Where can I find bags of various sizes that: are spherical or ball-shaped when full of stuff are made of durable outdoor-hardy material and close with velcro or a drawstring or some other kid-safe closure mechanism Bonus: Bags of other useful shapes like kid furniture, that can be filled and closed You see, I want to make balls out of trash... [more inside]
posted by cross_impact on Nov 19, 2009 - 3 answers

Google-Fu fail. I had a toy in the mid 70's that I can best describe as a hydraulic-watermill-waterpump-erector-set. It allowed you to connect a series of clear tubes, mills, and various other pieces to create a crazy pump station that ran water up, down and across the tubes, mills. etc. It could grow to several feet high. If I remember correctly, there may have been an electric pump that drove it all. I may be mistaken. The toy may have been a lot older as I used it at my grandparents house. It was basically like one of those electronic kits where you could perform experiments but this used water, and it was awesome. Help me find this toy!
posted by jasondigitized on Nov 10, 2009 - 9 answers

I'm trying to find this outdoor game I played back in the 70's. Basically, the game consisted of 2 ropes with handles and a swimming pool float. The float would zip back and forth when a player spread his arms quickly to "shoot" the float back to the other player. Can't remember the name of the game or where to buy it today.
posted by chump on Nov 8, 2009 - 6 answers

Where can I buy a stuffed onager toy? [more inside]
posted by historybuff on Nov 1, 2009 - 3 answers

What are some wonderful things I can buy subscriptions to, other than magazines and newspapers? [more inside]
posted by Marquis on Oct 29, 2009 - 36 answers

My wife is going mad looking for BPA-free teething toys for our 5-month old. Can you point me to web sites (or other resources) that might help us find such toys? [more inside]
posted by ajr on Oct 17, 2009 - 14 answers

What's the modern equivalent of a Casio VL-Tone? [more inside]
posted by dmd on Oct 17, 2009 - 3 answers

It's small, it's interesting, I WANT TO PUT IT IN MY MOUTH: suggest everyday objects or materials that will amuse and delight a six-month-old baby? [more inside]
posted by Bardolph on Oct 14, 2009 - 37 answers

Can you recommend any feminist princess dolls I can buy for my 6-year-old goddaughter? I don't mind getting her princesses, but they have to be awesome princesses who really are heroes in their own right! Mulan is the best of the Disney princesses, IMO, but I don't really want to give Disney my money. So far all I've thought of are Wonder Woman and She-Ra (not that I can find affordable She-Ra dolls nowadays anyway), but I worry that they won't seem 'princessy' enough for my goddaughter to really appreciate and love them. Lots of pink and fancy clothing is fine, but I want to show her princesses who save the prince (or don't need one, or ditch him for another princess, or whatever) and kick ass on their own. Any suggestions?
posted by mythomane on Sep 27, 2009 - 37 answers

What is this type of toy called (and where can I buy one)? [more inside]
posted by UrineSoakedRube on Sep 25, 2009 - 11 answers

Should I dump my old toys, or give them to my toddler to play with? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 14, 2009 - 19 answers

Are Hearthsong's "Play & Learn" kids' guitars tunable? [more inside]
posted by TheManChild2000 on Aug 20, 2009 - 2 answers

I've seen this revolving children's night light in 2 TV shows (Undeclared and Sex and the City) and 1 movie (One Fine Day) and I have been trying to find it since. I've searched online and I can't seem to find one anywhere. Can anyone help me find where to purchase these revolving lights/lamps?
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posted by JPowers on Aug 18, 2009 - 6 answers

What should I import to New Zealand for resale? I'm looking for ideas of products that I could buy in bulk, ship to NZ, and resell for a modest profit. [more inside]
posted by redzarf on Aug 8, 2009 - 7 answers

I have a substantial Lego collection and a two-year-old. Eventually I will want to introduce the two. How best to do this? [more inside]
posted by kmennie on Aug 4, 2009 - 35 answers

Does anyone know what this game/toy was that I used to play with? I thought it was called "Let's Put On a Show" but now I can't find it. [more inside]
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty on Jul 27, 2009 - 3 answers

Do they make kids handheld movie projector toys anymore? [more inside]
posted by jeremias on Jul 20, 2009 - 6 answers

Giftfilter: What is the boy equivalent to a girls' play vanity? [more inside]
posted by moojoose on Jun 20, 2009 - 24 answers

What bulk item can I bring with me to Ghana to hand out to begging children? Toothbrushes? Food? Toys? [more inside]
posted by BusyBusyBusy on Jun 14, 2009 - 18 answers

Lake toys! What are your favorite toys for the lake or pool side? [more inside]
posted by wrnealis on Jun 4, 2009 - 20 answers

What classical music piece is being played by the Lamaze Chime Garden toy in this video? [more inside]
posted by cwhitfcd on Apr 13, 2009 - 5 answers

Does anyone know what this bizarre stuffed animal monster is? [more inside]
posted by gueneverey on Apr 12, 2009 - 8 answers

My girl and I (a male) are looking to spice up our sex life with more toys. This question is a two parter. First, what toys do you recommend and why? Second, are there any particular brands that we should check out (i.e. is there an Apple in the sex toy business) ? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 6, 2009 - 22 answers

Is it time to sell my vintage Star Wars figures? [more inside]
posted by friarjohn on Mar 25, 2009 - 11 answers

Where's a toy store in Manchester New Hampshire with good selection? [more inside]
posted by libertaduno on Mar 9, 2009 - 6 answers

Does anyone else remember this toy, an electronic set of building blocks, or is it just in my faulty memory? Who was the manufacturer? What was the trade name? (How do I search for it on eBay? :) [more inside]
posted by aurelian on Feb 24, 2009 - 8 answers

Looking for storage ideas for bedroom toys [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 12, 2009 - 20 answers

My Old English Sheepdog is bored with his Kong. What brain-teasing toys and games do you entertain your dog with? I am very impressed with the design and concept of the Dog Brick, however budgetary constraints compel me to seek out less expensive options from the hivemind. So, how do you give your dog's brain a mental workout, with the end result being the satisfaction of finding a yummy treat?
posted by invisible ink on Feb 4, 2009 - 19 answers

Help me find a toy catalog from my youth. [more inside]
posted by ocherdraco on Jan 20, 2009 - 7 answers

Where can I find the 3-dimensional version of Clue/Cluedo that has, like, 7 floors? [more inside]
posted by blue andrea on Jan 10, 2009 - 6 answers

Can you hack toddler toys to lower the speaker volume? [more inside]
posted by middleclasstool on Jan 2, 2009 - 20 answers

My school-aged children received some money for the holidays and decided to buy toys for needy kids instead of spending it on themselves. I took them shopping yesterday and, all told, they've got about $300 in toys to donate in addition to what I'm also kicking in. Now, what are we going to do with this stuff? [more inside]
posted by _Mona_ on Dec 23, 2008 - 11 answers

Name that childhood toy! Does anyone remember the name of this kids-learning-laptop from the mid 1990s? [more inside]
posted by Pleadthefifth on Dec 11, 2008 - 2 answers

Can you help me find really tiny toy animals? [more inside]
posted by Fenriss on Dec 10, 2008 - 10 answers

Can anyone suggest a specialist "Thomas the Tank Engine" store in Tokyo, which has an extensive range of Wooden Thomas toys? Hopefully one stocking the Wooden Thomas "Rocky". [more inside]
posted by manyon on Dec 7, 2008 - 4 answers

Kids' toys that can be seen in a "naughty" light... help me think of some! [more inside]
posted by curagea on Dec 1, 2008 - 26 answers

Can anyone identify the pizza-soldier toy from the bottom right of this picture? [more inside]
posted by hnnrs on Nov 18, 2008 - 2 answers

TARDIS Filter: Has the supply of Doctor Who toys into NYC dried up completely? Am I not looking in the right places? Where have all the sonic screwdrivers gone? Help! [more inside]
posted by greenland on Nov 13, 2008 - 6 answers

Please help me find a gift toy for my one-year-old nephew. I want to find something that will interest him, but that his 3 and a half-year-old brother (a toy hoarder) will find totally uninteresting. [more inside]
posted by OlivesAndTurkishCoffee on Nov 1, 2008 - 9 answers

I am trying to find inspiration graphics for a piece I want to create. I know I have seen what I am looking for sometime in my life. The piece I am creating is for a mythical toy that is a disc shaped flying object. I want to make it in the guise of a 1930's or 1940's advertisement. A boys face in wonder A splashy graphical font across the top The disc "comin' at ya" with wind sweeps trailing back All in bold primary colors. I have scoured the web for some source material, but keep coming up empty handed. Any pointers would be appreciated. Henry
posted by silsurf on Oct 30, 2008 - 6 answers

Can anyone recommend a Brio Toy collector website that has complete set lists? (I'm basically looking for a site like This Old Toy but for Brio trains.
posted by anastasiav on Oct 26, 2008 - 1 answer

About a year ago, we bought our son a shoe polishing toy. Yes, a toy. Yes, shoe polishing. My little guy absolutely *loves* this kit, which is from Playgo Ltd of Hong Kong. Unfortunately, the motor just burnt out and he's devastated. All my attempts to google for a replacement have failed. We bought the original at Tuesday Morning, which usually only gets things after they've been discontinued. Replacing the motor is beyond my skills. Any of you able to help find either a replacement or a near equivalent that will please the precise and fussy ocd heart of my darling boy?
posted by moof on Oct 1, 2008 - 14 answers

I was born in 1971. I liked toys that allowed me to build structures when I was growing up: Lincoln Logs, Legos, Erector Sets, etc. But there was one toy my parents bought for me that I've not seen since and cannot find on the Internet, mainly because I can't remember what it was called. I'll try to describe it: [more inside]
posted by ampang701 on Sep 28, 2008 - 13 answers

My 3-year-old is getting into dressing her Little Mommy doll. I've been using her old newborn clothes, but the dolls are too small. (And the stuffed animals are the wrong shape.) Can you recommend a doll that can wear the newborn clothes? [more inside]
posted by mausburger on Sep 27, 2008 - 7 answers

While at Target this evening, I was shopping for a birthday present for a nephew, there were two 10/11 year olds talking about and trading these marble like toys. When they set them down, they "transformed" into something else, there parents were apparently there to buy them but Target was sold out. I heard them talking but was busy with my own kids and forgot to check out the aisle or talk to the people. I'm usually pretty in touch with toys and such, but I have no idea what these were. Any one know?
posted by TuxHeDoh on Sep 19, 2008 - 5 answers

ObscureToyFilter: Help me remember a toy from my childhood. My siblings and I are remembering plastic, colored blocks and cylinders that unfolded to become characters. We recall a king and queen, almost certainly a pig, and maybe a cow. [more inside]
posted by sjuhawk31 on Sep 19, 2008 - 7 answers

Getting started with (hobby) plastic welding/brazing? [more inside]
posted by drezdn on Aug 26, 2008 - 1 answer

My nephew is 2 and a half years old. What simple electronic toys should we buy for him? [more inside]
posted by halogen on Aug 26, 2008 - 13 answers

Are there any made-to-order bobblehead sites? I've got an idea for a bobblehead that I'd like to offer to readers on my blog, but I don't want to incur the risk of buying 100 of them up front. There are loads of t-shirt sites that charge a flat fee, let the designer tack on a few bucks and then take care of all the rest, does such a thing exist for bobbleheads?
posted by bflora on Aug 21, 2008 - 12 answers

I have some pieces of this toy from when I was a child. My son loves them, and I'd like to find the rest of the set. The problem is, I don't know the name or manafacturer of them. [more inside]
posted by sidartha on Jul 24, 2008 - 9 answers