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 - 4 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

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

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

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 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

Can I actually play my toy guitar? [more inside]
posted by liketitanic on May 24, 2008 - 4 answers