With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility – Why Spiderman is a Great Role Model

Spiderman is Just Plain Fun

First of all, there’s no denying it, every kid loves Spiderman right?  He just looks cool and does that really cool trick with his hands as he leaps from building to building! What’s not to like?  This is the first reason that Spiderman is a great role model.  He is effective because kids actually like him.  It would be great if kids wanted to play with Einstein or Shakespeare action figures but Spiderman is exciting, colorful and funny.  Give a child a Spiderman action figure and they’re off to fight bad guys and web sligging around in no time.  It’s hard to imagine childhood without a Spiderman figure!

The Spectacular Spiderman’s Smarts

Spiderman, along with Iron Man, The Hulk and Mr. Fantastic, is one of Marvel’s top scientists.  Not only does Spiderman get his powers from a radioactive spider, he also uses science to design his unbreakable webs and extremely durable suit.  Try packing up a healthy lunch in a Spiderman lunch bag, throwing some juice in a Spiderman canteen and embarking on a science adventure in your own backyard.  Another great science toy are our set of Spiderman magnets, which can be used to teach the magical science of magnetism!

Spiderman and Creative Problem Solving

Spiderman doesn’t defeat the Green Goblin, Electro, The Chameleon or Dr. Octopus with brute strength.  Instead, he gets creative and uses his mind to beat the bad guys.  If your kid’s role model is The Hulk they may go around smashing everything.  With Spiderman as a role model a child will become interest in solving problems without fighting.  Great toys for instilling a sense of imagination and puzzle solving are Spiderman coloring books and puzzles.  In addition to Spiderman coloring pages our activity books also contain Spiderman coloring games and puzzles to get your child’s young mind web slinging to the top of the class!  Here’s a tip: Keep some crayons and extra Spiderman coloring sheet with you for those times when your child needs an entertaining distraction.

Aunt May and Uncle Ben – The Power of Family

It was Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben who said, “With great power comes great responsibility.”  In fact Spiderman loved his family so much that when his dear Uncle Ben died, he vowed to live by his example and to always protect his kindly Aunt May.  Spiderman is a great role model because he loves his friends and family so dearly and would do anything to protect them.

Peter Parker – The Daily Bugle’s World Class Photographer

In addition to his careers as a scientist, teacher and superhero Peter Parker is also a photographer.  Spiderman is an artist!  What better way to get kids interested in art than with some crayons and Spiderman coloring sheets?  Set up Spiderman action figures for a photo shoot and sell them to grumpy old J. Jonah Jameson!  Unlike other heroes, Spiderman has a direct connection to art, making Spiderman coloring books superior to any other superhero coloring book!

A Spectacular Spiderman Item for Every Occasion!

There is so much more than Spiderman action figures!  For the true Spiderman fanatics there are Spiderman backpacks, Spiderman swim goggles, Spiderman luggage, Spiderman blankets, Spiderman hampers and even Spiderman checkers and dominoes!  Spiderman is great character for children to love because of the sheer amount of Spiderman toys available!  There are toys from every Spiderman cartoon and film including Spiderman 3 action figures, Ultimate Spiderman figures and of course figures for the upcoming The Amazing Spiderman.  There’s just no end in sight for the Spectacular Spiderman!

Caillou Toys and Merchandise all the Rage

“My world is turning, changing each day!” – Growing Up With Caillou

One of the greatest reasons of children to grow up with Caillou is that Caillou himself grows up in the series.  At first, Caillou is only 2 two years old but grows to the ripe age of four as the series continues.  For a young child, Caillou is an amazing role model and one that they can honestly relate to.  A Caillou doll makes a great friend!

“Each Day There’s Something New!” – Adventuring With Caillou

Not only does Caillou use his imagination to adventure and have fun, he also uses it to solve problems in the real world.  Unlike other early morning cartoons Caillou takes place in a completely realistic world, which he adventures through with the power of imagination.  Caillou dollsmake great adventuring campaigns.  Lace up your child’s Caillou shoes and head out for a grand adventure!  Grab a pair of Caillou rain boots for splashing around in puddles.  The adventuring spirit of Caillou is never-ending!

Caillou Doll

“With Mommy and Daddy and Finding My Way!” – Family and Friends With Caillou

Not only is Caillou a great adventurer but he is also a great son, brother and friend!  Of course, Mommy Doris and Daddy Boris are great role models and often lead Caillou with wisdom and fun.  Rosie, Caillou’s two year-old sister, is a great role model for older brothers.  Watching Caillou and Rosie interact and playing with Caillou dolls are great ways to teach children about younger siblings.  Other great characters include the kindly Mr. Hinkle and the former bully Leo.  True to Caillou’s real world setting, there are very diverse characters, all of whom Caillou befriends.  Everyone is Caillou’s friend!

“So Many Things to Do!” – Activities and Development With Caillou

There is so much Caillou merchandise available in our Caillou store, there’s almost no end to the number of Caillou activities!  Of course, budding young minds benefit greatly from puzzles and more Caillou puzzles are available than almost any other character!  For very young children there’s the Caillou Wood Peg Alphabet puzzle.  For children a little more advanced there are 21-piece and 45-piece Caillou puzzles available.  There is even a Caillou My First 3D Puzzle Picture Frame!

Are puzzles not for you?  How about Caillou toys for family game night?  Playing games as a family builds important social skills and the valuable art of sharing and waiting one’s turn.  Great Caillou toys include the Caillou Logico Game, Bingo and Who What?

“I’ll Share Them With You!” – Reading With Caillou

Caillou started as a series of books by Christine L’Heureux so there are a great number of Caillou books available!  Caillou adventures are just as exciting and imaginative in print!  What better way to instill a love of books in your child than by sharing the wonderful world of Caillou with great books like Caillou Moves Around and Caillou Spend the Day With Me?

“Growing Up is Not So Tough” – Learning With Caillou

Caillou is a great way to teach children about daily activities like healthy eating, brushing one’s teeth and dressing one’s self.  The sheer amount of Caillou merchandise available means that the imaginative youngster can help children learn just about anything.  Learning about healthy eating is a breeze with a Caillou lunch bag and few healthy snacks!  Caillou apparel such as shoes, sandals and even rain boots are great ways to get kids excited about dressing themselves.  Other great tools are Caillou dress-up dolls and even a Caillou dress-up puzzle.  At the end of the day enjoy a bath with a Caillou bath toy, and then teach your child about brushing their teeth and bedtime with a Caillou dress-up doll complete with pajamas.

Super Mario Toys and Games Super Solid for 30 years Going

Super Mario Monopoly is not just a lovable take on the all time classic game for learning lots of valuable lessons, but you can almost say that Super Mario games, with all his changing adventures from maps to outer space, lovable Mario, just may have a monopoly on being the most famous, most loved, most long lasting character ever! No joke, the statistics do tell the results.

Super Love for Super Mario

For 30 years running now, (or jumping or karting or flying as super Mario does so well), even older super Mario collector’s editions of toys and games are grabbed up along with brand new super Mario games and toys for the wii, and the gamut of super Mario backpacks, lunch bags, Mario bedroom linens, plush dolls, and you name it. That may very well be because Mario is not for one age group, –dads, moms, grandpas, older brothers and sisters, and younger toddlers, everyone knows and loves the cool mustachioed plumber Mario–his cohorts and his conflicts.

Mario is a good guy, and parents appreciate him as a decent role model with a valuable place today alongside all those super outlandishly beautiful of face and figures heroes. Step aside handsome Avengers, actors and actresses, pop stars, all of them, because Super Mario and Mario kart powers, and his challenges and discoveries, show off his good heart.

He’s just a guy, a plumber who knows his pipes and will do anything to save his dear friend Princess Daisy. Mario is not about saving the world, or revenge, he’s sweet, even comical  in his ways of trying to manage his challenges. And he is super. And kids love him like a good friend. No wonder they want the super Mario backpack. For little brothers and sisters who copy everything, the backpacks come is toddler size too. And then they must have the Super Mario lunch bag. It’s a well insulated lunch bag to keep lettuce from wilting and bananas from “smooshing”. Put in a funny or sweet daily note or picture for the day.

Some Healthy Mario Relationships

What’s in that super Mario bag anyway, tuna, turkey, pp&j –all with a side of mushrooms?  Well, that’s not such a joke because Mario, you know, lives in the mushroom kingdom, and there is a lot to do with cool mushrooms playing his games. There’s so much fun with mushrooms (and they really and truly are a super food packed with the best nutrients) that have gained their popularity and acceptance with all. So that’s another great and healthy benefit to Super Mario anything at all!

Endless Varieties of Mario Toys and Games

Super Mario is everywhere, not just on the wii’s and the screens. In fact, get the kids away from the electronics for family night with super Mario chess. Nothing could be better than learning strategy with this game–for any level, even you.  Plus, the 32 pieces can be used with the younger kids in the tub because these special super Mario toy pieces are waterproof and can go take a bath. It’s also a great way to collect a lot of these great Mario characters all at once.

Or vary chess with super Mario checkers and tic tac toe, or super Mario memory challenge board game. Give the kids and your own brain cells a boost, and you’ll even find the kids are better at this than you! It’s great for some younger kids who can feel proud to really win at a game.

Then there are the family must have super Mario puzzles. There’s the Nintendo Mario party puzzle, or for car lovers the Mario kart puzzle. For families who are in the Mario know, or not, here’s a chance to join the adventures of the brothers Mario and Luigi, as they save the princess from Bowser and koopalugs as you are traveling through the puzzle pieces.

Of course for the electronic games, right now it’s a tough choice which is more super on the wii, the super Mario galaxy 2 or the new super Mario.  There is a super Mario game for every age level and style–older ones are still fabulous and beloved as well as each new version and sequel. Kids boast about having the best, the most super of the super Mario games.

The Best Ratings of All Times

As the acclaimed best of all platform games, super Mario galaxy 2 is rated great on parenting sites and by kids of all ages. You don’t have to worry about violence because Mario, the good guy he is, is out to save his princess from the evil monster Bowser, and the stuff he fights are not “humaish” but “cartoonish”, and his ways are really cute and funny even. Mario spins, pounds the ground, turns into rock Mario, uses Yoshi the dinosaur’s tongue to fetch and swallow enemies. Boo Mario flies through walls, Mario  uses a giant drill to go into planets, he surrounds a wooden galaxy with– what else– blocks of course.

Mario is always tops in platforming and kart racing, the graphics are the best, the levels are brilliant, surprising.

Mario is claimed to be the most famous character in the whole history of video games–the best selling of all video games. He has a wax figure in the Hollywood wax museum, he has 7 world records in the Guinness book, people and places are named after Mario. One survey rated Mario more recognizable than Mickey Mouse!

Playtime with Super Good Ideas

Super Mario is not about revenge, grandiose ideas to save the world, he takes on his challenges with a good heart.  Anyone can be like Mario the plumber. Of course, kids love a little magic in their fantasy play, and so Mario can wear different things like the vanish cap, or the penguin suit. He has his raccoon tail for flying powers. He gets an ice flower so he can walk over ice or lava, or a tanooki suit to be a powerful statue. Super Mario toys give the kids just the kinds of images that are fun, harmless, and cool. Super Mario’s world includes enough cohorts and characters to give good fantasy game parts to a whole classroom of kids to choose their favorite.

What kids don’t like cars and karts and driving, and so there is Mario kart toys and games–with Mario the driver to fulfill their wishes.

For art lovers these characters are ones the kids want to draw–you know ever since Diary of a Wimpy Kid made cartoons an awesome thing to do. Sheila has great pictures of her Bombette  and Baby Bowser from wii Mario kart throwing a koopa from his kart. Randy makes a great mean Bowser. But Lillian is best drawing a lovely Princess Daisy.  Bob loves motorcycles so he has practiced drawing Luigi riding a motor bike. Andy, who loves his own tongue and what it can do, draws a pretty good Yoshi. And, what child doesn’t work wonders with a tongue, like Yoshi!

Muppet Puzzles Bring Mahna Mahna Skills to Piecing Puzzles Together

The latest version of whistle while you work has got to be mahna mahna, the phenomenal ditty brought to everyone–young and old alike–by the Muppets and the Muppets games and shenanigans. And with the title above, piecing puzzles together–togetherness is truly happening with the Muppets when it comes to families being able to do things together. So naturally, in the bevy of children’s puzzles available in any online puzzles store, there are Muppets jigsaw puzzles that are winners in linking family with fun games. The Muppets antics and games they play in comedy, plays on words, slapstick sketches, good feelings and messages in supporting and loving one another can’t be beat for any age!

Muppets jigsaw puzzle goes with the flow to the rescue

Puzzles may sound like ancient history for kids, but for both boys and girls, from infants to seniors, nothing else provides such cheap and easy learning tools, helpful face to face socializing, and easy fun than puzzles and jigsaw puzzles. And right now on the internet are parents all over complaining about the dire need to get kids away from the technology and back to real world basics, and here comes puzzles to the rescue.

We still all use the term puzzling about things we don’t know, and how many popular mystery stories, legal stories, spy stories, doctor stories, sci fi stories grab us because we have to put the pieces together. Puzzles are life! And life is the Muppets–”radiant wonderfulness” as Kermit the frog  muppet said in the Wizard of Oz. Unlike video stores, a Muppet store will always be with us, will never run out of usefulness or relevance in the ever changing world.

 Muppet Life Lessons and Puzzling Puns

It may even be thanks to Muppets puzzles that there is a newly discovered love and need for doing puzzles. How about talking to one another face to face while laughing with all those many and masterful Muppet characters. From a Kermit the frog puzzle, everyone will remember his funny but wise quips like this dialogue from the awesome Muppets 2011 movie: Walter: You guys give the world the greatest gift of all. Kermit: Babies? Walter: No. The other one. Kermit: Ice cream? Walter: No. The other one. Kermit: Laughter. Walter: Yes! The third greatest gift!

Hard to top that one! And there are so many valuable life message from all the Muppets shows as Kermit the frog says from a previous show:” I may not be one of your fancy Hollywood frogs, but I deserve a chance. When we pull together, we can do anything.” This is the can-do attitude you want to instill in kids with puzzles.

Research too Supports Puzzles

And there is so much research and documentation about the value of puzzles. First of all as Maria Montessori’s exploration of how children learn, sensory play, picking up pieces and placing them into making a whole as they do in jigsaw puzzles opens the mind to grasp the ideas and concepts kids need to learn.

The Puzzle Store Plusses

Now another awesome thing about puzzles is that a good online puzzle store has every character there can possibly be, every fad, collection, popular TV or movie star pictured on puzzles. And they come in perfect types and numbers of pieces for each age. For the youngest tots there are wood peg board puzzles of 7 or 9 pieces in the likes of favorites Toopy and Binoo, Caillou, dinosaur lovers Land Before Time, Scooby Doo.

There are lenticular puzzles with that holographic movement and depth that still mesmerizes parents as well as the younger sets. Among these are Disney Princesses, Strawberry Shortcake, Pixar Cars, Toy Story– the movement in these puzzles is just like them–go go go.

Life size poster puzzles are great for when the kids get a little bigger and they think bigger has to be better. Then the kids are ready for the under 100 pieces sets, 24 or 36 for a little more challenge. Pleasers include going sweet with Hello Kitty, or Tigger and Pooh, Barney, Smurfs, Barbie, and Hot Wheels.

Making a jump upwards nearing the Tween level of must haves, of course there are puzzles in the likes of Justin Bieber, Pirates, Sponge Bob, Nintendo, Marvel Heroes, and Pokemon.

But the biggest group of course, is the middle group (not average or ordinary for sure), and no wonder one of the most sought after puzzles is the Muppets jigsaw puzzle of 63 pieces. Not too small not too large–and it is one treasured by families. That’s because of course everyone’s favorites are there. Kermit the frog, glorious green still loved by Grandma and Grandpa. And you can’t have Kermit without the romance of Miss Piggy. Girls don’t tire of proclaiming their staunch love for their pink and adorable Miss Piggy Plush doll. Shannon says, “Pigs are so cool my email address is shannonpig@yahoo. And  haven’t you seen little piggies in their races, so adorable and smart. And my piggy bank saves me money to buy more games, too!”

Of course Shannon’s brother Brandon  imitates the meep, you know, mee mee mee Beaker. Beaker, Muppets funniest character who can take every madcap mishap that Dr.Honeydo puts him through and keeps smiling!   But Brandon claims “I can sing Feelings better than Beaker muppet or Animal!”

Friends Lori and Albert chime in on Fozzie  Bear and his perfect jokes, and Gonzo whichever one is funniest at the moment.

Just like yearbooks that young and old never tire of looking over again and again, families always come back to Muppets, games, movies, puzzles, the muppets works.

Making jigsaw puzzles work

If childrens’ puzzles are frustrating to the beginners, big sis Sierra has her hints on helpful methods.  She says there are 4 basic things to know about doing puzzles. Find all the edge pieces first to make the frame. The frame always has less pieces than the inside, and you can find the straight edge. Look at the box. For example, there are at least 20 characters in the 65 piece Muppet  puzzle, but if you look at the box you know where he or she goes. Put colors that are alike together in piles. Then you can build your character with those colors, and then look at the box to see where they fit in.

Maybe that why Muppet puzzles, and all puzzles remain so popular from generation to generation – because they always allow you to look at the Big Picture – and see just where you fit in!

The Avengers Toys with Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, and the Gang Give Kids Marvelous Marvel Role Models

With the hot new, long awaited Avengers movie finally around, the Avengers merchandise is flying into hands of all ages. The likes of the earliest Avenger through all those award winning, awe inspiring Avengers heroes brings together the best of the bests. No wonder the cry of “Avengers Assemble” goes up ay  any costume party or celebration, to include Captain America figures, Iron Men Figures,  and even Thor figures or the Hulk look alikes are part of the hero lists of wannabees. To be sure, kids will be singing Live to Rise, Soundgarden’s music from the Avengers movie–the song of the year, no doubt– while enjoying the glory of the Avengers.

Avengers Include the Gals

Now there are a lot of guys mentioned here, but Avengers females as well are acclaimed such as the much loved and admired Scartlett Johansson who played and will play the wonderful Black Widow. The Black Widow, of course, is a skilled spy and warrior for S.H.I.E.L.D. who partners with Hawkeye, and the amazing thing is she doesn’t have to have superpowers to prove herself. It’s her strength of mind and body alone that succeeds.

And girls truly love and admire the Avengers smart and brave The Wasp. She may be small and often not seen behind the big guys, but she can burst an outrageous villain and help to save the day too.

Passing the good deeds forward

The truth is that the Avengers figures stand the test of time being that they have been around since dad’s time, and even since grandpa’s time. Stan Lee created memorable characters with real personalities. Forget about Superman, the Avengers have issues any kid or parent can relate to, and, more importantly, to learn from! Dads all over, just like actor/director Mark Ruffalo, the Hulk, had said that their decent beliefs they now have were created and encouraged by these comic book superheroes they read as a child. So think about that one parents when considering  presents for kids, and vote for some worthy Avengers toys and merchandise.

Spiderman has always been a loner. Even though he is not technically an Avenger, Spiderman was always there to lend the Avengers an important helping hand when needed. And that’s why Danny carries his Spiderman blanket buddy to grandma’s, and the inside his Spiderman luggage case is a set of Spiderman magnetic activities- perfect for those car rides and restaurant table situations. He’s now clamoring for the Spiderman lunch box for camp, and probably will begin collecting the rest of those “Spidey Goodies” and begin adding on to them of course some necessary Avengers figures.

For friends Johan and Andres, nothing less than the mini muggs Avengers figures 6-pack will do because of course, teamwork is high on their list of values (thank you moms and dads for instilling this virtue!)..and of course, this value is supported by Captain America,  Hulk, Hawkeye, and Nick Fury. Even Iron Man figures high in the contributions to team efforts.

The Avengers store house of goodies includes some good reading for kids with tie-in comics. One series in fact features Black Widow to satisfy all those female Avengers lovers.

Science and Responsibility

Technology is our world and each of the Avengers figures tends to deal with how people use science–either responsibly or irresponsibly. And speaking of responsibility, there is nothing like the great story of how Thor figures out his own flaws and weaknesses and learns to deal with them. He must master his temper and realize that compassion and humility is what brings him strength and power. And any parent would be proud to have their child brave, humble honorable, sticking to good values like Captain America, who makes such ideas cool and relevant, and not just old-fashioned.

Kids who love the marvel avengers are overheard taking their Iron Man action figure, or Captain America, and the rest to assemble at the Avengers Mansion to hear about the latest situation. The wonderful female Wasp character reminds them they are there to help not to fight. This group of kids with their avengers merchandise–those action figures that really look like the people, join up their Captain America and/or Thor on his Rainbow Bridge Asgard paired with the evil Loki and Captain America’s arch enemy the Red Skull.

Peak in to overhear how Ronnie managed his Iron Man figure to deal in constructive ways with the enemy Terron, and with other man made biological life forms.

What Could Possibly Be Next!

At the end of the day, have your kids pack up their avengers actions figures in an Avengers backpack just like Bryan with his First Avenger Captain America multi compartment backpack. He’s ready for Captain America 2 in 2014, but brother Brandon is waiting for his favorite, Iron Man 3 in 2013!