Seems like every kid at one point makes an exploration in to the olfactory* realm producing a scent intended for the enjoyment of the parents. My own forays into cologne making included various cleaning substances from under the kitchen sink (Pine Sol smells great to the young), soaps from the bathroom and even transmission fluid from Dad’s work bench (lovely red).

Why not encourage your future Chanel makers to use the real materials to manufacture the next big scent for the market? And they will learn science at the same time. The loving gifts offered up to parents will be safe to wear. So everybody wins.

Scientific Explorer has just the rub in the Perfumery Kit which contains all the ingrediance necessary to concoct award-winning fragrances that will please friends and save parents from ghastly skin rashes.

Available for $24.95 at BrainWaves Educational Toys with Free Gift Wrapping, it’ll make a perfect surprise gift that will be remembered for many years.

* Olfactory is not a building where they make Ols. It describes the biological sensory system we use to detect odors!

You might be surprised what deductive reasoning your children are capable of when they don the safety goggles and perform the experiments in this starter chemistry kit from Thames & Kosmas.

Chem C500 will will lead children ages 8 and up (with adult supervision) on an introductory tour through seven main areas in chemistry by using more than 30 classic experiments. This kit will be pulled out over and over again for many years of learning and fun!

• Perform astonishing “magic” tricks that will impress parents and friends.
• Learn the “why” behind reactions between solids, liquids, and gases.
• Explore and discover the colorful effects of acids and bases.
• With a 9-volt battery (not included) they will investigate metals and salts in electro chemical experiments.
• Learn how chemistry goes far beyond and understand occurrences that happen around us every day.
• The colorful experiment manual details simple instructions for performing each experiment and then clear explanations of what happened and why.

Available at $34.99 at Brainwaves Educational Toys, this kit is ideal for kids who are interested in chemistry but who are not yet ready for a more advanced chemistry set. It is an excellent introduction to the more advanced chemistry kits you’ll find at Brainwaves Educational Toys.

With a forward by the author of “Chicken Soup for the Soul” This delightful book is a shot in the arm for parents and caretakers of our youth. Plenty of lists give us options for remembering to be positive and constructive with our children. Preview before you buy on Google Books.

If I had my child to raise all over again,I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later.I’d finger-paint more, and point the finger less.I would do less correcting and more connecting.I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play.I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.I’d do more hugging and less tugging.
–Diane Loomans, “If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again”

Must see lists include:

10 Ways to Connect with Children Every Day

24 Ideas for creating a Happy Home (Hug more. Cook something together!)

9 Ways to make One Minute Connections.

While we see an absence of emphasis on true consequences, this read is a great reminder that the softer side of parenting can be effective and worth practicing.

While hunting for that memorable gift that will keep them smiling and learning for hours, a stop at an education toy store is often the most rewarding investment. Well-designed educational toys teach and delight at the same time. You’ll be hearing thanks for years to come!

After stocking up all year, Brainwaves employees present their top picks for the 2009 Christmas Educational Toys Buyers Guide.

Disgusting Gags and Pranks

A sense of humor is, perhaps, just as important for children to learn as chemistry. What better way to develop both than to combine the two? Scientific Explorer’s Disgusting Gags & Pranks is a great way to laugh and learn with children 8 years old and up.

With pranks ranging from itch-powder and foaming sugar to fake cut-off fingers and spiders, there’s a fun prank for everyone and a science lesson alongside. For your young pranksters, scientists and aspiring visual-effects artists, consider the Disgusting Gags and Pranks Kit at $19.95 at Brainwaves Educational Toys. –Travis

Grow A Frog Kit

Now your young ones can learn about the biology and lifespan of frogs without setting foot near scalpels or the pond! The Grow A Frog kit comes with everything your child needs to raise a frog to adulthood from a tadpole.

With its translucent skin, it is easy to see all the frog’s inner organs develop as the frog grows. The Grow A Frog kit does well with animal lovers and biologists 6 years old and up. (Note, your recipient must catch the first tadpole, or send in the enclosed mail-ready card and within a few weeks you will receive a tadpole!) Find your Grow a Frog at $19.99 at Brainwaves Educational Toys–Travis

Wedgits

One of the better kept secrets of the toy world, the Wedgits are three dimensional puzzle pieces that can be stacked into dozens of colorful geometric shapes.

But it doesn’t stop there. The Wedgits Junior Tote kit also includes 48 Wedgit design cards that suggest designs that include animals, buildings , people and fun objects like toys, boats and symmetrical shapes.

More than just design fun, the Wedgits Junior Tote Kit teaches math, spelling and observation through a reusable book (yep) with wipe off dry erase markers (included).

Pack all this up in a multi-pouch zippered tote bag and your charges 3 years and up will stay busy for hours at a time. Find your Wedgits Junior Tote kits at $29.99 at Brainwaves Educational Toys -Mike

Live Butterfly Pavilion

No longer must your child wait for spring to watch butterflies in action— with the Live Butterfly Pavilion, kids four years old and up can raise butterflies up from caterpillars and watch them grow! Kit comes with a habitat, full-color poster, instructions, activity guide and mail-in coupon for 10 live caterpillars and food to be delivered right to your door, so you can get your young lepidopterist started.

No poppy fields or forests required! (By the way, a lepidopterist is a scientist that studies butterflies;) Find your Butterfly Pavilion at $21.99 at Brainwaves Educational Toys –Travis

Disgusting Anatomy Heart Kit

Take heart— your little biologists and surgeons will love the Disgusting Anatomy Heart kit! They’ll enjoy seeing what makes things tick as they create the parts of the heart step-by-step, learning about how each part functions along the way.

You can rest assured they’ll digest what they learn: the result is an edible gelatin dessert! Also comes with an eyeball kit, so you can always keep an eye on your doctors-in-the-making 9 years old and up. Find your Disgusting Anatomy kits for $19.95 at Brainwaves Educational Toys –Travis

Mind Blowing Science Kit

Show your child how fascinating science can be with the Mind Blowing Science kit from Scientific Explorer.

From color-changing volcanos to colored crystals from cabbage and ooze that moves all its own, your scientists four years old and up will have lots of fun learning just how colorful science can be (those who may recall Woodstock will also enjoy this kit). Find your Mind Blowing Science Kit at $19.95 at Brainwaves Educational Toys –Travis

Quercetti FantaColor Junior

Your very young artists can get a hands-on approach to art with Quercetti’s FantaColor Junior kit! Each kit comes with one portable easel-board and peg board, 48 pegs in red, yellow, green and blue, and 8 pattern cards with fun pictures your little DaVincis’ can color along with or think up their own creative ways to go!

This kit has no small parts and is safe for children two years old and up. Find your Fanta Color Junior at $19.95 at Brainwaves Educational Toys –Travis

Pneumatic Marshmallow Projectile Devices (Marshmallow Shooter)

A classic every year, there is something satisfying about sending a squishy confectionary across the room with 20 more ready behind it.

A set of Marshmallow Shooters is a perfect addition for home or office toys, shooting fun soft marshmallows over 30 feet. That’s all the way across the living room! It is easy to fire and reload, making it perfect for quick attacks (or rapid defense). The Shooter holds up to 20 marshmallows for extended office campaigns, and is capable of rapid fire for laying down cover for family members and coworkers.

The Marshmallow Shooter won the Creative Child Magazine 2004 seal of excellence award – which means it is perfect for the “child” in all of us. The warning on the box says, “Do not eat marshmallows after shooting,” but we think the five second rule is extended while in play.

Those who must have an edge may opt for the Marshmallow blaster which shoots full size marshmallows, but we found that transporting and reloading the mini marshmallows went faster and scored more ‘hits’ in the heat of battle. Find your Marshmallow Shooters for $19.25 each at Brainwaves Educational Toys –Mike

Disgusting Anatomy Brain

If you rolled your eyes through anatomy class, this kit will take your child’s interest from 0-100 in 16 ounces or less.

Watch their interest grow when your kitchen turns into a Frankensteinian laboratory, producing a true to size human brain out of gelatin and food coloring (included). The included instruction kit will guide you all from the cerebral cortex to the hippocampus.

Sure enough, this kit contains a bonus eyeball so you can truly roll you eyes during this clever anatomy project. Oh – did we mention that the products are edible? ? ? Find your Disgusting Anatomy Brain for $19.95 at Brainwaves Educational Toys –Mike

Funky Fun Bead And Trinket Making Kit

Pretty stickers, colorful beads, and sparkling rhinestones! What else could your creative little jeweler need to make the jewelry of their dreams? Kit contains over 350 colorful beads, 62 fun stickers, 4 shimmering rhinestones, and even a flowery trinket box to hold all of your unique creations!

Small parts make this toy unsafe for children under 3 years old. Best enjoyed by ages 5 and up. Find your Funky Fun Bead and Trinket Kit for $19.95 at Brainwaves Educational Toys — Natasha

My friends in elementary school got white bread sandwiches, fruit in a cup, and a candy bar in their lunches. Let’ just say that when my lunch box opened, no one was interested in trading. My friends also got paid for good grades. I didn’t.  And frankly, we all turned out just fine.

We never paid our kids for good grades. Yep, we stuck to the “Success is its own reward” paradigm. Our twins are slogging their way through college with better- than-average results.

If I had it to do over again?

I’d pay.

Why? Because an extra incentive can establish a vision — an understanding of what they are capable of — that they can draw from forever.

My cross country coach helped me trim a few minutes by kicking my heels on the course. Brutal, but I never forgot that I had some extra “juice” when I needed it. I placed 3rd in the central state finals.

Our daughter hesitated to play drums in front of a large crowd. I pressured her into it and she flourished.

The bird gets pushed from the nest. They learn to fly.

A little nudge.

You get the idea.

Success is its own reward. But sometimes it can use a little bump.

Few things are as rewarding as looking at your children and honestly believing that they were raised well. That happened to me for a moment the other day.

Of course the other 95% of the time, we parents worry that we’ve done something, if not everything, wrong. So, in our worst moments, like when we’re seriously considering disowning our kids, don’t worry. We’re just like the other 150 million parents here in the US.

in our worst moments, we can all take a lesson from “The Sound of Music” and think of our favorite moments in parenting. Go ahead and write ‘em down (or share them here). By the time you’re done, you’ll be calmer and thinking ahead to when it won’t be so crazy.

Here’s what I came up with today:

1. First eye to eye look (at birth)
2. Her first reach to grasp a leaf
3. All of us in a giggling, wrestling pile
4. Their faces the first time at Disneyland
5. Smiles at the first award, championship or published work
6. All five of us performing music together
7. Intense discussions until the small hours of the morning
8. A call to mom after biology class, thanking her for going through birth (specifically a C-Section)
9. A letter from overseas listing how we’re so similar, so different, and celebrating both.
10. Unsolicited confirmation from all three that we’ve achieved our family motto: To inspire.

What’s your list? Share it and you’ll feel better.

I suppose if a company made dolls in the likeness of my daughter or sons , I’d be flattered first, and then indignant if they didn’t ask for or get permission.

Can’t say I blame Michelle Obama for telling off Ty Company – maker of Beanie Babies, for introducing two new Ty Girlz Dolls named “Sweet Sasha” and “Marvelous Malia”

What bothers me more is Ty’s statement in response to CNN’s questions last January:

“Information concerning the development of our products and how we come up with names, how we select them, how we trademark — that’s considered as proprietary,”

and

The dolls follow “the exact patterns” used for the other Ty Girlz dolls, “so we did not make the dolls to physically resemble either of the Obama girls.”

Fess up Ty. Even better, ask permission. You’d probably get a Yes from most parents. But prepare to face some fury if you try to profit without permission.

Well, the fury seemed to have worked.

Ty announced, just a month after release that the dolls shall henceforth be called “Marvelous Mariah” and “Sweet Sydney.” And profits from the sale of the two $10 dolls are also being donated to charity.

Nice recovery Ty, but it still leaves a slightly bitter taste. Let’s chalk this one up to miscommunication and look for better behavior. We’d do that for our kids – eh?

Fathers and mothers have lost the idea that the highest aspiration they might have for their children is for them to be wise. Specialized competence and success are all that they can imagine. — Allan Bloom, Philosopher 1930-1992

Reality in learning is great and this Playmobil Security Checkpoint is a great way to get kids ready for the process of traveling.

From the Manufacturer:
The woman traveler stops by the security checkpoint. After placing her luggage on the screening machine, the airport employee checks her baggage. The traveler hands her spare change and watch to the security guard and proceeds through the metal detector. With no time to spare, she picks up her luggage and hurries to board her flight!

Or does she? Instead of writing our own reviews, we’ll simply pass along the ones from Amazon customers:

By loosenut (Seattle, WA)
I was a little disappointed when I first bought this item, because the functionality is limited. My 5 year old son pointed out that the passenger’s shoes cannot be removed. Then, we placed a deadly fingernail file underneath the passenger’s scarf, and neither the detector doorway nor the security wand picked it up. My son said “that’s the worst security ever!”. But it turned out to be okay, because when the passenger got on the Playmobil B757 and tried to hijack it, she was mobbed by a couple of other heroic passengers, who only sustained minor injuries in the scuffle, which were treated at the Playmobil Hospital.

The best thing about this product is that it teaches kids about the realities of living in a high-surveillance society. My son said he wants the Playmobil Neighborhood Surveillance System set for Christmas. I’ve heard that the CC TV cameras on that thing are pretty worthless in terms of quality and motion detection, so I think I’ll get him the Playmobil Abu-Ghraib Interrogation Set instead (it comes with a cute little memo from George Bush).

By W. C. Isbell “roxybeast” (Oklahoma City, OK, USA) -

My family was planning a vacation to Europe, so I purchased this item to teach my twins about what to expect at the airport and hopefully, alleviate some of their anxiety. We also downloaded the actual TSA security checklist from the American Airlines website and then proceeded with our demonstration.

Well, first we had to round up a Barbie and a few Bratz dolls to play the other family members, so that cost us a few extra bucks at the Dollar General and it is aggravating that the manufacturer did not make this product “family-friendly.” Of course, since the playmobil Dad could not remove his shoes or other clothing items, unlike the Barbie, the playmobil security agent became suspicious and after waving her wand wildly a few dozen times, called her supervisor to whisk the Dad into a special body-cavity search room, (which incidentally led to quite an embarrassing and interesting discussion with my twin daughters about personal hygiene and a slight adjustment to the rules we had them memorize about touching by strangers).

But worst of all, since the suitcase did not actually open, the baggage inspector made a call to the FBI and ATF bomb squads which then segregated the family’s suitcase (which btw was the only suitcase they provided for our educational family experience) and according to the TSA regulations, had to blow it up, (since they could not otherwise manipulate the luggage, break off the locks and put one of those nice little advisory stickers on it), which we had to simulate out in the backyard with a few M-80s and other fireworks.

The girls started crying. They became so hysterical by the whole experience that we could not even get them in the car when the time came to actually take our trip, and so we had to cancel the whole thing at the last minute, losing over $7,000 in airfare and hotel charges that we could not recoup do to the last minute cancellations.

We’ve now spent an additional $3,000 to pay for the girls therapy and medication over the past year since this incident occurred, and the psychologists have told us that this will affect them for life, so much for their college fund and our retirement.

Then, to top it all off, when we tried to use to playmobil phone to call the company to ask for reimbursement, as you might expect, of course the dam thing didn’t even work; neither did our efforts to e-mail them using the computer screen on the baggage checkpoint; and our real-life efforts to contact them to obtain re-imbursement have also likewise been ignored.

Worse yet, we had the product tested and found out that it was positive for both lead paint and toxic chemicals, having been manufactured in China by workers holding formerly American jobs, so now we all have cancer and have been given only another year or so to live. My advice – educating your kids about airport security with this toy may actually be more harmful to them than just packing them in the darn luggage with some bottled water & hoping they survive.

By M. MCKNIGHT “reviewer” (US)
This toy would be a lot more realistic with about 350 people standing in line for an average of an hour. It still makes a nice set with the interrogation room.

Special thanks to Jennifer, one of the heroes of Canton OH for bringing this toy to our attention.

Kids in Soccer? A recent study suggests that sports can be too much of a good thing.

Sports = Bullies?

In a research study published in Developmental Psychology, Richard Lerner, Ph.D., professor of child development at Tufts’ School of Arts and Sciences reported that kids who “participate exclusively in sports have among the lowest scores on competence, confidence, character, connection, and caring, and a related positive quality, contribution. They also have the highest scores on behaviors such as bullying, substance use and depression.”

Substance Abuse?

Just Add 4-H to Reverse Detrimental Effects

The same study found that out of school programs that involve adult mentorship, life skills training, and opportunities for youth leadership can reverse any detrimental effects from a sports-only focus.

“…youth who combine sports with participation in a youth development program have the highest scores for positive development and contribution and the lowest scores for risk and problem behavior. Youth development programs are out-of-school-time activities that involve adult mentorship, life skills training, and opportunities for youth leadership. They include programs such as Boys & Girls Clubs, 4-H, Scouts and The First Tee.”

It should be noted that the researchers were paid by 4-H to develop a prior report.

We’ve all seen the parents who shuttle kids from swim practice to soccer to dance and to camps covering the same in the summer. These must be the exception in order to stand out. My guess is that most of us have good balance in our children’s activities.