Fisher Price Fun

Goodness me!  Haven't been posting much because I've been so anxious over Julian's birthday party this weekend. It was a modest success and Julian had a great time so I'm super happy.  Anyway, now that that's done with I can focus on other things.

I thought I'd write today about the Fisher-Price website and all the cool (and more importantly, FREE) features they have for parents.  I don't know about you, but I was definitely a Fisher-Price kid growing up--so naturally it's a brand I trust for Julian.

I started going on the website a few months ago to play some of the online games they have for babies when Juju first started mashing my laptop keys.  On a recent visit though, I found they have A LOT of really cool stuff for parents!

You can check out the site yourself to see all they have to offer, but I'm going to list my favorite sections here:

Online Games
Here you'll find a bunch of cool games for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.  I really like these because I do a lot of work on my computer and when I'm home alone with Julian he often wants to get on the computer and do things with me.  I haven't tried out the toddler or preschooler games yet, but the infant ones are perfect for babies who want to be just like Mommy and Daddy!  Watch out though, because if they hit certain commands on your keyboard they can shut out of the game and start messing with other things.  Try and make sure the babes are just playing with the main keys.

Julian's favorite games are the Hide and Seek games and any of the animal games--the noisier the better!


Crafts
This is actually the page that got me excited about writing a post on this website because it's SO what this blog is about!  Here's a list of cool art projects and activities you can do with your kids at little or no cost (they even have a fishing activity like the one I wrote about!).  I'm so excited to try some of these out (and put my own spin on them too haha).  Any of these activities would be great for a boring weekend or rainy day. 

I tried to pick out a couple favorites to list here, but honestly I love them all!

Birthday Party Ideas
I'm a little peeved I checked this out the day after I have Julian's birthday party (especially since they have a dinosaur theme and that's what I really wanted to do grrrr), but I will know better in the future. :P 

Anyway, they have lots of great tips and tricks for parents on holding a successful and fun birthday party.  They also have several party theme ideas that include food suggestions and decorating and activity ideas.  All the party ideas function on a reasonable budget and seem to be real low-stress which, given the anxiety I went trough over Juju's birthday party, is definitely an awesome thing!

Playtime Guide
This section focuses on the importance of play and how different activities help baby develop cognitive, social & emotional, and physical skills.  They even have sections devoted to baby's specific age, from 1 month to 5+ years.  In addition to great tips on different ways to play with your baby they have a section for parents that focuses on everything from pregnancy worries to potty training.  This is great for nervous first time parents!  There's a section dedicated solely to grandparents as well.  This is a really valuable resource if you're getting tired of playing peek-a-boo and want to try something fresh and new. 


There are also coloring pages, online videos, and of course plenty of info on fisher-price's toys and stuff.  So if you're bored and trying to think of something new to do with the little ones take a look!

DIY Designer Toys

Mega Munny stands at 18in tall!

I am a huge fan of kidrobot.  In fact, my dream is to one day open a boutique where all I sell is kidrobot, tokidoki, Sanrio (Hello Kitty), and friendswithyou stuff alongside art supplies, art, and manga.  It would be the coolest store on the face of the Earth.  I would cosplay everyday and encourage my workers to do the same...just because we freaking can.

But that's beside the point.

One of the coolest things kidrobot has to offer is their Do It Yourself Toys.  Their Munnies and Dunnies are actually what introduced me to their brand in the first place.

 

The ever popular Dunny

So many artists have taken these blank canvas vinyl dolls and made beautiful and amazing artwork with them (that sells from anywhere between $40 to $400 or more).

The coolest part is that the models these artists use are completely accessible to you and me.

They come in various sizes and styles and varying prices.  You can decorate them using any medium you choose; markers, paint, pen...crayons.  Some artists even alter the model by adding to it with modeling or polymer clay.  

The possibilities with these figures are endless and when you're done you're left with a true work of art you can cherish always.

I think this is a great activity to do with kids because they can make their own, unique characters with their own personalities--instead of playing with Elmo or Dora like every other kid on the block (not that I have anything against Elmo or Dora, but you see what I'm saying)

I probably wouldn't recommend this project for younger kids or toddlers because the figures can be a bit pricey.  But, if you have a creative, artistic kid in need of an outlet--or a moody teen you're trying to reconnect with this might be a great project.  You can either work together (might be a good idea when working with the younger ones), or let your child go for it all on their own.  Or you could even make your own character to play with your kid's character.

There are a lot of cool characters you can choose from:

The 4in models (or Mini) cost $9.95
The 7in models cost $19.95
And the 18in models cost well over $200 (needless to say this option is probably not the best for a kid's project)

I think the 7in and mini models are well worth the price.  Just think of all the possibilities!  Instead of buying a bunch of mainstream toys, perhaps your child will want to start a collection of these guys.  And why not?  They foster creativity, individuality, art skills (which are extremely under appreciated in the US, in my opinion), and--just look at them!  They're awesome!

If you're interested, check out kidrobot's site to find out where you can buy them or to order online.

Man!  Now I'm itching to make my own!