Tag Archives: Dinosaurs

What Crossed my Desk today…Yet another Pile of Poop (really)

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Dinosaur Train Dino Poop from Uncle Milton

Remember that episode of Seinfeld where George decides to do everything the opposite of what he would normally do…and his world turned around for him. I kind of feel like someone is playing George at the moment. Actually several people, since this is the second poop toy to reach my desk in the last month. Someone said what’s the best toy we can make about dinosaurs…and then let’s try to do the opposite!

Poop makes kids (and their parents laugh) and if you read even a small percentage of parenting blogs, you realize how many adults become obsessed with all things poop.  So this toy may be a huge hit.  I just need to share some of the hilarious slogans on the packaging.  I would have loved to have been in on the brainstorming session for this one!

Dino Poop is  part of the Dinosaur Train line from Uncle Milton.  More specifically, the poop is from   a Carnivore in this particular…toy.

ewww!

Here is what the package says:

“Collect them all”…because you can never have enough poop I guess.

“Play with it again and again!” …I have no words,  I’m just laughing so hard.

“What’s in the poop?” …really?

A pile of "poop" with fossils to discover!

So in reality, it is a piece of clay with “fossils” buried in the “poop” for your child to discover.  Targeted at four year olds, if you buy this product…I would suggest having the conversation about why we don’t explore our own poop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trends from Toyland: Cavemen

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Dinosaurs are the “it” creature from toy fair.  Everywhere! (Mattel, Hasbro, Lego, Gund, Playmobil–just to name a few!) But here’s our problem with so many of the new play sets….cavemen. We understand the need to have “action figures” – they’re fun to play with but they pose a problem.  It goes without saying that they are factually incorrect–the same way that we often find playsets that combine polar bears with penguins (another pet peeve of ours).   One of the reasons dinos are so adored by preschoolers and early school aged kids–they know that dinos were never EVER around when man was around.  It’s fun to think about these huge creatures roaming the Earth — without the thought of what would have happened if they were around when there were men (and more specifically, little children).  You may think this is silly — but the last time this trend came around, this was exactly the reaction we got from small dino-enthusiasts.  The kids in the know were offended by the cavemen and they often put them away–preferring to have their dinos battle it out!  

Trends from Toyland: D-REX

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d-rex-v.jpgI got to see D-REX yesterday at Mattel’s showroom. This wireless remote controlled dino will most likely be a huge hit with kids 6 & up. As a little sister, this is just the type of toy that my brothers would have scared me silly with as a kid. With a retail price of $150, D-REX is that big holiday gift. He comes in a clever crate-like box- meant to be his permanent “hang out” when not in use. The remote control is in the shape of the bone. At first we thought that Hasbro’s KOTA and D-REX would be in head to head competition but they’re really quite different in terms of look and appeal. KOTA is much more a preschool, friendly kind of dino. D-REX will be most enjoyed by that older early school years group.

Trends from Toyland: KOTA

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kota.jpgEvery year there is an animal that seems to dominate toy fair. Last year it was hard to find a toy that didn’t have a  penguin on it.  Dinosaurs never really leave toyland…they remain great props for dramatic play…but this year they have come back in a very updated way.  KOTA the Triceratop, from Hasbro ($300), is an oversized dino that your preschooler can even sit on.  Much like the company’s pony, Butterscotch, KOTA is sound and touch activated (there are 11 different touch points).  He will even roar, enjoy chomping on some leaves, and give your child a spring-action ride (he doesn’t move forward).  We look forward to testing him with our testers.