Toys

We've all given a gag gift at some point.  And we've all probably had at least one experience where the gift has backfired.  Father's Day (and dad's birthdays in general) always represent quite a challenge.  Here are 8 items that I know would not work for my Dad--and may not work for yours as well.

If your kids love cuddly stuffed animals, and what kids don't, they will want to be the first kids on the block to own this soon-to-be-released toy pooch. In honor of the adorable First Dog, a German toy manufacturer is getting ready to release their lookalike version of Bo, the Whitehouse Pet.

 

We can wish all we want that when we leave the house for the day, our cats find something to do other than sleep.  If they did, perhaps we would get better sleep at night, while they are dancing around finding absolutely everything engaging, especially our bed covers.

Soft polyurethane Cao Maru resin balls in the shape of expressionistic faces stretch and squeeze to relieve your stress. They also look a lot like baby heads - which adds that extra touch of creepy.

I think solar powered gadgets are amazing, so I have put together a list of solar powered gift ideas for Father's Day.  If you still need to buy a gift for your dad or your baby's daddy take a look at the list below. You might just find what you are looking for or think of something better along the way. Either way, I hope it helps.

The Superheadz Holga K202 Cat Camera would rank high among the many ridiculous gadgets featured at this site if it weren't for one saving grace - it actually seems to work! Now if only it would work quietly, without all the silly cat noises... oops, that's the point.

This little guy, from PlanToys, is just too cute! Besides being good looking, the Lacing Sheep is a learning tool too. Kids will learn colors and sequences with the little lambs help.

I'd venture to say that almost every kid (at least here in the U.S.) had Silly Putty, or something akin to it, when they were growing up.  Well, it may now face serious competition from a "bionic" rival from the U.K.  And this stuff looks pretty cool...

Online gaming is becoming quite a competitive business.  In a genre built of "kill the monster, get the treasure," developers are having to branch into unknown territory to create a new experience for increasingly jaded players.  BioWare, along with LucasArts, are taking the MMO to another level with Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Funny how something that provides so much pleasure to one can cause so much annoyance to another... such is the case with cracking your knuckles. The Yubi-Poki virtual knuckle cracker will keep on cracking even after you've run out of knuckles.

Habitrail loves its hamsters! You can tell by the ingenious activities it creates for them. In the Habitrail Ovo Maze and the replaceable chewable habitats within, it provides your little buddy with outlets for his natural behaviors: chewing, hoarding, burrowing, and even sleeping.

Perfect for that budding pilot, wanna-be flight attendant or future president in your family, this collectible wooden plane is like none other. The Limited Edition Air Force One is a quality made toy that features 44th President Barack Obama.

If you love old movies, then you know what Humphrey Bogart did for the cigar. He made it into fashion for the tough guys, the fast talkers, the don't-mess-with-me's of the 1940's and early 50's.  So too, this English bull dog named Sam could be the fashion setter for the tough barkin' dog.  "Hey babe, lets go to the burbs t'night and chase some cats up some telephone poles."

 

If you have a budding builder or wanna-be architect in your family, check out the Tono-8 Cork Blocks. These eco-friendly blocks require only one thing - imagination.

If your kids have a room filled with stuffed toys, make room for Dozy Dolphin. This little guy is way more than just another stuffed animal. Dozy is an interactive dream come true for children and parents alike.

Want to hang phone charms off your mobile just like they do in Japan but your cellphone has no hole? No problem - just stick on a button!

Let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we? When you were a kid, did you ever have to endure play the popular game, Dodge Ball? You know the one - where you are trying to avoid some bigger, stronger kid throwing a ball straight at you!  If you were like me, I dreaded that game. Well, the creative folks at WorldWide Fred have developed a totally fun Dodge Ball game that is similar to the real version but without the fear and pain!

For the Trekkie who has everything, why not add this piece of life-size furniture to your collection? What better way to watch your favorite Star Trek flicks than in this honest-to-goodness Captain Kirk chair replica?

Take a look at that picture. A good look. Yep. That's a dead teddy bear. And apparently these little guys are coming to "snuggle" with us in a sinister way. They're cute. But, according to their biographies, they each have a personal agenda...