Modest Momma's Annual Holiday Gift & Stocking Stuffer Spotlight- #1-Crayola Photo Mix & Mash

    

     Finding the best toys and gifts for your children during the holiday season can be, well, let’s face it, extremely rewarding yet overwhelming.  So many questions come to mind─ Is this toy going to be fun?  Is it safe for my four year-old?  Does it help to teach my little one phonics and most importantly, will it last past the holidays?               

     Modest Momma will once again shine a bright spotlight not only on some of this year’s hottest new ‘must have’s’ but will offer you with unique, creative, educational and fun choices for children of all ages.  Hopefully, your family will find some new ideas!    

                            Happy Holiday wishes to you and yours!

 

Modest Momma’s Musings Holiday Gift/Stocking Stuffer Spotlight#1

Crayola Photo Mix & Mash

    Calling all photographers-to-be!  Your kids can take their everyday photos and turn them into completely unique, vibrant masterpieces using virtual Crayola-based crayons, markers and pencils.  Simply put, you can take photos and change the dimension; stretch it or cut and paste the photo onto a new background) around.  It is easy for your kids to print your new designs and/or share their photos with their friends in the digital gallery.   Created for Touch Tablets & PCs with Windows 8 capability; iPad/iPad mini; Android Touch Tablets, the Crayola Photo Mix & Mash comes with a digital pen, stamper, morphing took and a handy storage pouch to hold all of these accessories.

Crayola Photo Mix & Mash

For ages 6+up

Retails for $19.99

The Crayola Photo Mix & Mash can be found in Target stores nationwide and online.  For further information, please visit Crayola’s website at: http://www.crayola.com/

Back-to-School with Crayola's Wild Notes Black Notebook

    

Butterflies in their stomachs (and well, let's face it,  yours too!) are fluttering fast, as your little ones will soon be starting school, some for the very first time.  The start of the first week of school is always filled with anticipation, apprehension and excitement.  You want to make sure that your little ones have everything that they will not only need to help start the new year off on a good path, but will spark their budding knowledge and creativity.
      With this in mind, the folks at Crayola have released several new products designed to get your children on the road to creativity both in and out of the classroom.  Our family was privileged  to be able to have the opportunity to review one of the newly launched back-to-school products to review.
  

  Designed specifically in mind for children ages 7 and up, Wild Notes Black Notebook provides older children with a unique twist on creating stories and drawings.  My twelve year-old son is a budding writer/artist, and no matter where we go, he always carries three things with him---a story book, a small spiral notebook and a few colored pencils for writing and sketching when inspiration strikes!  Immediately upon trying out the Wild Notes Black Notebook, he was quick to mention how much he liked the contrasting colors on the pages. The pages throughout this one-subject notebook are solid black with wide-ruled lines.  The Wild Notes Metallic Pen, which is included along with the notebook, produce really striking silver/metallic colors on every page that you write on.  My son felt that this interesting combination of colors immensely highlighted his creative writing.  The Wild Notes Black Notebook is adaptable to use along with all of those upcoming math lessons, social studies, science and creative writing projects.

Crayola Wild Notes Black Notebook
Includes:  One 70-sheet, wide-ruled notebook; one Wild Notes Metallic Pen
Retails for: $5.99, and can be found in Target, Wal-Mart and Michael's stores nationwide.
For further information, please visit Crayola's website at: www.crayola.com


    
   

 

    

Hello Sunshine! by Thinkfun

     From early infancy to the toddler stage, physical growth and motor development are occurring at their most rapid pace.  Between walking, running, climbing and jumping, the toddler years are a time of major development of gross motor skills.  While watching our children develop these vital skills is an exciting experience, it also provides us with an important signal that they are on the right track developmentally.  But, to master these movement skills, notes pediatrician Tanya Remer Altmann, author of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) book, The Wonder Years:  Helping Your Baby and Young Child Successfully Negotiate the Major Developmental Milestones (Bantam Dell, 2006), children require lots of practice.  Both Altmann and other pediatric experts agree that toddlers can be helped along the way with a variety of gross motor-specific activities and games.
     Thinkfun, the creators of the Roll & Play™ (please take a peek at my 2012 review of this lovely, first game for toddlers:  http://amodestmommasmusings.blogspot.com/2012/05/thinkfun-roll-play.html) have taken these developmental milestones to heart yet again, and have created a simple, yet amusingly fun game called Hello Sunshine™.  The game is ideally played with two or more players, and it contains a stuffed, soft plush sun-shaped toy called Sunshine; 18 double-sided cards with different hiding spots printed on each side (there are a total of 36 hiding spots) and a parents guide.

      To play Hello Sunshine!™, each person reads one of the cards, for example, one card may state, "On top of my head."  Player must then hide the sun on the top of their head, and then, they will have to ask, "Where is Sunshine?  Sunshine's on top of my head!", and so forth.  While playing this game with our neighbors children (ages two and four) during a recent play date, I discovered that the more focused the children are, the longer you can make this game last (which was most definitely the case with these children, as they are huge fans of similar games like, "Hide and Seek" and many of those made up, spur-of-the-moment types of scavenger hunts.  The early childhood educator in me appreciates the fact that just as with other Thinkfun products that I have had the pleasure and privilege of playing with my own child over the years, Hello Sunshine!™ playfully introduces little ones to those important positional words that help to promote movement. 
     The cards are well made, and extremely durable for little hands to grip and hold on to.  The little Velcro pouch located on the bottom of the sun provides you with a handy storage area to keep the cards all together.  This charming game will most assuredly have you and your little ones laughing and learning for a long time!
     Hello Sunshine!™ is suitable for children ages 18 months and up, and retails for $19.99.  For further information about Thinkfun's line of educational toy products, please visit their website at: www.thinkfun.com

Modest Momma's Holiday Gift Spotlight #6-Step 2 Creative Cooks Kitchen

Step 2 Creative Cooks Kitchen

     Your littlest gourmets will play with delight in this bright and colorful kitchen from Step 2 that resembles mommy's grown up kitchen!  Realistic features include a farmhouse sink; working shutters, back splash, electronic stove top and microwave create an almost perfect backdrop for hours of imaginative playtime.  The kitchen also contains a 39 piece accessory kit, with large storage space in the fridge and freezer, along with cabinets and bins. 

     The setup and assembly took about 90 minutes altogether, and the kitchen is well built and sturdy enough to handle the task of dealing with the Pre-Ker's in my school! There is plenty of room in this sprawling kitchen.  One of my favorite details is the spinning spice rack.  The little spices contained in this set, fit nicely in the little carousel that spins around (a nice little feature that I'd like to have in my own 'grown-up' kitchen.

      This play kitchen is a great example of a high quality, functional make-believe toy that my family has, for years, turned to Step 2 to provide.  It is a toy that is colorful and bright, yet realistically mimics the tools and products that we,  moms and adults alike, use in our very own real life 'grown-up' kitchens!

     The Step 2 Creative Cooks Kitchen retails for $199.99, and can be found in Target, Wal-Mart and Toys-r-Us stores nationwide and online.

 

Faber-Castell's Creativity for Kids Beaded Snowflake Kit

     The weather has been getting colder as the days go by, and as we are quickly approaching the holiday season (with Thanksgiving being two days away!), as a mom and as an elementary school librarian, I am constantly on the lookout for holiday creative and fun activities for both my family and my students to work on while we are stuck indoors.

     Faber-Castell’s Creativity for Kids Beaded Snowflake Kit is simply the perfect cold weather day activity.  This kit includes a wide variety of shiny rhinestones, markers, color-in foil stickers, hanging ribbon and convenient gift wrapper envelopes that you can use to give your creations as gifts.  When completed, the snowflake measures about 5 ½ “, and the flakes can be hung in your windows, use them as a decoration when wrapping your presents, or will look pretty hanging from your tree.  The six snowflakes that my son and some of my students created will be hung on our classroom tree next month, and we are all excited to see how they look like when placed against the tree’s lights. 
     My family and I have been fans of Faber-Castell’s Creativity for Kids line of arts and crafts kits for children since our son was small.  There wide variety of kits provides children of all ages with an outlet to discover their ‘artist within’ and strengthen their imaginations, and the Beaded Snowflake Kit did not disappoint!  To find a retailer near you, please visit the Faber-Castell’s website at: http://www.fabercastell.com/creativity-for-kids

Modest Momma's Holiday Gift Spotlight #5--LEGO Creator 7345 Transport Chopper

LEGO Creator 7345 Transport Chopper

     Here comes your little hero to the rescue with this 3-in-1 block set.  This 383 piece set features large engines, working rotors, a back ramp which opens, and a fold-away undercarriage.  Children can assemble a detailed transport helicopter, then take it apart to rebuild into a transport boat or a sea plane.  My son, who has been an avid LEGO collector and builder ever since he received his first “Thomas the Tank Engine” LEGO set when he was two years-old,  enjoyed the fact that there was a lot of versatility and creativity in this set─ he even tested the ferry in the bathtub, and to his delight, it actually floated!   The detailed, step-by-step building instructions are very kid friendly, and they encourage new creations and building explorations.  For $34.99, this set is a great value and is guaranteed to provide your little builders with hours of building fun. 

     The LEGO Creator 7345 Transport Chopper can be found in Target and Wal-Mart stores nationwide and online.  For further information on this set, as well as others, please visit the LEGO website at: www.lego.com

 

Modest Momma's Holiday Gift Spotlight #4- Jenny and "The Sweet Shoppe Mystery"

Jenny and "The Sweet Shoppe Mystery”

      Jenny is a delightfully well-made 18 inch doll from the creators of Our Generation line of dolls and accessories, who comes along with an illustrated storybook, The Sweet Shoppe Mystery.  Readers will learn about Jenny’s intriguing life story of solving mysteries, all the while creating the most delectable, and world- renowned cakes! The doll also comes with two complete outfits and several baking accessories, including baking set including cupcake tray, cupcakes, chef’s bag, bowl, whisk, eggs, recipe card, carton of milk, bag of flour and box of butter so your little girl can help create delicious desserts just like Jenny!

     This line of dolls from Our Generation is so adorable and extremely well-constructed.  The facial features are delicate, with eyes that open and close.  The value of this doll and her accessories when compared with other similar doll lines on the market just can’t compare.  Best of all, Our Generation is a company with a conscious─not only is all of the packaging made from recycled material, but for every Our Generation doll or accessory you purchase, 10 cents goes to the Free the Children’s Power of Girl Initiative, an organization started 16 years ago that now has built more than 650 schools worldwide that educate more than 50,000 children.  Retailing for $31.99,  please visit Our Generation’s website at: http://www.ogdolls.com/pages/where  to find a store locator near you.

Modest Momma's Holiday Gift Spotlight #3-VTech's Brilliant Creations Color Touch Tablet

VTech Brilliant Creations Color Touch Tablet

     Your child will learn how to build and develop cognitive and developmental skills through tablet play. This touch tablet has 80 educational yet amusing activities that will engage your child as they learn through interactive games filled with skill drills in creativity, language arts, math and science. When the unit is turned on, you will see the category menu. To choose a category, little ones can touch the arrows on the screen with a finger, then touch the category icon or press enter. Children can also use the tablet's motion sensor and tilt the device left or right, then touch the category icon or press enter. With the sophisticated look of a tablet device but with a kid-friendly design and content,  my son and I enjoyed all of the wide variety of activities available for kids to play, and the different levels for each activity kept the content challenging and engaging. VTech Brilliant Creations Color Touch Tablet is for children between the ages of 4 thru 7 years, and it retails for $35.99.  The VTech Brilliant Creations Color Touch Tablet can be found in Target, Wal-Mart and Toys-r-Us stores nationwide and online. For further information, please visit the VTech website at: www.vtech.com .

VTech Brilliant Creations Color Touch Tablet Highlights:

● Touch tablet features an LCD color touch screen.

●Motion controlled games.

●Parents can see what their child has learned with the Progress Report key.

A Modest Momma's Holiday Gift Spotlight #1

     Finding the best toys and gifts for your children during the holiday season can be, well, let’s face it, overwhelming.  With so many toys out there to choose from, and the added pressure of your child being bombarded with advertising everywhere, it’s hard to decide which toy is right for them.  So many questions come to mind─ Is it fun?  Is it safe?  Does it interact or teach my little one something, and most importantly, will the play value extend well past the holidays?  But, fear not, as Modest Momma will be putting a spotlight not only on some of this year’s hottest new ‘must have’s’ but will offer you with out of the ordinary, creative, education and fun choices for children of all ages.  I guarantee that you will find something perfect for your little one here. 

 

Our First Spotlight:

HABA Treetop Trouble

     This game will quickly remind you of the old Memory card game from childhood, but with a special unique quality that will engage your child’s imagination.  A delightfully illustrated game where children between the ages of six and up will have to use their memory skills  to help Frog, Fox, Badger and other animals critters back to their home.  The object of this game is to get each of your six animal tiles to their proper floor.  With each roll of the dice, your little ones will send the elevator up or down one or more floors, where all players (best played with two to four players) swap their elevator tile as it enters the elevator.  When you roll, you’ll control whether the elevator goes up or down.  The first player to get all their animals tiles back home wins! 

HABA’s Treetop Trouble includes the following:

2 game boards

1 symbol die

24 animal tiles

Instructions featured in several languages. 

     Retailing for $12.99, you can purchase HABA Treetop Trouble on the HABA website at: http://www.habausa.com/ . HABA has always consistently created appealing, quality products for children, and Treetop Trouble, with its wonderfully illustrated game board and tiles, will surely not disappoint!

Kidoozie 4 in 1 Drum Set from International Playthings

     The fundamental senses of seeing, tasting, hearing, smelling and feeling encourage a child’s curiosity and activate their young minds to discover the things around them. Sound can be considered a motivating force as an infant grows and begins to explore and establish a connection towards the people and places in their environment.  Music plays a hugely significant role in our children’s growth and development.  It brings a multitude of benefit on cognitive, emotional and social levels.  Toys, such as the Kidoozie 4 in 1 Drum Set from InternationalPlaythings, assist in facilitating musical educational growth and offer lots of creative play opportunities. 

     This five piece set includes an orange drum with a stick; a yellow tambourine; blue maraca rattles filled with tiny colorful balls and a green shaker that clacks as your little one moves the multi-colored beads.  Each piece in this set is perfectly shaped for little, growing hands to grasp and shake.  All of the instruments in this drum set snap easily together and attach to the base of the drum, making it convenient to store.  So, get ready to sit back and watch as your little one pounds, shakes and jingles away!  

      The Kidoozie 4 in 1 Drum Set from International Playthings for ages 2+up, retails for $14.99, and can be purchased thru their website at http://www.intplay.com/

Dig! Discover Display--The Great Sphinx

     Between constructing his own mini versions of the coliseum and pyramids out of Lego’s, to collecting and reading almost all of Mary Pope Osbourne’s Magic Treehouse series, my son has always had an interest in history.  Needless to say, when we recently received a package from Kristal Educational Inc., the creators of educational toys and games, containing three Dig! Discover Display kits, we were very excited!

     The Dig! Discover Display─ The Great Sphinx, was the first kit that we choose to work on during a cloudy, rainy day last week.  The kit contained 1 excavation block, 2 brushes, 1 paint tablet, excavation tool, booklet and instructions (Quick word of advice--you will also need some glue to attach the head of the sphinx to the body).  It is best if the kit is worked on a clear space covered with lots of newspaper, as yes, you will have a lot of discarded excavation material and dust, which can easily be contained if you take these simple precautionary measures before hand.  This worked out perfectly for us, as we were able to dig, sand, glue and paint the sphinx, and had little mess to clean up when the project was completed.

     The sphinx, when completed, measures about 10” in length, with features that are quite similar to the actual monument in Egypt.  While this project takes time and patience to complete, as there are several steps involved in the process, my son and I thoroughly enjoyed working on this together.  His finished piece came out really well, and he has placed the sphinx on a shelf in our playroom for all to see (we'll be posting a photo of the finished product later this week).

     This is the perfect project to undertake on a rainy day (which is exactly the type of day it was when we worked on it a few days ago), or for use as an educational project for homeschoolers and/or a small group of children (where each child can take turns).  Each Dig! Discover Display can be purchased directly thru Kristal Educational Inc website.

     My family and I are so looking forward to ‘digging’ into the other two kits that Kristal Educational Inc., were so kind enough to send to us very soon. For further information on Kristal Educational Inc. various kits and products, please visit their website at http://kristaleducational.com

Big Little Games™ Super Shooter Basketball™ from Patch Products

Big Little Games™ Super Shooter Basketball™ from Patch Products

     Recently, we have experienced multiple days of constant rain, with absolutely no letup in sight.  And while these types of dreary days can easily make kids very antsy (take it from Momma!), simple games that don’t require a lot of hassle to set up and long instructions to pile over, can help pass the time and make your life (and your sanity) much more enjoyable!
     Needless to say, Big Little Games™ Super Shooter Basketball™ from Patch Products   totally provided our family with a fun and easy way to chase those rainy day blues away recently. This game comes with the following items:

Instruction sheet

Three (3) mini basketballs

Net with a fold-down backboard

An attachable basketball shooter

     The game takes a few minutes to assemble (best if mom or dad or other adult puts it together) the game by pushing the pieces in for the basketball net.  Simply aim the shooter where you think you will have a good chance to get the ball into the net, and press down.  There are three different games to choose from to play─ Horse, Around the World and 3-Point Shootout). And with a little bit of practice, your child will be able to dunk a ball in just like the pros!  Best of all, at least for me, there are no batteries required to play!

     Word of advice─ as this game contains small parts (tiny basketballs) there is a choking hazard for children younger than three years of age─this is game that is best played by children ages five and up (younger children may also get frustrated more easily if the ball does not go into the basketball net right away). 

     Big Little Games™ Super Shooter Basketball™ from Patch Products retails for $8.99 and can be purchased directly the Patch Products website. For further information on this, as well as other playfully amusing family-friendly games, please visit Patch Products at: http://www.patchproducts.com/

Big Little Games™ Spurtle Turtle™ by Patch Products

     Poor little Spurtle Turtle has his coins all confused, and he needs some help to match them all up again!  Your little ones will delight in this simple, yet adorable game of memory match.  First off, have an adult apply the stickers onto the 20 tokens, and then place each token inside of the happy little turtle.  To start the game, the first player chosen must press the middle button in the center of the turtle to express the tokens.  Two tokens will come out, and your child will need to turn the tokens over to find out if there is a match. If there is no match between the two token, turn the tokens over and then the next person goes.  On their turn, if there is a match, the next person goes. If the two tokens that come out do not match, but may match with another token that has been turned over previously, the player needs to try to remember which token it is.  We have found that Spurtle Turtle plays best with two to three players, and it makes an excellent game to take on day trips (it is easily portable, fits into any medium/large tote bag), as well as for longer vacations, especially during these summer months away from school.

    Ideal for children between the ages three and up, you can purchase Big Little Games™ Spurtle Turtle™   for $8.99 directly thru the Patch Products website.  For further information on this, as well as other playfully amusing games, please visit Patch Products at: http://www.patchproducts.com/

Thinkfun's Turnstile--A Revolving Maze Game

     Thinkfun's innovative games have provided my family with hours of challenging, yet fun times during our family game nights.  Recently, we received a sample package of some of Thinkfun's newest releases, and this morning, the temptation was too much for my son and I, as we couldn't wait until our family fun night, to try out Turnstile™.
.

     The challenges of Turnstile ™ will hook you and your child, and just about anyone else who plays the game with you, instantaneously.  Each Turnstile ™ game comes with the following pieces:

• 1 Game Grid.
• 4 Color Tokens: 1 Purple, 1 Orange, 1 Green, and 1 Blue.
• 4 Gray Tokens.
• 40 cards with Challengers & Solutions: Beginner through Expert.
• 10 Turnstiles: 1 X, 3 singles, 2 L’s and 2 T’s.
• Instructions.
• 1 Game Go Bag.

     We started with the ‘Beginner’ level cards, and set up our color tokens and turnstiles to match the first card we picked, and right away, our color tokens set off into the maze of turnstiles. If your token hits a turnstile, you are allowed to push it through the turnstile so your token can rotate one quarter turn.  But, if your token is blocked by another turnstile or token, then you will have to quickly don your thinking cap to come up with another way to move around. Continue to move your tokens through the maze until they reach their color coordinated corners.  As you move thru ‘Beginner’ to ‘Expert’ cards, you will find just like we did that the gray tokens can either work for you or against you as the maze challenges increase.  You have to constantly think on your toes!  Very soon, my son and I found that the more we played (warning─Turnstile ™ is addicting!) we quickly worked our way up to the ‘Expert’ level cards. 

     Thinkfun has a great how-to-play video available on YouTube forTurnstile™ , and here is a link to this helpful introduction to the game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KHQ3WnFshs&feature=youtu.be



     My son liked that the game was quick to figure out, and was very simple to set up, and I appreciated the ways that this game enhances a child’s visual and strategic thinking skills in an addictively fun way! Turnstile ™ is perfect for ages 8 and up, and the game retails for $19.99.  Look for this, as well as other games from Thinkfun on their website, http://www.ThinkFun.com

Thinkfun Roll & Play

     Toddlers interact with their world around them─ they learn to think and understand behavior and how it affects their environment.  Through the introduction of simple and amusing games, you can help to nurture your little one’s early cognitive, development and motor abilities.  Thinkfun® Roll & Play™ is a wonderful first game that will grow with your child.  Roll the cube and help your toddler identify the color side up when the cube lands.  The six activities in the 48 card set are easy to read and are broken down into categories of Emotions, Body Parts, Animal Sounds, Counting, Colors and Actions.  These cards describe and illustrate the activities that you will speak or act out.  Very quickly, you and your child will be ‘mooing’ like a cow; seeking out items around the house that are of a particular color; or making silly faces at each other.  Our family really enjoyed playing with this simple yet engagingly interactive, well-made game, and it has quickly become a favorite ‘go-to’ game on our weekly Friday game nights. It is entirely portable, and it is a great game to bring along on trips to visit family or play dates. The activities will challenge your child, while expanding their creativity and imagination.  The convenient storage pocket on the side of this colorful, soft dice keeps the cards together and safe from possibly going lost.  Best of all, especially knowing how messy toddlers can get during play; the Roll & Play™ is machine washable! 

     Thinkfun® Roll & Play™ is designed for children between the ages of 18 months and up, and is best played with two or more players.  Retailing for $19.99, the Thinkfun® Roll & Play™ can be purchased at Barnes & Noble and specialty toy stores nationwide. For further information on the Roll & Play™ or other educational products from Thinkfun®, please visit their website at: www.ThinkFun.com

Modest Momma's Toy Picks for April

0+Years

     Are you looking for a simple, yet playful distraction for your little one during long car trips? The Whoozit Big Bang from Manhattan Toy is destined to become your must have favorite car/stroller accessory! The Whoozit Big Bang’s soft shape C ends and bendable structure can be easily positioned around most strollers and car seats (I have a Graco stroller/car seat and it fit easily over each). Soft, brightly colored toys dangle from stretchy elastic fabric strings are easy for little one to grasp.  They include a sun shaped mirror; a smiling little green star as well as a multi-colored blue striped mini rattle ball. This small, compact travel toy will definitely give your little one a simple yet extremely playful diversion away from lengthy car trips, power walks with momma, or those regular weekly/daily rides through the grocery store. Retailing for $25.00, the Whoozit Big Bang from Manhattan Toy can be purchased thru their website at: http://www.manhattantoy.com/

18 months and up

     Art provides little ones of all ages with a forum to express their feelings─ and a new way to develop their thinking skills.  The Tots Art Start from Alex will assist in nurturing your child’s budding creativity, even when they’re still in toddler sizes!  The kit features three easy-to-grip crayons for little hands; 20 tissue papers, 68 peel and stick stickers, 2 doilies, 2 fringe papers and lots of crinkly paper for hours upon hours of sticking, scribbling and creating!  Best of all, each of the six art activities in the Tots Art Start from Alex require absolutely no glue!  No mess means a very happy Modest Momma!! Retailing for $16.95, please visit their website to find a store located near you. http://www.alextoys.com/store_locator

                                                   Ages 3 and up

     I’ve always loved and appreciated games that have various levels of play for children of all age and abilities.  Goodnight Moon My World ABC Game from Briarpatch, is destined to provide your family with hours of enjoyment as well as ample amounts of educational , cognitive and phonemic learning for the little ones. With five different games to play, this colorfully illustrated game based upon illustrations from the book, My World, a Companion to Goodnight Moon (the classic children's book originally published in 1949), encourages early-learning skills of letter recognition as well as memory skills.  The 26 alphabet pairs are interlocking, and they are easy enough for toddlers to grasp, fostering motor strength development.  Perfect for children ages 3 and up, the Goodnight Moon My World ABC Game can be played with one to four players.  Retailing for $20.99, the Goodnight Moon My World ABC Game can be purchased at Wal-Mart’s nationwide or online at http://www.amazon.com

Ages 4 and up

                    On a recent rainy Sunday afternoon, I invited my neighbor and her two little girls over for a princess themed tea and cupcake party. As the tea and hot chocolate brewed on my stove, two big girls and two little ones decided that our party just wouldn’t be complete unless our heads were adorned with some very princess-like tiaras. The Klutz Make Your Own Disney Princess Tiaras helped us to quickly create our very own individual yet regal crowns!  The tiaras have adjustable Velcro closures that provide for a custom fit and come in sparkling Belle Yellow, Cinderella Blue, and Ariel Pink. To decorate them, your little princess can choose from an array of sparkly jewels, shiny sequins, plush pom-poms, and stickers, including Disney Princess portrait cameos, glue, and punch-outs for easy to design bracelets, rings and magic wands. The glue that was included in the kit was not messy.  The Klutz Make Your Own Disney Princess Tiaras are just simply enchanting, and this kit will give any little girl that happily-ever-after feeling! Retailing for $16.95, the kit can be purchased in Barnes and Noble’s nationwide.  For further information, please visit the Klutz website at: http://www.klutz.com/

No-Spill® Bubble Tumbler® from Little Kids

    

     Bubbles…..I can’t imagine what my childhood would have been like if I didn’t have them to play with during the summer!  And, I passed on my love of bubbles to my son, who would laugh hysterically as he would blow them at our dog (who would try to eat them) when he was a toddler.  What I didn’t enjoy, though, as an adult, was the mess that trailed right behind them─wands that would constantly falls into the solution, causing spills on the floor as we tried to get it out of the bottom of the bottle. 

     So, when I received a sample of the No-Spill® Bubble Tumbler® from Little Kids (which includes a wand and 4 oz. of bubble liquid), I couldn’t wait to discover the difference between this product and all of the others that I have used over the years.   On a warm morning last week, I decided to try this product out with several Pre-K students at my school during their recess.  Quickly, I soon discovered why this product has received multiple awards from several parenting organizations and received the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio’s Gold Sea.  The children knocked it over and left it on its side for a short period of time while we were trying it out during our recess time last week, and my assistant and I noticed that there was no spillage. While it is important to note that you should properly tighten the lid on and store them upright, I found that the design is incredibly durable, and the non-toxic formula does not stain.

     The No-Spill® Bubble Tumbler® from Little Kids retails for $5.99 and is perfect for children from 18 months and up.  You can purchase the No-Spill® Bubble Tumbler® at Kmart, Target, BJ’s, and Toys-r-Us’ nationwide and online.  For further information, please visit the Little Kids website at: http://littlekidsinc.com/

100 Wacky Things from Patch Products

   

    

     My family and I have long enjoyed playing fun, hands-on games that provide us with the ability to make each other crack up while getting downright silly.  100 Wacky Things™ from Patch Products, really impressed us with all of the ridiculous situations that a simple draw of the cards made us act out. 

     All three of us played the game together one night, and although we had an absolute great time playing it, we felt that it would be even more fun if we had more players.  So, my boys and I brought the game down with us when we went to my parents’ house for dinner.  Although we didn’t end up keeping score, we had such a great time playing this game and acting out all the crazy things that the draw of the Wacky cards made us do.  Players will pick from two types of ‘Wacky’Cards─ ‘Always’ and ‘Whenever’. If you draw an ‘Always’ card, you will have to do whatever the card says immediately and continue to repeat the action whenever it is your turn. If you draw a ‘Whatever’ card, you will have to do whatever the card instructs you to do whenever another player does something. For example, when my son drew a card that told him to stick out his tongue and say, “Ahh”, my husband had a ‘whenever’card that said that whenever someone made a face, he had to rub his tummy and pat his head.  While playing the game with my parents, one minute, my son was petting my husband’s head like he was a dog (while donning an elephant’s nose), the next minute, I’m meowing like a cat and my father had to do a hula dance! Totally priceless!

     Although 100 Wacky Things™ is intended for children between the ages of 7 and up; we quickly found that kids of all ages will love watching adults walk around the living room like a gorilla while wearing a bright red feather boa!  Yes, a feathered boa─ there are also silly props  that you will use throughout the game which also include a microphone, an elephant nose and funny glasses with eyes that pop out on springs! This zany game brought a lot of laughter to our night, and we truly will look forward to further nights of pure simple goofiness!

      100 Wacky Things™ includes 96 wacky cards, 4 prop cards, 4 props, (funny glasses, feather boa, microphone, elephant nose) and instructions.  Retailing for $21.99, 100 Wacky Things™can be purchased online thru the Patch Products website at:  http://www.patchproducts.com

Modest Momma's Toy Spotlight for March

Once a month, A Modest Momma’s Musings will shine a bright spotlight on a new mix of toys for children in various age groups.  You’ll be sure to find something special for your little or big ones here.

6 months to 12 months

Big Bird Stack-A-Nest (Playskool)

     With four colorful textured rings, this adorable stacker is designed to enhance your baby’s gross and fine motor skills. Retails for: $9.99.  Look for the Big Bird Stack-A-Nest at nationwide retailers including Babies-r-Us and Target.  For further information, please visit: http://www.hasbro.com/playskool/en_US/

CrocoBloco Activity Toy (Discovery/K’s Kids)

     CrocoBloco’s center consists of four detachable blocks that are adorned with numerous activities─ detach the head and tail pieces to make this colorful crocodile the perfect size for your baby to cuddle with.  Let baby pull on the flower and watch his tail wag. Babies and parents will delight with all the stimulating sensory activity.  Retails for $49.97 at: http://store.discovery.com/

12 months to 24 months

My Take Along 1.2.3 Noah’s Ark (Playmobil)

     Your little one can help load all the animals included with this set on this colorful ark.  The deck of the ark is removable and the hull has plenty of space of storage for the lion, lioness and pairs of giraffes, zebras, elephants and birds. Perfect for babies 18+ months and up.  Can be purchased online for $34.99 at: http://store.playmobilusa.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-US-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=6765&cgid=1%2e2%2e3

Catch-Me-Kitty (VTech)

     This electronic learning toy from VTech invites your little one to a game of chase through sounds and movement.  Catch-Me-Kitty moves and scoots across your floor, encouraging your baby to chase it.  As your little guy approaches the kitten, a sensor knows exactly when they are near and the cat reacts with sounds and motions. Retails for: $14.99 at:  http://www.vtechkids.com

Count ‘n Crunch Cookie Monster (Playskool)

   Count 'n Crunch Cookie Monster is a great way to encourage early counting skills and number awareness. Watch your little girl count away with Cookie Monster as she feeds him his favorite food─cookies.  Cookie Monster responds by counting and giggling. Retails for $29.99.  For further information, please visit: http://www.hasbro.com/playskool/en_US/

2 years to 4 years

Disney Animators’ Collection Dolls (Disney)

    Designed by key Disney animators, these dolls look like the famous Disney Princesses as toddlers. Each doll comes with a small cloth companion such as baby Meeko or baby Rajah. The outfits are very shiny except for Pocahontas, whose clothing is more leather-like. These adorable dolls retail for $24.50 and are available online at:  http://www.disneystore.com

Razzle-Dazzle Ruby by Masha D’yans (Scholastic)

     Award-winning artist Masha D’yans debuts her first picture book featuring the delightful character of Ruby, a little girl who can make the ordinary extraordinary!  Come along on her adventures as she becomes a snow queen and transforms a typical winter day into a gleaming fairy tale.  Glorious watercolor illustrations that pop out from the pages enhance this sweet story.  Girls of all ages will delight in this whimsical tale. Retails for: $17.99 and is available at Barnes & Noble booksellers nationwide and online. For further information, please visit: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/razzle-dazzle-ruby

Chuggington Wooden Railway Engines (Learning Curve)

      Based on the popular Chuggington show characters, these engines feature real wood construction and easy-to-connect magnets.  Fully compatible with other wooden train track systems, these engines bring the colorful world of Chuggington to life. Retails from: $11.99 to $19.99 at: http://www.learningcurve.com

4 years to 6 years

Strawberry Shortcake Berry Bitty Market Playset (Hasbro)

     The ever-popular, sweet-smelling doll debuts a new play set, which comes complete with a three-inch fragrant doll and adorable accessories including a grocery cart, pretend food and grocery bags.  Retails for $34.99 and are available at most major toy retailers nationwide and online at: http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com

Connect 4 Launchers (Hasbro)

     Be the first player to get four rings in a row─ horizontally, vertically or diagonally in an exciting new relaunch of the classic game.  Players face a head-to-head race as they try to aim, launch and connect their way to victory with a new designed game unit configured to catch launched checkers. Available for purchase for $19.99 at: http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com and at major toy retailers nationwide.

                                                           6 years to 8 years

Lego Alien Conquest UFO Abduction (Lego)

     This newest addition to LEGO’s vast collection sets is the first earth-based space theme.  You little hero can go on a mission to prevent the UFO from abducting the farmer.  The UFO’s illuminated tractor beam, three mini figures and numerous LEGO bricks to build roadblocks can set imaginations afire.  Retails for: $29.99, and available at major nationwide retailers, including Target, Wal-Mart, and Toys-r-Us.  For further information, please visit: http://shop.lego.com/en-US/UFO-Abduction-7052

Crayola Jewelry Boutique (Crayola)

      Give your little girl the chance to become her very own jewelry designer!  The kit will spark her imagination and creativity to design uniquely personal bracelets, necklaces and earrings.  The jewelry spinner and workstation work in combination with Model Magic colors to create over 160 eye popping combinations. To add a dazzling finish to her designs, she can add bead glaze, gems and interchangeable pendant and bracelet charms to her creations. Retails for: $24.99 at: http://www.crayolastore.com

                                                  8 years to 10 years

Draw Star Wars: The Clone Wars (By the editors of Klutz and Bonnie Burton)

     Filled with tips, your child will be able to learn to draw their favorite characters from the popular movie. Can be purchased online at: http://www.klutz.com for $16.97 or in Barnes & Noble and specialty stores and catalogs nationwide.

Simon Flash (Hasbro)

     This new high-tech twist on the popular Simon game will test your memory and logic skills to the max!  A portable game case makes it easy to take along on a road trip. Retails for: $29.99 at Target and Wal-Mart’s nationwide.  For further information, please visit: http://www.hasbro.com/playskool/en_US/\

10 years and up

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: Black Pearl (Lego)

    Ahoy, matey’s! Fans of the hugely popular Pirates of the Caribbean movies will marvel at LEGO’s version of Captain Jack Sparrow’s ship.  Retailing for $99.99, and available for purchase at: http://www.lego.com

Risk (Hasbro)

     The ultimate game of global domination is back in this latest update.  The classic game reintroduces the Napoleonic-era military theme to pique the interest of your aspiring world leader.  The object of the game is to occupy every territory on the board with the help from the roll of the dice. Available online at: http://hasbrotoyshop.com and major toy retailers nationwide for: $19.99.