Video games and kids -- you can argue about whether or not they make a good combination, but there's no question that the latter loves the former. But even if you don't approve of playing video games, writing them is certainly a different story. Only, how the heck does a kid learn to do that? Well, in North Carolina, they can do it by going to the library.
The main library in Charlotte, North Carolina is offering kids a summer workshop where they can learn the rudiments of video game design. Students have to decide where to place objects in the game, how high characters can jump, and how non-player characters react to the players' characters. Naturally, the four-day sessions only touch on high-level concepts, but they serve to get kids interested and off to a good start.
Kids like video games and learning to create them is a great way to get kids interested in software development -- a fun (for the first twenty-five years or so, anyway) and lucrative career path. It's great that the library is offering this introduction; I only wish it was the norm rather than the exception.
Welcome to Tried and True, a monthly feature where cool products are put through the ringer -- from our family to yours.
It's that time of year, folks. The warmer weather is just beckoning our kids to come outside and play on the green lawn. This month, I had the chance to try out some of this summer's coolest products with the help of a few kid testers.
I must say that our kid testers loved all three products, and the parents were pleased as well. Check out the Tried and True photo gallery for shots of the kids in action, and continue reading on for the pros and cons of each product!
Barbie has always provoked strong emotions in some, but with the introduction of Bratz dolls, she seemed downright quaint. Well, she is quaint no more. With Mattel's September release of a doll based on the DC comic superhero Black Canary, Barbie is going to find herself back on the naughty girl list.
Clad in black thigh-high leather boots and gloves, fishnet stockings and a motorcycle jacket, this S&M Barbie is stirring more than little girls' imaginations. A spokesman for the religious group Christian Voice finds this sexed-up plaything to be just too much. "Barbie has always been on the tarty side and this is taking it too far. A children's doll in sexually suggestive clothing is irresponsible – it's filth."
I agree that perhaps this isn't Barbie's best look and wouldn't buy it for my kid. But that won't be a problem because she doesn't want Black Canary. When I showed her this photo and asked for her opinion, she looked aghast. "She's not wearing any pants!" she exclaimed. Good girl.
My son attended a birthday party where guests were asked to bring an unwrapped toy to donate to the fire fighter's toy drive rather than a present for the birthday girl. She had plenty of toys already and liked helping those less fortunate. Halfway through the party we all traipsed down the block to the firehouse to donate the toys. I thought it was a fantastic idea.
Apparently, my son's friend was quite the trendsetter. Parents are eschewing the traditional excess of the child's birthday party, simplifying and greening the events. "We're not saying children shouldn't celebrate," said Alison Smith, whose company, ECHOage, helps parents organize less wasteful, more philanthropic parties. "It's just about making it more meaningful."
If you ask me, there's another advantage to donating gifts instead of keeping them: you avoid having to deal with toys that don't match what you think is appropriate for your kids -- the toy guns, the Barbies, and, yes, the toys that make way too much noise.
Item: Some Eggs Are Gonna Roll Bowling Set Price: $17.95 Why we love it: A colorful, high-quality wooden bowling set that will last through the years. Where to buy it:Land of Nod
This bowling set is so darling, we might have trouble sharing with our kids. Made of rubberwood and leather, the set includes 6 colored duck pins and 1 egg-shaped bowling ball. Ages 3+.
Item: Crocodile Creek Ball Price: $8.99 Why we love it: These bright, funky-patterned balls won't get lost at the park, I promise. Where to buy it:Oompa
It's just a ball, or IS IT? My toddler received one of these balls as a gift, and I can assure you that it is the most popular ball at the park by a landslide. Crocodile Creek balls are completely PVC-free, which is always a plus in regards to safety.
Item: Spielstabil Backpack Price: $25.99 Why we love it: We see a lot of sand castles in your child's future with this set. Where to buy it:Moolka
This heavy-duty, clear backpack set contains two sand forms, a bucket, a watering can, a sand sieve and a scoop. If you aren't familiar, Spielstabil is known for producing toys with high-quality materials, with emphasis on functionality, safety and play value.
Item: PlasmaCar Price: $64.95 Why we love it: A stylish way for your kid to get around the neighborhood. Where to buy it:Toyscamp
Oh, this one is definitely on the top of our list. This super modern car has no need for pedals or gears, just a heavy dose of kid-supplied energy. When kids rotate the steering wheel from side to side, the car will propel forward - the smoother the surface, the faster they can go. Ages 4+.
Item: Octopus Sprinkler Price: $39.99 Why we love it: The coolest sprinkler around! Where to buy it:Pottery Barn Kids
This colorful and unique sprinkler is sure to be a hit with the neighbors. Several spouts shoot out arcs of water to keep everyone cool on the hottest days of summer. On sale at Pottery Barn Kids right now.
Item: Pocket Magnifying Glass Price: $8.09 Why we love it: Let your little explorer discover all sorts of details with this colorful pocket magnifier. Where to buy it:Maukilo
This magnifying glass fits in the smallest of pockets, and the lens is made from shatterproof plastic. The aluminum snap link attaches easily to belt loops so you won't be searching all over the yard for this one.
Item: Bilibo Price: $27.95 Why we love it: Indoors or out, this new kind of toy leaves it all up to your little one's imagination. Sit, spin, stand, fill...the options are limitless. Where to buy it:Oompa
Super simple and colorful, the Bilibo is immediately appealing to young children.There are tons of ways to play with Bilibos - from rocking, spinning, hiding under, carrying, and peeking through at friends. The Bilibo provides hours of open-ended play, whether it be at home, at the park or in the water.
Item: Melissa and Doug Standing Easel Price: $59.99 Why we love it: A great price for an all-in-one haven for your budding artist. Where to buy it:Several retailers
A standing easel is essential for any young artist, right? This large easel has a chalkboard, dry erase board, four colorful clips and paper roller to let your little van Gogh get to it. The easel's height is also adjustable to grow with your little one. Be sure to check out Melissa and Doug's Companion Set for all sorts of supplies.
Item: Turbo Bubble Machine Price: $24.99 Why we love it: DUH. It's creates tons of bubbles without giving you a head rush from all of that usual, excessive blowing. (Or is that just me?) Where to buy it:Back to Basics Toys
This automated Turbo Bubble Machine sends streams of bubbles into the air to create amazing, non-stop bubbles. Machine comes with two 4-ounce bottles of bubble solution. Requires 6 "AA" batteries. For ages 5+.
Though I spent a dozen years working in special education classrooms with preschoolers and toddlers, it never once crossed my mind that the dolls my students were playing with in the housekeeping area often looked nothing like the kids themselves. They were just kids playing with dolls, doing what kids do, even if those kids had diagnoses that other children didn't -- Down's syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy.
But some doll makers, many of them parents of special needs children themselves, think that children with disabilities might benefit from having a doll that looks like them. And so they created dolls like these. With the best of intentions, I believe, they made dolls with Down's syndrome, including a heart surgery scar, dolls who have been through chemo, bald and with a catheter port, dolls in wheelchairs, dolls with leg braces.
Even before her father's death in 2006, Bindi Irwin seemed destined to join the family business. The Crocodile Hunter's daughter had made several appearances on her dad's shows and was obviously comfortable with her exotic and sometimes dangerous co-stars. But it was her moving speech at her father's memorial service in 2006 that probably sealed the deal for her future as a television star. At eight-years-old, she was well-spoken, calm, and showed a maturity beyond her years.
I was impressed and so was the Discovery Kids Channel, who gave her a show of her own. Bindi the Jungle Girl may have earned Irwin an Emmy award, but now she's getting real proof that she's a star: a doll in her likeness. Developed by Wild Republic, the Bindi Irwin talking doll is a 10 inch replica of the little girl all decked out in her khaki finest. Sporting her trademark bangs and pigtails, she comes with accessories including binoculars, a camera, outback gear, as well as a cockatoo, wombat and python. Plus, she says things like "Crikey! Let's go help wildlife," and "You can make the world a better place."
The dolls will go on sale in September for $15 to $20 each, with some of the proceeds going to help fund efforts to breed endangered species and rescue animals. Beat that, Barbie!
Video games and kids -- you can argue about whether or not they make a good combination, but there's no question that the latter loves the former. But even if you don't approve of playing video games, writing them is certainly a different story. Only, how the heck does a kid learn to do that? Well, in North Carolina, they can do it by going to the library.
Welcome to Tried and True, a monthly feature where cool products are put through the ringer -- from our family to yours.
Barbie has always provoked strong emotions in some, but with the introduction of Bratz dolls, she seemed downright quaint. Well, she is quaint no more. With Mattel's September release of a doll based on the DC comic superhero Black Canary, Barbie is going to find herself back on the naughty girl list.
My son attended a birthday party where guests were asked to bring an unwrapped toy to donate to the fire fighter's toy drive rather than a present for the birthday girl. She had plenty of toys already and liked helping those less fortunate. Halfway through the party we all traipsed down the block to the firehouse to donate the toys. I thought it was a fantastic idea.
Item: Some Eggs Are Gonna Roll Bowling Set
Item: Crocodile Creek Ball
Item: Spielstabil Backpack
Item: PlasmaCar
Item: Octopus Sprinkler
Item: Pocket Magnifying Glass
Item: Bilibo
Item: Melissa and Doug Standing Easel 
Item: Turbo Bubble Machine
Though I spent a dozen years working in special education classrooms with preschoolers and toddlers, it never once crossed my mind that the dolls my students were playing with in the housekeeping area often looked nothing like the kids themselves. They were just kids playing with dolls, doing what kids do, even if those kids had diagnoses that other children didn't -- Down's syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy. 
Even before her father's death in 2006, Bindi Irwin seemed destined to join the family business. The Crocodile Hunter's daughter had made several appearances on her dad's shows and was obviously comfortable with her exotic and sometimes dangerous co-stars. But it was her moving speech at her father's memorial service in 2006 that probably sealed the deal for her future as a television star. At eight-years-old, she was well-spoken, calm, and showed a maturity beyond her years.
