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Children's Toys
Written by: TheCelebrityCafe.com Staff
Here are some great gift picks for the 3-8 crowd. We had a ball playing with these!!
Enchantmints Storybook Treasure Boxes
Special children have special places to hold special things because they're special and you're not. These boxes are absolutely beautifully decorated and play music. Delicate, sweet and tender, do it now, quick, before they become teenagers and drive you goofy.
Minnie Bop mini-nursing pillow
The daughter will emulate her mother and when mother is nursing the little sibling, the big sister would like to be a part of caring for baby. The mini-nursing pillow allows the good example that Mommy has shown, to be seen as a "normal" part of raising baby. Nursing, as a way that baby is lovingly nourished and fed, can be here presented as an example to young girls that will enable them to be more open to the option in their future.
Along with the pillow is a small bottle and a burp cloth.
Keep me Busy Bag
A large, long handled bag in colors so bright it can't be mistaken for a shopping bag, although it is big enough for that purpose. It carries games and books to keep baby amused in situations like traveling or supermarket shopping. The handles are long enough to swing to the back of the car. It is washable so you can use it in the trunk of the car without worry of dirt. In fact the "other than baby uses" make this a versatile bag.
Teddy Ruxpin
Teddy is a story telling bear where the children can follow along with the book. The program cartridge is inserted into a slot in the back, the volume is adjusted and Teddy tells the children a story. When I was little I once had a cousin Concetta who was like that, only you just had to feed her cookies. It wasn't that she was big, it was just that she loved cookies and she was the only one who could read! Teddy doesn't require feeding or watering, just a couple of new batteries periodically.
Peanuts Toys Sababa Toys
Here are three games that provide a little bit of family time, which for me is much better without the conversation. Sababa Toys offers a board game with the Peanuts Gang in a race to reach Linus and share their candy. While it's meant for the 5 and up crowd, it is easy to play and allows the parents to relax from the work day. Who knows, they might even win. For the little bit older, an UNO game continues the theme with picture cards of the gang trick or treating and in the pumpkin patch. The special Exclusive Trick or Treat Cards make the game slightly different for added fun. Finally it's Dominoes in a lunch box. Sorry, no lunch, just Dominoes! This is the same adult style game but instead of dots, the tiles have pictures of the Gang in costume. The tiles are larger and since they are in a convenient lunch box carrying case, the fun starts with the responsibility of who takes care of the game. In fact, it's also a Halloween decoration that can be left out for display and later played in the dark with flashlights.
Play Along Toys
Play Along Toys, a division of JAKK Pacific, Inc., is a relative newcomer to the toy industry but has already established itself as a top player in the field. By looking over the "toy trade field" and recognizing that a marketable trend can have a loyal following even years after its market hit, Play Along Toys has carved a big slice of the consumer pie. Cabbage Patch Kids, that once caused parents to shop at crazy hours just to greet the store's supply truck before the riot began, are back with hair that changes color when it's touched. Trolls, the lovable ugly toy is also back and bringing a new wave of good luck. As one who lived through these phenomena, I can certainly say "Stand Back!"
The fun continues with the Doodle Bear that children can graffiti up with washable markers. If a larger toy is need to maintain interest or for a change, then go for the Snugglers. They are gigantic pillow covers in the shape of animals: Pig, cow, dog and cat that just need your own pillow to be stuffed inside. (Maybe you can stuff it with pajamas to help keep the room neat.)
Remote Controlled Tarantula and Ant Farm Gel Colony by Uncle Milton Toys
Among the safety suggestions on the box, it should read, "use this only in areas where a cardiac kit is available." This Remote Control Tarantula is big and ugly enough to be real. The movement is accurate enough to start the imagination and then the screams gurgle up from the throat, your throat. The only giveaway that this is a toy is that the eyes light up. Although, who will get that close to the spider…I don't know.
The Ant Farm Gel Colony is an old but still fascinating toy. I even found the booklet interesting. What I really want to know is why this scientific marvel is being manufactured in China. Such secrets should be kept at home. The colony comes with everything needed except the ants, which are ordered separately and placed in the colony. The lid is put in place and the unit is put on a shelf out of sunlight. In a short time the Harvester Ants will dig holes, tunnels and become a full colony; and then you are the king of this world with responsibilities.
Super Activity Kits by Hooked on Phonics
When visiting little kids, I know you want to bring something with you to be cool. But real enjoyment is in actually doing something with the kids. The "Hooked on…" books have DVDs to watch and activities to do with the child, one on one. The "Hooked on Numbers" was particularly of interest to me, where the cartoons called for a certain number of items. Things like draw 4 hats, or a flower with 3 petals, will hold a child's interest and most importantly the kit is complete: it has crayons to write with!
Leapster TV - A TV learning system
When baby gets to the preschool through kindergarten stage, the skill development takes a different jump into the Leapster Learning Game System. This system further develops principles learned in Leapfrog to prepare for early reading, basic math, and a variety of other skills through the adventures of the Backyardigans. Scholastic contributes to the learning with games, such as Animal Genius, that deals with subjects from life science and animals to the food chain and animal facts. Not all is outright learning, Leapster also gives some space to fun with games such as L-Max NASCAR, where in the auto racing, the learning is "hidden" in the use of time and math to progress cars around the track.
Little Mommy Toddler and Activity Center
For the 3+ crowd, this doll talks and sings. Imagination runs rampant as your child plays with it. Eating and drinking from pretend food results in a politeness not heard from many real kids. The all day toddler doll reacts to its Activity Center and amuses your child as well. From dolly potty training to a fun slide and eating a meal, your child will interact and hear fun phrases like "Whee!" and "This is fun." All in all, this dolly playground keeps the kids amused, and besides, I'd rather raise dolls than pay for college tuition.
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