Lionel Trains have been a long standing favorite of mine for the holidays… I grew up going over to a family friend’s house to see their amazing train collection. I mean amazing it took up over 800 square feet of their basement, it was amazing! fast forward to these days when I have a toddler and no desire for him to smash anything collectible or of value. Lionel does a lot of amazing things for the holidays, they’ve gone around and created popup shops in a few select locations.
New York, NY – 1095 Avenue of the Americas at 41st St, New York, NY
Westchester, NY ( Westchester Mall) – 125 Westchester Ave., White Plains, NY
Cherry Hill, NJ (Cherry Hill Mall) – 2000 Rt. 38, Cherry Hill, NJ
Minneapolis, MN (Mall of America) – 60 Broadway St. NE, Minneapolis, MN
Dallas, TX (Trains at North Park) – North Central Expressway at Northwest Highway, Dallas, TX
To sell awesome trains, collectible pieces, tracks, and — wait for it — they’re newest items like the Lionel Little Lines… To me this is the perfect my first train set for any toddler it offers you controls for forwards and backwards. It adds some really nice imagination play items to the mix likes a switch, a crane, and some bridges.
If you’re not lucky enough to live in a local popup shop area check this one out if you use coupon code DADAROCKS (all caps) its good for 10% off sitewide from 11/24-12/6 at lionelstore.com
Lionel’s wide varieties of train sets are great for both the little kids and the little kids at heart.
For ages 2.5 and up there is the Lionel Little Lines ($59.99). This starter train set comes with a snap together track and a simple remote controller for forward and reverse movement making it easy for little hands to operate. Authentic train sounds and details make it a classic Lionel product.
One of Lionel’s many licensed train sets is the Thomas and Friends ($199.99) train set and it is the perfect gift. This exciting TV character themed train set comes with forward, neutral and reverse controls, interchangeable faces for the train, over 10 different track section pieces and an electronic whistle.
The Polar Express movie was a favorite of kids of all ages and now Lionel brings the train to life with The Polar Express Deluxe Playset ($89.99). A four-car train with amazing Polar Express details traveling across a snow covered track making a journey that replicates the one from the movie and book. With curves and ramps and chuffing train sounds, this complete playset is sure to delight the entire family.
There is a kid inside all of us and for the grown ups in the family there is the Pennsylvania Flyer ($229.99), Lionel’s signature train. This starter set features forward, reverse and neutral controls, realistic air whistle, operational headlights, puffing smoke unit, traction tires and classic oval track.
TWO Winners will get Lionel Little Lines Train Playset
How to win it… Contest ends 11:59pm EST. December 7th 2010.
You must comment telling us which train is your favorite (hint: visit lionelstore.com for train names)? please include some method for us to contact you in the comment (twitter or email)
This post is part of a sponsored series from Ubisoft, celebrating “12 Days of Giveaways.” See below for how you can enter up to 12 times to win fun and family-friendly video games.
Petz Fantasy: Sunshine Magic [Amazon] is a second generation game the follow up to the smash hit Petz (it was all the rage in 2009!) For many its the software equal of tamagotchi. You hatch these pets, care and tend to them. This is a great game for little ones that understand the concepts of pets or if you’re trying to teach the concepts of owning a pet.
I’d bet there will be a number of parents who’d rather get a virtual unicorn instead of a puppy this holiday season. So the interactive play is with mini games that are easy enough for kids as young as 3/4 to figure out. Once they hatch your child will feed them, clean them, play fun games and learn their preferences to help them grow. Unlock tons of accessories and up to 20 different costumes inside the game. Which will add a lot sticky value to the game. Fantasy Petz are based in a virtual world with 4 types of powers: Flight, Ice, Fire or Speed – which will allow different games for different petz. There is a sister version of Petz Fantasy: Moonlight Magic which also holds another 20 petz.
Overall the game is worth wild and certainly would make for a great holiday gift – which I would say is way better then a puppy or a kitten that you’ll end up dealing with long after the batteries go on the DS.
Now its time for the giveaway!
How to win it… Contest ends 11:59pm EST. December 3rd, 2010.
You must comment telling us which magical creature would you want for a pet? please include some method for us to contact you in the comment (twitter or email)
You get 1 extra entry for following @ubisoft on twitter – twitter.com/ubisoft
You get 1 extra entry for tweeting about this contest (you can do this daily). Must contain the following information:
@ubisoft Petz Fantasy: Sunshine Magic @dadarocks – http://bit.ly/gnuy6b #UbiChamps and you must also comment with the link to your twitter message.
Example: I want to win @ubisoft Petz Fantasy: Sunshine Magic Thanks to @dadarocks – http://bit.ly/gnuy6b #UbiChamps
You get 1 extra entry for becoming a Fan on facebook – facebook.com/dadarocks you must comment that you’re a fan (and leave a little note on the wall)
You get 1 extra entry for subscribing to our Feedburner digest mailing (right side subscribe by email) – you must also comment that you’ve subscribed
You get 1 extra entry for becoming a friend on Google Connect (right side below facebook box) – you must also comment that you’ve become a friend
You will have 24 hours to reply before we pick another winner!
Disclaimer: Thanks to Ubisoft & Clever girls collective for the prize for this raffle.
Want more ways to win great games for the whole family? Visit each of these blogs during our 12 Days of Giveaways from now through December 3!
I was selected to participate in this sponsored series by Ubisoft and Clever Girls Collective. I received a video game and compensation for my participation in this program. We believe in Blog With Integrity.
Have you heard of Tegu? Most of you are now shaking your head saying Huh?! Te-what? and to be honest thats how I felt until I saw these toys at the ABC kids expo a few weeks ago in vegas. These are really simple shapes of wood that have magnets buried inside of them.
So they click together with the magnetic bonds and the ability to play and build stuff has been great. My 2 year old hasnt stopped playing with them. Tegu recently kicked off this Live webshow of a master builder taking requests to build almost anything! I got two built out… I asked for a NYC Landmark and they did the empire state building (and of course along came king kong to knock it down) See that here: http://bit.ly/cSnbqM and my original request was for a train and they did a great job: http://bit.ly/cERoyC
There are many things I really like about this campaign – 1) is it shows you how to build these items yourself so you can become a building master and impress your kids 2) it really shows off a great use of social media for a product that isnt necessarily a toy that would be on social media.
Tegu blocks are wood so they are not just going to crack open and a really durable, the block sizes makes it hard for a child to choke on them… they’ve become a perfect toddler building gift in my mind. Here’s the one thing they’re a little pricey starting at $40. The newest line is of these color blocks which are totally super cool.
Check out http://tegu.com and if you really want to see what this living building is all about enjoy the following live stream!
Now its time for the giveaway!
How to win it… Contest ends 11:59pm EST. November 18, 2010.
You must comment telling us if these could be made out of any wood, which wood would you want to have them in?, please include some method for us to contact you in the comment (twitter or email)
You get 1 extra entry for following Tegu on twitter – twitter.com/tegu
You get 1 extra entry for tweeting about this contest (you can do this daily). Must contain the following information:
@tegu @dadarocks – http://bit.ly/c94ivx and you must also comment with the link to your twitter message.
Example: I want to win the awesome #TeguBlocks from @tegu Thanks to @dadarocks – http://bit.ly/c94ivx
You get 1 extra entry for becoming a Fan on facebook – facebook.com/dadarocks you must comment that you’re a fan (and leave a little note on the wall)
You get 1 extra entry for becoming a Fan on of Tegu on facebook – facebook.com/TeguToys you must comment that you’re a fan (and leave a little note on the wall that DaDaRocks.com sent you)
You get 1 extra entry for subscribing to our Feedburner digest mailing (right side subscribe by email) – you must also comment that you’ve subscribed
You get 1 extra entry for becoming a friend on Google Connect (right side below facebook box) – you must also comment that you’ve become a friend
You will have 24 hours to reply before we pick another winner!
Disclaimer: Thanks to Tegu for the prize for this raffle.
One thing that has really changed in the last few years is the direction of gaming for toddlers and babies. If you would have asked anyone in the industry 10 years ago whats the youngest a game for a kid should be made it was 6… today games are being designed and thought about for kids as young as 2!
Whats great is that I have a 2 year old, when I was invited out to see the not yet finished Sesame Street Wii games I jumped at the chance – first we had just gotten back from Sesame Place and my son had an amazing time! When I first saw these games I was like wow! no really these games are good graphics with a very large educational content component… my son already knows the iPad inside&out and is really ready for the next thing (as I’m also starting to think about focusing on hand/eye movement more and more).
In Sesame Street: Elmo’s A-to-Zoo Adventure, kids head to the Zoo with Elmo, Zoe and their animal friends, as they explore fun games including letter identification, rhyming, letter sounds and color and shape identification. Kids can also explore fun Zoo habitats including the Aquarium, Savanna, Jungle, Wetlands and the Arctic.
In Sesame Street: Cookie’s Counting Carnival, kids join Cookie Monster and Big Bird at a fun-filled carnival, through gameplay steeped in math skills that include number identification, counting, shapes and pattern recognition. Kids journey through the game in the many areas of the carnival such as The Grandstand, Midway, Petting Zoo, Food Court and the Arcade.
Seriously these games were designed for a 2 year old and up… they’ve thought about everything from the idea that the Wii remote doesn’t require line of sight IR (that whole bar in front of the TV) to the a control cover that is of the character of each game!
These are also on the PC but more importantly the DS and come with an extra large Pen for your little one’s hands. Here are some quick run down of some great features of both games.
Gameplay Helpers for Smaller Hands: Available for Wii and Nintendo DS systems, special gameplay helpers simplify gameplay controls and make them more accessible for preschoolers with small hands and developing skills. They will come packaged with the game at no additional cost.
The Wii gameplay helper is a soft and fuzzy character cover with special grips that slips over the Wii Remote, minimizing unnecessary buttons and making it easier and more fun to hold.
The Nintendo DS gameplay helper is a jumbo click stylus designed for smaller hands, simplifying interaction with the touch screen. It features a retractable tip and wrist strap for safety and its soft grip provides for a comfortable grasp.
Parents’ Area: Parents may review games their child has played along with relevant curriculum for each. Parents can also customize up to four profiles and set game limits.
Parent Can Play With Their Kids: TheParental Assist Mode feature allows use of the second Wii-Remote to assist the child through the game, without taking away the child’s remote.
Broad Range of Games: The game features an array of distinct learning games based on a variety of activities, including counting and enumeration, number identification, plus pattern, shape and color identification.
Audio Direction: Game instructions are provided by audio rather than text direction for children with developing reading skills.
Easy to Play: The games are entertaining and intuitive enabling preschoolers to play by themselves. They require minimal button usage. For the Nintendo DS, there’s no required button pushing – only screen tapping or using the microphone.
Player Adaptability: The game difficulty adapts to child’s level.
Active Gameplay: With Wii, game movements are Jump, Tilt, Pump, Scoop, Shake and Toss. All are performed with two hands with a “‘handlebar” grip.
For more information on these games check out http://www.sesamestreetvideogames.com
If you want to order these games here are the Amazon.com links Cookie Monster [Wii | DS] & Elmo [Wii | DS]
How to win it… Contest ends 11:59pm EST. November 2, 2010.
You must comment telling us who your favorite Sesame Street character is, please include some method for us to contact you in the comment (twitter or email)
We’ve been doing a little shopping as of late for Marc, its time to start thinking about Fall… its been a long summer and there have been plenty of ketchup dropped on his current lines of t-shirts. First let me admit I’m a jeans and t-shirt guy 90% of the time thats what you’ll find me in… Threadless [Link] filled a great need for me cool t-shirts at good prices and not ones that everyone and their mother have, but really cool unique designs… Now that back to school shopping is starting to get into full swing Threadlessannounces their new Kids line (CROWD GOES WILD!) [http://kids.threadless.com] following similar awesome designs the kids store opens with 12 new designs on top of the 12 classic designs that have been available for a little while. Parents can snag any tee, hoody, hoodsie, or onesie for the kiddos and get free shipping anywhere. Sizes will range from zero to three months all the way up to size 12. These also make awesome birthday gifts (I’m sure Marc will get one for his 2nd birthday coming up later this month).
To kick off the launch of the website Threadless will also be holding a contest through their Facebook page where parents of kids crazy for crayons, mad for markers and tickled by tees can download a tee template and have their kids draw a design of their very own on it. Parents can then scan it or take a picture and post it to the Threadless Kids! facebook wall. Threadless will choose a winner from three age groups (4 and under, 5-7, 8-10 and 10-12) to win a $50 Threadless gift certificate. They’ll also choose an overall winner to receive a pack of 12 Threadless Kids! tees and a $100 Threadless gift certificate. Winners will be chosen based on the three A’s- Awesomeness, Adorability and Artistry.
But if you dont want to enter that giveaway – we’ve got an awesome one here… 4 lucky fans will win a $25 gift cards to Threadless.
How to win it… Contest ends 11:59pm EST. August 12, 2010.
You must comment telling us what you like to wear on your t-shirts (is it a concert t?, Mickey Mouse?, designer labels?), please include some method for us to contact you in the comment (twitter or email)
