Tag: "toys"

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE - MUST HAVES - V Tech VSmile Cyber Pocket

vtech cyber pocket

CJ is 10 but developmentally he’s much younger. It can be very hard to shop for toys for him because usually he’s either got it or it’s just not a good fit for him. One thing he enjoys tremendously is playing video games. His old VSmile has seen much better days. V Tech now makes a newer model, the VSmile Cyber Pocket.

About the VSmile Cyber Pocket

Kid-smart video gaming goes anywhere with V.Smile Cyber Pocket – featuring a flip top high resolution screen and easy touch writing pad, V.Smile Cyber Pocket even adjust to both right and left-handed players.

V.Smile Cyber Pocket users can also access a secure website using V.Link to show kids how their game scores stack up as well as provide them with bonus games to reward their progress. It’s easy to use and encourages them to keep up the good work!

Best of all, V.Smile Cyber Pocket toys play all of the Smartridges in the V.Smile Library. So as kids’ skills grow, you can keep supplying them with new challenges.

CJ adjusted to playing with the new VSmile Cyber Pocket quickly. There’s a lot of things I like about this game. It improves eye to hand coordination. It helps both fine and gross motor skills. It encourages concentration. The game skills have educational value while remaining fun and interesting. The game system itself fits well in his hands and isn’t too big or too small, making it the ideal toy for both home and long car rides. It’s great that all of the VSmile cartridges work in it, so games from the other systems like the VMotion can be used. The VSmile Cyber Pocket operates on 4 AA batteries. I have found the battery life to be quite reasonable but for those concerned there is an AC adapter available for about $10. We give this system six thumbs up - 2 from me, 2 from RB and 2 from CJ. The model we received did not have the capability to connect to a television but I believe the current model in stores does. That’s a feature we definitely would enjoy.

The V Tech VSmile Cyber Pocket sells for $49.99. It’s available for purchase online and in stores nationwide.

The product(s) featured in this review was provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of product testing and review. This review has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.

Dec 27, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE - Build-A-Bear Frosty The Snowman

build a bear Frosty snowman

GIFT IDEA - BUILD A BEAR WORKSHOP

Build-A-Bear Workshop, birthplace of such beautiful stuffed toys, has come out with a Frosty The Snowman for this year’s holiday season. He looks great in that picture up there but he’s about a thousand times better in person. He is so soft that you just want to snuggle with him for hours. The coolest thing, besides how soft he is, is that he makes sound and lights up when his hat is tipped. He’s 18 inches tall and is available dressed as you see him for $30, or without the corn cob pipe, broomstick and scarf accessory set which is $7. Build-A-Bear’s Frosty can be purchased online or in Build-A-Bear Workshop stores.

ABOUT BUILD-A-BEAR

Guests who visit a Build-A-Bear Workshop store enter a recognizable and distinctive teddy bear themed environment consisting of eight stuffed animal-making stations: Choose Me, Hear Me, Stuff Me, Stitch Me, Fluff Me, Dress Me, Name Me and Take Me Home.

Build-A-Bear Workshop is the first company with both real-world stores and a virtual world experience so that Guests can continue the fun with their furry friends when they get home! At buildabearville.com, our online world stuffed with fun, Guests can bring their new furry friend to life online for free by using the code found on their birth certificate. They create a unique online character and play games to earn Bear Bills™, which can be used to purchase more clothes, furniture for their Cub Condo® houses and other items. Guests can also trade items with other citizens in the world. Membership to the site is free and does not expire. Beyond bringing their new friend to life online for free, Guests are rewarded for in-store purchases. When they make a clothing or accessory purchase in store or at www.buildabear.com, they receive a receipt code. The code gives them virtual store credit to use at the Bear Boutique in buildabearville.com, which is the only place to find exclusive virtual fashions and furniture items for their virtual furry friends. Stuff Fur Stuff® loyalty club members also receive virtual Bear Bills™ for their real world purchases.

WIN IT!

One winner will receive a Frosty the Snowman from Build-A-Bear.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter visit the Build-A-Bear site and tell me another character you’d love to give (or get) for Christmas.

BONUS ENTRIES

1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed.
1 - Follow me on Twitter AND leave your Twitter name here.
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Friend me on Facebook.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog.
1 - Place my holiday gift guide button on your blog.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. This contest will end on Tuesday 12/15/09 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

The product(s) featured in this review was provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of product testing and review. This review has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Dec 04, 2009 | 89 comments | View Post

Hot Hamsters

zhu zhu pets hamsters

When I first heard a little about Zhu Zhu pets I didn’t expect to hear much about them again. I thought they’d be one of those toy fads that quickly crashed. It would seem I may have been mistaken! Since that day about two months ago, I hear about these toys constantly. It seems they’re one of this year’s hottest toys.

Who’d have thought that a hamster with artificial intelligence would cause such a stir! I haven’t played with one myself but from the pictures I’ve seen online they look cute. Lucky for me my oldest son is 14, thereby making him exempt from any cuteness factor.

So what’s the ruckus about? I grant you, the fact that they can’t poop or reproduce makes them extremely appealing when compared to the real thing. Speaking of the real thing, I see that they have their very own Habitrail type of tubes to move about in. I don’t know if they can move around outside of the tubes like a real hamster. They can make up to 40 different sounds, depending on what they’re doing at the time. If you consider the cost of food and bedding for a real hamster, batteries probably cost about the same.

If you’re looking for one, don’t bother with your local store - they’re all out. You’re probably going to need to buy this one on the internet.

shopcom sponsored

Dec 02, 2009 | 0 comments | View Post

Elmo Tickle Hands

Have you seen Elmo Tickle Hands? They are so cute! CJ is 10 but still loves Elmo and Sesame Street. I am seriously considering getting this for him for Christmas. What I like about it is that the toy is really interactive. Don’t get me wrong, other Elmo toys are adorable to watch. What makes the Tickle Hands fun is that they’re gloves that the child can wear. When the wearer touches something with their right hand the glove vibrates and you hear Elmo. (The left hand is for looking cute only and it does that well.) The other thing I like is that the toy comes with a DVD that will teach you how to do the Tickle Hand Groove dance, which is awesome because it encourages children to get up and dance.

Do you have or have you seen Elmo Tickle Hands? What do you think about it?

shopcom sponsored

Nov 07, 2009 | 3 comments | View Post

Bendaroos Create Your Dream Contest And Giveaway

Bendaroos. How is it that I’ve never seen these?! They’re pretty cool. RB and TJ tell me they’ve seen commercials but I haven’t. I think CJ would love a set of them.

Check out the info on the contest they’re running and the cool prize they’re going to give to one of my readers.

ALLSTAR PRODUCTS GROUP ANNOUNCES BENDAROOS® “CREATE YOUR DREAM” CONTEST FOR KIDS

Contest Provides Chance to Win $500 toward Child’s Aspiration; Artwork to Appear in Bendaroos® Commercial -

HAWTHORNE, NY (August 3, 2009) – Allstar Products Group, a leading direct response and consumer products company, today announced the kickoff of their first online contest for kids – the Bendaroos® “Create Your Dream” contest. The contest challenges children to build, twist and transform Bendaroos® flexible building sticks into an art form depicting their dream, whether that means a goal they would like to achieve, a favorite destination or a gift they hope to own. The three children who design the winning entries will receive a $500 American Express® gift card* toward making their dream come true, and a chance for their creation to be featured in an upcoming Bendaroos® TV advertisement.

“Bendaroos building sticks are a consumer favorite due to the ease of use and creative freedom to make anything you choose,” said Anne Flynn, Director of Marketing for Allstar Products Group. “We have seen some great Bendaroos art submissions through our online site, and therefore wanted to have more fun with it, enacting a contest that would award children who think big and dream even bigger.”

To enter the contest, running through September, 30, 2009, children, with the help of an adult, log onto www.bendaroosfun.com ,click on their age category: 3-6, 7-9, 10-12, and then upload an image of their unique Bendaroos® building sticks 2-D or 3-D creation. The sky is the limit on the “dream” children can create – anything from a shiny new bicycle to dance lessons with the hopes of becoming a professional ballerina.

Judges will include an art teacher and a fine artist; they will judge the submissions according to originality, creativity and difficulty factor. One child will be selected as the grand prize winner in each of the three age categories, receiving a gift card of $500 and a chance for the debut of their winning submission in a Bendaroos® commercial. In addition, one first prize winner in each age category will receive a $100 gift card and a Bendaroos® 500-piece set; one second prize winner in each age category will receive a Bendaroos® 500-piece set, and five third prize winners per age group will be awarded with a Bendaroos® 200-piece theme set.

For more information on how to enter the contest and the official rules, as well as creative idea starters for using Bendaroos® building sticks, visit www.bendaroosfun.com.

About Bendaroos® Building Sticks

Bendaroos® are reusable building sticks, made from colored string coated with a special wax, that adhere to virtually every household surface. The toy encourages creativity and hands-on learning for children ages 3 and above. No set up is required; kids can simply pull apart the sticks then press them together to make incredible creations and fun figurines.

The original box of Bendaroos® flexible building sticks contains 500 pieces – 250 rainbow- and 250 neon-colored – as well as a Bendaroos® Fun Guide for the suggested retail price of $19.99. Starting this fall, Allstar Product Group is launching Bendaroos®100- and 200-piece theme packs for the suggested retail price of $5.99 and $9.99 respectively.

Bendaroos® building sticks can be found at major retailers nationwide such as Toys ‘R’ Us, Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS and Kmart.

WIN IT!

One winner will receive one 500 piece mega set of Bendaroos.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment on this post telling me one neat figure you think your child might try to make with a set of Bendaroos.

BONUS ENTRIES - LOTS OF THEM!

1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed.
1 - Follow me on Twitter AND leave your Twitter name here.
1 - Tweet this giveaway.
1 - Friend me on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/valmg
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog.
1 - Visit HereAndThere.US (my Mom) and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. This contest will end on Saturday 08/15/09 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone! Members of my own family are not eligible to win but are still welcome to leave a comment.

Like giveaways? Take a blog hop and check out some others.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Aug 07, 2009 | 51 comments | View Post

World Down Syndrome Day

In a day where people use the word retarded all too easily it is obvious that our society could benefit from more advocacy, education and positive exposure of special needs. To that end, today - World Down Syndrome Day - I would like to tell you about my nine year old son, who has Down Syndrome. You may think because he has Down Syndrome that he’s very different from other children. In many ways he’s the same. See for yourself.

FOOD

My son likes yogurt, just like many “typical” children.

My son likes corn on the cob, just like “typical” children.

BIRTHDAY CAKE

My son likes to blow the candles out, just like “typical” children.

My son gets icing from his birthday cake all over his face, just like “typical” children.

HOLIDAYS

My son likes to trick or treat in costume, just like “typical” children.

My son likes to open Christmas presents, just like “typical” children.

CLOTHES

My son wears clothes, just like “typical” children.

PLAY

My son likes Ernie and Sesame Street, just like “typical” children.

My son likes Blue’s Clues, just like “typical” children. Ok I lie. He LOVED Blue’s Clues.

VIDEO GAMES

My son likes to play video games, just like “typical” children. (This picture isn’t great but it’s him playing his Vmotion.)

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

My son likes to ride his bicycle, just like “typical” children. Actually he LOVES that to.

WONDER

My son is amazed by certain things, in the same innocent way that “typical” children have.

NOISE AND SOUND

My son likes noisy toys, just like “typical” children.

MUSIC

My son likes music, just like “typical” children. He prefers rock and roll, like his mother. His favorite band is Hinder and if he hears it he’ll sing along with you and when you’re done say “you rock”.

SLEEP

My son falls asleep right in the middle of doing something, just like “typical” children do.

Even in the middle of a game of cards with the adults.

FUNNY

My son has his funny moments, just like “typical” children.
Ok, maybe some aren’t so typical. Some are amazing. Seriously. Not all children want to be sure the family cat wipes their ass.

My son is amazing and he’s made us better people. He represents everything we were missing and never knew we wanted before he was born. I love him with every bit of my being (as I do my typical son) and am thankful for all of the joys he has brought us. His smile can light up a room. He’s happy and loving.

In case you’re wondering why I put quotes around the word typical it’s because every child is typical. Typical for themselves. Children are children, no matter what their needs are. Society places too many labels on people and too much importance on the labels. Every child is special and has special needs - the needs of being cherished and loved and provided the opportunity to reach their full potential, whatever that may be. Children can learn from each other. Children can learn from us. We can learn from children. Everyone in this world is a person of value and deserves to be treated with respect.

There’s a great article on World Down Syndrome Day over on 5 Minutes For Special Needs, as well as a Mr Linky for anyone that’s written about the day or their family.

Mar 21, 2009 | 9 comments | View Post

How soon is too soon?

The day after Christmas means more than new things. It also means cleaning up and finding places to put the new things. Growing up my Dad always liked us to keep our Christmas gifts under the tree for a good week or so. We were never allowed to put our new things right away. I’m not sure why, I don’t remember if I ever asked or if I did and have forgotten the answer.

Here in my house we prefer to put things away as soon as possible. Our house isn’t that big and since the kids are going to play with the things anyway there’s no point in not putting them away. We try to find room for the new things. It’s gotten a bit harder as the years go by but we still manage. RB said this year before we put CJ’s things away he wants to go through all of the toys he’s already got and see what we can get rid of to Good Will or another charity. We’d rather keep toys that are being used rather then just keep storing stuff under the boys bed frames.

I was wondering today if more people preferred to put their gifts away or leave them by the tree for a while. How soon is too soon to put gifts away? How do you do it in your house?

Dec 27, 2008 | 5 comments | View Post

Power Rangers giveaway winners

There are four winners in the Power Rangers Giveaway. The first winner will will receive one Power Rangers Jungle Fury Mega Mission Helmet. The second and third winners will each receive one Power Rangers Jungle Fury Deluxe Megazord. The fourth winner will receive one Power Rangers Jungle Fury Mega Jaguar Ranger.

All qualified entries were placed onto a spreadsheet and assigned a number. This number is not necessarily the same as where you fall in the order of comments left. The list was placed on random.org and the number that came out on top is the first winner. A screenshot is attached.

The first winner, for the Mega Mission Helmet, is #9 Mama Zen. Mama Zen’s comment was “My daughter would love the Mega Mission Helmet!”
The second and third winners, for the Power Rangers Jungle Fury Deluxe Megazords, are #11 Jessica and #13 Bettina! Jessica’s comment was “The toys are neat to check out on the site but I agree that the navigation needs work. I’d give the toy to my fiance, who still makes bad Power Ranger puns.” Bettina’s comment was “I would definately give this to my nephew. My son likes Power Ranger, but my nephew is a HUGE fan!” The fourth winner, for the Power Rangers Jungle Fury Mega Jaguar Ranger, is #15 Valerie M. Valerie’s comment was “twittered it”, who also said “my son would love the prize - also entered the contest on the power rangers site - he tells me he likes the cycles, too.” on her other entry.

Congratulations folks! Please contact me within 72 hours to confirm that you wish to accept this prize, and include your mailing address.

Thanks to all who entered the giveaway! I plan on having lots more giveaways, so please consider subscribing to my feed so you don’t miss out on any.

Dec 03, 2008 | 0 comments | View Post

Power Rangers Jungle Fury sweepstakes, review and giveaway

Bandai is currently running the Power Rangers Feel The Fury Sweepstakes. One grand prize winner will receive a 2 minute toy aisle shopping spree at retail worth $1,000. Two winners will each receive a 2 minute toy aisle shopping spree at retail worth $250. Ten winners will each receive a Power Rangers Jungle Fury Mega Mission Helmet signed by the Red Ranger. It’s easy to enter, all you need to do is submit the entry form before 12/12/08.

I remember when the Power Rangers first came out. My nephew was crazy over them and had every toy there was. They were still popular years later, when my son TJ was small. The Power Rangers are still going strong and gaining new fans all of the time. After all, kids never seem to tire of the pretend play of good battling evil. If your child is a Power Rangers fan, you’re going to want to keep reading.

What Power Rangers fan wouldn’t love to pretend to be their favorite hero! With the Jungle Fury Mega Mission helmet they can. The Jungle Fury Mega Mission Helmet is recommended for children over 4 and requires 3 AAA batteries. This fun looking helmet has a tinted eye shield and adjustable strap. It’s got lights and sounds built into it, which makes play more fun. All you need to do to activate missions is press one side of the helmet. Pressing the other side activates lights. The helmet comes preloaded with one mission but if you connect it to your PC or Mac computer with a usb cable you can download fifty others. If you previously played Operation Overload missions you can access them as well. The helmet is available for sale in stores nationwide and online and has a retail price of approximately $49.99.

A Power Rangers Deluxe Jungle Fury Megazord is actually a set of 3 Zords that can be played with separately or combined to make one Megazord. There are two Jungle Fury Deluxe Megazords available - the Jungle Pride Megazord and the Jungle Master Megazord. The Deluxe Jungle Pride Megazord consists of the Red Tiger Zord, the Blue Jaguar Zord and the Yellow Cheetah Zord and features a spinning action. The Deluxe Jungle Master Megazord consists of the Emperor Penguin Zord, the Antelope Zord and the Gorilla Fury Zord and features a motorized thunder punch. When assembled as a Megazord you can store a 5 inch Ranger (not included) inside the chest of the Megazord. The Power Rangers Jungle Fury Deluxe Megazord is recommended for ages 4 and up and sells for approximately $39.99 in retail stores nationwide and online.

The Power Rangers Jungle Fury Mega Jaguar Ranger figure is an 11 inch tall action figure. It required 2 AAA batteries to operate, and batteries come with the toy. The figure comes with three different masks to wear - Ranger, Battlized and Training. Each mask activates different sounds. The Power Rangers Jungle Fury Mega Jaguar Ranger is recommended for ages 4 and up and sells for approximately $14.99 in retail stores nationwide and online.

Wait, there’s more! There’s a Power Rangers movie promotion going on right now as well. If you visit movie theaters in Boston, MA; Brownville, TX; Chicago, IL; El Paso, TX, Fort Smith, AK; Honolulu, HI; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; Minneapolis, MN; New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA; San Antonio, TX; and San Diego, CA you’ll get a chance to see the hot new Jungle Fury Mega Mission Helmet in action and receive a Power Rangers Fun Pack with the purchase of one child’s ticket. The Fun Pack contains a Power Rangers Temporary Tattoo, Jungle Fury Wish List and Jungle Fury Scratcher that reveals discounts on all your favorite Power Rangers toys!

I have an awesome giveaway today. I have one Power Rangers Jungle Fury Mega Mission Helmet, two Power Rangers Jungle Fury Deluxe Megazords and one Power Rangers Jungle Fury Mega Jaguar Ranger to give away. To enter my giveaway visit the Power Rangers Jungle Fury site, enter the sweepstakes and take a look around the site. Then come back to this post and leave me a comment telling me something from the site that interests you and if you win who you would give the toy to. If you subscribe to the rss feed you get an additional entry. I’ll also give additional entries if you stumble this contest, twitter about this giveaway or blog about this giveaway linking to Power Rangers Jungle Fury and this post. Just leave an additional comment for each bonus entry you’ve qualified for, including your link or stumble/technorati/twitter name. There’s a maximum of five entries per person. Contest ends Monday 12/01/08 at 11:59 pm est. US addresses only please. Only comments containing the requested information will be eligible. The winners will be selected using random.org and they must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within 72 hours of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck everyone!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Nov 24, 2008 | 17 comments | View Post

Mugen Pop Pop review and giveaway

Who loves to pop bubbles? I do! When a box arrives and whatever is in it is surrounded by bubble wrap it’s a tough decision if I should check the item out or just sit and pop all of the bubbles. Bandai America released a new toy recently that bubble poppers will love. It’s the Mugen Pop Pop. This toy should be appearing in stores right now, as it was released on 10/27/08. It simulates popping bubbles like there are in plastic bubble wrap and comes in a keychain form with eight bubbles and a built in speaker. After every 100 pops a random sound like a dog bark, a fart, a door chime and a horn will surprise the player. Four colors are available - ice, blueberry, lime and raspberry. This toy originated in Japan and is very popular there. I thought the feel of pressing the bubbles was similar to popping bubble wrap but the sound is a little different. It’d make a neat stocking stuffer. It retails for about $5.99 and is available in stores nationwide and online. It is labeled for ages 8 and up. For more information on Mugen Pop Pop, visit www.bandai.com/mugenpoppop.

I’ve got three Mugen Pop Pop to giveaway. To enter leave a comment on this post stating who you’d give this to if you won. Contest ends Monday 11/17/08 at 11:59 pm est. US addresses only please. Comments must contain the requested information to be eligible. The winners will be selected using random.org and they must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within three days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck everyone!

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED.

Nov 12, 2008 | 23 comments | View Post

Tamagotchi Connection V5 review and giveaway

I remember when TJ was younger “virtual pets” were just becoming popular. I recall that whenever I went out somewhere I saw kids with them. I thought they were neat and wondered if they were just another passing fad. Here it is ten years later and Tamagotchis are still popular.

Earlier this year Bandai released Tamagotchi Connection V5, the newest version of the virtual pets and the most technologically advanced. The line offers a redesigned look, new characters that have never been seen before and collectible souvenirs that are stored within the toy. The new feature I think is the neatest is that can now raise a family of multiple characters in one toy. The toys still have built in infrared for toys to link up with others. Tamagotchi users can access a virtual world called TamaTown for free, and V5 users have access to the new Tama & Earth Expo. Some of the things visitors to the new area can do are explore foreign areas, learn about the environment, find activities and play games.

Tamagotchi Connection V5 retails for about $14.99 and is labeled for ages 8 and up. For more information about Tamagotchi, please visit www.Tamagotchi.com.

I’ve got three Tamagotchi Connection V5s to giveaway. To enter leave a comment on this post stating who you’d give this to if you won and why you think they’d like it. Contest ends 11/17/08. US addresses only please. Comments must contain the requested information to be eligible. The winner will be selected using random.org and they must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within three days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck everyone!

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED.

Nov 11, 2008 | 34 comments | View Post

Ernie and Bert are in the house!

Being developmentally delayed means CJ doesn’t always play with toys intended for his age group. We often have to look at toys meant for younger children. He’s too old for toys from the youngest age groups and too old for toys from the older age groups. He’s nine, but he still loves some of the same things that five and six year olds like. CJ went through a block phase with the larger Legos and Duplos but outgrew them. When Team Mom offered me a chance to try a new toy I gladly accepted.

Sesame Street Building Sets by Kid K’NEX bring together two of a child’s favorite things – Sesame Street and building things. My older son TJ played with K’NEX for years. After CJ outgrew the large Legos and Duplos I considered giving him his brother’s old small Legos and K’NEX but he just wasn’t ready for them. The Sesame Street K’NEX are made for children 2-5 so these are much more appropriate for CJ.

From the website: “Your child will love creating all of his favorite Sesame Street friends! The colorful chunky parts make it easy for small hands to snap, stack and plug together. These fun sets also include educational activities for you to share with your child. BENEFITS of Sesame Street Building Sets are physical development, social-emotional development, language development and cognitive development.”

We received the Bert and Ernie Building Set, which includes 46 pieces and 3 Play & Learn activity cards. The 46 pieces allow children to build Bert & Ernie, or anything else they can dream up. The Play & Learn activity cards contain building ideas for parents and children to do on one side and activities to learn about colors on the other. When it’s time to clean up the pieces can be stored right in the plastic container that the toy comes in. Come on, you know toys have the potential to end up everywhere, or at least they do in my house. At my house we love toys that come with their own storage container that can easily be carried around a room when clean up time comes.

It was great for him to be able to play with something he recognizes and relates to like Sesame Street. We loved the Kid K’NEX. Ok, CJ loved the Kid K’NEX. I liked it a lot. The only thing I would recommend is that they somehow make it a little easier for the characters to stand. We could not get ours to stand, he kept falling over like the uncle that has a bit too much too drink on the holidays. CJ loves puzzles and for him building the characters was like building a big puzzle.

The KNEX Bert and Ernie Building Set we received sells for $21.99. There are sets in this line that sell for $10.99 including Elmo, Ernie, Cookie Monster and Oscar. The Super Grover and Abby Cadabby sets sell for $14.99. Other sets that sell for $21.99 include Elmo & His Piano, Elmo Pet Vet and Elmo Sunny Days. The most expensive set is Cookie Monster & Hooper’s Store, which sells for $31.99. Kid K’NEX can be purchased in many stores nationwide and online.

Oct 01, 2008 | 0 comments | View Post

Top Toys Guide review

Are you ready for the holidays? Do you know what new toys have been released? I’ve noticed that kids seem to know about the hot toys before many parents do. There have been years I didn’t know something was popular until I saw an ad for it on tv. Then, when I tried to buy it I couldn’t find it. And even I don’t watch enough tv to figure out what all of the hot kids toys for this year are going to be. The Top Toys Guide website tries to address that very problem.

The folks at the Top Toys Guide site keep up to date on the top toys and their popularity, quality, value and safety as well as awards received. What parent wouldn’t want to know what kids toys are going to be hot this holiday season! You can bet they’ll be on many kids lists, which will make them sell like crazy and be hard to find. Top Toys Guide puts the toys on the website with the information we need to know, including a picture and description of the toy and the availability of that toy in major online stores.

The site is brightly colored, attractive and easy to navigate. The top ten toys are right on the front page so you don’t have to look very far to know what’s going to be in super high demand. The four main categories visitors will find are top toys for boys, top toys for girls, top toys for toddlers and top toys for babies. Within each of these categories are the top ten toys overall for that category, as well as the top toys in different toy types. Visitors can also shop by age and toy type. Anyone interested in learning what toys will be hot this year will find this site helpful, particularly if they have several children to shop for because everything is all in one place.

Sep 28, 2008 | 0 comments | View Post

Karito Kids review and giveaway

I don’t have girls but I do have two nieces and another one due any time now, so I do check out girls’ toys and clothes. Thanks to Beth at RoleMommy I got a chance to check out a new line of dolls called the Karito Kids. Let me tell you, these dolls left an impression.

Karito Kids dolls aren’t your ordinary doll. Each 21 inch tall doll represents a different world culture. The line consists of six dolls – Piper (Australia), Ling (China), Zoe (New York), Gia (Italy), Lulu (Kenya), and Pita (Mexico). When a girl gets one of the six Karito Kids dolls, it comes with one outfit and a chapter book about her heritage. Each doll has hair that can be styled and the dolls can wear most 18″ doll clothes.

A portion of the $99 purchase price of each doll is donated to a charity selected by your child. Each doll comes with a unique activation code. When your little girl activates that code she will choose a world charity that the money will go to. Once online she’ll be able to create an online profile. By playing games and learning about other countries and cultures on the site and she’ll earn World Change, which also help less fortunate children.

I thought the doll was beautiful, and found it sturdy and well made. I think the idea of a child being able to help other children is fantastic. What a great way to reinforce the values we must teach our children. The Karito Kids dolls remind us that charity does begin at home and that one person no matter how big or small can make a difference.

GIVEAWAY
I have one Karito Kids doll, Lulu, to give away to one lucky winner. The holidays are right around the corner folks. Wouldn’t this would be a terrific gift for a girl to open on Christmas morning!

HOW TO ENTER
To enter visit the Karito Kids website and then leave a comment on this post stating one thing you like about the Karito Kids dolls AND who you’d give this doll to if you won. For an additional entry, blog about this contest linking to both Karito Kids and this post. Contest ends Monday 10/06/08 at 11:59 pm est. US addresses only please. Only comments containing the requested information will be eligible. Good luck to all!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.

Sep 28, 2008 | 31 comments | View Post

The 2009 K’NEXpert Search is on

Babies love to play with blocks. As kids age they move on to building things. My sons are no exception. TJ started out with those huge Duplos. He then moved on to Lincoln Logs and Legos. From there he moved on to K’NEX, which he still has on his shelf. He was always trying to see what he could build. He came up with some pretty intricate designs. Had I been a member of Team Mom when he was younger I might have known that K’NEX had an annual building contest that he could enter.

The 2009 K’NEXpert Search is going on now. Children ages 5 to 12 are eligible to enter. The contest divides entrants into age groups of 5-6, 7-8 and 9-12. One grand prize winner from each age group will receive $10,000 for college. An additional 7 winners will each receive $1,000 for college. These ten winners will also each receive $500 worth of K’NEX building sets, discounts on online K’NEX purchases, a trip for three to New York City for the awards ceremony, an invitation to visit the K’NEX headquarters and a page in the K’NEX online photo gallery. The 2009 K’NEXpert Search is running now and ends on September 30, 2008. The winners will be announced at the end of October.

To enter children need to create something in one of four categories - Futuristic, Vehicles, Amusement park thrill rides and Ultimate K’NEX Model (made from 3 types of K’NEX – bricks, standard and micro). Then the entry form on the K’NEX website needs to be completed and sent in with a one minute video or one page summary of how they came up with their idea, how long the design took to build and how many K’NEX pieces were used to build it. A panel of judges from K’NEX will choose the semi-finalists. Entries will be judged based on creativity, uniqueness and detail. An online vote will determine the ten winners. The man who invented K’NEX, Joel Glickman, will choose the Grand Prize winners.

About K’NEX

Founded in 1992, K’NEX Brands, the world’s most innovative construction toy company, was established to make and sell what has become one of the world’s leading integrated construction systems for children. Winner of over 200 international awards and recognitions, K’NEX seeks to build young minds with its exciting product line and critically acclaimed K’NEX Education program. For more information, please visit www.knex.com.