Girls. They are accessory queens. As a grown woman I can attest to such claims, having many accessories, jewelry and miscellaneous fashion tchotchkes myself. My husband was gracious to gift me jewelry boxes to store all my lovelies, where my daughter on the other hand, well she acquired her items rather quickly with no storage space. The perfect items to store her favorite accessories and other items is the DohVinci Style & Store Vanity Design Kit. Continue reading “Doh Vinci Style & Store Vanity”
TAG – Celebrate National Reading Month
Celebrate National Reading Month with TAG and Scholastic!
Use this $3 coupon at your favorite retail store to save on Tag books and start your child’s reading journey!  Visit the link to take advantage of the savings and promote early reading and education in your home.
Save $3 on your purchase of any TAG reading system for $34.99
(Offer good through March 31st, 2012 – Coupon expires June 30, 2012)
Recounting the numerous posts I have about reading would be boring, so let me just share again that reading is an intricate building block in any child and or adults growth and education. As an adult learner I cannot tell you how much I love to read. Even more so for children to put together words, to make sentences, to communicate effectively. My home is a HUGE proponent for early learning and education and when Leap Frog created the TAG reader my son immediately received one and as many books he could stomach. My twins even have the TAG Jr. to engage their young minds from the time they were 18months old.
More than 15 years ago LeapFrog began building its legacy: helping children learn to read. They do this by hiring professionals with design degrees to design new and
innovative products for children. So we’re celebrating this month with Tag, the #1 selling reading system.* It helps children learn to read and more by bringing words and pictures to life—that’s why 99% of teachers recommend Tag!** And the Tag library of 60+ interactive books, maps and more helps build the fundamentals for school success.
*U.S. Source: The NPD Group/Consumer Tracking Service: PS Electronic Learning, Electronic Reading, Toy Brands as defined by LeapFrog in Dollars, Annual 2010. Canada Source: The Nielsen Company, Market Track Closed Group, National Toy Market 2009 (52 weeks ending December 2010). **Based on 2010 survey conducted by LeapFrog of teachers participating in its Tag Kindergarten Program, who received Tag School Reading Systems from LeapFrog for use in their classrooms (LeapFrog & Scholastic Press, 2012)
DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A SPONSORED POST ON BEHALF OF TAG-LEAPFROG, I WAS COMPENSATED FOR MY TIME BY POSTING THIS INFORMATION AND IN NO WAY WERE MY PERSONAL VIEWS COMPROMISED OR ALTERED.
Mindware Toys – Contraptions, Pattern Play, Imaginets
Traditional toys are always fun for kids for the holidays; molded plastic and or mind numbing video games are always a parents easy choice and favorite. Who doesn’t want to make their kid the happiest on Christmas only to be bored by New Years.
This year I wanted to engage in my children’s imagination, mind play, and really use the brain power these three possess. Alarmingly they are more intelligent than any parent could dream and I always want great toys for them to harness this intelligence and encourage them to flourish. Granted video games and the like are fun every now and again, but as a child my fondest memories were playing educational type games, mind teasers and challenged me to think outside the box. Hence why I am an underwriter, critically thinking and always looking to spin outside the box. Oh I digress.
So I found Mindware Toys and asked them what they had for my little brain trust of children and they presented to me: Contraptions, Pattern Play and Imaginets for my kids to delve into.
Contraptions inspires young thinkers to build unbelievable ball track structures with this simple stacking plank system. Create ramps, funnels, chutes and crazy contraptions like the “Black Hole” and “Bounce Plate.” Then find out if the ball rolls as expected. Fostering unlimited creativity and experimentation, KEVA planks build an early understanding of proportion and balance, while teaching basic principles of physics and engineering. No glue, no connectors-just loads of constructive fun! Includes 200 identical wooden planks, 2 specially designed lightweight balls for maximum action and an 18-page idea book with project photos and quick-start instructions. Contraptions planks are made from pine.
My eight year old absolutely loves this, comparable to Lego’s he can build amazing structures and literally contraptions.
Pattern Play blocks are a great introduction to math concepts like sorting, matching, symmetry, congruence and fractions. This high-quality set fits just-so into its wood tray, with vibrant colors and unusual shapes that build spatial skills. Includes 40 exceptionally well-finished wood blocks, a 10.5″-square wood building tray, 40 Pattern Cards and a drawstring canvas storage bag. Pattern Play must have been personally selected for my twin son Seth, at the rip age of three and a half, almost four who has some serious OCD and this is perfect for him to put together the like colors.
Finally my twin daughter who has been playing with the Imaginets. She is such a girl with putting things together to look pretty and match, as I said earlier, these toys seem to have been hand selected based on who they are. The sturdy wood carrying case features durable hinges and rope handles that are perfect for little hands to grasp. Inside, brightly-colored magnetic blocks can be arranged on the boards to replicate any of the 50 full-color design challenges, including animals, faces, vehicles, sports, structures and more. Plus, the magnetic board surface doubles as a dry-erase board, so kids can decorate a backdrop for their creations!
I was so thrilled to have these toys for my kids, flexing their brain power and I enjoy hearing them giggle and talk things through about how to build different creations, contraptions and patterns. Not to mention the price point for all these toys are $50 or less which is even easier on the budget!
“Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of Contraptions, Pattern Play, and Imaginets at no cost in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.â€
Girls Gifts My Little Pony & Littlest Pet Shop
My boys are generally the easiest to shop for: Nerf guns and swords to battle each other with rubber coated foam bullets and or Lego’s. Enough said.
My daughter, the girly girl is a bit tougher to shop for since she is at an age where she might be able to play with older girl toys, but still lacks the maturity to enjoy them. However I found that she loves My Little Pony and Littlest Pet Shop. These two appeal to her and her little hands and she is able to maintain them in a way that I am not worried about. The toys themselves do not have any small parts that would frighten me about a choking hazard like some Barbie toys do, and she adores how quaint they are.
Since she is rather petite, theses petite little toys are great stocking stuffers or stand alone toys just for girls.
The Littlest Pet Shop Walkables are a great addition for any holiday gift. Add some motion to any LITTLEST PET SHOP collection with the WALKABLES Pets Assortment! These quirky pets are full of spunk and ready to get up and go. At the touch of a button these pets get going, moving across any smooth surface. Girls can collect up to 12 LITTLEST PET SHOP WALKABLES Pets including a dog, seal, snail, fish, cat, spider and more. Each sold separately. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com not to mention the price is just right for those of you shopping on a budget like myself! Priced at $7.99 MSRP, these little critters are sure to light up any little girls holiday.
The more friends the merrier with the MY LITTLE PONY pony assortment! Girls can expand their pony collection with these adorable MY LITTLE PONY figures, each featuring a unique cutie mark that reflects their personality. The circle of friends continues to grow as each pony comes with a special animal friend! Each figure in the assortment includes an accessory to tote their pet friend along and a comb for girls to style the pony’s bright, brushable mane. Eight MY LITTLE PONY pony figures will be introduced in the spring with an additional ten ponies available in the fall. Each sold separately. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com and again, priced just right for those looking to add that last minute gift or pinch those pennies in a rough economy at $4.99 each MSRP.
So for less than $15 total you can add some great gifts under your holiday tree for your little girl this holiday season, I know mine is enjoying her recent addition of the Walkables to her Littlest Pet Shop toy collection and another pony to her My Little Pony toy collection.
“Disclosure: I was provided with a sample of My Littlest Pet Shop and My Little Pony at no cost in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.â€
Family Game Night 4
Thanksgiving night and the day after, what is a family to do. Traditionally families load into the car and head off to the movies. Two hours of silent,entertainment, eating butter saturated, salty goodness in popcorn and drinking high fructose corn syrup drinks. Sounds fabulous to add to the already plump Thanksgiving meal. Why not veer off from the norm and play games!
Experience the fun and excitement of the popular TV show right in your own living room!
This time you’re playing with larger-than-life pieces in re-imagined versions of your favorite Hasbro games. CONNECT 4 Basketball is more fun than ever as you shoot hoops to get 4 balls in a row and YAHTZEE! Bowling puts a whole new spin on the popular dice game. You’ll also find fun new versions of SCRABBLE Flash, SORRY! Sliders, and BOP-IT Boptagon, and win MONOPOLY Crazy Cash, just like the game show! Play with friends and family and compete to prove your family is the best!
Not to mention you are burning off your overstuffed dinner and enjoying quality time as a family. We played Family Game Night 4 on our Wii and got the entire family up and jumping around to the excitement of playing a childhood favorite, Connect 4. Everyone was vying to win that game so then we moved on to basketball to really get the blood flowing and burn off the remnants of some pie and green bean casserole.
The kids were having a blast, jumping around, half screams….well full screams of joy and excitement as we all played for a family game night rather than heading off to the movies like everyone else. Family Game Night 4 is available on all platforms just in time for the holiday season, find it for Wii, Playstation and XBOX for hours of fun, laughs, and at times some heated competition. Give the gift of fun and family for any and every member of your family. Find Family Game Night 4 at your local retailers this holiday season to get your family together.
“Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of Family Game Night 4 at no cost in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.â€
MOGO Charm
Zhu Zhu pets are a thing of the past. Bedazzled just doesn’t hack it. My daughter was recently introduced to MOGO and all that MOGO has to offer with charm jewelry. Not your average charm jewelry either! Mix and match gems, picture gems, statement gems and colored bracelets and other accessories. Recently my daughter has become fixated on jewelry, accessories and pretty much all thing girl. Like her mother, her affection for shoes could also be deemed damaging to the closet space in the house.
But she is really loving the jewelry and that she can have a new jewelry item at will just by changing out the magnetic charms to give her bracelets a new look and new life. Did I also mention these are a great “green” gift for your kids as well. That’s right, no plastic or PVC charms and charm bracelets. The bracelets are not the traditional metals and or plastics with weak construction, they are constructed from a tight weave 
canvas seen on military bracelets but with an ultra girl twist. The mosies, or slippers, are fabulous! What girl would not want a soft and squishy pair of mule slippers that she can add charms and bling to and they just click.
The company’s tag line that “We just click.” The “we just click” tag and the idea of MOGO’s came from the owner trying to fix horse blankets and had an idea that she could use magnets to replace the worn out velcro. The idea didn’t work but the idea of magnets as charms for a new and different modern charm bracelet, did work out. More from the owner and MOGO,
“The name MOGO is in memory of my childhood pony who was rescued and given to me by my father when I was 9 years old. In recognition of my first pony MOGO, and all the wonderful animals in the world, MOGO supports a shelter animal each month, supporting vet care and socialization support until the animal is ready to be adopted.
Our MOGO tagline, “We just click!” is all about the connections MOGO creates. Friends who just click with each other, Moms and Grandmas who click with their Tweens, even Tweens who just click with animals. And, of course, the charms themselves which “just click” to the charmbands.”
Great items for a stocking stuffer or your fashionista looking to make a statement. MOGO’s even has flip flops! Check out all the great bands and charms and even build your own bracelet, headband, or necklace in a matter of seconds on the MOGO website. Found in over 2700 retail shops including Nordstroms, this eco-friendly and affordable gift is sure to be a hit with any girl.
“Disclosure: I was provided with MOGO Mosies and charms at no cost in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.â€
3D Star Theatre
Are your kids into certain subjects in education? I have noticed that my eldest son is very much a math and science boy, learning grammar and the basics is ultra dull to him, while he enjoys his learnings he is much more engaged with the sciences. I can see why and I can understand why. Especially when you have cool shows and toys about science as well as the educational part with using your mind for higher learning.
So while on the hunt for great gifts for my oldest that is not only kid cool and friendly but is educational I came across Uncle Milton Toys and the 3D Star Theatre. The Star Theatre is more than just an interstellar look at the universe from your room, but it is a 3D planetarium projector, for children to experience a planetarium in the comfort of their own room and whenever they so wish. Delve into the deepest realms of the universe to explore stars, constellations and planets. My son loved this toy, he immediately wanted to turn it on, of which I had to suggest to him we turn it on at night to get a better view of the stars and planets.
At first it seems too simple to project such lovely 3D photos of the heavens but seeing is believing. The projector is just a bit larger than a softball and the operations are not complex which allows young children to operate the projector without struggle or confusion. The focus dial at the front of the projector allows the picture to be clarified and is best seen against the back of a white wall. If you have painted walls then the picture will likely not appear, be as clear or may be distorted. Of course keep in mind this is 3D so the glasses are necessary to see the most optimal picture.
Kids are sure to enjoy the pictures of the stars up close and personal in the comfort of their own home at any time with being able to view these images from space. Battery powered by four AA batteries and a push button power switch the 3D Star Theatre is sure to project your child’s learning of space to a higher level.
Uncle Milton’s has even more learning toys such as a planetarium, Fire and Ice Volcano, and solar racers to name a few. Be sure to check out their entire line of fun learning toys this holiday season for your little scientist.
“Disclosure: I was provided with a 3D Star Theatre at no cost in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.â€
Zippies Fun
Are your kids losing their belongings at school or friends or functions? No matter how you try to identify their items, with no slip, no peel stickers with their names, permanent marker which can bleed and end up ruining your clothes or items. Now there is a great new product to help identify your children’s items or identify them and their special needs. Zippies.
Zippies are a fun collectible ID tag for your children. Attach them to their back packs, water bottles, lunch boxes, bikes, and winter jackets, you can even attach the labels to indentify if your child has an special allergies or health conditions without having them feel out of place or too old for their age.
We like them in our house to help identify the many toys the kids share that are the same or similar. This helps to eliminate fights and they are able to identify what are their items and learn to respect each others space and personal belongings. Additionally when in a large group or at events with people more than just our family you can clip the Zippies on a bottle of water or drink to help identify what is theirs and prevent the spread of germs by mistakenly taking someone else’s water bottle and or drink.
What is questionable about the Zippies is the construction. The chain that attaches to the ring which attaches to the adjustable zip line. The chain appears and feels like it can snap at any moment and if you are dealing with kids, we know how they can destroy anything in a matter of seconds, literally they have nothing on Hiroshima or Nagasaki. The plastic Zippie face mold is great and as smooth plastic which seems to stand up to a lot of wear and tear, but again can it withstand the smoldering Arizona summers and heat when kids toss their backpacks in the sun waiting for the bus, parents to pick them up, or while on the playground. I even questioned the use of them on bikes with the breakdown of the extreme heat and dry weather. So more to come on how these products can stand up to the test.
Overall a great product and the kids love them. Lots of fun to use and collect and make great stocking stuffers. For the holidays Zippies has special holiday pricing of buy one set for $12.99 and get another set for free. Normally $39.99 a set this is a savings of over 80% off the retail value! You get the original 10 Zippies plus another 10. Buy yours online just in time for the holidays and help spread the collectible fun with Zippies.
“Disclosure: I was provided with Zippies at no cost in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.â€
JumpStart Escape from Adventure Island
My kids are huge fans of learning games and learning video games. A few years ago The Five Fish originally reviewed the PC version of JumpStart learning video games. My son LOVED the games, the interaction, the learning to follow the directions and the various learning aspects such as addition and reading. JumpStart also has more than just PC games, they have games for the Mac, Wii and DS, and mobile games and books for the iPad.
Here is some back story about what JumpStart stands for and how they enrich our children:
Absolutely. Over the past 20 years, the JumpStart brand has earned the trust of over 30 million parents by providing safe, age-appropriate games for kids. JumpStart.com is no exception. Our parental controls, canned chat and pre-programmed names ensure that kids are completely safe and cannot share any personal information. JumpStart is a magical online world packed with friends, games and adventures! From training dragons to exploring lost islands, JumpStart.com includes thousands of games and activities for kids ages 3-12. But what really sets JumpStart apart is our commitment to education. We believe that learning should be an adventure, not a chore. That’s why the games at JumpStart.com are specially designed to make math, reading and critical thinking fun! After all, there’s no stopping a kid with a JumpStart!
Escape from Adventure Island is an action-packed game that invites players to use their explorer skills and brain power to find a way to escape a mysterious island after a crash landing strands them there! As players race to collect the pieces needed to repair their blimp, they’ll need to ward off the pesky fur balls known as Punk Punks and navigate 3D worlds both above and below the water. Along the way, players can practice over 150 math, reading and critical thinking skills – the fun way! My son jumped into this game and was immediately hooked. Being that my son is the ultimate critical thinker this game was great for him, he is currently working on all his math skills at school so the game could not be more fitting for him. He was intent on getting through the levels and conquering. But with all good things, the game was played in moderation, even though it is a learning game, nonetheless a video game.
Video games are a great stocking stuff and or gift for children, so why not get them a game that is not only fun but educational. Find JumpStart online or at your local retailers this holiday season.
“Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of JumpStart® Escape from Adventure Island at no cost by Knowledge Adventure in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.â€
Maukilo HABA Hit the Throttle
While on the prowl for new gift ideas, gifts that are sustainable, eco-friendly, educational and not the same old plastic mold from big name brands that offer nothing more than a cheap toy, I was approached by the folks at HABA USA.
Here is what I love about HABA USA and the Maukilo team and what they stand for:
In 2000, a German woman named Alexandra was living in California. Alex was searching for quality gifts and presents to send back to Germany to a friend who recently had a baby, but was disappointed in the collection available in the USA. While Alex researched for European toys online she discovered that virtually none of the European brands that she grew up with as a child were available. Thus the introduction of Maukilo.com.Â
Currently, Maukilo is owned and operated by one of Maukilo’s largest suppliers, the German based HABA(R) company. The HABA USA office is located in quaint and picturesque Skaneateles Falls, New York and has now become the home of Maukilo.com.Â
The Maukilo team (many mothers themselves) searches the world over to find incredible products inspired by European quality and innovation. We understand the importance of play and how essential it is to a child’s cognitive, emotional and social development. Our passion is finding products that are both fun and educational for children of all ages.Â
We are committed to providing high quality toys that can be handed down from child to child, friend to friend, a toy that can be played with forever. All of the products carried on the Maukilo store meet or exceed the standards set forth by the U. S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and with our partners we are committed to ensure responsible working conditions (Maukilo.com, 2011).Â
Choosing a toy or toys that your children can enjoy is really a daunting task with their site, so many toys that of course will last. So I chose a learning game/toy that all of my children could enjoy together because family time and learning is so important to us as a family.
We chose the Hit the Throttle board game. Board games are always so full of competition with the kids that I dread getting
any games for them to play like that because fights ensue, then comes time out, crying, the whole dramatic event that could be thwarted by not partaking in a board game. But Hit the Throttle is so different in that the kids race one another to the finish line but no one really knows which car they are racing, which takes the challenge to an all new level of fun. I know my kids had a ball and yours will too this holiday season and for future days to come since Hit the Throttle is made with a sturdy cardboard race track and wooden race cars. No need to worry about leeching plastics and throw away toys, this one is a keeper.
Don’t take my word for it, if you are eco-conscious and you are looking for toys and gifts that will last more than just into the next holiday season, the Maukilo team and HABA USA are are great option. In addition to the toys lasting a lifetime they are even easy on your budget with prices from under $25, under $50 and under $75, and toys for all ages.