learning toys

Mega Construx: Build Beyond

May 6, 2017 By Lena 24 Comments

A brick isn’t just a brick…it’s a gateway beyond. I’ve seen this. I’ve lived this. And I believe with all my heart, creativity inspires creation.
I love watching my boys play with Mega Construx building sets. For me, the satisfaction is two-fold. First, it’s gratifying to see them quietly following instructions and work towards assembling a complete toy. They are improving their concentration, comprehension, and most of all, honing their ability to see a task through to completion. These are skills that are necessary for all school-aged children, and if they can fine tune them while having fun, I’m all for it.

However, it’s after they’ve completely assembled a toy and broken it apart that the magic begins. It’s when their imagination takes over and allows them to think outside the instructions – it allows them to Build Beyond. …

Fun in the Sun… with $500 in Fisher-Price Toys!

June 23, 2016 By Lena 13 Comments

Popping in today to tell you about an AH-MAZING summer contest from Fisher-Price!

Three (3!) Canadians will be treated to a Fisher-Price prize bundle valued at $500 each. Included: everything you need for an entire season of summer fun! (I’m looking at you, Jeep Wrangler!)
201606-SummerSweeps Click here to enter the sweepstakes. I really hope one (or all) of my readers nab this awesome prize. After you enter, don’t forget to check out the Fisher-Price Playtime Guide to find the best toys for any age. I have it bookmarked for all my gifting needs… and okay, to engage in a little nostalgia. How I loved being a Fisher-Price mom! Good luck all – contest ends July 3, 2016.

Babysitting My Bella: A Play Date with Play, Stow and Go!

November 11, 2015 By Lena

The very best thing about being an aunt to a sweet little girl is the ability to watch her grow, explore and learn about the world around her, one step at a time. This past weekend, I had the pleasure of babysitting my two-year-old niece Bella, and I don’t know who was more excited! I got to pinch her chubby cheeks and watch her toddle around, and she had a chance to play with the new PLAYSKOOL Play, Stow and Go toys, the ultimate in portable entertainment. They’re a mom’s – and this babysitter’s – dream!

Hey there little princess! Look who’s joining us for the drive to Aunty Lena’s!
DSC_1621a It’s PLAYSKOOL All Day Elmo! This cuddly and interactive Elmo toy has 150+ responses, plus eight games and activities to help keep her engaged. And when playtime is over, Elmo can become a loveable friend for Bella to cuddle – because with a squeeze of Elmo’s nose, he can play a soft lullaby with gentle music. It took only a few moments for my niece to get acquainted with Elmo, and then, they became fast friends! …

Join the Ultimate Play Date with Walmart Canada and Playskool!

November 4, 2015 By Lena

When it comes to busy days with baby, simple is better.

Take this weekend. If you’re a parent, chances are, you’ll be out and about running errands with your little ones. And one of the first rules of Mommyhood is learning to keep kids entertained on the go.

(Stay tuned for details about a super fun play date!)

Enter PLAYSKOOL Play, Stow and Go. The toys are easily compacted, collapsible and some even include a handy little travel clip for the ultimate in portability. Now, playtime can happen nearly anytime, anywhere! They can be stowed inside a stroller, a diaper bag and can even be stashed into a pocket. And since the toys are appropriate for ages 3 months and up, they’re perfect for babies as well as toddlers.

My picks? For smaller babes, these space-saving Stack ‘n Stow Cups are perfect for families on the go. Designed for kids with grown-ups in mind, the seven colourful cups let babies stack and explore fun combinations. When finished, they quickly condense into one piece for easy storage and travel. Heading to an appointment? Don’t leave home without the stacking cups!
716ZaagIuAL._SL1500_ I love PLAYSKOOL All Day Elmo. This cuddly and interactive Elmo toy has 150+ responses, plus eight games and activities to help keep kids engaged. When playtime is over, Elmo can become a loveable friend for little ones to cuddle – because with a squeeze of Elmo’s nose, he can play a soft lullaby with gentle music. A second squeeze of Elmo’s nose will make him play a soothing instrumental lullaby. …

On the Go with Little Ones? Introducing Play-Stow-Go!

October 15, 2015 By Lena

I’m not exactly sure why they call it a “diaper Bag”, because truth be told, it held everything but the kitchen sink.

Diapers – for sure. A change of clothes, a stack of wipes, a selection of snacks. Bottles, binkies and blankets. And toys… oh, the toys.

Back when the boys were little, it was a mission to find portable toys that were child-friendly, promoted sensory play and were small enough to take everywhere. Because whether it was a trip to the mall, a plane ride or an afternoon at grandma’s house, keeping them entertained on the go was a top priority. The toys had to be storable, portable and adorable!

stowngo Today, I cherish the time I spend with my little niece. She’s not quite two, but she’s quite the busy-body! Watching her learn through play, fine-tune her hand-eye coordination and perfect her motor skills is a joy to behold. And today, it’s even easier to entertain her on the go with Playskool’s Play-Stow-Go toys.

The toys are easily compacted, collapsible or include a handy little travel clip for the ultimate in portability. So, playtime can happen nearly anytime, anywhere! They can be stowed inside a stroller, some even into a jacket, and of course – a diaper bag. Yep, consider these toys, which aid in developing fine motor skills and sensory play, a diaper bag staple for on the go fun.

The collection also makes at home play much easier because as the toys collapse into a smaller size for easier storage, the pieces conveniently fit inside the toys, so you can avoid having to search for missing parts. It’s as easy as Play, Stow, Go! …

Dance to the Beat with Fisher-Price Dance & Move BeatBo!

October 9, 2015 By Lena

NOTE: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

We’re a family of dancers. My husband, bless his heart, will be 40 this year… but he moves like a 24-year old, especially at corporate events.

(I’ll wait while you click this link to an Instagram video from earlier this year.)

Did you spot Ryder busting a move? He was *slightly* overshadowed by his father’s theatrics. And of course, you all know that Reid has been in dance for years… and there’s been more than one reference on this blog of me grooving on a speaker in my clubbing days. Yeah, we like to move it to the beat!

Does your child like to boogie? Introducing Fisher-Price Bright Beats Dance & Move BeatBo, an adorable animatronic pal that encourages baby to get up and move – and helps teach baby, too!

pTRUCA1-20920855dt The toy includes 3 modes that “grow” with baby:

In Dance ‘n Move Mode, BeatBo’s shaking hips, nodding head and lively music encourage baby to move around. Think of it as a mini concert, just for baby!

Next, Learning & Games Mode helps teach baby ABCs, colors, counting and more, and even features the “Freeze Dance” – far and wide one of the most entertaining games for little ones.

Finally, the Customized Sing-Along Mode lets mom or baby record a phrase, and – I’m not even kidding – BeatBo will remix it into his favorite song. Isn’t that just awesome?

(See BeatBo in action here.)

Now, we know that babies learn through play. In fact, as children play with toys, with one another, and with adults, they acquire and improve the skills necessary for formal learning in later stages of their lives. BeatBo’s fun music and motions encourage baby to move, shake and dance along, helping to exercise gross motor skills. The colorful lights, dancing motions, music, lights and variety of textures all help stimulate baby’s senses of sight, hearing and touch. And by pressing BeatBo’s tummy or feet, baby’s discovering that their actions make fun things happen – a great introduction to cause and effect. …

Put a Bow on It: HEXBUG Nano

December 20, 2011 By Lena

A few weeks ago, I was one of several bloggers contacted to review HEXBUG Nano, touted as “one of the hottest finds for both boys and girls ages 3+”. Not one to pass up hot finds, I agreed to receive a whack of HEXBUG toys.

Truth is, I had no idea what the heck HEXBUGs were.

So sue me. I’ve got toddlers, okay? They still play with toys that are shaded in primary colours. But, I had seen mentions of the micro-robotic bugs popping up all over the place. “Best Innovative Toy of 2011”. “Top 25 Toys for Christmas”. “Best Toy of 2011”. And my personal fave – from Time Magazine, “The 15 Smartest Toys for Young Geniuses”. Interested? You bet I was.

The box arrived. Inside, I found:

• 1 HEXBUG Nano 5-Pack
• 5 Glows in the Dark HEXBUG Nano bugs
• 1 Glow in the Dark HEXBUG Nano Habitat Set
• 1 HEXBUG Nano Spiral Starter Set
• 1 HEXBUG Nano Bridge Battle Habitat Set
• 1 HEXBUG Nano Elevation Habitat Set
• 1 Carton of “Bug Food” (batteries)

Still, I was unmotivated to set it all up. Call me crazy, but I worried that it was too complicated a concept for my two boys. So, I sat on it.

Then the blog reviews started popping up. Here, there, everywhere – the toys were universally adored. And I began thinking… perhaps I should really see what all the fuss is about….