They are what my boys are currently obsessed with. 
I mean obsessed. They are called Kendama's and they originated in the 1600's. I couldn't be happier that it has caught their attention. Keeping them off the video games and computer. 
As written on the KendamaUSA website, "The stylish kendama is an extremely addictive wooden skill toy that comes from Japan. It strengthens hand eye coordination, balance and reflex. It can be played by young and old alike. There are endless trick possibilities for the beginner and the seasoned master."
My boys stand for hours.
I mean HOURS, trying to master a new skill.
These guys from the KendamaUSA pro team make it look easy. Mental determination at its finest.
Girls love them, too. As Charlie's friend, Rachel is displaying. (Hi Rachel.)
I contacted the fine folks at KendamaUSA to tell them how happy I was with their product and to tell them I wanted to share this awesome wooden toy with my readers. Guess what they said? They would love to give away a Kendama to 5 (FIVE) of my readers! So, if interested, leave a comment by Tuesday, October 4, at 5pm, and I will have the random generator choose 5 names. I guarantee if you're not the one interested you surely know someone that would love one. They make awesome gifts, too.
Girls love them, too. As Charlie's friend, Rachel is displaying. (Hi Rachel.)
I contacted the fine folks at KendamaUSA to tell them how happy I was with their product and to tell them I wanted to share this awesome wooden toy with my readers. Guess what they said? They would love to give away a Kendama to 5 (FIVE) of my readers! So, if interested, leave a comment by Tuesday, October 4, at 5pm, and I will have the random generator choose 5 names. I guarantee if you're not the one interested you surely know someone that would love one. They make awesome gifts, too. If you enter and can't wait to see if you win, you can purchase one here. KendamaUSA will give a 15% discount to the first 50 people who buy. Enter the code "afriendtoknitwith" to receive a 15% discount at checkout!
Happy October!
371 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 1 – 200 of 371 Newer› Newest»Ooo...looks like good fun!
I agree - it sure looks as fun and I would love to win one :)
That's really cool. I'd never heard of Kendama before.
Looks fun!! What a great stocking stuffer.
wow Leslie! you are always so full of new ideas!!! I love that one! for guys and girls it would be a nice thing to keep away from their personal computers and to stay more time outside ;-)
I will not partecipate to you giveaway because I am from Italy, and I think that freight costs will be too high ;-)
but i surely suggest this wonderful game to my friends!
I don't know if this would even make it into my daughters hands because we'd probably be obsessed with it too!
I know a little boy addicted to the computer that could use some new entertainment! Count me in!
These look like fun. xxoo
i like time away from computers and TV. sign me up, please.
This looks like fun, I'd love to win one and give it a try!
Looks like fun! I think I need this--am spending too much time on Ravelry!
Melody
Oh I think my son would love these too!
~Lisa
my kids would love those!
How fun! I was going to find them and order two but I'll wait to see if I win one from you!
so awesome! I bet Gunnar would LOVE it.
Just when I thought that my Angry Birds addiction had reached its peak, you introduce me to this....
I'm always looking for an alternative to computer/video games for my guys - thanks!
those look great!
My boys would love one of these. They would be so excited if I won!
I love skill games! They're like knitting; you can take them anywhere!
how fun...i'd be thrilled to find something to keep them away from the electronic devices!
That looks like fun and frustration! My daughter would love it.
My girls would love it too! Thanks for the giveaway
I know two boys who would have fun with these.
these look like a ton of fun- please add me to the giveaway.
These look like great fun. I'm sure my boys, as well as, my husband and myself would enjoy them.
This looks like so much fun! Count me in!
I think my boys would love it too! Thanks for another great give away.
Oh wow what fun! What a great idea for the holidays.
Looks awesome! I'd love to win one. Thanks!
Great Christmas idea for Christmas! Reminds of a toy my boys were playing with at Monticello this summer.
Love these classic toys! These look like fun. My eleven-year-old and eight-year-old would love them.
Thanks for a great Christmas idea -- it gets harder and harder to come up with good gift ideas. This reminds me of a toy my boys were playing with at Monticello this summer.
I think my niece would have fun mastering this toy. Thanks for letting us know about it.
I sure would love to get my nephew off the computer and video games. Looks like a cool game.
I bet my kids would love this too.
This game does sound cool ... sometimes the low tech stuff is perfect and anything I can do to get the kids off the technology, if only for a little bit, is a great idea!
My boys would love one of these!
I would love to win one for our house. I think we would all enjoy it.
These are so cool! I want one . . . or two . . . I might even be persuaded to share them with my kids!
Oh ! My boys NEED these ! Please pick me ! Waving hand ih air lol @
Kim O
craftmom@nb.sympatico.ca
Looks like a fun way to keep my busy brood of 7 occupied!
my husband is an elementary PE teacher and always looking for new hand/eye coordination action items. Would love to get him one of these!
Wow, that is so cool! I love old-fashioned toys! Thanks!
I think my boys would love that!
I remember playing with one of these. It is easy to become obsessed. I have grandchildren who would love to have one.
Oh, I think my nephew would love to try one of these out! :)
Looks like so much fun!
I have 2 children who would love to give this a try! Thanks!
These look so cool!!
Woo hoo!! Looks like such fun! xo
Very cool; this is just what my kids need! Maybe we'll be finding some in the stockings in less than 85 days!
The boys would love this!!
Oh my goodness, I so totally want one! I might let the kids play with it if they're good... might... lol.
I'd love to enter!
Definitely would be a Christmas gift for one of my guys! I'm sure they would both love it...and I'd take a stab at it too I'm sure!
OOOh, maybe I will get lucky!!!
That looks like such a fun toy!
This would be a great Christmas gift for my three, so I guess even if I win one, I'll still be ordering a couple more!
I had a similiar toy when I was a kid. It was a wooden cylinder with a hole that fit over a peg. I spent hours figuring out just how to swing it so I could catch it on the peg.
ooh, love! especially the striped ones!
Welcome to my childhood! Nice to see toys like that can still capture the interest of our millennium generation. I would love to give one to my grandson.
Pick me pick me:). I love your blog. Thanks. Tamara S
Looks like fun. My twins would love it!
Would make a great gift unless of course I keep it for my self!!
Nora
Yes! Kendama karma..... Thank you for the introduction to such a fun activity....
i think i could play for hours with one of these too :)
I had a toy similar to this when I was a kid but it was just a cup with a ball. Nothing all that fancy about it but it was HARD (at least to a younger version of myself). They look fun!!
Oh I want one :)
haPPy day crystal
I've seen one of those before - maybe my grandmother had one? I can easily see how addictive they could be.
These look so fun! My boys are older but I think they would love them!
OMG~ the boys have been watching the you tube videos all day! we would love some!
betsy
so cool! my kids would dig this! thanks!
I'm sure my kids would enjoy one! thanks for the opportunity :)
amoberly at gmail dot com
I have never seen this, my son would love this, will be great to win won or purchase one to add to his graudation package for Army BCT. ShellyT
They look like such fun!
I would love something like this to reduce my son's screen time!
Thanks Leslie! Christmas shopping has officially begun! Thanks for the idea.
Ann H.
I love antique toys and anything that will get the kids off of the computer! YAY!
Love it! Perfect stocking stuffer! Thanks so much!
This looks amazing - - anything new to intrigue the kids always catches my eye!
I'd love to try a Kendama!
knittoday(at)hotmail(dot)com
I know two boys who would love these. Enter me into the drawing.
My daughter would love this (and I would too!)
Thanks for letting me onto this new craze.
Looks so much fun. Thanks for the giveaway.
My kids would love this!
Let's help to make it the new "IN" craze!! Thanks for letting us know. I have never heard of it before.
What I would give for my kids to walk away from the Xbox....wonderful gift idea! Thanks!!
I don't know about kids, but I want to try this. Looks like such fun.
my girls would love these!!!
My 10 year old would love one!
Wow! what a great give-away and a great discount, too. Thanks!
Very cool - the colonial bilbo catcher! We have some of those from colonial williamsburg trips - tricky but fun :)
Tanya
I've got to order one for my son who is way more into individual challenges than group sports. I've never heard of it but those videos are crazy good PR!
Ohhhh - I have two very busy boys too - I'd love to pull them away from the 'screen'. What a great give away!
This look like tons of fun, I am sure my 13 yr old and her friends would like them. Would love to win one, thanks for the opportunity.
Great quality wooden toy. Love the colors. Family fun!
These look great -- we have 8 and 10 year old boys -- looks perfect for them!
I like! Also, you've given me the idea for Christmas for my BIL who is impossible to shop for, and I like to go off list. He's going to love this.
These look like fun. How much are they?
Looks like a great way to fill free time! Thanks for the giveaway!
Wow, I've never heard of that before but it sure looks interesting! Reminds me of an ice cream cone - or maybe I'm just hungry.
Cool find - thanks for sharing :)
My boys were riveted to that video. Would love a chance to win :-)
So so cool my kids would love those!!!!
That looks really fun! My kids just went through a yo-yo phase, so it would be great to move on to something else. Thanks for letting us know about this. :)
Looks like alot of fun!
Fun! I'd love to win. (:
That looks similar to the 'valero' - a toy I played with as a kid in Mexico. I'd love to win one of the Kendamas.
My son would love this! Please enter me in the drawing :-)
Fun!
Oh wow! Those things are awesome! I can just imagine how addictive they would be! I'd love to win one for my hubby, he would really enjoy that!
So thats what they are called?I picked up some wooden toys from the oppy last week and an old one of these was in it and the kids have been having a go.
Very cool! I hadn't seen these before... fingers crossed!
AWESOME!!! Got a great grandson who would LOVE this!!!
I'd like to try one of these. Fun!
wow this is something I would love my teenage boys to get into. thanks Dee
I know a few kids that would love this!
Awesome!! I remember my dad had a (much) smaller version of then when I was growing up. So fun! I'd love to win one! (I might even give it to him, after hubby and I try it out!) :)
I have a groovy daughter who would find such fun with a Kendama.
that looks like a fantastic find! (and hi! xo.)
oh thanks for the chance to try something new. Kellyd2420
I'm getting one! This looks great! (I mean... Hopefully I WIN one first. Hehe.)
Ohhhhhh! That looks like lots of fun!
ohh this would be fun!!
awesome toy. i love toys that do not need batteries!
what a fun game!e
Oh my nephew would love this!
I learn SO much from reading your blog - I never miss a day...you're wonderful! Thanks so much for the wonderful "giveaway"...I'm crossing my fingers!
THOSE are awesome!
Cool beans!
I'm for anything that can get my son away from video games!
Looks like fun. Please add my name to the giveaway.
Thank you for this. I think I know what a few people on my holiday list will be getting.
Very cool-would love to gift one to my girlie!
I'm sure my boys would love this toy too!
My kiddos would love this! I can see them easily addicted to this... and me too! Ha :)
I would love to try the Kendama. Looks like a lot of fun!
This looks like lots of fun. I'd love to give it a try.
Robin
What a great idea! Looks like fun!
Oh, these look like such fun. Love the idea of giving them something to tear themselves away from from the tech toys.
Looks like a lot of fun!!
Ooh, that looks interesting!a
My older kids would love those! :)
it looks like loads of fun...hope I win one :) :)
that looks like loads of fun...hope i win one :) :)
That looks like just the sort of fun thing I would get for my son and then never let him have a turn playing! =)
My first thought was if I win, how will I determine which grandkid to give it to....then I thought, maybe I better keep it so the grandkids can play with it when they visit, and I can play with it when they don't! ;-)
Fascinating! Thanks for arranging the give-away! And thanks to Kendama!
Fascinating! Thanks for arranging the give-away! And thanks to Kendama!
This would be great in my classroom! Thanks for the chance to win!
oh that sounds like a fun toy to win!!!!
Those look awesome!
Looks like fun-I'm sure my kids would love to play with one.
this is probably so addicting!
These look really fun
So it makes people leave computers and video games? A miracle! That is what my brother needs! :D (Okay, the situation isn't THAT bad but still :-))
Cool ! It's really fun...
two sons two daughters... I know what Santa needs to give the kids this year! Wonder if they're available in Europe?
A great idea with a lot of fun!
Great stuff - count me in and thanks for hosting this giveaway.
Looks like great fun!
Catherine C.
Kendama is indeed great fun, and extremely addictive! My friend Frida also knits and plays kendama, and she created a knitted kendama cover!
I remember when yo-yos were all the craze at my school in the early 1970's. It got to the point they were banned...I, however, LOVED my yo-yo and still to this day can have fun with it. So glad there is a craze - would love to win so my kids could give it a try.
How fantastic! I would love it if my daughter took to such a cool game.
I'd love to win one (and would be sure to let my 13 year give it a try!!) Thanks.
I would love to give one of these to my daughter Rachel for Christmas! What a great, fun idea!
I am going to show my boys these and hope they too get swept away. Great idea, Leslie!
I would love to win one of these....I know several teens who could benefit from these.....looks like you cannot play and lay around texting at the same time.....brillant!
Oh dear! I want to be a cool cat too. And I promise to share it with my children! :)
great idea, get the kids off the video machines.
My kids would love to try this! Thanks..
I too became utterly addicted to yo yos when I was about 10. Your posted reminded me so much of that endless absorption. Thanks. Cx
This looks fun! I bet my 13 year old would love it, thanks for the giveaway!
I love those types of toys/games!
Yes, please! I believe both of my kids would love this. :)
Something, anything to take the place of Wii!
OM gosh yes!!! We got one approximately 40 years ago when a Japanese foreign exchange student brought one for my family. We still have it. WOoden. I also have a santa one for the holidays......cant believe its making a USA run! How fun
Wow, looks awesome, I dont know if I can join in the contest, I am in Europe not the US.....but if I can, I am in!
This looks like so much fun!
Wow, this looks fun! Thanks!
My son had a cheap similar item that he loved!
Oh my gosh, something that may get my nephew away from the video games! I am all for it. Thank you!
Would just love to try that....or give it to the grands!!
Fun!! :)
i first knew this toy when i read manga (Japanese comic)
This looks likes so much fun! I think the whole family would love it. Thank you for sharing.
cool...looks like a game even my 20 year old would like...
Wow! How generous. I know Tristan would love this. I think one might end up in his Christmas stocking.
Perfect for helping my daughter with her hand/eye coordination!
A great Christmas idea!
I would love to win a Kendama.
Robert Heister
OMG - count me in. I would love to introduce this to my kids! THANKS.
How cool that you're giving some away! I was halfway through your post and already thinking they'd make great Christmas presents for my boys.
LOL.. I had never seen this toy.. but sure looks like something my teen daughter & 9 yr old grandson would love ..
how funny- my grandparents had one of these on the farm when I was growing up- along with a bunch of other toys of the same interest :)
We loved it! And yes, it definitely is a skill to master!!
thanks for the chance to win! :)
..and.. sooo much better than video games!
This looks like a lot of fun! Thank you for the give-away.
Daniela from France
Looks like fun! And no electricity needed!
I want some for the grandsons. How perfect. Thanks for letting me know about these.
I love it! Especially if it gets my kids off the computer without me having to be the bad guy!
Thanks!
justaysmom@gmail.com
I think my boys would love these! Thanks Leslie!
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