There's something about having a microphone in a room that brings out the performer in many kids. I had this set up in a corner of the living room when a gaggle of 7-year-old girls showed up for a birthday party , and before I could get it out of the way, they instantly ran to it and started singing into it, even though it wasn't functional at the time.  read more »

It's a trading card game with an online component. But does the online component make up for a lack in the game or make a great game better?  read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Redcat Racing FM Remote Controlled Vehicles

Units: About 1,400

Distributor: Redcat Racing Co., of Phoenix, Ariz.  read more »

Each virtual world for kids offers different features, and Littlest Pet Shop VIP's bring their own unique take on the online experience.

The Stuffed Animal

The huge-eyed cutetastic stuffed animals are just the right size to accompany kids to bed at night and play with during the day. Made from sturdy fabric and tight stitching, they look and feel like they'll hold up a long time.  read more »

On the surface, Operation: Hulk Edition (Milton Bradley Games, approximate retail price $19.99, Ages 6 and up) is very like its classic Operation counterpart. In both editions, game play involves diagnosing a patient’s illness by drawing a “Doctor” card, then using the supplied tweezers to remove the stated offending plastic malady from the patient’s body, laid out on a plastic operating table.  read more »

The heyday of Tamagotchi virtual pets seems like so long ago, and while, like all fads, they've lost their ubiquitous status, but they've evolved over the years and, even though under the radar, have continued on and added new features.  read more »

Barbie has owned the girls' posable doll market for years, until MGA's Bratz came along with their Hip Hop appearance and attitude, stomping on Barbie's clean-cut image. But the jury's still out on who really owns the Bratz design.  read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: “Sky Champion” Wireless Indoor Helicopters

Units: About 152,000  read more »

Hannah joins us for an audio review of the VTech Nitro Vision from episode 32.

Online worlds for kids take on many different forms. Among the older and more popular, you'll find Webkinz from Ganz. But how well will your child fit in with this world?

To begin, your child will need a Webkinz plush toy, which includes, like other retail toy worlds, a code on the tag that can be entered at Webkinz.com. Once entering the code, your child has access to the Webkinz world for a year before needing to renew.  read more »