Fabulously Chic. Irresistably Practical.
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…
Is your playroom cluttered with blocks, LEGO toys, cars, and trains? While you could spend your precious free time organizing, a better strategy is to inspire your children to clean up their own toys. Purchasing the right storage solutions makes the job easier.
One of my favorite products is the ZipBin, a combination toy and organizational product. ZipBins convert between play mats and storage bins in a zip (sorry…I couldn’t resist the pun)
Going to the toy store is a magical experience and a real treat for kids. Local toy stores often have impressive displays of stuffed animals, dolls and trains. My son’s favorite spot is the train table at our local store.
While he plays happily with Thomas the Tank Engine and friends, I have the opportunity to discover some high-quality toys unavailable at the big box stores. And I can count on the friendly store owner to provide expert advice on the best gifts for the kids on my holiday list (and free gift wrapping on my purchases).
Another helpful source of shopping advice is the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) 2009 Best Toys for Kids Award Winners. Over 500 of America’s top independent and neighborhood toy retailers selected the Best Toys for Kids based on their experience and understanding of what kids like.
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…
