When Are Kids Considered Too Old for Legos?

Disclaimer:  This is NOT a review!! I am not being compensated to say anything about the movie. We are just Lego fans and this post is a result of a conversation that took place after seeing The Lego Movie. Everyone cool?  FTC, I'm talkin' to you. We good? OK. 

I took The Boys to see The Lego Movie on Monday. I was surprised and happy that the movie was actually funny and enjoyable for adults (Batman provides some great comic relief).   The only reason I went is because both of my boys have loved Legos since forever and I am not ready for them to sit in a theater by themselves. So I went when I would have rather seen a good chick flick.  But I'm glad I went.  I had such a great day with my kids! 

Later that afternoon when I mentioned to an acquaintance that we had been to see the movie, she asked me if I thought they were too old for Legos since they are both becoming teens.  I could tell she was surprised by my response. Which was that I don't think my kids are too old for Legos.  Because I believe that anything that inspires a kid (or an adult) to use their creative minds in positive ways is a good thing, no matter how old a person is!  And in this age of video games and electronic devices, if I can get my boys to take a few hours a week to sit down with a bucket of Legos and make something unique (and sometimes pretty damn amazing!) out of a bunch of plastic bricks?  That's a win in my book! Why would I take that away from them or tell them they are too old to play with them?

How do I know that one of my kids won't become an architect or a city planner because his love of building was spawned from those few hours of meticulously piecing bricks together to make a house or a town? My youngest actually made a Lego candy dispenser the other day!  Hello, Future Engineer!  And the fine motor skills that my oldest still struggles with as a teen?  Legos are great for that! The intricate and detailed military vehicles he creates with those struggling fingers give him a great sense of accomplishment and he has no idea that the activity in which he engages is helping map his brain and exercise the muscles in his hands. He just knows that he made a kick-butt Sherman tank.  So I don't care if he is a teen who plays with Legos.  I only care that the time he spends using those Legos is helping him creatively and physically to become a better, more dexterous and confident person. 

And honestly?  As pissed off as I get when I step on one of those little b...ricks, I myself have found them to be a very calming diversion when I am beyond stressed and looking for a way to defrag and think. There's a quiet fascination that takes place in my mind as each brick I choose clicks snugly into place with the next.  As I silently ponder what creations will emerge with the addition of every Lego, my jaws unclench and my shoulders relax and my mind begins to be open. Sometimes nothing grand takes shape and I just end up with a giant column of multi-colored plastic.  Other times I end up with a house or a lame looking animal.  But here's the thing: regardless of what I build, I always feel better when I'm done.  Because I gave my brain something to focus on other than my issues and problems.  I don't always find solutions to my problems in those moments, but that's okay.  Because if being creative for just a few moments helps me relax enough to really think when I am done "playing?" I am in a better place mentally and emotionally and the answers start to flow. 

I could go on, but I won't.  You get the point.   We all have our outlets.  Some people run, some people write, some people create, some people play.  Right now, my boys do all of those things. Sometimes while using Legos. 

JT SplatMaster Review

My boys are getting older now, so lots of toys they had when they were younger are starting to lose their appeal.  It's like torture kind of hard sometimes to keep them occupied and finding gifts other than electronics and video games is getting more difficult every day!  Keeping them active and happily playing together is constantly a concern. I want them to love spending time together doing fun things so as they grow up and move on in life they have shared interests and passions that will help them stay close to one another.

With Christmas coming, I am especially aware of their changing preferences for play things.  So I was really glad that my family was recently invited to try out something new for kids, called JT SplatMaster. 

 

JT SplatMaster is an outdoor sporting goods product that shoots color-filled biodegradable ammo resulting in a SPLAT that you can see! In other words, it's a kid-friendly version of paintball.  Yes - I said it...paintball. 

I know. You are immediately thinking about messy paint and possible injuries.  How do I know?  Because that's what I thought of when my boys first asked if they could go paintballing with some friends.  I hear the guys at work talking about their "weekend wars" and showing off their paintball welts and my first response to my boys when they asked to go was  "I don't think so."  I'm not sure they are ready for that.  Or rather, I'm not sure I'M ready for that. 

Well, the makers of JT SplatMaster realized that there needed to be a more kid-friendly version of the game and came up with a paintball gun that is low impact, spring loaded and shoots at a velocity of 110-140 feet per second.  Less velocity means lower impact, which means less chance of injury! Don't think that less velocity means weak shots though.  Those paintballs really fly and make a pretty big splat on impact, which the boys found to be "AWESOME"!

 

JT SplatMaster is all about safety and proper training!  They make great eye protection goggles and extra face protection gear to go along with the guns.  I was pretty sure I was gonna hear lots of groaning about the goggles, but surprisingly, the boys found them to be a very cool part of the whole "look" and experience.  For them, the goggles and safety gear are an integral part of the uniform.  Which I find "awesome."  Less worry for Mom!  Their website is full of training and safety videos that guide and direct anxious and excited kids through proper handling and usage of SplatMaster products. 

I really love that the makers of JT SplatMaster created all kinds of game options that don't involve the boys shooting at each other!  But if when they do decide to have a paintball war, I know that the product they are using is safe, as long as precautions are taken.  Having said that, I think the key to having fun with JT SPlatMaster is adult supervision.  When the kids know an adult is present to enforce the rules, they can relax and enjoy the games and not have to worry as much about another kid making a poor decision that might result in injury.

We took the SplatMaster z200 out in the backyard for a test run and the boys had a blast! Here are a few action shots:

 

   

 

 

 

The consensus?  JT SplatMaster really is a safer version of paintball and the non-toxic paint cleaned up easily with a quick spray from the hose.  The little biodegradable paintball capsules dissolved after a day or two and left no trace of the target practice that had taken place a few days earlier.   The guns are surprisingly accurate and easy to use and come with safety plugs to block the barrel while strategies are being discussed, as well as working safety switches on the actual gun to prevent accidental firing.

 

The boys would like to be able to get some of the gear they saw in the videos, like the cool facemasks and flak jackets which are not currently available anywhere that I could find.     The only other complaint they have at this point is that we can't find more ammo anywhere here in Boise yet, so I'll have to order it online, which means we'll have to plan ahead.   

 

JT SplatMaster is a mega-hit in our house and the boys are definitely the envy of the cul-de-sac right now.  If I understood the weekend confab with the neighborhood boys that took place in my backyard correctly, the plan is for ALL of them to try to get one for Christmas so the group can have a paintball war on Christmas Day.  Not sure how the other moms will feel about that, but I think it sounds like a heck of a way to get some outdoor activity during the holidays!  It'll give new meaning to yellow snow!

 

JT SplatMaster sets are currently being sold at Walmart, at various sporting good stores and paintball stores all over the country for between $25-$40, depending on the model and accessories you buy.  You can check out the website and use their store locator to help you find a reatailer near you.  OR you can take advantage of this awesome promotion and save money by buying online! 

 

 

 

Starting October 29th, for a limited time and while supplies last, anyone purchasing a JT SplatMaster z100 or z200 one free ammo grenade  (50 ct ammo, $7.99 value) free!

Warning:  They'll go through 50 rounds in about 10 minutes so you'll wanna stock up.

**Disclosure:  I received no monetary compensation for this review.  Kee Action Sports, LLC  provided me with a JT SPlatMaster z200 to facilitate the review.  As always, my honest opinions are always my own.**

Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam is Coming to Boise!!

From the time Big Brother was born to this very day, Big Brother has been infatuated with great big trucks.  He got his first truck when he was not quite 2 years old.  He picked out an awesome red monster truck that made lots of engine revving noises when he pushed it around.  He LOVED that truck.  He had a complete meltdown when we took it from him so the cashier could ring it up, because I guess he thought he wasn't going to get it back.  His collection of trucks grew quickly as grandmas and friends learned fo his obsession. 

Because I am a Boymom,  I quickly found myself immersed in his world, checking out library books and finding videos that helped him learn everything there was to know about Monster Trucks.  Grave Digger and Big Foot were his two favorites, but we never got to a Monster Truck show to let him see them in action.  

So he was very excited to learn last week that, courtesy of Feld Entertainment,  we will be attending the Advance Auto Parts Monster Truck Jam in March!  In fact, his exact words were "Sweet, Mom!"  And as it happens, this is the 30th Anniversary of Grave Digger, so it will be fun for our family to help one of our favorite trucks celebrate its big birthday this year.

In addition to the Grave Digger Anniversary events, 2 more trucks have been added to the show, bringing the total from the usual 6 to 8 this year.  Favorites like Batman, Maverick and Monster Mutt will be there to compete in Wheelie, Racing and Freestyle  events that are sure to bring roars of appreciation from Idaho Monster Jam fans! 

The Advance Auto Parts Monster Truck Jam will take place at the Idaho Center in Nampa on March 16th and 17th, 2012.  The Friday night show starts at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday hosts 2 shows: a 2 p.m. matinee and a final 7:30 evening show.  Fans who plan on attending the Saturday matinee show can purchase Pit Party tickets along with their show tickets, which will give them access to a pre-show event where they can meet drivers and see the trucks up close! 

 

 

Pit Party

Tickets for the Advance Auto Parts Monster Truck Jam are on sale now and you can save money by buying early.  Don't forget to check out the Super Value prices, which offer $5 kids seats in certain sections.  Click here for more info and ticket purchases. 

We'll be there, cheering and yelling over the roar of the engines!  I'll post the pics after the show!   

** Disclosure:  I recieved tickets to the Monster Jam courtesy of Feld Entertainment in exchange for this informational post.  My opinions are always based on my own experiences.  **  

Kung Zhu Pets Are...Totally Ninja!

A while back Mom Select and Cepia LLC gave my family the opportunity to try out Zhu Zhu Pets before they hit the stores.  They were a hit, to be sure, and so were my boys because we got to check out the Hamsters before they were even in stores! 

This year we were again honored and grateful to be able to check out the newest line of Hamsters.  They're called Kung Zhu pets and can I just say?  They really rock!  I am so glad that Cepia took the time to actually think about what boys like and need in the way of play.  Because while they really enjoyed the original Zhu Zhu pets?  Khung Zhu pets immediately brought out the "boy" in them and they took a whole new interest in the robotic hamsters! 

So why are Khung Zhu pets so much more attractive to the boys?  Take a look:

Cool boy colors

ninja body armor

wicked armored combat vehicles

and an amazingly challenging training course!

Oh yeah...and the battle arena!!   

I mean seriously...if I'm a boy?  What's not to like!?   Big Brother, my military guy,  gets to strategize and make battle plans and work out his aggressions in the battle arena with some really cool looking little hamster dudes.  Kung Zhus come in two groups:  Special Forces and Ninja Warriors.  Big Bro always, ALWAYS takes Special Forces and makes his little brother be the Ninja.   He figures out which armor works best with which hamster warrior and experiments with different training course designs.  Little Man gets to know each hamster's quirks and personalities and he loves to find out which part of the obstacle course works best for each hamster.  He gets to know each Kung Zhu's speech pattern and often tries to get our cat involved in his play, hoping Blackie Chan will pull some sweet Ninja moves himself. 

So we had a neighborhood party and invited some good friends over to help us try out Kung Zhu Pets and see them in action!  I let the kids put the track together this time.  All by themselves.  No help from the adults.  And they did it.  Then after the obstacle course was put together (took 4 boys about an hour), everybody joined in the fun, taking turns racing their Kung Zhus through the course and then having the Battle of all Battles in the Battle Arena. 

As you can see, the entire set is quite large, so you need a space where it can kind of stay once it's put together.  I just left mine in what was supposed to be the formal living room since we have no real  furniture in there right now anyway.  It's actually becoming more of a game room I guess.  The good thing is you can purchase the accessories separately and kind of  grow into the set one piece at a time.  Our Kung Zhu course gets rearranged weekly, depending on which friends are over, so I guess it's good they have lots of space to redesign!  Future Engineers of America!!  

Cepia LLC has done a great job re-engineering the original Zhu Zhu pet to create something that appeals to boys. Kung Zhu definitely made a big impression in my neighborhood...so much so that we had almost a whole summer with no "Star Wars" talk!  I know!  So thanks, Cepia.  You've helped me out on sooooo many levels!  

**Disclosure:   I was not compensated monetarily for this post.  I did receive Kung Zhu Pets and an obstacle course from MomSelect and Cepia LLC in order to host a Kung Zhu party and facilitate this review.** 

Zhu Zhu Pets Move to Video Game!

Remember the post I did about Zhu Zhu Pets last year?  (At the time they were called Go Go pets).  Remember how the hamster ball kept coming apart and Wicked Awesome Engineer Dude contacted me to let me know they had revised the design and then sent me a new one that wouldn't keep falling apart?  Well, because the company thought enough about its consumers to address this problem, (without my having to even contact them, BTW!  They took the initiative ON THEIR OWN to address the issue!) I am always happy to help them introduce new products. 

We all know that Zhu Zhu Pets have become quite the toy phenomenon the last few months, it only makes sense that they would extend their line of toys to include a video game, right? 

So if you are a Zhu Zhu Pets collector, you won’t want to miss this! Baxter, an exclusive Zhu Zhu Pets™ hamster baby, will come packaged as a Collector’s Edition with the initial release of the Zhu Zhu Pets™ video game for Nintendo DS™. This is a limited edition item, which will sell $29.99, and will only be available until the product sells out!  What do you get for your cash?  Zhu Zhu Pets fans get more than they could ever imagine - an amazing, adorable game and a rare Zhu Zhu Pets baby hamster that fits perfectly into the collection!

The video game, Zhu Zhu Pets for Nintendo DS, allows players to care for and play with their favorite toys virtually. Players can race their hamsters through different mazes to collect carrots, coins and new hamster friends and babies. It's an endlessly enjoyable game that lets you have fun with Zhu Zhu Pets anywhere! Perfect for road trips or long waits at the Dr.'s office where the real Zhu Zhu pets can't roam!