I talked myself out of this thing three times in one afternoon. Ten months later it is the first toy my grandkids reach for when they walk in my door.
Ten months, one toy shelf, and a whole lot of Saturday afternoon shows. Here is what held up, what annoyed me, and what I would tell another grandmother before she buys one.
One is a solo toy. One is a whole Saturday afternoon. A grandmother who has bought both explains which to give, and to which grandchild.
A grandmother's plain-spoken list, from four microphones to five watts, on the one Christmas present that was still getting used in September.
I talked myself out of this thing three times in one afternoon. Ten months later it is the first toy my grandkids reach for when they walk in my door.
Five steps, one small speaker, four microphones, and a grandmother who has been running this show most Saturdays since Christmas.
Ten months, three grandchildren, four microphones, and one catch the box never mentions.
Eight months, one hundred pieces, three grandchildren, and not one battery. What holds up and what to watch for if you are buying these for a little one.
A grandmother's plain-spoken comparison of PicassoTiles magnetic tiles and wooden blocks, based on eight months of Saturdays with a four-year-old builder and a seven-year-old show director.
A grandmother in Fort Worth on eight months with one box of 100 tiles, two grandkids four years apart, and a living room rug that has not been clear on a Saturday since.
Eight months ago I almost sent the box back unopened. Here is what happened on my living-room rug instead.
A grandmother's plain-spoken guide to turning one bin of magnetic tiles into a castle, a stage, and a Saturday afternoon that does not need a screen.
Eight months, one box of 100 pieces, and a four-year-old who still asks for them. Here are the parts the product photos leave out.
I mailed a wooden stacking toy to a two-year-old three hours away and then spent a week wondering if I had wasted my money. Six months later, here is the honest report.
A grandmother's plain-spoken comparison of the wooden stacker she mailed to Oklahoma City and the plastic rings she keeps in her bag.
I mailed this one to Oklahoma City and did not see it in person for two months. Six months later it is still on the floor at my son's house, and my granddaughter still reaches for it first.
I stood in the toy aisle and talked myself out of it three times. Six months and one cross-country mailing later, it is the first thing I recommend to other grandmothers.
A grandmother's plain-spoken guide to the toy shelf: five things to check before you buy a stacking toy for a two year old, and the one I put in a box and mailed three hours north.
I mailed a wooden stacking toy to Oklahoma City and then spent six months finding out whether it was worth the postage. Here is the honest version, including the part about how short the useful window really is.
Two years, one birthday, and roughly a hundred living-room shows later, here is what held up, what didn't, and what I'd tell another grandmother standing in the toy aisle.
One is a toy that lives at your house for years. The other is an outfit for one night. A grandmother who has bought plenty of both explains which job you are actually shopping for.
I bought this trunk for a fifth birthday two years ago. It is still in the closet, still in rotation, and I have opinions about who should not get one.
Two years, three skirts, and one four-year-old who will not take the tiara off.
A retired school office manager's plain-spoken guide to turning a Saturday afternoon, a roll of painter's tape, and one box of costumes into ninety minutes nobody in the house will forget.
A grandmother's plain-spoken look at the 21-piece Disney Princess dress-up set from JAKKS Pacific, two years after buying it for a fifth birthday.
A grandmother in Fort Worth has kept this six-deck tin in her purse for a year and a half. Here is what survived, what did not, and which grandchild claims which game.
A grandmother in Fort Worth compares the card tin that lives in her purse with the board games on the closet shelf, and says plainly which one earns its space.
A tin of six card decks lives in my purse. It has saved more restaurant dinners, waiting rooms and three-hour drives than anything else I have ever bought my grandkids.
A grandmother's plain-spoken story about the small tin of card games that earned a permanent spot in her purse.
A grandmother's plain-spoken method for teaching a seven-year-old and a four-year-old the two card games that actually hold them at the table, plus the house rules that keep it from ending in tears.
Eighteen months, three grandkids, one tin of cards that lives in my purse. Here is the plain truth about what holds up and what does not.
Ten months, one toy shelf, and a whole lot of Saturday afternoon shows. Here is what held up, what annoyed me, and what I would tell another grandmother before she buys one.
Ten months, three grandchildren, four microphones, and one catch the box never mentions.
Eight months, one hundred pieces, three grandchildren, and not one battery. What holds up and what to watch for if you are buying these for a little one.
Eight months, one box of 100 pieces, and a four-year-old who still asks for them. Here are the parts the product photos leave out.
I mailed a wooden stacking toy to a two-year-old three hours away and then spent a week wondering if I had wasted my money. Six months later, here is the honest report.
I mailed a wooden stacking toy to Oklahoma City and then spent six months finding out whether it was worth the postage. Here is the honest version, including the part about how short the useful window really is.
Two years, one birthday, and roughly a hundred living-room shows later, here is what held up, what didn't, and what I'd tell another grandmother standing in the toy aisle.
A grandmother's plain-spoken look at the 21-piece Disney Princess dress-up set from JAKKS Pacific, two years after buying it for a fifth birthday.
A grandmother in Fort Worth has kept this six-deck tin in her purse for a year and a half. Here is what survived, what did not, and which grandchild claims which game.
Eighteen months, three grandkids, one tin of cards that lives in my purse. Here is the plain truth about what holds up and what does not.
