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Imagination Takes Off!

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My son got a special treat for his birthday in April: the Shuttle Imagination from KidsCraft Playhouses.  That’s him in the photo right after he first spotted his new “spaceship.”

Since then, we’ve had lots of fun decorating his spaceship with stickers and crayons, and it has held up for many hours of
“make believe” play. My son enjoys peeking out from the shuttle windows and opening and closing the doors.  Since he loves the Toy Story movie and books about space travel, we’ve had many happy hours playing astronauts or Buzz Lightyear.

If It Goes, It’s My Favorite Thing

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My toddler son has convinced me that a love of things with wheels is genetic for some babies. Every time he sees a car he shouts, “Vroom, vroom” and claps his hands in delight.

Until very recently, though, he had a habit of mouthing everything. So, I had to make sure all his toys were baby-safe–with non-toxic dyes and no small parts.

Plan Toys has a charming new wooden baby car in a rainbow of bright colors that is a perfect, developmentally appropriate, first push car…

Baby Slinger – Just Like Mama!

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Watching your children play with dolls can be like looking through a mirror at your own parenting. Not the part where they grab them by the ankle and drag them up the stairs, of course (thunk, thunk, thunk). Rather, pay close attention to how they cuddle and care for their little pretend babies and you will get a heart-warming affirmation of your nurturing.

Children use dolls to role play and process their day. And they mimic what you do with them and their siblings.

That’s why I love the Corolle Doll Sling.

Win a $100 RosieHippo.com Gift Certificate

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RosieHippo.com , one of my favorite sources for green toys, is giving away a $100 gift certificate. To enter the giveaway, share your favorite imaginary play or pretend play story by sending a tweet to @rosiehippo or by entering the discussion on Rosie Hippo’s Facebook page. One winner will be picked at random on May 1st to receive a $100 RosieHippo.com gift certificate.

A Big Safety Booster: Britax Frontier Car Seat

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We’re happier than ever with our Britax seats now that we’ve seen them in action, keeping our children safe. Not only is Britax’s safety record impeccable, the company is a leader in increasingly high weight limits at each stage and configuration.

Even once you make the decision to face your child forward, the Britax Frontier (MSRP $279.99) combination harness-to-booster with “True Side Impact Protection” will keep her safe and secure in a five-point harness…

Easter Craft Egg-stravaganza

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We’ll be doing a lot of crafting next week! Good thing our fellow bloggers have plenty of egg-cellent ideas!

Need a last-minute Easter Basket? Cover an old Easter Basket with fabric (Holidash) and I love this recycled carton Easter Basket craft from Sewing Crafting Sarah…

Seder Savvy

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We posted an Easter Gift Guide last week and wanted to share some fun picks for kids for Passover, too. For some reason though, Jewish holidays seem to avoid the commercialization. After all, it is not like you would expect to see a plush doll of a Hebrew patriarch. Oh, wait!

Lemon Drops and Lollipops

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What says Spring quite like flowery sundresses and brightly colored…hair? My preschool daughter, lover of all things pink, will create entire masterpieces in fuchsia. In her self-portraits, she is sometimes a vivid share of electric pink from head to toe. So, she adores her new punky-funky Corolle Les Dollies Pink Doll.

This little charmer has the sweetest little girl face with bright eyes, full, freckled cheeks, and a mischievous smirk. Her so-trendy cotton candy hair is rooted and brushable. Her trendy little sun dress with vivid butterflies…

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