Because trouble comes in all sizes.
Toys. What are toys really? An extension of our imagination? A catalyst for escape to a playful world where boundaries do not exist? The embodiment of child like wonder? I suspect they represent many of these ideas and more. But as a parent with young kids, toys can be a bridge from one generation to the next. Such is my experience lately when going to Toy Stores with my children.
When you were a kid, winning an award was considered a big deal. Maybe you took home a trophy after winning a grueling soccer game. Maybe you won a medal for winning first place in a little league tournament. Or maybe you even received a certificate for perfect attendance one year. All of these accomplishments warrant the awards that a child might receive. Nowadays, however, things are much different.
It’s not uncommon to hear new mothers talking about their “before-baby-body”, as well as their plans to get back to their pre-birth weight once their little bundle of joy has been delivered into the world. What is somewhat less common is to hear this scenario told from the perspective of the Dad.
Trying to introduce toddlers to multiplayer gameplay can be an exercise in futility. More times than not, a toddler will not fully grasp the concept of the game and instead decide to create their own fun to the frustration of other players. ThinkFun, an educational game maker, has decided to take on this challenge by debuting a game called Roll & Play designed specifically for toddlers. Since my children fell into the range of the game’s target demographics, I decided to test out Roll & Play in a real world environment, sibling rivalry and all.
Not many phrases rattle me these days. Perhaps it comes with age or maybe it’s the unique perspective one gains when taking care of young children. You learn to adapt and bounce back when challenges arise. To do otherwise would mean a systematic breakdown of the fragile foundation being built each day by a family. Yet when my wife utters the words “I have to go out of town a few days for work”, the chain reaction can be palpable. My inner voice screams “Run for your life! All is lost! Save yourself!” Yet on the outside, I remain composed. If it were not for the telltale signs of stress courtesy of gray hairs, you’d think I was channeling Spock from Star Trek. Besides, the little people can sense when Mommy or Daddy’s armor is cracking. Having a plan of action at the deep end of the pool will determine whether you sink or swim.
“The Avengers”, written and directed by Joss Whedon, kicks off what is shaping up to be the year of comic book hero movies. With The Amazing Spider-man and Batman (The Dark Knight Rises) slated for release in the next several months, the special effects artists will be showcasing a tour de force of visual wizardry. Make no mistake, story is important, but what really draws millions of moviegoers to the big screen are the eye-popping, ear exploding, thrill a minute action sequences. Having just attended a screening of “The Avengers” in 3D, I can confidently claim you will be witnessing one of the most entertaining visually compelling comic book movies ever made.
When the good folks at Monster Factory, makers of uniquely designed monster themed plush doll toys and clothing, told me they were adding a new fun plush doll to their lineup I was intrigued. Having reviewed Andy, one of their previous monster plush doll character releases, I knew at the very least, it would be a creative toy. I asked them to send me the this mystery plush doll for review even though I was not given the name of the character nor was any information available on their web site because he was so new. In addition, Monster Factory told me a lucky reader of this review will have the chance to win one to call their very own. Cool.
Growing up I remember the first time I saw a commercial that channel 11 was planning on broadcasting an actual 3D movie from the 1950’s! It was House of Wax with Vincent Price. In order to view the 3D, you needed special 3D glasses that contained both red and blue lenses or a very early version of polarized glasses which we will discuss later on in this article. For the movie industry it was a very exciting time, indeed!
Becoming a parent can be an overwhelming experience filled with a range of emotions swinging wildly from sheer joy to deep depression. Fatherhood, in particular, often arrives unexpectedly even to those who have planned for it with their significant other. You may be asking “why the traumatic reaction to a predetermined choice?” I’d respond with the question “how can one prepare for an experience so uniquely personal in nature?”