Stumped For Toys? I've Got You Covered!

With the holiday season around the corner, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with the endless possibilities of toys for kids! It seems as though everywhere you look, there’s a new trend, a new fad, and what’s cool today may not be by the holidays! Don’t worry! I’m here with a few stellar recommendations for toddlers and babies!

For the Babies

Let’s talk about the 6 month old+ ! This baby has started to roll over, can see clearly, loves tummy time and may even begin sitting up! My go-to brand has always been B Toys, for a few obvious and maybe not so obvious reasons! For starters, the quality. I have toys from B Toys that my older son Zane played with day in and day out and they are still in perfect condition and are now being passed on to my second son! There’s nothing I love more than that. Secondly, B Toys cares about our earth and children. Did you know that their packaging is 100% recyclable, reusable and recycled? They also go a step further and donate a portion of their sales to WE, the largest network of children helping other children. And finally, my kids are OBSESSED with everything I bring home from B Toys. Our current obsession is the Roly-Poly Owl! It’s a soft and colourful owl that wobbles and bobbles, plays 5 songs and 4 silly sounds and keeps their attention with a super fun light show! My son laughs and giggles and can’t get enough of this toy.

Click here to learn more about Roly-Poly Owl

A few of my other faves from B Toys are:

Zany Zoo (we’ve had this since Zane was a baby and it’s honestly the best)

Stroller Wiggle Wrap (this is always on Boss’ stroller! It keeps him entertained in the car and when we’re on the go in his stroller)

Musical Octopus (the sounds are so fun, the songs are catchy and the buttons are easy enough to push that my 6 month old can do it!)

For the Game Playing Toddlers
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Toddlers are a special bunch! It’s an age where they get distracted easily, love challenges and are so eager to learn. I brought home Pixxo Junior over a month ago and it’s been a daily favourite in our home ever since! It’s a 2-in-1 game that will grow with your child as they develop! It starts out as a colourful game that encourages hand-eye coordination and pattern recognition as a unique type of puzzle!

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There are 15 coloured sheets and circular tokens that you drop into the game and try to match the colours to the image! Once your child is a little more advanced, it becomes a strategy game with 2 players, similar to tic tac toe, but with coloured tokens that you drop into the game and first person to get 3 of the same colours in a row wins! I love Pixxo Junior for a few reasons. First, because there are 15 different coloured sheets, it keeps my son busy for much longer than a traditional puzzle.

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Once he finishes with one image, he can simply swap it out and start on another! Second, there are so many ways that this game helps my son learn! We get to practice his colours (as he’s putting the tokens in the game, I get him to tell me the colours out loud), he identifies what animal or object is on the picture and he’s practicing his dexterity and hand-eye coordination as he drops the tokens in the game! Once we start playing the Strategy Game, he’ll be using reasoning and cognitive skills to anticipate my moves, choose his next move and identify when he has 3 in a row! Finally, because it can grow with my son, it’s one less thing I’ll need to buy down the road! I love finding toys that my kids won’t outgrow in 5 seconds.

Click here to shop for Pixxo Junior

Stumped For Toys? I've Got You Covered!

With the holiday season around the corner, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with the endless possibilities of toys for kids! It seems as though everywhere you look, there’s a new trend, a new fad, and what’s cool today may not be by the holidays! Don’t worry! I’m here with a few stellar recommendations for toddlers and babies!

For the Babies

Let’s talk about the 6 month old+ ! This baby has started to roll over, can see clearly, loves tummy time and may even begin sitting up! My go-to brand has always been B Toys, for a few obvious and maybe not so obvious reasons! For starters, the quality. I have toys from B Toys that my older son Zane played with day in and day out and they are still in perfect condition and are now being passed on to my second son! There’s nothing I love more than that. Secondly, B Toys cares about our earth and children. Did you know that their packaging is 100% recyclable, reusable and recycled? They also go a step further and donate a portion of their sales to WE, the largest network of children helping other children. And finally, my kids are OBSESSED with everything I bring home from B Toys. Our current obsession is the Roly-Poly Owl! It’s a soft and colourful owl that wobbles and bobbles, plays 5 songs and 4 silly sounds and keeps their attention with a super fun light show! My son laughs and giggles and can’t get enough of this toy.

Click here to learn more about Roly-Poly Owl

A few of my other faves from B Toys are:

Zany Zoo (we’ve had this since Zane was a baby and it’s honestly the best)

Stroller Wiggle Wrap (this is always on Boss’ stroller! It keeps him entertained in the car and when we’re on the go in his stroller)

Musical Octopus (the sounds are so fun, the songs are catchy and the buttons are easy enough to push that my 6 month old can do it!)

For the Game Playing Toddlers
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49E7ACB4-1B71-4DCF-8676-937982B892B1-8437-0000047E6ECCECDB.JPG

Toddlers are a special bunch! It’s an age where they get distracted easily, love challenges and are so eager to learn. I brought home Pixxo Junior over a month ago and it’s been a daily favourite in our home ever since! It’s a 2-in-1 game that will grow with your child as they develop! It starts out as a colourful game that encourages hand-eye coordination and pattern recognition as a unique type of puzzle!

E5C484FB-1EAE-4BAF-ABA8-BD369AF7CC54-8437-0000047EA947EC11.JPG

There are 15 coloured sheets and circular tokens that you drop into the game and try to match the colours to the image! Once your child is a little more advanced, it becomes a strategy game with 2 players, similar to tic tac toe, but with coloured tokens that you drop into the game and first person to get 3 of the same colours in a row wins! I love Pixxo Junior for a few reasons. First, because there are 15 different coloured sheets, it keeps my son busy for much longer than a traditional puzzle.

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Once he finishes with one image, he can simply swap it out and start on another! Second, there are so many ways that this game helps my son learn! We get to practice his colours (as he’s putting the tokens in the game, I get him to tell me the colours out loud), he identifies what animal or object is on the picture and he’s practicing his dexterity and hand-eye coordination as he drops the tokens in the game! Once we start playing the Strategy Game, he’ll be using reasoning and cognitive skills to anticipate my moves, choose his next move and identify when he has 3 in a row! Finally, because it can grow with my son, it’s one less thing I’ll need to buy down the road! I love finding toys that my kids won’t outgrow in 5 seconds.

Click here to shop for Pixxo Junior

Baby and Toddler Gift Ideas from Kidz District!

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… good quality toys for kids is really hard to find. I was super lucky to discover some of my favourite brands when Zane was younger so I know which ones to stick to the second time around! If you’ve been following me for a while, then you know that I’ve been getting toys from Kidz District since Zane was only a few months old! His first toy was the Dolce Musical Giraffe (read my full review here) and it’s made it through 2 years of love from Zane and will be passed along to baby #2 :).

I got my hands on a few more of their toys and think that these need to be on all of your holiday shopping lists if you don’t already own them!!!

VERTIPLAY WALL TOYS

You can say “bye!” to clutter on the floor thanks to this GENIUS line of Vertiplay Wall Toys that stick to your walls (without damaging the paint!). We tried out the Tree Top Adventure and the Musical Rail Track but there are many others! Appropriate for ages 2+, these toys will keep them busy and occupied while leaving your floors clear of toys! They’re stimulating, educational and fit in with any decor! Click here to see the entire collection.

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ORIBEL PORTAPLAY - WONDERLAND ADVENTURES

If you’re looking for an activity centre that can REALLY grow with your child, this is it! This PortaPlay is good for ages 5 months - 5 years! It easily converts from an activity centre with a ton of educational and stimulating toys, to a flat top table for colouring and other activities! Don’t forget to add on the matching stools (they come 2 in a pack!). A bonus? The activity centre and table have easily folding/collapsible legs so it can be transported and folded away. Check out the activity centre here. 

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Dolce - Pull Along Elephant

If you’re looking for a cuddly new entertaining bestie for your little one, look no further! The Pull Along Elephant from Dolce will help your mini develop relationship skills while walking and having a blast with their new best friend. The elephant has a squeaker in his tummy and crinkly ears that your toddler with love, along with a teether and wheels so that he zooms across the floor! Thankfully, the wheels easily come off, so your toddler can bring their best friend with them for nap time! Click here to learn more or click here to see the entire Dolce Collection.

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I only covered a few of my favourites from Kidz District! Click here to visit their website to see everything else they offer!

Best Wooden Toys Under $20

If you follow my blog then you know I love children's wooden toys and the ones we have are among Zane's favourite.  I've rounded up the best on Amazon for under $20! Let me know if you have any other amazing finds that should be added to my list! Click the image or product links below for more info :)

Promotes hand-eye coordination and concepts of colour and size.

Colourful skill-building toy for toddlers and preschoolers. Promotes hand-eye coordination

Promotes hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills

Promotes colour and shape recognition and problem-solving skills.

Promotes hand-eye coordination, counting, sorting, colour recognition, and problem-solving skills.

Promotes colour recognition and hand-eye coordination.

Improves fine motor skills and colour and shape recognition

Great for hand-eye coordination and imaginative play

Features numbers, letters and pictures to identify for vocabulary-building

Brightly colored, smooth-sanded pieces help build early shape, color, and size differentiation skills

Promotes counting, colour recognition, fine motor skills, and early math skills.

Learn the theory of balance through balancing the scale and train your baby's hands-on ability

Encourages counting, sorting, pretend play, and an interest in food and nutrition.

4-in-1 Stroll & Grow Tek Trike by VTech

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Looking to start some early holiday shopping? Well then listen up! We tested out the 4-in-1 Stroll & Grow Tek Trike by VTech - the tricycle that can easily transition as your child grows! I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I LOVE buying things for Zane that will last longer than a month... no parent likes to spend money on a toy and then be putting it into storage a short while later. This tricycle is for children from 9 months old - 6 years old and has 4 different stages to accommodate them :).

Stage 1 is the stroll stage - with a 3 point harness and a stroller type handle to push your little one along! It has a foot rest and a sun shade above their head too! Stage 2 is a training stage - the stroller handle is still attached along with the 3 point harness, but your little one can move the pedals and practice cycling! Stage 3 is for the more independent 2-4 year olds and allows them to be free of the harness and stroller handle! Stage 4 is a drifting stage that allows you you enable the wheels to spin freely and glide - this almost guarantees a good time!

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Besides the 4 stages, the 4-in-1 Stroll & Grow Tek Trike also has an interactive electronic panel that simulates a real motorcycle, and includes a horn, an ignition switch and even a gear shifter! It plays music as the pedals move and has direction sensors to help your little ones learn 'left' from 'right'. It even has unique content for each stage so your little one will never be bored! Zane loves it already and I'm so excited to watch him enjoy it for many years to come! My fave feature is the stroller-like handle... it means Zane can sit and have the time of his life pushing the buttons and feeling like he is free... but I don't have to chase him while he's doing it! #momwin

Click here to visit VTech's website to see the 4-in-1 Stroll & Grow Tek Trike and learn more about its awesome features!

VTech's Pop-a-Balls™ Drop & Pop Ball Pit™ is a Total Hit!

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With an active little boy, I'm always on the hunt for toys that will not only keep him interested, but help him learn and grow while being able to withstand the kicking and hitting and biting (the struggle is real for most of our toys!). VTech's Pop-a-Balls™ Drop & Pop Ball Pit™ is Zane's newest obsession... and I have a feeling it will remain his favourite toy for quite a while.

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Pop-a-Balls™ Drop & Pop Ball Pit™ is literally everything my son loves, put into one toy with bright coloured balls that can be easily folded and stored! The ball pit comes equipped with 30 balls and a ball net that lights up, counts and is really interactive.  The net counts to 10 as the balls are dunked in, and it also makes animal noises and talks! Zane is having fun, learning to count, learning about animals AND developing his motor skills by trying to get the balls in the hoop and by pushing the levers! Every time the levers are pressed, the activity panel makes different sounds and the balls either go down the slide or into the reservoir at the bottom... and Zane's all time favourite feature? The orange lever in the middle that literally propels the lightweight balls in the air! This ball pit makes him scream, laugh and giggle all at the same time, while entertaining him longer than any other toy so far- can I really ask for more? 

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The organized side of me also loves that it can fold up and easily be put away when he's not using it. Our home is already taken over by baby toys so I was so happy to see that Zane's newest obsession was so well thought out by VTech! The balls stay in the centre of the pit and the sides just fold over!

Pop-a-Balls™ Drop & Pop Ball Pit™ is so stimulating and really is exactly what I look for in toys - it's fun and entertaining, while also being super educational (and being able to fold it up and store it is a bonus!). It was like I had the ball pit from Zane's favourite park in my living room... I'm pretty sure this makes me the coolest mom in his little eyes! My dog Rambo was in heaven too :)

 

You can click here to visit VTech's website and to learn more about this great educational toy!