ONANOFF is the brand responsible for BuddyPhones, the kid-safe, kid-proof, and kid-friendly headphones. They have just added to their BuddyPhones+ line with these BuddyPhones Cosmos+. These are over-ear, wired or wireless headphones with a mic for kids. They come in 6 color choices and I have the ‘cool blue’.
The safety is in the design and sound. The headphones combine ANC (active noise-cancelling) technology 3 SafeAudio75/85/94dB Volume Limit, Study Mode and a detachable mic. You’ll also love the 24 hour battery life and the Answer/Playback button.
BuddyPhones only uses BPA- and phthalate-free materials. They also include a built-in audio splitter BuddyJack allows up to four headphones to connect to the same device with included connector. They come with a very durable case to keep the sharing splitter, charger and mic tucked in safe when not in use. These are so comfortable on the ear with plenty of adjustment for any kids size.
With all of these fantastic features these make terrific headphones. Great for back to school and gift ideas. Learn more on the product page. Also available on Amazon.
Kids are graduated, the Country is heading to post-COVID and once again, we prepare to send our oldest of teens off to College. This means phone calls instead of walking through the door and care packages as our thread of line we have left to them. I had fun putting together care packages when our son went off to College. Had I known about this cuddly and hard-not-to-love plush, The Grumpy Octopus would definitely have lived in a dorm with him!
It is simple, an angry red octopus who is a plush with glitter eyes and a velvet feel. It is hard to stay in a bad mood because when you look over and see its grumpy face it is hard not to crack a smile. I can see him being a dorm pal at homework time or the stormy weather, he will sit and dwell in the pity with your child away from home.
Seriously, you want him, don’t you? He even has an Instagram page! He is created by San Diegan Amr Ahmed, who wanted an original plush for his sister. Inspired by the iPhone emoji and a touch of traits from Oscar the Grouch, Squidward, Grumpy the dwarf, Diego the saber-tooth tiger from Ice Age, Ron Swanson from Parks and Rec, and the infamous Grumpy Cat, he is a great companion who loves to hate everyone as much as they love him.
The Grumpy Octopus is available on Amazon and is a must-have for the dorm, Dad or a gag gift!
We have had a blast with this new game of pressure and scribbles by Goliath Games. Speedy Scribbles is a memory game where you have to rely on quick scribbles to remember the 20 words read aloud in a round. My son is 13 and this game will be going in the RV for camping game nights this summer. It is addictive and you will easily get several rounds in on game night.
Set up is easy. Speedy Scribbles is a 4-8 player game. There is a colored score game board and colored pegs. It also comes with the scoring sheets, game cards, bell and scoring sheets. You do not need anything else to play this game. It is ready to go right from the box.
Each player chooses a peg to play. Notice that where you start on the board is a red rectangle? This means round 1 will be played from the red side of the game cards. The long card holder is numbered 1-20. These are the 20 words played on that round from the red side of 4 cards drawn by that round’s Reader.
The steps are easy. Dealer draws 4 cards from the deck. Depending on the color being played that round, the 4 cards will be placed in the card holder 1-20 (overlapping so the correct words by color are in the corresponding number slots as shown above). The Reader is the only one who draws, sets and sees these cards. The Reader will read each word 1 second at a time. The other players use the scoring pads to quickly sketch whatever will help them remember that word and move through the 20 boxes as the 20 words are read in 20 seconds. Notice above, here is an example of how a round will look like after words are read and because it was Round 1, red cards were used due to everyone starting on the red START on the score board.
Scoring now begins. The Reader will choose a player and ask them to name a word in any box (“Joe, what was word 13?”) If Joe gets it right, he gets a point (Reader will say “Correct” or “Incorrect” to Joe without giving away the right answer). If Joe gets it wrong, any other player can be first to press the bell for their chance to get it right and earn that point. Only 1 extra guess per word and the Reader will move on to ask a new player for a new word. A round ends when every player was given a first chance by the reader 3 times each (If there are 4 players: 1 is a Reader, 3 are players. So, the Reader will ask all 3 players 3 times each for a first guess – any 9 words of the 20 total). The players will move their pegs the number of points they earned that round and the player with the most points dictates the next game color according to where their peg lands). It is fast-paced and so addictive.
Summer will now be a step above, having a blast. If you’re outdoor playtime looks like rockets and flying toys, it is about to include dart boards and scoring! New from Stomp Rocket is the Magne-Darts dart board for kids and you can set this down or hang it on a wall – indoors or out for great screen-free fun.
The kid-friendly magnetic darts will help your kids learn the classic game of darts. The magnets are strong enough to stick to the board, but I have had no wall damage around the board. It comes with a hanging notch to put on a wall. You get 6 darts, 3 red and 3 green.
You can visit Stomp Rocket to learn more and find other summer toys available. Magne-Darts is also available on Amazon.
