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MindWare
Best Toys for All Ages
Sometimes grown-up gifts can get boring - so why not try a toy that’s great for parents and kids alike? Check out our top picks:
- Perplexus Puzzle challenges you to guide a ball through a mind-boggling 3-D labyrinth to reach the finish point. It’s fun for everyone, whether you’re 8 or 58.
- Star Wars Force Trainer is perfect for any Star Wars fan: just “use the force” to levitate a sphere up and down the chamber through 15 levels of Jedi mind training.
Want Your Kids to Learn About the World? Try a Geography Game!
My sister Rebecca lives in New Zealand, and I periodically get out the globe and show my kids where she is compared to where we are. I want my children to grow up knowing about our world’s fascinating diversity of people, plants and animals—and appreciating how amazing the Earth really is.
If you feel the same as I do, there are some great geography toys out there that may interest you:
- “Where in the World?” game helps kids learn about different countries’ flags, populations, currencies, languages, religions and economies. A helpful feature is its design, which allows younger and older children to play at the same time.
- For kids who are serious about geography, you may want to invest in MindWare’s brand new interactive “Smart Globe 3,” which teaches kids about different countries’ people, weather and currency. It can be updated online, keeping information current even as situations change around the world.
Top Holiday Toys Under $20
This holiday season, almost everyone is a little more budget-conscious. Luckily, we have some great products for less than $20, perfect for any budget. Here are our top picks:
- Extreme Dot-to-Dot Books - $15.95 for set of 2: We’ve mentioned these a lot lately, but it’s just because they’re so cool. Some of the puzzles have more than 1,400 dots to connect - which makes them great for kids and parents alike.
- Dizios - $19.95 : This is like dominos with a colorful twist, and is great for family time. It might be the perfect family activity for that lull between the present-opening and dinner.
Top Holiday Stocking Stuffers
I reveled in those Christmas mornings of old. One of my sisters would shake me awake; we’d tiptoe down the stairs, jittery with excitement, and peer around the corner at the fireplace mantle. We’d gleefully pounce on our stockings and exclaim as each treasure was discovered—even the predictable apple and orange found in the stocking’s toe. It seemed absolutely magical (although I’m sure there was plenty of fighting and arguing that has been conveniently forgotten with the passing of time). Now I want to create that sense of wonder for my own children—while keeping the family Christmas budget in mind.
What are some good stocking stuffers? These gifts help children develop a variety of skills and are tons of fun:
- Arty fun: Arts and crafts are good choices for stockings: think of paintbrushes and paints, crayons and coloring books, glittery stickers, fun pens and pencils, beaded jewelry-making kits, Silly Putty and Play Doh. Visit an arts and crafts store in person or on line and you’ll be amazed at the options. Kids can also create their own books, t-shirts, masks, monster dolls, and puzzles.
Toys So Great Even Adults Want to Play
Most people who know me know that I’m kind of a big kid, so it’s not surprising that I had to restrain myself from grabbing a red pen and circling about 20 items in my latest MindWare catalog. What’s so great about their products is that a lot of them are really enjoyable for kids and adults alike, and they’re lifetime pieces that you can keep coming back to. Here’s a short list (and believe me, it was tough to narrow it to these few) of my favs:
- Match Wits With Mensa: I have a cousin who’s a member of this prestigious organization, so I’ve always been in awe of it. This would also be a great activity to do with my mother, who complains of needing a “brain workout.”
- Mancala for Four: I could hardly contain my excitement when I saw this game and proceeded to ask everyone I know, “Do you remember Mancala? I found a 4-player version!” This is totally a game of my generation and was always a fixture on camping vacations - and now my whole family can play!
Holiday Shopping Tips: Get Ahead!
Every year I vow to be more organized during the holiday season. And every year I end up running around like a mad woman trying to get everything done – shopping for gifts, baking, party planning, decorating. I’m in awe of and a bit jealous of my friends who are uber-prepared and get their shopping done early. But this year I have vowed to get a head start on holiday shopping to make my December more relaxed and enjoyable.
- Start Organized: Organization is key when shopping early. It’s wise to start by reviewing your finances and planning your overall holiday spending. Don’t forget that in addition to buying gifts, you may have other holiday expenses such as food, travel, decorations, holiday cards, postage, and gratuities. Make a list of all of the people for whom you will be shopping, including teachers and babysitters. Create a shopping list by beginning with a dollar amount of how much you plan to spend, then think of different gifts within that price range. Leave adequate space for tracking what you’ve purchased. If you prefer to record things electronically, you can create a master spreadsheet and give it password protection.
- Watch For Discounts: Stay on the lookout for rebates, coupons, and sales in weekly flyers. You can search for items online and do some price comparisons there as well. You may know that certain items won’t have a change in price between now and the holidays. I went ahead and bought an item for my daughter a few weeks ago because I know that it will not go on sale between now and Christmas, so I may as well buy it now.
- Check the Return Policy: One thing to be aware of when shopping early is a company’s return policy. While some stores expand their return policy around the holidays, others don’t, so be sure to ask before you buy.
- Stay Sharp: Whether you shop online or in person, stay hydrated and give yourself time to eat meals and snacks as needed. The last thing you want is to end up mentally fatigued, which can lead to buying a less-than-ideal gift just so you can be done. Besides, who wants to shop while feeling cranky and irritable? You want to be making wise, prudent choices when you’re spending your money.
- Wrap As You Go: Make things easier on yourself by wrapping presents as you buy them. You can leave off ribbons and bows for now in order to make stacking and storing gifts easier. Don’t forget to label whom the gift is for, or, if you think you may need to know the contents, unobtrusively number each one and include that correlation in your master list.
- Think Homemade: Now is a great time to start making homemade holiday gifts if you’re so inclined. Picture frames, ornaments, and framed artwork are great choices. For more ideas, see my blog from October 23.
- The More The Merrier: It might be fun to plan some shopping outings with children. By having your kids or grandkids with you when shopping, you instill in them the joy of giving gifts to others. Plan to make those trips with the kids short and try to go when stores are less crowded.
- Quit While You’re Ahead: Finally, once you’ve completed your gift-giving list, stop shopping! Once your list is complete and your budget spent, it’s time to relax and be happy you’re done.
Now I’m motivated to get my spreadsheet started. And better yet, I already have gifts to list on it! Here’s to a tranquil, joy-filled December.
MindWare Products Win Parents’ Choice Foundation Awards!
Last week, two of our favorite new products - Qwirkle Cubes and Guacamole - were given Parents’ Choice Foundation Awards. 
We’re so excited that our games have been recognized by this prestigious association. Here’s what the Parents’ Choice Foundation says about toys: “Good toys are about construction, not destruction. They’re about sparking imaginations, not stifling them. Good toys (and puzzles and games) offer new ways of thinking, new ways of seeing, and new ways of creating. Good toys, be they rooted in tradition or launched by technology, offer new approaches to learning; imagination, not a power supply, is the catalyst. From the magic of science to the worlds of make believe, learning adventures are propelled by puppets, mind-bending puzzles, and some knock-your-socks-off games.”
At MindWare, these are the types of toys that we strive to provide, and we’re honored that we have two more products to add to our list of award-winners.
Check out the complete list of Parents’ Choice Foundation’s top toys here.
Rainy Day Toys
I usually don’t mind the rain, but after enduring an incredibly soggy October, I began to dread those stuck-indoors days. The kids would start bouncing off the walls. No playground. No nice, meandering walks. No t-ball in the front yard. But of course there was more than enough squabbling between siblings! What can we do on those days when it’s too cold or too wet to play outside?
Luckily there are lots of toys out there that are perfect for dreary days:
- Break Out the Board Games: Puzzles and games are another great way to enjoy a bad-weather day. Recall your own childhood days with classics like Memory, Candy Land, and Chutes and Ladders. Older kids might enjoy Qwirkle or CrossWise, Pictionary, or Sequence. Puzzles are good for kids’ brains, and they can even make their own by using MindWare’s Puzzle Maker. Card games can also be a fun way to spend a rainy day – remember Old Maid and Go Fish?
Inspiring Toys for Girls
Born into a family with two older brothers, my daughter entered this world surrounded by Legos and Hotwheels. Anything remotely appealing to a little girl was nowhere in the picture. It didn’t take long, however, for the “girly stuff” to start taking over our home: dolls, Barbies, dress-up clothes… basically anything pink and glittery.
However, over the years I have found myself extremely frustrated with how hard it is to find unique, quality, educational toys for girls. I can’t tell you how many times my daughter and I have wandered the toy department isles trying to find a special birthday gift that we feel good about giving. After the last disappointing shopping trip, I made it my mission to find products that inspire and educate girls as well as entertain them.
After browsing through the MindWare catalog, I was so excited about the great toys they offer for girls of all ages — toys that are unique, imaginative and encourage creativity. Here are a few of my daughter’s favorites:
- My A-to-Z Recipe Box (Ages 6 and up) - Cooking is a great way to build an understanding of basic chemistry and math. This charming receipe box and card set features color illustrations and easy-to-follow instructions for preparing 26 different tasty treats.
Holiday Tip: Try a Homemade Gift!
It seems like more of us are trying to simplify our lives these days, whether to reduce clutter, stay organized, or better follow a tightened budget. But we also can’t resist getting friends and family members gifts, whether it’s for birthdays or holidays. How do we reconcile these sometimes conflicting ideals? One way is by making homemade gifts.
I polled some moms I know for their favorite homemade gift ideas. One friend of mine made fairy wands for the young guests at her daughter’s birthday party. She and her kids gathered sticks from their backyard and then hot glued felt stars and bright, patterned ribbons to the ends. So cute! Here are some of other ideas for gifts your kids can make themselves:
- Try a Treat: Who doesn’t like receiving homemade chocolates, cookies, or breads? And spending time with kids in the kitchen is a great way for them to learn a variety of skills (see my blog from October 9 for more information on that topic). Make your favorite cookies or candy, put them in a cute little tin, and voila! A great, yummy gift is complete. One year (I admit this was before I had children) I made dark chocolate truffles for Christmas. Your kids can even get in on the candy-making fun with MindWare’s Candy Factory. If the people on your list are trying to steer clear of sweets, you could buy a soap-making kit or jewelry-making supplies from your local craft store to help you get started.
Perform your own experiments - with delicious results!
