Toy Whimsy

Monchichi - Flash Back Friday

First up, a little history on this cute monkey from Japan via our friends over at Wikipedia:

The Monchhichi franchise is Japanese and held by the Sekiguchi Corporation, a famous doll company, located in Tokyo, Japan. Monchhichi was created by Koichi Sekiguchi on January 25, 1974. Sekiguchi claims he has created this character in order to inspire respect and love in the young (Japanese) children and adults.

The doll was successful in Japan, and the animated TV series, Futago no Monchhichi (ふたごのモンチッチ, Monchhichi Twins) which ran in 1980, helped increase its popularity even more.
Exportation of the doll line started in 1975, toward West Germany and Australia. The following years would see the Monchhichi line marketed in all of Western Europe. The original name was changed to "Chicaboo" in the United Kingdom, to "Mon Cicci" in Italy and to "Kiki" in France.
The Monchhichi doll line reached the North American shores in 1979, where it was successful. Mattel bought the license for both the toy line and the TV series, localized as Monchhichis. As recently as June 2008, Monchhichis are still available in the United States in places such as Japan in Disney World's Epcot theme park.
Monchhichis were monkey-like creatures who lived in the forest land of Monchia at the very top of tall trees well above the clouds. The tribe's leader, Wizzar, was a magical wizard who could make up spells and potions to defeat their enemy, the evil Grumplins of Grumplor.
The show didn’t catch on as well as Hanna-Barbera’s other little critter shows like The Smurfs and Snorks. The show aired for just one season on ABC’s Saturday morning lineup.

So as you can see, this is a little bit of an international Flash Back Friday! Maybe this is why there are so many people sharing Monchichi memories on the "In the 80's" website.  Some gems from these recollections....

"STILL HAVE MINES!!! He's grey and worn but I love him and my husband tries to hide him every chance he gets!! His name is Nappy and he sucks his thumbs and I let my sons play w/him occasionally. I will grow old with him...I got em on my 3rd Christmas and I remember when the lady upstairs bought him down for me...Memories *sigh*"

"My sister had a "clown" monchichi we called, "Lester" and a little one we called, "Reggie". We loved 'em! "Monchichi, monchichi, oh, so soft and cuddly...!" (That's all I can remember. LOL)"

"a few years ago i self proclaim my nickname to be MONCHICHI when i woke up and wasnt wearing hair gel...i remeber having one when i was a child in the 80's. alot of my friends dont know the doll so i will buy one to show them. im glad to see so many people loving the monchichi still!!! lets bring monchichi back as the hottest toy of 2009!!!"

Never fear everyone out in the interweb-land!  You can still get Monchichi dolls!  Check them out here.

And so, with all these memories, we have to show you some commercials as well don't we?  I think it's a must in this situation...


and then we have this beautiful slide show set to some bizarre music...I don't even have words for this...

and Finally, the Monchichi cartoon:

Have a great weekend!
--Laura McMullan

Toy Flashback: Devo

(Ed. Note. Jeremy Brautman is a recovering toy addict and expert on art toys. He contributes toy culture trends to a handful of blogs and is editor-n-chief of ToyCyte)

Okay, let's get this out of the way: not all designer toys are cool. In fact, some aren't even supposed to be cool. Even in the realm of urban vinyl, figures exist based on the intentionally unhip. Toys in homage to slackers and Subgeniuses who sang about science fiction? I am, of course, referring to Devo.

With the iconic band's first full album since 1990 due out this Fall, I thought we'd take a look back at two signature toys from Devo's past. In 2005, Neca Collectibles put out the Devo action figure, which featured the memorable yellow radiation suit and five interchangeable heads. In 2007, Toy2R released the Ox-Op Qee Series 3, which contained Qee-Vo. The 2.5-inch figure also sported the yellow suit, but this one came packaged with a removable rubber Booji Boy mask. In a cool coincidence, the rubber Qee mask can be worn by the Neca action figure.

Mark Mothersbaugh and company would surely approve of you squandering your work hours playing with their toys while think-singing: "and he wore a hat/and he had a job/and he brought home the bacon." Good thing both figures are still available.

--Jeremy Brautman

Travelin' Tots - The Terrible 2's

Spurred on by friends and fellow mothers asking me what kind of toys to buy for summer travels, I am starting a new series of posts called "Travelin' Tots".  Today we are going to focus on one of the hardest ages to travel with kids, 2 years old. 

Having a two year old myself I know that traveling with them is a challenge.  They are at an age where being tied down to a car seat is not exactly enjoyable for long stretches of time (like, say, 10 minutes).   Distractions are key at this age and I have a few that have worked well for myself or other moms and dads I know.

First off, you don't want to give them anything too small.  Not only could they be a choking hazard, you would also be a hazard on the road if you have to keep pulling over (or reaching into the back seat) to try and give them something that they have dropped.  Keeping things all together and in their lap is key.  I like the Star Kids Snack & Play Travel Tray just for this reason.  It gives kids a little more surface area and has an edge to keep things from falling to the floor of the car.

Some toys that have served us well while traveling are toys by LeapFrog.  LeapFrog is a leading learning toy company that gives toddlers a chance to play with lots of buttons and knobs but also learn something along the way.  The new Text and Learn and Scribble and Write are perfect for this age group.  They give them a variety of buttons to hit and things to do all at a manageable price point. 

When you need a little quiet time and to put the bells and whistles away, I also recommend DoodlePro toys by Fisher-Price.  They are quiet, the have the pen attached, and there is no mess.  Kids can scribble to their heart's desire and then erase it and start all over again.

Stickers are also a great tool for quiet travel.  My kids love the Roger Priddy Sticker Books because all the stickers are contained inside the books and they give them lots of pages to then place the stickers too.  Peelable and re-stickable, these books can kids entertained for hours with tons of themes to chose from.

Another toy that I like is the Crayola Color Wonder Travel Tote.  Color Wonder is just about the best kids' art invention ever because there is absolutely no mess.  You no longer have to worry about the little ones drawing on the car seat, their clothes or, the favorite of every kid- themselves.

For a friend to travel with your little one, you might want to look into Smart-e Bear.  More than just a talking stuffed animal, this bear plays with your tot, playing songs, games like Simon says, and tells stories.  Your child can pick and chose what they want to do with their new friend.  My kids love their bear and discover new activities to play with him each time they bring him out to play.

Since my daughter was tiny, she loved playing with her stuffed animals. She still likes to make little houses for them, and make them talk to each other.  Something like this little Tree House from Pint Size Productions would have been perfect for her even at the age of two.  This cute little set zips up to contain all the animals when it isn't being played with in the car, and has a handle so that little hands can help bring things in the house after a long car ride.

Do you have some hidden gems that you would like to suggest to our readers as great travel toys for two year olds?  Let us know in the comments section!

Happy travels!

--Laura McMullan

Toy Tips with Marianne Szymanski - Summer Swimming

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.

 

 Whether it's bathtub swimming, the backyard pool, the lake, at the country club or the public park pool, summer swimming means safety, safety and more safety.  Kids of any age should NEVER be left alone at the pool and the buddy system when swimming is mandatory.  Parents should always be in the water even when lifeguards are around.

Before kids start their summer swimming lessons, be sure to get the appropriate summer swimming tools in place based on age. Many children are afraid of the water so be patient but eventually they will catch on!  It's important for children to know how to swim.

Here are some helpful products:

• Watermelon Baby Spring Float
• Speedo Silicone Swim Cap
• Swim Diapers
• Speedo Kids' Swim Goggles
• Huggies Little Swimmers Sunscreen
• Fun Noodle

Enjoy the water!
--Marianne Szymanski

Night at the Museum as Teaching Tool

After my surprise that Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian beat out Terminator Salvation at the box office this weekend (I guess a LOT of you parents needed to get the kids out of the house over the long weekend, huh?) I realized that seeing the film could be a fun opportunity to "take the teachable moment" (as they say) and educate your kids.  From dinosaurs to Emelia  Earhart to egyptology, there were (and are) a lot of interesting ways to talk about some subjects that don't come up in everyday conversation... including exactly what (and where) the Smithsonian is.  (You do know that it is a collection of museums, right?) -- E. Christian Moore

Slip n' Slide - Flash Back Friday

Back in 1961, one of the geniuses over at Wham-O! had the very simple but effective idea to lay a piece of plastic on the ground, wet it down, run, and then throw their body down the newly made slide.  Genius.  Pure Genius. 
Although, in other news, parents and teens should NOT use this product.  From Wikipedia: "Both the manufacturer and the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommend that only children use the toy due to the risk of back and neck injuries when teenagers and adults use it. Injuries occur because people heavier or taller than children might stop suddenly when diving onto the toy. Between 1973 and 1991, seven adults and one teenager reported injuries suffered while using Slip 'N Slides including neck injuries and fractures, quadriplegia, and paraplegia" Yikes.

With that in mind, DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.  Let watching these idiots an their homemade slides be enough:

And this one made of wrestling mats:

And file this one under "Dude, your cell phone is ringing and I think it's your agent." The Texas Rangers love to Slip n' Slide too!

I spent way too much time watching You Tube Slip n' Slide videos this morning and a couple of things that I have learned:
a) I can't show most of them because adults are using "Mommy and Daddy words" as they are called in my house.
b) You can't make a home made Slip n' Slide video without putting music with it.  Wipeout seems to be a popular tune to use.
c) People will make Slip n' Slides out of just about anything.
d) Someone always tries to stand up and slide and it never works out well.

So in the interest of safety, these are a kids' toy so enjoy them vicariously through your children!  They are NOT for adult use.  Recreating one's youth usually equals a trip to the emergency room in this case. 

Before you go off to enjoy the weekend, here's an old commercial for Slip n' Slide from Wham-o!:

And here's another for the unfortunately named "Wet Banana" a Slip n' Slide imitator:

Slip n's Slides are still available for your kids' enjoyment today, check them out here. Enjoy your long weekend!
--Laura McMullan

It's OK to Play with Your Art Toys! Guest Blogger Jeremy Brautman

(Ed. Note. Jeremy Brautman is a recovering toy addict and expert on art toys. He contributes toy culture trends to a handful of blogs and is editor-n-chief of ToyCyte)

One of the first questions people often ask me is, "How did you begin collecting art toys?" Once they hear the answer (the abridged version: cubicle + disposable income = toy collection), they typically follow up with "Key? What's a Key?" They are, of course, referring to Qee, the platform figure introduced in the early 2000s by Toy2R--a figure that makes up the bulk of my collection. Raymond Choy founded Toy2R in 1995; the business initially ran on the energy of his own designer toy obsession. Nowadays, Qees are all over the globe, wearing the insignias of popular brands and the signatures of hip designers.

What separates the Qee from the other mini-figures in the pack is that they come with a keychain. Most Qee collectors (present company included) maintain a ziplock bag filled to the brim with these accessories and display the figures sans fob. However, keychains are really making a comeback, especially among the next generation of cool kids. Need I remind you of Sasha Obama and her Uglydoll keychain?

I've had a peek at Toy2R's 2009 lineup, and there are some excellent items ahead. I'll limit myself to two words: DOMO QEES. Enough said. While we wait for new figures to collect, there's no excuse for idle hands. Recently, Rosie O'Donnell made the rounds on daytime and late-night television singing the praises of do-it-yourself toys. Rosie is a fan of Kidrobot's 5-inch Munny figures. She says her kids customize one a day. At the rate she's going, I'd like to introduce her to Toy2R's 8-inch DIY Qees. The toys are a 3D canvas, great for kids of all ages. They come shaped like blank bears, cats, bunnies, dogs, pigs, skullheads, eggs and more. Each figure includes a brush and acrylic paints. The only thing missing is some heavy magnets so you can proudly affix your kid's finished art toy to your fridge.

--Jeremy Brautman

NERF Battle: Guest Blogger Wendy Smolen

A few nights ago, I was surprised to hear my two 17 year-olds discussing the merits of Hasbro’s new Nerf blasters. While they love toys as much as the next kids, and, considering my career, have been brought up testing and playing with dozens of new products every season, it was rare for them to analyze merchandise pros and cons without my prompting. As any smart mother of teens knows to do, I kept my mouth shut and listened.  “The Dart Tag FuryFire set comes with two blasters with auto-advance barrels that hold ten darts,” my son said with authority. “It’s a good deal if we split it.” (The set also has two scoring vests and vision gear, I refrained from adding.) “I’d rather get the Nerf N-Strike Raider Rapid Fire CS35 Blaster,” my daughter answered. “The drum magazine holds 35 darts and there’s nothing as fast and furious out there. And, “ she added with a smile,” it comes in a camo pattern.”  (She’s all about fashion.) They went back and forth discussing pros and cons and I finally realized why they were so interested. They needed Nerf gear for the annual end-of-year AP-Assassination game of glorified tag, where a senior class full of high-achieving kids are pitted against one another to finally duke it out without “using their words.”  (Note: the game is not school sponsored.) I hated to burst their bubble.

“Kids,” I said. “The Tag FuryFire and CS35 Blaster are part of the Nerf 40th Anniversary event. They don’t come out until the fall.” Their faces fell.  “You could use the new Nerf N-Force Swords,” I suggested. “They’re soft, safe, and durable, and available now.”  They both gave me “the look.” (Ouch.) I lost them as they began haggling again over the merits of the Nerfs they already know and love: N-Strike Recon CS-6 and the Longshot.

Gun play has never had a starring role in my house. Or in my product reviews.  Yet, AP Assassination gave me pause to reconsider. Call it my Obama at Notre Dame moment: A chance to assess both sides of an argument. Guns are guns, whether they’re orange plastic and use foam ammunition, or the real deal. But games are fun. And this one involves heavy-duty strategy (the class salutatorian is the organizer), friendly competition, complex alliances, rules, the honor system, and luck. Exactly what I look for when I choose good games for review. Will playing AP Assassination train my kids to be real-life killers? No more than sitting it out will make them bona-fide pacifists. I took a yoga breath. Then reached deep into my bulging product closet and found two Nerf blasters I could spare. -- Wendy Smolen

Toy Tips with Marianne Szymanski - Cleaning Our Toys

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.

 


Cleaning our Toys. We all think about it but how often do we do it?  For the last 18 years, the Toy Tips Research Institute tested thousands of toys. Many of them get dirty and while it is easy to think about cleaning toys, it's rarely done. As the founder of Toy Tips and mom of 2, I  just spent the last 3 years scrubbing, spraying, washing and soaking hundreds of toys as I developed my own all-natural non-chemcial Toy Tips Toy Cleaner.  Made without alcohol, bleach, dyes, artificial fragrances or phosphates, Toy Tips Toy Cleaner is a pure all-natural solution to gently rid toys of dust, dirt, spit up and grime.

Parents can use a bleach and water solution to clean toys but who really has the time, wants to smell the bleach and is comfortable with any chemical residue left on a toy that can be mouthed by a child. You can wash plastic toys  in a dishwasher but  many toys are just too big to fit. A backyard hose is great for outdoor toys but you n eed a soapy solution to really get them clean.

The Toy Tips Toy Cleaner is a convenient all-natural spray and wipe cleaning solution for toys of all types. It has a pure aromatherapy light scent of lavender and chamomile and smells very fresh.

With a regular household cleaning routine in mind, Toy  Tips Toy Cleaner  goes from the playroom to the nursery  to kitchen to the bath. Every parent knows toys are in every room of the house so it is made for surfaces of  plastic, hardwood, vinyl, aluminum and foam. It  even does wonders on windows!

There are no orange oils that over time can affect a plastic surface, no alcohol, bleach or chemical residue and no baking soda which can break down the oxides of metal over time for precious collectible aluminum toys. Take a bottle and spray plastic toys, vinyl toys, wooden toys, foam playmats, high chairs, cribs, strollers, car seats and  play areas including hardwood floors and  that tiny mirror in baby's first peek-a-boo.  It's formulated for toys, kids furniture, play areas  and toys  in the toybox but it  can be used on other surfaces around the house.

The spray bottle is a PETE #1 recyclable phlalate-free, lead-free container and is simple to use. Spray a surface, wipe clean and it quickly dries. The sprayer has a dripless closing feature and a ratchet neck for child safety.

The reason it took 3 years to develop the Toy Tips Toy Cleaner is because we have worked with lots of love and care with green chemists, toxicologists and microbiologists to perfect the recipe with all natural ingredients down to the preservative. Organic essential oils scent the solution to a calming smell of lavender and chamomile. So, open that toybox and start cleaning!

For Amazon.com customers, each 24 ounce bottle of Toy Tips Toy Cleaner includes a $20 subscription to Toy Tips and Parenting Hints Magazine.

Available NOW on amazon.com

--Marianne Szymanski

Outdoor Bargains for the Long Weekend With Your Kids

Money is tight, and a lot of us aren't traveling this weekend because of it.  So what to do with the kids if the beach is not an option?  Here are a few bargains that will keep your kids active and busy this upcoming long weekend. 

WaterWheel Play Table by Step2

 
At under $40 this is a play station that will last from toddlerhood in to preschool days with ease.  Kids love to play in water and will have a ball pouring, splashing, and discovering with this table. 
From the description:
"An elevated design keeps water at toddler level and also keeps ground dirt clear of water and mud from forming on children's feet. It accommodates up to three children to encourage group play. Two built-in drain plugs allow for easy water removal. The four piece accessory set includes: one cup, two sailboats, and one water wheel tower. Features decorative molded-in fish designs on legs. It can holds up to four gallons of water."

Fisher-Price Bubble Mower

Under $20 this bubble mower lets your little one play and pretend that they are big enough to help with the yard work.  Wouldn't mowing be a little more fun if your real mower blew bubbles?  I think John Deer should take this under consideration.

Slip N' Slide Wave Rider Double

What is better than a slip and slide? Well, a double slip and slide of course! This is another find under $20 that will keep loads of kids entertained, happy, and active this weekend.  I bet if you put it out at your cookout, some of the adults will even take part in the sliding fun.

Gazillion Bubble BBQ

What is more synonymous with a long summer weekend than grilling out on the BBQ?  Kids love to pretend, and they love bubbles.  This toy combines both for under $20!  Although, I am not sure how a Bubble Burger would taste...

Super Soaker Quick Blast Water Blaster

 What kid (or adult for that matter) dosen't love a good ol'fashioned water fight?  Even the sulkiest, emo-ist, dyed-my-hair-black-to-make-my-mom-mad-kid loves a good water fight.  So bring out the Super Soakers and some hoses and let the fun begin. 

Rubber Horse Shoe Set
 
For $9.99 you can't beat this rubber horseshoe set.  Even the littlest cow-poke will be able to play with safe, rubber horseshoes! Not a bad way to spend a family afternoon at the BBQ.

Alex Mini Golf Set
How about setting up a mini golf course of your own in your backyard?  You don't have to worry about treking out to the nearest mini golf place, or waiting on the slow four-some in front of your team,  you'll be ready to go in just a few minutes of set up.  This is also a great set for summer birthday parties and get togethers.

Marky Sparky Dueling Blast Pad

For under $30 you and your kids can have a jumping, stomping, rocket blasting good time.  The Marky Sparky Dueling Blast Pad will have you challenging each other to see how far you can make your rocket go.  Included with the set:

    * 6 Foamies Missiles ( 3 red and 3 blue)
    * 6 Foam Tip Metalix Missiles (3 red and 3 blue )
    * Dual 34 inch Telescoping Launching Tubes
    * Folds up for convenient storage

Have a great weekend and get out and enjoy some active time with your family!

--Laura McMullan