Toys And Games | ParentSphere

LeapFrog products for your collection

January 25, 2010 By: Amy Category: Babies, Kids, Products

I’ve played with a lot of toys over the past four years and can honestly tell you that my favorite brand is LeapFrog. I really like the quality of their toys and I’m also very impressed by the technology they use in their products. Not to mention they are an extremely generous company.

We recently added the following LeapFrog products to our ever-growing collection:

Zippity

zippity 300x237 LeapFrog products for your collection

Zippity is quite popular with my preschooler right now. It is very easy for her to grasp the concept of how this gaming system works. She gets to use her whole body, which is a plus because I swear, the kid never stops moving. I like it that she’s on her feet playing the game, rather than staring at the screen while sitting on the couch. This is an excellent gaming system for kids around the ages of 4 and up.

I am somewhat of a technology snob and pay attention to graphics. The graphics and animation of the games for this system are exceptional, in my opinion. I am pleased with the look and feel of Zippity. Good job on this one, LeapFrog!

(Picture of Hailey using Zippity coming soon)

My Pal Scout/Violet

mypalviolet 260x300 LeapFrog products for your collection

Pictured above is My Pal Violet. Cute, cute, cute! We love this puppy. Once again, LeapFrog has outdone themselves with technology. Violet and Scout can be connected to your computer via USB cable and personalized. I’m not kidding, we walk around the house everyday singing the little tunes that come from this puppy. Violet says our baby’s name (which grabs her attention); she sings personalized songs (for instance, right now, Violet likes the color black and meatballs are her favorite food. For a while, it was bacon). I absolutely love that you can connect and change options any time you want. This is a stuffed animal that is worth having around.

IMG 1142 300x216 LeapFrog products for your collection

(Teagan and Violet)

Tag Junior Book Pal

tag junior leapfrog 300x200 LeapFrog products for your collection

I’ve been itching to use our Tag Junior with the baby. I can’t wait to see her chubby hands wrapped around this chubby reader. Even our preschooler enjoys the Tag Junior but ultimately, her favorite is the regular Tag reader and books. Tag Junior is less pen-like, compared to the regular Tag Reader. It is much easier for babies/toddlers to grasp in their little, uncoordinated hands. The board books are just the right size for the smaller hands, too.

(Picture of the girls using Tag Junior coming soon)

Before I close, I will also mention that LeapFrog has the technology to tell you what your child is doing/learning. It’s just a matter of connecting your LeapFrog products to your computer and checking out the LeapFrog Learning Path that gathers information from the activities your child does on his/her LeapFrog products and calculates their progress. This is a fantastic, educational tool.

As far as I’m concerned, LeapFrog is blowing their competition out of the water with their quality and technology. I love that I’m able to experience these learning products with my kids! They have been such a huge part of our lives. Thank you, LeapFrog, for taking the time to make products that will make a difference in a child’s life in the future.

http://www.leapfrog.com/en/play/information_center.html

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Tags: books for kids, technology, toddler, toys and games, video games

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Our sights are set on these products

December 15, 2009 By: Amy Category: Babies, Kids, Products

We have a spunky, independent four year old daughter and now it’s fun to think about what products make her eyes sparkle. I’ve been paying close attention to the things that seem to interest her the most; drawing/coloring, gaming and imaginative play just to name a few.

Since it’s the gift-giving season, I’ve been compiling my list of gift ideas for my preschooler. Top on my list was an art desk, because she is always busy creating masterpieces with her markers and crayons. Guess where all of her drawing tools and artwork is? On our dining room table. So, when I was offered the Step2 Master Activity Desk (MSRP $80), you bet I jumped on the chance to check it out and talk about it.

Art+Master+Activity+Desk+in+Teal Our sights are set on these products

I’m stoked. This art desk is the perfect solution for us. There is a place for all of her markers, crayons, paper and her precious artwork. Her very own space to imagine and create and I get my dining room table back. Perfect.

The desk also makes her feel “important”. I work from home and she watches me at my desk. Having her very own desk gives her a sense of importance and independence. Hopefully it will help keep her creative juices flowing. We may have a budding artist on our hands.

Next up is educational gaming. We’ve got a Leapster2 ($80) and she plays with it quite often. Her favorite game to play is Wall-E. We’re pretty huge LeapFrog fans here in this house. Excellent products. You’ll hear me talk about them more in an upcoming post.

leapster2 Our sights are set on these products

We also have a tiny sprout who was born this past summer. She’s just discovering the world around her. She’s starting to enjoy looking at and playing with toys. We don’t have this exact product but we do have something similar that she loves to “talk” to. It is K’s Kids School Bus and Finger Puppets Set (MSRP $35).

K's+Kids+School+Bus+and+Finger+Puppets+Set

It’s fun to put on the animal finger puppets that we have and entertain our five month old. If anything can get her to “talk”, it’s these finger puppets. I think I need to get the K’s Kids School Bus and Finger Puppets Set. I’m pretty sure she would dig it.

If you think your kid is pretty creative, or creative enough to win a year’s worth of free toys, you could consider entering the Imagination Nation Contest. 1st place price is free toys for a year (up to $2,400). The 2nd and 3rd place toys aren’t too shabby either.

So, what are you shopping for this gift-giving season?

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Tags: gift guide, toys and games

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How the Grinch Stole…my iPhone?

December 02, 2009 By: Amy Category: Activities, Family Fun, His and Hers, Kids, Products

I purchased my iPhone this past July and truthfully, it’s one of the best purchases I have made in a while. I love everything about this phone. I switched from a BlackBerry Curve and it was an excellent decision, in my opinion.

My iPhone keeps me company while I’m feeding the baby or swaying her to sleep. It also provides entertainment to my four year old when she’s restless. Half of the apps I have are for me and half are for her. Not to mention I have at least three movies loaded and some episodes of Blues Clues.

Now that I’ve professed my geeky love for my phone, I’ve got to tell you about a couple of new apps that were just released. They are here just in time for the holiday and they are HOT.

If you don’t know who the Grinch is, or the adorable people from Who-ville, then I guess you’ve been living under a rock. Two new notable iPhone apps are all about the Grinch and we can’t get enough.

The first one that I fully abuse every day is the Dr Seuss Camera – The Grinch Edition ($2.99 at the iTunes app store (app store > photography > Dr. Seuss camera – The Grinch Edition)). Here are some of the holidayriffic photos I’ve taken since downloading the app:

Collage25 How the Grinch Stole...my iPhone?

They are scaled down in size here but the originals are easily greeting card size. I have been showing them off to friends and family and I have about a thousand more where these came from. It’s too fun and we all get a good laugh.

Next on the holiday list is Grinchmas ($1.99 at the app store (app store > games > Grinchmas)). You can be nice or you can be naughty in this one. Throw snowballs or presents at the Who’s houses, depending on your mood. Don’t worry, we’re pretty sure no Who’s were injured while playing the game.

Here are a couple of screenshots of the light-hearted Grinchmas app:

GrinchmasSS How the Grinch Stole...my iPhone?

These two apps are available for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Soon I’ll post a list of the other apps we enjoy…hopefully, if you have an iPod Touch or iPhone, they will keep your kids entertained on the long trips to visit family and friends for the holidays. I know they will work like a charm for me!

IMG 0543 200x300 How the Grinch Stole...my iPhone?

Thanks to Oceanhouse Media for providing me with promo codes for these two apps. They would have been well worth it to purchase!

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Tags: holidays, iPhone apps, technology, toys and games

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Going Rechargeable

March 30, 2009 By: Amy Category: Products

Sometime in 2008, I realized how silly it was to continuously buy batteries that would die after their initial use. With a preschooler and a ton of toys lying around that require batteries, that just didn’t make much sense. We also have video games and cameras that require batteries. The obvious decision was to go rechargeable.

So, my first purchase was an Energizer Rechargeable Easy Charger and some double and triple “A” batteries.

energizer easy charger Going Rechargeable

We have since added other types of Energizer rechargeable batteries to our collection, as well as another charger, so they’re conveniently located in the rooms of our house where our electronics are located. The Energizer Easy Charger can be purchased for around $24 bucks and most major retailers and I’m sure you can find a good deal on it online somewhere. It just makes sense to go rechargeable.

Energizer even has a $5 rebate offer on their site when you purchase of one of their chargers.

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Tags: cameras, electronics, toys and games, video games

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Potty training is the pits

September 03, 2008 By: Amy Category: Blog, Hers, Kids, Products

Especially when your thirty-four and a half month old is extremely strong-willed and independent. Seriously. This potty training thing is just getting old. Our conversations go something like this:

Me: “Are you ready for a change?”
Hailey: “Nope”
Me: (Looking her straight in the eyes) “Are you sure you don’t want mommy to put a brand new, clean diaper on you?”
Hailey: (As she pats her backside, very matter-of-factly) “Nope. It stays in my diapee.”
Me: (Shrugging) “Alright, sister. It’s all you.”

and like this:

Me: “Uh oh! This is your LAST diaper! We’re all out of diapers”
Hailey: “We are?” (concerned)
Me: “Yep. No more diapers.” (thrilled)
Hailey: “But there’s some in that basket over there.”
Me: “Nope. I just used the LAST one.”
Hailey: “But there’s some downstairs.”
Me: “Nope. There isn’t.”
Hailey: “But there’s more at the store. We can get some after Traci’s house.” (Traci is the sitter)

I bribe her all of the time. Currently, I’m using the “You can’t take a ballerina class unless you’re wearing big girl pants.” That makes her stop and think but then, nothing happens. Eric has even resorted to writing “special” potty songs and only singing them if she sits on the potty. They’re generally only played once. Maybe we could bribe her with this:

pee poo Potty training is the pits

Or will that just give her the wrong idea, that she should play with her pee and poo? Oh well. They’re cute anyway. You can get them HERE at the Pee and Poo Shop. Does it gross you out? Not me. I’m a mom.

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Tags: plush friends, toddler, toys and games

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Mascotopia Team Puzzle

October 07, 2007 By: Eric Category: Kids, Products

mascot puzzle Mascotopia Team Puzzle

Dads, take notice. The awesome folks over at Mascotopia offer puzzles like this one as well as blocks, crib mobiles, and plush toys for just about every MLB, NFL, and NCAA team imaginable. It couldn’t be easier to immerse your little ones in the teams you love. Now if you could only teach ‘em your alma mater’s fight song.

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Tags: toddler, toys and games

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Dado Cubes

July 31, 2007 By: Eric Category: Kids, Products

dado cubes Dado Cubes

We got some of these Dado Cubes in the mail last week and I might have actually spent more time playing with them than my daughter did. They are cool new twist on classic building blocks. The stackable, interlocking, nesting blocks are made by the peeps over at Fat Brain Toys and will help your child learn about proportion, balance, structure and color through their combination of sculpture and construction.