droolicious : stocking stuffers

Drumstick Pencil Takes Kids From PSATs to Paradiddles

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 22:00:00 GMT

Here's a nice cheap find for the musical kid who can't stop tapping on his or her desk: One end of Suck UK's Drumstick Pencil makes for a common writing implement, but flip the pencil around -- or toss it in the air dramatically -- and you've got a real wooden drumstick. Makes for a slightly unwieldy test-taking experience, sure, but the bonus cool points are worth it.

$9.99 from Perpetual Kid.

Maisy's Christmas Day

elizabeth leach — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:30:00 GMT

Join Maisy and her delightful friends on Christmas morning with this charming board book. My little girl is fascinated by Christmas trees and there's a Christmas tree on every page of this book. This is the best way to share the holidays with my daughter and for me to get in the holiday spirit!

Maisy's books are written by Lucy Cousins. Find Maisy's Christmas Day on Amazon for $5.99. Pick two day shipping for guaranteed delivery by December 24 and then stuff it in their stocking!

Stocking Stuffers: Thomas Tix?

Meredith Broussard — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Need an idea for a stocking-stuffer? Try tickets to ride on a "real" Thomas the Tank Engine.

A few weeks back, we gave away tickets to the Day Out With Thomas event at the Strasburg Railroad. I dropped by to check out the event, and I am pleased to report that all of our contest winners had an amazing time.

As soon as Thomas the Tank Engine steamed into the railroad depot, everyone at the railroad stopped dead in their tracks. Little kids, parents: everyone stood still and watched the Really Useful Engine chug past. I heard some cheers. This was the railfan equivalent of a princess-obsessed little girl meeting Cinderella at Disneyworld.

I'm a great fan of the Strasburg Railroad and other tourist railroads, and I was particularly impressed by the way that Strasburg pulled off such a huge, kid-intensive event. The activity tent had live music and various Sodor-related activities: the Babble crew liked the puzzles and the Thomas train table. The giant Sir Topham Hatt was not a hit with some of the smaller kids, who refused to have their pictures taken with him, but the temporary Thomas tattoos were beloved by all. There was also a Thomas gift shop (a permanent fixture at the railroad) and a merch tent (special to the event). Suffice it to say that in all of my years of shopping and writing about kids' products, I never imagined so many Thomas-themed items could exist. The permanent installations at Strasburg are a blast-- a crowd favorite was the 1920 Cagney Train, a miniature amusement park locomotive.

I'd go to Day Out With Thomas again in a heartbeat, especially in the nice weather. The drive through Amish country to Strasburg took us past working farms (cows! pigs! horses! grain silos!) and sights like the Red Caboose Motel, a motel whose rooms are converted Pennsylvania Railroad cabooses.

Dates for Day Out With Thomas 2009 include June 13 - 21, September 12 - 20, and December 4 - 6 in Strasburg, PA, with additional dates at various locations around the country. Prices are $18 and up at Ticketweb.

Modern Paint Set

elizabeth leach — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:00:00 GMT

This mini paint set unfolds from a neat box to include water colors, a natural bristle paint brush, mixing palette, two water cups, water bottle and pencil. Perfectly packaged in a clean, modern style.

Pocket Paint Set measures 3" x 6" x 1.5". Find it at Modern Tots.

3D Drawing Pad Makes Scribbles Jump Off the Page

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:00:00 GMT

No one's saying this 3D drawing pad will turn your kids into better artists, but even the messiest chicken scratch will inspire a chorus of "Oooohs" when you slip on the included glasses. Each pad holds 50 6" x 8.25" sheets -- pick up a spare for your own stocking, and pair it with the 3D doodle kit for maximum eye-bugging fun.

$7.99 from Perpetual Kid.

Stocking Stuffers: Spinning Sock Monkeys and Other Tin Toys

Erin Behan — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:13:00 GMT

I'm no stranger to sock monkeys in their many forms, but this is my first encounter with the sock monkey YoYo. And why not buy two at this price--$3.98 per monkey at Aaron's TIn Toy Arcade. And while you're at Aaron's tin toy emporium, you should check out all the other cool, mostly inexpensive classic tin toys he's got for sale.

Eco-Friendly Stocking Stuffer: EnviroBlox

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:04:00 GMT

Made from corn starch, Cadaco's EnviroBlox are the biodegradable alternative to traditional plastic building blocks. You wet the packing-peanut-style Blox with the included sponge to stick them together, and instead of having to shelve away a bunch of pieces when playtime is over, you just run the kids' creation under water to watch it melt away. Warning, though: EnviroBlox' melting capabilities can be alluring enough that more mischievous kids may get off on simply watching the blocks dissolve.

The EnviroBlox 400-piece X-Treme Builder Set (pictured) is $9.99 from Amazon, while the more stocking-sized Deluxe Set is $6.99.

Ho-Ho-Ho, Halloween's Over!

Aaron Burgess — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Not that the impending shopping rush hasn't been crammed down our throats since, oh, before the economy collapsed, but here's a nice, affordable little way to kick-start your holiday '08 toy purchases: Playmobil's Santa Claus figure/stocking stuffer, just $3.29, and it comes with everything you see here (except for the snow -- you can keep that, Old Man Winter).

Look Out! It's the Spy Gear Roll-In Blaster

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Among the gazillion new levels of secret-agent coolness in Spy Gear's 2008 line, the Roll-In Blaster stands out -- and blows up -- as one of the coolest. You roll the softball-sized distraction into a room, and it dramatically stands itself up before exploding into pieces, complete with sound effects to fry Mom and Dad's last remaining nerves. That, of course, makes it all the more appealing to kids, as does the fact that they can rebuild it to wreak havoc again and again and again.

$11.99 from Amazon.

Cool Metal Kazoos

Erin Behan — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:50:00 GMT

Having kids means not sleeping and rediscovering the joys of childhood, like playing the kazoo. Turns out my parents were holding out on me, as we always had "normal" kazoos. Now I know that there are some really cool options out there like this metal tractor kazoo (above, $19.95) and this metal race car kazoo (below, $19.95). The kazoos are made in Eden, New York, the same way they were in 1916 (see the Kazoo Factory's website).

Stocking Stuffer: Secret Message Writing Set

Erin Behan — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:06:00 GMT

It's probably a little late to be hiding your wish list from Santa, but these invisible ink pens are sure to be a hit in a Christmas stocking. And much better than just wrapping that old Bic pen you found in the back of the junk drawer. The included black light in the pen cap reveals the secret message, and a 36-hour battery is included. Only $4.99 at the Container Store. And, for a limited time, spend $100 on stocking stuffers at the Container Store online, and get free shipping.

Stocking Stuffer: Animal Webcams

Erin Behan — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:12:00 GMT

Though specific tech details are sketchy on the Red Envelope website, the site's animal webcams sure are cute. And measuring no more than 3 inches in any direction, a perfect fit for a slightly older kid's stocking. The techno critters make me wish that I could get away with staring into a dinosaur-shaped camera during my next video-enabled business meeting. Regular price for Red Envelope's animal webcams is $35, but right now they are on sale for $19 each.

Hand Made: Spin Me Right Round Baby, Right Round

chrisjordan — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:02:00 GMT

Set of three little tops that have been hand turned on a lathe, like a record, Baby, and hand painted. Excellent stocking stuffers, no?

Available at Sleeping Forest for $15