I think this card is fantastic in a Green deck. I personally did a combo with this and then cards that populate. Even if you don't run Populate decks I could see this being useful in almost in any deck.
Showing posts with label wooden kids picnic table. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wooden kids picnic table. Show all posts
Magic: the Gathering - Slime Molding (135) - Return to Ravnica
I think this card is fantastic in a Green deck. I personally did a combo with this and then cards that populate. Even if you don't run Populate decks I could see this being useful in almost in any deck.
Little Tikes Sandy Lagoon Waterpark
Bought this for our daughter's 2nd birthday.Bought from TRU on sale for $37 their regular price even is cheaper than amazon's listed price so I would research before buying here.She loves this table!We were always having to tell her to keep out of the dogs water dish so figured this would be something she liked.The quality is good and it is pretty stable she of course wants to climb up and sit inside of it and though I worried about it tipping or collapsing it hasn't.The little figures go down the chute when you push the lever in the back and they are so cute!it is easy to clean and yes it is messy but what do you expect from this kind of toy?We keep ours out on the back patio.You can fill both sides with water if you do not want the hassle of cleaning the sand or having to replace it.We happen to live 1 mile from the beach so replenishing it with fresh sand is no problem for us and free :)I would definitely recommend this toy especially for those little ones who enjoy water play.You can get more use of the accessories as well by using them in the bathtub they are just as much fun there!We considered buying the pirate ship but it was twice as much $ and requires batteries.I gave four stars on quality because when assembling ours ( which is very simple ) one of the parts was missing a hole we just used our drill and make it ourselves and it was fine.But it was a pain that it was missed at the factory.The good side the pieces are easy to snap together (when all the holes are there) and are reinforced with screws so it is very sturdy.
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First of all, my daughter loves this table. She loved it even before we put any water in it. The play elements are all fun for her--she loves putting the characters into the tower and flipping down the slide, loves using the boats, loves the diving boards and the shovel and the scoop.However, this toy seems like a brilliant first draft. Too many little things don't quite work.
One of the characters doesn't actually fit down the slide unless you turn it perfectly. It gets stuck, which is annoying.
The little boats aren't the ones pictured and don't rest on the indentations near the tower. There's not a stable place to put them.
The scooper doesn't fit on the edge as pictured, either. It only fits on the bar between the sand and the water sides.
There should be a drain on both sides, for when you decide to use water both times.
There should be covers for both sides, so you can keep the water OR sand protected while you eat lunch or over a single night. I don't leave water in there for multiple days, but if we leave it for a few hours, it gets debris. I'd like to just close it up.
The screws they claim you need are the wrong size. The 3/4 screws were too large. A handy, well-stocked person might just sort that out in a second, but it took me two trips to the hardware store on a hot afternoon with a toddler. I was not happy.
The diving boards don't quite work--that sounds weird, put if you depress them, the characters will flip out. Of the water table. Think how fun it would be to have them work--push them a bit and flip the characters INTO the water.
As other reviewers have mentioned, putting water into the central tower means a fairly steady stream of water that leaks. that's not a big deal at all--splashed and dumped water happens anyway, including with the drain at the end, but it would be fun to have that water all do something more interesting.
overall, though, it's a bit larger than ones I've seen, which is great, and encouraging of imaginative play, which is great. My daughter LOVES it and I'm glad we bought it at TRU, for $30.
Read Best Reviews of Little Tikes Sandy Lagoon Waterpark Here
Our two children, 17 months and 4 years old, love this table! However, I think they would enjoy virtually any water table kids love mess and water.As others have mentioned, this water table (as most currently on Amazon) are selling for less at stores like TRU, Walmart, second-hand consignment stores, etc. That's not a big deal, just beware always check the MSRP before buying.
As I mentioned, the kids love the water table. However, Mom & Dad have a few issues with it.
First, there is only one cover for one side of the table; it only fits on the side where the sand should be. I do not anticipate putting sand in this table, only because I can't imagine how I would a ton of excess water from the sand side of the table (the sand side does not have a filter/drain at the bottom). I would not put the sand on the side with the drain because the cover would not fit with the "diving" boards attached.
Secondly, the water side has a drain, but the drain leaks the entire time during play since it does not fit securely!! At first I was so upset because I would either need to constantly refill the table as my kids enjoy splashing and scooping the water out to begin with. However, I view it as a near blessing. Once the water completely is drained from the diving board side through the bottom drain, play time up and the fun is done. I don't have to pull my kids away screaming if we have activities that we need to do after the water table.
On the box, you will see two small floatation devices pictured under the tower with the boy and girl figurine resting in them, but my assumption is that they were choking hazards and they have redesigned the floatation devices. They are nearly the size of a child's face, and they only float they are not meant to sit under the tower. The picture on Amazon is pretty accurate the toy figurines are meant to stand in the indentations.
Overall, it is a fun toy and the kids love it. I am learning to adjust to the leaky drain until I decide to find a modable material that will properly plug the drain.
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Poor design.The sand clogs up the sand wheel and it doesn't turn at all.
The diving board flips the little people OUT onto the ground.
There's only a cover for ONE side-the sand side or the water side, and it doesn't even fit properly even then !
The mechanism that flips the people down the slide works only occasionally.
Buy something else.
Care Bears Circle of Fun Bears: Singing Best Friend Bear
My 3 year old niece loves her new Best Friends Care Bear.It wears a necklace that she either wears herself or gives to her best friend to wear.The toy is well made.Who can resist a Care Bear?!
This is a wonderful care bear for giving to your nicest friend Because it just keeps getting better as it sings its way into your heart.
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Saunders UHU Glue Stick, 1.41 oz., Purple (99653)
- Forms a strong, long lasting bond with just a single stroke
- Goes on purple, dries clear with no clumps
- Patented threaded cap keeps air out preventing dry outs
- Washable, acid free, non toxic - conforms to ASTM D-4236
- Ideal for paper, cardboard and photos
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teaching middle school art & various paper crafting classes in the summer leaves me quite a critic on materials ... uhu glue sticks are my runaway favorite ... these are the larger of the two sizes & highly recommended for volume coverage ... super thick & sticky ... goes on transluscent & dries clear with minimal 'lumpy bumpyness' ... i would suggest the smaller size for precision ... buying in bulk like this saved me about $0.75 per unit over an 'a la carte' purchase in an art store ... great product
Read Best Reviews of Saunders UHU Glue Stick, 1.41 oz., Purple (99653) Here
I bought this glue to apply tissue to my airplane models, and it works great.It also works great keeping your horses in line, even though only 3 of my horses can read English, just showing the glue stick to any of the horses will instantly cause them to behave.. I guess they really like the awesome purple color.Want Saunders UHU Glue Stick, 1.41 oz., Purple (99653) Discount?
works, sticks, does not let go (unlike Elmers extra strength craft glue sticks). I use for card making, not at all disappointed in it
Ducky Shaped Pinata
It's a piñata.... pretty self-explanatory. It's exactly as described, and relatively durable. Looks exactly the same as pictured. Good value.
This is not a real piñata. Piñatas are meant to put candy in them and kids to break them. This is too small and thin to hold any candy. This is just a very expensive ornament. Very disappointed.
Gund 16" Curious George Plush Figure
Gund never makes a bad stuffed toy!I have been buying this brand for 24 years!Now I have one for the next generationand he loves his curious George !Great craftsmen ship and quality
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When I saw the brand name Gund I knew it would be a well made stuff animal.16 inches is a great size for our 2 year old.He is super soft and huggable.Read Best Reviews of Gund 16" Curious George Plush Figure Here
This Gund is a quality item. Such a cute little guy. It appears that this will be a durable toy.Want Gund 16" Curious George Plush Figure Discount?
Who doesn't love Curious George? This one is well made and very soft. He's a great size for a 1 yr old. My grandson loves him.
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Legacy Fitted Pool Table Cover
This pool table cover is awesome for the cost!!Looks great, was shipped quickly.....I redecorated my rec room and needed a new cover so it matched the rest of the room.Perfect choice.
This pool table cover arrived during the time frame mentioned.
It fits a 7 foot table PERFECTLY! There is a little space to work with, but that allows ease of putting cover on table and removing it. It is a good, heavy weight vinyl that looks just great on the table. It is stitched well, so it should be very durable.I like the fact that it is NOT flimsy material which could easily tear. I highly recommend this pool table cover. It is a good value. My son said that it is "classy looking."He is a very particular man, so that is a good endorsement.
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Barely fits the table.This is not truly for an 8' table as the product barely fits when two of us are stretching it over, but it works enough to do its job, just doesn't look as nice.I was just looking for an inexpensive cover to keep the cat off the table and this did the trick.It is fitted well and, once it has been on there awhile the creases disappear (with the help of the cat, i'm sure.)
KidKraft Harley Davidson Table & 2 Chair Set
My grandsons love this but I was dissappointed that there were only two chairs so I ended up purchasing another set.They play on it every day!Was worth getting.Save 28% Off
Carousel Cupcake Stand
I love this cupcake holder. I didnt think i could use it more than once but I have used it about 5 times... for many reasons. great money spent!
Small GUNDimals
Each Christmas one granddaughter gives me a challenge. This year it was a polka dot penguin. This was the perfect size to add the polka dots. She was very happy with it. He's so softand cuddly,I almost kept it for myself.
Read Best Reviews of Small GUNDimals Here
Very well made stuffed toy.It is hard to gauge size on line and this was a little smaller than I anticipated.But, it went over well with my niece who was missing her dog who went to hunting school!Want Small GUNDimals Discount?
Beautiful stuffed plush. Gund has excellent, high quality plushes. Their faces are each unique (I have two), their stripes are each unique, and they're all very soft and cuddly. I love my Gund tigers!
VTech - KidiArt Studio
Great birthday or Christmas present!! Highly recommend this. I bought this for my 5 year old niece for her birthday. Great family time activity, still easy enough that she can create her own photos, or e-cards, to show off to mom. You take photos with a real digital camera, hook the art desk up to a TV, use an art pad to add decorations, stickers and fun backgrounds to photos. It hooks up to the computer, so you can then email and print the photos or whatever else was created.
From one dad's perspective, here are the issues:
1.The camera is just terrible.My phone takes better pictures and that's no compliment to my phone.With the advancement in technology today, why would a camera take such bad pictures?There's no flash so the room has to be brightly lit.The camera cannot be detached from the arm on the drawing table so the person has to sit directly in front of it.Although the camera does rotate from front to back and auto rotates the perspective, so that's good.
2.The graphics are just horrible.To get a sense, if you have ever purchased one of those video games that come packaged in a joystick and you plug into a tv that's what it looks like.For some this may be acceptable.Here is an example (these graphics are much better):Jakks SpongeBob SquarePants TV Game
3.There is no AC Adapter (power plug).You have to use batteries or purchase the adapter seperately.The console really only requires 4 AA batteries but there is another compartment for backup batteries, which is another 4 AA batteries.I'm assuming the backup power is so that all work created is not deleted when changing the primary batteries.Again, the system can be used with the main batteries BUT you get a notification on screen periodically that there is no backup batteries.
4.There is an option to hook up your drawing table to a computer.We use a laptop to save my daughter's work but honestly, if you have a laptop or computer already, you can download free (open source) kid-friendly drawing software.My coworker told me about tuxpaint (http://www.tuxpaint.org/) which is basically paintshop for kids.I would imagine that if you had a half-way decent camera, you can probably load pictures in this program and have the same basic functionality.Your little ones may not like drawing with a mouse but you can surely purchase a notepad for the computer.Here is an example of one (not yet purchaded or reviewed):Genius MousePen 8 x 6-Inch Graphic Tablet for Home and Office.
Hope this helps.
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I bought this toy for my 5 year old daughter.The first one came broken.The second one came and I put batteries in the main compartment and in the backup compartment.There is no wall charger, you have to buy that seperate.The batteries do not last very long.Before, she was finished playing with it for the first time her batteries died, even the back up ones.You would litterally have to have hundreds of batteries to play this.A wall charger is a must!
Read Best Reviews of VTech - KidiArt Studio Here
I bought this toy for my then 5 yr. old son for Christmas last year. My son is very creative and previously received the kids digital camera for his b-day, so I thought he might enjoy this. However, the material is cheap and very poor quality. The digital camera didn't function correctly and after one use, the desk fell apart. Although, there is a separate function that allows you to connectthe camera and art studio to the computer, it also didn't function correctly. I paid $60 for a piece of junk! Don't waste your money.Want VTech - KidiArt Studio Discount?
We got this for our two girls (5 and 3) and it's probably a bit too hard for them to use.But if you get it for older children it could be too boring.
The idea is very cool and there are some neat things you can do..if you can move the pen correctly and click where you need to.There are so many things you can do but it's too complicated for younger children.My 5 year old has mostly just taken her picture with the camera and my 3 year old did take her picture and color on it once.
The problem really is that you click with the pen but if you press too hard it clicks when you don't want it to hence why there are 50 pictures of my 5 year old when we keep telling her to cancel!
Thomas And Friends Wooden Railway - Roundhouse
The Thomas train and train collections are durable toys. Their real value, though, is that playing with the toys allows children to act out the great Thomas and Friends children's stories they read and watch.Kids' imaginations can remarkably supply buildings and water towers and cranes, etc., so that they won't even miss what might be lacking from less expensive sets. And families can build some of these items themselves out of old boxes, etc.BUT I HAVE YET TO MEET KIDS THAT LOVE THOMAS THAT DIDN'T WANT A ROUNDHOUSE.
This is the 'official' Thomas roundhouse, but it is very expensive. YOU PROBABLY CAN FIND A GENERIC ROUNDHOUSE FOR A LOT LESS (MAYBE EVEN 2/3 LESS!) WITH A LITTLE LOOKING.
Purchasing recommendation:
* Choose which type of Thomas trains you will 'standardize' on. There are three kinds: This size of wooden trains from Learning Curve; larger, plastic, battery-operated trains from Tomy; and smaller, die-cast metal trains from Ertl. The wooden trains have the most products and accessories available.
* The clickety-clack (grooved to look like real railroad) track in the Thomas series is great, but it's expensive; I recommend buying generic track. ... You can literally save hundreds of dollars by buying these kinds of sets.
* Buy the Thomas and friends engines separately--and wait for sales. The kids care about the characters, so no short-cutting (ie., Brio or generic trains) here.
* Look for trains bundled with VHS videos. You can get a video and a train (on sale) for about the same price as a train alone.
* Only buy the official accessories (buildings, tables, etc.) if you cannot find generic substitutes for less or cannot make them yourself.
The Thomas train sets are great modern versions of the classic indestructible wooden train sets.Simple enough to avoid the toddler age frustrations of getting the cars to run on the track yet complex enough to engage a wide range of ages (up to and including Grandpas).All the stories help with the imagination part....the books & videos provide an endless source of adventures that can be acted out, although most kids are perfectly capable of inventing their own episodes.
Here is my advice, if you are trying to work your way through the maze of start-up options:
First of all, you can spend a fortune on a huge set....even if you can afford it, I would start with something small and give the child the joy of receiving a chain of small but intriguing presents over a long period of time.It fosters the joy of giving/receiving and helps teach them to come back again and again to the same toy...watching it grow, asking for specific items from the stories they hear, etc.Several reviewers suggest painting an old coffee table and this is a great idea.
I suggest the Figure 8 set (the most popular one) or if you want to spend a little bit more, the Conductors Figure 8 set.Both are complex enough to be interesting, but simple enough to give lots of room for growth.Almost immediately I would add a new present of one of the inexpensive engines (you can ask the child which story they like best and get that engine for them....or buy the engine to go with the video or book in the same gift)....these would be Percy The Small Engine, Bill The Yellow Engine, Treavor, (or a bit more $ for:) The Lady Engine, James The Red Engine, Gordon The Express Engine (he's one of the best stories, I think), or Henry The Green Engine.
Now for the good stuff!Give it a month or so, and then reward the child with something really cool like the Barrel Loader or Rusty the Construction 3 Car Set.
I honestly can't see the point in the huge multi hundred dollar system sets.If you want to impress the neighbors or something, go for it, but I'm telling you.....most kids will enjoy a large number of small thoughtful gifts, not a "keep-up-with-the-Jones" effort on your part.
Good behavior can be rewarded with a pick-your-own trip to the store (there are sometimes when a real time shopping trip can't be beat)
By the way, the Thomas stories are based on real restored engines that run in England on the Mid-Hants Railway Watercress line near Winchester (you can read about them an even plan a trip to ride on the real Thomas trains by checking outwatercressline.co.uk).They are a day trip from the London rail stations, although I recommend using a B&B in the Winchester area and staying overnight if you decide to go.Winchester was the center of the old Saxon kingdom of Wessex of King Alfred as well as a major early medieval site (the Cathedral has the tombs of many of the Saxon Kings as well as Jayne Austen and Izaac Walton and it was where Richard the Lionhearted was crowned.)
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My three-year-old son loves Thomas & has many of the wooden railway sets & pieces.We thought he would love the Roundhouse, but this is the least played with item in his collection.In fact, I can't say that I've seen him play with it more than a couple of times and never for long.He'd much rather spend his time moving his trains around the tracks and over mountains and bridges (a much better way to spend your Thomas money, if you ask me).This piece is overpriced for what it is and you really need the round-about turntable to go with it (so, add an additional thirty to the cost).It is well constructed like all of the other Thomas & Friends wooden pieces by Learning Curve, which is why I gave it 2 stars.So...gauge your child's interest before purchase by watching how he or she plays.Your little conductor might have you spend the money on other items (mountains, extra tracks, a water tower, etc.) than on this piece.I know the Roundhouse is one we could live without, though maybe my son will develop an interest in it later.Go to your local toy store where a configuration is on display & see if your child uses the roundhouse much before making this purchase.
Read Best Reviews of Thomas And Friends Wooden Railway - Roundhouse Here
As an avid Thomas fan, my son (4) loves this roundhouse.For the unenlightened, this is the house where the trains "sleep." It is durable and easy to put together and immediately adds to the complexity and fun of any track combination.It allows my son to engage more easily into pretend play, as he can put differnt trains back to the roundhouse to take a rest while he plays with others.The only minus of this building is its size--it is quite big and cannot be put apart.But again, as all the Learning Curve Thomas series toys, it is durable (wood), fun, easy to put together and a long term favorite.
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When I ordered the roundhouse I believed that the red 5-way switch track was also included, especially when it is pictured on the box, but was disappointed to find that it wasn't. As my 4 year old son believes, as I am sure most do, that this is a very necessary piece of the building he will have to wait until his birthday to receive it (...). A little upsetting.Apart from this one thing the Roundhouse is a fantastic piece to have on any Thomas layout, my son loves it and plays with it for hours.
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Hot Hoops refresh
This game is a spin off of the now out of production Milton Bradley Hot shot basketball. Unlike Hot shot basketball this game isn't electronic. The upside is that it dosent need batterys and it dosent really need to be electronic especially if you have two players. For under 10 bucks this is the coolest game and it folds right up so you can carry it around. I would recommend anyone to buy this game. But if you have a [local store] in your area I would go there first because they carry the same brand for 10 bucks and you wont have to pay shipping. Otherwise buy this baby right now!
Read Best Reviews of Hot Hoops refresh Here
This game is a spin off of the now out of production Milton Bradley Hot shot basketball. Unlike Hot shot basketball this game isn't electronic. The upside is that it dosent need batterys and it dosent really need to be electronic especially if you have two players. For under 10 bucks this is the coolest game and it folds right up so you can carry it around. I would recommend anyone to buy this game. But if you have a Wal-Mart in your area I would go there first because they carry the same brand for 10 bucks and you wont have to pay shipping. Otherwise buy this baby right now!Want Hot Hoops refresh Discount?
This is a fabulous game!So much fun and well made, and you are able to get replacement balls through MGA free of charge, with a $5 handling fee.Being environmentalists, we only buy games now where we are sure to be able to get replacement balls, we would hate to throw away and huge piece of plastic because we can't get balls that fit!This is a great game!
Child's Adirondack Chair
These chairs are truly functional and very well made.They were easily assembled and arrived very quickly.Amazon considers them in the children's "toy" category but they are hardly a toy hence my misleading rating.Save 18% Off
Alex My Art Desk with Paper Roll
I bought this desk for my daughter's fifth birthday. Her Christmas toys are already forgotten, but this art desk is used every day. The desk and chair are designed to be compact, and they fit easily in a bedroom or family room. It is more visually appealing than the art desks that are bulky and made of plastic. The top of the desk is very spacious and provides plenty of elbow room. (Two children can even use it at the same time.) I debated buying an easel, but this desk can be adjusted into different positions to resemble an easel, and the surface of the table becomes a chalkboard. If you lay the desk flat, you also have an ideal surface for working puzzles or working a child's laptop computer. Assembly is fairly easy. Just be sure to use a drill, instead of the provided wrench to cut your time in half. If you are frustrated at spending money on toys that never get played with...this is an awesome purchase!!!!!
We bought this for our 2 1/2 year old and she loves it, she even convinces her 8 year old sister to play with her on it.The chalk board is great quality.She even likes to eat her meals there because it's the perfect size for her.Thanks so much!
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With all due respect to the other reviewers, the person who said this desk wasn't garish doesn't know what that word means. This is the epitome of everything I hate design-wise about kid's furniture. It looks like it would be perfectly at home at Bozo T. Clown's house. It is bad enough that it is BRIGHT red, yellow, AND blue (who decided those colors go together anyway?) but it also has bright yellow stars highlighting the otherwise cute cut-outs. But if it's at all possible to look beyond the blinding ugliness of it all, the design features are great. Love the chalkboard surface (the reviewers who said it didn't work may have ignored the instructions to "cure" the surface first?), and the paper roll and dispenser are genius. It's a good height for my petite two year old but large enough that it looks like there's plenty of room to grow. I am honestly considering sanding the whole thing down and letting my toddler splatter the paints of her choice all over it. At least then it would be artsy. In the meantime, I'll suck it up for her sake, and hope someone at the company reads this and considers the fact that parents will have this in their home.
Read Best Reviews of Alex My Art Desk with Paper Roll Here
Great desk and chair! Easy to assemble, parts and holes right on the money.Chalk board surface was a little hard to get hard chalk to write. Need soft chalk to use on it.Overall granddaughter love it.
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My husband and I bought this for our daughter of 22 months and she loves it.It is the perfect size for a toddler.
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Elenco 5" Desktop Political Globe
I purchased this globe to further reinforce Geography for my 1st grader. It's the perfect size for little hands and very sturdy! All land and water masses are clearly labeled as well as all countries and major cities/capitals. My son was super excited to finally get a globe and I couldn't be happier with this product!
If you are short on space but still want a globe to show kids how the countries relate to each other, this is a good globe. The plastic base doesn't feel very sturdy but it has withstood little children playing with it. It is a good value for the money when you don't want the kids playing with a higher price, full size globe.
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This is an overpriced but nice-looking toy. However, that is probably the only nice thing I can say about it. It is tiny, so some of the names are very hard to read. When I first saw it, what caught my attention immediately was they showed Kashmir as a land outside of India (marked in white). Kashmir is still an integral part of India. Then, again, this toy is made in China. So, no wonder it was shown that way! To the manufacturers of this toy:How would you morons feel if India start constructing globes showing Tibet is outside of China's border?Read Best Reviews of Elenco 5" Desktop Political Globe Here
I thought this would be a great globe to keep on my desk...until I realized it was missing South Sudan.Granted it's a relatively new country, but the wall map I ordered on Amazon already reflected the change, so I don't appreciate the manufacturer unloading obsolete inventory at my expense.I will be returning this item, with the hopes that an updated version will soon follow.Want Elenco 5" Desktop Political Globe Discount?
my 7 1/2 year old son wanted a globe.this item did the trick.It's small so it's portable.It's not terribly expensive so it's affordable.And it spins, is accurate in detail.In short it's a globe!
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Skill Drill Flash Cards: Division 0-12 (All Facts)
- 156 cards
- Ideal for teaching Grade 3 to Grade 5
- Ages 9 to 11
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These make doing math facts fun.Way better than my home made index cards
Glad we got these for my 4th grader who is having fun practicing with his parents now.
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Using the cards as a gift and don't know if it will work great.But I have faith that they will love it.
Monopoly Junior Party (EA)
Normally I would suggest that a "junior" (meaning dumbed-down) version of a game isn't worth the time to play it or the money to buy it. However, I do recommend Monopoly Junior for families with children in K-3. The reason for this is that even though kids, with lots of help (which most don't usually get), can learn to play regular Monopoly, the game is brutal. I remember several times (when I was in the first and second grades) getting in fights with my parents and crying because I was just a kid and all these adults were kicking the tar out of me. Though there maybe some lessons there, they are still lost on me (did you ever notice that adults always like to play Monopoly with kids when they're in a bad mood).Anyway, with that said, Monopoly Junior is a really fun game for young children to play. It helps kids learn to take turns, follow directions, and learn basic counting skills. In many ways the game is just like Monopoly. The goal is to end the game with the most money. You have to have a strategy involved (if you don't play by rules included with the game). Properties are bought and there are a lot of money transactions. The major differences are that the game is set up as an amusement park; the money denominations are a lot smaller; the board is smaller; and it only takes about 20-30 minutes to finish one game. There is a bit of luck involved with the various chance cards, but that's no different than the chance cards in Monopoly.
The kids I have worked with really seem to enjoy playing the game, and I really don't find that it is "dumbed down". The game is made with kids in mind instead of adults and cuts out a lot of the brutality common to the regular game. Kids see enough violence nowadays anyway.
I wanted to get my son some board games for Christmas, and I thought regular Monopoly would be too complex for him at this stage. So we got Monopoly Jr., and it's definitely easier for kids...perhaps *too* easy for some kids that are 7 or older.
The Monopoly Jr. board is rectangular, with less spaces than the adult version. Set in an amusement park, there are also Rail Roads, but they're just Roll Again spaces. The "properties" are amusement rides, arcades, or attractions which cost between $1-$4 for a ticket booth. When you land on a space, you MUST buy a ticket booth. Players have an opportunity to "kick out" other players if the property is split, but not if there's a 'monopoly'. There are some Chance cards, but they function in the same way: direct the player to a particular square where he may buy a ticket booth.
As with regular Monopoly, if you land on a space occupied by another player, you have to pay the player the fee. Otherwise, you must BUY the ticket booth.
There are four colored plastic game tokens: a yellow carousel horse, a green "log jammer", a blue bumper car, and a red roller coaster car.
There could be more variety to this game without making it too hard, so in my opinion, the game is a bit too simplistic. However, it's a nice way for the parents to spend time with the younger kids. My son seems to like playing the game, although he hasn't asked, specifically, to play it until Christmas.
Buy Monopoly Junior Party (EA) Now
This entertaining junior version of the most famous board game ever features easier rules and a faster pace than its older brother. Its board represents stands and rides (Merry-Go-Round, Ferris Wheel) at an amusement park rather than streets in Atlantic City, N.J.
Like the original, itfeatures house pieces to buy properties, $2 each time you pass go (butremember to collect!) Chance cards that lead you to pay or be paid, andlessons in business thrift. (I was reminded of many of them losing twice ina row to my seven-year-old daughter.) Winning requires discipline,patience, good money management and some luck, and who couldn't use more ofall those to succeed in business? Cheers to Parker Brothers for reachingnot only out with trendy variations of its flagship product (Star Trek,Pokemon Monopoly, etc.) but to the youngest players who would enjoy andlearn from this beloved game. Recommended.
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Anyone who is familar with the original Monopoly will appreciate this scaled down version. It contains all the fun of the original, with a couple of new twists. The smaller board & lower prices on property & "rent" allow for a quicker, less demanding game. And the added twist of being able to bump other players' ticket booths off a site allows for unexpected turns in the outcome of the game. The game is fun for ages through adult, not just the 5-8 specified by the box. Younger children who are not able to read or count money will need help, but our 6 year old had no problem grasping the concepts, and joining in on the fun even without being able to read the cards. In addition, anyone who has been "held hostage" by amusement park prices for food will appreciate the irony that the original "Jail" and "Go To Jail" has been replaced by "Lunch" and "Go To Lunch." :-) What I would change the player markers are too big to fit on the board well, and we had difficulty when more than one person landed on a square. I know the cars where made big to make it easier for little hands to grasp, but these are too big for the board.Want Monopoly Junior Party (EA) Discount?
Monopoly Junior is a great scaled-down version of the classic game that is appropriately designed to make it a fun experience for younger kids.The game board is smaller; the money comes in increments of $1, $2, $3, $4 and $5; the markers are large plastic cars; and the gameplay is not so brutal :-)
This is a great introduction to the classic game for younger players.
Robo-Pong 1040
I went through reviews for all Newgy's models before settling this this one and it is perhaps the best product from them yet. A friend of mine has the 2040 so this is a fair comparison between the two models:PROs:
Set up takes well under 5 minutes to set up. Plug in the adapter to the control, connect control to machine, load up the machine with balls, and you're good to go. No fancy installation required (unlike the 2040). The head can be adjusted to control of flight/height of the ball.
Portability The machine itself is reasonably light weight and can be moved around with ease. I don't use the Oscillation feature much so it's easy for me to just turn the machine for forehand and backhand when I need to.
Controls The controls allow you to control ball speed, ball frequency, and oscillation. Intuitive design and easy to use. Nothing complicated which is great.
Spins the head of the machine allows you to choose between top spin and a variety of other spins on the ball. Works well.
CONs:
Not really a con (and I cannot believe the other reviewr knocked this product down to 3 stars because of this), but sometimes the balls get stuck and the bucket needs to be shaken to start working again. I have seen this usually happens if the bucket is either too full or too empty. Easy fix. Keep the balls in the bucket to a reasonable quantity and this problem goes away.
Why is it better than the Robopong 2040? For 2 reasons:
1. The 2040 requires assembly of the net which is time consuming. It also takes up a decent amount of space. I have the table set up in my basement and there is sufficient space either for a player or for the net. So if I'm playing with someone, I need to remove the net and put it back if I want to use the machine. Cumbersome and time consuming.
2. When practicing with this machine (at least at a high speed/frequency), a good percentage of balls are likely to not go straight. This means that they won't go into the net and need to be picked up anyway, making the whole point of the net useless.
RECOMMENDED ACCESSORIES TO BUY WITH THE ROBOPONG 1040:
1. GOGO 3-Star 40mm Table Tennis Balls (144-pack), Ping Pong Balls the Robopong comes with I think 2-3 dozen balls, but you need more to fill the bucket and enjoy a longer practice session with less intervals to pick up the balls.
2. My Ping Pong Buddy fantastic tool to pick up balls quickly!
FREEBIES:
The box includes two fliers, one for a free net (not sure what type of net but it's free so I will be sending this one in for sure), and I think 48 balls for a friend who recommended this product. Doesn't appear to be any catch so I will be filling both forms out and will look forward to the freebies.
Overall a well thought out design and the Newgy team deserves credit for their hard work and making table tennis practice so much easier for us!
I have only had this product for a few days but so far it has been great. I can now practice any time I want. The best part is that it provides a variety of spins which is beneficial.I was disappointed in the unit. The ball jam was so bad you could hardly play at all. My balls are ipong 40mm 2-star balls that I carefully washed a few times. I also disassembled and reassembled the unit twice but it did not help the jam. I had no choice but to send it back. The return shipping cost me $24. All in all it was a very disappointing experience. But I have to say that the seller is very cooperative and easy to work with.
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I tried Ipong-Pro but the first impression was 50/50. And in 10 days i returned it and bought this one.
First day is 100% liked it. Great professional product. Clear manual little involved setup but still simple. Just worked to expectation right from the switched on. hope to see my son's pingpong go to next level in few weeks. Great!!!!Had it for 2 weeks and it worked great.Jammed initially, but after reading the manual realized it was because the new balls.The jamming disappeared after a few days of use.
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