TDmonthly Magazine’s Review Scout scours the Web weekly for reviews of new and hot products so you don’t have to spend your time searching. Culled from thousands of blog, retail and other sites, his research uncovers toys, games and other gifts that are worthy of your attention right now. Check this space for briefs on reviews and ratings from across the nation and even the globe.
S’Quarrels is a card game based around the theme of squirrels collecting acorns before winter arrives. Under a nearby oak tree, embark upon the rigorous task of collecting and storing acorns before winter sets in. Your opponents are trying to take them all before you do. Whirlwinds, Ambushing, Quarreling, and Hoarding are all part of the game. Get the coveted Golden Acorn, while avoiding the Rotten Acorn. The player to store the most Acorns before Winter arrives wins. — "What's selling really well for me is S'Quarrels," Jude Larene, owner of Izilla Toys in Seattle, told TDmonthlyin July 2010. "I'm selling piles of it and I need to order more today. It gets into a neighborhood and everybody wants it." — S’Quarrels received a great reaction from The Board Game Family. “Bring out the S’Quarrels cards,” they explained, “and kids can automatically picture being a little squirrel running around gathering acorns.” However, the reviewers cautioned that younger players may get “more frustrated when they aren’t quick enough to slap the hoard pile when that card is played.” — As of 10/30/2012 this product had 4.6 out of 5 stars from 7 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Easy for kids to learn, but enough strategy is involved to appeal to adults; fun for groups. Cons: Not as fun with less than three players.
The Guidecraft Feel & Find mixes visual and tactile stimuli via 20 printed tiles and wooden shapes. The set challenges kids to match the shapes, building their sensory skills. — Nicole of Tired, Need Sleep reported that her son “was very, very excited about playing the game and eager to get everything perfect. However, with 20 fairly unfamiliar shapes in the bag, it was a pretty challenging game for him (which is a good thing, since it means we will get a lot of use out of this as his skills develop!).” She adored the bright, well-constructed pieces and the limitless possibilities for play and learning they offer. — Renee of What Mommies Need called Feel and Find “a great learning tool for children.” After a few rounds, her son “learned to take his time and find what he was looking for” and “how to feel for a specific shape.” Renee noted that the $25 MSRP “is a great price for an all-wood product.”
The Fli Mobile from Boon Inc. features a stylized dragonfly with adjustable wings. Available in pink or blue, Fli is designed to gracefully hang above baby’s crib using the included mounting hardware. — “I can attest as to how very easy these are to install!” exclaimed Alexandra of design {for} baby. She suggested that the mobile is “perfect for floating above cribs, or adding a modern flair to your child's room or playroom.” — Baby Gear Today’s reviewer described the Fli Mobile as “Super easy to install and oh so cute!” She installed the pink version in her daughters’ playroom, much to their delight.
Born from watermelon and at the center of one of our most successful "social" enrichment activities for kids held at The Wumbler Patch retail store, Baby Wumblers teach children the importance of caring for ALL beings, even the weakest and most vulnerable. Each Baby Wumbler transforms from a soft, cuddly watermelon into an adorable blue or pink Baby Wumbler that children can register on line at the Wumblers website. Each baby arrives with a bright yellow identification band worn by the adopting child which states, "It's A Wumblerful World We Live In!" Each band marks the adoption and full commitment by children and their families to helping "make the world a better place for ALL!" — “I love the message behind these Baby Wumblers and the things that it teaches not only our kids but ourselves as well,” said the reviewer at Mommy 2 Two Girls. Her kids, on the other hand, loved that the Wumbler could be tucked back into its “little watermelon house.” — After testing the Baby Wumblers with her sons, Erin Tales from The Mom Buzz jokingly observes that a “toy like this can start arguments if you don’t have one for each kid.” Her sons “were so excited when they discovered them,” while Erin liked that the watermelon transformation “opens up discussions about watermelons and healthy snacks!”
Writer's Bio: Peter Aoun is a communications professional focused on the toy industry. He has conducted research on the impact of music on learning, as well as the convergence of toys and technology to create new forms of play. Read more articles by this author
Writer's Bio: Peter Aoun is a communications professional focused on the toy industry. He has conducted research on the impact of music on learning, as well as the convergence of toys and technology to create new forms of play. Read more articles by this author
