They won’t be able to pass this one off as a weather balloon. The World Smallest Indoor RC UFO ($25) is like nothing else in our world. This speedy little craft is made of foam rubber for easy lift-off, and minimal damage should a crash landing occur. Controlled by a wide range IR remote controller, you can stage mysterious sightings all over the room with precision movements. For an extra challenging thrill, try a little nighttime flying, with only the flashing light on top to guide you.
Just imagine how much easier it would be to play airplane with baby’s food if you were actually holding one! The Illuminated JetBib Feeding System ($20) makes that thrice daily task of getting nourishment into an often reluctant infant or toddler more fun for everyone involved. The lighted runway on the bib features the number 42, which might not be the answer to life, the universe, and everything, but it sure helps direct the jet-shaped spoon with its blinking wingtips to the proper destination. Includes three removable, dishwasher safe spoon attachments for the jet, so every meal can be delivered in-flight.
When she takes that turn around the block, she can really signal with the Radio Flyer Classic Lights and Sound Trike ($65). There’s also a horn that honks and music to play on the electronic dashboard of this stylish trike. But it’s not all bells and whistles, this trike also features a steel frame, extra long seat with hidden storage, and nonslip pedals for a perfect balance of high quality and fun.
Having the smiling animals on these lovely Wall Plaques ($16) waiting for you when you walk in the door is a great stress reliever at the end of the day. Printed on Baltic Birch plywood disks from original paintings by Christine Heinitz, these hand created plaques are ready to hang wherever you need a little extra color and happiness.
Get your decor up to speed with this Mechanical Tinker Toy Gears Wall Decal ($17). Stick this large decal anywhere for a unique look that’ll be a hit with lovers of cars, engines, or anything mechanical. Even put it up in study areas to symbolize mental gears cranking out homework answers! Easy to apply and remove, this high quality vinyl decal comes with instructions and a practice decal to help you achieve perfection.
For tackling projects big and small, make sure they have this Green Toys Tool Set ($18) handy to get the job done. Like all products from this company, these tools are made in the USA of recycled milk jugs, and ship in fully recyclable packaging. In this 15 piece set, little builders will find two screwdrivers, a hammer, saw, wrench, pliers, and more, all contained in the convenient toolbox. The bigger pieces are even printed with the names of the tools to assist early word recognition skills.
When Mickey’s around, adventure is never far behind, and these Disney Mickey Mouse Sneakers ($20) are made to go anywhere. For fast dressing, or for little fingers that haven’t mastered shoe tying, the laces can be bypassed with a side zipper to get the shoes on and off in a hurry. Featuring several fun Mickey Mouse graphics and phrases, these 100% cotton twill sneakers make any outfit a little more magical.
How fast can you break the code? Mastermind ($15) puts two players in the roles of code maker and code breaker. The code maker sets one of 2,000 possible codes in the secret compartment, and the code breaker gets 10 moves to replicate the code. For round 2, the roles are reversed, and whoever breaks the other person’s code in the fewest moves wins. So simple, yet so addicting!
It’s a fact, growing teeth prefer wood for gnawing. Just ask any beaver. Ryder the Rhino Teether ($14) is handmade from Ohio maple, and has none of the toxic stuff you have to worry about with plastic teethers. Smooth and delightful for little hands to grasp, this fellow is the perfect companion to help babies through any and all of those many painful bouts of tooth cutting. Plus, your purchase includes a donation to Tree Pals, an outdoor education program for young children.
Next time you have a bit of indigestion, it won’t seem so bad once you take a look at the Alien Life Size Chest Burster ($195). Made from the same molds as its on-screen twin, this bloody beastie is fresh from its gestation in some unlucky fellow’s internal organs. Limited to 500 pieces, this alien is 12 inches tall and guaranteed to make collectors scream in delight and terror.
For the edge you need to win any battle, the Nerf N-Strike Maverick ($14) is the blaster for the job. With its imposing size and rapid launching action, your foes will run for the hills rather than face down this much firepower. Get incredible range and accuracy when firing the six included soft suction darts, or stockpile even more darts for super fast reloading when you need it most.
Not only is it good, sticky fun to Make Your Own Chewing Gum ($12), but this kit is your chance to experience gum the way it was meant to be. These days, there’s all sorts of synthetic goo in gum, but this kit has chicle, from the sap of the Sapodilla tree as its base, just like all gum used to. That, plus some sugar, of course, and cherry or peppermint flavor is all you need for hours of chewing pleasure, and it’s all included in this kit.
Spend just a few minutes reading this Fridge Frames tutorial, and then just a few dollars on supplies, and transform your fridge from crayon chaos to amateur art gallery. Half a dozen steps take you through marking and cutting the backing piece, gluing some magnets, and protecting those truly unique first drawings from assorted kitchen hazards with a plastic document sleeve. Your fridge will thank you!
Put a friendly face on your garbage with these Animal Swing-Lid Cans ($12). Easy to open with a gentle push, the specially designed lids swing closed automatically to keep your trash under wraps. Choose from four adorable animal designs, or get one of each for every room in your house. [via Droolicious]
For the budding architect who wants to branch out from traditional blocks, the Magnetic Tile Building Set ($50) is full of new possibilities. Each of the 32 pieces contains magnets along the edges that let kids connect them in any configuration they can imagine. This award winning set includes a variety of shapes and comes with a guide to get you started.
