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Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
12/03/09
12/03/09
I like it and think it's cool. They, however, lost interest after one use.
I think the main problem with it is:
Ages of kids who like to use crayons = 3-8 years old.
Age of kids who can safely use something that gets hot enough to melt wax = over 10 years old.
So my 11 year old liked the idea of melting things, but the novelty wore off fast.
12/03/09
12/04/09
12/04/09
But in that case, it runs like hell on my 3g and the controls are blindingly frustrating. the interface / controls are the only things that would need re-working.
12/03/09
Is it worth $10 though?
12/03/09
If there was a way to make the characters created from your songs a bit more customizable it might have been a lot more fun.
The gameplay is just basically Final Fantasy Tactics Light, which isn't a bad thing, and was pretty entertaining, but it didn't hold my interest very long. I was expecting a game that was a bit more personalized around my musical tastes and got something else. Not a bad game, just not what I was expecting.
But on the other hand, it was only five bucks. I didn't feel too bad about it.
12/03/09
12/03/09
Oh and a Slinky. Every child needs at least one Slinky.
12/02/09
12/02/09
12/02/09
12/02/09
1) A book. Not Harry Potter - get them something that people don't know about. Go to the library, browse through the kids shelves for something that sounds half interesting to you, then go to Amazon and buy it. I say library and not book store because the library is more likely to have older stuff on the shelves - stories aren't written like they used to.
2) Clothes. It won't be popular but its important to keep something new to wear coming along - not underwear though, get a shirt or a jacket. Not expensive stuff either - don't get them started on that route.
3) A coupon for a charitable donation. Teach your kid the value of a small but decent amount of money given to charity and let them pick the recipient (with a little guidance).
4) Something to get them outside. Buy them a bike, a scooter, a basketball, a lacrosse stick and ball... too many kids spend too much time indoors. Schools are getting rid of recess, gym periods are no longer offered 5 days a week, and then kids come home with a load of homework and blow off steam with video games or TV instead. It's not healthy and it promotes the wrong habits from an early age - get your kids outside and exercising every single day that there isn't any precipitation falling from the sky. You'll help yourself lose weight as well when you play with them. In fact, if you get them a book, make sure you get something in this category as well. Childhood obesity is an epidemic and it is quite sad.
That's it. Nothing else should really be on the table in normal situations.
12/02/09
I kid, I kid!
12/02/09
12/02/09
Sorry your list is exactly what you shouldn’t do for gifting on Christmas.
One exception outside stuff is cool.
12/02/09
a) I don't propose *only* buying clothing. Also elementary school kids don't give a crap about fashion, just dress them in clothes without holes or patches and they'll be fine. And for teenage girls - they need to learn that if their friends only care about fashion, they're not worth being friends with. The whole idea that allowing stuff for your child is OK because other children are doing it or because they won't have friends without it is the biggest myth in parenting in the modern day and the biggest reason why our society is going down the tubes. Corruptive influences on children is the modern-day equivalent of tobacco companies trying to get them addicted early.
b) The kid you're buying for has probably already read Harry Potter... and the later ones are rather dark and mature for young children. I don't propose non-fiction either. It should be something fun, but something that also works to develop areas from imagination to vocabulary.
c) Same thing on the charitable donation - this shouldn't be the only gift you buy. But at the same time, your kids need to learn the value of charity or else they're going to grow up thinking sharing is for pansies.
The point is to get your kid a nice big present (or several smaller ones) that are the ones that make him feel the spirit of the holidays, that he got something to be happy about - with a few lessons thrown his way as well.
12/02/09
Haven't met too many elementary school kids recently, have you?
12/03/09
12/03/09
Okay so I'm being silly but honestly, there are plenty of great youth fiction books out there. I'd say check out some of the Tom Swift books by Victor Appleton or if they are really young pick up the Rev. W. Awdry's Railway Series (not the crappy new stuff that is dumbed down for toddlers)
12/03/09
12/03/09
Tom Swift and his war tank was depressing (it had a WWI is going to be easy peasy naivety to it that made me sad.)
12/02/09
12/02/09
12/03/09
12/02/09
12/02/09
[shop.lego.com]
The Mon Calamari diorama set is also awesome, and I got one!
[shop.lego.com]
And it comes with Admiral Ackbar, Mon Mothma, General Lando Calrissian, General Madine, a Mon Calamari officer and a Green Squadron A-wing pilot
Anyone who loves classic SW would probably like this Empire Strikes Back set a lot!
[shop.lego.com]
Who can resist a LEGO tauntaun?
12/02/09
12/02/09
12/02/09
12/02/09
12/02/09
12/02/09
12/02/09
12/02/09
My child will not discover that batteries are actually replaceable until he outgrows the ones that say the alphabet, count numbers, or play songs. Baaaaad songs.
12/02/09
12/02/09
No one can can stick it to ya like family.
12/02/09
And thats GET THE HELL OFF MY LAWN YOU LITTLE HOODLUMS.
12/03/09
I am afraid........
12/03/09
12/03/09
12/03/09
12/05/09