Gift Guide: Toys That Entertain and Educate

How do you find toys that children will play with long after the wrappings have been recycled? Think about what kind of play your children are involved and the toys that match. Do they need an active toy, something that can be played alone, or a game that requires a group? Here are a few favorites from Playmates and VTech toys.

Kuroba Training Pack by Playmates Toys

The Kuroba toy line is an all-new collectible line of cube-shaped creatures that puts a twist on the classic game of “rock-paper-scissors.” Each player selects rock, paper, or scissors, then folds up a Kuroba creature and locks it into game mode. They then slide two Kuroba toward each other, and the winning Kuroba literally captures the other!

Collect all 16 Kuroba, mix and match their panels to create unique Kuroba, and battle against friends to become a master Kuroba Keeper!

Read about Playmates Toys new Kuroba on their website. Watch Kuroba webisodes and other fun videos on the Kuroba World YouTube Channel or visit KurobaWorld.com. 

Photographed is the training pack with 1 transforming creature, 1 practice cube and 1 creature gem. The kids can practice their Kuroba battle skills and later increase their creatures for a world of fun.

This starter pack is recommended for kids ages 6 and up. It’s currently available at Target, Amazon, and Walmart with a MSRP of $8.99 each.

New Products by VTech Toys – check this website for all products!

Kidi Star Music Magic Microphone™

Set out on the path to stardom with the Kidi Star Music Magic Microphone™. Be the lead singer with this interactive microphone that features Music Magic mode, which reduces the main vocal track of your favorite songs so your own voice is center stage! Easily connect your MP3 player or mobile device and sing along to favorite tunes from your collection. The microphone is packed with exciting features like four games, four original songs, a voice changer with four effects and an applause button. Record yourself for up to two minutes and enjoy your performance again and again! Age 5 Years+, $29.99

Kidi Star also has a Karaoke Machine, which also includes a disco light and audience sounds like applause, cheering and laughter. Your child will feel like he/she is on a concert stage. This toy records the performance up to five minutes. It is recommended for ages 5 years and up, retailing at $49.99.

MickeyMouse has turned 90 years old, and in his honor, the VTech toy company has produced a variety of playthings.

Go! Go! Smart Wheels® Mickey Ramps Fun House

Ramp up the fun with Go! Go! Smart Wheels® Mickey Ramps Fun House. Take Mickey Mouse on an adventure with tracks that can mix and match to form three different play routes, two launch zones and includes two SmartPoint® locations. Watch Mickey Mouse and his Convertible ride around the track and off the ramp to see how far he can go! Spin the flower or the flag to promote motor skills or activate the SmartPoint® locations to listen to Mickey Mouse say fun phrases and encouraging words. Let’s jump to it! Ages 1-5 Years, $19.99.

And we can’t forget about Mickey’s girlfriend Minnie!

Go! Go! Smart Wheels® Minnie Ice Cream Parlor

Little sweeties will have a delightful time creating, exploring and playing with the Go! Go! Smart Wheels® Minnie Ice Cream Parlor. Take a ride with Minnie Mouse and her Ice Cream Truck down the tracks and through the gate, activating three SmartPoint® locations as you go. Drop ice cream shapes into the shape sorter and into Minnie Mouse’s Ice Cream Truck, raise the elevator, spin the gears and move the gate to promote motor skills. Listen to Minnie Mouse’s voice say fun phrases and encourage pretend play.  So brush off that sweet tooth and bite into this adventure! Perfect for ages 1-5 years, $29.99.

For more Disney adventure toys check out this website. 

Play is the very foundation of a child’s emotional, social, physical, cognitive and linguistic growth. Children learn through play – plain and simple. Including some of these toys will quench the toy wish and promote learning as well not only during the holidays but all year long.

Photos by Tania Cowling, all rights reserved
Package photo courtesy of pixabay.com

I would like to thank these companies for providing me samples of their products for my review. There was no payment for my blog post.

Holiday Gift Guide: Playmates Toys

As November approaches, it’s time to think about some serious holiday shopping for the kids. Since our kiddos love toys, I thought I would start with a gift guide with fun and educational items from Playmates Toys.

Does your child like to play alone or with a friend? Is play one of action or imagination? Here is a list of favorites from Playmates Toys that can fit whatever playful mood your child is in for the day.

Voltron: Legendary Defender

Playmates Toys is the master toy licensee for DreamWorks Animation's Voltron: Legendary Defender. This critically acclaimed series debuted as a Netflix original in June 2016, with the fourth season coming to Netflix in October 2017. The series is a contemporary reimagining of the pop culture phenomenon featuring five young pilots of mystical robot lions that combine to form Voltron, the most powerful defender in the universe. This action figure assortment features four fully articulated Lion figures that can transform and combine with the Electronic Black Lion to form a 16" fully-articulated Voltron figure with phrases and sounds.

Ben 10

“Playmates Toys is introducing a full range of toys based on the animated series. The new Cartoon Network series, which premiered in the U.S. in April 2017, is centered on fun loving, 10-year-old, Ben Tennyson, his cousin Gwen and Grandpa Max as they travel the country during summer vacation. Once Ben finds the Omnitrix, a mysterious watch that transforms him into 10 different heroic aliens, a world of extraterrestrial superpowers opens up to him.”

If you child is into this television series, he/she is apt to collect action figures that are part of the story. Playmates have these figures all around 5-inches tall and painted with extreme details. Some figures come with accessories that complement their costume. The assortment includes Ben & Grey Matter, Heatblast, Diamondhead, Four Arms, Cannonbolt, XLR8, Overflow, Wildvine, Stinkfly, Upgrade, Hex, Steam Smythe & Dr. Animo. These toys are recommended for children ages 4+ and cost around $8.99 each.

Along with the action figures, your kiddo may want the main vehicle seen in Cartoon Network’s new Ben 10 animated series, the Rustbucket, which is a 2-in-1 vehicle that transforms into a giant 3-level playset standing over 2 feet tall. The set features include an alien transformation chamber, plasma blaster, “alien-vator”, grabbing claw, alien lab and more. Now, the kids can get involved in pretend play between this playset and all the action figures. This vehicle costs $49.00 MSRP and suitable for ages 4 and up.

And, if your child wants to dress and act like all the heroes, why not present him with a Ben 10 Deluxe Omnitrix watch. Kids can turn the dial to choose an alien and press down on the dial to begin play.  Includes over 100 alien phrases and motion activated sound effects! This watch retails for $24.99.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The TMNT have made a comeback the last couple of years and still so popular. What kid wouldn’t want a Micro Mutants Deluxe Sweeper Ops Vehicle Playset? They can clean up the streets of New York City with this set that is two toys in one. With the deluxe spiral sweeper, kids can sweep up all of their Micro Mutants action figures and vehicles by rolling over them and transporting them into the Turtles holding jail! Once the trash is collected, transform the Sweeper vehicle into a multi-level Operational Headquarters playset designed with multiple levels of play and tons of play features to discover!  The Sweeper Ops Vehicle Playset includes three fully articulated micro action figures (Leonardo, Raphael and Shredder). This toy is suitable for ages 4+ and retails at $39.99.

++All toys are available at mass retailers

This is one of a series of gift guides I'm going to present. Keep checking this blog for more guides, holiday crafts, and more.

Until then -- Happy Parenting!

Tania

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I want to thank Playmates Toys for the opportunity to view their products. I was not paid or coached to write this blog post. The information about the products was provided and these are my own opinions.

Ben 10 Has a Toy Line From Playmates Toys

So, what are your kids doing this summer? Do they watch the Cartoon Network? Have they found interest in Ben 10?

"The new Cartoon Network series is centered on fun loving, 10-year-old, Ben Tennyson, his cousin Gwen and Grandpa Max as they travel throughout the country during summer vacation. Once Ben finds the Omnitrix, a mysterious watch that transforms him into 10 different heroic aliens, a world of extraterrestrial superpowers opens up to him."

“Fans of Cartoon Network’s new Ben 10 series will now be able to bring home the action-packed adventures seen in the show,” said Karl Aaronian, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Playmates Toys. “The expansive toy line that we developed includes unique transformations, special features and technology to provide kids with an imaginative play experience where their favorite characters are brought to life.”

The toy line from Playmates Toys features the following:

• The Basic Action Figure assortment features a variety of 5-inch, highly detailed and articulated figures based on the show, including Ben Tennyson, the 10 different heroic aliens that he transforms into and key villains from Season 1. Other figure assortments include Deluxe Power Up figures, with lights and sounds, and Giant 10-inch figures. See photo above.

• The Rustbucket Vehicle & Playset, the main vehicle seen in the show, transforms into a 3-level playset that stands over 2 feet tall and is packed with action features including an alien transformation chamber, plasma blaster, alien lab and more. 

• Rounding out the collection is role play, including both a Basic and Deluxe Omnitrix, allowing kids to transform into any one of Ben’s 10 aliens, and Transform-N-Battle gauntlets and masks.

As a former teacher, parent, grandparent and writer, I truly love interactive play and make-believe. These toys bring the series to life, as your youngster can pretend to be any of the characters in the story. And as the experts say, "Imagination is essential in the learning process and can advance cognitive development. ... Through imaginary games and storytelling children are more likely to adapt learning habits, develop their communication skills and improve their vocabulary."

Drop by any Toys R Us store (or online) to find these fun toys. 

Sources for review:

The Wait Is Over – It’s Hero Time! Press Release, El Segundo, CA, June 6, 2017

Toys R Us

Photo by Tania Cowling

I want to thank Playmates Toys for the opportunity to try their product. I was not paid or coached to write this blog post. The information about the product was provided and these are my own opinions.

Gift Guide: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Are Still a Hit With the Kids

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) are still a hit this season thanks to Nickelodeon’s TV show and the comeback of these characters in their recent movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.  Why not invite your children to engage in pretend play with these toys offered by Playmates Toys?

Action Figures and Vehicles

The collection of action figures (see picture) inspired by the film includes Basic Action Figures, 6-inch Battle Sounds Figures and 11-inch Action Figures. In addition to being highly detailed, fully poseable and uniquely sculpted to capture the personalities and distinctive appearance of the Turtles, allies and villains in the movie, each figure comes equipped with its own unique accessories.

The 5-inch Basic Action Figures include the four Ninja Turtles--Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo--as well as Stealth Leonardo, Pirate Michelangelo, Wingsuit Raphael, April O’Neil, Bebop, Rocksteady, Casey Jones, Foot Soldier, Kraang, Splinter and Shredder. Other action figure assortments include the 11-inch Action Figures and the 6-inch Battle Sounds Figures, which feature a button on the figure’s backpack that triggers up to ten sounds and phrases from the movie. Both assortments include the four Ninja Turtles, as well as Bebop and Rocksteady.

As seen in the movie, the “Turtle Tactical Truck” is full of awesome foot fighting gear including giant nunchucks that can be deployed as the vehicle rolls, a capture net and ninja stars that can be launched to give the Turtles an edge during battle. The truck also features a working forklift and is designed to hold all four Ninja Turtles.

Playsets

New this season is the Half-Shell Headquarters Playset. It’s specifically designed for preschoolers with four levels of Ninja Turtle fun.

The transforming playset unfolds to reveal new play areas, including street level trap doors that lead to different areas of the Ninja Turtles' lair, a slide in each hand including one that's a manhole-popping secret entrance, and the playset's foot turns into a jail cell!

With this many transformations, twists and turns, kids can either guide the Turtles to safety or send Shredder and his gang right to jail! This set includes Raphael and Bebop 2.5" action figures (compatible with most Half Shell Heroes action figures). This toy is recommended for ages 3 and up. 

Standing over 40-inches tall, the “City Sewer Lair Playset” is packed with Turtle action, including an oven-styled pizza disc launcher, water slide entrance that is seen in the movie and more.  With over 15 features and multi-levels to play, kids can recreate the entire Turtles’ best battles from the movie in play areas including Splinter’s mediation area and Raphael’s gym.

Another New Toy

Another new toy for the younger set is Talk-to-Me Mikey. The children can have hours of fun conversing, singing and playing games with Michelangelo, the most fun-loving and energetic of all the Turtles.  As one of the most intelligent Turtle toys ever, Talk-to-Me Mikey recognizes when a child asks any of a list of 10 questions and responds in over 100 unique ways. The highly interactive Turtle features movement and position sensors to react hilariously based on how a child moves Mikey (shake or spin him!).

These are just a few of the variety of TMNT items that Playmates Toys has to offer for your child’s entertainment this season. Search your local toy stores for these toys or online at:

Check out their website  

Amazon

Until my next post,

Happy Parenting,

Tania  :)

Note: – Information and samples are from the manufacturer. I was not compensated for this review.