Category: Toys
Assembling Lego Hagrid’s Hut
Review: Zing Z-X Crossbow and Pop Rocketz
Last year, I reviewed two products from ZING Toys. When I heard that they had some new items, I was excited to get the chance to review these as well.
The first to get played with was the Z-X Crossbow. In many ways, this was similar to the Z-Curve Bow I reviewed last year. Both use stretching bands that arrows hook into to launch far away.
The primary difference, however, is that this is a crossbow. When the arrow is loaded, it locks into place. The arrow will then remain in place until a trigger is pulled. Afterwards, the arrow will go flying off into the distance.
My boys loved playing with the crossbow. Sometimes they would take turns with one firing the arrows and the other running off to retrieve them. Other times, they would each fire an arrow and see who could get theirs the furthest.
Next up were the Pop Rocketz. This was very different from our previous Zing products. Instead of a slingshot or arrow, this was a air powered rocket launcher. You simply slide the rocket onto the launcher. Then, you squeeze the bulb and the rocket shoots high into the air.
This was a favorite of my boys, especially JSL. Many of these toys require strength and coordination that a 5 year old doesn’t have. Yes, the Z-X Crossbow is labeled as being for ages 8 and up, but if NHL is using it, JSL will want to too. And if JSL tries using the crossbow, he will doubtlessly get frustrated.
The Pop Rocketz, however, were designed for ages 5 and up. They are extremely simple. JSL just needed to squeeze the bulb very quickly and he could shoot the rockets pretty high.
Both of these products have earned their place as fun outdoor toys we will doubtlessly use over and over again.
Disclaimer: I received the Z-X Crossbow and the Pop Rocketz from ZING Toys to review. However, the opinions expressed above are my own.
The Day I Became Doc McStuffins
My kids love the new Disney Junior show, Doc McStuffins. They love the characters, the songs, and even the lessons about staying healthy. Of course, the fact that the show has a plethora of toys for Doc to interact with doesn’t hurt.
I’ve written before about Doc’s father, but the other day, I felt like Doc herself. The kids were getting ready for bed. They were in their PJs, nighttime allergy medicine was taken, teeth were brushed and they were climbing into their beds. As NHL picked out which toys he wanted to cuddle with that night, he let out a cry. Something was seriously wrong.
I came to see what was the matter and he explained that his turtle’s leg was coming loose. This was a turtle that he had won at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration Dinoland party. I checked the turtle out and immediately saw the problem: A busted seam. It was bad, but completely fixable. I reassured NHL, took the turtle with me, got my sewing kit and got to work.
Pretty soon, the leg (fin?) was fixed. The stitching might not have been as clean as the original, but I reinforced mine so that it would last. Plus, it’s not really that noticeable unless you really look for it.
My only disappointment was that, in hindsight, I wish I had taken some photos of the busted seam and the sewing in progress. My mind wasn’t focused on "This is a blog post in the making", though. Instead, it was mainly focused on "I’m fixing NHL’s stuffed animal the way Doc McStuffins would fix a toy."
Yes, I channeled my inner Doc to get his toy feeling better. And, yes, I was a little disappointed when the turtle didn’t leap up post-toy-surgery to sing "I feel better!" Still, The appreciation from NHL when he saw his turtle was fixed beat any magical turtle serenade.
The Search For A Baby Boy Doll
Back when B was pregnant with JSL, we wanted NHL to get ready for being a big brother. We decided to get him a small baby boy doll to help him practice. It wasn’t easy, but we finally tracked one down in a local Toys ‘R Us. NHL named him Howie Harry. Howie after Howie Mandell, host of Deal or No Deal, and Harry from Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs, a favorite TV show of his at the time. (It’s standard practice in Judaism not to name after the living, but seeing as Howie Harry’s not a real baby, I don’t think there’s a problem.) Anyway, Howie Harry became a loved member of our family and gave NHL lots of practice.
Fast forward to the present day. JSL now wants a "Howie Harry" of his own. No, B’s not pregnant again. He’s just obsessed with having a little baby of his own. We decided that he has some Chanukah gift cards (not to mention some unused ones from his birthday last year). We’ll let him use them to buy a little boy doll.
That is, if we can find a little boy doll. On Saturday night, we checked two stores for a doll to no avail. On Sunday, I called four more stores and checked in four other stores. All I found were baby girl dolls. We did find one baby boy doll in one store, but was quite pricy. It’s one of the ones that coos and wets its diaper. All we want is a basic baby boy doll. Is that too much to ask for?
Apparently, toy manufacturers and toy store owners think that: 1) Only girls play with dolls (note that the doll aisle is all pink whereas the other aisles are more "gender-neutral" colors) and 2) girls only want to play with little girl dolls. Why can’t little boys play with dolls? And why can’t boys and girls play with baby boy dolls?
Have you ever seen a baby boy doll in the doll aisle?