New Packaging for this Blog

If you’re a returning visitor you can see that I’m working on re-packaging the content of this blog. After more than two years of blogging, I think it’s time for a new look. The work is ongoing and will probably take me a few days to put in all the finishing touches. Thank you for [...]

Family Board Games – Settlers of Catan

I was pleasantly surprised to see Settlers of Catan hit the bestsellers list on Amazon, as it is definitely a family favorite in our home. This is a classic, though fairly modern, strategy game where you collect resources, trade them and used them towards building your little empire of roads and settlements on the board. [...]

Rosh Hashana Gifts for Kids

In about two weeks time, Jewish families will be celebrating the New Jewish Year, soon to be followed by Yom Kippur and Sukkot.  Whether you’re invited to a New Year’s Eve celebration at a Jewish home, or just want to bestow a gift from afar, here are some ideas for nice gifts for kids, with [...]

Bakugan Battle Toys

Bakugan is all the rage with my two boys these days. I wasn’t sure what it was about, but I noticed them playing imaginary Bakugan games, collecting little stones, round pine cones etc as their Bakugan weapons. Or something. I did ask! I got a long stream of babble about other dimensions, aliens, and battle [...]

The transformers toys – Get the Pair

The Transformers movies are actually PG-13, so my boys, aged only 5 and 7 are not going to be seeing them this summer. This doesn’t mean they’re not crazy about the transformers. The cartoon version is more than enough to make them huge fans. I did a quick survey among their friends, and sure enough, [...]

Martian Matter Alien Maker Playset

Wow, cool! Was my son’s response when I showed him this set. I guess we know what to get him for his birthday… A safe choice, when you read the reviews by other customers who bought this from Amazon. For kids, what you have here it 2 cans of Meteor Mud, three bottles of Lunar [...]

Hullabaloo – Active Play Console with Pads

When shopping for gifts for kids, there is always the easy choice of a DVD movie or a computer game. All you have to do is pick the kid’s favorite super hero, or just get the latest bestseller. Very hard to miss with these, really. Then again, whenever I reach out for one of those [...]

Wild Planet Spy Video Car

Ok, I confess,  “spy” equipment sold as gifts for kids, used to make me go… “Hmmm… now, why would any kid need this?” Why would a kid want to spy on anything, especially in the dark? Sounded too suspicious for me. Well, I have a good answer now, as we’re getting this very system for [...]