In Toys We Trust

Lucas Has Idea for Indiana Jones 5; Spielberg, LaBeouf, and Ford Don’t Rule it Out

2008-05-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

Another Wave of Indiana Jones Toys?
Amazing read.. Check it out!
And USA Todays Initial Look At Indy.
-Mus

New Fraggle Rock Movie

2008-05-18T07:07:00.000-07:00

I am glad to announce that I just found out about the new Fraggle Rock Movie. Now here is a show that has been an American icon for as long as I can remember. I can still smell the oatmeal, Maple and brown sugar.. it's what I used to have for breakfast when I was a kid and while fraggle rock was on TV. Wimbly and the dozers have a special place in my heart and I can't wait for it to come out so I can share it with my kids.
Just like the series, the film will be populated by a mix of human characters and Fraggle Rock puppets. TWC co-chair Harvey Weinstein, who has been steering his company more aggressively into the family film arena, made the marriage with Lisa Henson, who runs JHC with her co-CEO brother, Brian Henson.
-Mus

Kiddie Cell Phones: Hot New Toy?

2008-05-10T07:34:00.000-07:00

Elisa Batista Email 12.10.02 | 2:00 AM

Dear Santa: Forget Mattel, and bring on Nokia.

As some parents already know, the hot item on many 8- to 12-year-olds' wish lists this holiday season isn't Barbie or a Hot Wheels car, but a cell phone.

If a child in this age group doesn't already own a cell phone -- 21 percent of them do, according to research by SpectraCom -- he or she is likely part of the great majority pestering mom and dad for one.

As Robert Butterworth, a Los Angeles psychologist, put it: "Board games have become bored games for kids.

"Anyone who works with kids knows about the big 'P' -- peer pressure," Butterworth said. "Once someone gets it, everyone has to get it."

Cell-phone ownership among young children is somewhat of a sore spot for many adults, though.

While no substantial evidence exists that radiation emitted by cell phones has an adverse effect on young brains, no studies prove that radio frequencies are good, either. Erring on the side of caution, Bangladesh earlier this year banned cell-phone use among children under the age of 16. Great Britain issued a warning that cell-phone use among children could possibly be harmful to their developing brains.

Schoolteachers frown upon using cell phones in class and oftentimes confiscate phones from disruptive students. At the Clarendon Alternative School in San Francisco, for example, many teachers and parents own cell phones, but the school has a strict policy against children using their own phones in school.

But for many parents, the most important issue is that they don't want to foot the bill for a new phone and what may be hours of their kids' talking and playing mobile games.

Cost is the main reason Becky Boyd, of Atlanta, Georgia, told her 10-year-old son he couldn't have a cell phone.

"Some of the kids in his class do have cell phones ... just like they have to have the latest and greatest Game Boy," Boyd said. "I think it's a little ridiculous for a child to walk around with a cell phone."

But some parents, out of concern for the safety of their children, insist that their kids carry a phone with them at all times.

Dr. Cathryn Tobin of Toronto, Canada, said her three children -- ages 10, 12 and 14 -- all have cell phones because "it gives me a great deal of peace of mind to be able to reach them."

She added that her youngest daughter, Madison, happens to be the most responsible with the phone. Madison always takes it with her and is constantly recharging it.

She is also quite savvy with it: One day Madison had a tiff with her mother. As she sulked in the back seat of the car, she punched a message on her phone. Some seconds later, her mom's phone -- in the front seat of the car -- beeped and Tobin received this text message: "I'm sorry, mom."

"My youngest one was so enthusiastic about it that she is conscientious (about taking care of the phone)," Tobin said.

Jyl Steinback, a Scottsdale, Arizona, mother, shares Tobin's fears and insists that her 9-year-old son, Scott, carry a cell phone with him, too.

Steinback said that her son's elementary school recently underwent construction, which made it impossible for her to park her car there and wait for him after school. She reluctantly agreed to let him ride his bike to school, as long as he was with a friend and carried a cell phone in his backpack.

Scott said he didn't mind toting the phone.

"I was so excited I jumped up and down," he said.

Scott uses the phone primarily to call his friend and play a game called Brick Attack. He is the only third-grader at his school to own a cell phone, but he says he doesn't show it off for fear of theft.

"I don't want them to find out," he said.

Even if parents can't or don't want to buy cell phones for their young children, they need not worry about ruining their child's holiday.

Boyd's 10-year-old son, Wil Caruso, said the novelty of the phone has worn off for him. Plus, only one fifth-grader at his school carries around a cell phone, and she isn't even allowed to use it.

When asked what he wanted for Christmas, Wil said without hesitation, "a radio-control helicopter."

Here are some of the latest, greatest playthings

2008-05-10T07:23:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, March 26, 2008 3:23 AM

By Scott Moore

More than 100,000 playthings on display at the American International Toy Fair in New York City last month, and somebody had to check them all out. (We know -- lucky!)

Kids weren't allowed in, but KidsPost was there for you, sorting through about 7,000 new toys and games to find the hottest, the coolest and the most awesome things coming out this year. Here are some favorites:

Earthopoly

An eco-friendly Monopoly-like game with pieces made from bamboo, lima beans, black walnuts, crystals, shells and glass. By Late for the Sky, $25, age 8 and older.

Exago

Place four of your tiles in a row to win in this latest family game from a Holland-based company that also makes Rolit. By Goliath Games, $30, age 9 and older. Available in spring.

H2Go

A hydrogen-powered, radio-controlled car that zooms up to 6 miles per hour and will run eight to 10 minutes. It takes just seconds to power up. The solar-powered charger also will work with other electronics. By Corgi, about $130, age 10 and older. Available in fall.

Comic Book Creator 2

Making your own comic book has never been easier -- you don't even have to draw. One version of this software allows you to make your life story or scrapbook in comic-book form. Others, with licensed tie-ins, let you create comics with Speed Racer or Marvel superheroes. Print your finished product or post it on the Internet. By Planetwide Media, $50, age 10 and older.

'ME2'

A 3-D, 360-degree video game powered by you. Your on-screen avatar's strength and accessories depend on how much activity you log with a pedometer. Want to buy a virtual-world jet ski? That will cost you about 2,500 steps in the real world. By iToys, $35, age 8 and older. Available in August.

Dazzle It

Add charms to your clothes without puncturing the fabric or getting locked into one design. Part of a Girl Zone line of craft kits that replicate the look of fashion magazines. By iToys, about $20, age 7 and older. Available in August.

You Gotta Be Kidding!

A gross card game of "would you rather . . ." with interesting but unappealing choices: Would you rather eat a bucket of apple stems or 20 banana peels? By Zobmondo, $25, ages 7 to 12.

Air Hogs Zero Gravity Micro

A radio-controlled car that races up walls and even on the ceiling. By Spin Master, $30, age 8 and older. Available in fall.

Struts

Plastic ponies! With fashion accessories! What's not to like? By Playmates, $15, age 6 and older.

Slap Wacky!

A frantic five-minute card game in which players rush to put together shape patterns and claim points. By Morning Star Games, $12, age 7 and older.

Domo

A brown, furry box with arms, legs and a gaping red mouth. Already a hit in Japan, and the subject of thousands of fan sites. By Play Along Toys, $6 to $40, all ages.

Hexbug

Micro-robotic creatures respond to sound and sense when obstacles are in front of them. Crab and inchworm models are due later this year. By Innovation First, $10, age 8 and older.

Hexbugs

Ruin

A ruthless version of Sorry! in which players can change the game board on every turn. By Buffalo Games, about $30, age 8 and older.

Toy Of The Year Awards 2008 Nominees

2008-05-08T09:48:00.000-07:00

Check out the nominees in various categories
Every year, the Toy Of The Year Awards are presented in various categories to the brightest, the best and the most promising toys of the year. The Toy of the Year awards are held in New York at the American International Toy Fair. This year, 2008, the top toys in various categories including infant/preschool toy of the year, girl, boy toy of the year, game of the year, property of the year and many others are being honored with this prestigious award. Here is the list of the nominees for the best toys of 2008, from the Toy Industry Association.

INFANT/PRESCHOOL TOY OF THE YEAR

Brightlings™ Exploration Station – LeapFrog Enterprises

Cook n’ Learn Interactive Kitchen Set – Little Tikes

iPlay Lift Off Rocket – International Playthings, Inc.

Moon Sand Adventure Island – Spin Master Ltd.

"T.M.X."™ Friends – Fisher-Price

GIRL TOY OF THE YEAR

Barbie Girls™ – Mattel, Inc.
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Hannah Montana Singing Dolls – Play Along®, a division of JAKKS Pacific

High School Musical 2 Two-Pack Gabriella & Troy Dolls – Mattel, Inc.

Littlest Pet Shop: Display & Play Round & Round Pet Town Playset – Hasbro, Inc.

Troop Groovy Girls – Manhattan Toy

BOY TOY OF THE YEAR

Air Hogs Havoc Heli Laser Battle™ – Spin Master Ltd.

Cars Mega Mack Playtown – Mattel, Inc.

Nerf N-Strike Disk Shot – Hasbro, Inc.

Pokemon Action Figures – JAKKS Pacific

Transformers Movie Deluxe Figures – Hasbro, Inc.

GAME OF THE YEAR

Cranium WOW – Cranium, Inc.

Flippin’ Frogs – Mattel, Inc.

Hyper Dash – Wild Planet Entertainment, Inc.

Rubik’s Revolution – Techno Source

The Cat in the Hat, I Can Do That! – I Can Do That! Games

OUTDOOR TOY OF THE YEAR

ESPN® Better Batter Baseball – Fisher-Price

RipStik® Caster Board – RipStik USA

Sidewalk Paint Sprayer – Crayola

Super Splash Water Park – Little Tikes

Ultimate Family Wagon – Radio Flyer

EDUCATIONAL TOY OF THE YEAR

Bananagrams – Bananagrams LLC

ClickStart™ My First Computer – LeapFrog Enterprises

EyeClops Bionic Eye – JAKKS Pacific

I Can Play Guitar™ – Fisher-Price

Smart Cycle™ Physical Learning – Fisher-Price

ACTIVITY TOY OF THE YEAR

Color A Messenger Bag – ALEX

Digital Arts & Crafts Studio – Fisher-Price

Fashion Design Studio – Creativity for Kids/Faber-Castell

LEGO City – LEGO Systems, Inc.

Rose Art Smart Easel – MEGA Brands Inc.

ELECTRONIC ENTERTAINMENT TOY OF THE YEAR

American Idol Talent Challenge – KID Design, Inc.

Easy Link™ Internet Launch Pad – Fisher-Price

Power Tour Electric Guitar – Tiger Electronics

Rescue Pets Myepets.com – MGA Entertainment

U.B. Funkeys – Mattel, Inc.

MOST INNOVATIVE TOY OF THE YEAR

Air Hogs Havoc Heli Laser Battle - Spin Master, Ltd.

DynaCar – SeeToys

EyeClops Bionic Eye – JAKKS Pacific

FLY Fusion™ Pentop Computer – LeapFrog Enterprises

Smart Cycle™ Physical Learning – Fisher-Price

SPECIALTY TOY OF THE YEAR

Bananagrams – Bananagrams, LLC

Fashion Design Studio – Creativity for Kids/Faber-Castell

Karito Kids World Collection – KidsGive, LLC.

Rok Jr. – Rokenbok Toy Co.

Snap Circuits – Elenco

PROPERTY OF THE YEAR

Hannah Montana – Disney Consumer Products

High School Musical – Disney Consumer Products

Pokemon – JAKKS Pacific

Star Wars – Lucas Film

Transformers – Hasbro, Inc.