2012 New York International Car Show Wrap Up

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Covering the 2012 New York International Auto Show brought into focus the glacial rate of change the auto industry has evolved over the last 20 years. I remember as a teenager I would dream about the automobiles of the 21st century. In my mind’s eye, they were highly futuristic flying machines with astounding technical wizardry. Fast forward to the present and what I discovered in 2012 were stylishly crafted machines which for the most part are still utilizing an iteration of the internal combustion engine created in the early 20th century.

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Parents Need Toys too

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I recently had the opportunity to cover the New York International Auto Show as a member of the press. As such, I was given advance access before the official opening of the show to the general public to view the latest and greatest the auto industry had to offer as well as a peek into the automotive industry future. What struck me as I gazed upon one exquisitely sculpted piece of machinery to the next was how automobiles are toys for grownups. You could just hear the inner child in my colleagues as they wandered about the convention center “Ooh, I want the green one!” or “I want the fast car!” or even “I can climb boulders in this!” and so on. But parents on the other hand choose to deny their fun first choice in favor of responsible family oriented transportation. The equivalent of getting a nice pair of socks instead of the cool action figure toy for your birthday. Sure your feet will be warm and dry but can you go on a deep space adventure to save the planet from imminent destruction? I think not. The bottom-line is parents need toys too.

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The Geek Dad Book for aspiring Mad Scientists

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According to the Webster dictionary science is defined as the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. Mad is defined as insane. Bring these two terms together and you have the potential for crazy experiments. Such is the case for author Ken Denmead’s new book “The Geek Dad Book for aspiring Mad Scientists”.

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Youth Sports: Martial Arts

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More than any other contact sport, teaching children Martial Arts must be given careful consideration. Although a kid will learn self-defense, she will also be taught skills to effectively injure someone. Therefore the student bears a huge responsibility which requires discipline, respect, and humility. With a myriad of schools offering a variety of techniques (i.e. Wing Chun, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, MMA, etc.), one will also need to consider which style provides the best fit for a child. Lastly, seeking out a quality instructor remains pivotal since that individual will leave an enduring impact on a kid’s martial arts training experience.

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ThinkFun’s Chocolate Fix : Quick Take

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I was recently sent a redeemable code from ThinkFun to try out their game app Chocolate Fix for the iPhone and iPad. It turns out that deductive reasoning much like life is also like a box of chocolates. Except in the case of ThinkFun’s game app Chocolate Fix, it’s your job to figure out what you might get.

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Top 5 Ways to Work at Home with Young Kids

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If you are a parent with children between 3 and 6, you can relate to the difficulty of balancing working at home while taking care of young kids. Both activities require your attention yet it’s your smiling little angels which usually win out at the expense of your work productivity. Having a strategy in place to strike the right balance will reap huge rewards for both parents and kids. The following tips can be used as a template to help level the work-at-home playing field.

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New York Toy Fair 2012: Best of Show

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The 2012 New York Toy Fair provided a preview of the upcoming products from a vast array of companies both big and small. Without question there were many items that seemed to be no more than knockoffs of last year’s hottest toys or simple tweaks to traditional top selling favorites. Yet as a whole, my colleagues and I who covered the show were pleasantly surprised to discover that innovation is indeed alive and well in the toy industry. The following list represents CuteMonster.com’s choices for Best of Show at the 2012 NY Toy Fair.

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Toy Fair 2012 : Best of Hasbro Toys

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Recently I was invited to attend Hasbro’s media event showcasing their latest products for 2012. Adding to the fun was a celebration of the 60th Anniversary of beloved toy icon Mr. Potato Head. In fact, life-sized Mr. and Mrs. Potato head made an appearance for the occasion with birthday cake along with a spirited chorus of well wishers. Afterwards, attendees at the event were whisked off in groups of five to tour through a labyrinth of Hasbro Toys. Based on my first impressions of the previewed items, the following represents the best of Hasbro’s Toy lineup for 2012.

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