How many times have you bought something for one of your kids because, secretly, it was you that really wanted it? Well, get ready to do it again.

While vinyl collectible toys (from the likes of Kid Robot) have been popular for a while, PIPEROIDs are the only Japanese robots made entirely of paper. Like everything else cool, these little robots were first unleashed in Japan back in 2006, but are now available worldwide.

Besides looking good, the real treat is that you get to build them. PIPEROIDs come in small packages that contain several tube-shaped pipes; just cut, fold, and connect the paper until your creation is complete. Even the least crafty Dads should be able to finish in 20 minutes or so—but give yourself 45 minutes if you’ve got a little one who wants to “help.”

Currently, there’s 14 different PIPEROIDs, each with their own name and story. Music fans will flock to the Guyzer & Bean model (pictured above): Guyzer is the leader of an imaginary metal band, and Bean is his biggest fan. Other PIPEROID characters include hard-working Muscle Joe, legendary Samurai warrior Kibatora, and Hammer Rose, a fortune-telling girl robot.

Any of these mighty bots are sure to look great in your kids’ rooms, but then again, maybe you should keep it on your desk… you know, just to be safe.

*** WANT ONE? Sign up for our newsletter, Tweet about this post, or become our fan on Facebook and post about PIPEROIDs on our wall by Friday, December 18th and you’ll be entered to win a little bot of your very own.

Take a stroll through the “Parenting” section of any bookstore, and you’ll find countless books all promising to cure your little picky eater. Some offer monthly menu planning, while others show you ways to sneak veggies into your kid’s diet. Well, it turns out that the solution may be easier: just like James Brown said, you’ve got to make it funky.

Funky Lunch showcases the creations of Mark Northeast, a dad in the UK, who started making his wild sandwiches as a way to inspire his kids to eat new foods. Along the way, the meals grew into mini-masterpieces. “Funky Lunch was born out of the desire to turn an ordinary lunchtime sandwich into something a bit different to encourage children to eat a varied and healthy lunch,” Northeast writes on the site.

With a gallery full of edible creations, Funky Lunch features sandwiches designed to look like cartoon characters (Spongebob, Winnie the Pooh, Hello Kitty), animals (a giraffe, an alligator, a pig) and even otherwordly creatures (a dragon, the Loch Ness Monster).

Sure, most of us won’t ever make any of these sandwiches, but the real lesson is that when your normal Dad tricks aren’t working, try getting a little funky.

Are you one of those dads who laughs whenever you see a limited-edition $800 bamboo play fort, because you know an empty box would be a lot more fun? Then head over to ParentHacks.com, a site with “parenting tips from the real experts: actual parents.”

Started in 2005, Parent Hacks is packed with tips and tricks designed to save parents’ time, energy, and money. Divided into categories like attitude, fun, and sleep, even the most non-DIY dads will be inspired to try out these clever ideas. There’s “hacks” for getting your kids to eat better, use the potty, take medicine, and just about every other issue that’ll come your way.

Some of the very best hacks let you transform the stuff you’ve already got into fun and inventive games. Two wet to go outside? Turn your recycling into an indoor bowling alley! Have some old forgotten plants? They’d make perfect spooky Halloween decorations. Activities like this are a great way to spark your child’s imagination, while also introducing them to the idea of a re-using objects.

In fact, there’s enough veteran parenting solutions here that you might just want to keep Parent Hacks as your own little secret. Then, while your partner is staring at you in awe and disbelief as you save the day, just smile and chalk it up to your natural Dad instincts.

When was the last time you had time to paint a room in your house? Exactly. Since it can be a small victory just getting the kid dressed in the morning, your walls might be looking a little neglected these days.

If only there was a simple way to completely change the look of a room in about fifteen minutes, right? Billing itself as the “world’s first removable wall graphic company,” BLIK is a great way to add a little fun to any room. With BLIK, all you need to do is peel off the vinyl decals and start applying it to your walls. And when you’re ready for something new, they’ll peel off just as easily.

With over 200 stylish designs, BLIK is sure to have something that everyone in the house will enjoy. Dad favorites include Donkey Kong, Space Invaders, and Super Mario – the classic video games designs transform your walls into giant arcade screens. Kids are sure to love all the animal designs that’ll turn their rooms into mini zoos, full of giraffes and elephants. For art lovers, BLIK has licensed designs from Ray & Charles Eames, Keith Haring, and Threadless to create even more great options.

Don’t worry, someday you’ll actually get a whole weekend to work on that home project, but for now, there’s BLIK.