Fabulously Chic. Irresistably Practical.
This is one of my favorite categories of toy. My mom recently brought out an old pull toy of mine and it is a classic that just keeps on giving. Push and pull toys delight babies, amuse toddlers, and occupy preschoolers. Some, like the sophisticated and clever mix-and-match Automoblox, are collectibles suited for older children, teens, and even adults.
The selections from our Hottest Holiday Toys Awards are engaging, interactive, and made from high-quality and often eco-friendly materials.
Kids love tracing. My daughter will set there filling page after page, tracing numbers and letters. In an attempt to save a few trees, I got her a dry-erase book for copying her letters and numbers. Which works pretty well until she forgets to clean it or the pen dries out or her baby brother gets ahold of the marker and tries to eat it.
Even better? The LeapFrog Scribble & Write…
We’re fans of the Plan Toys philosophy of making quality play things that are healthy for kids, contribute to our communities, and are good for the planet.
Plan Toys has a knack for creating fresh twists on classic toys that promote children’s physical, emotional, and intellectual development. We love their simply delightful, clever, and stylish takes on wooden push and pull toys, like the new Plan Toys Push-a-Long Duck.
This post will update with Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals throughout the weekend…get coupon codes for toys, gifts, clothing, shoes, and more!
Learning a musical instrument opens up new worlds for children. As the granddaughter of a professional musician, music has played an important role in my life since I was a very young child. And this is a gift I am excited to share with my children, as well. The musical toys from our Hottest Holiday Toys Awards allow the child to create his own rhythms and melodies, rather than simply play a song at the push of a button…
Last night I was driving home from a friend’s birthday in Brooklyn, with my husband in the passenger seat and my two children in the second row of seats, strapped into their Britax Car Seats (a Boulevard CS and a Frontier).
Without going into details, let’s just say the accident was bad. Really bad.
But our Honda Odyssey and our Britax car seats did their jobs. My entire family walked away from the accident…
Children are naturally creative. A few well-chosen toys are great “props” for their imagination. The Creative Pretend Play Winners from our Hottest Holiday Toys Awards all support role playing, creative exploration, and discovery…
Zambi the Baby Elephant (Furreal Friends) is a charmer. He giggles and will even give you a kiss. But Zambi has a serious side–50% of the net profits go to benefit orphans of the AIDS epidemic in Africa as part of Project Zambi…
Next up on our 12 Days of Giveaways is another Hottest Holiday Toys Award-Winner. I fell in love with Harumika when I received it for review in July.
And when I say “fell in love with” I mean that I actually play “Project Runway” with it at night when my daughter is sleeping…
Kitchens are a classic toy for toddlers up through young school aged children. Just like the adults, children at a play date congregate around the kitchen. With the Step2 Fresh Market Kitchen (Step2.com – $200), there is room for several children to play side-by-side or engage in imaginative games of grocery shopping and cooking with friends…
