is attached under the arch, bouncing the discs back to your side.

Put to the Test

Playing on any smooth, nonmetal surface, you'll be surprised how much fun the Hyper Slide really is. An announcer's voice, high-energy music, and sound effects move these games along. With your head in the game, you'll soon block out all the noise and only hear the color to flick, slide, or shoot through the arch. Unfortunately, if the constant voice directions are not your thing, the game can't be played without these sounds, nor can the volume be adjusted. On the plus side, the Hyper Slide announces your score at the end of each competition and keeps track of the highest score for each game. This electronic system runs on three "AAA" batteries (sold separately). If the Hyper Slide goes unused for two minutes, this smartly designed toy "goes to sleep," saving battery life until the player buttons are pressed.

Pros
3 fast-paced games for 2-person and solo play
Lighted buttons make it easy to switch through games
Games remember high scores
Electronic game shuts off on its own

Cons
Game must be played with announcer and music going
Volume can't be controlled

Fisher-Price Little Superstar Sing-Along Stage

An Exciting Experience for Your Little PerformerThe Little Superstar

Sing-Along Stage features a large picture mirror, framed by exciting blinking lights at the top and an "audience" of smiling, cartoon babies at the bottom. Musical instruments with happy faces sit below: a guitar, a keyboard, a drum, and a trumpet. Each instrument has moving parts that activate sounds. The toy comes with a "magic" microphone, which is really a rattle. Shake it, and the sound of the rattle will activate songs and other fun sounds. The lights blink as the music plays, making a spectacular show for your little one to enjoy.

Sing Songs or "Compose" You Own

The toy includes two modes, which are easily selected by sliding a button at the top of the toy. The "sing-along" mode plays five different fun songs, which are activated by shaking the magic microphone or pressing any of the buttons on the musical instruments. Younger babies will enjoy listening to the music and watching the lights blink. They'll also love hearing you sing along with the songs. (We were happy to find that the toy comes with lyric cards.) As your child gets older, she can learn to sing along with you, too.

Select the "build-a-song" mode for your child to experiment with sounds herself. When she shakes the "magic microphone," a voice singing a "scat" will start. When your child plays with any of the musical instruments, she will hear that instrument play. It will continue to play a "solo" until she presses the buttons on any of the other instruments. Their sounds will then be added to the instrumental piece. For example, press the drum, and a back beat will be added. In all, the toy has three different, jazzy "add-on" instrumental pieces -- even our adult toy testers enjoyed these catchy, authentic-sounding tunes. The toy also says several fun phrases, as well as the sound of cheering and applause, encouraging children to dance or sing along.

Musical Toy Grows with Your Child

While we love all of the musical features of this toy, we especially like that the Sing-Along Stage is designed to grow with your child, which means that your child will get a lot of use out of it while making new discoveries as they get older. The toy stands at the perfect height for six-month-old babies to play with while sitting. They will enjoy looking at themselves in the large picture window, watching the blinking lights, and experimenting with the cause and effect features of the buttons. Our two-year-old toy tester also enjoyed this toy -- she loved dancing and singing along with the songs.

Learning Resources Soft Magnetic Combo Set

This giant 154-piece set of magnetic soft foam uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and operation signs and counting stars is a great way to practice building words or performing simple math operations. Soft form material is both durable and washable. Pieces measure 1½".

CHOKING HAZARD -- Small parts. Not for children under 3 yrs.

Vtech - Tote 'N Go Laptop Plus

Program your preschooler for early learning with the Tote & Go Laptop Plus! The Tote & Go Laptop Plus offers big style for little learners, and it¿s just like the computer mom and dad use! This unique learning product comes complete with a colorful keyboard and detachable mouse that¿s designed for both left-handed and right-handed users. Plus, the Tote & Go Laptop Plus features 30 engaging activities that teach language, math, games and music. You'll love the nifty handle for easy fold-up and go!

Inexpensive Christmas Stocking Stuffer Ideas For Kids

After all the gifts have been purchased and placed under the tree, that is the time that many remember in a panic that the stockings over the fireplace still need to be stuffed. Holiday budgets have most likely been spent and there isn't a whole lot of extra money available. Even with a limited budget, there are a number of quality stocking stuffer ideas that are both practical and will bring a smile to to faces of the little ones.

If you are at a complete loss of what to get, take a trip to your local dollar store and walk the isles. There should be a large selection of goods at a price that is right for you to choose from which should quickly fill up the stockings. In addition, consider the following Christmas stocking stuffer ideas that can have a dual benefit:

Batteries: Instead of wrapping up the batteries with the gift, separate them into stocking stuffers. Since you'd need to purchase them anyway for the toys, they aren't an extra expense. By separating them out, you make a start on your stocking stuffing and the kids will love them because they can start playing any electronic devices they received.

School Supplies: Here is another practical stocking stuffer that you'd have to purchase in the future for your kids anyway. You kill two birds with one stone by getting them the school supplies they need and filling up the stocking a little more.

Disposable Camera: With all the activity going on during Christmas day, you probably don't have the time to take pictures and document the day. Let your children do it for you. They'll have great fun taking photos from their own unique perspective that will add to any photo album.

Art and Craft Supplies: Again, these are supplies that you are likely to need for other activities in the future. Kids love to create and any arts and craft materials make great stocking stuffers. Coloring books, crayons, colored pencils, markers and paints all fit the bill and can be used for other activities long after Christmas is over.

Mini Games or Card Games: Travel size editions of their favorite games or card games that can be played in the car are another good stocking stuffer. The kids can play these on their own, but they have the multiple benefit that they can be used in the car to keep the children occupied during any holiday trips you make.

Christmas Letter: You might want to consider writing a Christmas letter to your child telling him or her all the fun things you remember from the past year. This doesn't cost any money, can become a lovely Christmas tradition and will be a gift that the child will treasure long after Christmas is over.

By taking a little time to consider stocking stuffers, you won't need to spend a lot of money to fill those socks over the fireplace mantle while still bringing smiles to the faces of your children when they peak inside.

Holiday Saftey Tips - Must Read!

Here suggested reading for holiday decoration saftey:

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/safety/2008/12/holiday-safety.html

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/611.pdf

Dry and neglected trees can cause a real threat as this dramatic video from the USFA shows.

Please share this information with your friends and family.

Be safe and enjoy your holiday season!

eeBoo I Never Forget a Face Memory Game

I agree with the other reviewers that the pictures are fantastic of all of the children, but wanted to point out the box mine came in (maybe all the boxes?) shows each child's picture with the name of their home country. My 3 and [....] play the game and shout out the names of the countries the children are from as they play. It's so great to hear my kids yelling "Tanzania!" and "Norway!" and "Puerto Rico!" while they flip the cards. I highly recommend this game for your own kids, kids you know, birthday presents for ages 3 and up. Our whole family plays together and the kids sometimes beat the adults : ) We also love eeBoo's "Life On Earth" matching game with amazing illustrations of various flora and fauna on our planet.

Award Winner: Deluxe Toy Cash Register with Scanner, Toy Money & Banking Products.

This is a terrific modern day version of the classic cash register - far improved with new and up-to-date features! It even has a bar code scanner! Children love it! Designed in the UK and superior in quality compared to similar cash registers. It might be a bit more expensive, but when you compare it to cheaper products the quality is far superior and it comes complete with plenty of play money and a credit card too. It even includes a scanner which works very well and easily. Another nice little feature it has is that it turns itself off after a while if not in use which saves you having to remember and on battery usage. It also features a microphone which is great for imaginative play.

A very robust and a solid item which will provide for years of fun. Set includes UK play money (no American currency) including coins and bank notes and a credit card as well. The coins and bank notes are very interesting to read. They are actually labeled for the UK, so they are a bit different from money you would find in a US cash register. Play Fruit and Grocery Boxes are not included but they are sold through Friendly Company as well. Cash Registers are in assorted colors as pictured. "Good value for money." "An essential in any house." Ages 3 & up.