Our Picks

Latest toys for kids of every age. Our picks including dolls, action figures, collectibles, Lego, games,video games, apps, puzzles, crafts, movie and more.

Robo Coding Saga

by admin October 12, 2019

The toys that kids now have may not be like those toys of yesteryears. They have become more advanced, more interactive, and even more intelligent. The educational toy segment of the market also has benefitted from new tech as toys like the Robo Coding Saga are slowly getting into mainstream.
The new Robo Coding Saga is a robotic kit that helps introduce the wonderful world of coding to kids. Combined with Lego blocks, kids can learn and understand how the technology and programming can work together to create robots. The basic robotic set comes with a total of 6 different programmable Robo Blocks. There are also 12 building block components that work with the programmable blocks to perform a certain function. There is a programmable component that provides the brains while another may provide motors for movement as well as different connectors and sensors to help put the components together.
The Robo Coding Saga kit introduces kids to programming and how it can make their robotic creations come to life. The kit works with the Robo app that helps instruct kids the basics of coding with an easy to use interface. From that, kids can learn how to make their robots act the way they want. There are a number of building projects kids can try out in order to better understand coding. They can also try to build their own personal projects using the different components of the robotic kit using their own creativity and imagination.
The Robo Coding Saga aims to teach kids about coding at an early age. Ideal for kids from 5-years old and above, the kit is now available for pre-order on Kickstarter. It will cost around $279 for the basic kit. It is expected to be available by May of next year.
Image Source: Kickstarter

AirTime Hand-Controlled Flying Drone

by admin October 8, 2019

There are now many types of flying drones available in the market. But most of them are designed to capture still images or video from the sky. There are a few of them that can do other functions such as carry loads or monitor large areas of land. But only quite a few of them are made specially for kids. This new AirTime Hand-Controlled Flying Drone is just one of them.

The AirTime Hand-Controlled Flying Drone offers as different way kids can look at flying drones. This is the drone that they can have fun with their friends. Instead of taking shots and video footage. The AirTime drone is designed for fun and active play. This drone can fly and hover without the use of a remote control or app. It features sensors around the vehicle that can determine the drone’s flight direction. A gesture of a kid’s hand close to the AirTime and it will fly in the opposite direction. Kids can have fun and control the toy drone and direct it to fly using their hand gestures.

The AirTime Flying Drone turns on automatically when it is right side up. Simply invert it to turn it off. The drone uses advanced LED infrared sensor technology as well as inductive suspension. There are built-in gyroscopes that help control accuracy and balance along with better collision protection. The mini-drone comes with an outer cage with quality lightweight non-toxic material that encase the moving fan blades to make them safe for kids to play with.

The AirTime Flying Drone comes with rechargeable batteries that requires 30 minutes of charging time. A full charge can achieve a flight time of 6-8 minutes. Since the AirTime does not require a remote control or app to control, it is ideal for kids to have fun learning how drones hover, move around, and fly by using their hand gestures. This toy can help kids develop their visual-spatial intellegence as well as their creativity and imagination. It also helps arouse their scientific curiosity at an early age. The AirTime Hand-Controlled Flying Drone is ideal for kids from 5 years old and above. It is avaialble at the Eureka Science Shop for around $35.

Image Source: Eureka

Let’s Potty! Potty Training Board Game

by admin November 4, 2014

This game is geared towards learning about potty and little rhymes seem to help. It teaches taking turns and stop and listen. Until your little one gets use to how to play, like training, you need to repeat and be patient. The game doesn’t take long to play, which is perfect for this age, but it hasn’t changed anything with a parent’s struggles of convincing their child to use the potty.

If your child has never played a game, this would make a good introduction to board games. The game comes with four toddlers card board tokes for markers. Two girls, two boys, with happy faces and each its own color, (red, purple, yellow, & green). The board has a roll of toilet paper starting the beginning and leading to the end where a child is on the potty, you move along the roll of paper. There are only three options, move to the next star, rolly (roll of toilet paper character), or no move. Simple, not overwhelming for little ones. Example of card: “You didn’t need any help, you pulled your pants up all by yourself” “Move to the next star”. The sturdy cardboard cards are nice size for toddlers hands. The cards will have a picture, but children still will need help to know where to move, some of the cards have a picture of stars or rolly which are helpful, wish all were like that for the little ones to know when they draw their own card. Example of a Stay here card, “Uh-oh. Your pants look droopy next time use the potty to make a poopie”.

It is a great first game that’s well made. The graphics are really great. The cards are thick and large so they don’t get ruined during play time, and the children are always engaged because they want to touch the cards and look at the pictures. The rhymes are really funny, and appeals to 3 year old humor. There are a lot of bright and cute images on the game board as well, and that’s another draw for the kids as they love to look at information visually.

The game itself is really simple, you pick up a card, read the rhyme and move your little guy down the board. Everyone wins in the end, the object is not to compete with each other but to reinforce potty awareness.

It bears to repeat that this game is a tool to help bring more awareness to this area of development and growth.

How to Play:
Follow the toilet tissue trail through the house to the potty. Along the way, experience the language, the etiquette, and the pride of making it “in time.” Your guide will be “Rolly” the toilet tissue roll!

• Have each player choose a character
• Place characters on start
• Decide which player will go first
• Pick a card from stack and read aloud, following instructions
• Each player follows the toilet tissue path to reach the potty

How to Win:
Everybody wins! Everybody plays until they reach the potty!

Contents:
Contains 1 gameboard, 4 game pieces, and gamecards.

Zoomer Dino

by admin October 2, 2014

Boomer dino from Spin Master is a kind of dinosaur robot who can balances on two wheels exploring your home. Boomer has real dinosaur movements, sounds and dinosaur abilities. Boomer can detect when you’re nearby and when you interacting with him. Like a real Dinosaur he can get angry, spin around, and roar!

Kids can use their hands or the included controller to tame his Dinosaur nature and build the friendship. Be aware! He doesn’t like when we pull his tail!

Age: 5+

Green Toys Chef Set: Made with Recycled Milk Jugs

by admin April 5, 2013

The most discerning parents (that’s us) know that toys made of plastic should be avoided. Most plastic toys are made of Bisphenol A (BPA), which was recently declared a toxic substance in Canada while it has been banned in the United States as material for baby bottles.

While BPA has been used for years in plastic products, it has recently been found to have hormone-like properties. Exposure to BPA can cause a variety of health problems from obesity to cancer.

Thankfully, there are a number of plastic toys that are guaranteed safe for our kids. Green Toys have been making toys made of 100% recycled milk jugs, saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas. At the same time, their toys are free of BPA and meets FDA specifications for food use, so we wouldn’t have to worry about the health of our kids.

Like any other products from Green Toys, this chef set is made in the United States so you are assured that it is made with high quality and stringent safety standards.

This Green Toys Chef Set is a hit on my daughter. She would even play with her own chef set while I cook dinner or take it outside and play chef with the other kids. This set consists of a stock pot with lid, a skillet, ladle, and slotted spatula. When they get dirty, I simply put the Green Toys Chef Set in the dishwasher.

The Green Toys Chef Set is available in Amazon with a listed price of $19.99.

Image source: Amazon

Jellycat Stuffed Animals for Kids

by admin March 28, 2013

As everyone knows there are many developmental benefits associated with stuffed animal toys for children. Not only the kids are getting used to their sense of touch, but they also learn the value of empathy. How our children take care of their plush toys may reflect on how they treat other people when they get older.

I personally find many creative ways that animal toys may be used to assist in the developmental success of my twins. And I have found one of the softest, most lovable stuffed toys known by the name Jellycat.

Jellycat stuffed animals are designed in London. They make different animals with different designs and they keep adding new stuffed animals to their line. From the traditional Bashful plush toys to the Cordy Roy animals with courduroy-like surface.

Although Jellycat is relatively new in the industry, it opened in 1999, it has garnered fans from around the world because of its high-quality plush toys that can be considered collector’s items.

I just got two Jellycat Bashfuls black and cream puppy (pictured) for my twins. I have to say the quality, softness, and design of these fluffy puppies are worth every penny. The colors are rich and the plush is extremely well made.   There are many Jellycat stuffed animals for every child like monkey, bunny, puppy, kitten, teddy bear, lion, zebra, giraffe, elephant, duck, lamb, hippo, donkey, and much more. The stuffed animals come in extra-large, large, medium and small sizes.

You can find Jellycat stuffed animals at Nordstrom stores, Yoyo.com and Amazon.com.

Image Source: Amazon.com

Wooden Train Set for Kids

by admin March 28, 2013

A wooden train set is a must-have toy for kids. I bought one for my son when he was almost 2 year old. I can tell this is the best toy I bought for him. He plays with it everyday for about 2 hours.

I started with Thomas and Friends Water Tower Figure 8 kit as train set. I didn’t know yet my son would love to play with a train set. Though the price for this set is a bit on high you won’t be disappointed. This train set is high quality. The tracks and accessories are strong and sturdy.

Few months later, I was walking at Toy’R’Us for my Christmas shopping and I saw Imaginarium City Central Train Table (Toys’R’Us exclusive). The price for this set is great. Toys’R’Us sell it for $159.99 regular price. I bought it on sale for $119.99. The train table take about two hours to set up but it’s worth it.

This train set sits on a table, which includes one large drawer to store train and tracks. The town features a Central Station with lights and sounds, a light-up bridge, a geared roundhouse, a scrubbing train wash with sound, a heliport, and a geared lifting crane. It also includes town characters. This Imaginarium City Central Train Table is compatible with Thomas & Friends and Brio wooden train sets. My son love’s his train table. He’s playing with it everyday since more than a year now. Over time, I upgraded the trains for Thomas and Friends Woooden Railway trains and they fit perfectly with this train set.

Because, the walls of the Imaginarium station were a little shaky and my son became a huge fan of Thomas and Friends, I replaced this station by Thomas and Friends wooden railway Tidmouth Sheds. I also, added Thomas and Friends accessories like the deluxe railroad crossing, deluxe over the track signal, cranky the crane and Toby’s windmill. My son loves to create different train layout. It is fun and helps him to develop his imagination.

The only problem with wooden train set is the tracks are easily disconnected to each other. Some parents suggest mounting the track permanently on the table by gluing them together. But it’s actually not the best solution, because the train set, should allow your children to improvise, think and create a new layout. I found a product online called Suretrack Clip that helps to keep the tracks stay in place. It’s very easy and keep the tracks steady. You can find this product on amazon.com for about $10.00.

Image Source: Toys R’Us, Amazon.com

Kidkraft Majestic Dollhouse

by admin March 21, 2013

Last Christmas, my husband was looking for the perfect dollhouse for our daughter. He did a lot of research before he ordered the Kidkraft Majestic dollhouse. I couldn’t believe how nice and big this dollhouse was when I saw it.

This house is everything a little girl would expect: Durable, lots of wooden furniture, an elevator, lots of space for barbies and hours worth of enjoyable imagination everyday.
The dollhouse is 4 feet wide and 4 ½ feet tall, suitable for playing with other kids. It’s has eight spacious rooms and thirty four furniture pieces and accessories all made of wood. It accommodates fashion dolls up to 12″ tall. It is the perfect size for barbies dolls.

It took us about 3 hours to set up the dollhouse, not because the instructions are hard to follow but because of the many pieces that are needed to be assembled. This is a very high quality product at a reasonable price. My daughter loves her dollhouse! She plays with it everyday since she got it. I would highly recommend this dollhouse for any girl between 3 and 7 year old who love to play with dolls.

Image Source: amazon.com

Sophie the Giraffe Great Teething Toy

by admin March 18, 2013

When my twins were 6 month old I bought this wonderful product called Sophie The giraffe. This toy is absolutely wonderful in every way. Sophie is made of soft natural rubber and makes a pleasant-sounding squeak whenever any part of her body (ears, horns and legs) is squeezed. She is perfect for soothing baby’s sore gum when teething and is completely safe.

Sophie is loved by parents and babies all around the world, in fact, there have been over 50 million of these cute little giraffe teethers sold since she was first created more than 50 years ago!

I recommended this product to every parent. Sophie the Giraffe was a lifesaver for me. Sophie generally costs between $18 to $25 online, compared to just a few bucks for a generic teether. I have to say this product worth every penny.

Sophie is Phthalates and BPA free.

Image Source: toysrus.com

Plasma Car Ride On Toy

by admin March 13, 2013

I bought 2 PlasmaCar when my kids were 1 year and half old. We have them since almost 2 year now. This is one of the best toys I bought to my twins. This is the best ride on toy you can get for your kids.

The Plasma Car from PlaSmart is an innovative ride-on toy that makes the best use of your children’s inexhaustible source of energy. This toy doesn’t require batteries, pedals or electronics of any kind. It uses pure inertia, centrifugal force and friction to power its motion. The kid simply turn the steering wheel left and rights to move.

PlasmaCar is very quiet, safe and inexpensive. The car is made of highly durable plastics and is recommended for use on smooth, flat surfaces and is not recommended for hardwood floors. Carpet, grass, gravel, and other “rough” surfaces diminished the toy’s ability to propel forward. This toy supports up to 220 lbs and is designed for ages 3+. I have ridden it with my kids. It is fun! I can see using these PlasmaCar for few more years.

Like I said, I bought 2 when my twins were 1 year and half old and they play with them since that time. They never get bored. They play with it everyday for last 2 years for at least 25 minutes. They can maneuver very well getting around our furniture and kitchen island. It’s a great toy to get your kids active.

I ordered my PlasmaCar online. When I unpacked the box it’s was easy to put the PlasmaCar together. It’s took me only few minutes and required a rubber mallet and a screwdriver.

I think kids of any age will really like the PlasmaCar. I highly recommend this product to anyone.