I love love love Christmas time. Maybe it is because I am a big kid and adore being able to shop for the little ones and then help them try out their new toys. I love sitting back and getting to read new books, color pictures, and the decorating is always a blast! Of course being the wonderful person that I am, I thought it would be nice of me to share some of the great companies and products out there that I find for the Holiday season. Some will be products I am sent to review, some will be products we come across and I think would make a great addition. Not only will you find gift ideas, but you will find Holiday recipes, decorating ideas, craft projects, and any other fun holiday stuff I am let in on! If you know of a great product, craft, recipe, or decorating tip please let me know by emailing me at fivemonkiesreview@gmail.com (please include Gift Guide in the subject line).
Showing posts with label toys for preschoolers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label toys for preschoolers. Show all posts

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Build-A-Bear Workshop


I think that the perfect gift no matter what holiday is a great stuffed animal. It has the ability to bring comfort. It has the ability to spark the imagination. And it is just so soft and cuddly. And when kids get a chance to be in the action, it makes the stuffed item so much more special. Being able to walk in, pick out your favorite, pick out his/her heart, be the one pushing the lever for the stuffing, bathing, dressing, and naming the stuffed animal makes it even better.

Build-A-Bear Workshop gives you all that, and more. When you are done bathing, dressing, and getting to know your little creation, you get to name it and adopt it. I will admit, I love watching the kids faces when they were taken into Build-A-Bear. It is a memory they still talk about today.

I was sent a $25 gift certificate to head over to Build-A-Bear Workshop and make my own furry little friend. The process is super easy. The animals range in price from $10 to $22. You pick your favorite. Then you decide if you want a voice box in it. After that, you stuff the bear, place it's heart in, bath, dress, and name. I have to say now, I was in a hurry, and did not do the adoption part. It was one of those days. But I do know from talking to one of the ladies working in there, that when you go through the adoption you get a code so that you can go on Build-A-Bear online and play with your friend virtually. Sounds pretty cool, right?!

You can find a Build-A-Bear workshop in most malls. If you do not have one near you, you can also order a furry friend online. You can also find lots of clothing and accessories on the website as well.

Follow along with Build-A-Bear on Twitter, or like on Facebook, to keep up with sales, new animals, and more!

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Learning Curve's Dinosaur Train


I am a big believer in PBS and the shows that they put out for kids to watch. One of our favorites by far is Dinosaur Train. I don't know many little boys who don't love learning about dinosaurs, and most little girls are secretly enthralled by the big animals as well!

Learning Curve is bringing the Dinosaur Train fun right into your home with their new line of Dinosaur Train toys. Directly inspired by the familiar sights, sounds and iconic characters of the popular preschool series from The Jim Henson Company seen daily on PBS KIDS® (check local listings), the new Dinosaur Train product line brings dinosaur play to life like never before. With many of the items available for under $20, the innovative preschool product line includes interactive dinosaur action figures, collectible dinosaurs, plush, train sets, and electronic learning aids. To get a first hand look at the line, I also wanted to send you 3 really cute and funny videos Learning Curve created that feature children interacting with the new toys and the product designers talking about how the items were created.

What makes these toys great is the smart talk technology that has been integrated into each of the toys. The innovative preschool product line includes interactive dinosaur action figures, collectible dinosaurs, plush and train sets, and is available at major retailers across the country. With the Dinosaur Train InterAction Figures your little one will spend lots of time playing and learning about his favorite dinos from the show. In addition to being able to recognize and respond to other Dinosaur Train InterAction Figures, each character is fully articulated and is packed with one-of-a-kind dinosaur features, including a minimum of 40 dinosaur sounds, facts and character phrases. With multiple activation touch points that trigger a signature dinosaur feature, such as stomping or chomping, Dinosaur Train InterAction Figures provide hours of interactive and imaginative fun all by themselves or alongside the other dinosaur friends in Learning Curve’s line.


In addition to the Dinosaur Train InterAction Figures, key items in the Dinosaur Train line making their debut at retailers nationwide include Dinosaur Train Dinosaur and Train Car 2-packs, a detailed collectible dinosaur figure and a train car decorated to match the specific character; and Lights and Sounds Dinosaur Train, a colorful prehistoric train set that expands to fit additional dinosaur friends and their special train cars.

We were actually sent  two of the Dinosaur Train InterAction Figures to play around with. Tiny is my favorite from the show and she is pterodactyl. She has over 40 phrases and sounds that she makes/says. The other one was Buddy. Buddy is the misplaced T-Rex being raised by a family of pterodactyl's (Tiny is his sister). Like Tiny he says over 40 phrases/sounds. It is really cool getting them together and letting them interactwith each other. This is alone will keep em enthralled for a good few bit! Talk about a lot of giggling going on in my living room when they started playing with. All most as much as when we went and checked them out online to see all the items in the line. Connor and Colton have taken over the ones we were sent, so I can definitely see having to get at least one more for Braden. My daughters actually pouted because they didn't get them!

Check out Learning Curve's complete Dinosaur Train line of toys on their website. You can locate a place to purchase the items, watch cool videos showing you more about how the InterAction line works, and get a giggle out of your little one by playing around with the Games and More section!