Let your kids time-travel back to a mystical land where things like Star Wars video games, “Battle of Endor” Lego sets, remastered DVDs, and constant SpikeTV marathons didn’t exist. Can you imagine the horror? Ah yes, the late 1970s, back when the only way to bring Star Wars home was through action figures and the “The Story of Star Wars” album (on vinyl and 8-track!)

Thanks to some vinyl historians, now the next generation of fans can hear “The Story of Star Wars” in all its glory. Clocking in around 50 minutes, the album features dialogue, music, and sound effects from the movie, as well as narration by the gravel-voiced actor Roscoe Lee Browne. It’s a vivid description of the Star Wars universe, so it’ll thrill devoted little Jedis, while still being a fun introduction for those kids just starting out on their journey.

Don’t worry, we know you’re a good person.

In the past few years, you’ve given to charities for New Orleans, Sri Lanka, and Haiti. You would have liked to give more, but hey, times are hard and you’ve got your own growing family to take care of.

Hmm, if only there was a way for you to buy the things you need, while still doing good in the world... Say hello to TOMS Shoes.

Each time you buy a pair of TOMS, they’ll give a brand new pair of shoes to a child in need. Started just over three years ago, TOMS’ One for One business model has already given away a remarkable 400,000 pairs of shoes.

Why shoes, you ask? Well, since most kids in the developing world grow up barefoot, they get cuts and wounds which lead to parasites and all sorts of other nastiness. That’s just one of many reasons why they’re so important.

Now, in addition to their shoes for adults, TOMS has introduced Tiny TOMS, a line of cool, stylish shoes for little ones. At around $30, they’re a whole lot more unique than those Nikes down at the mall.

It’s simple: kid needs shoes, you buy TOMS, kid looks good, you feel good. Repeat as needed.

For the past 70 years, millions of kids have adored H.A. & Margaret Rey’s Curious George books. In these stories, we’ve come to know George as a clever little monkey who has the best of intentions, yet somehow manages to always create a mini-disaster.

Surprisingly, it turns out that one of Curious George’s biggest fans is Werner Herzog, the noted German director whose stark films include “Grizzly Man” and “Rescue Dawn.” In this video, Herzog gives his own rendition of one of the books, offering his unique view of Western society.

Wait, seriously? Noooooo, it’s actually just a hilarious parody, as “Werner Herzog” interjects his own thoughts on the vastness of the sea, the meaning of true happiness, and the influence of technology on our society.

You’ll never be able to look at happy-go-lucky George in the same way.

If you’re in the mood for cute, happy t-shirts, the folks at Threadless have plenty to keep you satisfied. Want something a little darker? Get yourself to Chop Shop.

Created by the design firm The Chopping Block, Chop Shop has become known for their “Collection” designs such as weScare, which features 58 different creatures in silhouette form. Look closely and you’ll find such famous beasts as The Grinch, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Edward Scissorhands, The Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, and a few Gremlins. Other “Collection” shirts include weBite (vampires), undeadWe (zombies, ghosts, and spirits), weRobot (androids), weGo (cars), and videoRock (80s musical icons—the scariest of all!)

While you’re looking at all the goods, don’t forget that nearly all the designs are also available in kids sizes. In fact, if you like the idea of you and your little one wearing matching shirts, Chop Shop offers a father-son combo shirt package: the Robot Tin. Then again, if the Mini-Me look isn’t for you, use it as an opportunity to teach the days of the week: “Today is Friday, so it’s Daddy’s day to wear the robot shirt.” See? They’re stylish and educational.

A long time ago, in a land before TiVo, cable and educational programming, there was a glorious thing known as Saturday morning cartoons. In the span of a few hours, legions of kids were treated to favorites like Fat Albert, Road Runner, and Scooby-Doo. They were all quality cartoons, but for many young boys, the highlight was undoubtedly Super Friends.

Yes, before Batman had parental issues and a gravel-coated voice, he was just a happy-go-lucky member of the Super Friends, the greatest crime-fighting unit the world had ever known. Comprised of Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Aquaman, these superheroes set up shop in the Hall of Justice and did weekly battle with criminal masterminds. When the good guys needed some help, they had superheroes-in-training Wendy, Marvin and Wonder Dog do the grunt work. And if they ever got really desperate, well, there was always Robin.

Now for the first time, the debut season of Super Friends is available on DVD. The aptly-named “Season One, Volume One,” contains eight hour-long episodes including “The Power Pirate,” “The Weather Maker,” and “Dr. Pelagian’s War,” along with an Super Friends trivia challenge. So go ahead, break out the Count Chocula cereal, clear a spot on the shag carpeting, and watch Wonder Woman save the world. You won’t believe how good her invisible plane looks on DVD.

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.

Sure, everybody knows about Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, and the rest of The Muppet Show’s big-name stars, but let’s salute the unsung heroes of the show: the Whatnots. These hard-working Muppets were the wacky-looking extras that appeared in the background of various skits. Granted, they lack the glamour of the celeb-Muppets; Whatnots are truly the working man’s Muppets.

While Animal and Gonzo were up to who-knows-what in their fancy trailers, Whatnots were getting chased by Muppet chickens and pelted by Muppet eggs, just to earn a few seconds of screen time. They weren’t in it for the fame, they only wanted to make you laugh. Now is your chance to pay them back, by bringing one home.

The Muppet Whatnot Workshop site lets you create your own custom Whatnot, with a wide selection of body types, eyes, noses, hair styles, and clothing options to choose from. Of course, you can preview your creation, and keep changing it until you get it just right. Then, just a few days later, you’ll have your very own Whatnot. But please, treat them with the respect and dignity that these entertainment veterans deserve.

If you’re like most Dads, it’s been a while since you’ve been out to see live music. Sure, in your past kid-free life, you saw a million bands. But these days? It all seems so much harder. Tickets cost too much, you’ve got to pay the babysitter, and sitting through opening acts is a chore. Plus, by 11:00, it gets hard to fight off the yawns.

Now, thanks to NPR’s Live Concert archive, you can see what you’ve been missing. Their “All Songs Considered” podcast features great live performances by both upcoming artists as well as established veterans. Dig through their archives to find live sets from the likes of Sonic Youth, Bjork, Animal Collective, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Wilco, The White Stripes, Tom Waits, Radiohead, and tons more.

Sure, it’s not quite as fun as being there, but if you turn your speakers up loud enough, dim the lights, and spill a beer on yourself, it might just seem like the real thing.

Two years ago, Po Bronson made a big splash with his article “How Not to Talk to Your Kids” in New York magazine. In one of those everything-you-know-is-wrong moments, Bronson argues (with the research to back it up) that parents’ never-ending praise — “Great job, Timmy!” — is actually hurtful for a number of reasons. For one, kids don’t learn to take pride in their own accomplishments, because Mommy and Daddy are always there to tell them what a terrific job they’re doing. Even worse, kids become less likely to try out new things since they’ve become afraid of even the slightest appearance of failure.

Now, Bronson has teamed with fellow author/parent Ashely Merryman to write Nurtureshock: New Thinking About Children,” and it’s filled with plenty more eye-opening revelations. Bronson and Merryman examine topics like why kids lie, sibling rivalry, the myth of racially diverse schools, and even the dramatic difference that an extra hour of sleep can make.

Nurtureshock uses a similar style as Malcolm Gladwell (The Tipping Point, Blink), sharing stories alongside research to make its’ points, but always keeping the tone light and readable. Don’t worry though, you’ll learn a lot without ever feeling like you’re back in school. Even The Onion calls it “the least touchy-feely parenting book ever.”

And hey, since you’ll be a more informed parent, maybe your kids won’t ever write a tell-all book about you.

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.