Learning Expressions

Top Toys: Suspend and the Boogie Board

Good day, Learning Express readers!

Here we are – the day after Halloween. Ah yes, time to throw out the moldy, squirrel-gnawed jack-o-lanterns. Time to contend with two wild children coming down off a serious sugar high. Time to put away the ghosts and goblins and bring out the pilgrims and horn-o-plenties.

November 1^st also happens to mean that we are at T minus 53 days and counting until Christmas. Even worse, there are only 37 days until Hanukkah! Don’t worry, there’s plenty of time (plenty of time!) to find everyone on your list the perfect gift, and the Learning Express Top Toys reviews can certainly lend a hand. 

This week I had the pleasure of watching 10-year-old, brother-sister twins Dalton and Sidney tackle two incredible, original toys:

Suspend Family Game by Melissa & Doug®

The twins immediately recognized the game Suspend when I brought it out and set it on the table. They had played it before and were extremely enthusiastic to get their hands on it again.

Without reading any directions, they began. Suspend starts off as a wooden base with a tall metal rod
and hook towering above. Players start with an equal number of hooked-and-grooved metal pieces of different colors. They roll a colored dice that tells them which piece to play on the base. The more pieces played on the game, the more unsteady it becomes. If pieces fall during a player’s turn, the player must take the fallen pieces and add them to his own pile. The first person to run out of pieces wins.

As more and more pieces are added, the game starts to resemble a work of modern art. Dalton and Sidney thought their game looked like a firework or a funky Christmas tree – “way cooler than some of those sculptures in museums.”

Besides the neat figures created in Suspend, a real thrill of the game is the suspense it creates. The work-in-progress can be mighty unpredictable, and you never know when the slightest move will send it toppling.

Melissa & Doug are known for delivering quality products at affordable prices, and Suspend is no exception. I was really surprised at the low cost of the game considering it is composed of heavy-duty materials (wood and metal). The game itself looks like it will hold up quite well, heck, I’d even venture to say it would last a lifetime.

Suspend also has the flexibility of appealing to many ages and stages, which to me is so important. The game comes with four different rule options: solo, beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The twins played the intermediate version, and it suited the fifth graders perfectly. The manufacturer recommends ages eight and up. I personally feel that kids as young as six would have fun with this game. I also feel that the game would be a huge hit for adults as well. It’s a shame that many adults might pass it up simply because it’s produced by a company that is known for kids products, not adults. Last point: the manufacturer says Suspend is for one to four players. You could easily play with a bigger group though either on teams or by each player starting with fewer pieces.

Overall this game is incredibly fun and novel. I fancy myself a game lover and connoisseur, and I’ve never played anything like Suspend. The kids were laughing the whole time and hanging on the edge of their seats to see what would happen next. Dalton rated Suspend four-and-a-half stars. “No way,” countered his sister. “It’s five stars for sure!”

Boogie Board™ LCD Writing Tablet by iMPROV Electronics

Dalton and Sidney had wide eyes when I brought out this gizmo. It's the number one seller at Learning Express at the the moment, so I was pretty curious myself to see what it was all about. “What is it?” they exclaimed. Well, the Boogie Board is an LCD writing tablet. Translation: it’s a sleek, modern Etch-a-Sketch, and it feels kind of like writing on a Kindle screen.

It’s also about the same size as a Kindle, but it’s much, much thinner – only 1/8^th of an inch. Yet for its thinness, it has a durable feel you’d expect in a product marketed for children. The Boogie Board comes with a stylus, but you can use pretty much anything to write – your finger, your elbow, or a paper clip. The twins had fun experimenting with different writing tools. The drawings you make have a neat but subtle electronic quality to them. The best part is when you are done, you push a button and the screen magically wipes clean.

The twins were super excited about the Boogie Board because it was finally an electronic device for them. Sidney wanted to make sure she always had it in the car because it would make long trips so much more fun. “Yes!” agreed Dalton. “We could play hours of hangman or tic-tac-toe or dots and boxes and never run out of paper!”

And apparently, they wouldn’t run out of battery power either. According to the manufacturer, the Boogie Board’s battery never needs replacing or recharging. That means no misplaced power cords and no extra costs! Fantastic.

I hope these reviews have been helpful. Happy shopping to all and to all a good night!

Top Toys: Laser Fingers and Duct Tape Kits

Greetings, Learning Expressions Readers!

Have you started to wonder what toys Santa will be stuffing in stockings this season? Pondering what he’ll choose for the fabulous fashionistas in your family?  If you said “yes” to either of these questions, you’re in luck. This week, I’d like to introduce you to another batch of our Top Toys!

ALEX Duct Tape Kits

This season, it’s is all about the bling—the duct tape bling, that is. Last year, one of our buyers helped develop an exclusive All Duct Out Kit with our friends over at ALEX. The item turned out to be a great success with kids everywhere, so this year we’re featuring an array of Duct Tape fashion kits in our Top Toys selection, including the Duct Tape Tote Kit and the Duct Tape Jewelry Kit.

Each of these kits comes with fun and funky rolls of duct tape (hello, zebra print!) for you to get
creative with. The kits also come with accessories that you can tape-dazzle to your heart’s content. Depending on the kit you choose, you’ll find anything from headbands, bangles, and earrings to glasses, bags, and belts. Just pick your accessory then rip and stick!

Simple, illustrated instructions make it simple for kids to imitate ALEX’s suggested styles or create their own unique looks. As a crafty-challenged individual, I relied heavily on the instructions and particularly appreciated the included stencil card. The tape is easy to rip by hand and your accessories come together in no time. My favorite designs from today’s project were the clutch I made (modeled for you by Penelope the Penguin) and the duct tape flower earrings that Tina the Tortoise is wearing.

These kits let you create duct tape accessories from head to toe, and they really are the perfect holiday gift for the duct tape divas in your life.

 

Laser Fingers

These little lights of mine, I’m gonna let them shine! One of our favorite new toys at Learning Express are Laser Fingers, little LED finger lights that provide hours of entertainment. Just wrap the elastic band around your finger, flip the switch, and you’re ready to go!

Choose from red, blue, green, or white lights to compose your own personal light show. Flexible bands secure each laser to a finger so you can easily illuminate any spot you’d like. Though they’re fun while it’s light out, once it gets dark these things are even more amusing!

I hope you get a chance to stop by your local Learning Express store and check out these and other Top Toys this holiday season. Our toy experts are happy to demo these toys for you or to help you pick the perfect toy for someone on your list.

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to come back next week for more Top Toys!

Top Toys: Bracelets, Pogos, and Stilts, Oh My!

Happy autumn, dear readers!

The carefree days of summer are behind us, and the crisp air and crackling leaves underfoot remind me that the holidays are just around the corner. You know what that means. We get to use the Santa-Claus-is-watching incentive again! And of course, with the holidays coming into focus, it’s time to start thinking about what gifts to get the children in our life – assuming they’ve been nice more often than naughty. :)

I recently put three new toys to the test, and each earned a solid thumbs up from my toy testers, Megan, age 8, and Anna, age 11. Without further ado, here are the reviews:

The LoopDeDoo™ Bracelet Maker

I remember sitting around with my girlfriends tying friendship bracelets. We’d usually have one end tied to a toe, and it would take hours and hours to make any progress at all. In fact, I remember finding half-finished bracelets stuffed in drawers but rarely ever actually completing my project because invariably the bell would ring or mom would call for supper.

Today’s tweens (and pre-tweens!) have a much better option. The LoopDeDoo is a handy-dandy spinning tool that enables kids to make amazing friendship bracelets in record speed. I would have LOVED this!

As big sister, Anna took the lead on this toy. She opened the box and read the directions, then skillfully set to work spinning her first bracelet. Her first attempt (pictured) turned out pretty great, despite there being some confusion as to how to tie off the end. She turned to the adults for help, but we couldn’t figure it out either. Luckily though we found a quick LoopDeDoo tutorial on YouTube. I would highly recommend watching this video first because it brings the written directions to life.

Anna really took this toy and ran with it on her own. She was excited to start her next project, a key chain for dad. He’d been looking for a soft one that won’t scratch his motorcycle. Anna looked forward to spinning all different kinds of colors and patterns, and even making things beyond bracelets, like headbands. Anna also couldn’t wait to show her friends the LoopDeDoo so they could create stuff together. Her 8-year-old sister, Megan, seemed really interested too but would definitely need to be taught to use the tool, instead of just jumping right in on her own.

The LoopDeDoo itself is a really well made gadget. It has a nice heaviness to it, so it sits firmly on the table while the user spins away. It also has a convenient storage drawer to keep all the embroidery thread tidy. And by the way, it comes equipped with an ample supply of thread in a wide variety of colors. I also like that there’s a range of levels for the LoopDeDoo. For instance, the basic bracelet looked pretty easy to make. But, there are intermediate and advanced options as well, and I think this really gives a long life to the device. The best part though is that the LoopDeDoo really delivers on its promise to make neat bracelets. They look almost professionally done, and the different styles and possibilities are endless!

Ready, Set, Pogo by Alex®

As a mom, I’ve always been happy with the Alex toys in our home, and the Alex pogo stick is no exception.

Both Anna and Meghan were excited about the pogo stick but a little unsure as to how the contraption actually worked. So, dad got on board to give a little demo. The Alex Ready, Set, Pogo is incredibly sturdy and well built, and although dad weighed well above the manufacture’s suggested 44-to-99-pound weight limit, the thing held up just fine to his antics!

Once the girls did figure out how to use it though, it was clear that the weight limit was set for a reason. People weighing more than 99 pounds won’t get the same bounce because the spring is designed for lighter folks. If your kid has never seen a pogo stick in action, I think it would be helpful to show them an online video clip of a person bouncing on a pogo. It is harder than you think to explain in words how to do it, but once you see it, it makes a lot more sense.

Both girls said they were eager to practice more so they could “go bouncing down the block.” And, parents will love that there is no assembly required. Overall, this is a safe, sturdy, quality take on an old favorite that will be sure to build lively, bouncy childhood memories for years to come.

 

Ready, Set, Stilts by Alex®

The girls had just seen stilts in action at the Minnesota State Fair, so we couldn’t get them out of the box fast enough!

There is some assembly required, but it was easy and took under 10 minutes. There are two sets of feet for the stilts. The beginner feet are wider and the advanced are narrower. We started off with the former. Megan got right up and was able to take steps pretty quickly. The manufacture suggests ages 5 and up, and I do think it is reasonable that a five year old could master this pair of stilts, especially with the beginner option in place.

By the end of our evening together, the girls had gotten so proficient in the art of stilting that they set up an obstacle course and were stilting around the hazards. So, as you can see, the learning curve on this product can be quick. I also like the longevity factor that this product provides. Megan and Anna are very different heights, and the girls could quickly and easily adjust the stilts for a custom fit. And, the beginner and advanced options will ensure that this toy is loved for quite awhile.

I hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about these great toys - after and Anna and Meghan show them off to their friends I know they'll be in high demand in our neighborhood this holiday season! 

Top Toys: Magnatiles and Tenzi

Dear Learning Expressions Readers,

Can you believe it’s October already? Though you might be preoccupied with apple picking and jack-o-lantern carving this time of year (we certainly are!) the holidays are just around the corner.

Over the next few weeks, Learning Express is going to be sharing our very favorite holiday toys with you. We’ve compiled a list of 20 Hot Holiday Toys that we believe the kids in your life will love. The list consists of 12 Top Toys (bestselling products our store owners really enjoy demo-ing in store) as well as eight Exclusives that you can find only at Learning Express. Here’s the best part. Each week, we’ll be featuring two of these toys on the blog, and giving a couple of them away on our Facebook page! As part of this, Learning Express stores around the country will also be demoing the toys of the week in store for you.

I am currently on the road visiting stores, and my travel companion is our Home Office buyer, Rob. Rob is part of a team who scours the country (and lots of toy shows) to bring to you the very best in toys, books, and games each year. Rob has four boys at home who function as his toy testers, and I sat down with him (well, sat in the passenger seat of the car next to him) and picked his brain about this week’s Top Toys. So without further ado, let’s move on and take a look at look at our first featured toys: Magnatiles and Tenzi!

Magnatiles:

Kathryn: Okay, let’s start with the basics. For those who don’t know, what are Magnatiles?

Rob: Magnatiles are colorful building tiles with built in magnets. The pieces always attract at their
edges, and the geometric shapes can be used to construct various 3D objects. They are ideal for open ended play and provide hours of amusement for the preschool crowd.

Kathryn: How about the history of Magnatiles?

Rob: Magnatiles are made by a small family-run company called Valtech. They really started out with grassroots marketing efforts, providing Magnatiles to preschools and daycare centers around the country. Kids played with them and then came home and told their parents all about them. Parents saw how they engaged the children were by this building toy, and naturally wanted to find out where they could buy it. They are now available in specialty retailers, but not in the mass market.

Kathryn: So what made you pick them as a Top Toy this year?

Rob: Bottom line, it’s wonderful product. The tiles are simple, hardy, and great quality—and kids are fascinated by them. They have been a best seller at our stores ever since we put them on the shelves, and they are consistently one of our most sought after toys in the holiday season. They also have a special place in my heart because they are one of the first products that I recommended for Learning Express when I joined as a buyer over six years ago. I got the tip from one of our store owners out in Illinois, who told me they were a product I just had to check out. My four boys/ toy testers tried them out and loved them, so it was a no-brainer.

Tenzi:

Kathryn: Okay, so Magnatiles is an old favorite but our next toy, Tenzi, is new on the scene. Can you tell us a little bit about it?

Rob: I love games I can understand how to play in a matter of seconds, and Tenzi certainly falls into
that category. The package is pretty simple: it includes forty colored dice in four different colors. The goal of the game is to be the first player to get all ten of your dice to show the same number. To play, each person gets ten dice. Someone says “go” and then everyone rolls at the same time. Players look at their first roll and see what number they want to go with – if you have more 3’s than any other number, that’s what you want to go for. Put all your dice with that number aside, collect the remaining dice and quickly roll again. Keep rolling until all ten of your dice show the same number.

Kathryn: So why did you choose Tenzi as a Top Toy?

Rob: I like a lighthearted challenge with my children and my wife and this game is it. It appeals to virtually everyone—it can be played between children, played between adults, or played between a child and a grandparent. It’s also one of our store owners’ favorite games to demo for customers in store. If you hear dice rolling and kids shouting when you’re walking into a Learning Express, you know they’re busy Tenzi-ing!

Kathryn: So how did you discover Tenzi?

Rob: I became aware of the game about a year ago. One of our storeowners in Connecticut had real success with the product and suggested that the vendor contact the home office. I think this kind of collaboration is one of our greatest assets. We have over 100 owners that scour the toy market to find the best out there in terms of new product, and that’s essential to getting the very best products into the hands of our customers.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit more about our Top Toys of the week. Look out for a lot more posts about our favorite toys this holiday season.

Don't forget to head over to our Facebook page for your chance to win these prizes, enter from 10/12-10/14 and winners will be announced on Monday, October 15!

The Toy for Toy Campaign at Learning Express

Greetings, Learning Expressions Readers!

This coming week, Learning Express stores around the country are running a campaign that combines two of my very favorite things: shopping and philanthropy.

Many of you will have heard of the One-for-One Movement run by the company Toms Shoes. After visiting Argentina and realizing how many children had no shoes to protect their feet, Toms founder Blake Mycoskie decided something had to be done. These days, the company matches every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need.

We couldn’t help but think what a wonderful initiative this is. Inspired by this
act of service, the team at Learning Express set out to do a one-for-one movement of our own. Children’s work is their play, and toys are unquestionably their tools. As part of this project, we wanted to help get toys into the hands of as many underprivileged children as possible, thereby enriching their lives and helping them grow, learn, and thrive. And so the Toy for Toy Campaign was born.

Today we are delighted to announce that the Toy for Toy Campaign will kick off this coming Saturday at Learning Express toy stores nationwide. From Saturday, October 6 – Saturday, October 13, toy manufacturer Melissa & Doug will donate toys to the nonprofit Room to Grow every time one of their toys is purchased at a Learning Express store.

Room to Grow assists low income parents during a child’s critical first three years of development, and we are thrilled to help benefit their cause. During their quarterly visits, parents receive developmental information, customized support, and all of the needed baby items to ensure a healthy and secure start for their child. Educational toys and games are also given out, many of which will now be provided by Melissa & Doug.

When we chatted with our friends at Melissa & Doug about this joint venture, they told us, “We know that playtime can have a huge positive impact on a child’s life, especially during the critical early years. That’s why we’re proud to partner with Learning Express on this year’s Toy for Toy campaign, which provides Room to Grow with toys that will help children born into poverty. We believe that creative play is the birthright of all children—and the best possible way to develop important life skills, discover new ways of thinking, and have fun!” We couldn’t agree more!

Happy Toy for Toying everyone – and a huge thank you to Melissa & Doug for their partnership and generosity!

Talk to you again soon!