Toy Whimsy

Top 5 Toys from Your Childhood

My co-worker, Irina, found an app on Facebook called, "5 Toys that Remind You of Your Childhood."  (I know, right?)  My Top 5 were:

1. 1. Pan Am Toy Mechanical Plane.  It was battery-powered, taxied, had a red light on top and stairs that automatically lowered and raised.  (Unfortunately, they didn't have that exact one in the app so I had to use a TWA image instead.)  If anyone knows what I'm talking about -- or, better yet, where to get one -- please let me know.
2. Merlin (pictured above.)  This was an electronic game that played Tic Tac Toe, Magic Square and a bunch of other games I never learned.  It was, by far, the toy I was most excited to receive on Christmas Day ever.  (Full disclosure: So, I actually found where Santa hid Merlin that year.  As a result, my parents made me PAY MONEY for it since I was being "nosey."  Still, it was the best $20 I ever (unintentionally) spent in my life.  And I was STILL excited when I opened it on Christmas.
3. Spirograph.  I loved this toy so much that I actually asked for (and got) another one when I was in college.  (I still have it.)
4. Lester the Ventriloquist Dummy.  Lester was all over TV back in the day and lots and lots of kids had one. It was the closest thing to being friends with a celebrity back in the day.
5. A Smurf.  I had one of these in kindergarten before the TV show started.  The only reason I remember it is because I used to chew on his nose and all the paint came off of it. (Mmmm...lead....)
6. Honorable Mention:  Sesame Street Colorforms.  So, one year on my birthday, my parents gave me $20.00 and told me I could buy anything I wanted in Higbee's toy department (yes, the department store from A Christmas Story.)  I chose the Colorforms kit.  We would find Cookie Monster and all his pals clinging to things for years to come.

What's in your Top 5?  A Cabbage Patch Doll?  Hot Wheels?  A slinky?  Let us know! -- E. Christian Moore (Special Thanks to Irina!)

Playmobil Says, "I Do!" -- Guest Blogger Wendy Smolen

We’re entering wedding season. And while most parents reading this are probably not yet in the mother-of-the-bride mode, we know kids are always in the mood for (pretend) love. After all, brides and grooms are often the stuff their dreams are made of. For me, it was love at first sight when I saw Playmobil’s new Church, a playset with a classic Playmobil bride and groom and all the trappings of a formal wedding: from stained glass windows (look closely and you’ll see the image of a Playmobil figurine!), organ music, church bells, flowers and bows on the pews, and a priest to read the vows.

For those who don’t want a church wedding, there’s the alternative Wedding Pavilion, a trellised balcony setting where the bride wears a long lacey veil, the groom wears a hip gray tux, and rites are non-ecumenical. Champagne, flowers, and seating for invited guests complete the setting. Both wedding sets come with a heart-shaped jewel box containing two rings, adding to the fantasy play.
Ceremony’s over? Stick around for the party!  The smaller-sized Wedding Guests in Party Tent lets the bride and groom celebrate their wedding under a festive white tent. Here’s where they can finally taste the tiered wedding cake (complete with a mini bride and groom on top), admire the table full of presents, click champagne glasses for a toast, and eat their way through the buffet. As with most fun weddings, the hardest part is knowing when the party’s over. -- Wendy Smolen

Too Soon for Summer Toys?

Here in beautiful, sunny Seattle I've had to wear my fall jacket to work. (Meanwhile, my parents in Ohio were barbecuing in 88 degree weather.  Sigh.)  I need summer to get here, like, now.  Additionally, in the office, we've been talking a lot about which summer toys we think will be among the hottest this year (lame pun intended.)  Basically, if it splashes, soaks or slides, it's a no-brainer.  I was surprised to see that Wham-O still makes the Slip n' Slide (although it now comes with extra padding to stop you from sliding off the end of it -- something seriously lacking from the ones we had back in the day.)  Early reads are showing us that people are buying huge water slides (higher-priced but still cheaper than admission for the whole family to go to a water park every week.)  Lots of super soakers (a.k.a. really big water guns) are also gaining popularity while water activity tables are good for toddlers who simply want to splash in the water and taste the warm, yummy sand.  How are you planning on spending your summer?  What creative (and low cost) things do you have planned to keep your family (and yourself) cool during the dog days of summer?  Let us know. -- E. Christian Moore

Neurosmith Sunshine Symphony - Tiny Toy Testers Review

It's been awhile since we had a really TINY Toy Tester, but at 9 months old, today's tester couldn't be cuter! Check her out as she tests the Neurosmith Sunshine Symphony. I love the look on her face when the music starts. Watch the video and then keep reading for the Amazon.com Parents' review:
Neurosmith Sunshine Symphony...

Parents' Review: 5 Stars for Wonderful, 1 Star for Terrible:

Assembly: 5 stars, "No assembly required.  Worked right out of the box."

Fun Factor: 3 Stars, "She was instantly attracted to the lights and music.  When the music stopped, she would hit the toy to try to start the music again.  She was very receptive to it.  And she quickly discovered the teether corner of the toy and chewed on it for quite a while.   As far as guidance goes, we did have to start the music for her so that she realized what the toy does.  She quickly learned that beating on the toy would start the music again."

Educational Factor: 3 stars, "I do think that this toy was good for teaching cause and effect in how it began playing music when moved or touched.  Also great for sensory experience with all of the different textures, patterns and sounds."

Novelty Factor: 3 Stars, "It does seem like every baby toy plays music or has blinking lights, but I was pleasantly surprised that she still took interest in the toy.  I do think that this toy is a notch above other soft  toys that play music in our home."

--Laura McMullan

Playdate - Toy Links from Around the Web

Welcome to another edition of Playdate, we hope you like the links that we have put together for this week.  Have some toy links you would like to share?  Send them to us at toywhimsy@amazon.com and we'll try to include them next week...

*When was the last time you jumped rope?  I think I was 12 in gym class.  Well these young ladies jump for 2 hours PER DAY! From neatorama, we have the King's Firecrackers:

*From Ohdeedoh, there is a great post about how to turn an underbed storage box into a sand box in no time at all.

*Lil' Sugar reviews the eco-friendly Mi-Yim Plush collection.  (psssst...You can also find them on our Green Toy store. )

*ZRecommends has a detailed article on Sprig toys and reviews the Sprig Hallow line that we reviewed right before toy fair and loved as well.  It's a well thought-out and detailed article on how the eco-friendly toy company has continued to improve over the first line of toys they started with.  (You can also find Sprig in our Green Toy Store!)

*coochicoos has some sweet Mattel vintage love with some wooden truck Putt-Putt toys. LOVE them!

*On the Grown-up toys that aren't really meant to be played with front, illustrator Tara McPherson has released a new set called Gamma Mutant Space Friends from Kid Robot.  You can see them detailed on ToyCyte with lots of pretty pictures.  *sigh* there goes more of my money paid for cute toys to use as art in my house.

*Wanna see some adorable hand-made dolls?  Head over to Wee Wonderfuls to drool over the newest batch.  J'adore.

*And Finally, because it is Friday and we all need a laugh: Really Bad Parenting Advice.

Enjoy your weekend, I hope it is sunny and fun!

--Laura McMullan

Stretch Armstrong - Flash Back Friday

I don't think any Stretch Armstrongs exist in the world today for this reason:

Yup, he was just too tempting for kids to open up and see what was inside. 
Check out the original ad at Plaid Stallions:

If you have some time this Friday, Plaid Stallions is an amazing collection of 70's "fashion" and toys.  I highly recommend for your viewing pleasure...

The history of Stretch Armstrong is detailed by wikipedia:

Stretch Armstrong was in the shape of a well-muscled blond man wearing a pair of swimming trunks. Its most notable feature was that its arms and legs could stretch outwards, presumably without breaking.

The doll was re-issued in the 1990s with a canine sidekick, "Fetch Armstrong".  He also has an evil brother named Evil X-ray Wretch Armstrong who has a skull face, sports a mohawk and also stretches. Wretch Armstong seems to be a redesigned, smaller remake of Stretch X-Ray from 1977 who had an over sized exposed brain, alien creature looking face with a see through body that shows his internal organs.

Other similar releases were Stretch Monster, a reptilian green nemesis released by Kenner in 1978 and Fetch Armstrong, the figure's pliable canine counterpart released in the early 1990s by Cap Toys. Cap Toys also released Stretch Vac-Man while ToyQuest released Super Morphman, both of which were filled with a granular solid instead of the viscous liquid found in the other figures. A vacuum pump which attached to the heads of these figures removed the air from within and allowed for considerable, but not unlimited, stretching ability.

You can find memories of Stretch and his Friends over at Feeling Retro where people have recorded thoughts of Stretch for eternity.  Memories like this one from Dave:

"My Stretch Armstrong experience was short but sweet. It’s all I wanted for Christmas and truly the only toy I remember loving. When I finally got it, I was elated to say the least. I got to enjoy him for about an hour before I bounced him on one of the old exercise mini trampolines (you know, the ones you used to jog on) and he crashed into an old glass oil lamp my mom had. Well, the glass shards cut him open and that was that. Goo oozed out everywhere and he was ruined."

Ahhh,Good Times people, Good Times....

Here are some retro commercials:

The 1977 Commercial for Stretch Monster

and here's another classic:

Have a great weekend!
--Laura McMullan

Trek Yourself by Cheez-it

In celebration of the new (and awesome looking!) Star Trek movie, there is a new widget that allows you to "Trek Yourself" sponsored by Cheez-it. Check it out...
And here I am, Trek-ed...

I like it...I think I look pretty good! (Maybe I need to grow my hair out again?) Anyway, if you want to see some Star Trek toys and games, you can do so here.

--Laura McMullan

Toy Tips with Marianne Szymanski - Go Ahead and Play!

Editor's Note: Marianne Szymanski is a leading expert in toy reviews, and the founder of the Toy Tips Research Institute.  She is the author of Toy Tips: A Parent's Essential Guide to Smart Toy Choices and also the editor of Toy Tips and Parenting Hints Magazine.

When was the last time you sat at the kitchen table and colored with your kids?  Yeah... me too,
With Mother's Day around the corner,  it's time to celebrate Mom but in the coming days before we get there, take a break and take time to play.  Just like when you were a kid.

Grab your children for an afternoon of mom-child interaction, pull together some toys from the toybox or
buy some new ones that are probably just as fun as you remember them.

Here are some ideas to spark interest. For more ideas, see toytips,com and don't forget to follow me on 
twitter.com/toytips.

• Go Fish! Playing Cards by eeBoo
• Old Maid Card Game by eeBoo
• Hasbro Littlest Pet Shop Go Fish Card Game
• Crayola 120ct Original Crayons
• Cootie
• Melissa & Doug Classic Heirloom Victorian Doll House
• Magic Coloring Book Trick
• Live Butterfly Garden
• Skip Ball

--Marianne Szymanski

Idbids want you to have a Happy Earth Day

The older my kids get, the more I agree with Eddie's last post about simple toys.  My kids love all the lights and sounds, but give them a huge bouncy ball and they are in heaven and stay there - for hours! 
For Earth Day, I was also contemplating how simple toys really are best for the environment.  With no batteries to dispose of, no plastic parts to go in a landfill, and no lights or sounds, Idbids fit the bill nicely.  The Idbids kit is a soft plush toy, a field guide, a storybook, and an organic cotton cinch sack to carry it all in.  All the componets of the kit are made from eco-friendly and recycled materials and the field guide teaches kids about sustainability.  The cute storybook features all three Idbids- Scout the cloud, Lola the flower, and Waverly the water drop.  Cute, simple, and good for the earth- Idbids are just the ticket for Earth Day.

--Laura McMullan

Simple Toys

On a recent trip to (very warm and sunny) Los Angeles, I visited friends who have three children: a girl (age 5) and two boys (ages 8 and 13.)  In addition to being excited to see my friends and to see how much their children have grown, I thought it was a good chance to do some toy "research" and see, as they say, what the kids are into these days. 

When I arrived, no one heard me at the front door because the whole family was in the backyard playing Lazer Tag (check.)  Once inside, the kids wanted me to see their newly-installed basketball hoop (check.)  There was also a RipStik (check), a couple of bikes (double check) and a jump rope (check.)  That's when it got creative.  After I tried to ride the RipStik (and failed miserably) the boys started riding it while shooting hoops.  Then the jump rope got tied to a bike and the boys pulled their little sister around on it.  Then it turned into all of us just jumping rope...for almost an hour.  (Do kids ever get tired?)  It surprised me that with all the technology and pricey toys out there, the one that can get the most use is the simplest (and cheapest) one of all. -- E. Christian Moore