dolls

Betty Spaghetty Dolls and Little Live Pets Lil’ Frogs are Hot New Toys this Fall-Giveaway

October 27, 2016 by Kathryn 128 Comments

Looking for the hottest new toys for fall fun this year? Look no further! Just in time for the holidays, Little Live Pets and Betty Spaghetty have released some great new options for boys and girls alike. I’ve been a fan of the Little Live Pets line for ages now and every year, the company manages to expand on an already great collection to add new and fun animal toys for kids. This year, Little Live Pets is introducing the brand new and adorable Lil’ Frog that can hop and swim!

With two boys in the house, it goes without saying that this was one toy I knew would be a hit. The beauty of Little Live Pets is that they let kids experience a bit of the fun of having a pet, without us poor parents actually having to worry about making sure a live animal is fed and housed safely. The adorable Little Live Pets Lil’ Frog is the perfect example of that. It’s quite a bit bigger than a real frog and comes with fun accessories including its own floating lily pad (making the frog a perfect bathtub toy) and an aquarium. It’s the next best thing to having a real pet animal! [Read more…]

Mattel Has 9 Holiday Gifts That Are This Year’s #ListToppers for Kids-Giveaway #PlayAdvocate

December 9, 2015 by Kathryn 143 Comments

Holiday shopping is in full swing right now, and if you’re still looking for that perfect gift, Mattel has some great suggestions for you! From trains that do tricks to trendy tree decorations, there’s something for kids of all ages in this collection! Check out the nine toys that are sure to be list toppers for kids this year!

Fisher-Price® Thomas & Friends™ Turbo Flip Thomas™ Ages 3+Y | $59.99 | Available at Walmart, Toy’R’Us® and Amazon®

The original Thomas the Tank Engine™ train was made of wood and got pushed around on traditional tracks. Who would’ve guessed that one day Thomas would have such amazing features? A remote control, light-up track projector and the ability to do jaw-dropping backflips and wheelies make Turbo Flip Thomas™ a toy for a new generation.

Barbie® Rock ‘n Royal Courtney and Erika Dolls™ Ages 3Y+ | $29.99 | Available at Walmart, Toys’R’Us® and Amazon®

Have you ever watched the Barbie® Rock ‘N Royals™ movie and wished Barbie® could perform a private concert in your own home? Well, if you haven’t, you can bet your kids have. The Barbie® Rock ‘n Royal™ Courtney and Erika dolls sing songs from the movie and can perform an awesome rock concert. Their variety of songs and fashion outfits are perfect for hours of playtime fun this holiday season. [Read more…]

Barbie Wants Little Girls To Know that #YouCanBeAnything-Giveaway #PlayAdvocate

November 18, 2015 by Kathryn 118 Comments

When I was in Kindergarten, my best friend was a boy named Jamie that lived down the street from me. We went to the same babysitter and often spent hours playing at each other’s houses on the weekends as well. But one day I came running home from my friend’s house in tears and when my mom asked me what was wrong, I told her that Jamie said I couldn’t be a firefighter when I grew up because I was a girl. My mom was quick to comfort me and tell me that Jamie was wrong and I could be anything I wanted.

Even in the mid-80s of my childhood, Jamie’s opinion was becoming one that was frowned upon, and in our modern age the suggestion that a woman couldn’t perform a job because of her gender is considered as absurd as it is. Yet there are still some people that persist with the outdated idea that some jobs are meant only for men and others are meant only for women.

Barbie Canada is passionate about encouraging girls to follow their dreams no matter what and that’s why the company offers the fabulous line of Barbie Careers dolls to help remind little ones that “You Can Be Anything!” From CEO to Scientist to Figure Skater to Eye Doctor, there’s nothing that Barbie can’t do! And the Barbie Careers dolls, fashion outfits and playsets are the perfect way to let a child get inspired for her own future career. I was pretty excited to see that the collection includes a Barbie Careers Firefighter Fashion Pack! [Read more…]

Jump Into New Activities with Tips from Monster High-Giveaway #PlayAdvocate

September 18, 2015 by Kathryn 100 Comments

After recently spending some time chatting with my young niece, I learned that the Monster High television show and dolls are currently her very favourite. She loves the originality of the characters and the way they show off their personality and style even with their ghoulish appearances. And I have to admit, I’m a bit of a fan myself! The characters tackle problems that little ones can relate to, and the story of Monster High’s newest ghoul, Gooliope Jellington is the perfect example of that.

Gooliope was created when a science experiment went wrong, and her adoptive parents knew she was something special when she grew to be over fifteen feet tall. Now she takes pride in ensuring that everyone is included and reminding her Monster High friends that differences should be celebrated! If you have a little one that’s nervous about starting a new activity or going to a different school, Gooliope has four tips to help kids embrace that new environment:

Project Confidence

We all have concerns for our little ones, especially when they face a potentially challenging situation. To help your child prepare for their new environment act how you want them to feel. Little ones can easily pick up on how you feel and it will have a significant impact on how they feel themselves. If you show them that you are happy and excited for the change, rather than concerned and fearful, they are more likely to feel positive about the transition. [Read more…]

Inspire a Love of Music with Barbie Rock n’ Royals Dolls and DVD-Giveaway #BeSuper

August 19, 2015 by Kathryn 57 Comments

When I was about five years old, my mom put me in piano lessons. I still remember those first lessons colouring cartoon pictures illustrating the different notes and practicing fingering exercises. At the time, there were certainly days that I didn’t want to sit and play piano. But that early introduction to music led to my learning multiple other instruments in later years and having an appreciation for music that’s lasted my entire life.

Now, with two children of my own, I’m a huge believer in the importance of music in a child’s development. In fact, my boys have dozens of children’s music CDs for just that reason. And I’ve seen for myself how that exposure to music helps encourage their creativity and keep them active! Want to get your kids inspired to create their own music? These three tips will help!

Don’t Follow Directions

You read that right! Many parents encourage their little ones in music through structured music lessons. But for many kids, music lessons can be stressful and monotonous. While following directions and reading music is important for any musician, finding your own beat is just as vital. Encourage your daughter to break the rules once in a while by singing or playing a musical instrument however she pleases. This will give her the opportunity to fully express herself and have fun while doing it! [Read more…]