Dinosaurs 101

Smallest Raptor

Microraptor

My-KRO-rap-tore

We'll call him Mic

With his feathers and four, count 'em, four primitive wings (one set each on its forearms and hind legs), the early Cretaceous Microraptor might easily have been mistaken for a bizarrely mutated pigeon. This was, however, a genuine raptor, albeit one that only measured about two feet from head to tail and weighed a few pounds soaking wet. Because of Mic's tiny size, paleontologists believe that Mic subsisted on a diet of insects.

Wacky Wednesday

I think a good Wacky Wednesday event would be

 to solve this mystery! 

We still don't know if it's foul play or an accident...

I think today we'll paint some train cars or just paint a train picture. 

Whatever we choose, 

we'll do it all Wacky-like so Dr. Seuss would be proud!

Game Review

Rummikub

This game is deceptively simple. You start with 14 tiles, and your goal is to meld all your tiles in groups of at least three, either three of a kind (3 fives, for example) or in a run (4, 5, and 6). Just like the card game rummy, right? The twist comes when you start rearranging tiles. As long as you leave at least three tiles together, you can do whatever you want with the tiles already laid down by any person playing the game. Before too long, strategy becomes hard because the person before you is sure to rearrange the tiles you needed in such a way that they are no longer available. Then again, they may lay down the one piece that you needed to win.
I've been playing this game with my family for years. It's a blast because it's so completely different every time, and everyone has a chance to win. You might need to help small kids when they first learn how to play, but soon, they will be able to play and hold their own against adults.
I highly recommend this fun game. It'll give you hours of entertainment with family and friends.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are our picks for the worst toys for kids 2013?

We're gonna check in with the "Play - Doh" app. Why? Play - Doh is a hands on happenin experience in 4D! Build it, squish it, shape it, and start all over. Granted this won't make a mess, but we believe in letting kids be kids. 

Our houses will be clean when the kids go

off to college! Or not! 

We don't like to encourage screen time....

This is Imaginext Mego Apatosaurus... 

tech -armor transformer- missile -launching- dinosaur where the child doesn't have use any imagination because a press of a button does it for you! He's motorized. Perhaps some role playing but doesn't leave much else....

Thanks TOADY  (Toys Oppressive And Destructive to Young children) for the information.

Did Ya Know?

The Viewmaster.... 

classic by its own standard!

William Gruber, an organ maker from Portland, Oregon, invented the View-Master. While visiting the Oregon Caves, he met Harold Graves, the president of Sawyer's, Inc. His company specialized in picture post cards. Together, they created the successful company that exists today.

In 1939, View-Master was first introduced at the New York World’s Fair. Intended as a souvenir, it was originally marketed through photo shops and stationary stores.

During World War II View-Master produced millions of reels for the U.S. Government that aided the military in airplane/ship identification and range estimation.

Many of the now classic TV “cult” shows of the 1960’s were depicted on View-Master reels. Dark Shadows, Lost in Space, The Munsters, Time Tunnel and The Green Hornet are eagerly sought after by collectors. 

 

COLORFORMS 

began in 1951 when Harry and Patricia Kislevitz, two art students, were experimenting with a flexible vinyl material as a low-cost alternative to paint. They discovered that the vinyl stuck to the semi-gloss paint in their bathroom! They cut shapes out of the material and placed them on the walls.

“Our friends would go in and do the most marvelous Matisse things on the wall. And they’d never come out,” Patricia Kislevitz said.

Boredom Busters

 Make a silver medal so you can create an event to earn it! Take some foil, a cardboard circle, a coin, a token, and some ribbon. Put the foil over the coin or token and rub the foil gently with the back of a spoon until you see an image appear. Cut the foil to fit your cardboard circle, glue in place and attach the ribbon.

 You are ready for the podium!

Get your helmet! Get your knee pads! Get your elbow pads! Get your sunglasses! Gather your courage and lay out the slalom course! Practice for the snow and the 2016 Olympics right in front of your house! Don't forget the music and the dance element!

Learn a new craft!

 Better yet, learn how to make a stop action video using Windows Movie Maker. 

It takes about 200 photos to produce a video that's almost 2 minutes long depending on what you set the timing for. Upload the photos, set the timing, add some music, add some credits and viola!

Flash from the Past Friday

Play value.... what is the value of play?

What is play and why is it important? From the experts....

"From earliest infancy, play is the primary way children learn. Through play, children use all the tools  they have at their disposal—their bodies, their relationships with their family and peers, and the world around them. Play, more than any other activity, fuels healthy development of young children. It is through play that much of children’s early learning is achieved.
Children play because it is fun. Play takes many forms, but the heart of play is pleasure. And with pleasure comes the powerful drive to repeat such activities. With repetition comes mastery. And mastery brings a sense of accomplishment and confidence.

How does play help children grow?

Children’s cognitive skills are enhanced. Through play children learn about concepts, how to group and classify objects, how to make sense of things and events, and how to solve problems. Play often involves trial and error, and problem-solving tasks. Play requires a child to make choices, direct activities, and make plans to reach a goal.
Children develop motor skills. Through play, children develop control and coordination of muscles that are needed to walk, kick, eat or write. Gross motor skills can be enhanced when a toddler pushes a toy grocery cart or an older child plays hopscotch. Fine motor and manipulation skills are developed when preschoolers use their fingers to string cheerios for a necklace or toddlers scribble with a crayon on paper. When throwing and catching a ball, children are practicing hand-eye coordination and their ability to grasp. When children kick a ball across the room, they are practicing coordination and developing large muscle control, tone and flexibility.
Children enhance language skills. Talking, singing, rhyming, and word play help them to master the rules and sounds of language while they have fun.
Children gain social and emotional skills. Play develops imagination and creativity and gives children practice in social skills such as waiting, negotiating, taking turns, cooperation, compromise, sharing and expressing emotions. As children learn about themselves and the world, they acquire self-confidence, self-reliance and self-expression."
Read more about the different types of play and skill development here:
 http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Value_Play/

Dinosaurs 101

The Last one on our list for the 

Top 10 Countdown....

Mr. Thrinaxodon

Oh yeah, this creature shall be called Axel.

Thrin-axe-o-don

When did Axel live? 

Early Triassic (250-245 million years ago)

Size and Weight:

About 20 inches long and a few pounds

Diet: Meat Eater (check out his teeth)

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Cat-like or badger-like profile. MAybe even had a coat of fur.

About Thrinaxodon:

Axel was amazingly "modern" by early Triassic standards. Paleontologists believe this cynodont (a  or mammal-like reptile that preceded the dinosaurs) may have been covered in fur, and also may have had a moist, cat-like nose. Completing the resemblance to modern pets, it's possible that Alex sported whiskers as well (and for all we know, orange and black stripes).
What paleontologists can say for sure is that Alex was among the first creatures whose body was divided into "lumbar" and "thoracic" segments (an important evolutionary anatomical development), and that it probably breathed with the aid of a diaphragm, yet another feature that didn't come fully into mammalian vogue until tens of millions of years later. 

Wacky Wednesday Pipe Cleaners

Game Review

What is a Cooperative Game?

It’s a game where everyone plays together, no one is left out, and everyone has fun! 

Traditional games tend to have one winner and one (or many) losers.

 In a cooperative game, the players work as a team against a common obstacle,

 not against each other.

Cooperative games emphasize play, not competition. Families learn to work and play together in respectful and compassionate ways. They learn to share, make decisions together, and trust one another. Cooperative games encourage inclusion and build confidence.

Cooperative games are great for kids of all ages (as well as the adults in their life). Contrary to popular belief, players don't beat a cooperative game every time, so even if the players lose to the game, they lose as a team. There's always a reason to keep working, thinking and playing together to accomplish the goal as a team!

How to play "Stack up"

Spin The Spinner and get Stacking! Can you stack 12 blocks before the Stack Smasher get to the tower and topples it? Stack Up! has three levels of game play so the game grows with children and kids of different ages can play together. Can you perform the challenges before the stack smasher makes its way around the board?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Toy Fair?

The 111th annual American International Toy Fair® is the largest toy and youth product marketplace in the Western Hemisphere, bringing together more than 1,000 exhibiting manufacturers, distributors, importers and sales agents from around the globe to showcase their toy and entertainment products. From classic toys to interactive entertainment and everything in between, the Toy Fair playground includes: action figures and dolls, games and puzzles, construction toys, arts and creative activities, earth-friendly products, bicycles, tricycles and ride-ons, radio-controlled vehicles, infant and preschool toys, cars, trucks, and trains, puppets and plush, audio and video cassettes, computer software and video games, playground and sporting equipment, Halloween, Christmas, books, stationery, party supplies, and much more.

Who sponsors Toy Fair?

American International Toy Fair is produced by the TIA, Toy Industry Association which is a not-for-profit trade association representing all businesses involved in creating and bringing toys and youth entertainment products to kids of all ages.

What comes of Toy Fair?

Everything New for the year will debut at Toy Fair including the newest Perplexus, Warp!

Did Ya Know?

Folkmanis Puppets is  a family owned 

specialty puppet company 

that has been around for nearly 40 years!

 Their amazing quality, ingenuity, and attention to detail have been recognized around the world.

 This guy too! Imaginations soar when you innocently slip on of these animals over your hand. Within seconds, they come to life and take ona voice of their own. Who knows if they are going to tell you about a day on the farm or what it's like to spend a day in the toy store!

Fun is always close at hand!

There's even baby puppets with soft pudgy bellies and little voices. Puppets for little hands too that could double for household pets! The good folks at Folkmanis are the best to work with to bring all of their critters to Durango so you can bring them to life.

Boredom Busters

 It's gonna be a beautiful weekend

 so why not take your dog to the dog park? 

If ya don't have a dog, it's still a great place to go with miles of trails and happy dogs playing. 

There are also bicycle trails to enjoy!

 My favorite dinner is....... 

Make your own recipe cards  and give your favorite recipe to your family and friends. People who have never had your pizza -upside -down- mac & cheez may be in for trying something new!

Dance with a balloon and 

don't let it hit the ground.....

Indoors or out, this is a great 

way to feel as light as air...

Flash from the past Friday

We think some of the funniest jokes we've ever seen have been those that provided a visual of what was really going on. When we catch the toys coming to life, we try to listen very closely to what they are talking about so we don't miss anything! Then we try to capture the whole thing with the camera.

Mostly we have to be very, very quiet and tip-toe around the store. The gecko and duck were trying to get the rest of the toys to sign up for insurance, we had to put an end to that and enforce a "no soliciting" policy. That policy is still in effect today!

Weirdest DInosaurs

#9 "The King" Crylophosaurus

cry-o-LOF-o-SAWR-us

This Elvisosaurus makes the top 10 weirdness list on two accounts! First, this is one of the few dinosaurs ever to be unearthed in modern-day Antarctica, and second, the decorative crest atop his noggin was oriented from side to side, rather than from front to back. This makes Cryolophosaurus look as if it's sporting a 1950's hairdo, that's why we call him Elvisaurus.

Elvis grew to be about 20 ft  long and I could stand next to his hips and my head would be at about his knee, measuring 5 feet.

Wacky Wednesday

Wacky Wednesday trips to Craftopia have 

returned beginning today! 

It's hard to say where we'll end up as we travel to the places that our 

imaginations take us. I think it's different for everyone!

The adventure begins this morning at 11:00 and we will travel to the 

outer limits of imagination until we land back here at noon.

Today's project is going to be about making your own personalized

bracelet. 

We're using the Bangle Boutique kit for this one that comes 

with everything we need to complete our project. We will get our craftainer out because 

you never know where inspiration will take us!

For the full schedule of Wacky Wednesday events go to:http://durangotoydepot.com/events/

Game Review

We think Pallina would be a great game for family game night as you try to pull out your color stick without dropping any of your balls! This game is for ages 3 - 99 and is made from Bamboo. Colorful and sturdy, Pallina is sure to amuse everone while they play.
This is an excellent game to help learn spatial skills, strategy, and even some math angles!
Pallina requires a very sensitive touch and thoughtful strategy.The game contains the bamboo basket, 20 bamboo sticks in 4 colors, 16 wooden balls in 4 colors and 1 purple felt mat.

• Excitement and challenge awaits young players
• Toy finishes are all non-toxic, child safe, and of the highest quality
• Made with renewable bamboo, all Hape products comply with EN71 and ASTM quality standards

Did Ya Know?

Did Ya Know that we are poetry pros here at Durango Toy Depot!

We've been inspired by Valentines Day and have been writing the most beautiful poems for our loved ones. Here is a taste of you can expect from us!

 
Roses are red
Violets are purple
Will you eat spaghetti with me
To the very last slurple?

Whale you be mine?

 



There once was a bear named Sunny
Everyone thought she was funny
She gave kisses and hugs
To kittens and pugs
And asked them to be her Honey

Write some cheesy Valentines poems and share them with us!

Boredom Busters

 In the spirit of the 2014 Winter Olympics, 

you too can create your own WInter Olympic sport! How about upside down snowman building? Or diving for a ball in the snow? Or snowshoe racing? Or ski pole javelin throw? There's a million you could come up with....

                      even a biathlon!

 Friday is Valentines Day!

 Get your best crafty ideas and create the perfect Valentine for your sweetie! Or just create a Valentine to give to someone so they know they are loved. A random act of Valentines 

could even shower someone 

you don't know!

It's easy for me to daydream and

 plan our summer garden when there's snow on the ground! It's the time of year when everything in nature is resting..... plan ahead and research container ideas and water wise ideas for your garden this season!

Flash from the past Friday!

Dinosaurs 101

#8 of the weirdest dinosaurs

 Ouranosaurus

Pronunciation: yoo-RAY-no-SOR-us Meaning: Brave lizard

We're naming #8 Omar Ouranosaurus (Ouray for short)

Experts aren't sure what to make of the spines that jutted out of Omar's  backbone but some tend to think that they supported a thin sail of skin, Like that of old Spinosaurus while others hypothesize  that this guy sported a camel-like hump filled with fatty tissue. The theory that Omar had a camel like hump seems to make mopre sense as Omar lived more like a camel in the dry regions of northern Africa.

Omar thrived on plants and grew to be about 30 feet long and weighed in at over 2 tons!

Wacky Wednesday

We're planning, we're creating, and we're getting Wacky! 

Oh yeah! Wacky Wednesday trips to Craftopia are starting again next week! It's been so long since we've captured the things in the craftainer making something!

Craftopia... where we can let our imaginations run free, 

our glitter glue shine, our projects happen, 

and our adventures soar!

Craftopia, the time when we get out the craftainer and all our

goodies to make something, draw something, create something 

that only one can do while in Craftopia.

We've got a great line up so far and it's FREE!

Check out what's happening Durango Toy Depot.com

Game Review

Super Scrabble, more spaces on the board,

 more tiles to play!

Supersized Scrabble, the word game gone wild!

The new gameboard is a 21 by 21 grid (the original is 15 by 15) with some quadruple premium bonus squares. The game includes two hundred tiles with a new distribution of letter tiles (not just a double set of the original distribution). The "Deluxe" version of this game adds a revolving game board.
Words at their finest with 2-4 players ages 8 and up.
Words and a dictionary are all you need for this extended classic game!  Best played with 4 players who have access to their thinking caps. More spaces, more tiles , more opportunities for scores!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do we have an Employee of the Month?

Oh yes we do! We have an employee of the month every month and sometimes the competition is grueling. We don't have an official form or anything, we don't have an official voting box, but what we do have is a lot of heart! Our "Employee of the Month" is usually the one  of us who has gone above and beyond the call of duty. Who measures that? The people who come into our store.....

What is the call of duty you ask?
Basically, our call of duty is, well, playtime!
Really, playtime.... tough job huh?
We all try to be on top of our game all the time. We all try to be helpful when people are trying to select a toy or gift.
We all try to be funny (sometimes, not so much).
We all try to make our guests feel welcome and relaxed while the look around.
You decide, based on what our call of duty is, who gets to be employee of the month. That's kida how we do it!

Did Ya Know?

Who invented the remote control?

"Renowned Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla created one of the world's first wireless remote controls, which he unveiled at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1898. He called his struggling system, which could be used to control a range of mechanical contraptions, a "teleautomaton." For his demonstration, Tesla employed a miniature boat controlled by radio waves. The boat had a small metal antenna that could receive exactly one radio frequency.

Tesla sent signals to the boat using a box equipped with a lever and a telegraph key (originally designed to send Morse code signals). The signals generated from this box shifted electrical contacts aboard the boat, which, in turn, adjusted settings for the rudder and propeller, allowing the operator to control the boat's motion.

In the 1930s and 1940s, a few consumer electronics, such as garage door openers and model airplanes, arrived with remote controls. Other products soon followed suit, but this was still just the beginning for remotes, which have radically altered our technological landscape."

http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/repurposed-inventions/history-of-remote-control.htm

Boredom Busters

Snow Art

 Better than sand castles! 

This is an amazing example of

 what you can do when you bundle

 up and go play outside!

 Add some color to your masterpiece! 

A little food coloring mixed with water  in a squirt bottle or even a spray bottle! 

I wouldn't use yellow tough....

Nature's masterpiece. A walk in the winter to see how magnificent nature is during this season. I know, there are those of you who are sick of snow and have been buried.... why not just give in and play? It takes less face muscles to smile than it does to frown!