Cedarworks of Maine Swingset and Play Structures, Discovery Channel Toys, Hasbro, LEGO, Master Replicas, Mattel, Razor, Rollerblade, Schwinn, USAopoly.
Cedarworks of Maine (www.cedarworks.com) (1-800-GO-CEDAR)
(all swingsets and play structures by CedarWorks of Maine are free-standing and made with northern white cedar...the only white cedar both naturally rot-resistant and naturally splinter-free and it’s strong enough to hold a small elephant and offers long life without chemicals with an awesome guarantee - they come carefully packed, pre-drilled, and ready to assemble using their excellent videotapes - safety features include: staircase systems made especially for kids as young as 2, with removable platforms you can arrange as stairs; heavy-duty recessed hardware to prevent injuries; minimum metal - extra-soft and extra-strong polyester rope rather than chains that might rust or pinch - they set the standard and are constantly testing and developing innovative ways to improve the state-of-the-art for safety in playsets - the sets are designed to grow due to their height and add-on features -the hooks on ropes make raising/lowering a swing fast and simple for kids or adults to use and special "quick-links" at the top let you remove any swing in seconds -they offer total freedom to customize your set for your family and they’ll even design one just for you - our favorite set is:)
• Skowhegan Jumbo Gazebo (it’s reminiscent of the Hearst Castle, but much easier to maintain - the Gazebo can be enclosed with Window Walls to create a clubhouse and you can put a Kidnick Table in the bottom - options for outfitting the Jumbo Gym are dazzling, and there's even a bench swing for the old folks - it comes with 2 swings, a horse swing, CW slider, a fun deck for little ones, crow’s nest and accessories and we liked it with the additions of a rascal ramp, high deck and funnel tunnel - you’ll have the entire neighborhood over and you’ll never want to leave your yard again)
Discovery Channel Toys (www.discovery.com)
(Make playtime an adventure for your budding scientist, explorer or creative genius with their awesome toys - categories include: Science & Technology, Remote Control, Spy, Arts & Crafts, Baby Development, Electronic Learning, Construction, Stuffed Animals, Family Games and Electronic Games - and there’s something for every age -- young and old)
• Discovery Tech-Edge Digital Camera (snap digital photos, create cool video clips or use this awesome digital camera as a webcam - it has Built-in 8MB memory stores up to 93 images; VGA digital camera with 640 x 480 resolution; view and manage photos with the 1' LCD color screen; record video clips or use as a webcam; small enough to fit in a pocket)
• Avion Indoor Plane (Megatech’s Avion will convert your living room into an indoor aerodrome with its tight 3-ft turning radius - it is a high performance, precision controlled, highly maneuverable, ready-to-fly, easy to use, indoor aerobat)
• Discovery City Lights Globe (capture the beauty of lights from the earth at night - this awesome globe automatically iluminates the cities of our world as seen from orbit, capturing this ethereal beauty as it automatically turns - simply place your City Lights Globe on its elegant base and it will begin to magically revolve, displaying Earth's unique light show)
• Flowboard Alternative Skateboard – surf without waves and carve without snow – and turn a lot of heads with a board that loves concrete – this unique skateboard-style deck recreates the feeling of snowboarding/surfing – the patented deep carve system features a 14-wheel arched setup that allows you to carve 45-degree angles with fluid, edge-to-edge motion)
• Virtual Distance Football – take your pass to new lengths and measure your distance with advanced sensor technology that’s built into this sure-grip football – the sensor accurately determines the distance the ball is thrown – train tomorrow’s quarterback today)
• Tetris Gold Color Screen Game (experience the addictive fun of Tetris with this brilliant 2.5” color screen and 10 challenging levels – this handheld electronic game captures the intense fun of Tetris with its brilliant 2.5” x 1.5” color screen, 4 game modes and 10 skills levels)
Hasbro (www.hasbro.com) (1-800-752-9755)
(Hasbro is a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech - both internationally and in the U.S., its brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world - they just want families to have fun - Playskool, Milton Bradley, Hasbro Creative, Kenner, Parker Brothers, Hasbro Interactive, Tonka, Tiger Electronics, Russ Berrie, OddzOn with Koosh, Cap Candy Line and Avalon Hill are some of their brands - MR. POTATO HEAD was the first major toy success for Hasbro and revolutionized the toy industry by being the first toy to be advertised on television – then the EASY-BAKE OVEN gave little girls everywhere a chance to bake their very own treats - Hasbro launched the world's first "action figure" in 1964, G.I. JOE - in 1966, Milton Bradley introduced TWISTER and when Johnny Carson played it on "The Tonight Show," the game became a phenomenon - FURBY, a cuddly animatronic pet with a very spunky "personality," had children begging their parents for one during the holiday season with more than 40 million FURBY sold in three years - Hasbro will continue to focus on growing its core brands and will develop new products through innovation - and the rest, as they say, will become history...)
LEGO (www.lego.com)
(discover the magic at LEGO and give your child the gift of using their imagination - LEGO has many categories of products including: Indiana Jones, SpongeBob, DUPLO and QUATRO (playsets for babies and toddlers), Star Wars (Episode III, Classic, Ultimate Collector Series and Star Wars MINI Models), City (sets for construction, fire rescue, police, transportation and town essentials), BIONICLES, Team (Alpha Team, Belville, Exo-Force, Dino Attack, Harry Potter, Knights' Kingdom and Vikings), LEGO Sports (basketball and hockey), LEGO Racers (bikes, cars and trucks, Ferrari), PC & Video Games, Make and Create (Bricks & Buckets, X-Pod, LEGO MINDSTORMS, LEGO TECHNIC and more), CLIKITS (jewelry, room decor, school stuff) and so much more - all are wonderful for children who love to build toys - their safe, colorful PreSchool toys are the perfect size for small hands and the figures and sets encourage your child's physical and emotional development through hours of unstructured role play - your child will spend hours, let alone years, developing and exploring his or her own imagination with their toys - and though they make toys, they are not just a toy company - though they are famous for their product, they are defined by their philosophy - their name comes from the combination of the Danish "leg godt", which means to "play well" and this is both their name and nature - they believe that play is the essential ingredient in a child's growth and development... it grows the human spirit and it encourages imagination, conceptual thinking and creation - so play well and rest easy knowing that your child is safely playing, and even learning, with the very best play system available)
Master Replicas (www.masterreplicas.com)
(Master Replicas consistently produces some of the finest reproductions and replicas on the market for licenses including Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Aliens, Predator, Shrek, Disney and more - Master Replicas LLC is an industry leader in movie and television prop replicas - with an extremely experienced executive team, Master Replicas leverages an attractive combination of professional business management with extensive prop replica experience - they actually only produce officially licensed products, with extreme attention to product authenticity, product quality, and customer service - any of their products would make an excellent addition to your movie paraphenalia collections)
• Star Wars F/X Lightsabers (okay, this is a review that must be read for every single Star Wars enthusiast out there, young or old - don’t miss out on this ULTIMATE Star Wars product because it is worth every single cent you will spend on it, times ten - this is not just another "action toy" lightsaber that you might purchase for your twelve-year-old - Master Replicas' Force FX lightsabers are official reproductions-authorized by Lucasfilm-complete with glowing lights and digitized sound effects - the Luke Skywalker version boasts a glowing green blade over three feet long - if your fan swings toward the Dark Side, they'll appreciate the red-bladed Darth Vader version from Star Wars: A New Hope (a gift that is sure to bring out the "Force" in any guy) - and Mace Windu with its glowing purple blade is the newest in the collection - these lightsabers are made from durable machined, die-cast metal and then assembled and polished by hand - your child will truly be the envy of all his friends (or you will, too) with this Prop replica from Episode III - it goes on a custom display stand, it ignites with realistic power-up and power-down light effects, has ten authentic sound effects digitally recorded straight from the movie (power-up, power-down, idle, movement (3 sounds), and clash (4 sounds) that are motion sensor controlled, it has a durable-yet-light aluminum hilt/handle with light chrome plate and rubber grips, a realistic feel and a sturdy polycarbonate blade permanently attached to the hilt - it is just the coolest lightsaber around and Star War fans just can’t be without one, or three, of them - and you’ll want to keep turning them on and off just to hear their awesome, realistic, digitized sounds -- when you first toggle the activation switch, the blade lights up in a manner reminiscent of the films: the light travels from the pommel to the tip, rather than the whole thing just lighting up at once (it uses 60+ Rowed LED lights to provide a realistic up and down power motion) - they glow really nice, especially in lower light - wwing the sabre, and it hums and buzzes - strike something (but not too hard, even though it’s really durable) and it makes a clashing sound - strike two sabres together, and the clashing sound is louder and more pronounced - the saber also has an auto-off feature to save battery life - now holiday shopping for the man or kid who has everything will be a cinch with the latest in electronic gadgets - so bring out the naughty (Darth Vader) or nice (Luke Skywalker) galactic warrior in your Star Wars lover this holiday season with a Star Wars lightsaber from Master Replicas)
Mattel and Fisher-Price (www.mattel.com) (www.fisher-price.com)
• Barbie (www.barbie.com) (you’ll find lots of new Barbie dolls this year, all gorgeous and ready to be loved by adults and children alike - beautiful new versions will keep you happy and your collection growing - you can never get enough of Barbie and Mattel will never let you down with its new and innovative creations of this legend who has been around for over 40 years - she’s always up on current trends in fashion and pop culture, and no matter what role she’s playing, she’s always tops with us)
• Barbie Fashionistas (for the first time, Barbie can move like a real person with the introduction of the most stylish and on-trend fashion dolls each featuring their own distinct fashion personality, detailed fashions and 12 points of articulation)
• So In Style (this new line of black dolls by Barbie features more authentic-looking facial features such as fuller lips, a wider noise and curlier hair - each of the S.I.S.dolls features its own unique personality, style and reflects one if three varying skin tones - the S.I.S.(TM) line also introduces a mentoring theme; each doll is accompanied by a smaller doll or "little sister" and has different interests - from music and math to science and drill team)
• Avatar action figures, vehicles and creatures (from the highly anticipated landmark film - the first toy line to incorporate three dimensional, augmented reality technology)
• UNO Moo! (this great toy offers preschoolers a barnyard-themed version of the classic card game with 28 adorable farm animal figures that replace traditional UNO playing cards)
• Ucreate Music (Tweens can express their inner-DJ with this easy-to-use digital music-making system)
• Polly Pocket Roller Coaster Resort Play Set (this features all the fun and adventure of a rollercoaster into a deluxe luxury hotel complete with a rollercoaster ride built right around it)
• Hot Wheels Super Jump Raceway (Hot Wheels continues to excite boys with this super fast track set featuring an amazing 16-inch jump)
• Matchbox Rocky the Robot Truck (this hard-working dump truck with a fun-loving personality dances and cracks jokes)
• Fisher-Price 3-in-1 Smart Sports (this encourages kids to get up and active with the plug and play system that features three attachments - a baseball bat, tennis racket and golf club - teaching kids numbers, letters, colors, shapes, matching, math and more)
Razor (www.razorusa.com) (www.ripstikusa.com)
• Dune Buggy (8+) (for adults, dune buggies may beckon colorful memories of the 70s - for kids, they're just plain fun - Razor has put their electric spin on this vintage-cool ride to give older kids and teens some buggy thrills - traveling at speeds up to 9 miles per hour, the classic dune buggy design features a bucket seat and diamond plate floorboards - and with knobby tires and terrain following suspension, the dunes will be begging for mercy)
• Dirt Quad (8+) (when the backyard becomes too groomed and the sidewalk too smooth, the Dirt Quad enters with unlimited adventure - another icon in Razor's line of electric powered off-road vehicles, the four-wheel Dirt Quad is built strong and sturdy to conquer tough trails and big bumps - don't compromise adventure)
• RipStik (8+) (this product is so great and unique – it’s a new athletic challenge worth mastering and it’s the next big thrill - there is no better time than now to pick up the Razor RipStik Caster Board that translates the snowboarding experience to some serious asphalt – it’s actually a cross between a skateboard and a snowboard - rip, shred and carve like you're out on the slopes, any time of year, with the Ripstik castor board - it features in-lined castor trucks and a pivoting deck that make for a snowboard-like carving ability that you won't find on other street boards - its unique design allows acceleration and turning without pushing – a simple weight transfer lets you turn or accelerate without pushing, just like when you’re carving down the slopes - the concave deck provides increased foot control while the poly-urethane wheels and ABEC-5 bearings produce a smooth ride – the board offers spiked traction pads, a kick tail and nose and more - kids will love it…and parents might enjoy it, too!)
• Pocket Mod Bistro (reminiscent of the classic Vespa, this adorable mini version is a retro-style scooter that radiates Euro-spy chic while cruising at speeds of up to 12 mph for up to 10 miles on a single charge - it's the perfect vehicle for short commutes, running errands or zipping down to your favorite sidewalk cafe and, amazing for the price you’ll pay, the ride is perfectly smooth - the Razor Pocket Mod Bistro Scooter gives every young girl with an eye for fashion and a passion for fun a set of wheels that is sure to be the hottest accessory on the block - vintage inspired styling meets high performance with the classic Euro scooter design - some of the features include a step through steel frame, fashion friendly pearly sand and vintage green detail, a twist grip throttle for precise acceleration control, large, 12” pneumatic tires and rear suspension for a smooth cruise and a retractable kickstand - children will love riding this scooter -- they’ll feel very grown up - what a great treat for them to own - and you can even give your small children a ride on it - you’ll be the envy of all your neighbors and what fun you will all have - and, AS ALWAYS, don’t forget to wear a helmet and pads!)
• Dirt Rocket MX350 (this mini electric motocross bike is a really cool little bike for a really cool kid - the Razor Dirt Rocket MX 350 devours mud, rocks and dirt with its high-torque electric motor and large 10-inch knobby tires for mowing over bumps and rocks - it's powerful enough to carry riders weighing up to 150 lbs and runs for up to 10 miles on a single charge at up to 12 mph, approximately 45 minutes - let your kids live out their off-road fantasies with the Razor Dirt Rocket - the scaled down dirt bike is a fun way for beginner riders to enter the sport of motocross as it’ll give them a realistic feel for it - since it does run on batteries, it won’t have the same power of a gas-powered bike (good for moms and dads to know) - and the great thing about that is you don’t have to worry about spending money on gas either! - the Dirt Rocket also has has a solid dual suspension and riser handlebars for softening big hits and jumps - the Dirt Rocket is a fun and affordable alternative ride for kids who want a Motocross bike with a price that is really reasonable - AND, most importantly, don’t forget to play it safe -- always wear a helmet and safety pads when you ride)
• Safety Gear (before we talk about their awesome scooters and electric bikes, just remember that helmets, guards and kneepads are a must because you need as much protection as you can get, just in case - Razor has a fabulous set of elbow and knee pads that features 2 elbow pads and 2 knee pads for protection while you ride - both pads have Velcro straps for adjustability and elastic cuffs for freedom of movement - and their helmet includes an extra sizing pad, flow-through vents, popular styling and it’s CPSC approved)
• A3 Scooter (scooters are everywhere but we love Razor’s the best - Razor scooters are lightweight and handle easily - and the A3 is, by far, one of the hottest scooter models on the planet - this kick scooter comes with a wheeliebar, shoulder strap and multi-mount clip as well as both front and rear shock absorbing suspension - it is made from a heat-treated, aircraft grade aluminum - additional features include: an updated deck design; front shocks; front linear stabilizer; patented rear tender brake; easy fold and carry styling with a patented folding mechanism; 98mm urethane wheels with ABEC 5 bearings; a wheeliebar; kickstand and adjustable rear suspension - it can also custom fit any rider's height and weight - we love it in red or green)
Rollerblade (www.rollerblade.com) (see Gift Section)
Schwinn Bicycles (www.schwinnbikes.com) (see Schwinn Fitness in High-Tech Electronics for Recumbent Bike)
They make the best bikes a parent can buy for themselves or their child with major hand-me-down durability.
• Schwinn Midi Mesa – Boy’s (http://www.schwinnbike.com/deu/eng/Products/Kids/Details/1263-S9MIDM-Midi-Mesa)
USAopoly (www.usaopoly.com) (see Gift Section for Football games)
(they make specialty games of renowned Hasbro board games -- Monopoly, Monopoly Jr., Scrabble, Clue, Clue Jr., Scrabble Jr., Yahtzee, Pictionary and Chess games - they are timeless and diverse - check out their website for all new games)
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