FUNdamentally Toys: Top Toy Picks for Holiday 2014

Not sure which toys will make the kids on your holiday gift list happy? Our Top Toy Pick List is a good place to start! 

 

While our store is filled with a great assortment of high-quality toys this season, we've narrowed it down to a selection of items we think will be the biggest hits that offer fantastic fun and learning.

From creative exploration to scientific discovery, from infant to adult, and from solo play to family fun, we've got you covered. Stop by and let us help you select the perfect gift for everyone on your list!

Arts & Crafts: Encourage your budding artist with these creative picks.

• Clay Charms by Klutz: Create adorable charms to wear and share. Age 8+.

• Fashion Plates by Kahootz: Mix and match to design cool fashions. Age 6+.

• Plush Crafts by Orb Factory: Make no-sew pillows in various designs. Age 5+.

• Spyrograph Cyclex by Kahoots: Draw over 80 designs and patterns. Age 5+.

Books: Always a great gift! We have one fantastic pick.

• Ocean: A Photicular Book, takes readers on a deep sea journey. Age 6+.

Construction:

• Magna-Tiles: Build 3-D structures with colorful 32-, 48- & 100-pc sets. Age 3+.

• Creative Cars: Create cool vehicles with this 40-pc. Duplo set. Age 1 1/2 - 5.

Dolls: Big Fun with this Incredible Calico Critter favorite.

• Adventure Tree House: Endless fun with these cute creatures and features. Age 3+.

Educational: Toys that teach.

• Play Draw Create Kit by Innovative Kids: A reusable drawing and magnet kit. Age 3+.

• The Extraordinaires by Creatlvity Hub: Doodle, design and create imaginative things. Age 8-adult

• Sick Science by BeAmazing: Discover the science behind the fun! Age 6-96.

• Snap Circuits Motion by Elenco: Explore electricity and electronics with tons of projects. Age 8+.

• EM4 Robot by Elenco: Build four amazing motorized robots. Age 6+.

Games: Family Fun for ages 3-adult.

• Peek-A-Doodle Do by Fat Brain Toys: Find and hide chicks and eggs. Age 3+.

• Robot Turtles by Think Fun: Learn coding with multiple levels of play. Age 4+.

• Gravity Maze by Think Fun: Build a maze and watch your marble move with gravity. Age 8-adult.

• Pyramix by Gamewright: Strategically remove cubes. Age 8-adult.

• Simon by Hasbro: Conquer the colors with touch technology. Age 8+.

• Press Here The Game by Chronicle Books: Complete color sequencing for highly visual fun. Age 3+.

Infant & Toddler: Fun and learning for the little ones.

• Grapple by Boingy: Keep all of baby's toys together with this unique tether. Age 6+ mos.

• Crocodile Xylophone by Skip Hop: Make beautiful music with this clacking pull toy. Age 18+ mos.

• Roller Derby by Hape: Have a mountain of fun with balls and fast tracks. Age 12+ mos.

• DIY Trucks by Janod: Build and rebuild this colorful wooden truck with tools. Age 18+ mos.

Get your Hands Around these Two Finds:

• Kinetic Sand by Waba Fun: Squish this! It's 98% real sand and 2% magic. Age 3+.

• Boxing Set by NSG: Work on your moves and improve hand-eye coordination. Age 4+.

All these selections are available in-store. Some are available online.

Be merry. Stay bright!

Debbie School
Owner, FUNdamentally Toys

Pirate Speak: Truth be Told about Talk Like a Pirate Day

Arrr! It's that time of year again, mateys. Time to celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day!

The day was invented in 1995 by a couple of "dinghy-sized" (as they put it) racquetball players, John Baur and Mark Summers. As they huffed and puffed around the court, they simply got to talking like pirates at each whack of the ball. The two decided to make it an "official" day and chose September 19 to mark the occasion, simply because it was Summers' ex-wife's birthday and they could easily remember the date.

For seven years, Baur and Summers quietly celebrated Talk Like a Pirate Day on their own, which meant basically doing nothing about it. Then on a lark in 2002, they fired off an email to syndicated columnist Dave Barry, thinking he might be the "frigate-sized" celebrity who could help them bring their day to national attention. And that he did, indeed.

Barry wrote a hilarious column about Talk Like a Pirate Day in 2002, touting Baur and Summers as visionary, revolutionary, and "...individuals who should be on medication." With Barry's gifted gab, the pirate-talking duo went on to get much more than just their twenty minutes of fame. They got lots of interviews and fun press, and the two continue to keep up their informative website, www.talklikeapirate.com, which was my go-to source for planning FUNdamentally Toys' Talk Like a Pirate Day event. Thanks, you guys!

You'll get a hearty laugh out of Dave Barry's column about Talk Like a Pirate Day which was featured in the September 8, 2002, edition of the Miami Herald:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2002/09/08/100129/arrrrr-talk-like-a-pirate-or-prepare.html

It's the simple silliness of talking like a pirate that makes it so much fun. Who can ever keep a straight face saying stuff like, "Shimmer me timbers!" or "Avast, me beauty." No one knows if pirates really talked this way, but who cares, it's fun.

Aye, to be sure, pirates are and never were nice people. For some reason, they have been romanticized in books, films, tourist attractions, and more. Maybe it's because of their rogue personalities and devil-may-care attitudes. Or maybe it's the a horrid fascination with their shabby dress, rotten teeth, hook arms, peg legs, and parrots on their shoulders - not to mention the monkeys running around the decks. Now that shivers me timbers - not in a good way. Thankfully, Johnny Depp cleaned up the pirate look quite a bit in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies with his fancy clothes. I might even consider dating a pirate if he looked that good, puffy shirt or not.

So here's to a little nonsensical fun! 

Join us at FUNdamentally Toys for Talk Like a Pirate Day, Friday, September 19. We're hosting a pirate magic show at 7 p.m., plus kids can come in anytime to follow a treasure map through the store and plunder some FREE booty out of the treasure chest. Or they can pillage through our stash of pirate stuff. We've also been running tutorials on learning to speak like a pirate on Facebook all week. Say the right phrase and you'll save 20% on your pirate purchase this weekend!

Avast, me hearties, I must take me leave ... Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Debbie Scholl.
FUNdamentally Toys

Math: The Numbers Just Keep Adding Up

Going back to school in the fall felt partly exciting and partly terrifying for various reasons when I was young.

The exciting part was having new school supplies - two sharp Laddie pencils, a shiny new box of crayons, a fresh, clean yellow pad of paper, and, of course, a nice, big, fat pink eraser. If I was lucky, I'd even have a new book bag to hold them all.

I looked forward to going to school and learning came fairly easily to me. Not to brag, but I learned to read well at an early age, had nice penmanship, and became an ace speller. I loved the subjects of geography and history, and I was pretty creative when it came to projects. This was the fun part of school.

Then there was math - the terrifying part. It started out easily enough with 1+1 = 2, then quickly accelerated to complex and difficult before I knew it. I was completely paranoid that everyone else was getting it except me. I would come home and go over and over math problems until I was bleary-eyed, but I eventually understood them. I knew I could not let myself fall behind. The numbers were just getting bigger!

Math is simply, or not so simply, one of those subjects in which you can't fall behind or you're seriously done for. Later in life, no one will care if you have sloppy penmanship or you can't name the capital of your state. You can live with those shortcomings. But math in some way, shape, or form will follow you around the rest of your life, so it's important to make sure your early learner understands math concepts and doesn't fall behind.

In ABC News this week there was a fascinating article about how kids learn math and what parts of their brains work while solving math problems. Memory-based problem solving is an important key to learning math.

Take multiplication tables. They're just one of those things you have to memorize. You'll never ever in your life count to 70 on your fingers. You just have to know and understand that 7 tens equal 70, meaning 7 x 10 = 70,  and inversely that 10 x 7 = 70, and also that 70/10 = 7, and so on. Forwards, backwards, and inside out, you just have to know it and be able to retrieve it in your brain.

Bottom line of the article is that it pays to drill your kids on simple addition, subtraction, and multiplication tables. It builds strong, stable, and efficient connections in the brain and develops skills they will use their whole lives.

Read more about math learning in the ABC News' article, Kids Brains Re-organize When Learning Math Skills.

Debbie Scholl
Owner, Fundamentally Toys

It's Not Whether you Win or Lose ...

NPR consistently presents interesting and fascinating stories. I sometimes find myself pulling off the road when I am driving so that I can listen more intently. Such was the case for me earlier this week with a feature piece called When Kids Start Playing to Win.

A story began with banter between a mom and her five-year-old son as they were playing Monopoly. Suddenly the son screamed, "Noooooo!" as his mom started buying some properties. He felt like he was losing and was not happy about it.

This exchange particularly struck me because Fundamentally Toys was putting together a Family Fun Game Weekend for August 8 - 10, 2014 and I thought, Hmm ... what could I learn here?

The story went on to discuss how by age five kids start to categorize - such as fast/slow or big/small, for example. They develop the ability to compare and start making judgments that fast is better than slow, or that small is not good. Between the ages of seven and eight kids begin comparing themselves to other kids and making decisions about where they personally think they rank on the totem pole. A kid might think, "If I'm not at the top, I must be a loser."

Unfortunately, at this tender young age, the part of the brain that helps children deal with the emotions of losing or not being on top is the last to develop. As parents we may try and shield our children by not allowing them to compete in any way. But that's a bad thing as well. Trying and failing holds valuable lessons for children, such as learning from mistakes and moving forward with confidence.

If you have young ones dealing with comparison and competitiveness, I encourage you to listen to or read more about this NPR story: When Kids Start Playing to Win.

A good way to prepare your child for the competitiveness of life is through playing games as a family. Keep the competition friendly and fun. Behind it kids are learning new skills, experiencing the joy of winning, and coping with losing as well. Try and teach your kids not to focus on winning and that comparison really is not the point of playing games, or life, for that matter.

Let the games begin!

Debbie Scholl

"STEAM" Heat: Creativity is Key

There’s been much in the news lately about the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) in our education system. There are fears that America is falling behind many other countries in training young generations to fill jobs that will keep our nation on the leading edge of job creation and economic prosperity. It seems hard to argue against STEM and many people are fully on the bandwagon about it.

However, some folks do argue that with a heavy focus on STEM learning, the arts are being ignored. They lobby for adding “A” to STEM for STEAM because STEM is nothing without creativity and innovative thinking. Can't argue against that either. The STEAM idea is definitely heating up.

Think of the many everyday products we use that may not have even existed had companies not created and presented them with innovative design, clever marketing and advertising, and striking presentation or packaging. The mesh of tech and creativity is all around us.

But let's step away from the education arguments and focus on what parents can do to help children supplement their education and learning outside of school.  Hands-on activities and family educational outings often lead to “aha” moments in which kids realize what it takes to create something from scratch, or come to understand how things work in real life.

Games and toys have also always been a huge part of learning. The added element of fun takes the pressure off formal education. Games can quietly convince kids of their skill levels and help them realize how much they do know and use in real life. At Fundamentally Toys, we take a strong focus on toys that teach in addition to providing fun. Even purely fun toys can teach kids simple things.

I know I learned a lot by playing as a child. I built structures with Lincoln Logs and Tinker Toys. I got a fascinating bug book for Christmas one year that I clearly remember to this day. My family played board and card games in which I used mathematical skills and strategic thinking to try to win. School art projects gave me ideas to try other artistic endeavors at home – from coloring books to paint-by-number sets to free-form painting. Piano lessons never made me a musical prodigy, but clearly helped me understand choral singing later in life and how to dance and move to music and to even better appreciate musical performances.

Kids are naturally going move toward their strengths and interests. While it's great to encourage them toward what comes easily, it’s important to notice if your child might be shying away from a subject because she or he thinks they are not good at it. Don't let them give up without exploring what the issue is. It may all be in the learning approach. I remember my daughter struggling with fractions. She liked to bake, so I got an idea to help her learn. I pulled out the measuring cups and spoons. Suddenly, she had an “aha” moment in which fractions clicked in her mind. She easily understood and in the process turned out to be an excellent baker, too!

It won’t be long before kids will be heading back to school in Houston. Time to get minds back in shape. Stop in this weekend, July 18 – 20, 2014, and save 20% on all educational toys and games at Fundamentally Toys.

Full STEAM ahead!

Debbie School, Owner of Fundamentally Toys

 

Fathers be Good to your Daughters & Sons

I always get a little teary and deeply touched when I see a dad walking along holding the hand of his young daughter or son. I sometimes eavesdrop on their conversations and delight in their laughter and banter. There is no more secure time in your life as when you are holding your dad’s hand, skipping along with crazy legs and not a care in the world.

My own dad did not have a lot of time to hold my hand and skip a long. He was a World War II veteran who worked long hours to provide for his family and often came home exhausted. He wasn’t usually in a frame of mind to deal with four rambunctious kids.

At times, dad came home in a good mood and he was relaxed and chatty. I would hang on his every word as he told us interesting tales about his childhood or other funny stories and jokes. My dad was also an expert carpenter, letting me help at a young age with projects that taught me building skills I have used all my life. I also loved the impromptu family Sunday outings my dad would initiate for French fries or ice cream at our favorite fast-food restaurants. It was these special, out-of-the-ordinary things we did with dad that made a lasting impression on me.

While I largely remember my dad for these fun times, I simply never expected him to care for me the same way my mother did. During my childhood, parental roles were more rigidly defined as father, breadwinner; mother, stay-at-home mom and caregiver. It was a model that worked well enough for a while, but due to sweeping social and economic changes, parental roles began to evolve and today they look quite different from baby boomer times. Fathers have also awakened to the importance of their roles and want to care for their sons and daughters more actively on a day-to-day basis, not just for the special or fun times. 

As I was writing this story, I came across a blog by Scott Behson called Fathers, Work and Family. He talks about his involvement in the everyday work of raising a child and creating space for special times and moments. I liked his opening statement, “If we want to be remembered as good dads, we have to both put in the hard work of being a good father and also carve out time for fun, memorable shared experiences with our kids.”

 

Behson's two pieces of advice are:

1.) “Do the everyday, sometimes unnoticed work of being a good father.” While the day-to-day humdrum of homework, baths, discipline, and care-giving are “less glamorous,” they are extremely important and create a constant, loving presence in kids’ lives.

2.) “Punctuate the everyday with occasional bursts of something memorable.” These are the special things you do together with your kids, the interests you share, the impromptu outings, and memories you look back on and still smile about.

 

To read more on Scott Behson's blog, go to Fathers, Work and Family.

There’s also good solid evidence about how important the roles of fathers are in the lives of children. Research conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has shown that children with nurturing, involved, and playful fathers reaped tremendous emotional, cognitive, and social benefits into adulthood. Children who develop special bonds with their dads: 

• Have strong verbal and cognitive learning skills
• Achieve early and continued academic success 
• Develop better social connections with peers and friends 
• Become emotionally healthy, stable adults that can handle stress 
• Feel confident about exploring the world around them 
• Possess solid self-esteem and an ability to make the good choices in life

Wouldn’t every dad want all this for his children? You bet!

My simple advice to dads is to get involved as much as possible with their kids. Carve out a niche with your daughter or son. Honor the differences in your children and figure out what each child needs to feel secure and enjoy being with you.

• Find an interest to share
• Play games together – sports or board
• Make time to just talk
• Build something together – a Lego or yard project
• Go out for a meal together at a favorite restaurant
• Comfort their bumps and bruises with tenderness
• Don’t be afraid to show affection
• Hold hands and skip
• Put your smartphone away and devote your sole attention to your child
• Do something completely unexpected now and then

It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized the important role my dad played in my life and understood that, sure, it could have been bigger and better. Dads today don't have to fit the defined roles of the past and they have many resources and ways to make times with their kids meaningful and fun.

Happy Father's Day!
Debbie School, FUNdamentally Toys