PlanetKid » Play

Twin Moves

Jacki Donaldson — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:00:06 +0000

Tattoo Barbie — Would You Buy?

Jacki Donaldson — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:14 +0000

There was once a Barbie doll with tattoo stickers kids could put on and take off. Now, there’s a new Barbie sporting permanent tattoos climbing up her neck. She also wears an off-the-shoulder number, pleather mini-skirt, leopard skin leggings, and pink hair. Pretty cool? Or not so much? I mean, young girls are the likely recipients of this already sold-out toy, and is the image Barbie sets forth the right one for our little ones? You tell us!

Overnight Camping Kid

Jacki Donaldson — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 04:00:59 +0000

My kid left home. Well, just for a few days, in order to pursue an overnight camp adventure with all the other fifth-graders in his school. Two nights and three days, he’ll be gone, and it’s proving to be quite a profound experience for us at home. For one, it’s lonely — we really miss our big kid — and, two, it’s really fun for the little kid, who is loving all the solo parent love and attention. Three, I’ve realized I depend on the 10-year-old as a back-up alarm (he hops right up in the morning, dresses, reads, and I know that if I oversleep, he’ll come get me), and right now, I have no safety net. Four, we are absolutely thrilled that our oldest child has the chance to be totally independent and on his own. And finally, we hope he and his little bro both want to do a summer sleep-away camp, because they’ve both been resistant to participate in summers past, and maybe this intro to camp will be the push they need. It’s just been, overall, a great awakening for all of us. How about you? Have your kids ever left home?

Super Cool: Playhouse Slipcover

Jacki Donaldson — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:36:13 +0000

Now this is so very cute — a slipcover that transforms a table into a playhouse. OK, maybe the old-school fort made of blankets from the linen closet is cool, too, but you can’t argue, this is adorable! (Click on image for more information and photo credit.)

Hot Summer Toys

Jacki Donaldson — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 04:00:27 +0000

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Germs in the Playroom: Wednesday Wisdom

Jacki Donaldson — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:00:24 +0000

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Playthings for the Princess-Obsessed

Jacki Donaldson — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:00:47 +0000

My house is stocked with cars and trucks, monsters and dragons, Stars Wars action figures and Lego in all shapes, sizes and colors. There’s not a pink anything in sight — no sparkly crowns, magic wands or frilly dresses in all of our 2,000 square feet of living space. I have two nieces, though, and they have a crazy love for all things princess. If your little ones are like my favorite girls, then you’ll love this Wondertime magazine feature devoted to the princess-obsessed. There’s matching outfits for girls and their dolls, backpacks, books, tiaras and more. Shop on over, and take your girly girls along for the ride.

Photo: mthomps00, Flickr

Go Light With Spalding Rookie Gear Balls

Jacki Donaldson — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:24:59 +0000

You can never have too many balls for your kids. Well, maybe you can. But these Spalding Rookie Gear balls are definite must-haves for young ones. They are the same size as regular youth balls, but they weigh 25 percent less. Score!

What to Do This Summer – Pool Party

Jacki Donaldson — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:54:18 +0000

Do you have a pool nearby? Doesn’t need to be your own, maybe just one in your neighborhood, or a pool belonging to a friend would work too. If so, consider booking it one late afternoon for a pool party hosted by your kiddos. That’s what we’re doing. The idea came from my 8-year-old who wanted some buddies to come over and swim in our subdivision’s pool and eat pizza in the clubhouse. And here’s how we’re putting the whole thing together:

Joey and his little brother Danny came up with a guest list.
We picked a date and time — we’re going with 5-8PM for cooler temps.
Together, we brainstormed a menu (pizza, side dishes and drinks).
We signed up with evite (online invitations galore!), picked our design, entered email addresses of every guest, personalized our invitation and sent it off.
We indicated on our invite that everyone should bring something, and we included our wish list (chips, fruit, dessert and drinks). We’ll provide the pizza and paper goods, and as folks RSVP, they check off what they’ll bring — this way, we’ll be able to keep constant tabs on how our buffet is shaping up.
We invited parents to stay and play or drop and go — although, we’ll need a few stragglers to help us watch the masses (pools can be danger spots for kids, you know?).
We told kids to bring with them swimsuits, towels, sunscreen and pool toys they wish to share.
And now we’re watching our guest list grow — we get notified by evite every time someone RSVPs, and we know already that eight adults and eight kids will be splashing around with us this Saturday. We also know we’re getting some chips and dessert so far.

Any pool party plans for you this summer?

Toys Fit For Summer

Jacki Donaldson — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:04:17 +0000

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