droolicious : puzzles

7 Days of Dad: Can You Picture This?

JeanneSager — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:01:00 GMT

He ponied up for Mother's Day, so now it's time to get cracking on how to make Dad's day. Lucky for you, we were wondering too. So we're offering up seven days of what we'll be giving the guy who reads bedtime stories and changes stinky diapers.

Pictures of his little munchkins always make Dad's day, but do you think he really wants another t-shirt he'll have to shove to the back of the closet? Another coffee mug with their mug?

Greet him on Father's Day morning with a giant canvas made from his favorite pic. The folks at Shutterfly take art-worthy shots to the next level of presentation with high quality prints wrapped around immense wooden canvases (my husband's only words? "wow, just wow" when he saw a pic I picked of our daughter remade as a 20 x 30 shot for our wall). They'll take dad's appreciation for art to another level too.

A few tips:- depending on what size canvas you're going for, pre-crop your images so you get exactly what you want. Remember: a lot of today's digital SLRs do not take a standard size photo, so you can leave it up to Shutterfly, but they will have to do some adjusting to make it fit the canvas. Also, key in on the focus in your pictures - at 20 x 30, mistakes show up big time! You want to pick a picture that reprepesents the best of your kids' scrapbook.

The canvas prints are on sale until June 16. At $50 off, now's the time to get one, so check them out at Shutterfly.

Want to save a little dough and still go the photo route? Shutterfly's 252-piece puzzles give him something to do WITH the kids. Their photo is superimposed on a sturdy cardboard sheet, then cut to make a game for the whole family. At $24.99, it's easy on the pocketbook and did we say it gives them something to do? That's priceless!

A few tips: choose a photo that's VERY colorful. Monochromatic photos or those with a lot of one color in the background make for a major puzzle challenge. The pieces are small, so this is for your older kids (age four at the minimum - although it depends on your child's puzzle skills).

Check out more gifts for Dad this week on the 7 Days of Dad.

Puzzled: Where Do Babies Come From?

SunnyChanel — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:00:00 GMT

To answer the delicate question of “where do babies come from”, instead of investing in a cabbage patch doll, going to visit the storks at the zoo or buying your kid a porno, opt for getting them the Beleduc Mother Body 5 Layer Puzzle. This German import is a plywood puzzle that depicts what happens to Mommy’s body when she’s knocked up.

This 29 piece puzzle starts from a naked mom and as you add layers and put the pieces together, you create the nervous and digestive systems, muscles, skin and layers of cloths…and of course a growing baby and belly. You can educate your kid on the facts of pregnancy here for $22.50. With telling your kid how Mommy got knocked up in the first place, well that’s up to you.

Curiouser and Curiouser: Alice in Wonderland Jigsaw Puzzle

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:00:00 GMT

I hear you, Alice: If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense, too. Thankfully, with this 500-piece jigsaw puzzle, the kids and I can spend an afternoon in that mindset via a beautifully designed collage of vintage images from Lewis Carroll's classic. Common sense would tell us to glue and mount the puzzle once it's finally complete, but in the spirit of being contrarywise, I think it's back to the box it'll go.

$14.95 from The Afternoon.

Build-Your-Own Battleship

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:30:00 GMT

Finding battleship toys that'll please little boys is like shooting fish in a barrel, but this aircraft carrier is an especially fun find. Sold as a puzzle (which means no instruction manual), the set lets you build a sturdy 13" model aircraft carrier complete with nine miniature aircraft. All pieces are made from varnished cardboard, so even though the set won't translate well to bathtubs or post-rainshower puddles, it'll look great on a shelf.

£3.99 (around $6 U.S.) from Hawkin's Bazaar. [Toyology]

Lion Animal Puzzle By Naef

Lisa Estall — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:51:00 GMT

I just found out from my son's daycare teacher that he has been completing 25 piece puzzles. That means he might like this Lion Animal Puzzle by Swiss company Naef.

These cubes are durable and covered with non-toxic finishes.

See the cat Naef animal puzzle featured here at Droolicious last year. This puzzle is $98 and sold at Babygeared.com.

Heirloom U.S. Map Puzzle from Pangaea

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:30:00 GMT

Pangaea Puzzles, that is: Laser-cut from Baltic birch, this heirloom U.S. map puzzle is at the higher end of the Etsy seller's wares, but it's also built to last multiple generations. Each piece features a solid brass knob, and the board can be customized to show your place of birth or whatever other message you'd like to add.

$399 from Pangaea's Etsy shop -- and if that seems a little steep, don't let it dissuade you: Pangaea also has a large selection of durable, handmade puzzles in the $25 range.

3-D Moose Puzzle for Your Mantle

Lisa Mulcahy — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:28:00 GMT

I don’t condone hunting, but I can’t get enough of the mounted animal head trend. Designers have been very creative in using alternative materials to create the look without sacrificing real animals. Why not get the kids involved by building their own moose mantle piece.

From Cardboard Safari, the 3-D Moose Puzzle, which comes in three sizes that range from $14-$48, is a set of laser cut pieces that when assembled create a unique trophy to mount on the wall. This would be great in a kid’s room if you’re going for the summer camp/lodge look.

Go Ahead, Touch and Feel

Lisa Mulcahy — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:28:00 GMT

Usually we’re telling our toddlers “Don’t touch!” But here’s a chance for them to quench that insatiable desire to touch everything in sight and learn in the process.

This Montessori-style feel and find puzzle set, $22, challenges kids aged three and up to reach into the drawstring bag to find the right puzzle piece without looking. What a great way to build their senses and keep them occupied.

Human Torso Puzzle Lets Kids Play Doctor, Safely

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:30:00 GMT

Nurture your future surgeon's (or serial killer's) interest in anatomy with this 32-piece 3D Human Torso Puzzle. Assembly instructions are included, although we're guessing there's only one way to get it right through trial and error, too.

$23 from Kikkerland. [Via Mighty Junior]

Mail Call

Lisa Mulcahy — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMT

It’s that time of year again, when something seemingly simple like sending Christmas cards becomes a major source of stress. As I licked, addressed and stamped more holiday cards than I’d like to say, my toddler looked in wonder and thought it was a fun game. So I did a little searching for a mail toy for him and low and behold here it is.

No surprise, it’s from Melissa & Doug, the king of wooden toys and puzzles. The hand-painted mailbox set, $39.95, comes with six different shaped letters that correspond to slots in the box. There’s also stamps that Velcro on to the letters and a key to open the box when it’s full. If only my two-year-old could write out the Christmas cards, I’d be in good shape.

More Than Just A Giraffe Puzzle From KId-O

Chris Ford — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:01:00 GMT

My daughter is really into creating and recognizing patterns, and if you've got a young one in your life who is similar, you'll probably want to check this out. The "Noticing Differences - Giraffes" puzzle shows kids the subtle differences between the giraffes. So what's so special?

But the cool thing is it's no ordinary puzzle either. The backgrounds (color background and a puzzle outline) are removable which will vary the degree of difficulty.

Noticing Differences - Giraffes, $19.00 from Kid-O

House Puzzle, Furniture Included

Lisa Mulcahy — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:28:00 GMT

I love toys that do double duty. This play house and furniture set is a clever combo.

As its name suggests, The All-in-One House, $49.95, is an ingenious solid play set and puzzle in one. Made of alder wood, this German-designed cool casa will not only build spatial relation skills but also help nurture an interest in interior design.

Eight-Legged Learning

Lisa Mulcahy — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:18:00 GMT

Anything that combines colors, numbers and animals keeps my two-year old occupied for hours (well, maybe a few precious minutes that seem like hours).

Now that he’s has mastered basic puzzles he’s moved on to more complex ones like Imagiplay’s Count Octopus Puzzle, $19.95. The challenge keeps him interested and I’m always amazed by how he counts, names the colors and assembles the octopus all at once.

Puzzles (or Artwork) by Djeco

elizabeth leach — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:01:00 GMT

The new puzzles by Djeco are so gorgeous I want to frame them! Don't these luscious colors pop? I imagine any kid would be thrilled to learn his matching skills with these colorful puzzles. And they can be so much more than just a puzzle. These adorable figures are just begging to sing songs to each other and have wonderful adventures. See more after the jump...

Puzzles are made of wood and non-toxic paint and finishes. Buy them at Oompa for $15.49 each.

Learning to Sign Can Be Fun

Erin Behan — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:07:00 GMT

Sign language classes are popular in my neighborhood, and I love this puzzle that either reinforces or helps teach signing. The shape of the puzzle is the sign for "I Love You" and each piece has the symbol on one side and the letter on the other. Kind of like the game Memory but for sign language.

It's available at Busy Bee Learning ($29.99), which has many more games and toys that teach signing.

Editor Picks: Top 5 from the Swag Bag

editors — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:37:00 GMT

Sometimes we get overwhelmed with the product submissions here at Babble, but we like to give attention to everything that crosses our desks. So what’s a busy editor to do? Take home a big bag of the most interesting looking stuff and put the kids to work. Here are five that stood out during toddler testing:

1. Oink Le Rouge and Memo Wee from Strangeco

The first things pulled from the bag were these over-sized plushies by Strangeco, co-produced with the Museum of Modern Art. My kid loved Oink Le Rouge, while her little buddy couldn’t stop squeezing Memo Wee. These terry cloth cuties are two of the characters in the Somewhere City series.

All ages.

Buy it from Amazon for $29.99

2. Horses My First Puzzles

A spontaneous “Ooooooh,” occurred when one tester opened up Horses My First Puzzles sold at Little Jet Set. This travel pack looks like a kiddie lunch box and comes with five toddler-sized puzzles in separate baggies (which all got mixed up fairly quickly). The beauty of this set is that if you’ve got a puzzle lover like we do at our house, there are five different ways to entertain them on a long plane, train or car ride. And they can carry this toy all by themselves! As if.

Ages 2 and up.

Buy it from Little Jet Set for $19.95.

3. ABC in NYC by Robin Segal

Everyone’s favorite book in the bunch was ABC in NYC (Murray Hill, 2008) I was blown away by what my daughter recognized only being a resident of this fine city for two years, most of those blissfully unaware. When she id’d the taxi and the subway station I knew we didn’t have a car culture kid. But my personal favorites were the less obvious NYC scenes. For letter “H” there were knockoff Guess handbags being sold on the street and “S” offered up a “Slice of Sicilian.”

The All 'Bout Cities series also has ABC in Washington D.C.; both of these books are ideal companions on your family vacations. While in the nation’s capital your kids can look out for “Pennsylvania Avenue” and all of the swarming “news crews.”

All ages.

Buy ABC in NYC and for $12.95 at Little Jet Set, ABC in Washington D.C. at Little Jet Set for $6.48.

4. ¿El Canguro Tiene Mamá¿ by Eric Carle

Still in books, we loved Eric Carle’s Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too? in Spanish, ¿El Canguro Tiene Mamá¿ (HarperCollins, 2008) Although it was extremely embarrassing to learn my two-year-old knew more words en Español than I.

All ages.

Buy it from Amazon for $6.99

5. Wow Wee Indoor/Outdoor Flyer - Butterfly

This flying robot (which is also for older kids than our testers) was not able to reach its full potential since we were inside a small apartment. Instead, after revving it up for a few seconds, the butterfly buzzed around the room and scared the crap out of our cocker spaniel while making dad laugh hysterically. The little ones were alternately fascinated and frightened. So, big hit with dad, not so much with the kids (or dog).

Ages 6 and up.

Buy it from Amazon for $19.99

Didn’t Make the Cut:

Bob the Builder: The Three Musketrucks

“We watch this later,” was the definitive word when presented with Bob the Builder: The Three Musketrucks DVD. We haven’t yet, and I am still wondering what exactly a Musketruck is. – April Peveteaux

Puzzimals: Hand Made Wooden Animal Puzzles

Chris Ford — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:08:00 GMT

Puzzimals are wooden puzzles of animals that are hand crafted and free-standing. Most designs have the name of the animal incorporated into them, but the best thing about them is the price.

There are hundreds of designs in just about any animal you can think of, from a rhinoceros (pictured) to a giraffe to a bobcat. You can also get most of the designs as Christmas ornaments. The crazy thing though (to me at least) is the price. Each animal is only $12.00. So for the little animal lover in your life it might make the perfect gift.

Puzzimals, each around $12.00 from the Puzzimals shop at Etsy.com

Kid O Toys: Beautiful Enough for Your BarberOsgerby Coffee Table

Sarah Verdone — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:29:00 GMT

No BarberOsgerby Loop coffee table in your house? (See Aaron's post Is Your Baby Getting in the Way of Your Design Sense?) Never fear. Kid O's new line of puzzles and toys are so beautiful, they'll spruce up any living room. And owner Lisa Mahar thoughtfully designed them with learning specialists for extra brain-boosting powers. Due out in May. BarberOsgerby table sold separately.

Puzzle Dinner Tray Promotes Motor Skills, Teaches Place Settings

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:03:00 GMT

Playing with your food takes on a whole new meaning with this melamine Puzzle Dinner Tray from Dutch design house Royal VKB. The cup, knife, fork and spoon slide in and out of their place settings (the utensils even have peg handles to make them easier to manipulate), and the tray's rubber feet keep the whole mess in place. Here's hoping that if kids don't enjoy your cooking, they'll at least have a reason to sit quietly at the table while the rest of the family enjoys dinner.

Oh, yeah, the bad news: It's $50. (Via La Prima.)

Design with David Netto: M.C. Escher lizard puzzle

editors — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:00:00 GMT

I'm more optimistic about the state of kids' design now than I ever thought I'd be. When my first NettoCollection crib came out in 2003, it seemed like there was nothing out there, just the sound of crickets in response to the cry of young parents everywhere who wanted something new, something stylish, something . . . good.

Design for kids had gotten pretty low down, but things are getting better every day. A magazine like Babble is one of the signs of this recovery. When they asked me to do a column talking about products I like, I jumped at the opportunity to show you what I think is the best stuff for kids right now.

Every other week, I'll pick something (mostly modern, but we'll mix it up) and talk about why I think it's great, why you and your kids will like it, and where you can buy it. As a children's furniture designer and as a dad, all kinds of things catch my eye — high, low, big, small . . . Here we go!

The MoMA store has many wonderful things for kids and this M.C. Escher Lizards Puzzle ($18) is one of my favorites. All kids love lizards — better still, a herd of 'em. This puzzle is playful, but it's actually also a great tool for teaching puzzle-solving skills with some flexibility. The graphic aspect kind of reminds me of Keith Haring. It looks cool enough that you won't mind seeing it on the floor, even in the living room. And when it's not put together, it's actually fifteen toys!

Design with David Netto appears in drool.icio.us every Thursday.

6-in-1 Naef Animal Puzzle

Erin Behan — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:12:00 GMT

Living in a small space helps one to appreciate toys that do double, or even triple, duty. So it's no surprise that I can't get over the ingeniousness of the Naef Animal Puzzle (now $89.99 at Nova68), which can be made into an elephant, monkey, lion, owl, bunny (pictured) and bear--plus any creative combination thereof. Perfect for the child with an endless imagination.

Finns Finnish First in Disk Game from Kiosk

Sarah Verdone — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:26:00 GMT

You should thank Kiosk. They trot all over the globe to find the coolest stuff, so you don't have to! Naturally, they've discovered lots of good loot in FInland. Perhaps it's the lack of sunlight, but this chilly nation has churned out some incredible talents. Marimekko, Alvar Aalto, Eero Saarinen, the Moomins. . . .

Now you can start teaching your child coordination skills and size differences in Scandi style. You can even keep this on your Eames coffee table. It doesn't get much more minimal than this, kids! $30 at Kiosk (while they last).

Droolworthy: No More Lost Pieces with Ceaco's Pieceless Puzzles

Mir — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:30:00 GMT

You have to see this to believe it: Ceaco has developed a "pieceless puzzle" which is actually all one piece. Pieces cannot get lost, and every puzzle is double-sided. I was skeptical (this cannot possibly be fun! they must be very easy!), but now that I've watched the video, I'm a believer. Different age levels available, so you can buy for everyone in the family. Puzzles start at $11.99; watch the clip after the jump to see what it's all about.

The Puzzle People USA-Made Wooden Puzzles

Mir — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 22:03:00 GMT

Here's another fine offering made right here in American (California, to be exact): The Puzzle People offer a variety of hand-crafted wooden puzzles, but I think the map puzzles are my favorite. Sure, a wooden puzzle of the United States isn't too hard to find, but this is the first puzzle of Africa ($45) I've seen. Between that and the puzzle of Europe ($40), Junior could be honing his fine motor skills and learning about world geography.

Just-Right Jigsaws: Jigsaw2Order Photo Puzzles

Mir — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:01:00 GMT

My first thought when I saw these photo puzzles from Jigsaw2Order was that a photo of the kids on one of those would be a nice gift for the grandparents. My second thought was that -- even better -- would be to make a puzzle as a big brother or big sister gift. In the case of a newborn, a picture of the big sib holding the baby would likely be a huge hit. And if there's an adoption going on where a referral picture has been received but the family is now waiting, what a wonderful way to let the other child(ren) in the family join in the anticipation. Prices start at $15.95 and puzzles come in various shapes and sizes, and in an assortment of difficulties.