We just wanted to share a neat promotion sponsored by Farm Rich, makers of tasty mozzarella sticks and other frozen foods.

Kids Who Give was launched by Farm Rich in March of this year to find amazing kids around the U.S. “with a strong understanding of the meaning and purpose behind giving to others.” Right now they have ten outstanding semifinalists that will be narrowed down to five. Please visit kidswhogive.com to read biographies and see pictures of all ten kids. If you can pick a favorite – or just spread your votes around! – vote every day from now till July 20th.

(A neat side note: at the end of each biography is this thoughtful text: “Note: In the hope of capturing the spirit of youth and integrity of the entrant’s personal story, submission content has not been edited for spelling or grammar.”)

See more about Kids Who Give on Twitter and more about Farm Rich on their Facebook.

The highly entertaining 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia came to a close with a thrilling gold medal game in men’s hockey between the United States and host Canada. In what was the most publicized and popular hockey game since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. victory over the then-U.S.S.R., the commentators acknowledged how kids would be on their rinks and streets back home pretending to be the stars of the game.

Perhaps, though, some kids don’t need to wait for “superstar” status. Between periods, pro hockey games often feature on-ice entertainment, from funny games to shot competitions. In a 2009 Boston Bruins game, 9-year old Oliver Wahlstrom may have fooled everyone with this crafty goal.

He hardly even looks like a 9-year old in the video! Can you imagine how impressed the fans (and maybe any scouts in the stands!) must have been?

Stay tuned for more kids doing amazing things here at the Growing Tree Toys blog.

My first handstand attempt at 6 years old: I was standing barefoot on the edge of the hard blue gym mat with my hands held shakily in front of me. Taking a step forward to brace myself, I placed my hands on the mat and pushed my feet in the air (but they didn’t stop there) – they kept going and going until … I crashed miserably onto the floor!

Balance and coordination are two skills I don’t have, so I’ve a laundry list of “no-no” activities that require large amounts of both, including handstands, skateboarding, and walking (on occasion). As an outsider of the “balance and coordination” group, I was awed and amazed to find that there are people – with awesome skills and years of dedication – that actually combine all three!

The question becomes: What has four limbs and rolls upside down? A handstanding skateboarder of course! These daredevils combine their love of skateboarding with their gymnastic ability to not fall over when their feet are in the air, leisurely coasting down hills and around curves up to a few miles at a time.

Best of all, this is one upside down activity that all ages can enjoy. In this YouTube video, Greg Bock throws down the skateboard handstand that he’s been practicing since 1975 – and he’s managing it on a curved, downhill driveway!

While I don’t recommend that you try this “hands-down” brand of skateboarding, I do think that it looks like fun (from a spectator’s point of view)!

According to my parents, I learned to read whole books when I was 2 (it was probably closer to 3), I learned to walk at 9 months (which is true), and I was “oh so smart and talented!” What did you expect? They are my loving parents.

While I believe I was a rather ordinary child, I’d like to introduce you to two toddlers who are anything but ordinary!

Two-year old Aiden Silva, with the aid of GeoPuzzles from GeoToys, has memorized the names of every country and its capital across the globe – even with weeks of studying, most adults would not accomplish such a task! From France to Ethiopia, this super-smart toddler can identify each country by shape and expertly pronounce (for a 2-year-old at least) their tongue-twisting capital names.

Aiden’s mind-blowing talent was justly awarded the Relly Award in the Junior Achiever: Amateur category. Way to go Aiden! I know I couldn’t remember all of those countries and capitals – especially in front of a studio audience! NOTE: The Relly Awards are Regis and Kelly’s spoof of the daytime Emmy’s where the winners are presented with a golden stool.

Here is a video of the terrific toddler in action:

Another toddler who turns ordinary into extraordinary is three-year-old Zach – a fantastic finger painter who turns splotch marks into works of art! Considering that even as an adult I have trouble drawing stick figures, it’s strange to watch this tiny tot create a picture of a Ninja Turtle using only blue paint, green paint, and his fingers. Watch the master at work (enjoy!):

What a talented couple of toddlers! They blow me away!

Source Citation:
“3-Year-Old Relly Award Winner Makes ‘em Roar!” http:abclocal.go.com. September 29, 2009. November 19, 2009. http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/entertainment&id=7038555

I remember the good old days when extreme sports were skateboarding and skydiving, but as more kids and adults attempt to conquer extreme sports, sport innovators reinventing the concept of “extreme” in hopes of out-performing everyone else. While trying to create a sport no one has ever seen before, one amazing kid has combined two of my favorite childhood toys – the hop ball and the trampoline – to create the ultimate bouncing experience!

Now, you may love the original Hop Balls (as well as the colorful and sparkly ones made today), but did you ever dream of turning your favorite low-to-the-ground bouncing ball into a sky-high aerial assistant?

And while I loved attempting to perform front flips on my neighbors oversized trampoline, I never dreamed that it could be used as a building block for the most unconventional action sport I’ve seen to this day.

So, the question becomes what do you get when you combine a traditional Hop Ball, an oversized trampoline, and a dedicated aerial acrobat? Why, you ask? Here’s why … Drum roll, please!

(We don’t recommend you try this at home – ever!)

Can you believe this kid was brave enough to go toe-to-toe with two extreme bouncing forces and come out on top? I can’t! And (for 10 minutes after I saw the video), I was smug enough to think “it’s not that hard” until I took my old trampoline and my sister’s hop ball and tried to just bounce up and down – I failed miserably! This new action sport requires use of coordination muscles that I have yet to develop, which leaves me with a whole new respect for this fancy flipping, sky high daredevil.

You may love the Pogo Stick, but were you ever brave (or crazy) enough to do more than jump up and down? For those us, who played it safe when it came to Pogo Sticks, take a good look at the Guinness World Record holder who took jumping sky high to new heights!

Jumping enthusiast Fred Grzybowski shattered the previous Pogo Stick jumping record of 6 feet by bouncing over 7 feet, 6 inches on a Flybar 1200 at Pogopalooza IV. Here’s a video of his amazing record breaking jump:

But if, like me, you lacked the coordination or the courage to test the limits of such a bouncy toy, let me introduce you to a whole new world of extreme Pogo Stick stunts – because when it comes to extreme stunts, flying sky high takes on a whole new meaning!

What do you get when you combine a traditional Pogo Stick and a dedicated and slightly reckless kid? Why, you ask? Here’s why … Drum roll, please!

(We don’t recommend trying this at home – ever).

Can you believe this amazing kid just completed a backflip? On a Pogo Stick?! I’ve never seen anything so unexpected in my life, so I have to ask: how does one decide to attempt flipping through the air and landing on a 2-inch metal pole? Regardless of his motivation, Conor – this young daredevil – joins an elite list of people (3 to be exact that we were able to research) who have successfully completed such a dangerous stunt!