Every now and then I come across an idea so smart it makes me go “Doh!” (think Homer Simpson) “I wish I had thought of that!” Such is the case with Thing of the Month, a site packed with subscription based clubs in an excellent (and ever growing) selection of interest areas. Take for example the 12 month Flying Objects Club - once a month for an entire year a package arrives at your doorstep containing some freekin’ fantastic flying toy, be it a bird glider, a frisbee, a kite, a rocket, an airplane - all of which can take to the air and fly. Most of the clubs are kid-focused, although I tell you there are several I would love to subscribe to. Whether your passion is crafting, science, board games, robots, paper automata models or great toys for your toddlers there is a club for you. Come on, what kid (big or little) wouldn’t love receiving mail like this every month!

Depending on the interests of the recipient and the size of your pocketbook, you can select from 4, 6 and 12 month clubs or buy the items individually. OR if you’re a little impatient and want, say, all of the kits in the 6 month Origami Club right now - there’s an express option just for you. Below is just a partial sampling of the available clubs:

Flashlights. The perfect toy? I have no idea, however I can make a pretty good argument for them being high on the list.

They are readily available, have a wide price range (you can even find them at the dollar store), with few exceptions (one is listed below) they are silent and lend themselves to both active and down time. Type flashlight games into Google and you’ll find all manner of outdoor fun: tag and hide & seek - much more fun with a flashlight. Blow bubbles at dusk and attempt to find them with your beam of light, they glow!

At the same time you can crash on the living floor and play flashlight tag on the wall or practice your shadow puppet skills. They can be comforting to the kid who’s wary of the dark, some even convert into soft glow nightlights and would be much appreciated by the after dark reader. Perfect for sleep-overs, pup tent in the backyard, basement fort and a necessity for sleep-away camp. Inexpensive enough to make great additions to party goody bags and Christmas stockings. Convinced yet? See a few cool examples of what’s currently available below.
Below:

Wild Lights Tiger Flashlight, Catch this tiger by his tail and squeeze, he opens his mouth and roars. $5.99

Coleman Flashlight/Nightlight, Operates as a regular flashlight, an amber LED nightlight and it can project 8 starlight patterns onto your wall! $12.49

Headlamps, Contains 3 LED lights (very bright!) on adjustable headband, great for adult guided evening hikes. $19.95 each

EverReady Flashlight, Inexpensive and rugged, best part though is that it floats. $6.95

Above:

LED Lantern & Flashlight, Converts from a bright flashlight to a soft-glow lantern with just a pull. Only 4 1/4″ tall. $23.95

Coleman Kid’s Lantern (scroll down) This one is cool, remote-controlled, auto shut off, cool to the touch, weather-resistant and it floats. $24.95

Coleman Kid’s Firefly Lantern (scroll down) Ok, technically not a flashlight or a lantern but a house for fireflies! $9.95

Have an evening with no plans? Make a play date with your kids. With minimal planning a flashlight scavenger hunt in a low lit house can be exciting and the last clue can lead to brownies and milk in the kitchen or popcorn and movie in the living room.

---

In researching this post, I discovered the web is host to the Flashlight Museum (I LOVE the internet!) Run by a group of guys whose hobby got way out of control, the museum is headquarters for the flashlight collecting community and an image archive of vintage flashlights. I couldn’t help but post some the beauties below.

Driving around town a few months back I spotted a shop that for all intents and purposes looked like Willy Wonka’s workshop. Returning on foot I found the Oomp-Loompa confections were actually hyper-stylized candy-colored television sets stocked floor to ceiling. Enter the wonderful world of Hannspree. We’re talking LCD screens housed in casings shaped like toy trucks, plush animals, sporting equipment and fruit. And as if in a sugar coma, I wondered around for 45 minutes making the sales staff nervous as I touched every set within reach.

Regardless of your stance on kids and tv, you can certainly appreciate this charming marriage of technology and design. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not an advocate of Junior having a television in his room but I could definitely see one of these in the playroom, family room or maybe even the kitchen. There are only two Hannspree stores in the US: Beverly Hills and San Francisco, but you can view the entire collection and purchase items from their web site.

Here’s a very Apple meets Target advertising style overview of the Hannspree collection which I should mention also includes several styles for adults as well including a wooden model I quite like.