Little Pim Foreign Language DVD Series

It's been years since I have taken a Spanish language class. Although back in the day, I was actually semi-fluent. I completely support and appreciate the importance of children learning at least one 2nd language- it is such an amazing skill to have. I hope to teach Lily Bean bits and pieces of Spanish, and the Little Pim series makes it a little easier!

Through a cute and engaging video, the Little Pim Spanish DVD that we watched was very well done. Words are shown on the screen, repeated multiple times, and acted out (mostly by children). Our DVD was Volume 1: Eating and Drinking. Lily Bean and I watched as various meal related scenes played out- with Spanish vocabulary for food, utensils, and other actions appeared on the program.

I was impressed that Lily was fairly interested. She watched for about 5 minutes or so before wandering across the room to fetch some toys. I left the DVD on and found her checking the show out several times. I have a feeling that the older she gets, the more engaged in the DVD she'll become.

The Little Pim DVD Series comes in ten different languages: Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Arabic, English and German.

Purchase options include:

• Individual Little Pim DVD in any of the ten languages. Disc one: Eating and Drinking; Disc two: Wake Up Smiling; Disc three: Playtime – $17.95 each

• Little Pim Three-Pak is the three-DVD introduction to more than 180 vocabulary words and phrases in your chosen language – $49.95

• Little Pim Gift Set includes a Little Pim Three-Pak in your chosen language plus an 8-inch velvety soft plush toy of Little Pim, the panda, in a fun, re-usable tote – $59.95

• Little Pim Deluxe Gift Set, available only in Spanish or French, includes the three-disc set, the plush toy, a music CD and flash cards in a fun, re-usable tote – $84.95

Goldberger Toys: Baby's First Playset

I will never forget Lily Bean's reaction to her first doll. It was a toy she received for her first birthday. Before I could even take it out of the packaging she was reaching and screeching for it. She grabbed it and immediately started hugging it and rubbing its head. It was one of the cutest things I've seen!

Goldberger Toys has an entire line of baby dolls. There is literally a doll for each and every age, beginning with infant. We received the Baby's First Playset which included a doll along with a plush teddy bear and rattle. The doll is SO soft and squishy- just perfect for little hands! Lily Bean was thrilled at the chance to play with a new doll- and I like how it's rugged enough to withstand her rough play.

One of the best features? It's machine washable. I have a seriously love for machine washable toys!!

Ages: All

Price: $7.99

Available from: Goldberger Toys

VTech Jungle Gym: Ride & Learn Giraffe

VTech takes learning and fitness for toddlers to a new (exciting!) level with their new Jungle Gym: Ride & Learn Giraffe Bike. Kids get to bounce around and pedal with all of their might, while learning numbers, letters, and more! The faster they pedal, the more they learn!

Features:

· Encourages learning through five modes of active play

· Teaches your toddler letters, counting animals and objects

· Features an LCD screen

· Adjustable, bouncy seat with three positions to grow with child

· Features a wide, stable base

_____I was so excited for Lily Bean to try this toy! I wasn't sure how she'd do on it, as she's a little bit younger than the recommended minimum age. Well! She might not have complete coordination as of yet, but she just LOVES her giraffe!

____Even before we took it out of the box, she was laughing and pressing the buttons. She thought it was hysterical how the screen lights up and makes sound. She watched as we assembled the bike and immediately tried climbing on it when it was ready.

___This toy is one that she will grow into and continue to take to new levels. I am so pleased that she enjoys it so much- and I have to say- we have fun watching her play with it!

Ages: 18-36 Months

Price: $49.99

Available from: VTech, Toys R Us, Walmart

Baby Genius Toys

Lily received her very first Baby Genius DVD for her birthday this year. I honestly cannot say enough good things about it. It captivates her unlike any other show, movie, or CD. She bops around, dances, sings, and even shrieks in excitement when her very favorite songs come on the screen. Many of the songs on that DVD are actually set to the tune of well-known classical music.

When I attended the Time to Play holiday showcase in NYC last month I was thrilled to learn all about the brand new line of toys from Baby Genius.

These toys are available at Walmart stores and you can visit the Baby Genius website for more information.

Old McVinko's Musical Farm: $25

It's a farm, it plays music- what more could a kid need? This farm is interactive, colorful, and fun. There is actually a track that the animals sit in. The track then revolves in and out of the barn carrying the animals with it! The farm is easy to pick up and take with you- which will come in handy on our many trips. I love that it comes with several barnyard animals and also features the Baby Genius characters. Lily Bean recognized these characters from her DVD and it just added to the excitement!

Swivel 'N Sounds Phone: $8

This phone is going to save my poor Blackberry from even more Lily Bean bites. She absolutely loves playing with our phones- no matter how many times we take them away from her, she still manages to find them. This Baby Genius Swivel 'N Sounds Phone packs so much entertainment in such a little package! The phone makes sounds, plays songs, talks, lights up, AND! It even has a record feature that allows kids to record themselves talking and play it back. Totally fun toy at a FRACTION of the price you would expect to pay!

DJ's Sing-A-Long Keyboard: $20

Lily Bean will sit for long periods of time at our piano and happily bang away on the keys! This is all fine and good, but it requires someone to sit with her to make sure she doesn't topple off the bench. This keyboard is such a fun alternative and her face lights up every time she plays with it! Kids can choose their instrument, type of music, and play some songs. There is also a record/play back feature on this toy allowing kids to record their songs and listen to them over and over again.

Chuck E. Cheese Pizza Maker

What's better than pizza? Pizza you can make at home! The EZ-2 Make Chuck E. Cheese Pizza Maker makes that possible for kids to do.

Features:

• Make pizzas in one minute using Mom's conventional microwave
• Includes dough, sauce and cheese mixes
• Makes 4 pizzas
• Refills are available

Ages: 8+

Price: $34.99

Available from Amazon.

ICEE Slushy Maker

The EZ-2 Make ICEE Slushy Maker is a great toy to have on hand for those lazy days of summer. What better way to enjoy summer than with a big 'ol slushy?

Features:

• Makes delicious slushies in under 5 minutes
• Prepare! Mix! Shake! Enjoy!
• Includes ice flavors

Ages: 4+

Price: $19.99

Available from: Amazon

UNO MOO!

This one is just too cute! We all know and love the classic game of Uno- but it's definitely a game that is a little too advanced for preschoolers.

UNO MOO! is the game of Uno JUST FOR THEM!

Kids get to make matches by color and animal- and the first one to get all of their animals back wins!

Ages: 3+

Price: $19.89

Available from Amazon

Blurb.com Photo Books

Sometimes memories are so precious, only the highest quality method of preserving them will do. That is the case with Blurb.com. I have tried many company's photobooks. Most have been okay, some have had less than quality printing. Blurb Books and their quality can be summed up in one word: stunning.

In what was an extremely hard task, I chose my very favorite pictures that Caitlin Domanico has taken of Lily Bean throughout her first year of life. I used them to put together a Large Landscape book. Blurb was kind enough to give me a credit to put towards part of my book price.

One thing that I really like about Blurb is that you design your book using their easy to use software. After downloading the software onto your computer, you create the book offline. It's very user friendly (an amateur should have no problem using it) and there are various templates and page layouts to choose from. You can choose a book jacket or have your images printed directly on the cover.

Once you're finished creating and reviewing your book, you simply upload it (well, the software uploads it) back to Blurb.com. You then order your book, and within about a week, it's delivered to your door! Books start at just $12.95 for a 7x7 inch square hardback book.

Start creating your own Blurb Book today! (They also offer gift certificates- what a cool gift for just about anyone on your list!)

Crayola Beginnings Assortment

There are some amazingly cool products out for older babies/toddlers from Crayola Beginnings. These products are specially designed for tiny hands to grasp and manipulate. They are all washable which is perfect if your little Rembrandt tends to wander outside the lines.

TaDoodles Easy Stampers

Ages: 18M+

Price: $6.49 (Crayola, Amazon)

TaDoodles First Marks

Ages: 18M+

Price: $6.49 (Crayola, Amazon)

TaDoodles Tub Crayons

Ages: 18M+

Price: $6.49 (Crayola, Amazon)

Triangular Markers

Ages: 24M+

Price: $6.49 (Crayola, Amazon)

Triangular Crayons

Ages: 24M+

Price: $3.29 (Crayola, Amazon)

Crayola Beginnings Color Me a Song

Sometimes all it takes is a quick glance at a toy and you know that it will be a hit.

Crayola Beginnings has come out with a total winner with their Color Me a Song.

Set up like a desk (that easily travels!), you will find a pull out storage tray for crayons. Color Me a Song includes 8 triangular crayons to get your little one started. They are my favorite crayons for little hands, as they encourage a tripod grasp which will help them as they learn to write.

Turn the switch on, add a fun instrument if you choose, and away you go. This toy can sense how fast (or slow) children color and adjusts the music tempo to match the action! Color slow and the music creeps along...scribble at a furious pace and the music picks up into an energetic ditty!

Color Me a Song also features 4 original songs (rock, salsa, country, and swing) and it's WASHABLE! Should the crayon sketchings end up anywhere other than the paper, cleanup is simple with warm water and a sponge.

Watch a commercial for Color Me a Song here:

Ages: 24M+

Batteries: 3 AA (included)

Price: $24.99

Available from: Amazon, Crayola, and Target

Printies Design Studio

Remember the holiday toy showcase in NYC that I went to a few weeks ago?

I had the chance to preview some of this year's *hottest* toys- and Printies Design Studio was among my very favorites!

Printies comes with everything you need to make SIX custom, original stuffed animal creations!

Purchase a kit and gain access to their exclusive website where your child can create a one-of-a-kind character! Print the character out using your inkjet printer onto their special fabric paper.

No cutting, no pasting, no sewing required! Simply punch the character out of the paper, stuff with filling, and add feet and accessories! You can even upload picture files to put your very own face on your Printie!

Printies are are perfect for any time, from a rainy day to a birthday party!

Ages: 6+

Price: $19.99

Available from Amazon

1-2-3 Stomp!

Have kids? Want to make learning fun? Then get them up and moving for some exciting number and math practice that will teach and entertain them at the same time!

1-2-3 Stomp! combines both learning and fun in an action packed toy.

This game is ideal for preschoolers. It can be played as a group or solo, and runs on batteries, so it can be enjoyed pretty much anywhere!

It has varying levels of difficulty that starts with simple number recognition.

1-2-3 Stomp! asks kids to answer early math questions (for example "What number comes after 3?"). Kids have to race to pick up the correct number and put it in its place!

"Additional games within 1-2-3 Stomp include 1-2-3 Count With Me, in which kids race to return the scattered numbers in ascending or descending order. There is also the Plus and Minus Game that requires kids to calculate simple addition and subtraction problems. In team mode, players work cooperatively to achieve a shared score."

Ages: 3-5

Price: $19.99

Available from: Wild Planet, Amazon, and Target.

WowWee Alive Baby Animal Collection

Here is yet another toy that makes me want to shout how extremely cool it is. As an adult, I definitely love and embrace technology when it comes to computers, cameras, phones, and other gadgets...but toy technology is in a whole other realm.

The WowWee Alive Baby Animal Collection will delight and amaze any crowd! These baby animals are life-like plush animals that are covered in small sensors which are triggered by touch. The animals blink their eyes, move their mouths, and make sounds. They have tilt sensors to "know" when they are upside down and react appropriately.

Each animal features animated facial and vocal expressions that are triggered by the users' touch. We had a sweet leopard cub (pictured) arrive at our house, and I wish I was recording the SHRIEKS that came out of Lily Bean's mouth as she discovered this toy.

The WowWee Alive Baby Animal Collection offers the following animals: lion, polar bear, white tiger, and panda bear cubs.. plus NEW for 2009 are: husky puppy, koala joey, leopard cub, and seal pup. Each animal comes with a birth certificate and family portrait.

Price: $59.99

Ages: 3+ (though with parent supervision smaller children can certainly enjoy this toy!)

Batteries: 4 AA (included)

WowWee also makes a smaller version, WowWee Alive Mini Cubs! They are $19.99/each.

Available from WowWee, Amazon, and Wal-Mart.

U Turn Digital Camera

COOL!!! Check out this new digital camera designed JUST for kids!

The U Turn Digital Camera features a 2.4" LCD Screen and holds up to 80 photos- no memory card required! The screen actually turns 180 degrees so that kids can see themselves while taking the picture!

This camera offers 12 morphing effects to turn any picture into a silly keepsake. Choose from big head, comic book, eye popping, tunnel vision, twins, face pinch, mirror head, thermal, stretch, twisted, slices, and ghost.

Camere connects to the television and package includes the following:

• Digital Camera
• SNAP! Photo Editing Software
• Wrist Strap
• USB/TV-Out Cable
• Quick Start Guide

Requires: 3 AA Alkaline Batteries (not include)

Ages: 6+

Price: $49.99

Buy a U Turn Digital Camera now!

Onionhead Products for Teaching Children to Express Emotions

Onionhead is no stranger to me. As a special education teacher, I was quite familiar with their wonderful line of products.

Onionhead products focus on teaching children (and teens and adults) how to identify with what they are feeling. Through picture communication, their products use adorable onion characters to explain different emotions.

The Children's A-Z Deck of Feeling Cards and Feeling Dictionary help children to personalize their feelings and learn how to express themselves in an appropriate and effective manner.

Children choose a card from the deck. They write or talk about why they feel they got that card, and how it makes them feel. Then they go to the corresponding story in the Feelings Dictionary and read how Onionhead handled that problem or feeling.

Ages: Any

Price: $27.75

Buy Onionhead Feeling Cards and Dictionary now!

The Onionhead Magnet Set is another tool to use with children who have difficulty expressing their feelings and emotions.

Each magnet features a cute little onion who represents an emotion.

Children can use the magnets to identify with the emotion they want to feel. This tool will open lines of communication between children and caregivers.

Age: 3+

Price: $19.95

Buy Onionhead Magnet Set now!

LeapFrog Tag Junior Reading System

You know the LeapFrog name. It is synonymous with learning, reading, and fun all in one. Their products are innovative and unique- and best of all they use technology to make learning fun. When you make learning fun, you make it memorable.

LeapFrog Tag Junior is the latest and greatest product to hit the market. Aimed at 2-4 year olds, the Tag Junior will bring books to life and engage your child into the wonderful world of reading.

The Tag Junior Book Pal is perfectly designed to fit into tiny hands. It helps children to explore Tag Junior Books using touch technology.

The Tag Junior Book Pal even connects to your computer so that you can go online and check out your child's progress!

Requires: 2 AAA batteries (not included)

Price: $34.99


Ages: 2-4

Buy LeapFrog Tag Junior now!

Fundex Electronic A to Z Game

The Fundex Electronic A to Z will provide hours of entertainment, whether you'd on a long car ride or just relaxing at home. This electronic 2 player game presents you with a question and your job is to try to come up with the most answers- one answer for every letter of the alphabet!

Game features: built-in score keeping, lights and sound, card storage, team or individual game play.

Requires: 3 AA batteries (not included)

Price: $22.60

Ages: 8+

Buy Electronic A to Z now!

Girl Gourmet Sweets Candy Ring Maker

Forget those Easy Bake Ovens! Girl Gourmet is the new go-to treat maker for girls!

The Girl Gourmet Sweets Candy Ring Maker is just too cool! You can made your very own rings- rings that can be worn, and yes, can be EATEN!

Each box comes with enough ingredients to make 10 candy cake rings! (No cooking required.)

Price: $14.99

Ages: 8+

Buy Girl Gourmet Sweets Candy Ring Maker now!

Buy Girl Gourmet Sweets Refill Packs now!

NERF NFL Vortex Mega Howler Football

Now you can play ball, and show off your team pride all at once! The NERF NFL Vortex Mega Howler Football is the farthest flying of all footballs!

The three-fin tail provides long distance aerodynamics and finger grips to help you get a sold grasp.

As the ball sails through the air it makes a loud whistling sound! So fun!

Choose from the following teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, and Indianapolis Colts.

Price: $14.99

Ages: 5+

Buy NERF NFL Vortex Mega Howler now for $14.99.

NERF Weather Blitz All Conditions Football

Pretty much the only way that I will join in a football catch is if it's a NERF ball. For me, they're just so much easier to grip, and they definitely don't hurt as much if I miss the ball and get bonked on the head. :)

The NERF Weather Blitz All Conditions Football is the perfect solution to those rainy or snowy days when you're out playing ball and it does nothing but slip away!

This ball features NERF brand's advanced foam technology- a weather-resistant super-grip skin and finger grips that increase your throwing control. Now you can play football in just about any weather condition!

Price: $12.99

Ages: 6+

Buy the NERF Weather Blitz All Conditions Football now!