https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 03:30:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys/page/2#post-2670808 Wed, 28 Dec 2016 06:55:16 +0000 Pancakes 2670808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: I think that the books are marketed for 8+, but like anything else, it just depends on the kid. My DH is a historian and so I think my DD has had a lot of context for the books. But she's enjoyed them for awhile. I strongly prefer the older versions of the books (before they became "Beforever") because they have nice illustrations and small pictures of items mentioned in the story that children are likely to be unfamiliar with. We have a lot from when my sisters and I were growing up and we also check them out from the library. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys/page/2#post-2670769 Tue, 27 Dec 2016 22:43:08 +0000 Boogs 2670769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I cannot understand shopkins. I had calico critters as a kid and loved them, so wouldn't mind getting them if my kids wanted them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys/page/2#post-2670272 Mon, 26 Dec 2016 10:28:11 +0000 808love 2670272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SugarplumsMom: Ahh that makes sense. LO is into Pokemon and she loves learning about them all in her Poke dictionary. It must be that the brain is practicing sorting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2670271 Mon, 26 Dec 2016 09:53:57 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2670271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I should also profess my love for Sylvanian Families. I was waiting for her to be old enough to play with them. Somehow MIL also had an eye on them so DD has quite a collection. I think they're exellent for quiet play with an adult. We love to play shop! The tiny peices requires a lot of concentration to organize and I get to enjoy it with her :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2670265 Mon, 26 Dec 2016 09:07:14 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2670265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD knows about Shopkins through Youtube videos. It's similar to other low-price collector items, in that it really doesn't make any sense for anyone else, except that it's supposed to be a collection. I approve of it because it helps with memorization and sorting. DD surprisinly knows the characters by name and she's nowhere near reading, but tries to "read" the names. The list it comes with idicates rarity (that's color coded), and type, and in that aspect, it's introduced categorization. She doesn't have too many, but investing in some kind of storage is a definite must. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2670252 Mon, 26 Dec 2016 06:44:45 +0000 looch 2670252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: It doesn't surprise me. I actually just looked around for the NES Classic gaming system, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2670248 Mon, 26 Dec 2016 03:49:55 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2670248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pancakes: are the books for 5 year olds? I thought I remembered them being for older girls but maybe we should check them out at the library. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2670245 Mon, 26 Dec 2016 02:53:15 +0000 808love 2670245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: So not interested already! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2670230 Sun, 25 Dec 2016 20:43:30 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2670230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Calico Critters used to be called Sylvanian Families when we were kids. I still remember the theme song - </p> <p>"Sylvanian families, to collect and love!"</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHMq4fhNkac" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHMq4fhNkac</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2670227 Sun, 25 Dec 2016 20:33:50 +0000 Pancakes 2670227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: My sisters and I had American girl dolls, so she's seen them at my mom's house, though she first got interested in them through the catalogue! My girl loves history though, so I suspected she would be interested in the books, and she is and has learned a lot about different time periods that way. We've told her how special they are and how she has to play with them carefully and not let little sister get to them. They're normally kept on a high shelf in her room when she's not playing with them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2670221 Sun, 25 Dec 2016 19:23:08 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2670221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: @808love: did you see you can already pre order Hatchimals at toys r us for after Christmas. Guaranteed stock. The in demand hype is already over. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2670220 Sun, 25 Dec 2016 19:21:59 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2670220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So another one. American girl dolls. </p> <p>How do your girls learn about the these? Through the books? I thought the books were for older girls. Also how do they know these dolls are "special" and they should be treated very nicely (not thrown around etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2669813 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 11:51:11 +0000 looch 2669813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was a kid, I really wanted a cabbage patch doll...I would suspect I heard about it at school. I also was a bit older and watched a ton of TV, so probably commercials played a big part.</p> <p>My son picks up most of his pop culture knowledge from his peers at school. The kids with the older siblings at home have a lot more information than they know what to do with, so it filters down.</p> <p>I think things become a "thing" when they introduce limited edition or hard to find items, like they do with Shopkins. Parents get into it too that way, it becomes the thrill of the chase I think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2669802 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 11:22:46 +0000 808love 2669802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the Calico Critters are adorable but my budget doesn't afford that kind of luxury. I wish we got into them when LO was younger but I feel like she would age out too soon for it to be worthwhile. Have you seen them in person? THey are so furry touchable and the perfect size for little hands.<br /> I was very tempted to buy a Hatchimal in November just when I found out about it but was too lazy to go to Target. Now they are overrated in my book. We lived vicariously through a youtube video. LOL. As for Shopkins, they are very inexpensive thing to collect so easy for parents to pick up. LO never got into them. When her friends liked that and My Little Pony, LO always just wanted stuffed dogs. Nothing else. Millions of stuffed dogs. Kids are funny like that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2669734 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 09:28:12 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2669734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@azjax: I think once it hatches you do "take care of it" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2669731 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 09:25:58 +0000 snowjewelz 2669731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hatchimals are such the rage I see people reselling them for more than double the money... I feel like it's furby 2.0! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2669665 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 00:04:24 +0000 azjax 2669665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is too young to express desire for any kind of wishlist. I was thinking to get my niece a Hatchimal because she wanted one but if it's really just a $50 stuffed animal I'm glad I held off! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2669663 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 23:59:46 +0000 PawPrints 2669663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This thread made me do a double take about the calico critters. I had a bunch of Sylvanians (basically the same) when I was little which I looooooved and had no idea they've made a comeback. My mom saved them all and DD now loves them too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2669661 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 23:57:43 +0000 PawPrints 2669661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>People in my area are losing their minds over hatchimals, like posting for triple retail which is already beyond insane and then ripping each other up in the FB groups for doing so. I just. What. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2669623 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 22:09:30 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2669623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: for us the unwrapping came because we let her watch this abc thing on YouTube. One just popped up and she was very amused. I think dd was 2 when that was interesting. We let her watch some tv (Disney jr) but she doesn't know what hatchimals or the other one is either.. maybe we just don't see enough commercials. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2669557 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 19:03:42 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2669557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I heard about hatchimals on hellobee and had to look up what it was and I was thinking it looks like the dumbest thing ever. I don't think my kid knows what it is and thankfully didn't ask for one. </p> <p>I don't think he knows what shopkins are either? </p> <p>Calico critters have been around awhile! I remember a girl I nannied had them and loved them. They're pretty cute.<br /> ETA: saw that many already mentioned they're an older toy- I tried to get my son interested, but he's not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2669556 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 19:03:25 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2669556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Greentea: maybe that's why I don't "get" it for s lot of them. We don't have cable and limited screen time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2669555 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 19:02:43 +0000 JerricaBenton 2669555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ocean81: yes! They're the same! I think there are definitely more sets available now. I'd love to do a giant 'train table' type thing and set up a whole village :silly: We got LO a house and some room sets when she was turning 2. She had some families before. I kept all the tiny pieces back for a while but at almost 4 she still plays with them and always asks for more sets for gifts. It's so fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2669553 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 18:58:15 +0000 ocean81 2669553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JerricaBenton: I love them too! Are they pretty much the same thing as the Sylvanian bears?? How old is your LO? I can't wait to get them for my daughter, but she's only 20 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2669518 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 17:34:10 +0000 Corduroy 2669518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh. All the "I wants" are coming from show and tell at preschool for us. Consequently LO asked Sants for a singing mermaid doll that she is never going to play with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2669472 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 16:10:53 +0000 Greentea 2669472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Advertising! LO doesn't know about these things for that reason (no screens). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2669464 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 15:57:19 +0000 Mrsbells 2669464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: i love calico critters but those arent new though. i have loved them since i was a child, i think they used to be call sylvanian families. and they were always so expensive! I think the detail that goes into each single piece makes them worth it </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2669461 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 15:48:55 +0000 fancyfunction 2669461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: M has my old ponies and we got her some new ones too. I had to Google the old ones to find their names! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2669460 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 15:47:28 +0000 fancyfunction 2669460@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>M decided she loved Shopkins when she saw them in the holiday catalogs. So a few friends already bought her some and we got her a bunch for Xmas - along with a big plastic bin so they don't get lost/eaten by the baby 😉 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-understand-the-hype-around-some-of-these-new-toys#post-2669442 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 15:17:21 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2669442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't realize Calico Critters was a throw back! </p> <p>I just got her some my little pony. But she watches that show streaming so she somewhat knows it. I do prefer the originals but those are hard to find and expensive. </p>