Present Professor » kid

A Game. No, It’s Not a Video Game. It’s a Game Game. Yes, They Still Exist. Yes, They’re Still Fun.

carli — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:51:44 +0000

The classic Ker Plunk game updated to include those unabashedly adorable aliens from Toy Story. The strategy is simple; the game, addictive: Players take turns removing sticks from the “rocket ship” and try to avoid the kerplunkety action of the little plastic aliens tumbling to the floor. Whomever is responsible for the fewest fallen little green men is the winner.

Toy Story Ker Plunk Game, $18.19 at Amazon.com.

Band in a Bucket, Okay in Berlin

carli — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:27:20 +0000

First Act makes some really nice instruments for the pint-sized Picasso. (That sentence would have made sense if Picasso was a musician and not a painter, but it sounded good.) I’m partial to the Band in a Box, which includes a harmonica, egg shakers, a tambourine, a wooden kazoo, and more.

The kazoo even comes with a 34-page instruction book. Perfect for the aspiring professional Kazooer. Kazooist? Oh, who am I kidding? That’s not a real job.

Band in a Bucket Holiday Edition, $19.99 at Toys R Us.

Also shown: First Act Percussion Pack, $29.99 at Toys R Us.

I-Dog. You Human. But We Can Be Friends, K?

carli — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:15:55 +0000

When I was a kid, I wanted a dog. . . like, really badly. My mother saw this and decided to pretend she was allergic to dogs until I was 18. She also bought me a plush dog every birthday, which I guess was supposed to make me feel better but was really just, like, “Here, little Present Professor. Let me pour a little hydrochloric acid into your paper cut.”

Maybe if she’d given me this i-dog Plush Puppy speaker, I wouldn’t have been so upset. It’s cute and cuddly and will play music from an ipod, CD player, or most any music source. The sound isn’t fantastic, but it’s decent enough for a kid’s room.

I bought this for my 7-year-old niece for Chanukah. I hope it’ll be a nice accessory for her new ipod. And if not, I’ll take it. It’ll go well with the dozens of other stuffed dogs I have, floating on a river of tears and resentment.

i-dog Soft Speaker, $14.99 at Target stores and Target.com.

What About Bob the Builder?

carli — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:51:04 +0000

As in, did you know that everyone’s favorite construction cartoon this side of Handy Manny is now the star of his very own stage show? The 90-minute musical extravaganza has an environmental theme and includes Scoop, Dizzy, Lofty and the rest of the gang.

A trip to a live show makes a great gift for a child: The experience will be a memory they won’t soon forget, and you keep yet another toy from clogging your home. To find when Bob the Builder is coming to a city near you, check out this TicketMaster Web site.

And if Bob’s not your thing, there are many other “ticketed” events to that make great gifts, from rock concerts to Broadway shows (Telecharge.com), to ice shows to Monster Truck shows to hockey games to. . . well, you get the idea. Not only does your loved one get treated to live entertainment, but they’ll get to spend some quality time with you. And after all, isn’t that the greatest gift?

And hey, a giveaway! We have two tickets to Bob the Builder Live! Spud’s Big Mess on May 30, 2009 at 2 p.m., at the Beacon Theater in NYC. To enter, leave a comment below and tell us the best live event you’ve ever seen. Good luck!

The sweepstakes has ended. Congratulations to winner Jackie H.!

Baby Love, My Baby Love

carli — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:20:18 +0000

Your baby may be oblivious to the commercialization of February 14 we call “Valentine’s Day,” but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t have something soft and smooshy to chew on. Heart rattle from Yellow Label Kids (also available in yellow and blue), $8.99 at Oompa.

It Only Goes To Show What Little People Can Do

carli — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:59:09 +0000

Back in the day, Fisher-Price Little People were actually little. Heck, they were originally made out of wood. And they made Little People versions of Sesame Street characters. And I had to walk 3 miles in the snow uphill (both ways!) just to get to the toy store to buy them.

Over the years, the Little People went through several changes–the current larger folks bear almost no resemblance to the originals, long since abandoned due to choking concerns. But now, Fisher Price has released 50th anniversary Little People sets very much like the originals. . . only not as little. . . ’cause, you know, the choking thing. Available are the farm, schoolhouse, and house set (a Target exclusive). All are portable, providing big on-the-go fun for your little person. (Target, $14.99)

Gift List: Sock It To Me, Monkey

carli — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:42:39 +0000

1. Sock Monkey 2009 Wall Calendar ($13.71, Amazon)

2. Sock Monkey Slippers ($14.99, Target)

3. Gift Box of 10 Sock Monkey Cards ($25 at Etsy)
Choose from the SockMonkeyCards store’s numerous designs. (If the gift box isn’t available, contact the seller–they will likely relist it for you.)

4. Sock Monkey Dreams: Daily Life at the Red Heel Monkey Shelter ($10.17, Amazon)
Humorous account of the life and times of various sock monkey characters

5. Original Sock Monkey Toy ($14.99 at ThinkGeek)

Be sure to check out the rest of our Gift Lists.

Gift List: Great Gifts To Build With

carli — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 20:31:39 +0000

1. Magnext 100 Count MagnaCase 360 ($14.99, Amazon)

2. LEGO Pink Brick Box ($14.99, Amazon)

3. Fantasy Blocks From Haba ($36.99, Oompa)

4. Tinkertoy Classic Jumbo Set ($19.99, Amazon)

5. Eames House of Cards ($25-$35, MomaStore.org)

6. LEGO Creator Mini Jet ($4.99, ToysRUs)

Be sure to check out the rest of our Gift Lists.

Gift List: Books For Pre-Readers

carli — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:01:50 +0000

1. My Big Pink Book of Everything ($9.99)
Well, not everything, but pretty close. You’re not going to find pictures of Otto von Bismarck, Prussian statesman, or, like, Crystal Pepsi, but you will find page after page of photos your little girl will love: jewelry cupcakes, animals, ribbons, bows, etc. Unapologetically girly, the pictures in the book will keep little girls enchanted, while the counting and thinking questions found throughout encourage basic learning skills.

I gave this to my 3-year-old niece yesterday, and she exclaimed, upon opening it, “This is just what I’ve been wanting!” I’m pretty sure she’d never even seen the book, but the sentiment was there: she loved it.

2. Stuff on My Cats Presents: Cats A to Z ($6.99)
Pretty self-explanatory. Cats paired with a different item, one for each letter of the alphabet. Because cats really, really love having their pictures taken, especially if you dress them in a sweater first.

3. Goodnight, Gorilla Gift Box ($16.65)
As a clueless zookeeper puts his charges to bed for the night, his primate pal lets them all loose. A hilarious tale with a little plush gorilla for cuddling.

4. Once I Ate a Pie ($12.99)
Beautifully illustrated book of poems told by the point of view of dogs: the chihuahua who can’t understand why everything he owns is so small (when he, of course, is huge), the rescued dog snug in his bed with his owners, and yes, the pug who will eat anything, including pie. All the fun of having a puppy. None of the doo-doo.

5. Jobs People Do ($15.63)
Follow along with Tessa the Teacher, Fred the Firefighter, Vicky the Vet, Daisy the Doctor, Frank the Farmer, and Sam the Chef as they go about their daily work. The stories are fun and engaging and the clay fimo figures are just really cool.

Check out our complete list of Gift Lists here.

I’ve Got the Whole World. . . and That Includes The Stars

carli — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:46:19 +0000

I love globes. I think they make great gifts for anyone. Sometimes I like to look for countries I’ve hardly heard of. . . countries like Turkmenistan and Gabon and Canada.

But the Kids Glow Star Globe doesn’t stop at giving you the world. Turn off the lights, and you’ve got the moon and the stars and the planets as well, as the globe converts to a personal planetarium, minus the admissions fee and celebrity voiceover (although I hear you can hire William Shatner, for a hefty salary).

$39.99 at Target. (Available in most Target and toy stores as well.)