Holiday Gift Guide for Children

We love V Tech toys and have purchased several of their electronic educational toys for Christmas every year. Last year we bought the V Smile and it is one of Nolan’s favorite toys. It is like video game system, but educational and made for his age range (3-7). The V Motion is basically the same type of system, if fact the games are compatible with each other, but promises to make your child more active while playing the games.

First, it is very user friendly. Just install the batteries, then plug the console into the TV using three color-coded plugs. It’s also very easy to select your game and start playing. Nolan was able to master it quickly. He enjoyed the game that came with it, but loved the Disney UP game we bought even more. I have to say he didn’t work up a sweat or anything, I expected he would be jumping around. The movement is more about moving the controller with his arms. Maybe some of the other games have more active play.

Mom Likes:

Easy to connect and sturdy

Educational and active play

Compatible with V Smile cartridges

Variety of fun games and popular characters

Cons:

Limited age range

Product Description:

Don’t just park your child in front of the TV – put them in motion! The V.Smile Learning System gets kids moving while driving home lessons in math, reading, science, spelling and more. This brilliant breakthrough gaming console combines wireless, motion-activated play, Web connectivity and educational gaming into a system that plugs directly into your television. Get into the game with all your classic characters like Scooby-Doo, Thomas and Friends, and Spider-Man; plus some new ones like Kung Fu Panda, Wall.E, and Wonder Pets. Using the included controller, children can enjoy wireless action-packed play with animated friends that guide them through age-appropriate skill levels and developmental activities. Includes one controller and Action Mania software. Double the fun with an additional controller, sold separately. Additional software sold separately. Requires 4 “AA” batteries, not included. Measures 1.5″L x 3.25″W x 5″H.  You can purchase the V Motion at stores everywhere and online at Amazon. The VTech Kids website has great offers and a club to join for savings now and year round at www.vtechkids.com.

“I was given a V-Motion by VTech for my review. I was allowed to keep the product, but the opinion I am sharing remains my own.

Playskool is a leading and respected provider of classic and innovative children’s toys.  I wanted to let you know about a couple new toys that would make a perfect fit under the tree for little ones.

WHEEL PALS CLASSIC Assortment

Available this fall, the Wheel Pals Classic Assortment is designed for ages 12 and up with a very affordable suggested retail price of $3.99.

Soft and squeezable, tots will love to move these colorful roll-along friends across the floor.  The cute little WHEEL PALS CLASSIC critters are sized specially for inquisitive toddler hands.  Little ones can choose from an assortment of 12 different characters, each sold separately.  Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

CLASSIC THEMED MR. POTATO HEAD Assortment

The classic themed Mr. Potato Head Assortment is another Playskool classic for ages two years and older.  Also available this fall, the retail price is just $9.99.

The newest members of the MR. POTATO HEAD family offer tons of imaginative fun for playful toddlers. The FRYER FIGHTER tater is ready to squelch flames with his handy fire extinguisher.  Swashbuckling spud CAPTAIN POTATO CHIPS figurine has a peg leg, eye patch, and hooked hand and is eager for action-packed expeditions.  Each figure sold separately.  Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

What’s great about a reintroduction of the classic Mr. Potato Head is that its wonderful legacy continues.  Our five year old had so much fun with this set that it inspired him to want some similar types of build and block toys.

Tassimo T45 Review

Tassimo is a name that is fast-becoming synonymous with sophistication in Espresso machines.  This coffee maker-espresso machine is easy to use and is designed for home use by people who want quick coffee, but with the high quality taste you don’t always get from traditional canned coffees and coffee makers.

The machine is fairly compact with a sleek design. The front of the machine includes the cup base for individual cup making, the on/off switch, and a cycle button that is used to start the coffee making process and proceed through it in a few steps.  The top of the machine opens for placement of Tassimo “T-Discs”, which are the individual cup containers.  Some discs include coffee grounds, others are flavored creamers for various drinks.

The back portion of the machine contains the filtered water system that feeds the machine and merges with the coffee during brewing/frothing.  The machine comes with two filters, which each last around 6-8 weeks based on use.  The unit has a monitoring system that allows you to get a clear indication when it is time to change your water filter.  Adding water is easy.

Make sure when you begin to set up your Tassimo that you follow the directions to a “T”.  It can be a bit confusing and time consuming, but shouldn’t take too long.  The first step is to get things in place and run a few cleaning cycles to get the machine ready for use.

Making coffee begins when you turn the machine on and open the T-Disc compartment on the top.  The coffee and creamer discs amazingly have barcodes that are read by the machine for optimum brewing.  After you place the disc, the machine reads the code and signals it is ready when the green light comes on by the start button.  After you push the button, it may take a 30-60 seconds for initial brewing.  At that point, you the light moves on and you can opt to add more drink (which dilutes the strength of the coffee a bit as you add).  Once you get the amount you want, you depress the button and coffee stops.

Some drinks come with creamers that are run through the machine prior to adding the coffee.  This can make the entire coffee making process a bit longer (two-three minutes), but the quality of taste is worth it.  Other espresso drinks are made as is, which means you would add your own creamer should you desire.

The Tassimo is fun, sleek in design so it looks great on your counter, and after initial set up and use, is fairly simple to use.  The time involved in making one cup may seem a bit much, but you the quality of the drink you end up with is very much worth the wait compared to canned instant coffee.

What makes the Tassimo more fun is seleting from a growing range of coffee products (and accessories), including:

• Starbucks Verona
• Gevalia Signature Blend
• Milka Hot Chocolate
• Chai Tea Latte

Disclosure: Tassimo T45 received from company for review

Rembrandt Whiten Your Teeth Holiday

LISTERINE® SMART RINSE™ Suggested Retail Price: $4.50 (food/drug retailers) for two 95 mL bottles	Make brushing fun this holiday season for the child in your life with these themed LISTERINE® SMART RINSE™ bottles. LISTERINE® SMART RINSE™ is a fluoride mouthrinse especially designed for kids to help protect teeth against cavities and clean the mouth beyond brushing alone. LISTERINE® SMART RINSE™ works like a magnet to attract the particles that brushing may leave behind and tints the particles –leaving proof in the sink of a cleaner mouth. The primary benefit of LISTERINE® SMART RINSE™ is the fluoride offered – an important ingredient to help provide extra cavity protection. And because it’s from the makers of LISTERINE® it also kills the germs that cause bad breath. · Vigorously swish 2 tsp of rinse between teeth for one minute and then spit out. Use twice daily as directed · Features one bottle of MINT SHIELD® flavor and one bottle of BERRY SHIELD® flavor · Recommended for children ages 6 and older
LISTERINE® Antiseptic and LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE Anticavity Mouthwash Suggested Retail Price: $4.50	These festively packaged bottles of LISTERINE® mouthwashes are the perfect size for holiday travel or stocking stuffers.  The two pack hosts one bottle of LISTERINE® Antiseptic in Cool Mint® flavor and one bottle of LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE Anticavity mouthwash. LISTERINE® Antiseptic Contains the combination of four essential oils and is clinically proven to kill germs that cause plaque, gingivitis and bad breath. The number one dentist-recommended brand of over-the-counter antimicrobial mouthrinse and the only nationally branded over-the-counter antimicrobial mouthrinse that has earned the ADA Seal of Acceptance. LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE Anticavity Mouthwash No other fluoride mouthwash is more complete than LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE Anticavity Mouthwash. There are 6 benefits in LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE Anticavity Mouthwash that give you a cleaner, healthier mouth: · Helping to prevent cavities · Restoring enamel · Strengthening teeth · Killing bad breath germs · Freshening breath · Fighting unsightly plaque above the gum line
LISTERINE® POCKETPACKS® Suggested Retail Price: $4.00 (mass retailers), $4.50 (food/drug retailers) for 3 ct	The perfect accessory for holiday festivities, these handy LISTERINE® POCKETPACKS® keep your smile ready for mistletoe moments. · Breath-freshening strips that dissolve instantly · Convenient pocke-sized packs to freshen breath while on-the-go · Shown in lab tests to kill 99% of germs that cause bad breath · Available in COOL MINT® and Cinnamon flavor · 72 strips per package

The REMBRANDT^® Collection

REMBRANDT® 2 Hour Whitening Kit Suggested Retail Price: $24.99	Clinically shown to visibly whiten teeth in just two hours for whiter teeth today Contains a proprietary BIO-AVAILABLE® peroxide that starts working immediately on contact The fastest whitening treatment available from REMBRANDT® COMFYTRAY™ applicators mold under hot water to form to teeth and make for an easy and comfortable application
REMBRANDT® Plus Peroxide Whitening Mouthwash Suggested Retail Price: $7.99	A first-in-category mouthwash that whitens and contains fluoride for enamel restoration Formulated with BIO-AVAILABLE® peroxide that starts working immediately on contact to powerfully whiten Visibly whitens teeth in twelve weeks and strengthens enamel when used just twice daily Infused with a premium blend of mints that deliver a long lasting fresh mint flavor Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) FREE for gentle and effective cleansing
REMBRANDT® Whitening Strips Suggested Retail Price: $24.99	A once daily treatment applied for 30 minutes that visibly whitens in just five days Strips conform to the unique shape of teeth and stay in place with enhanced FORMFIT™ Technology Formulated with a proprietary BIO-AVAILABLE® peroxide that starts working immediately on contact to powerfully whiten teeth
REMBRANDT® INTENSE STAIN™ Toothpaste Suggested Retail Price: $7.99	· Powerful stain-fighting ingredients effectively remove deep stains from coffee and wine · Clinically shown to whiten teeth for a brighter smile · Formulated with a unique blend of high-performing micro-polishing particles to cleanse, stain-fighting ingredients and fluoride to restore and strengthen enamel · Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) FREE for gentle and effective cleansing · Enhanced foaming ingredients create the perfect rich and creamy lather · Improved and longer lasting mint flavor
REMBRANDT® Plus Toothpastes Suggested Retail Price: $7.99	Unique formulation contains fast-acting BIO-AVAILABLE® peroxide to begin visibly whitening teeth on contact Clinically shown to whiten teeth with daily use Low abrasion formula for gentle and effective cleansing Available in Fresh Mint and Wintergreen flavors ·
REMBRANDT® Canker Sore Toothpaste Suggested Retail Price: $7.99	· Gently whitens and is specially formulated for individuals prone to canker sores · Formulated with a unique blend of high-performing micro-polishing particles to cleanse and fluoride to restore and strengthen enamel · Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) FREE for gentle cleansing · Improved mint flavor

Games Holiday Gift Guide

This is a look at a huge selection of newly released or re-released board games and other family games that families and kids might enjoy this holiday season.

HASBRO GAMES

Hasbro is one of the most recognized names in childrens games and board games.  Here is a look at some of their top games for this season:

Children Can Have Fun While Learning Important Skills with Educational Games from CARSON-DELLOSA PUBLISHING

All of the games listed below can be purchased on the Web at www.carsondellosa.com and at most leading specialty toy and teacher supply stores.

All-New CenterSOLUTIONS™ 2 Big Games – Designed to make learning fun, these new board games will help children ages four and up learn important basic skills such as visual discrimination and strategic thinking.

COLORS & SHAPES ROBOT RACE 2 Big Games — Learn colors and shapes with robot friends!

COUNTING Quest 2 Big Games — High seas adventures make counting fun!

Children are in for big learning fun with Carson-Dellosa’s new CenterSOLUTIONS™ 2 Big Games. Featuring a time-saving, ready-to-go format and directions printed directly on the game boards, 2 Big Games will quickly engage players with educationally sound, correlated instruction in exciting, easy-to-follow games that encourage kids to learn while they are having fun.

Developed with ease of use and quick clean-up in mind, CenterSOLUTIONS™ 2 Big Games open big and fold down quickly for easy storage. Measuring a giant 39” x 27”, the two-sided game mats are laminated for durability and can be used indoors or outdoors. Each game offers two different levels of game play for 2-4 players and includes 45 game cards, one spinner, and four playing pieces. $24.99 MSRP

New Games for Ages 6+

TIME TO RHYME

A fun twist on classic lotto and memory matching games that sharpens visual discrimination, vocabulary, phonics and classification skills, Time to Rhyme offers four separate game boards and 36 game cards, allowing for up to four players. $14.99 MSRP

New Games for Ages 7+

ZOOM AROUND TOWN

It’s a bumper-to-bumper game of passenger pickups. Travel around town on a journey to collect the most passengers in each of their vehicles as you work on math skills and make choices that help to sharpen strategic thinking. The game set includes one game board, one die, one number cube, four taxis, four limousines, four buses and 40 passenger cards. Zoom Around Town includes English, French and Spanish-language instructions. $14.99 MSRP

Award-Winning Favorites – Games

WHERE DO I LIVE? – Ages 4+

—–2009 Parents’ Choice Award and Creative Child Preferred Choice Award—–

Everyone has a home and it’s the players’ job to get them there in this colorful memory-matching game. Designed for young children, Where Do I Live? features large, chunky pieces for little hands. Twelve homes complement 12 animals to strengthen visual distinction, classification, and recollection skills. No reading is required to play the games, making them perfect for ESL (English as a Second Language) and ELL (English Language Learner) children. 2 to 4 players. $14.99 MSRP

PIRATES’ GOLD – Ages 7+

—–2009 Creative Child Preferred Choice Award—–

Search out buried treasure in this swashbuckling, high seas adventure. Travel from island to island battling other players and collecting the most gold coins to win. Pirates’ Gold is designed to strengthen strategic thinking, basic counting, skip counting, and addition skills. Featuring a unique 3-dimensional game board that pieces together like a puzzle, the game is filled with swashbuckling pirates and a bounty of shiny gold. Pirates’ Gold includes 1 game board, 5 ships, 3 dice and 40 playing cards. 2 to 4 players. $14.99 MSRP

EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS GAMES

Educational Insights offers a great collection of educational and fun toys for kids!

Blurt! (A NAPPA Honoree!)

• Fun, whole family game
• Roll the die and read the corresponding clue – all the players blurt their guesses. The first player to blurt the correct word moves ahead on the board.
• 3-12 players
• Ages 7 and up
• Retails for $29.99
• Available at www.amazon.com

Foamfetti

• Totally innovative new way to create fabulous 3-D artwork
• Available in 10 vibrant colors
• Take it out of the container and work it in your hands – squish it!
• Then sculpt it into your own creations (you can even make a ball that really bounces!), stick it to unfinished wood, like picture frames, or stick it to cardboard or paper to make a mosaic
• Dries hard to make permanent art
• Great creative outlet for kids
• Ages 5 and up
• Retails for $9.99 (3 1-ounce packs in 3 different colors)
• Available at the following online retailers: Amazon.com, Drugstore.com, DiscoverThis.com, Toysrus.com

Ticks Tacks Toes (A NAPPA Award Winner!)

• A clever twist on an old classic!
• Players take turns placing 3D ticks, tacks, and toes on the board
• Try to get tic tac toe strings of three in a row to win tokens
• Other players can score off your moves
• 2-4 player game
• Ages 6 and up
• Retails for $24.99

LEARNING RESOURCES GAMES

Learning resources provides educational and fun toys and games for children of all ages.

A BEE C Buzz Word Building Game

Designed for ages 6-9 and with a list price of $26.99, this game is a cool way for your child to learn letters, words, and spelling.  The inflatable bee hive is filled with letters and you can play a variety of games to help your child have fun learning to spell!

Count and Seek Pet House Game

A perfect way to teach your child responsibility and math at the same time, this game is designed for ages 4-6. Whether They Have Fins, Feathers Or Fur, These Pets Are ‘Counting’ On Kids For Care. Invites Players To Choose Their Favorite Pet, Then Count, Add And Subtract Their Way Around The House, Gathering All The Items Their Pet Needs.

MY VIRTUAL TUTOR NINTENDO DS GAME

My Virtual Tutor is a new interactive educational game for Pre-K through second graders ( 3 separate versions). Available exclusively for the Nintendo DS, My Virtual Tutor – Reading makes learning to read fun, affordable and portable.

My Virtual Tutor – Reading provides parents with the perfect learning tool for their kids on a platform they already love. The child holds their DS vertically like a book, interacting with the game through the easy to use touchpad screen. The game’s interactive modes are lead by an animated tutor. She reads books and encourages the child to complete fun exercises and quizzes to improve reading skills.

Developed as part of a university study at the University of Colorado, the program gives kids an opportunity to reinforce what they are learning in school and have fun while they practice.

Childrens Toys Holiday Guide

Here are some more cool childrens toys that you might consider for your kids as Christmas draws near!

Crayola Town Activity Set

Crayola and Wild Planet have teamed to offer one of the coolest multi-purpose (education and fun) toys for children this holiday season. The Crayola Town activity sets combine coloring, construction and creative play.

Your child can color different scenes and pop-up structures, then turn worn or broken crayons into animals, trees, street signs and other props in your 3-D town. Designed for kids ages 3 and up, Crayon Town sets are new for this holiday season in Neighborhood, Airport and Horse Ranch themes for $9.99 – $14.99 and larger Zoo and Construction Site themes for $19.99 – $26.99. Free coloring mat refills are available online at http://www.crayon-town.com, further extending the value of each set.

My five year old really loves the Crayola Town.  He enjoys playing with the animals more than the coloring, which emphasizes why, for the money, this is a good value.  To each his own.  One challenge we have is that our child gets frustrated with broken crayons and he has accidentally snapped some in the crayola animal pieces.  This is supposed to be part of the process of using the town, but it could present a challenge.  Still, Crayola Town is a great holiday toy.

• Crayon Town play demo here: http://tiny.cc/CrayonTown38
• Instructional video here: http://tiny.cc/CrayonTown

Crayola Digital Camcorder

While your child plays with the Crayola Town activity set, they might want to capture some of the memories with the Crayola Digital Camcorder with a 1.5″ color preview screen.  Easy to use with cool sound effect buttons, the digital camcorder can take digital photos and includes Video Genie video editing software for hours of fun and learning.  You can add music, credit and special effects to the videos your child comes up with.

The Crayola Digital Camcorder is designed for ages 5 and up!

Marvel Super Hero Squad Mini Racer

Pint sized and packed with power, Super Hero Squad Mini I/R Controlled Racers will dominate the road. Available in four different classic Marvel Minis: Spiderman, The Hulk, Wolverine and Iron Man, these mini cars come equipped with a cell phone size infrared remote delivering precise turns at all speeds and working headlights. They retail for $16.99 each.

Captain America, Wolverine and Iron Man Marvel Universe Remote Control Whip-it Racers are full function R/C vehicles equipped with working lights and a swivel chassis that allows sharp turns at super high speeds. They retail for $39.99 each.

Check them out at: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3537327&moduleName=Brand+Name+Secondary

Eye Can Art Printmaking Kit

Eye Can Art is an award-winning line of art kits.  Currently, there are four kits in the Eye Can Art line: Printmaking, Sumi-e Painting, Wax Drawing (encaustic), and Book in a Box. Each kit introduces an authentic art technique, with beautiful, unique results.

Eye Can Art is a small company based in Seattle. Eye Can Art’s founders are art educators and mothers.  In response to a call for high-quality, at-home art activities, combined with empathy for everyone’s busy schedule, they designed Eye Can Art: All-inclusive, repeat-use art kits that spark creative play.

Everything needed is included in each kit, right down to scissors and glue. And the kits always include enough materials to enjoy the projects multiple times, so they can be done several times by the same child, or the experience can be shared with a friend, parent, or sibling. At $24, Eye Can Art makes them a great value!

Here is a two minute video showing a boy demonstrating the Printmaking Kit, which we sampled and also enjoyed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0DlT5lt5FQ

All of the Eye Can Art kits are ideal for ages 5 to 12 (though adults enjoy them too), and retail for about $24. They can be found in specialty stores and museum shops around the country, and also online.

I mentioned that Eye Can Art is an award-winning company.  The Printmaking and Sumi-e kits won Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal awards, 2009, and the Book in a Box Kit won Creative Child Magazine’s Toy of the Year Award for 2009! These are on top of the Parents’ Choice awards our kits won last year.

Bachmann Trains

Established 176 years ago, Bachmann Trains is the leading provider of electric train sets. Two of their best sellers that you can get for under $100 this holiday season on Amazon include:

· The Yuletide Special by Bachmann Trains ($96 on Amazon.com) is perfect for under-the-tree fun and features Bachmann’s E-Z Track snap-fit track and roadbed system plus a steam locomotive and tender with an operating headlight, gondola, box car, old-time combine, body-mounted E-Z Mate couplers and snap-fit E-Z Track with 12 pieces curved track, straight track, and plug-in terminal retailer, power pack and speed controller, and illustrated instruction manual

· The Sante Fe Flyer by Bachmann Trains ($54 on Amazon.com) is a great train to haul freight across the deserts, mountains, and cities of the American landscape. Powered by a mighty Sante Fe FT Diesel locomotive with its distinctive “war bonnet” pain scheme, this sleek and powerful train deftly handles the every-changing terrain of the Southwest U.S. The Sante Fe Flyer ready-to-run train set includes diesel locomotive with operating headlight, open quad hopper, gondola, off-center caboose, body mounted E-Z Mate couples, snap-fit EZ Track including 11 pieces of curved track and one curved plug-in terminal retailer, power pack and speed controller, and illustrated instruction manual

We had a chance to try out the Santa Fe Flyer, which really is an awesome value train set for the money.  This is a perfect toy for an older child who is starting to express interest in toys with a bit more capability than figures and non-mobile toys.

Moon Sand Castle Starter set

Moon sand activity tables continue to be one of the most popular recreational activities in childcare centers nationwide.  Now, you can bring the fun home with this Moon Sand Castle Starter Kit from Glammatoys.com, a leading provider of quality toys in a variety of product categories.

Made by Delta of Sweden, the Moon Sand Starter Kit includes an mat, which inflates in less than a minute, a large bag of starter moon sand, and several cool toys that your child can use to shape sand castles and figures.

A neat secondary benefit of Moon Sand is that it offers a nice sensory toy for children with autism who requires extra sensory stimulation.

Spin Master Toys

Spin Master Ltd., the 3rd largest toy maker in the US. Here are some of their most popular and talked about toys for this holiday season!

Bakugan – This Fall, the most incredible Bakugan yet is introduced. The 7n1 Maxus Dragonoid. It combines 6 Bakugan Trap and 1 Dragonoid Bakugan to create the ultimate monster! Package includes 1 Gate Card and 1 Ability Card.

Air Hogs has two great new products:

Air Hogs Zero Gravity Laser – the all surface r/c car that can drive on any flat surface including the floor, up walls, even upside down on the ceiling. The Laser Zero Gravity has an innovative new type of control too – a laser. Just point and shoot the laser and the Zero Gravity Micro will follow it wherever it goes.

The Air Hogs Switchblade is a 2n1 flyer that takes off like a hovering UFO and can be transformed in-flight into a high powered jet.

Glodoodle – the new drawing toy that allows you to make incredible pictures with light! Simply turn on the Glodoodle and use either your finger or the simple drawing tool and watch your pictures come to life. Has three different colours.

Flick Trix is a new fingerbike line by Spin Master that gives BMX enthusiasts real authentic licensed replica BMX fingerbikes to ride and show off as collectables. It’s like Tech Deck for BMX.

Paperoni – the all new arts and crafts activity that uses simple rolls of paper to make incredibly creative works of art!

PixOs Ultimate Design Station – Create a huge variety of cool PixOs 2D designs and 3D creations and add on new moving parts like wheels and hinges for even more fun! Built with a fan and suction tool, the PixOs Deluxe Designer comes with everything you need for a total PixOs experience.

Magic Reveal – the new line of magical kitchen toys that provides hours of safe, make-believe cooking and baking fun using only water! Simply wet the sponge, place the Magic Reveal food item on the surface and it magically cooks just like in a real kitchen.

ChixOs Design-A-Luxury Loft – Introducing the latest addition to the PixOs family – ChixOs – a new line of dolls and play sets that let you create, accessorize and play with alongside your favorite PixOs creations. The ChixOs Design-A-Luxury Loft is the ultimate party palace with four rooms to explore and three dolls to make, there’s so much to decorate and create. Use the glitterator shower to magically cover your dolls with glitter for a fun night on the town.

The loft house is my son’s favorite of the Spin Master toys.  He has been using it to recreate scenes from one of his favorite movies of the moment – Up!

Organic Bug My Best Blocks-Advanced Builder set

Organic Bug is a self described company that offers “Sustainable Products Promoting Healthy Lifestyles”.  They truly do make great products and we have had the pleasure of trying several of them.

This holiday season you can give your child the gift of building blocks while supporting an organic, ecologically and environmentally sound company.

The 78 piece (lots of variety for creativity) MY Best Blocks Advanced Builder set has pieces made from rock maple that are sanded smooth (no splinters) with no finish.  The set was a 2005 winner of the Top Toy of the Year Award from Creative Child Magazine.

Evenflo’s Triumph Advance LX Convertible Car Seat Review

As a parent of a newborn, one of the most difficult decisions you have to make is selecting the right car seat for your youngster. Safety is a natural instinct for parents and it is never more important than when you are transporting your baby. One of the challenges is that car seats come in all shapes, sizes and price points, making your decision that much more complex.

Fortunately, we have rating services and trusted brands to help make things a bit easier. One of those most trusted brands is Evenflo, a leading provider of a variety of top products for newborns and infants. Evenflo’s Triumph Advance LX Convertible Car Seat was recently rated the #1 car seat for performance and price by Consumer Reports.

Watch Product Demo

The Triumph Advance is a convertible car seat, which many parents look for to get the best value from their car seat investment. A convertible seat meets safety requirements for rear-facing newborns and forwarding facing for young toddlers.

Evenflo’s convertible car seat is designed for Rear Facing needs of newborns and babies from 5-35 pounds who are at least 19″ long. Once your child reaches the 20-50 pound weight range, they can face forward in the convertible seat if they are at least one year old and less than 50″. Without conversion capabilities, you would typically need to be a new car seat to meet forward facing safety requirements.

Not all does the Evenflo car seat meet all require US Safety Standards and Evenflo’s own Side Impact Test Standard, it has a lot of other great features and benefits you wouldn’t find with any other $139.99 car seat. You get the Infinite Slide Harness (TM) for accurate fit, Infant Zone for comfort and support, and New Quick-Connector LATCH safely connects the Triumph to your car for use with the LATCH system.

Other benefits include the multi-position recline for comfort, Tension Right (TM) knobs for easy one hand harness tightening, easy off washable pads with memory foam, removable cupholder, removable body and head pillow, and 5 point harness.

We used other types of car seats with our last baby and while they worked reasonably well, there is no question there is much greater value and top-notch safety with the Evenflo Triumph Advance LX Convertible Car Seat. We have two Evenflo’s with this baby as we also got a carrier seat for our other car.

In the past, we have opted to go with infant seats and buy a second seat for forward facing. This obviously is the more expensive route and we were hyper-concerned about safety. Some people insist that convertible seats aren’t optimized for either rear-facing or forward-facing seating. Evenflo has got it right with their new convertible car seat, thus the #1 rating for comfort and safety!

Hexbug Nano Review

If you have a youngster whose stocking needs stuffed this holiday season with a fun but affordable toy, the HEXBUG Nano may be your best solution.  With a retail price of just $7.99, the Hexbug Nano from Innovation First International is an irresistible, ultra-engaging bug-like robotic toy that uses the physics of vibration and robotic intelligence to skitter along and explore its environment on smooth surfaces.

The HEXBUG Nano provides hours of fun for the entire family and is now available at ToysRUs & RadioShack stores nationwide.  As a nice add-on benefit, HEXBUG Nano fanatics interested in the lore of science and discovery can visit www.handandstars.com to test their knowledge of scientific history and key scientific discoveries, engage in online game play, and register their Nano collection to earn points and global prestige.  HEXBUGS are designed to engage and inspire kids at a young age by giving them a positive experience with robotics, ideally furthering their educational interest in science, technology, engineering, and math.

The HEXBUG Nano is without question the most interesting, entertaining, and sophisticated toy that costs less than $10 that I have ever seen.  One challenge we found is that the HEXBUG is so frisky that you should try to establish clear boundaries for them before you turn them loose.  They operate with a natural affinity for turning and flipping when faced with boundaries.  We ended up having to dig ours out from under the fridge and TV until we realized to keep them under wraps.

Described by my father in law as an electronic bug, the HEXBUG is sure to be a highlight for your child this Christmas!

Holiday Gift Guide For Babies

I wanted to share some gift ideas for the cute baby and toddler on your Christmas list this year. What gifts do you plan on buying this year?

Playskool has the cutest baby toys and we have bought many through the years. One reason is they are well made, so they will last through all of your children. I was happy to find out about a couple of their latest baby toys that I thought you might like for the cute baby or toddler on your Christmas list this year. Playskool prices are very reasonable and you can find their toys at these stores or online at www.hasbro.com. The Playskool website has fabulous deals of the day every day through Christmas and make sure to sign up for their newsletter to find out what they are.

Playskool Explore N Grow Activity Ball

The Activity Ball’s cute face and bright colors attracted our baby and when he is older he can play with the spinners and two balls that are inside. I like the fact he will enjoy playing with it as he gets older and finds out about the fun stuff inside. I think this is a nice toy to help children work on their fine motor skills. The price is around $16.99 and is for ages 6 months and up. Playskool usually has great coupon deals online so make sure and search Google before you shop.

TUMBLE ‘N TWIRL TOP

Twirl toys have been popular for years and children love them. I still remember my twirl toy. Our baby was fascinated for quite a while when we twirled the Tumble and Twirl Top for him. I think older babies and toddlers will have fun with this cute toy. Our five year old even had fun twirling it for the baby. The features are colorful and bright and it has a side door for them to find to release the balls. It comes with four balls. Another good toy for fine motor and gross motor skills. The price is around $19.99 and is for ages 6 months and up.

One of my favorite places for baby stuff is Kushies. I absolutely adore their toys and other products. They are not only durable but so colorful and cute. I was thrilled to receive their Zolo Crib Carousel Mobile for review for our new son. The mobile comes with five plush animals in bright patterns and colors. It also has a mirror on the bottom for the baby to look at himself.  Noah loves to look at it!  I hate to put things together and usually leave it to my husband, but when I tried, it was easy as pie. I explain that on the vlog below, just take a peek to see the cute mobile and the even cuter baby in the video below. Kushies has a great selection of toys for the holidays and other great gift ideas for baby and toddler as well. You can purchase the mobile on their website www.kushiesonline.com. They have some cute items on clearance as low as $1.99 right now!

It’s never to early to learn.  Numerous studies confirm that reading to infants not only boosts speech and language development, but overall intelligence as well. When you read to your baby, you set the stage for a lifetime of literacy. Brainy Baby offers many terrific products to parents that reflect the importance of that research.

This holiday season, Brainy Baby is making it easy and affordable to give the gift of learning to all of the important children in one’s life.  For a limited time only, Brainy Baby is offering three different holiday gift boxes at a specially discounted price that are sure to please inquisitive toddlers and young kids on anyone’s list.  The Happy Holidays Gift Box, Seasons Greetings Gift Box and Deluxe Seasons Greetings Gift Box all include a variety of Brainy Baby’s award-winning DVD’s, CD’s, books and flashcards.  If that’s not enough, each set is priced significantly below its retail value, saving shoppers a ton of holiday cash.

The Happy Holidays Gift Box pictured above, includes seven popular items,Jingle Bell DVD, Shapes & Colors DVD, Animals Book, ABCs DVD ,123s Flashcards , SingAlong CD and the Classical CD for $49.99.  You can see what the other gift boxes include and purchase them on their website www.brainybaby.com.

If you are looking for practical baby gifts, I am in love with this company. They have developed some unique products for baby to make life easier for mom and dad. I tested out the BabbaBurpie and was truly impressed. Not only are they attractive, they are durable and practical. The material is made of thick French terry cloth that soaks in all the milk easily. It is machine washable, and came out of the dryer looking just as new. When the burp cloth is soaked, I just turn it inside out and can keep using it. This is especially helpful for when we are out. Noah is a messy eater and the BabbaBurpie was a lifesaver on our long car trip over Thanksgiving. They come in a two pack in several designs. You can purchase them on their website www.babbaco.com or the stores listed here. You can read more about the mom owned company below.

BabbaCo is an innovative baby products company that makes ’simple. functional. super cute’ solutions for everyday parenting.  All of our products are high in functionality and style.  Our first product is the BabbaCover, an infant car seat cover that protects from cold weather, noise, and creates a great nap-time environment while on-the-go.  In just a year, we have won the iParenting Media Award and the PTPA (Parent Tested Parent Approved) Awards showing the “approval” from experts and real parents across the country.  I guarantee you haven’t seen anything quite like this!

K’NEX Review Holiday Guide 2009

A great fun and motor skill learning opportunity for your children this holiday season comes from K’NEX. We had a chance to review a 400 PCS Tub building block set for ages 7 and up and a Sesame Street Neighborhood Connection Building Set.

K’NEX is the latest in advanced construction building block sets:

For ages 7 and above, K’NEX has created the 400 PCS Tub that comes with building ideas for 20 different models and a convenient storage tub. Kids can also use their imagination to build whatever they are inspired to create.

For ages 2-5, K’NEX has created the Sesame Street Neighborhood Collection Building Sets. These sets let children build and then play with their favorite Sesame Street friends, including Elmo, Cookie Monster and Ernie.

Construction blocks are one of the best imaginative and motor skill development toys you can share with your children. While the 400 block tub offers a wide range of building options, our 5 year old really enjoyed the Sesame Street. In fact, he went right out and bought a similar Oscar the Grouch building set.

2009 Holiday Guide: Wii Games and Accessories

There has been perhaps no great invention in the modern era than the Nintendo Wii in terms of providing a venue and format for family entertainment.  Certainly, the Wii offers traditional gamers action, adventure and RPG classics that other video game systems have.  Yet, it also affords parents and younger children family-friendly opportunities for fun, interactive, and motion-driven video games.

The following is a guide to some of the best new Wii video games and accessories for the 2009 holiday season, with links to reviews and giveaways from our video game reviews partner (Game Room Reviews):

Resident Evil the Darkside Chronicles Wii Game Review and Giveaway:  This is an M-rated action horror game for traditional gamers that continues the popular movie/game franchies.

We Cheer 2 Wii Game Review: Rated E for 10+ (Mild suggestive themes), this is the sequel to one of the most popular cheerleading and dance video games of all time, We Cheer.  You can learn all the cheer moves and build a championship squad!

Family Game Night 2 Wii Game Review: Rated E for Everyone, this is the second edition of the best HASBRO games on the Wii.  Five all new games for family game night.

Squeeballs Party Wii Game Review: Rated E for 10+ because of mild cartoon violence, Squeeballs Party lets you test out these little round creature toys before they leave the Pacific Island for children’s homes.  Play bowling, cannon launch and more.

Where the Wild Things Are Wii Game Giveaway: This is a cool family game based on the book and movie.  It is Rated E for Everyone 10+.

Scene It Wii Game Review: Based on the popular DVD board game for movie trivia fanatics, this Wii movie trivia game is intended to challenge fans with movie trivia, competition, and movie clips challenges.  It is Rated T for Teen.

Active Life Extreme Challenge Wii Game and Mat: Action sports game which relies on Active Life Mat for play with games like skateboarding, BMX biking, rock climbing and more.  It is Rated E for Everyone.

More Holiday Wii Games to come….

Other great Video Game Giveaway from Game Room Reviews

• WondaWedge Gamers Chair Review and Giveaway
• Darkest of Days Computer Game Giveaway
• Video Games Shirt Giveaway
• Electronic Dream Phone Giveaway

Next Page »