Making sand cakes

Do your kids like to play in a sand box? Who am I kidding, I love sandboxes myself! We have a sand box outside filled with purple craft sand. But we can't use it when it's 37F and raining.

Once for a party we made enough InstaSnow to fill a large storage box. But it did not last and it was difficult to clean up. We tried Moon Sand, but it was very messy. We use play dough but I don't like the smell of it and I don't like the clean up part, especially if it gets on carpets. So we were on a lookout for something better...

Finally, at the Toy Fair, I found a perfect compound for an indoor sand box. It is called Bubber and it is made in Sweden by the same company that makes Moon Sand. Bubber is lightweight, non greasy, non sticky, non smelly and it never dries out. It's very easy to clean up from clothing and floors.

You can mold it; you can make bricks and build castles from them; you can take a cup and make sand cakes; you can compact it and then carve it. It's the perfect material for pint sized sculptors. (And it makes a good substitute for a stress ball.)

So, today we received a bag of neon green Bubber in the mail. The 24oz bag filled a 5 gallon Ikea Slugis box (21x13x6 in). We took some plastic knifes, scissors, molds and cups, and went on building things. We spent the whole evening by the sand box making green sand cakes.

(images: Mamalya)

Would you like a goo bath?

This is a really weird product from UK, it's called Gelli Baff. The add says that it "turns bath water into goo... and back again". Well, that is exactly what it does. And it comes in some pretty funky colors (there is even a color changing version). But it won't stain kids, towels or carpets. Chemically speaking it is a powder similar to one used in disposable diapers (sodium polyacrylate to be exact). It can hold 400 times its own weight in water.

So, in the box you get two packets. You fill the bath tub with warm water and add the packet #1. The water turns into brightly colored goop. Not slimy goo, though, something like gelatin. Your kid -if he is an adventurous type- jumps in and hopefully has a good time. When he's done, you add a packet #2, which is pure table salt. The goo turns back into liquid, that is safe for the septic system. You rinse the child and he is good to go.

Here's a TV commercial:


But the question is, would you buy it? Do you think your child would get in?

The official website is www.gellibaff.co.uk

Rubik's Slide

I don't know why when somebody writes about the Toy fair, they write about Barbie trying on new jobs or "The Toy Story" themed products. There were lots of toys that deserve attention. I have a great passion for toys that are versatile, encourage open play, encourage using one's brain and imagination. I am not paid a dime for my reviews. I'm writing them simply because I want others to know about good toys.

Did you know that the Rubik's cube celebrates its 30th anniversary this year? And it still is the world's best selling puzzle. Last year the makers of Rubik's cube came up with the TouchCube, which basically was an electronic version of the original one. This year at the Toy Fair the new Rubik's Slide was unveiled. It's an electronic hybrid of the "Magic cube" and the slide puzzle (aka "15 game"). You can twist it. You can slide it. But can you solve it? This is a great way to pass the love of puzzles on to your kids. Though you might find it hard to part with a Slide. I am keeping mine to myself, that's for sure.

There are 10,000 brain-busting puzzles in 3 different levels (easy, medium and difficult) and 2 different mode of play (free play or timed mode). The object of each puzzle is to rearrange the pattern of lights until they match the solution for this puzzle.

The Slide will be available this summer. You can watch the demo here: http://www.technosourcehk.com

(image source Techno Source USA)

Photos from Toy Fair

Welcome to the photo review of the Toy Fair.  New York. 2010.
The overview of the lower exhibition hall. Toys! Everywhere!	One of the Ugly Dolls walking around. He does not talk, but he can bounce.
The opening day parade. This is the Elf [on the shelf] and a plush YooHoo.	Buzz and Woody from "The Toy Story".

(images: Mamalya)

The Toys are coming to town!

Hi, we are lucky enough to be attending the International Toy Fair in NYC this week.

We have our personal favorites on the show. And we're upset not to see them getting enough attention from media.

So, we'll be presenting you with our "off-the-mainstream" reviews.

Come back to read about construction toys, educational materials, board games and more.