“Pure learning fun.” The new tagline for LeapFrog was a fitting greeting for the educational toy company’s holiday showcase this week in NYC. We were on hand to find out what’s big in teaching toys and from judging by the looks of the LeapFrog line-up, there’s plenty of opportunities to get kids excited about learning. First off, we had a chance to experience the just-released LeapReader. Bearing a striking resemblance to LeapFrog’s Tag Reader, this multi-level learning tool steps its up a notch or two, enabling kids to learn the basics of reading, begin to write their letters and enjoy the experience of listening to audio books. With so much functionality in one product, parents may wonder just how capable this product is in keeping [&hellip
hot holiday toys Archive
Less than six months until Christmas; have you started shopping yet? Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending two holiday previews–Disney and LeapFrog–and boy, did I get some ideas for what toys might find their way onto wish lists this December. Over at the Disney showroom, there were plenty of stars competing for attention. We couldn’t help but fall hopelessly in love with the Monsters University products (if you haven’t seen the movie yet, run–don’t walk to the theater; in our humble opinion, it beats the original!). From crib bedding that’s already selling out, to Roll a Scare figures that make great stocking stuffers, Sulley, Mike Wazowski and the whole gang were front and center. Our favorite was the Monsters University Sulley Monster Mask, with [&hellip
The clock is ticking, and you still haven’t found the perfect gift for your perfect kid. Wouldn’t it be nice to surprise them with something that Santa might not be able to fit in his sleigh, but that will guarantee many hours of active play? Even better than that, how about a gift that ties into your own New Year’s resolution (yet again) to get more exercise together as a family? Enter the Baby Jock Edition by FirstBIKE. It’s a lightweight bike that vows to get your kid up and riding, sans the training wheels. And did we mention there are no pedals either? The idea is to enable kids ages 2-5 to balance themselves from the very start, without fretting over pedaling their feet [&hellip
My daughters have reached the age where they’re starting to play with some of the same toys. The 4-year-old loves her Calico Critters, and her 8-year-old sister is willing to join in the fun…even if she does turn the furry friends into aliens (that still counts as playing, right?). What becomes more of a challenge is when my little one tries desperately to keep up with her big sister’s gaming sessions. While I’m not a huge fan of handheld entertainment (why rely on a machine when you can be using your imagination?), that’s becoming a more difficult pill to swallow as the kids get older. So when we can find some electronic games that tap into their creative sides, then I’m all for a little [&hellip
The block corner is one of my 4-year-old’s favorite part of her preschool classroom. There’s a variety of different styles from which to choose, from traditional, wooden cubes to colorful, cardboard blocks meant to resemble bricks. At home, she’s fortunate to have inherited her father’s childhood assortment of maple wood blocks, which she uses to build bridges, cities and other urban landscapes. Plus, there’s the foam blocks we have for the tub…let’s just there’s no shortage of construction opportunities in the course of her day. After playing with the translucent blocks at the library, we thought we’d seen it all…until The Land of Nod rolled out its brand-new block collection for the holidays. The aptly named It Makes a Village features an assortment of watercolor-hued [&hellip
I don’t know what my 4-year-old likes more: watching Disney’s “Doc McStuffins,” or emulating the main character. Right after watching an episode, she opens up her pretend pet vet kit, grabs an unsuspecting plush pal and sets up shop. (Luckily, our cat has yet to enlist as a patient.) I can’t say I’m surprised, as the animated TV show that stars the pint-sized physician has already made quite a name for itself with the preschool crowd. It gives kids their daily dosage of cute (how adorable is Lambie?), while delivering a parent-approved message of staying healthy. So when Toys R Us came out with its list of top toys for this year’s holiday shoppers, we knew Doc McStuffins Time for Your Check-up Doll would make [&hellip
My kids may not know their Lynyrd Skynyrd from Kid Rock, but it doesn’t mean they don’t like to rock out to the guitar riffs on “Sweet Home Alabama.” Because we’re a musically diverse family whose tastes range from the Dead Kennedys to the Presidents of the United States of America, it’s not uncommon to see us break into spontaneous dance or to pull out the air guitar when a resident grown-up is on KP duty. Naturally, my daughters want to follow suit and with a cool gadget like Air Picks, now even they can look like bona fide rockers even if they can’t play a note. Simply select one of three songs on your Air Pick, strum in time to the music and it’ll [&hellip
Sometimes, my 3-year-old favors her bunny over Mommy. Her menagerie of stuffed rabbits, bears and other furry friends rivals the residents of the Bronx Zoo, and their many adventures are fueled by her active imagination. Just this afternoon, an elephant joined a skunk in outer space; they met aboard a rocket ship (I kid you not). I don’t take it personally when I’m not invited along on these outings; I secretly savor just listening in to a young, creative mind at play. Because my preschooler’s stuffed animal stories can become especially detailed at times–and her friends may don different appearances or turn into new creatures altogether–these plush playthings seem to cry out for a updated look. If you know of an equally imaginative child who [&hellip
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