Rainy Days and Mondays: Toys Kids Enjoy

As summer vacation rolls in, so does the rain and heat. There are just some days where your kids can’t go outdoors and play. The kiddos then get bored and can’t think of what to do next. So, this is the time to keep some new toys in your arsenal for fun. Here are a few of my favorite new top finds.

If you are looking for some experiment-type activities that also integrates STEM learning check out these two kits from Horizon Group USA. I like this type play that become teachable moments. 

Discovery Quick Sand

MSRP: $5.00

Age Recommendation: 6+

Experiment with non-Newtonian fluids by creating your own Quick Sand! Make swirling, slimy sand that glows in the dark. Real quicksand in nature acts as a liquid when it is agitated, which causes you to sink. With your homemade quicksand, solid objects will slowly get swallowed up! Try placing a small object on your quicksand and watch it sink.

Available at Michaels, Bed Bath & Beyond

Discovery Rainbow Putty

MSRP: $5.00

Age Recommendation:  6+

Product Description: Experiment with polymers and create your own Rainbow Putty! Polymers are long strings of molecules, and they all act differently. Some can be hard, some slimy and runny, and others rubbery and bouncy. Your Rainbow Putty is a bouncy polymer. Make, bounce, and stretch your putty! Combine as many colors as you like to make rainbow swirl!

Available at Michaels, Bed Bath & Beyond

For the younger kids, VTech provides fun toys that teach skills. If you have an animal lover, like my Matthew, check out this toy.

GearZooz™ GearBuddies Lion & Mouse™

•               Go for a friendly spin with the GearZooz™ GearBuddies Lion & Mouse™.

•               Kids can connect the Smart Gear™ mouse and turn the handle to watch the gears spin. Placing the mouse on the lion’s back triggers fun phrases and stories. They can also turn the handle gear to hear a melody, then turn the handle faster and faster to speed up the melody.

•               Press the light-up button to hear fun stories, or roll the lion to hear playful sing-along songs.

•               Then, mix and match with other GearZooz™ playsets (sold separately) for more gear-rific fun!

•                Ages 1½ - 4 years, $9.99

And last in my arsenal is from LeapFrog.

Tad's Fridge Phonics™

•               Make learning the alphabet exciting with Tad’s Fridge Phonics™!

•               This interactive toy introduces children to the letters of the alphabet and the sounds they make, helps build vocabulary and exercises fine motor skills.

•               Kids can place one of the 26 musical letter tiles into the letter slot and press down for three modes of play that reinforce letter names, phonics and word skills.

•               Three frames can be customized with personal photos and images for a unique, personalized play experience. And, with its magnetic base, it’s great for fridge play in the kitchen.

•               Age 2 years+, $19.99

These are only a few of the many toys these companies provide. Check out their websites for more options.

Keep the summer fun (indoors and out) -- Happy Parenting,
Tania

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

Photos courtesy of Tania Cowling, all rights reserved.
Graphics by pixabay.com  CC0 Creative Commons

Dr. Jacobs Naturals -- Natural Soaps for the Family

Today, I would like to discuss the importance of going natural. I personally do not like chemicals of any kind. I don’t want to ingest them, smell them, or put them on my body. Remember your skin is the largest organ of the body and keeping it safe from chemicals is of utmost importance.

I recently had the opportunity to try Dr. Jacobs Naturals. I was given three castile soap products and I have to say, “I’m in love”! I found these soap products easy to use; they rinse off clean, and smell great. I’m also not a big fragrance person, but these products have light, desirable scents made with natural essential oils. A plus!

I enjoyed the Almond Honey for my daily routine – my favorite. BUT, the Peppermint gave me an invigorating lift in the morning. Dr. Jacobs Naturals also sells bar soaps (which some people prefer). I had the opportunity to test the Coco Loco Limeade (so fresh). These bars are also gentle castile soap, but with a loofah exfoliating experience.

Here is a list of what I like about Dr. Jacobs Naturals:

• 100% natural ingredients; no preservatives or coloring
• No synthetic fragrances
• Non GMO
• Paraben and Sulfate free
• Gluten free (a must for people with Celiac disease)
• No palm oil

The soaps are multipurpose; can be used as a body wash, shampoo, and even a shaving product. It can be used on the face and body.

• Aloe Vera and vitamin E for moisture
• Includes Shea butter
• PETA approved
• Vegan and Cruelty Free
• Made in the USA

The products are packaged in attractive dispensers, some with easy to use pumps. There are a variety of scents to choose from. Check out this WEBSITE for more information and ordering.  

Trust me – you will love these products for the entire family. It feels good to do something healthy for the body and the environment.

Until next time – Happy Parenting,

Tania

I want to thank Dr. Jacobs Naturals for the opportunity to try 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.

It’s Finally Time for Some Outdoor Play

Spring has finally come and the weather is now conducive for outdoor play.  It’s time for the kids to put down those digital games (not that they don’t have merit) and grab a toy to exercise those gross motor muscles on terra firma.

I’d like to introduce you to a couple toys from SwimWays (Aerobie). I’m sure your children will enjoy these games with friends and family.

Aerobie Pro Ring™

•         For exhilarating flying disc games, the thin design of this flying ring allows the disc to travel longer distances and it features soft edges for comfortable catches.

•      The open center allows each player to personalize their throwing and catching style – catch the edge with your hand or use the center to catch it with your arm or foot.

•                This flying disc was used to set a Guinness World Record for the farthest throw, an amazing 1,333 feet (406 meters)!

•                Aerobie Pro Ring measures 13 inches in diameter.

•                Available in assorted colors and sold individually.

•                Recommended Age: 12+

•                MSRP: $9.99

Availability: Dick’s Sporting Goods,  REI, Academy, Olympia Sports, Amazon, Big 5, Meijer, Fred Meyer, Hobby Lobby, Scheels, and Dunham’s Sports

COOP Scatter Dodgeball™

•        A fun twist on the classic game of dodgeball, each player begins with two wristbands of the same color.  At the beginning of each round, players form a circle around the dodgeball while one player rolls the dice. Any player who is wearing a wristband that matches the color face-up on the dice is the thrower and may pick up the dodgeball while the other players scatter.

•                As the other players scatter, the thrower attempts to hit them with the dodgeball.  Players that get hit must surrender a wristband to the thrower. If the targeted player catches the ball, the thrower must surrender a wristband. 

•                The first person to collect all the wristbands wins!

•                Two to six players can play the game

•        Each set includes: 1 foam dice, 1 dodgeball (durable, sting proof ball), 12 wristbands (2 of each color) and game instructions

•                Recommended Age: 5+

•                MSRP: $19.99

•                Availability: Target, Amazon

Take a peek at these new spring/summer toys. I’m sure your kids will enjoy them.

Until next time! Happy Parenting,

Tania

I want to thank SwimWays 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.

Photos courtesy of Tania Cowling and SwimWays, all rights reserved

Beat the Heat in the Pool With SwimWays Products

Yes, I know most of you are still battling snow and cold, but some of us (me in Florida) are beginning to envision fun in the sun. Everyone will enjoy this weather soon. Think about this---

Your kids can quench the “sizzle” of summer with water. So, whether you have a big swimming pool or wading pool; your kids can spend hours of fun and “beat the heat” this season. These wet and wild toys will make your outdoor time a splash hit!

SwimWays puts the FUN back in water toys and swim gear for kids! The company’s innovative water toys, ranging from water-activated transforming toys to licensed toys featuring kids’ favorite characters, will keep kids entertained all summer long. Here are a couple products to consider.

SquiDivers™  

Featuring an all-new style, SquiDivers are soft and flexible learn to swim dive toys that wiggle and jiggle their way to the bottom of the pool, landing nose down. The soft, flexible tentacles float upright making these brightly-colored dive toys easy for kids to see and grab. Finger holes allow kids to place on finger tips for in or out of the pool fun

Great for every day swimming fun, for practicing underwater dive and retrieve skills during swim training practice, and as a pool party activity! New characters include shark, ray and fish.

Three SquiDivers are included in each pack. Recommended Age: 5+ MSRP: $7.99

Availability: Toys “R” Us (new style) and Target (current style) 

Funny Face Swim Goggles™  

Kids will love to express their personality at  the pool with these selfie-ready novelty swimming goggles, which add some fun to swim lessons and kids pool parties. The goggles feature an easy-button adjustable head strap, leak-resistant design and soft construction for a comfortable fit.

Available in 3 styles, sold separately: stars and stripes, soccer balls and butterflies. Recommended Age: 3+ MSRP: $7.99

Availability: Academy and Swimways.com

And while the big kids are playing in the pool, your baby can enjoy the water while safe in this fun product:

Baby Spring Float Activity Center™  

The Baby Spring Float Activity Center features an interactive play station with a rotating octopus character that holds 6 baby toys - squeaker fish, stacking rings, fish teether, and soft touch star.

Additional features include a removable sun canopy with UPF 50+ sun protection, see-through mesh sides on the canopy so baby can always be seen, fabric-covered inflation and a soft mesh seat with secure leg holes for durability and comfort, a wide base, child safety valves, and dual air chambers.

The float folds flat into three compact circles and a carry tote is included for easy portability Recommended Age: 9-24 months MSRP: $29.99 Availability: Toys R Us, Target, Amazon

I want to thank SwimWays 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.

Photos courtesy of Tania Cowling and SwimWays, all rights reserved

Valentine Tea Party: The Perfect Gathering for Little Girls

Young children love tea parties. Why not invite a few of their friends over for an afternoon party for Valentines Day? Set a pretty table with linen napkins, fresh flowers, tea sandwiches and pink punch. During the party help each little guest create confectionary necklaces to take home as a party favor. Start with a pretty heart invitation and let the party begin.

A Formal Invitation

Cut a heart shape from pale pink card stock. Use a dark pink or purple glitter pen and write out the party details along the edges of the heart, working toward the center. Leave room in the middle to print each guest’s name. Here is an example of the invitation wording:

Ms. Susie Smith would love the pleasure of your company at a Valentine day afternoon tea.

Sweets and sips will be served to your hearts delight at half past three on February 14^th.

Mail or hand deliver these invitations at least a week or more before your holiday party.

Set a Delightful Table Décor

Top your table with a pink or white cloth. Roll the linen napkins and tie it with pretty pink ribbon. For centerpieces, cut baby roses and arrange them in teacups to place on the table. To add Valentine flair, placing red paper doilies and heart confetti on your table. Since children love balloons, fill your room with balloons in Valentine colors of red, white, pink and lavender.

Tea Time Treats

Even though this party is passed the lunch hour, serve little tea sandwiches for snacks. Cut bread into heart shapes using cookie cutters. Spread the sandwiches with fillings such as tuna salad, chicken salad and even peanut butter and jelly. For the tea, pour a pink punch. This could be pink lemonade poured into children’s plastic teacups.

For dessert bake cupcakes in advance. Allow the little girls to ice the cupcakes with vanilla frosting. Provide an assortment of baking sprinkles in Valentine colors for the children to place on top.

Valentine Necklace Favor

Let each guest make a candy necklace to take home as a favor. Provide each child with a piece of plastic wrap about 2 feet long. Set out bowls of Valentine candy in the center of the table. The girls can select a few pieces of candy and place them 2 inches apart across the length of the plastic wrap. An adult needs to help them roll the candy inside the plastic wrap making a tube. Between the candy clusters tie a bow using a piece of ribbon. Do this procedure evenly spaced to create a pretty necklace. Make sure the candy is securely wrapped inside the tube using tape if necessary. When finished not the ends of the tube together to form the necklace. As the children leave the party, let them wear their necklace home.

Tips for a Successful Children’s Tea Party

• Avoid serving hot tea to young children. The girls probably will not like the taste and you want to avoid any hot spills or burning of the tongue.

• Stay away from sugar overload. Serve nutritious food during the party and only one dessert. When making the candy necklace make sure the girls label the craft with their name and take the party favor home to eat at a later time.

• Recruit older siblings to help the little girls at the party. Or think about inviting the mothers for a mother and daughter Valentine tea party.

Most of all enjoy the party together and take pictures to savor the memories.

Photos courtesy of Pixabay.com CCO Creative Commons

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

Technology Toys Kids Will Love

Even though Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa are over, there are still so many occasions that toys will be gifted to children. As a parent, grandparent, and former teacher I’m always searching for toys that teach. We are in an era of technology and many children are delving into STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) projects at school. VTech toys understand that technology is where education is at and has a line-up of toys that meet this criterion.

So this gift guide is for you (parents) to collect ideas for an upcoming occasion or just an “I love you” gift. Check out these toys that teach.

LEAPSTART

“LeapStart is an interactive learning system that gets kids excited about counting, learning to read, problem solving and more through fun, replayable activities. The magic behind LeapStart is a stylus that reads invisible dots on every page, triggering questions, challenges, songs, jokes and more.  The grow-with-me stylus is comfortable for kids of all ages and promotes proper writing grip. The LeapStart library features touch-and-talk games, creative challenges, problem-solving puzzles, math mazes and more for 2-7 year olds with more than 30 activities in every book. Most replayable activities have two levels with more than 50 key skills per level so kids can play and learn at the right level and move up when they’re ready. The LeapStart library of 25+ books (sold separately) covers a variety of preschool through first grade subjects and includes two Learn to Read book sets. A total of 400+ activities help kids build tomorrow’s skills today.”

Ages 2-7 years; MSRP: $39.99

2-in-1 LEAPTOP TOUCH

“Learning fun is a tap away with the 2-in-1 LeapTop Touch. Kids can learn about letters, numbers, music and more on a laptop that's made just for them. Open the laptop to see the screen in keyboard mode, then close the laptop and watch the screen magically swivel into tablet mode. The laptop features an A-Z keyboard and number buttons 1-10, while the tablet features a touch screen. Kids will have fun pretending to email Scout or tapping away in five learning modes – ABCs, numbers, games, music and messages. Plus, the laptop can be customized to help children spell their name. The take-along handle makes it great for learning on the go!”

Ages 2+ years; MSRP: $24.99

KIDIZOOM ACTION CAM 180

“Kids can capture their adventures wherever they are with the Kidizoom Action Cam 180. The 180° rotatable camera lets kids take photos and selfies from all angles, plus shoot videos with fun features like slow and fast-motion. Use the included accessories to mount the camera to a bike, skateboard and more while taking great action shots anytime, anywhere. Add the all-weather, waterproof case for use up to six feet underwater. For even more fun, play one of the three included games. With the included micro USB cable, children can upload photos and videos as well as recharge the battery.”

Ages 4+ years; MSRP: $49.99

KIDIZOOM SMARTWATCH DX2

“The perfect tech for kids, Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2 lets them take pictures, videos, play games, tell time and more! Featuring a new sleek and stylish design, this durable smartwatch includes 55 digital and analog customizable watch faces to help kids learn to tell time. This smartwatch features two cameras that allow children to capture everything from action video to selfies that can be customized in the Silly Yourself app and made into new watch faces. Includes an assortment of new games including Monster Catcher, which uses the camera and augmented reality to help kids find and capture monsters in the real world. Kids can also use the watch's motion sensor for active play challenges or to track steps. Using the included Micro-USB cable, upload photos and videos as well as recharge the battery.”

Ages 4+ years; MSRP: $59.99

These are only a few toys that VTech has to offer. Check their website for more ideas.

Remember that play is learning, so pick out the most educational toys for your kids and make these times teachable moments!

Happy Parenting,

Tania

I want to thank VTech 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.

Treemote: A Unique Christmas Lighting System

Soon we will be decorating and putting up our Christmas trees. Whether you choose a real tree or artificial, they have strands of lights. Wouldn't it be nice to easily light your tree without bending down or crawling behind the tree to plug in the lights? Well now we have a solution -- TREEMOTE!

"Treemote solves the daily task of switching holiday lights on and off by using the wireless Treemote device. Treemote is simple and easy to install. To use, plug the white receiver into any wall outlet, and then plug a string of lights into the receiver. Using the green tree-shaped remote, customers can then control the lights from up to 80 feet away. "

And, when the holidays are over, don't pack your Treemote away. It can be used with any household lamp or small appliance to easily turn it on and off with a cute remote control device. Don't get down on your knees or strain your back any longer -- just push a button!

• MSRP: $19.99 Batteries included.
• Availability: Available for purchase online and at select retailers nationwide

We don't have our Christmas tree up yet, usually around the first week of December, BUT I have my Treemote  ready for this event. I tried it on a table lamp and it was so easy. I think every household should have one of these nifty devices. 

Until next week -- Happy Parenting,
Tania 

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I want to thank Treemote, Inc. for the opportunity to view 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.