About a month ago my husband was playing around with one of our son's toys and realized it was censored. The toy in question is a Leap Frog brand caterpillar called an Alphabet Pal with letters on each of its twenty-six legs. Among the things you can do with the caterpillar are set it to play different kinds of music (each leg plays a different song) and say the letters on the legs. You can also set it to pronounce the sound the letter makes when it is spoken. So, if you hit the leg with the letter "B" on it, you hear "Buh." As a joke my husband tried to sound out a dirty word. The caterpillar denied him! Instead, if you, say, try to sound out "fff" then "ugh" you get a "heh heh, that tickles!" before the caterpillar will pronounce the "kuh."

Now, I can assume my kiddo isn't going to be using this caterpillar to sound out dirty words. Most children who are the age the caterpillar is designed for--between one and two years of age--don't even know what those are. But it still brings up an interesting point: Isn't that censorship? I mean, whoever designed this toy, which is a lot of fun and a great educational tool (it also says the colors of each letter on each leg in another setting), had to think that someone like my husband would try some funny business and came up with a plan to avoid the caterpillar saying bad things.

I'm starting to wonder if this was a one-time thing or if all toys of this nature are set to ensure they don't spell or say dirty words. Also, who decides such things? And does that person get to decide what constitutes a dirty word and what doesn't? At home with television and the Internet, for example, parents can set their own standards for what their children are allowed to watch and read or look at. The maker of this toy did that for us. Thoughts??? Should companies be censoring toys for us or are they doing the job of the parents?

Pic of caterpillar by j / f / photo.

Source

A while ago now I read an article, found here at Pop Sugar's LilSugar site, about Vespas for children. I didn't react to it right away because I wasn't sure I had an opinion on the subject. Still not sure that I do!

A Vespa, for those of you unfamiliar, is like a motorized bike. They run on gas and come with helmets and are in the same vein as motorcycles, only not as fast. They also tend to come in pastel colors and aren't ridden around on by Hell's Angels clad in black leather (most of the time). Vespas are great for city driving where they can get through narrow, crowded streets and the like. They are not designed for the highway.

Now the Vespa folks have come out with a mini-version for kids. At $450, the mini-Vespa ain't cheap. Sure, it's less expensive than a regular, adult-sized Vespa, but I don't think you could pull buying one for your kids and then riding it yourself. The minis really are smaller, designed for kids ages three to seven (not the kid in you).

Would you buy one of these for your child? Are they no harm, no foul and all in fun or are they unsafe and do they promote the possibility of them riding around on motorcycles when they're older (black leather optional)?

Hysterical pic of God creating a Vespa by giopuo.

Source

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 1,400 playground tire swings made by Miracle Equipment Company of Monett, Missouri. The hanger clamp on the swings can fail and cause the swing to detach, posing a fall hazard to children.

Miracle Recreation has received three reports of this happening, including two reports of cuts requiring stitches and one report of a fractured foot.

The recalled swings consist of a tire hanging from a swivel and three chains. The following product and model numbers are included in the recall:

• Kids' Choice Arch Tire Swing Sets - Model # 714-852
• Kids' Choice Arch Tire Swing Extension - Model # 714-852-X
• Kids' Choice Arch Tire Swing Swivel Replacement - Model #278

These swings were made in the United States and sold by authorized dealers to schools, parks and municipalities nationwide from February 1995 through March 2008 for between $570 and $2,100 each.

If you have one of these swings, you should immediately remove the tire swing, including the swivel, chains and tire, from the hanger clamp until a free repair kit can be installed. For more information, contact Miracle Recreation at (800) 523-4202 ext 683, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, send them an email at recalls@miraclerec.com, or visit their Web site.

Source

When I was a teenager, I would have done just about anything to get one of these -- a footbag for playing hackysack that you soak in paraffin oil and light on fire. I suck at hackysack, but that wouldn't have made a difference -- this thing is actually made to be set on fire. How cool is that? Apparently a little too cool -- or maybe not cool enough -- for South Australia.

"The Fire Footbag essentially becomes a flaming missile which presents extreme safety risks for people who could quite easily be burned by the footbag once it's been set alight," says South Australian Consumer Affairs Minister Jennifer Rankine. "Making such a dangerous item available to children or anyone else is absurd and unacceptable," she added. And so it has been banned down under.

It seems to me that sometimes governments have a tendency to overprotect their citizenry. The manufacturer's website clearly says that playing with a lighted firebag is "a dangerous activity. This product should only be used cautiously and only by competent footbaggers. Keep safety in mind and always have water and a fireblanket nearby." On the other hand, you know there are parents out there who would buy this and a big supply of flammable material for their kids, so maybe it is best not to make it available.

Source

There's a reason the Lego company offers up the larger Duplo building blocks for younger kids -- children under the age of three or four are likely to put their toys in their mouth and the smaller Lego bricks are a definite choking hazard. So you teach your kids not to put their toys in their mouth and especially not their older sibling's Lego bricks, right? And then, some bright boy comes up with this genius idea: Lego-shaped fruit snacks.

Yes, you read that right, Lego bricks that are supposed to be put in one's mouth. Now if that's not a mixed message, I don't know what is: Here, kid, pop this colorful square with knobs on top in your mouth -- hey, don't put that colorful square with knobs on top in your mouth! As Gabe from the Penny Arcade webcomic explained it, "I just spent the first three years of my sons life trying to get him not to eat blocks, and now you're telling him they taste like f#$%ing strawberries. I can only assume that their next product is fruit flavored thumbtacks."

And lest you think this some sort of hoax, it is indeed a real product with eighty calories per serving and no trans fats. Mind you, we won't be bringing these home from the grocery store any time soon; we have enough trouble with my son Jared putting things in his mouth as it is.

Source

There's nothing like a late night dip in a swimming pool on a warm summer's eve. I can't even begin to count the number of times I've enjoyed such pleasures -- on camping trips, at hotels, even this week when we're on holiday with my wife's extended family at a spa in Calistoga, California. We've been there in the pools until they kicked us out at closing time.

It seems that I am not alone in my enjoyment of a bit of night swimming -- teens in England have begun indulging as well. The problem is, they're using pools they shouldn't be. The teens use Google Earth to search for homes with large swimming pools, then use social networking sites like Facebook to organize impromptu -- and illegal -- pool parties.

Homeowners have woken up to find their pools full of teenagers who are prepared for a quick getaway on bicycle. Police are "are advising owners of swimming pools to be on their guard and extra vigilant." The sad thing is, at least here in the states, homeowners could be held responsible if someone gets hurt in their pool, even if they were using it without permission.

If I owned a swimming pool, my inclination would be to tell the neighbor kids to use it whenever they liked, but these days, unfortunately, that would be a very unwise thing to do -- I think I would probably have to have a huge fence around it and keep it locked up tight. And where's the fun in that?

Source

Welcome to Tried and True, a monthly feature where cool products are put through the ringer -- from our family to yours.

Let's travel back to an extremely different time in my life, say, three years ago. Three years ago, I was prancing around town in my J. Crew suits and pointy-toed flats, working a great job and living it up. Between social engagements, I would hop on over to the gym for a quick kickboxing or Yoga class. I had all the time in the world to focus on being physically fit, with complete flexibility of my schedule.

Fast forward to the present. The suits are packed away in the closet (but the shoes remain, God as my witness) and the gym membership has been canceled. My schedule, like many stay/work-at-home-parents, now revolves around a child, which leaves about NO time for myself. At this stage in the game, being the sole caregiver for a toddler during the hours of 9am to 6pm puts a tiny damper on the whole getting fit dynamic.

Going to the gym? Not feasible. Running with a jogging stroller while a toddler protests at ear-shattering levels? Yeah, right. Sneaking out of the house while your child naps? Hello, CHILD SERVICES.

Sure, exercise DVDs are a great at-home option, but what happens if the motivation starts to wane? Who's going to notice if you sit down during the workout? Is the instructor going to motivate you personally? "Hey! You in the juice-stained shirt, get off your butt!" Unfortunately, I think not.

What's a parent to do?

Enter the Wii Fit. Your virtual personal trainer.

Remember Rubik's Cubes? Those maddening little squares of frustration that mock you with their refusal to line up properly? As a kid, I spent countless hours attempting to solve my Rubik's cube, eventually succumbing to frustration and destroying the thing when I tried to peel off the colored stickers and place them where they were supposed to go.

Some kids are better than others at solving the puzzle that is Rubik. But no kid is better at it than 18-year-old Dan Cohen. The Pennsylvania teen managed to solve the 4x4 Rubik's Revenge Cube in 46.03 seconds, officially setting a new world record. Cohen's competitors included smart people of all ages and he says he surprised even himself by winning. ''It came out of nowhere. I'm not even remotely that fast,'' he said. ''Everything just came together.''

Interestingly, of the 36 competitors at the Da Vinci Science Center's Rubik's Cube Competition, only one was female. The 13-year-old girl obviously didn't win, but she should at least get some props for competing in what clearly is a male-dominated event.

Source

My kids have -- and frequently play with -- a large plastic strawberry filled with Strawberry Shortcake characters that were mine when I was a kid. They love the way the dolls smell, the interchangeable hats, and the little rubber shoes that don't constantly fall off (unlike their more modern dolls).

But according to American Greetings Properties, the company who owns Strawberry and her friends, my kids are an anomaly. Modern kids can't relate to the old SS and friends, they say, and either can a whole string of other 1980s characters. So they're all getting makeovers to attract a new generation of fans, while still trying to hook parents with the nostalgia factor. Care Bears are slimming down, TMNT are getting more muscular (but less aggressive), even Mickey Mouse is in the process of getting a new look.

I really don't have a problem with companies remaking favorite brands to make them more modern. When Strawberry was remade a few years ago, she was brought into the 21st century, but she was still clearly a kid. This most recent makeover gives Strawberry a cell phone (goodbye, Custard the cat!), long flowing hair, and those vapid, Bratz-like eyes that are oh-so-popular with manufacturers today.

What do you think about the makeover -- Strawberry Shortcake gone wild or perfect for today's little girls?

Source

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 15,000 Playsafe Spinning Quad Merry-Go-Rounds due to a fall hazard. A bearing on the merry-go-round can fail and cause the seat to suddenly drop to the ground. The manufacturer, Pacific Cycle, has received one report of an injury to a child due to this defect.

The Playsafe Spinning Quad Merry-Go-Round has four yellow plastic seats and black and silver metal bars. They were made in China and sold exclusively by Toys R Us nationwide between January 2008 through March 2008 for between $80 and $100.

If you have one of these merry-go-rounds, you should immediately take it away from your child and return it to Toys R Us for a full refund. Alternately, you may contact Pacific Cycle to receive a free retrofit kit. You can reach the company by calling (877) 564-2261 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or by visiting their Web site.

Source

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 2,200 Animal Tracking Explorer Kits. The powder in the kit marked "plaster of paris" is in reality calcium hydroxide, which poses a risk of skin and eye irritation when handled.

The Animal Tracking Explorer Kits include a bag of the aforementioned white powder marked "plaster of paris", nature study tools and various pieces of equipment (field lens, specimen jars and bags, labels, puff bottle, plastic gloves, spatula, cardboard strips, paper clips, mixing pot, tweezers, spoon, notebook) as well as an Explorer Guide.

Made in China and imported by MindWare, of Roseville, Minnesota, the kits were sold at MindWare's online store and through the MindWare catalog from September 2007 through December 2007 for about $25 each.

If you have one of these kits, you should immediately take it away from your children and contact MindWare to receive either a free replacement product or for a full refund. You can reach them by calling (800) 588-1072 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT, or by emailing them at custserv@mindware.com.

Source

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 11,000 Backyard Leisure Adventure Play Sets and Create N Adventure Wooden Play Sets. The hangers holding the chains for the gliders can break and cause a child to fall and possibly suffer injuries. Backyard Leisure has received 114 reports of glider hangers breaking, including three in which children were hurt.

The recall involves wooden swing sets in various configurations with gliders, slides and swings. The recalled models include:

Adventure Play Sets

• Pathfinder Swing Set 65008
• Conqueror Swing Set 65208

Create N Adventure Wooden Play Sets

• Cedar Ridge Wooden Swing Set 30008
• Windsor Wooden Swing Set 30108

"Adventure Play Set" or "Create N Adventure," and "Pittsburg, KS 66762" is printed on a plaque in the middle of the swing sets' upper beam. The name and model number is printed on the manufacturer's instructions that come with the play set. Additional photos of the recalled swing sets can be found here.

These swing sets were made in China and sold at Wal-Mart stores nationwide and Wal-Mart.com under the Adventure Playsets name, and Toys "R" Us stores nationwide under the Create N Adventure name from January 2008 through May 2008 for between $400 and $1,500.

If you have one of the recalled swing sets, you should immediately remove the glider from the set and contact Backyard Leisure to receive free replacement glider hangers and repair instructions. You can reach them by calling (866) 546-7902 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, by visiting their Web site, or by emailing them at at custservice@adventureplayets.com.

Source

Did you have a favorite teddy bear when you were growing up? If so, you might be able to relate to this story. Orange Ted, as the now possibly celebrity status teddy bear in the tale is known, is a very lucky bear indeed. His family traveled over 1,500 miles and interacted with over 1,000 people to get him back!

Jaimee Armstrong of was traveling back from a family vacation to the Costa Brava when Orange Ted was accidentally misplaced at Girona Airport. Armstrong had mistakenly left her hand baggage at the departure gate amid the hoopla surrounding boarding. The seven-year-old was so upset over the loss of her friend (and who wouldn't be--after all, is there a truer friend than your teddy bear?) she couldn't sleep, and her parents launched the aptly titled "Operation Bear Necessity" to get him back.

After the aforementioned 1,500 miles and over £1,000, Orange Ted was happily reclaimed by his family. The Girona Airport personnel confirmed the luggage was there but that someone would have to collect it in person. After a series of near-collections and hand-offs, Orange Ted, who has one eye and is going bald among other maladies, made what would be his final journey--back into the arms of the little girl who loved him most.

Teddy pic by Zevotron.

Source

No, this isn't something out of a circus side show. An eight-year-old girl from Indiana swallowed a combined total of 30 magnets and steel balls from a toy. The toys parts tore her intestines and doctors are saying she is lucky to be alive. Haley Lents told the Early Show anchors she swallowed ten magnets and 20 steel balls because they looked like CANDY. She spent two weeks in the hospital after being taken to the emergency room where doctors discovered eight bullet-like holes in her intestines. Even scarier for parents is the mom and dad say they were both in the same room with Haley when she consumed the parts!

This story sort of reminds me of that Curious George story wherein George eats the puzzle piece and has to go to the hospital to have it removed. That story was sweet and a little sad but had a happy ending. And it was just a STORY. This poor girl, whose father is confused because he claims she is too smart to do anything like that, is lucky to still be with us after undertaking such a task.

Mega Brands, who make the Magnetix toy, have issued a statement but not accepted responsibility. Haley's father noted however that the new version does not contain magnetic parts that can be swallowed, and does not feel the company has done enough to warn parents of the real dangers of toys with magnetic parts. It's not clear from the article whether the toy was considered age-appropriate for an eight-year-old.

Source

So what do you do if you're really into roller coasters, but there aren't any nearby? Well, if you're Jeremy Reid of Oklahoma, you go ahead and build one of your own. While in college, Reid decided to build himself a wooden roller coaster in his parents' backyard. The single-passenger car climbs seventeen feet into the air and then drops down a fifty-four degree angle, reaching a top speed of twenty miles per hour. Riders experience gravitational forces ranging from -0.2G's to +3.5G's.

The finished coaster stands as a testament to his determination and ingenuity and as an unconventional entry on his resume -- leading to a job with a company that designed and built roller coasters. "What I did was make a video of what I'd built and I sent that to eight coaster companies," said Reid. "Those types of companies get a lot of people interested in roller coasters and riding roller coasters, but I was one of the few with actual engineering experience."

Be forewarned, however, if you're thinking of building something like this for your kids. While the total cost was less than six thousand dollars, the project did use almost three thousand board feet of lumber, seven thousand nails and screws, and four years' time. I think I'll stick to taking the kids to one of the four big amusement parks we're lucky enough to have here. If you're not so lucky, well, good luck with building one and send us pictures when you're done!

Source