Recently in For the Kids Category

I know that nothing can ever compare to the traditional Rubber Ducky as the perfect tub toy. However, these Floating Ducks are a cute alternative for those who prefer something a little more modern and designer-y. Yes, that's a word.

Besides being a fun floating bath toy for your kids, they can also function as room decor. The baby rests on the mom's back (so cute), and they gently rock together, exuding a calm, almost Zen-like feel. Adorable!

By the way, for those of you who just can never get enough ducks, check out the ducky selection at Vat19. We love our feathered friends!

OK, this is so adorable that it's a little overwhelming.

There are babies popping up all over the place in my family, and I am very tempted to purchase this hand knit teddy bear hat for all of them. Not only is it cute, but it looks very well made and super warm. I love the details of the braided ties and little bow (although I'm not sure if the bow is included). It also helps that they have a very sweet little baby modeling it. I could pinch those cheeks!

Anyway... at $26.00, it would make a great gift for your favorite little one that they could hold on to as a keepsake as they get older.

It may not look like much, but the Carson Micro Max Lighted Microscope is a fun little gadget. It's small enough to fit in your pocket, but it has the power to magnify things from 60-100x! Plus, it has a built-in light, so you can see your subjects much clearer.

This would be a really fun stocking stuffer for kids. They'd have a ball running all over the house looking at everyday objects like money, their toys, or even the dog (if the animal is willing to cooperate, that is). It'd also be fun outside, checking out flowers, trees, bugs, you name it! They'll be having so much fun, they won't even realize they're learning.

It seems like a large portion of the world is crazy about the Twilight books and movies, and I certainly don't want to upset that many people. I'll be honest - I have not read any of the books, have not seen Twilight, and am not anxiously awaiting the sequel. I'm not here to make fun of those; I'm making fun of an umbrella that costs $79.99 because it features characters from the movie. That is so expensive for an umbrella!

If you want a Twilight Umbrella but don't want to pay that much, check out the $19.95 version. To browse some umbrellas that aren't part of a teen vampire craze, visit Vat19.com. They are auto-open and auto-close, which is a way cooler feature than a vampire picture.

Who doesn't love finding little surprises every once in a while? You reach into your coat pocket to put away your keys and - what is this? - a $20 bill you totally forgot about. Sweet!

The Wonderball from Channel Craft has a whole lot of these little surprises wrapped up in an unassuming ball of yarn. As you unwind it, little "trinkets of the past" like charms, jacks, and jewels are revealed. You never know what you're gonna get - how fun is that? Once you're done unwinding, you can play Cat's Cradle games or make friendship bracelets based on the instructions included with the toy. Nothing like All-American, wholesome goodtimes.

This shark-shaped tent is really neat for kids. It isn't scary looking and also isn't too cute.

How fun would it be for kids to camp out (even if it is only in the backyard) in one of these? You could bring a portable DVD player along and watch Shark Week DVDs inside the Shark Tent!

It would be neat if you could watch an amazing fireworks display at any given moment, but there simply is no substitute for the real thing! Kids might think the Fireworks Projector is fun to play with, but it would be an incredibly distracting nightlight!

Seeing images of colorful fireworks on a screen or wall cannot even compare to seeing them light up the sky. I need the entire package when I'm watching fireworks - the bright colors, the loud explosion, and the smell that lingers.

The video below is in Japanese, but at least you can see how the Fireworks Projector works and what it sounds like. For really awesome product videos in English, visit Vat19's YouTube channel.

If you've been a long-time reader of the Vat19.com blog, you know that we like dinosaurs. We like them so much that we sell Walking Dinosaur Pencil Sharpeners, a Big Belly Dinosaur Bank that eats coins, and a Wishosaurus to hold birthday candles over at our store. When I saw this little night light, I knew I had to write about it.

The Big Mouth Dinosaur Night Light is a cute, color-changing night light. It can be removed from its base so kids can carry it around. It does not require batteries and can be recharged. A full charge can last for 8 hours!

I've said this so many times, and I'm going to say it again here - "Where was this toy when I was a kid?!?"

Back in the 80s, my waterslide was basically a strip of yellow tarp. Don't get me wrong, I loved it. We'd lay it on the big hill in my grandparents' backyard and slide for hours, ending up with some serious grass burns by the end of the day. But holy cow, if we'd had the 3D Shark Bite Waterslide back then, I don't think you'd have ever gotten us back inside.

As you can see, the slide features a big ol' shark's mouth that you slide through. If that wasn't cool enough, it comes with 3D goggles, so the shark's mouth really pops, making the ride, well, at least 3 times more thrilling. It also appears to have a "guard" at the end so you don't fling off into the grass like I used to in the old days. Safety first, kids.

Sunprints are seriously magic. All you need to create these unique photographs, also called cyanotypes, are sunlight, light-sensitive paper, water, and whatever object you want to photograph (leaves, coins, flowers, etc). The Sunlight Print Kit includes the light-sensitive paper, instruction/project booklet, templates, and a pen for marking your photographs. Mother Nature will provide the sunlight, water, and your inspiration. Here are a couple examples:

Cool, huh? Now that summer is nearing, this would make a great outdoor activity for kids, as well as adults who just need a fun and creative outlet. And be sure to check out Vat19.com for even more outdoor fun!