Click Gadgets: 2009

Friday, March 6, 2009

Five Tips on How to Teach your Kid to Organize His Toys

Kids make a mess. That's a reality all parents must accept. But there is some point in their childhood when you can begin to teach him the importance of cleanliness and organization.

First important tip is to make your kid realize the advantages of cleaning up his playroom. If at first you can't make him cooperate to help you, the next time he looks for his favourite Kidkraft toy, try hiding it for a while in the pile of toys sitting in the middle of his playroom. After some time, help him find it and tell him nicely that finding his favourite toys wouldn't be so hard if he organizes his toys.

Second tip is to show him that organizing his toys is not a chore but a part of the game. Sing songs with him while you put away his toys. Let him enjoy cleaning up by using attractive and brightly colored toy boxes as storage places. Kid furniture makers like Guidecraft offers toy boxes that have a safety hinge catch and cut-outs to prevent finger pinching. The Guidecraft Moon & Stars Toy Bench for example is a colorful toy box with star cut-out designs.

Or you can opt for the Guidecraft Spindle Toy Chest, a colonial styled toy box that can also be used a seating area while providing a wide storage area with removable dividers and casters for easy mobility.

Kidkraft, another leading toy manufacturer, also released toy boxes in the market like the KidKraft Limited Edition Toy Chest which assures you of generous space for organizing toys, games, and books. Like Guidecraft, it also has safety in priority and features a flip-top lid that has a secure safety hinge to prevent kids from having their fingers stuck. It also works as a bench where you or your kid’s playmate can sit.

A good third tip is to be a good example to your kid. You can't expect him to clean up his act when you have a messy room yourself. Remember, your kid looks up to you and you have to set yourself as a role model for him to follow you.

Fourth tip is to reinforce his behaviour through positive feedback and rewards. If you finally see him putting away his toys by himself, don't hold back any praises that you want to give him. Tell him he's such a good boy and mommy and daddy are very proud of him. You can even give him an occasional treat for a job well done. The word occasional should be kept in mind as not to spoil your little kid. Also don't be too critical or hard on him if he does not arrange his toys or his kid furniture in the playroom as you yourself would do it. Always remember that your kid is still a kid. The initiative and effort are good enough.

Fifth tip is to show him that you treat him the way you treat a responsible adult and that is with respect. Responsible attitude emanates from children more easily if they are treated as responsible and mature beings. If you always scold him in front of other people or treat him like a mindless person, it'd be impossible to get any responsible attitude for him or probably any positive attitude for that matter.

Keep in mind that the key in establishing in the right attitude in your kid is to have a healthy relationship with him—one that depicts love, care and respect for each other. Play with him, bond with him and he'll see that cleaning up with you wouldn’t be such a boring chore.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Gadget and the Gadgetinis,

Gadget and the Gadgetinis is a spinoff of the classic series Inspector Gadget developed by DiC in cooperation with SIP Animation produced from 2001-2003. There are 52 episodes.

Gadget is now a lieutenant, and a member of an organization called "WOMP" (World Organization of Mega Powers). He is aided in his work by Penny (who is now twelve years old), as well as the new robot characters Digit and Fidget, the titular Gadgetinis invented by Penny, who essentially replace Brain the dog in this series (who is supposedly retired from active duty) and Chief Quimby (who now works as an informant for the head of WOMP) has been replaced with Col. Nozzaire, a former member of the French Foreign Legion.

The original creators returned for this series - Andy Heyward was one of the executive producers, Jean Chalopin co-created the show and wrote 49 of the episodes, while Bruno Bianchi directed. It essentially follows the same plot as the original series, with the clumsy Gadget attempting to fight crime on his own, while Penny and her helpers did all the work. Doctor Claw, who in some stories was replaced by other villains - in a few cases aliens or dictators - had relatives in a few of the episodes, a move which has been criticized by some as detracting from his mystery.

While Brain and Chief Quimby are mostly absent from the show, they do appear in pictures in Gadget's house. Each also appears as a special guest, and only in one episode each. Brain appears in episode 36, No Brainer which reveals that, having been traumatized after years of pain while saving Gadget, he retired from crime-fighting to live in a riverside house. The mere mention of the word "gadget" is enough to drive him frantic. Chief Quimby appears on episode 45. Super Boss Gadget.

The end-credits showed sketches of Penny on her bicycle visiting Brain at his riverside home. The pair enjoy an emotional reunion.

Maurice LaMarche continued as Gadget's voice, reprising his role from the "Sunday Movie Toon", "Inspector Gadget's Last Case". The main title song was written and performed by Mike Piccirillo. The musical underscore composers were Mike Piccirillo and Jean-Michel Guirao.