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

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.

Bounce House - Inflatable bouncers

Spend some quality family time together with this Inflatable 20' x 10' x 10' Jumping Dodge Ball Bounce House from Shooting Star Design. This high-quality bounce house includes a pump, two soft neoprene dodge balls, and a patch kit for minor repairs, an oversized carry bag for easy storage, and an air blower that plugs into any standard 120V outlet for fast inflation. It is recommended for only 4 players at 100 lbs each inside at the same time for safety.

More inflatable bouners

Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! Movin' Monkeys

A variation of the award-winning Gears! Gears! Gears! construction set, Movin’ Monkeys adds a jungle theme to the building fun. Kids can follow the instructions and turn this set into the scene pictured on the box or can use their imaginations to create their own jungle setup. Monkeys hang from their hands or tail on the palm trees, vine, or each other and can even move down the length of a spiral building piece when the gears turn. Newcomers to these gear-shaped blocks may need to refer to instructions the first time they play with this toy—especially for details on how the palm trees fit together. The manufacturer’s targeted beginning age is four years old, but we recommend starting at age five or six after observing younger children having difficulty constructing the palm trees and inadvertently knocking them over. The 136 pieces include the building platform, gears, cranks, palm tree components, vines, and monkeys

This engaging set has tremendous play value, and will engage curious minds and busy hands for many happy hours.

Scrabble Turns Sixty! - Enjoy Decades of Classic Family Fun

Celebrate 60 years of winning words. This Scrabble game offers special features designed with one idea in mind: to spoil Scrabble players wherever they go. Unfold the premium carrying case to reveal a colorful, rotating game board that allows each player to see the letters upright. The raised-grid style of the board guarantees that your words won't slip or slide out of place. While you're puzzling over how to use a Q without U, you can organize your tiles on a curved tile rack that provides an optimum view of each letter. Are you ready to take your game on the road? Simply store the game pieces in two built-in side trays. There's never been a more convenient or luxurious way to enjoy America's favorite word game.

Kids develop basic math and color and number recognition skills with Hyper Dash

Hyper Dash is an award-winning fast-paced race course game from Wild Planet that encourages kids to be active and think on their feet. Designed to improve listening, coordination and math skills, this exciting game is easy to set up and is an ideal way to help kids aged six and above to practice addition and subtraction while exercising and having fun.

Fast, Easy Set-Up
The only set-up required is to install three AA batteries. Opening the battery compartment requires a small Phillips head screw driver, which means an adult needs to change the batteries. This keeps batteries in the right place during active play, but it also means that changing batteries on the fly requires you to have a screwdriver with you.
The manual is clear and concise, with descriptions of how to play and a list of all the special commands the Hyper Voice issues, so any child can be up and running in just a few minutes. There's no button to turn the unit off, but it quickly shuts itself off when not in use to save battery life.

Getting Moving Quickly
The electronic tagger plays upbeat music and calls out voice commands to control the game, while players following the commands race against the clock to tag targets identified by color and number. Kids can play solo, up to four players can compete head-to-head, or up to eight players can work cooperatively in teams of two. There's even a level where kids need to solve addition and subtraction problems to figure out which target to strike next.
With no complex set-up and no complicated directions to follow, younger children get started playing Hyper Dash quickly. Since players control where the five targets are positioned, there are infinite ways to play Hyper Dash. Combined with the fact that Hyper Dash offers four games to choose from with increasingly difficult levels to master, and it's easy to see why even older, more experienced players (including parents!) stay excited about this game.
Four-Games-in-OneThe original game, Hyper Dash, features the Hyper Voice calling out commands. Four different levels allow the players' skills to progress. Level one includes only colors in the calls. The calls on level two are a little faster and include both colors and numbers, while level three adds special commands like "Double Strike," "Triple Strike," and "Reverse. " Level four features the "CompuStrike" call, which require kids to solve basic math problems, such as "four plus one" or "three minus two. "
In Team Dash, a special command indicates when the Hyper Dash unit should be handed off, turning the race against the clock into a relay. The games Micro Dash and Team Micro Dash set out sequences that get progressively longer and trickier, providing a challenging test of memory.
The Hyper Dash unit keeps track of times and scores, and the Hyper Voice announces the winner at the end of the game, cutting down on arguments. With only one Hyper Dash tagger, kids will have to wait their turn to play in multiple player games. This can be both a lesson in patience and an opportunity to cheer others on.

RFID Technology for a Flexible, Durable Game
Hyper Dash uses radio frequency identification (RFID) to recognize the targets. The same technology is used to track packages and to identify books and DVDs in many libraries. This means that a wireless signal connects the Hyper Dash unit and the targets, so there's no need to strike targets with force.
While the Hyper Dash tagger unit seems incredibly durable, it is made of plastic. Just because RFID technology means kids can tag targets lightly, it doesn't mean they will. Our one concern about the game is the possibility that hard play will damage the tagger over time.
With RFID, there's no limit to how far apart you set the targets. You can set them up at opposite ends of a football field for a serious test of endurance, or close together requiring fancy footwork. You can even them up next to each other to see who has the quickest hands. This flexibility makes Hyper Dash appropriate for both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Award-Winning Educational FunKids have so much fun playing Hyper Dash that they don't realize how much they're learning. Parents will love the way Hyper Dash combines active play with lessons that support color and number recognition, basic math skills. The game's format also inspires better listening and improves kids' coordination. It's no wonder that Hyper Dash has won an iParenting Award and a Seal of Excellence Award from Creative Child Magazine, along with several other honors recognizing it as an innovative, educational toy.

Let your kids explore the world with the LeapFrog Explorer Smart Globe

Explorer Globe
Appropriate For Ages 8 Years and Up

Fasten your seatbelts, put your tray table in the upright position and prepare for take off. Next stop? The world. Touch the interactive pen any place on this interactive, talking atlas and learn thousands of amazing facts. Compare population and land area between say Dundee, Scotland and Oaxaca, Mexico. Find out flying times between Lubbock, Texas and Kyoto, Japan. Learn fascinating facts about continents, countries, capitals, music, currency, highest points and so much more. There is also a "Eureka" game mode that prompts players to find geographic points of interest (giving hints along the way) before time runs out. Up to four players can play six multi-level games with this very chatty, very challenging atlas. And it isn't just for kids either. Everyone will have fun testing their knowledge of geography and exploring the world. This rotating globe and talking atlas features a world clock, interactive pen, volume control, headphone jack and automatic shut-off. Frequent flier miles not included.

What it Teaches:
Names and locations of countries
Population between locations
Distances between locations
Comparison of land area
Bodies of water
Highest point
Population
Continents
Geography
Time zone
Capitals
Currency

Awards
Winner, All Star Software Award, Children's Software Revue, 2000
Winner, Duracell Toy Contest, 2000
Winner, Great American Toy Test, 2000
Winner, Family Life Magazine, 2000
All Star Award, Children's Software Revue, 2002
All Star Award, Children's Software Revue, 2003

Learning toys - Reviewed and Tested

Here’s the list of tested "learning" toys, in order of kids' preference

VTECH V. FLASH CD LEARNING SYSTEM
What it is: Video game system focused on learning. They call it "edutainment"--a claim that an educational curriculum is woven seamlessly into game-play, so that while kids are having fun finishing the race or saving the world, they're also learning. Also plays music CDs.


For ages: 6 and up


What's cool about it: Incorporates video game-style play with many different curriculums in each V. Disc. Each game focuses on a different discipline, such as math, spelling, or encyclopedia knowledge. The games include increasing levels of difficulty, so kids can progress as they learn.

What's not so cool: Most kids didn't play with it for very long.

What the kid testers said: "It's kind of boring and needs better graphics."Other comments: Requires additional remote for two-player action. Additional games sold separately.




LEAPFROG FLY THROUGH ALGEBRA


What it is: A learning accessory for the FLY pen system. Get step-by-step help solving your beginning algebra homework. Includes 50 pages each of plain and graph paper for solving problems.

For ages: 10 to 15

What's cool about it: When used with the FLY pen, it recognizes the math problems you are solving, and works like a math tutor.

What's not so cool: It didn't get much attention from the kids during the toy test. (CR adult testers said they thought the atmosphere wasn't correct for getting the most out of this toy.)

What the kid testers said: Kids liked that the toy knew what you were writing, and that it talked to you.

Other comments: Requires FLY pentop computer, sold separately. It will require additional paper after the included 100 pages are used up.



LEAPFROG LEAPSTER TV LEARNING SYSTEM



What it is: Game console and controller that connects to a TV to give a learning experience. The games feature popular characters and teach essential school skills to kids from preschool through fourth grade.

For ages: 4 to 10

What's cool about it: Controller has large buttons and is colorful. The controller also includes a stylus with a touchpad to help teach kids handwriting skills.

What's not so cool: Some kids found the controller difficult to use, and the stylus did not accurately recognize objects that kids clicked on.

What the kid testers said: The older kids found it to be too childish and the younger kids found it too hard to use.

Other comments: Additional games sold separately (cost $18 to $25). Includes one controller, but two-player games require another controller. See also the Leapster Learning Game System or Leapster L-MAX Hardware they got better reviews and are portable hand-helds.



BRAIN AGE


video game for Nintendo DS and DS Lite game systems

What it is: A game cartridge that claims to train your brain. Contains math and reading challenges designed to improve how quickly you think. It also uses voice recognition for some of the games. However, according to Dr. Ryuta Kawashima, a neuroscientist from Japan who specializes in brain imaging, playing typical video/computer games does not engage a large portion of the brain.

For ages: Everyone

What's cool about it: A lot of kids didn't give it a chance, since playing "Super Mario Bros" had more action. Some of the older kids, ages 9 and up, found it exciting to think they were getting smarter by playing this video game.

What's not so cool: The cartridge can only be used with the Nintendo DS or DS Lite player sold separately.

What the kid testers said: Even though it was a low-interest toy, some kids really did like it. Said one tester, "It's so fun to learn how fast your brain goes."

Other comments: It also includes Sudoku, a numerical variation on a crossword puzzle.



Source: ConsumerReports.org - Everything you need to know before you buy.

Green Toys - Educational, Fun, Safe and Eco Friendly

Are you bored with tic-tac-toe? Think you know all the moves that will prevent you from losing? Then you've never tried Gobblet a four-in-a-row, tic-tac-toe game where you can move pieces around the board to increase your chances of winning - or losing. Simply move your piece to a vacant spot, or gobble up an opponent's smaller piece to gain the advantage. Pay close attention to the board - by moving a piece, you may uncover a previously gobbled up token that will have your opponent declaring victory. It includes wooden game board and storage area, 24 wooden Gobblets, and instructions. This game is for two players. Blue Orange plants two trees for every tree used to produce their games.

Quadrilla Twist and Rail is the versatile introduction to the Quadrilla system. Quadrilla is the next generation of marble runs. It is a system of blocks, tracks and accessory pieces that allow the energy of a marble to travel down a make-your-own path. Beautiful wood tracks and a rainbow of colored blocks, each with a different function, are the starting point for endless constructions for marbles to drop to a new level, go right or left, swirl in a funnel, or pour out of a teeter totter. Quadrilla's versatile design allows a child to determine the marble's path and the options are endless. Simple 2 or 3 level switches or complex multi-level, multi-direction layouts are possible depending on the builder's understanding of the function of each piece. this is a logical, sturdy product where the process of building is as much fun as the process of playing.

View more Green Toys online.

Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel

Inspire your young Picasso with the Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel. This easel will fuel your child's imaginative side and gives them the freedom to create with an extra-large chalkboard, dry-erase board, and easy-load paper roller. Your budding artist will be inspired by free-form expression and spend hours drawing, painting, sketching, and doodling. It is also an excellent educational item and children love playing school with the chalkboard side. This work station is ideal for kids ages four through 10 and has an adjustable height to accommodate the little ones as they grow.

A Great Alternative to Professional Easels

Just like a professional easel, this work station is generously sized so that children can complete projects both big and small. Its durable wood construction ensures that it won't tip and it folds up easily for convenient storage. The easel also has a sturdy paint tray with cup holders for easy use and clean-up, and another tool tray that holds erasers, chalks, and clips. Four large, colorful clips are included with this easel. Paper rolls can be loaded effortlessly into the holder and a paper cutting edge at the top delivers clean cuts and leaves your artist's work whole. Parents may have to assist removing and loading the paper, as it can be difficult for kids to do on their own. (The paper rolls and paint cups are not included.) A standing easel is essential for any young artist. This large easel has a chalkboard, dry erase board, and paper roller to let the children express themselves with different mediums. It also has an adjustable height that grows with the creator and delivers years of use. The brightly colored tool containers are capacious enough to hold lots of different items and are simple for tiny fingers to utilize. This toy will unleash the little artist inside every child and could spark a lifelong interest in fine art.

Holiday Toy List - Watch Videos of your Favorite Toys in Action

Make holiday shopping this year easy on you and your budget. This holiday toy list is designed to give you some ideas for great gifts for you loved ones this year. Forget the holiday rush in crowded shopping centers, I shop online. It's fast, easy and it saves me time and money. Look for items that have free shipping options and order them well in advance to get them in time for Christmas. This years holiday toy list includes many of this years greatest toys at low prices. You can easily shop by age or by price. Click the picture above to shop for toys and watch videos of each toy in action.

Start your holiday shopping today

Webkinz - Most Popular Toy for 2008?

Everywhere I look it seems that Webkinz are topping the lists for most popular toy in 2008.

What Are Webkinz?

Webkinz are stuffed animals that were originally released by the Ganz company on April 29, 2005. The toys are similar to many other small plush toys. However, each Webkinz toy has an attached tag with a unique "Secret Code" printed on it that allows access to the "Webkinz World" website. On Webkinz World, the Secret Code allows the user to own a virtual version of the pet for virtual interaction.
There are also smaller, less expensive versions of the toys called Lil' Kinz. In June 2008, Webkinz opened its own eStore, where users can buy virtual items such as furniture and virtual pets.

Kids hunt through bins of Webkinz

Gameplay

Each Webkinz stuffed animal and Webkinz accessory comes with an 8-character code. By registering this code on the Webkinz website, you "adopt" this pet in the virtual Webkinz World. Without the Secret Code, the user may not get access to the Webkinz world. Toy animals that are missing tags are not supposed to be sold by retailers, and removal of the tags without purchasing the animal is considered shoplifting. If a user forgets a login name and password, they can always go back to the Secret Code to gain access. Without the Secret Code, a user cannot recover a lost account. Currently, accounts expire within one year, unless another Webkinz animal is purchased, and that animal added to the user account.

The Webkins World is an online play area with its own economy. The user receives money (called KinzCash) by adopting new pets, playing online games, answering general knowledge questions, and through daily activities like clicking "I love my Webkinz!", spinning the Wheel of WOW, playing Wishing Well 2, or completing jobs (minigames) available once every 8 hours. Each day, there is a Game of the Day which can be played for bonus KinzCash, and other bonuses are available each hour, full days on weekends and afternoons only on weekdays. With each Webkinz toy purchased, more money, rooms, and items are added to the user's account.
Users can spend their KinzCash at what is called the W Shop, where they can purchase food and clothing for their pet, items for their pet's room or to build additional rooms onto their house, or outdoors areas etc. Users can decorate a room for their pet with pre-made themes, or mix and match their own furniture.

The online world also contains many rare or exclusive items. Some of these items require developing a friendship with the Curio Shop owner to purchase, while others you get for registering other Webkinz accessories you purchase in the real world. Each type of pet gets a special food available exclusively for them. Also, a Pet of the Month is announced at the beginning of each month. If a person registers the announced pet in that month, they will receive other exclusive items.

Many of the tasks in Webkinz World involve collecting items. For example, recipes are released for the players through cookbooks you can purchase or one of the TV Shows called The Secret Chef. Gems can be mined once a day at the Curio Shop, with a full set of gems being turned into the Webkinz Crown of Wonder and buy exclusive items. A similar feature, called Alyssa's Star Hunt, involves users clicking on colored stars to find valuable stars. You can also go to Dr. Quack for a check up on your Webkinz' health.

Some other features of Webkinz include:
The ability for players to create their own shows with the Webkinz Studio, and enter to be chosen to appear on the Webkinz television.
Buying a swimming pool, where you can have your Webkinz swim around. This increases their health.
Sending gifts or letters to friends on a peer-to-peer network.
Invite a friend over to your house, where you can chat and interact with some board games and items.
Participate in the hourly events, which can earn you prizes, KinzCash, and coupons, among other things.
Play Wacky Bingoz, a form of Bingo where you get one, two, and three ball games every day.
Brushing your pets teeth, hair, washing paws/feathers/feet etc, bathing.

Parental concerns

Concerns have been raised about children's use and overuse of the toys. Some worry that children will become addicted to the game. Other parents say that it will only help the kids learn. Some parents have voiced concerns about the website's online chat system. The KinzChat chat system has various safety precautions, with restrictions on who can send messages. Additionally, users cannot type, but can choose phrases to say from a list. Concerns have also been raised about the toys being a distraction in schools, causing the toys to be banned in some schools. Concerns were also raised when the once advertisement-free site started displaying advertisements, previously only for their own additional game related products, but now also for movies, such as ''Alvin and the Chipmunks and The Bee Movie Some of the advertisements promote responsibility or healthy living. There is an option that parents can use to block ads that promote sites not sponsored by or affiliated with Webkinz or Ganz. However, if enabled, this option can not be changed until 30 days have passed.


Shop the complete line of webkinz products online

Yukon Express 80-Piece Wooden Train Set

A great gift for ages 3-9 Years

Take your imagination for a ride into rugged Yukon Territory. This expansive set is chock full of landmarks, scenery and fun accessories for hours upon hours of classic train play.
Wooden set includes 4 train cars, 6 automobiles, 6 signs, 7 figures, 12 building pieces, station, 8 trees and shrubs, crossing gate, tunnel, 3 bridge pieces, 2 bridge tracks, 2 bridge supports, trellis bridge piece, 16 curved tracks, large straightaway track, 3 medium straightaway tracks, 2 small straightaway tracks and 4 switch tracks. 80 pieces in all.
Train sets are an essential childhood toy that stimulates creativity and imagination. With bridges, tunnels, cars and building the fun doesn't stop at the train station. I have always liked wood toys as many plastic materials these days have chemicals such as BPA. Wood also has a warm feel and makes unique sounds (as discovered by my son). There is a 60 piece and 200 piece set available as well.

This item can be found at Sears.

Astounding Polymer Properties Observation Kit

A great gift for ages 4 Years - Adult

Experiment and learn about the science behind a fascinating collection of polymers. Learn about viscosity, absorption, evaporation, polarity, saturation, molecular bonding, osmosis and more with this astounding science fair kit. Learn the difference between cross-linked copolymers, linear polymers and liquid polymers and the special uses that they have.

Set includes an assortment of polymers in cubes, spheres and liquids, 8 compostable cups, 12 coloring tablets, 6 mixing spoons and experiment guide.

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

This item can be found at Sears.

Radio Flyer The Classic Red Wagon

This full-size Radio Flyer red wagon is a symbol of American childhood. It's the little red wagon whose patented classic design has been in continuous production for over 70 years. There is a flared edge that goes around the base edge of the wagon body, giving it that look generations have and will come to know!

Features and Benefits:
The Original Little Red Wagon has become such a classic that the shape has been trademarked.
The model #18 wagon has been in continuous production for over 70 years, an American toy industry record.

• Largest steel wagon.
• Extra-long handle for easy pulling.
• Durable steel wheels with real rubber tires for a quiet ride.
• Handle folds under the wagon for easy storage.
• No-pinch ball joint keeps fingers safe.
• Controlled turning radius prevents wagon from tipping.
• For ages over 1 1/2.

Parents Magazine Toy Hall Of Fame


RedWagons.com - HUGE Sale on children's toys!