T is for Toys: What to Know Before Buying Them

8 Mistakes To Avoid When Buying Toys

Each year many children are treated in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries. Even innocent-looking toys such as marbles and balloons can present a hazard to small children. The National Safe Kids Campaign recommends avoiding the following when choosing toys:

·      Toys with small removable parts. Small parts are hazardous and can pose a choking hazard to children under age 3. Use a small-parts tester (which can be purchased at a toy or baby specialty store) to measure the size of the toy or part. If the piece fits entirely inside the tube, then it is considered a choking hazard.

·      Toys with sharp points or edges. Children may unintentionally cut themselves or another person.

·      Toys that produce loud noises. Toy guns, high-volume music players and other loud toys can permanently impair a child’s hearing. Many toys have decibel levels high enough to cause hearing loss.

·      Toy darts and other projectiles. Propelled toys can cause cuts or serious eye injuries.

·      Toys with strings, straps or cords longer than 7 inches. Long strings and cord could wrap around a child’s neck and unintentionally strangle him or her.

·      Electrical toys. Electrical toys are a potential burn hazard. Avoid toys with a heating element, including batteries and electrical plugs, for children under age 8.

·      Toys painted with lead paint. Exposure to lead can result in lead poisoning, causing serious damage to a child’s brain, kidneys and nervous system. If the toy is a family heirloom, be sure the paint is safe. In addition, toys manufactured in other countries may also contain lead paint. Lead testing kits are available at hardware and baby supply stores.

·      Toy cap guns. Aside from potentially encouraging violent play, paper roll, strip or ring caps can be ignited by the slightest friction and cause serious burns.

Source with More Information:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/learning/safe_toys.html
https://www.safekids.org/safetytips/field_risks/toy-safety?


Enjoy your holidays with the kids, but be safe.
Happy Parenting,
Tania :)

Photo courtesy of Tania Cowling, all rights reserved

Holiday Gift Guide 2018 -- Art and Creativity

What is your theme for gift giving to children this season? This year I’m leaning toward creativity. Things the kids can make and do during their holiday break from school. Look at your toy list holistically. Try to match the toy to the child’s interest and abilities. And, an important factor is purchasing age-appropriate toys/kits from well-respected companies that will provide playthings that will last and abide by the safety rules. Here are a few to consider during your 2018 holiday shopping trips.

OnTel Products Make the MagicPad

MagicPad™ features an amazing crystal-clear, light-up screen that not only brings art to life, but also makes learning fun! The kids just insert one of the stencils behind the screen featuring games, art or learning. Once their drawing is complete, press the color-change button to choose from 8 different light effects to see their creation glow! They can also create freely without using s stencil.

The MagicPad’s screen easily wipes clean and is portable for fun on the go.  It also has a built-in stand, so kids can display their creations, or it makes for a perfect nightlight. Each set includes a MagicPad™, 3 Dual-Sided Neon Pens (for six total colors), 30 Stencils, a Glow-Boost Card, Eraser Cloth and a Fun Guide.

Recommended Age: 3+ with a MSRP of $19.99

Availability: Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid and https://www.buymagicpad.com/?mid=9800765

VTech Makes the DigiArt Color by Lights™

Let lights guide the way as you create your next masterpiece with DigiArt Color by Lights™. The light-up board identifies each of the 50 included coloring pages and responds by showing what color to use in each section. Download more pages online for unlimited printing and play. Connect the light-up dots to draw shapes, objects and animals. The art board features a dry-erase surface and a stencil card for more creative play, plus a variety of melodies to enjoy while creating your work of art. Color and create with light!

Ages 3-6 with a MSRP of $21.99

DigiArt Spirals & Sounds™

Create unique spiral art designs with DigiArt Spirals & Sounds™. Place a piece of letter size paper (not included) inside the electronic art board, choose an animal stencil, then use one of the five included gears and the marker to make fun and intricate spiral patterns. Place an animal stencil in the board and press the talk button to hear creative encouragement, fun facts and a silly rhyme about the animal. Roll a gear inside the animal stencil to trigger funny sounds. Switch to music mode to hear 20 cheerful melodies while you create. Let your creativity soar with spirals!

Ages 3-6 years, $19.99 is the MSRP

Kidi Secrets Selfie Journal™ by VTech

Protect your thoughts and dreams with the Kidi Secrets Selfie Journal™. Make a photo journal, write diary entries or record messages and keep them safe. Facial recognition software unlocks the journal only when it recognizes your face. Features front and rear cameras so you can take selfies and pictures of your friends. A full suite of mini-apps includes games, photo and video filters, music and utilities that give you a variety of activities to play. Create new looks for yourself and your friends, care for a virtual pet, decorate photos and videos, play learning games and more! You're the key to this diary!

Age 6 Years+, $49.99 is the MSRP

And of course we can’t forget about making music. This activity enhances the creative side of learning.

Kidi Star Music Magic Microphone™ by VTech

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 MSRP

These are just a few of the many toys that are available for gifts this year. I feel that these toys and others by these companies are perfect for hands-on fun during the upcoming holidays. Check out the company’s websites for more ideas.

VTech -- https://www.vtechkids.com/holiday_gift_guide

OnTel Toys and Products -- https://www.ontelcatalog.com

Photos by Tania Cowling, all rights reserved

Package photo courtesy of pixabay.com jill111 / 1314 images

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.

Who Doesn't Like Flowers on Valentine's Day?

Valentine's Day (February !4th) is just around the corner. Whether you are receiving flowers or giving these beauties to loved ones, here are some flower hacks from 1-800-Flowers that I have permission to share with you. Enjoy!

"7 Shopping Hacks from 1-800-Flowers.com to Help You Score the Perfect Gift for Your Valentine

1. Shop early and save BIG. Customers who order their Valentine’s Day flowers before February 4, can take advantage of exclusive discounts – so act swiftly and let the smiles begin!

2. Decide whether to vase or not to vase? 1-800-Flowers.com offers expertly-designed arrangements from local florists that arrive in vases, as well as gorgeous Valentine bouquets Fresh From Our Growers™ that arrive in gift boxes – either with or without a vase. If your Valentine loves DIY floral designing, skip the vase and save some money by ordering an arrangement labeled “Shipped in a Gift Box” and selecting the “Bouquet Only” option.

3. Sign up for email and mobile text alerts. Be sure to visit 1-800-Flowers.com and sign up for email alerts to receive updates in real-time about special rose offers and more. Additionally, download the mobile app and sign up for text alerts to receive notifications about exclusive, limited-time offers.

4. Office envy is a thing – don’t wait until the 14th. Send flowers to arrive at your sweetheart’s office on the Monday or Tuesday before Valentine’s Day. Not only will you impress with your bold proclamation of love, but your dazzling gift will be on display for all co-workers to see! Plus, an earlier delivery will give the flowers extra time to bloom, so they can be enjoyed at peak form on the actual holiday.

5. Quick order status updates? Check! 1-800-Flowers.com’s new, easy-to-use online Customer Service Hub provides real-time updates on order status, options for order modification and live chat support. Utilizing this online service will help save time and effort this Valentine’s Day.

6. Score free and fast shipping. 1-800-Flowers.com offers a great Celebrations Passport loyalty program, where members enjoy unlimited free standard shipping and no service charge on all orders year-round across the company’s entire family of brands, including Simply Chocolate, Harry & David, Cheryl’s Cookies and more!

7. Nip potential disappointment in the bud. Buying gifts for teachers or other professionals with varied schedules? Does your sweetheart work in a building that closes ahead of typical business hours? Consider ordering for a February 13th delivery to ensure receipt as you intended, as deliveries on Valentine’s Day usually continue into the early evening hours. This will eliminate any unnecessary anxiety as you wait for your Valentine to receive your thoughtful gift.

And…that’s it! As long as you keep these expert shopping hacks in mind, finding the perfect Valentine’s Day gift will be easier than ever before."

Photos courtesy of Pixabay.com -- CCO Creative Commons

More Valentine ideas for the kids coming soon!

Happy Parenting,
Tania

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.

Check Out These Sneakers With Pizazz

What do you buy a kid or parent who has everything? Why not some sneakers that can get a party started with colorful bright lights? Yes, that's right! These plain black sneakers have LED lights in the midsole that can be the hit of a party or any outing.

Yvolution has just presented their NEON KYX sneakers just in time for holiday buying!

These shoes are available in kid sizes 10 - 6, men's sizes 5 -12, and women's sizes 4 -12. Inside the tongue of the shoe is a cable switch where you can choose between 7 different colors and 4 cool settings (pulse, flicker, strobe, and gradual morphing). Can you believe that your sneakers can be set to match your mood or outfit?

These sneakers (in black, white, or red) are perfect for fun at home or out on-the-town depending on the age of the person wearing them. Set them in Christmas colors or your school's colors. They are so cool --- even this grandmother is wearing these "hot" looking shoes to make a serious fashion statement. I can't wait to wear them to my Christmas Eve Party.

The shoes include a USB charging cable so the lights never go out!

They can be found nationwide at Toys "R" Us. Retail price is between $69.99 ad $74.99.

I'll leave you while I'm dancing in my shoes. Until next time.
Happy Parenting,

Tania :)

Note: The manufacture company provided me a sample pair of these shoes.  I was not paid for this review and statements are my own opinion.

Photos by Tania Cowling, all rights reserved