When I was a kid I had a handheld game – it was called an Etch-a-Sketch. Remember those? Red plastic, 2 white knobs and turning the knobs would allow an image to be “sketched” on the screen in dark gray. You turn it over and shake to clear the picture and start over.
We received the classic Etch-a-Sketch from Ohio Art and I immediately realized that Etch-a-Sketching is a lost art. I used to do it ALL THE TIME when younger, but getting my fingers to control the white knobs was insane as an adult. But I passed it to my four year old and he started making all sorts of crazy designs, squares, stairs and an attempt at a rocket that was MUCH better than mine.
And right now it’s 9:00 pm as I write this …. and you know where that Etch-a-Sketch is… where it’s been for the past week? With him in bed. He plays with it at night as he is going to go to sleep.

Now, can you believe that Etch-a-Sketch is celebrating their 50th Anniversary? And since then they’ve come up with a lot of other cool toys that allow kids to draw, design and create – like the Etch-a-Sketch Freestyle and Etch-a-Sketch Magic Pad. And on Amazon I found a GLOW Etch-a-Sketch! My son would LOVE that so he can color easier at night! You can draw with three colors and have light effects too! This one is retailing for $29.99. I definitely see value in all of these toys, because it lets kids use their imagination, as opposed to electronic toys.
The Etch-a-Sketch is available from www.etchasketch.com for $17.99. There are 20 other Etch-a-Sketch options with prices that start as low as $5.99.
In honor of Etch-a-Sketch’s landmark anniversary, I am giving one reader two coupons to Red Robin to enjoy a free appetizer, dessert, Monster Milkshake or Chillin’ Concoction for Free. So here is how you can win…

One winner will win TWO FREE coupons to Red Robin for a FREE free appetizer, dessert, Monster Milkshake or Chillin’ Concoction. Coupons Expire 10/30/2010.
- FIRST: MANDATORY ENTRY: Which is your favorite Etch-a-Sketch product?
SECOND: EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED/MANDATORY entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following – leave a comment for each:
- Add theMomBuzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link. (1 tweet per HOUR is allowed.)
- Enter the Sport-Brella Contest
- Enter to win Disney Digital Book 1-Month Membership
- Blog about this give-away with a link to themombuzz.com
- Subscribe to the Mom Buzz via e-mail.
Contest ends 8.30.10. This is open to the USA. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall.










the regular classic is my favorite
I like the Doodle Sketch.
I’m an e-mail subscriber.
I like the Free-style etch-a-sketch
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Email subscriber
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I like the Classic Etch A Sketch® in Replica 1960 Packaging.
email subscriber
I’m a traditionalist. Give me the original, classic one.
entered the Sport-Brella contest
entered the Disney Digital Book contest
e-mail subscriber
I like the doodle sketch with the stamps
member(dot)thao(at)gmail.com
I subscribe via email.
member(dot)thao(at)gmail.com
The Classic Etch A Sketch® in Replica 1960 Packaging looks good.
Classic Etch A Sketch® in Replica 1960 Packaging is cute
I like the new free-style Etch-A-Sketch.
I like the Classic Etch a Sketch.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
hate to admit it but I remember (fondly) the original
Doodle sketch!!
Thanks for entering me! Great Contest!
Janna Johnson
janna@FeedYourPigBlog.com
jannajanna@hotmail.com
http://www.FeedYourPigBlog.com
I like the Classic Etch A Sketch in Replica 1960 Packaging
We love the classic Etch-a-Sketch, but the Freestyle looks like fun too!
I entered the Sport-Brella contest. Thanks!
i like the travel etch a sketch
entered sportbrella
e-mail subscriber
We need to vote for the original/classic etch-a-sketch. What is the world coming to thinking that change is always better? I suck at drawing on these things but don’t ruin a great product by trying to compete with color – some things are just better in black and white! (keep the classic)
etch a sketch freestyle
email subscriber
I love the Doodle Sketch
I subscribe via email
I have an Etch A Sketch pen that I play with when the kids are asleep of course.
I follow you on Twitter (@jkgorcery) and I tweeted: http://twitter.com/jkgorcery/status/21711119245
My favorite is the Classic Etch a Sketch.
The Etch-a-Sketch Magic Pad looks so cute!
Follow you on Twitter
@mrssquigg
Tweet: https://twitter.com/mrssquigg/status/22138221810
Mom Buzz e-mail subscriber (mrssquigg @ gmail.com)
I like the classic Etch-a-Sketch!
tweeted http://twitter.com/annedoggett/status/22199703201
tweeted http://twitter.com/annedoggett/statuses/22305265725
My favorite is the Etch A Sketch Freestyle. Thanks!
jackievillano at gmail dot com
I subscribe via email
jackievillano at gmail dot com
I like the Etch A Sketch® Freestyle.
I follow and tweeted. http://twitter.com/susanlanai/status/22326223988
I entered the Sport-Brella Contest.
I subscribe to the Mom Buzz via e-mail.
tweeted http://twitter.com/annedoggett/statuses/22395092171
I love the etch a sketch freestyle! tracietrump@yahoo.com
Freestyle Etch-a Scetch looks cool – but I’m a fan of the Classic
The Doodle Sketch is neat!
My favorite is the Etch A Sketch pocket, portable and fun.