If there’s one event that everyone loves shopping for, it’s a baby shower. We simply don’t mind spending $15 on a pair of miniature socks because, well…they’re so darn cute! Of course, this doesn’t include the blocks, stuffed animals, books, balls, and let’s not forget

the clucking chicken pull-toy that leaves hatching chicks in it’s wake. The next thing you know, a year flies by and every corner of the house has a precarious stack of colorful junk just waiting for a bored toddler to walk over and spread it around the room. Do you want to help the parents out in a future birthday? Get the kid another electronic toy if you must, but get the parents a swoop! I think the picture above says it all.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

Parents interested in bringing the fun back into reading might want to take a tip from entrepreneur and former teacher Chudney Rossformer. Her Santa Monica store Books and Cookies offers an irresistible collection of books, learning toys, and you guessed it…tasty

treats ranging from baked goods to healthy snacks. I’m not sure what nutritionists will think of the idea, but your kids’ teachers are sure to love it! Learn more at BooksAndCookiesLA.com, or become a fan on Facebook.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

> thanks for the tip Dan!

As any parent will tell you, a toy is rarely as entertaining as the box it arrived in. Why not make the best of it with the Rolobox pull toy kit? Each kit includes four wheels, eight nuts/bolts, and a string…all that’s needed to turn your cardboard box into a pull toy. Much

like the cardboard boxes you’ll attach them to, Rolobox wheels can be used again and again. Genius!

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

> thanks to Bambino Goodies!

Today’s tip won’t do much to help new parents with the growing mountain of baby gear, but you’ll love it if you have toddlers. Not only are common magnetic knife strips great for organizing car toys, but they’ll work with just about any metal toy weighing less than a

pound. Best of all, the rest of the toys won’t get dumped on the ground when your little one is in a mad rush to find the Batmobile!

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

> tip thanks to the style files!

Explaining serious medical conditions to children can be a difficult task which is why Kidzcomics of New Zealand developed the Medikidz series of medical comic books for kids. Created by a team of medical experts, Medikidz comic books help children

understand complicated medical issues that they or a family member may be suffering from including Breast Cancer, Swine Flu, ADHD, Childhood Obesity, Epilepsy, Type 1 Diabetes, HIV, Asthma, Autism, Food Allergy, and Scoliosis to name a few. Learn more Medikidz’s growing series of medical comic books at www.KidzComics.com!

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

> tip thanks to Springwise!

What do Jackalopes, Underwear, and Werewolves have in common? They are just a few of Fred’s new XYZ BLOCK collection…much like the ABC blocks you stacked as a kid, but these are fun! Find more fun Fred creations at WorldwideFred.com.

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

> tip thanks to our friends at KidCrave!

Tiny Art Director is fun blog that I think most parents of toddlers will appreciate which chronicles the artistic collaboration of a dad (artist, Bill Zeman) and his daughter the Tiny Art Director. Posts span for three years starting with the Tiny Art Director at age two, to

recent critiques including:  The Brief (job according to the Tiny Art Director), Image (Bill’s illustration), The Critique (by the Tiny Art Director), and The Job Status (approval status).

An example from March 10th:

• The Brief: “I don’t even want a drawing.  Do whatever you want.”
• Image: (see T-Rex Above)
• The Critique: “Now that’s what I like — That guy! He has such tiny hands! Let’s pretend another dinosaur is fighting with him and he’s scaring it!”
• Job Status: Approved

What’s particularly fun about the blog (beyond the great illustrations and occasionally brutal critique) is that fans of the Tiny Art Director and Bill’s art can purchase an actual book published by Chronicle Books! Learn more about the Tiny Art Director book at Bill Zeman’s Print Shop.

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

I know that I’ve featured quite a few strange kid-related products and services through the years, but Prague-based Toy Traveling may have just taken the lead in the crazy race.  How it works in their words:

1. Choose the fare you like most.
2. Fill in and send the order form.
3. After we confirm your order, pay the chosen amount.
4. Send your favorite toy to our address. Please ship your friend in a hard robust box which can also be used for the return trip. (Valid for the BASIC fare)
5. We will confirm arrival of your friend by email.
6. Your toy is going to experience an adventurous and unforgettable trip around Prague (Czech Republic).
7. After the trip is over, we will deliver your friend to you in order, together with all the items of the price package you’ve chosen.

Yes, you read that right…send your “favorite toy” on a vacation to Prague. The trip’s services vary by individual package, but the most basic fair includes  (a) 30 pictures on disc, (b) a certificate of successful visit, (c) a Facebook profile (d) a surprise, and (e) daily communication by email. Toy Traveling claims to be “the First global Travel Agency for Teddy bears and Cuddly toys” and of course, the company has a Facebook page to learn more.

I know, you probably think you’ve seen just about everything by now don’t you? Drop by next week…there’s a lot more crazy to come.

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

> tip thanks to Springwise!

Today would have been Dr. Seuss’s 106th birthday and to celebrate, all Dr. Seuss e-book Apps are on sale for 99 cents! That’s three dollars off my friends, so whip them up while you can if you have a little one in the house. As the good doctor once said,

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ~ Dr.Seuss

Are your kids Dr.Seuss fans yet? If so, what are their favorite books?

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Dr.MOZ

Dear Dr.MOZ,

Did you hear the big news about the upcoming collection of Uglydolls in 2010?  If not, you’ll find a great post about the announcement at Plastic and Plush. Stay cool

doc!

Christina

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What? I’m shocked! I’m usually the first to know about this kind of ugliness. I took your advice and checked it out, and it appears that the new Uglydolls getting ready to join the roster will include (clockwise above):

Pointy Max, Picksey, Mynus, Ket,

Nandy Bear, Ninja Batty Shogun, Cozy Momster, and Wippy

Super-fans might be interested to know that Picksey and Pointy Max are already available for pre-order. Thanks for the ugly news Christina!

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

> also see: Ugly Stuff: Uglydoll Action Figures

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the last episode of the PBS favorite Reading Rainbow hosted by LeVar Burton airs today. Apparently, no one wanted to cover the six-figure fees needed to continue the third longest-running children’s show in PBS history. Despite it’s popularity (only Sesame Street and Mister Rogers ran longer), the show’s focus

of teaching the love of reading will make way for the more modern approach (read “approach funded by Dept. of Ed.”) which is teaching the mechanics of reading. On that note, if PBS can develop a show based on mechanics that runs half as long as Reading Rainbow’s 26 years on air…I’ll be floored.

It seems like a short-sided move to cancel one of the PBS’s most popular shows in history, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Reading Rainbow on a different network in the future. Who knows…perhaps one of the execs at Nickelodeon will take note of it’s popularity with parents through the decades, see today’s response to the news on Twitter, and do the math.

What are your Reading Rainbow memories? Did you watch it as a child, or did your children enjoy the show? Click on the bubble to open the comment box below.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

> more about the last episode at NPR