Inventing Entertainment

February is a busy month. We celebrate love. We celebrate the many contributions of African-Americans. We celebrate U.S. Presidents. We celebrate Mardi Gras. On February 11th we also celebrate the birth of Thomas Alva Edison. Named "the most influential figure of the millennium" and called the "Wizard of Menlo Park," Edison was an American inventor, scientist and businessman known primarily for the electric light bulb.

Some interesting facts (from biographer Gerald Beals) on this famous "wizard" include:

*He did not learn to talk until he was almost four years old.
*He patented 1,093 inventions. 1,093!
*He was a fan of Shakespeare and considered being an actor.
*He was hearing impaired.

You may also be aware of these famous quotes that I think are wonderful to share with children:

"Genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration."

"Genius is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework."

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."


Maybe you have a budding Edison? Kobold Toys has several suggestions to keep your little inventor inspired.

Build the amazing Wind Generator from 4M and teach your child about renewable energy.




Celebrate electricity! The Enviro Battery from 4M is a science kit designed to demonstrate how natural materials like lemons or even mud can produce enough electricity to light a bulb, power a digital watch, or activate a music chip.


Inspiration comes at any time so be prepared with the smART bag from HABA. Compartments for pencils and a note pad to jot down your child's life-changing ideas for new biofuels.

The ZOOBMover Power Building Set adds a new dimension to open-ended building. Kids snap, click, and pop ZOOB pieces onto the ZOOBMover to create anything they can imagine--from creatures to robots to sculptures. When they're done building, they make their creations move with a remote control unit. Cool!

Miss E loves the opportunity to do a project. Last weekend Miss E and her Dad did an impromptu experiment about weights with balloons from the grocery store. It was great to hear the giggles and ahas from the kitchen!

There is truly much to celebrate this month, so take time to invent entertainment with your child. Be inspiring!

Peaceful Fun with Mandalas

Kobold Toys has been stocking the shelves for 2010 with new finds from around the globe. Kobold is especially excited about the new items we are offering from the award-winning German game and puzzle company Ravensburger.

Today we are highlighting the Mandala designers by Ravensburger. Mandalas are simple to complicated designs that are used primarily for relaxation and entertainment purposes. It is widely known as an ancient Buddhist graphic symbol of the universe. Its purpose is to demonstrate the interconnectedness of all things. The January 2010 of Smithsonian Magazine shares the story of how Buddhist monks came to the Sackler Gallery following 9/11 to help Americans heal by creating a sand mandala. As part of the Buddhist belief that life is transitory, after the mandala was finished (two weeks!) they swept the finished product into the Potomac River.

The Mandala designers by Ravensburger let your child use the set for fun or for educational purposes. The circle with a center pattern of a mandala is viewed as a pattern of nature, and is seen in biology, geology, chemistry, physicans and astronomy. The creation and coloring of the mandala can help teach your child patience and even basic geometric symmetry.

The Mandala designers available at Kobold Toys include the Mandala Classic, Mandala Deco Designer, and the Mandala Wonderful Horses Designer. These kits enable your child to create a fundamental structures from one simple design disk. We can't promise your child will achieve inner peace, but they will have fun learning.

Kobold has several other new products from Ravensburger to share with you:

The Dinosaur Mix n Match Game is an adorable variation of the usual matching game as it uses footprint shaped cards to represent the various dinosaurs.





Dress Up Duel Puzzle includes 35 pieces and is a fun project for the age 4+ set on family night.



Have fun learning numbers with the Ready, Set, Count! game. What do you learn during the fun? Number recognition of numbers 1 -10 and different ways numbers can be represented.



Don't miss the entire collection of games and puzzles from Ravensburger- perfect for ages 3+. Have a wonderful weekend!

Love Is in the Air

Valentine's Day is coming soon. Miss E has already selected the cards she'll distribute to her preschool friends, and we are thinking of all kinds of red and pink crafts to keep us occupied at home. This is the one month where Ellis does not show her disdain for the color pink!

Kobold Toys has ideas for sweethearts of every age on your list! Our top 10 Valentine's Day gift suggestions are:

1. Toysmith's Sweetheart Tea for Two Set ($14.99). Cheers! This child sized 9-piece ceramic tea set will provide tea party fun throughout the year. Includes 3.5" pitcher with lid, two 4.25" plates, two 1.75" cups, creamer and lidded sugar bowl all molded in a whimsical sweetheart shape. Recommended for 3+

2. "Be Mine" Candy Heart Bag by North American Bear Co. ($11.99) . The stylish tote is lined and has velcro handles. Machine washable in case her chocolate hearts melt inside! Kobold Toys also offers goody bags in the shapes of dogs, fish and princesses!

3. Barefoot Books. Books offer a wonderful way for you to snuggle up with your valentine and Kobold offers a collection of books for children ages birth to 8 years old. Kobold recommends "The Journey Home from Grandpa's House." Hop in the yellow car and look out for all the other forms of transportation on the way home from Grandpa's. A beautiful, double-page spread at the end features all of the colors and modes of transportation from the story. Includes cd for easy singalong fun. What a great gift from grandparents (hint, hint Papa Charlie!).

4. ZOOB Tubes- Classic and Sparkle ($7.99). ZOOB building sets encourage creativity and are appealing to both boys and girls. These cute tubes offer the chance to make 17 creations from rocket man to a crab (instructions included).

5. Dolls and stuffed animals. Every child loves the chance to share the love with her own baby doll and bear. Kobold Toys offers a collection of adorable dolls and plush animals for all ages from Corolle, Lilliputiens, Shure, and North American Bear Co. Kobold loves the Babipouce Pink Striped Doll from Corolle - a perfect first doll. Other favorites include Baby Rose from Lilliputiens, Vanilla Redhead Doll from Corolle, and Rosy Cheeks Big Sister by North American Bear Co.

6. Heart Puzzle by Ravensburger ($11.99). Kobold is a fan of the incredibly cool and unique puzzleballs designed by Ravensburger. This 3D Heart Puzzle has curved, sturdy plastic pieces that fit snugly to form a perfect heart. The end result is a unique, decorative piece that can be displayed as a constant “I love you!” Your child will enjoy putting together this 60 piece puzzle that once completed creates a box. Ages 8+

7. Rose Baby Playmat from Lilliputiens ($99.99). Perfect baby shower or new baby gift! This flower-shaped play mat offers a bouquet of activities: sounds, different textures and various forms. Ideal to stimulate babies' curiosity. Plus, the mat is very practical: it folds, zips and can be taken along anywhere!

8. Fire Department Puzzle and Book by Shure ( $14.99). Let him know your hear is afire! Read to your child the colorful firefighters board book as you match each illustrated fireman and firetruck wooden piece with the image and shape in the tray, or stand them up for pretend-play on the table or floor.

9. Heart ball by Tatiri. ($9.99) With Tatiri's 5" inch playball, ball games become more fun. With their unique design and beautiful prints (hearts, cars, dinosaurs, airplanes and jungle theme), they become hard to miss and leave behind on the playground.

10. Lilliputiens LadyBird Rattle. Kobold thinks the rattles by Lilliputiens are adorable, and this ladybird rattle is perfect for Valentine's Day. Each time it squeaks, it says "I love you."

Have a wonderful weekend! And, as always,we hope your children have fun learning!

And the Award Goes To...

Each year I look forward to the glamour and fun of the Golden Globes Awards. Although each year it seems that I have less and less familiarity with any of the films nominated. In fact out of all of the films nominated this year, I have only seen three. I have a little more knowledge on the television side. I love "Mad Men" and I am a true "Gleek." I would love to have the time to view the almost 300 films considered each year. What is wonderful about award shows is that it helps identify the outstanding films and performances that I may want to experience...if and when the opportunity arises.

The same is true of toys. The market is saturated with toys that have little or no information about their fun factor or educational value. Thankfully there are organizations like the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Dr. Toy, and iParenting Media whose child development experts can guide you in decision making.

Kobold Toys is dedicated to offering toys from around the globe that help your child explore their imagination and creativy. You'll be glad to know that some of Kobold's favorites are award winners too!

And the winners are:

The Calico Ball Chime by North America Bear Co. is a 2009 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award Winner. The adorable ball has bright patterns to stimulate your child's visual awareness. The small size is perfect for little hands to grab and throw. The Corolle Large Rag Doll, PlanToys Kitchen Center, and Sprig Eco Trucks are also Platinum Award Winners.

The very cool Automoblox cars have received the Parent's Choice Silver Honor, iParenting Media Winner, Practical Pre-School Silver, and the 2006 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award.

The Bloco construction toy uses high density foam designed in unique shapes with specialized plastic connectors to create imaginative animals. Kobold is a fan of Bloco- he loves the Scorpion & Insect collection- and he is not alone. Bloco has received the Creative Child Magazine 2008 Top Toy Award, Dr. Toy Smart Toy/Smart Play Award, iParenting Media Winner, and the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval.

ZOOB, a new brand at Kobold Toys, is an award-winning building set with a difference—the pieces move after you put them together. So your child can play with his creations, instead of just looking at them. ZOOB has been honored by Dr. Toy, Parent's Choice, Toy Family Fun and was named Family Life Best Learning Toy.

Neat-Oh has received 30 awards for their innovative and fun ZipBin storage toys. The racer back pack is a favorite of Creative Child Magazine and the Middle East Toy Fair (UAE).

Calafant products have been noted as a Mothering's Best Natural Toy of 2009 and received the Family Fun Toy of the Year Award. These recyclable and sturdy toys are a wonderful family craft project.

The beautiful puzzles by Mudpuppy are consistently recognized by child development and toy experts (think Meryl Streep!). Two favorites of the award community include the Around the World Puzzle and the Solar System Floor Puzzle.

You don't only have to purchase toys that are award recipients-- sometimes the most fun games and toys never receive the recognition they may deserve (just like some of your favorite films and television shows!). These award companies do the homework that many of us don't have time to do, so use their research to help guide you next time you are stumped for a gift.

Have fun learning this week! Note: Coming Thursday, our picks for Valentine's Day.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

My children tell me they are freezing to death (or at least Miss E is sharing this proclamation with me). Little C prefers to stomp his feet and just say "Brrrrrrrrrrr." Ahh, the joys of January. The tree is down, the lights are packed away, and the boxes of decorations all stacked away in the attic. The cold reality that winter is here can no longer be disguised by reindeers, ribbons and mistletoe. Every errand requires an additional 20 minutes of layering and dressing (I am sure you true "Northerners" are giggling, but to girls raised in the deep south, 24 degrees is COLD).

January is the month in which many parents must dig deep into their resources for indoor activities. You might relax the rules a little and allow elaborate forts out of the den cusions or even sofa dancing "Flashdance" style...anything to get the ya-yas out! After baking goodies for everyone on your street (cupcakes and cookies are great distractions, but not for the new year's diet plan!) and extracting snowflakes and collages out of the remaining construction paper, rest assured your little friend Kobold has some ideas to keep the troops entertained! The best part is that you only have to open the door to pick up the delivery box - no need to bundle up and brave the winds when winter crafts can come right to the doorstep!

Kobold's top three picks for keeping busy and having fun learning are:

1. Any craft kit from 4M. Dinosaur bone digging.... rocket launching...mosaics...crochet...science projects. These incredible kits, $15.99 and under, are perfect for the winter doldrums. Kobold especially likes the Princess Window Mosaic and the Soda Can Robug (a "green" robot!).

2. Games! Kobold loves the games from German company Ravensburger. Known for their puzzles and games, Kobold is recommending Teddy Bear Mix & Match (cards are shaped like bears!) and Tell-A-Story Game. In the Tell-A-Story game each player uses their memory skills to try to be the first player to collect all five story cards about a single character. Once all of the players have collected all of their story cards, they arrange their cards to tell a story of their choice. This game encourages children to develop their imagination and creativity as well as logical thinking and language skills.

3. Puzzles are a tried and true favorite of our little Kobold. The 2 foot x 3 foot jumbo Fire Engine Shaped Floor Puzzle by Shure is oversized, durable, glossy pieces printed with colorful, hand-painted artwork are big fun for little puzzlers! Kobold also offers floor puzzles from Mudpuppy and the more advanced "Discover The World" Puzzleball by Ravensburger. Discover The World Puzzleball includes 540 pieces and is 8.5" in diameter when completed. The puzzle comes with its own stand so you can celebrate the accomplishment and keep it safe from the curious fingers of little brothers and sisters.

Kobold Toys also offers building blocks, art supplies and the very best of toys to promote learning so visit the site for more ideas for entertaining your own children or the must-have gift.

Kobold and his team wish you and your family a very happy and healthy 2010. We are grateful for your support of Kobold Toys, and look forward to sharing our favorite finds from around the world with you again this year.

Stay warm and have fun learning!

The Countdown is On!

My four year old daughter, Miss E, is loving the countdown to Christmas Day. Now that she knows her numbers, she is having fun searching for them on the Advent Calendar. She has little milestones to help her keep track of how many days until the big present opening occurs. 10 days after Christmas vacation starts...5 days after Mimsi and Papa arrive...2 days after Uncle William arrives. Very exciting!

It is been a busy month in our household and at Kobold Toys. If you are like me, you may still be trying to find gifts for everyone on your list. At Kobold Toys, you can order until noon on December 22 for Christmas delivery.

Miss E is all about space and horses. In addition to her personalized astronaut suit and some play horses, I love the Mudpuppy puzzles - there is one about the solar system and a horse show.

Little C at 21 months loves cooking in the kitchen and pretend play- doctor, fireman, crash toboggan. He wants to do everything Miss E does, and makes valiant attempts. I am hoping Santa brings any play food from PlanToys, the fireman puzzle from Shure, and the adorable Doctor's kit by HABA ( there is also a lovely plush one by Lilliputiens for the 9 month + set).

My family also expects Santa to bring lots of books for our home library. If you have no idea what to buy a child, a book is always a terrific pick. Barefoot Books offers titles for everyone on your list...pig lovers like Little C, adventure lovers like Miss E, and books with CDs like "The Magic Train Ride." At each stop, the train comes across new and wonderful things to look at and talk about, in forests and jungles, and all the way to outer space.

Kobold and I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2010- of course filled with fun and learning!~ Ashley, Miss E, and Little C

Gift Ideas for Dinosaur Lovers & Scurvy Pirates

Still looking for gift ideas for your beloved? Today Kobold has selected his favorites for dinosaur lovers and survy pirates.

Kobold's picks for dinosaur lovers include:

1. I Dream I Was a Dinosaur board book from Barefoot Books. Join a young boy on a dreamland adventure to prehistoric times, where he meets dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes. The rhyme filled text is followed by fascinating notes about the age of dinosaurs and includes illustrations by Kobold's favorite Clare Beaton.

2. The 63 piece Mighty Dinosaur puzzle is is a wonderful gift for advanced puzzler. Kobold Toys also offers an adorable puzzle for the starter set with Shure's "My Dinosaur's Puzzle & Book."

3. For the artsy dinosaur lover, Kobold recommends the Calafant Dinosaur craft (only $6.99!). Children can use their imagination and creativity to color their own dinosaur and then play with it. This beautiful craft is made of pre-punched white cardboard, so it can be put together without glue or scissors. In addition, it comes with 6 markers and building instructions, all sealed in a plastic bag.

You will not have to walk the plank if you take Kobold's suggestions and wrap up these gifts that the scurviest of pirates will love:

1. The Little Pirate Bag of Books set lets your child set sail with this merry crew and enjoy all sorts of pirate fun with Port Side Pirates! with music CD and Pirates: Fun Activities, filled with puzzles, mazes, treasure maps and reusable stickers which will keep young landlubbers happily occupied for hours.

2. If you have a Pirate Girl, consider the cute pirate tooth pillow doll by North American Bear Co.

3. Pirates encounter many dangers in the deep blue sea. The Bloco Marine Creatures Scholastic set lets your child build and learm about sharks and other creatures so your pirate is prepared!

Have fun learning! And for more gift ideas and discounted items, visit the website every day.

Happy Holidays!