Sharing your unique passions with your kids is what GeekDad is all about. Whether it’s music, a beloved film series, your local sports team, or a preferred comics publisher, revealing your long-held fandom to the next generation is one of the simple pleasures of being a parent.
For me, that was Nintendo and its genre-defining Super Mario Bros. franchise. My own kids were playing Game Boys from the time they could hold a controller, and while we still enjoy things like Mario’s big screen exploits as a family, I can’t help but be a little jealous about newer parents and their myriad of options for exposing their little ones to the marvelous world of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Hello, Mario! is a board book that uses interactive pages to evoke that iconic Super Mario 64 start screen. Little ones can stretch Mario’s mouth, move his eyes and mustache, and more using its tabs, flaps, and rotating disks. There’s also a companion book, It’s Yoshi!, slated for release this September.
Fisher-Price’s Little People line has been a standout in the toddler toy aisle since the 1960s, but the product has come a long way since the crude, blocky figures of my youth. The Fisher-Price Little People My Mario Figure 6-Pack Toy Set consists of brightly colored, soft yet grippable versions of Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, Yoshi, and even Bowser.
While perfect on their own for everyday amusement, there’s also a pair of related playsets. There’s the My Mario Adventure Playset for some side-scrolling fun, and the Fisher-Price Little People My Mario Bowser’s Airship & Figure Set for baby’s first boss fight!
For bathtime, there’s the TOMY Toomies My Mario Pipe Set, a five-piece collection of pipes and blocks hiding Mario-themed surprises. Using the Power Star-shaped bucket, kids can filter water through various green pipe arrangements, uncover a Super Mushroom from a Question Block, and help Mario himself reach the level-ending flagpole.
The pieces are easy-to-clean plastic, with sturdy suction cups that stay safely affixed to your shower wall but still allow you to twist the components around to dump out any extra water. (The only advice I regularly give new parents is to never leave water in your kids’ tub toys!)
If you want to take things back to basics, though, the best place to start is the My Mario Wood Blocks Sets. Three-piece kits are available if you’re just in the market for a small gift or are merely looking to supplement existing blocks. These include Mario (with Super Mushroom and Question Block), Luigi (with Koopa Shell and Brick Block), Peach (with Super Star and Note Block), and Yoshi (with Fire Flower and Question Block).
Collectors of all ages, however, will surely be tempted by the massive 30-piece set, which includes all the aforementioned, plenty of connectors, and a special box that can be used as a backdrop. Oh, and did I mention that the character blocks have amiibo functionality?
Lest you think that the My Mario collection is all about fun and frivolity, it also includes a spectacular line of apparel for infants and toddlers. From sleepers to bodysuits and footie coveralls, each boasts simple, evocative designs that combine classic patterns and muted color palettes with characters straight out of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Double-stitched and pillowy soft, each item is built for comfort and durability, with styles to fit every budget. In my opinion, though, you can’t get better than the two-piece My Mario & Luigi Hooded Cardigan & Pant Set or the flexible perfection of the My Mario & Friends Fleece Cardigan 3 Piece Set.
The entire My Mario product collection is available at Nintendo of America’s flagship shops, Nintendo New York and Nintendo San Francisco. Still, if you’re not conveniently located on either coast, there are tons of other great Nintendo-branded goodies at retailers nationwide.
German board game juggernaut Ravensburger has a line of excellent Super Mario Bros.-themed puzzles. These run the gamut from oversized packs for 5- to 6-year-olds to 1000-piece jigsaws for the whole family.
If puzzles arenât your thing, Ravensburger also has a version of the Euro-style board game Labyrinth with a distinct Nintendo slant. Originally designed by German psychologist Max Kobbert, this easy-to-learn but hard-to-master gameplay experience places players in an ever-changing maze.
Each turn, shift the maze and move along the path with the object being to rescue the Super Mario Bros. characters on your cards while impeding opponents from doing the same. Collect all your characters and escape the labyrinth to win.
If you’re the type who thinks that more pieces equal more fun, the LEGO Super Mario collection is for you. With gorgeous Mario Kart sets, an exquisite full-size Game Boy complete with screens and cartridges, and soon-to-be-retired classics like the massive Prince Florian & Castle Bowser set, LEGO is a one-stop shop for all your Nintendo needs.
And we haven’t even touched on the LEGO interactive adventure kits. These allow your family to build real-world platforming action scenes that really work. Use Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach to topple enemies while collecting digital coins in the ultimate blend of old-school fun meets high-tech play.
Lastly, we can’t talk about Nintendo family fun without at least mentioning the new Nintendo Switch 2 game system. Managing where, when, and how your children game can be a struggle for any caregiver. Fortunately, the Nintendo Switch family of systems includes robust parental controls.
Unfortunately, this isn’t something we talk about as often as, say, the Nintendo Switch Online service.
Now, with summer vacation upon us, there’s never been a better time to dive into Nintendo Switch Parental Controls. Using flexible parameters that grow with your child, the free Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app lets parents easily:
- Manage safety and gametime
- View play activity and understand your childâs gaming habits
- Set time limits for play
- Apply default age-based settings with just a few taps
While Nintendo Switch 2 games are designed so communication is optional, the GameChat feature provides a secure way to connect if and when you choose to enable it. Parents can approve friends, monitor session length, and grant permission for younger players to use video chat.
In short, it’s an easy way to manage your kids’ gaming even when you’re not in the room with them. For more information on Nintendo Switch 2 parental controls, check out the official site.
Review and promotional materials provided by Nintendo of America. This post contains affiliate links. I legitimately still have that My Mario Pipe Set in my shower.
