I thought I'd share a couple things I picked up at Toys "R" Us for my adorable goofy little cousins in Taiwan. They are two boys - one charming toddler and one sharp and determined preschooler. No matter how many times I've done this, I always find it strange to be on the other side of the table - there's an odd sense of power involved in being the adult choosing and purchasing materials or toys. I hunted through both Toys "R" Us and the Disney Store a few times trying to find something that would entertain them without requiring too much supervision or being overly high-maintenance.

Non-flying remote control helicopter.

The actual airborne ones seemed like they would become out of control within 3 seconds flat, considering I saw only one button and no navigating stick. I ended up opting for the more boring but less catastrophic choice that operates more as a car. However, even ground-bound, I'm still not sure how the thin propeller will hold up to all the running around and banging that will definitely occur! As it turns out, this is the toy that impressed both parents and kids the most - I recall their mum giving it "a test run" for a good while.
For the smaller little guy, I picked out a truck from Disney Pixar Cars. Seems pretty solid and sturdy so I think it will survive whatever chaos it is subjected to. We had to double-check for small parts though since it is labelled as suitable for ages 3+. Both vehicles light up and make a satisfying amount of noise (sorry, mum and dad). Although in all seriousness, the batteries can easily be removed for some nice peace and quiet when needed!

I also picked up a pack of Disney Pixar Cars stickers and a Thomas the Tank Engine colouring book, which proved to be a big hit. A great activity to keep them occupied and fairly quiet. I was surprised at how meticulously the two little ones lined up the stickers on each page like a painstaking art project. Almost made me feel guilty for tickling them during their serious work :)

Here they are, rowdy little creatures that I adore.
In the left photo, they are attempting to set up a race between the truck and helicopter. (Edit: 9/21/2011) I picked out another little gift for them at the outdoor market today which I am excited about. I'm thinking it would be wise to wait to share it with them though since I don't want them to permanently associate my visits with presents and become disappointed later on or I will feel obligated to always bring something. Not to mention, their parents will ban me from their house for spoiling their kids rotten!

This post is archived under Kids, Random thoughts, Taiwan