droolicious : bugs

Etsy Alert: A Captive Caterpillar

SunnyChanel — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:30:00 GMT

Bug out with this new pet, the captive caterpillar. Fortunately no feeding and care is needed. This colorful caterpillar is made handmade from felt and lives in a happy habitat made of wood twigs, leaves created from recycled wood sweaters and of course a mesh top for adequate air circulation. The caterpillar, by Etsy crafter Sharlet, will live forever so there no fear of any insect funerals in your future. The little critter comes in a classic Mason jar and you can adopt one here for $18. You can also pick up a ladybug or butterfly too.

ABC Kids Expo 2008: New Bath Toys From Boon

Chris Ford — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:30:00 GMT

There were a lot of fun things at the Boon booth at ABC this year, like these new bath toys - Odd Ducks, Water Bugs, Splat and Scrubble. All are BpA, Phthalate and PVC free and under $9.99.

Odd Ducks are rubber ducks with modern graphics, and my favorite part is they don't have any holes where water can get in and get moldy (bottom left in picture). Water Bugs (bottom right) is a game of sorts where kids can scoop up floating bugs (that kind of look like jacks) with a net. Splat (top left) is a floating ring toss game and Scrubble (center) is an "interchangeable scrub set" where kids can practice scrubbing themselves in the tub.

All should be available in six weeks. Check out all the bath toys at Boon.com.

Melissa & Doug Take the Creepy Out of Bug Catching

Heather Kuldell — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:08:00 GMT

Other than those of the lightning variety, bugs creep me out. The little man, however, isn’t content until he’s captured every variety found on, in, under or hovering above the playground. (Insert shudder here.) Tinier tots as young as six months can practice their critter capturing without freaking out their ‘rents with Melissa & Doug’s Bug Jug Fill & Spill Soft Toys. The see-thru jar includes a spider, butterfly, grasshopper and a ladybug-type thing that rattle, crinkle, jingle and squeak. It’s safe to say that none of them are poisonous.

Available at Doodlehoppers 4 Kids for $19.99.

Rock the Retro: Go Buggy for Schylling's Tin Tea Set

Mir — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 17:01:00 GMT

I had a tin tea set when I was little, and I was delighted to see that Schylling still makes an array of tin sets. This is the summer bug set -- it's not quite as retro-feel as the floral ones, but a nice meeting of old and new sensibility, I think. $13.79 at Amazon.

Buggin' Out: Spark Talking Bug Identifier

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:30:00 GMT

Kids love to go bug-hunting, but the Spark Talking Bug Identifier ($19.95) takes junior entymology to a whole new level. Simply pinpoint your sample in the magnifier to view it 2X actual size, and answer a series of "yes" or "no" questions to identify the bug you've found. (It even sounds a warning when you've found a potentially dangerous specimen.) And while the handle also generates 400 trivia questions and facts about the insect world, grown-ups can use the accompanying "Lab Assistant" guide to stay sharp for the inevitable follow-up questions. Available at Amazon.

Hand Made: Secret Agent Josephine Makes Flashcards

chrisjordan — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 12:04:00 GMT

Secret Agent Josephine has made these fabulous flashcards, though I think they would be stunning framed and hanging on a wall in the playroom or your child's bedroom.

Download the pdf file from her website and print them yourself. She is adding a couple of letters a day to the alphabet.

Best of all, they are free to download.

Get On The Bug

Kelly Mills — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:02:00 GMT

While I usually avoid giant bugs, these sturdy ride on toys ($68) are two tons of fun. They come in two sizes--toddler or preschooler--and you can get a ladybug, a bee, or a...cow... Perhaps it's some kind of cow beetle.