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This is just a small
sampling of our top Summer picks. For more ideas by categories click
on the links above.
Dual-Screen
Mobile DVD System (Disney)
Okay moms, dads, grandparents - if any of
you have spent any time in the car lately with your kids you know that
without a DVD player your going to go nuts. I remember the endless
hours of car games and fighting as a kid, but why put yourself through
that when you can play car games for a while and then enjoy some of the
journey in peace! Thanks to Disney,
they've come up with a Dual-Screen Mobile DVD System. The new
system comes with several faceplate inserts including Pirates
of the Caribbean and Tinker Bell so kids can customize their
own; both screens feature a 7-inch LCD display that easily straps on the
back of each headrest in a car so kids can watch the same video image on
two screens. It comes with built-in speakers, two headphones, a car
power adapter, two mounting straps and a full function remote control.
The displays snap together with a handle for easy portability. It
supports DVD videos and audio CDs, plus picture CDs, DVD+R and DVD+RW.
A TV guardian option is available by subscription, which automatically
filters offensive language from the programs you watch. Available at
retailers nationwide. Included in the package is a Disney DVD disc
sampler featuring a compilation of Disney Channel’s hottest
entertainment from Hannah Montana and The Cheetah Girls,
to High School Musical, Jump In and Cory In The House.
We tested this on several long car rides, first the resolution is great,
they are extremely portable and are perfect for siblings, once you get
them to agree who picks the first movie. The only thing we wish is
that the main unit had a battery back up so that we could take it
into our hotel room or restaurant during long waits for a table!
Other than that, this is a perfect gift for peaceful travel! ($179.99)
 WaterBall
Cannon (Wild Planet) Our testers aged 4 - 9 had a blast with this waterball shooter. I sends out gumball sized water balls that are
fun to shoot, as well as fun to try and catch. The kids had a
blast for hours playing with this water toy. As an added bonus -
it doesn't look like a gun!
Age: 4+ $16.99 / Available: At online and
specialty stores such as
shopwildplanet.com
 Hot
Wheels Power Rev Race Gloves (Mattel)
(Ages 6-10 $19.99) "So these are fun." commented our
6-year-old tester. "They sound just like a racing motorcycle!
You flick your wrist and it sounds like your a revving up and then flick
the other wrist and a horn goes off." Kids who like to ride their
bikes or scooter and wished that they had "real" power will enjoy these
fun little gadgets. Just a note to grandparents though - they are
a bit loud - and sound VERY realistic! You might want to encourage
your grandchild to use them for OUTSIDE play only!
 Gaucho
SuperPower (Peg
Perego) Ages 3-10, $799.99
This is hands down, the ultimate ride on machine, rave all our testers.
The kids, ranging in age from 3 to 10 all agree that this is the COOLEST
ride on ever. It's got a working radio, seats for two with seatbelts,
lights, working breaks, shock absorbers, and a tool box and did we
mention its fast!!! It's REALLY fast. Luckily for nervous moms there are
three speeds that can be set, and locked. There's a panel that unscrews
and you can set the speed from one to three, which is great if you have
younger kids who want to jump on. Another great feature added to this
jeep is a key and a push start. This works amazingly well to prevent the
toddlers that climbed in and out from inadvertently starting the jeep.
Regarding the nitty gritty, Peg Perego's exclusive "QuietRide" realistic
tires allows you to drive fast and quietly. The tires start out bumpy
and then they wear down to smooth and quiet - they are not loud like the
wheels of the past. The 24 volt battery pack plugs directly from the
jeep to a power source so you don't have to remove the battery each time
it's run down. The accelerator pedal has coasting action and a separate
brake with real disk brakes. The seats are adjustable. This comes fully
loaded and is easy to assemble. The only thing you'll need once you get
it are some batteries 1 9-volt battery required for horn and 2 AA
batteries required for radio.
The kid testers couldn't stop raving about this toy - and it's a good
thing that the battery lasts as long as it does, because with all these
testers it runs, and runs, and runs! It's not an inexpensive toy,
but if you're looking to get your grandkids a treat that they will enjoy
for years this is it! This is a winner of a toy, and certainly a
favorite among all our testers!
Click here to find a retailer near you.
 Pirate
Bomb Blast™ (Wild Planet):
"This is fun!" commented our boy testers, aged 5-7.
They loved the fact that this "looked" like a pirate bomb and that it
had a fuse and blasts. It's a great way to play a game of "hot
potato". Our testers had fun playing the game as well as using it
as a "pirate accessory!" Want to know how to play? Well,
it's pretty simple: press the button and the fuse starts to burn,
pass it around, it vibrates and the hissing increates until it explodes.
Good for two or more kids - or just one with an imagination! Age:
4+, $9.99 / Available: At online and specialty stores such as
shopwildplanet.com
 Mix
& Match Memory: Follow Me to the Sea
(Cranium) Ages 3+, $9.99
"My three year old loves puzzles and this newest one by Cranium
is fun. You can use it in so many different ways: match all
the words with the right pictures and then try to match all the matched
pieces to the big picture on the playing board. It's a great memory
game and older children can play more advanced games with the die and
directions that are included. The 24 puzzle pieces are thick and
perfectly sized for little hands and the pictures are colorful and fun,"
reports our mother of three tester. Puzzles are always great for
developing children's brains and this one is great because it appeals to
younger children but also will continue to engage children as they grow
older and learn to read.
  Super
Soaker Mt. Tiki-Soki Water Volcano (Hasbro)
Hook this up to your garden hose and your grandchildren are guaranteed
hours of fun! Our testers have played with this again and again,
even taking it to friends houses. When they get tired of jumping
over it, they would place balls on it and watch them shoot into the
air. This is a great keep cool, summer toy that provides hours of
fun. When Mt. Tiki-Soki's eye's open - watch out your going to get
wet! Our mom tester also loved the fact that it didn't drench the
garden by running non-stop. A real winner at $14.99. (Ages 3 and
up)
 Better
Batter Baseball
(Fisher-Price)
According to our mom-testers - and their
kids "this set is great!" We had kids of all ages trying it, from
3-years-old up to age 8! Everyone had fun with it. They
loved the fact that it suspended the ball in the air, at the right
height for their children. They liked the sound affects, the
interactive play, as well as the fact that the kids were outside
exercising! The set has plenty of balls, that the kids
surprisingly didn't lost, a bat (that's adjustable, a tee-free design
helps kids keep their eye where it should be when they're learning to
bat—on the ball, not the tee.
  ARC-170
Starfighter & Droid
Tri Fighter (Lego)
Stuck with a rainy day on your hands? If you've already seen Star
Wars Episode III then you and your grandson will have a fabulous time
putting these great Lego Star Wars builds together. They are
involved, but well worth the effort. There is such great
satisfaction with completing these and you'll have great quality time
together. Our testers (father and son) couldn't decide who had more
fun building these two. The father remember his original Lego set
from the 70's and really enjoyed each part of the intricate builds.
The son enjoyed helping, but had more fun playing with them when they were
done. It's a great rainy day, humid day, hot day or evening
project!
 Dodge
Discs: "This toy was a HUGE hit at our house last year,
and is still entertaining! Our son spent
hours outside running around chasing his friends with this toy--a great
way to use up all that adolescent energy. Even his dad had to get in on
the action! The set comes with two different colored launchers that hold
ten soft foam discs each and are easy to refill. With a push of a button
you can launch all of your discs at your opponent in seconds. Luckily,
the discs come in bright colors so they are easy to find after being
launched over 20 feet in the air. Plus, the discs never get stuck in the
launcher, a bonus when you are chasing your friends around the yard.
This toy is great for anyone over the aged six and up. Even kids
as young as four and five enjoy it and can play safely with it!" --
Reviewed by a mother of two, and several additional boys and girls aged 4 - 9.
Includes
2 long-range disc launchers with built-in shields and 20 soft foam
discs. Recommended age: 6+
/ Suggested retail price: $19.95.
Click here for more information or to buy now. www.wildplanet.com
 Pop
Up Pirate Island (Mattel)
(Ages 3-8 $39.95) So here's something fun, that's easy to
pack up and take to grandma's house! This play set folds flat,
pops open to reveal a fully contained set that has a ship, roads, two
characters, a crocodile, canon and treasure chest. There are four
areas, the ship, crocodile cove, forbidden island and a treasure lagoon.
The set comes with one car. There's NO assembly required and it's
easy instant play! Our testers, aged 5 and 6 both thought it was good
fun!
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