Tag Archives: toy

Little Tikes Apple Grove Pals Farm Playset

Age 3-5, Educational Toys, New posts, Toys, , ,

The Apple Grove Pals Farm Playset includes three farm animals, Pig, Cow and Zebra, each with fun interchangeable hats. Madelyn’s thinks it’s really funny when she puts Cow’s hat on Pig and Pig’s hat on Zebra, etc.. Hilarious.

The Apple Grove Pal characters are young, which allows children to more readily escape into the world of make-believe. The Farm Playset has some exciting features for young hands, including a fun elevator and slide in the grain silo, barn doors that swing open, buttons that make farm animal sounds and more! The Farm Playset (and every Apple Grove Pals item) comes with a storybook that teaches children an important moral and social lesson, which plays an important part in a young child’s development.

One problem that Madelyn has run into is that the elevator will come out of the track sometimes.

Where are the photographs of Madelyn playing with Little Tikes Apple Grove Pals Farm Playset? Well, I took the original photographs when my Dad was in town from Florida and they are on his camera! Oops. I am going to try to get some shots of her playing with the playset later today and will post them then.

Where can I buy it? Amazon.com
How much is it? SRP: $34.99
What age is it for? Ages 18 months and up.

No Training Wheels Required – Wooden Balance Bike for Kids

Age 3-5, Guest post: TheFind.com, Toys, Wooden Toys, , ,

wooden-training-bikes

Walk along balance bikes seem to be popping up on playgrounds and parks across the country. I was first drawn to the Skuut bike because of its to the clean, modern design. My husband, an avid cyclist, has had his eye set on one of these for our daughter even before she could walk. The benefit of these bikes is that they help to boost a child’s self confidence as they learn to balance and ride a real bike on their own.

There are several models on the market and including the original design made in Germany, the “Like a Bike” (shown above, top) that has inspired similar wooden bikes. The Like a Bike features pneumatic wheels that are not supposed to scuff floors for indoor riding and are priced at around $300. It also features birch frame construction and a boatload of really cool accessories including saddlebags and a wooden wagon trailer.

The Wooden Balance Bike by Smart Gear (second from the top) priced at about $100 is the most eco-friendly of bunch. The company uses rubberwood harvested from a replenishible source, formaldehyde free glue, non-toxic paints and lacquer and the carton is made from recycled paper with water-based ink. The tires are inflatable and are PAC-free. This model also features a clean, modern design and sports a cut out handle for easy lifting.

The Skuut Wooden Balance Bike also features pneumatic tires and assembly is estimated at 10 minutes to simply attach the handlebars. Another beautifully designed bike this one comes in one style/color only. It is priced at approx $90.

I am leaning towards the Smart Gear model as it comes in a red model styled for girls and I try to buy eco-friendly toys made from renewable or recycled resources as a general rule. This one is also priced moderately. The holidays are coming up soon, so it’s best to stock up on your gifts now before they are sold out. Last year I was disappointed when the Green Toys recycled plastic tea set was sold out. This year, I vow to do my holiday toy shopping early.

Save with coupon codes for eToys from TheFind.com’s Coupon site.

Lil’ Tag Alongs baby blanket
review + giveaway

Age 0-1 year, Age 1-3, New posts, Past Giveaways, , , , , ,

Lil' Tag Alongs baby blanket with link attachmentsWhat new mom doesn’t love a product that makes life a little easier? I certainly do and I recently learned about Lil’ Tag Alongs, a blanket that is sure to make any new mom’s life easier, really!
Lil’ Tag Alongs blankets perform several functions including keeping baby warm, cozy, and Lil’ Tag Alongs ensure that your baby’s favorite toy won’t fall on the dirty grocery store floor as long as it’s attached to a link on the blanket. You wouldn’t believe my reaction when Madelyn dropped a toy onto a dirty grocery store floor.  First I would gasp, then my super speedy reflexes took over as I picked the toy. Madelyn wasn’t allowed to touch it again until I sanitized it making for a miserable remainder of our grocery trip.  You’ll be happy to know that I’m not that crazy anymore… maybe in different ways but I’m not a “germaphone” (what my son used to call me) anymore.

Obviously, I would have benefited greatly from a Lil’ Tag Alongs blanket during Madelyn’s infant months.   The ability to attach Madelyn’s favorite toys to her blanket would have saved me time running from room to room looking for her favorite rattle or teething toy that I could have attached to a link on her Lil’ Tag Alongs blanket.  Toys attach to Lil’ Tag Alongs blankets using links sold at Wal-Mart and Babies R’ Us like those in the photograph here.  A lot of infant and baby toys snap right onto the links.

Lil' Tag Alongs blanket with links attached

Benefits of the Lil’ Tag Alongs:

  • Attach your baby’s Lil’ Tag Alongs blanket to your stroller using links
  • Lay the blanket on the floor and your new baby will playing with and reaching for the links.. great for doctor recommended tummy-time!
  • Your won’t have to go from room to room looking for baby’s favorite toys because they can all be attached to her Lil’ Tag Alongs blanket!

Lil’ Tag Alongs are available in large ($48) and small ($29.95) and in lots of colors and patterns.

GIVEAWAY!
One winner can choose a large Lil’ Tag Alongs blanket of their choice. Leave a comment below telling me what your favorite design is (use the link above) and you are entered to win! Contest ends July 10th.

Fisher Price Little People® celebrate 50th birthday!

Toys, , , , , , ,

Littlepeople50th A reminder of years passed.  I was reminded exactly how much Little People® play sets have evolved in the last 50 years when I received two commemorative play sets a couple of weeks ago. 

As I opened the school house playset, I had flashbacks of the Little People® I played with 30+ years ago.  I remembered the wooden peg people and the lunchbox schoolhouse I played with (I thought it was a lunchbox) and who doesn't remember the famous Little People® farm playset?

50 years ago, Little People® were chunky, colorful, wooden peg figures that kids brought to life with their imaginations.  Now, Little People® help extend youngsters imaginations with their many playsets, people, and accessories.

Little People® friends celebrate five decades as one of the longest lasting and most beloved toy brands in the world!

Get in on the Little People® 50th Birthday Party fun!  Visit the Fisher Price Little People® website to see all of the commemorative playsets available, learn about the live traveling musical, and other exciting things planned!

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Bounce & Spin Pony

Age 3-5, Toys, , , ,
Madelyn had the first Fisher-Price bounce and play toy, it was a zebra.  It Bounce and Learn Pony
stayed in our living room for over a year and half and it was so cute because she would randomly get on and bounce and spin. 

Now, we have the Bounce and Learn Pony in our living room and it's a totally different experience and she appears to be having just as much if not more fun with it.

The Bounce and Learn Pony is an active learning toy that interacts with the television.  The Pony uses a wireless device to connect with the TV delivering animated content.  Madelyn interacts with the toy and TV by bouncing up and down and spinning a roller on the handle bars.  I can choose the level of play and audio options (really handy!) so as she has learned skills it is easy to move up to the next level.  There was a little bit of a learning curve so you will want to stay in the room the first few times your toddler gets on the Bounce and Learn Pony.  After that, you should be able to run into the kitchen to fix dinner or vacum a couploe of rooms.  The Bounce and Learn Pony doesn't have to be connected with the TV to be interactive.   It will still play songs and sound effects from the pony itself.

Price: About $55 at Amazon.com