Hasta La Ideas

Test your balance and coordination with this fun tightrope alternative

From its origins in the 1970s—when it was used by climbers for practicing their moves in parking lots and eventually to bypass terrain that was hard to climb across—Slacklines have more recently also become a great training tool to strengthen your core and improve your balance or just fun to mess around on.

Gibbon Slacklines started selling a range of slackline kits in 2008. They now have 1″ and 2″ width slacklines geared for specific uses (the Jibline for tricks, the Flowline for long distances, the Funline for beginners). Slacklines are easy to set up between trees, poles or stands just about anywhere. All you have to do is wrap the area and winch the line on. Beginners can set them up close to the ground. Once you’ve mastered a few skills you can move the lines up to whatever height you’re comfortable with. Slacklining has fortunately become popular enough to support competitions and World Cups.

Visit Gibbon to find retailers. Prices start around $75.

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Design your own reusable puzzle with this digitally-enabled toy

Whether it’s the Mona Lisa or Snooki that you want to envision in puzzle form, Ji Ga Zo makes it easy with their DIY kit. Using the included software (both Mac and Windows compatible) turns any photo (or one of the five included designs) into a map, which coordinates with icons on the back of the sepia-shaded pieces to create a mosaic image.

The 300 piece set can be used over and over again, or you can frame your masterpiece for hanging. Previously only available in Japan, you can now pick up your own Ji Ga Zo for $25 from Hasbro.

Bananagrams, a clever brain game suitable for any age level, essentially works like Scrabble without the board. Two recently-introduced similar games—Appletters and Pairs in Pears—add to the fun.

Like Banangrams, the point of Appletters is to be the first to use up all of your letters while Pairs in Pears challenges players with racing to create the most word pairs. Appletters is also designed to be three games in one—with Applescore and Appleturnover as additional (and a tad more difficult) activities. Challenging, silly and addictive, the games come in handy as educational exercises, as well as just for fun.

Winner of the 2009 Toy Fair‘s “Game of the Year,” Banangrams provides infinite amusement and Appletters and Pairs in Pears is no different. Pick them up online from Amazon for about $15 each.

Derived from the natural inclination to flip and play with pens, BaliYo is simultaneously a toy and pen designed to maximize hand-eye coordination with its three-piece twirl-able construction.

The center piece, a functioning ballpoint pen connected to two parallel arms, means that the symmetrically-sized pieces swing and rotate, changing speed and exertion as you play. The cleverly designed BaliYo structure allows for a number of engaging tricks, including two-handed, aerials, spins and quick flips for hours of carefree fun.

The refillable pen enhances fine motor skills and will write upside down or at any angle, as well as underwater. BaliYo comes in an assortment of colorways and sells online for $35.