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
974E9122-57D4-483A-9826-213D760785C9-8437-0000047E48D662F4.JPG
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.

05947A27-41E2-458A-A677-6789062B926E-8437-0000047E35E50928 (1).JPG

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!

Start Your Holiday Shopping With Funrise Toys!

With the holiday season just around the corner… I’ve decided to help you all out by rounding up some awesome gifts well before the madness of shopping begins so you can get a head start on your shopping!

Zane is almost 2 years old so he’s at an age where I buy him a cool and fun toy and he ends up being more interested in the box (parent reality). So I’m always pleasantly surprised when I find a toy that catches his attention and that becomes a favourite of his! I couldn’t wait to share with you Zane’s current obsessions (which I know your minis will LOVE too!). He lives, breathes, eats and would sleep (if I let him) with these toys!

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HERODRIVE™ DC Super Friends Collection and TONKA Power Movers.

They are sturdy (Zane-proof) toys that light up, move and have his imagination running wild. He can pretend to be Batman as he zooms around the house with his bat mobile! It features lights, engine sounds, and music that bring the action to life! The Batmobile transforms into race mode by pushing the windshield forward to make the wings pop out. Zane can push the logo on the hood for unique Batman sounds, then push it again to send the Batman Racer racing forward with its cape flying behind!

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Zane can also be the master of a construction site with his new dump truck that has lights, real engine sounds and even a realistic backup sound! The rugged Dump Truck features new Motion Drive Technology allowing for fun and intuitive play that brings the action to life!

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They’re fun to play with, they were easy for him to figure out how to use and they are big enough that they don’t fit under my couch (mom win)!!!!

You can check out the whole HERODRIVE™ DC Super Friends Collection here.

And the TONKA Power Movers here.

Make sure to tag me in the pics of your minis playing with their new toys! There’s nothing better than a smiling, happy and entertained toddler.


Start Your Holiday Shopping With Funrise Toys!

With the holiday season just around the corner… I’ve decided to help you all out by rounding up some awesome gifts well before the madness of shopping begins so you can get a head start on your shopping!

Zane is almost 2 years old so he’s at an age where I buy him a cool and fun toy and he ends up being more interested in the box (parent reality). So I’m always pleasantly surprised when I find a toy that catches his attention and that becomes a favourite of his! I couldn’t wait to share with you Zane’s current obsessions (which I know your minis will LOVE too!). He lives, breathes, eats and would sleep (if I let him) with these toys!

IMG_7657_Facetune_07-11-2018-20-37-00.jpg

HERODRIVE™ DC Super Friends Collection and TONKA Power Movers.

They are sturdy (Zane-proof) toys that light up, move and have his imagination running wild. He can pretend to be Batman as he zooms around the house with his bat mobile! It features lights, engine sounds, and music that bring the action to life! The Batmobile transforms into race mode by pushing the windshield forward to make the wings pop out. Zane can push the logo on the hood for unique Batman sounds, then push it again to send the Batman Racer racing forward with its cape flying behind!

IMG_7655_Facetune_07-11-2018-20-26-22.jpg

Zane can also be the master of a construction site with his new dump truck that has lights, real engine sounds and even a realistic backup sound! The rugged Dump Truck features new Motion Drive Technology allowing for fun and intuitive play that brings the action to life!

IMG_7656_Facetune_07-11-2018-20-52-29.jpg

They’re fun to play with, they were easy for him to figure out how to use and they are big enough that they don’t fit under my couch (mom win)!!!!

You can check out the whole HERODRIVE™ DC Super Friends Collection here.

And the TONKA Power Movers here.

Make sure to tag me in the pics of your minis playing with their new toys! There’s nothing better than a smiling, happy and entertained toddler.


From Dragons to Princesses to Farms... You Will Find It All at PLAYMOBIL!

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PLAYMOBIL® is known for their iconic figurines and imaginative play. They have everything from Ghostbusters™ to NHL® to Christmas themed play sets for children of all ages! So in time for the holidays, we got a chance to try out 2 of their toys from the 1.2.3 Collection, which is meant for younger children. We tried out the 1.2.3 My Take Along Noah's Ark and the Ladder Unit Fire Truck

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We loved the Take Along Noah's Ark! For starters, the deck opens up so that all the animals and accessories can be stored inside, which means no lost figurines and no clutter! #momwin. Zane loves the animals and the bright colours, and soon enough he'll be using his imagination to create new adventures for all the animals :). This toy is recommended for 1.5 years+ because some of the pieces are a little small, so I stored the smaller pieces in the arc, and let him play with the ones that were appropriate! The Take Along Noah's Ark even has a handle on it so when your minis need to go with you to grandma's house or over to someone's for dinner, it's a super easy toy to pack up and bring along. 

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The Ladder Unit Fire Truck is also great! It has a ladder that swivels around and it even comes with a little fire man figurine so your children will be able to save the day and put out any imaginary fires that they may find! I may get the Fire Rescue Helicopter next for Zane that so that his Fireman has a friend :). The firetruck has room in the basket or the driver's seat for any of the 1.2.3 figurines, so if you have another one of their sets, you can turn any character into a fire fighting hero! I really recommend checking out the PLAYMOBIL website - they have Take Along Farms, Ships and a ton of other figurines and sets that your littles will love! Click here to visit their website to find the perfect gift in time for the holidays!