educational toys

Kids Love Learning with the LeapStart Activity Book System-Giveaway

July 26, 2016 by Kathryn 130 Comments

As a parent, there are a few skills that I believe are essential to my boys’ proper development, so I’m passionate about ensuring they’re developing those skills. And in my mind, the absolute most essential skill to ensure a child’s future success is a love of learning. I use all kinds of different tricks, techniques and toys to make learning a fun and rewarding experience for my boys. That’s why LeapFrog products have always been a favourite in our home.

From the earliest baby days to the school years, LeapFrog has used innovative electronics to help kids gain proficiency in a variety of different areas, from math and science to reading and writing. And the brand new LeapStart system is the perfect example of why I’ve always loved the brand. The system uses a library of activity books that let kids have fun while developing STEM skills, problem solving, shape recognition and, of course, literary skills! I recently received the brand new LeapStart to review and Benjamin was only too happy to help me test it out. [Read more…]

Learning Through Pretend Play with Toys from LeapFrog #LeapFrogMomSquad

November 4, 2015 by Kathryn 20 Comments

While I do love the modern and trendy LeapFrog gaming systems and tablets, I have to admit that I’ve always had a special fondness in my heart for the company’s toddler toys. LeapFrog has a special talent for turning pretend play into a learning experience, and the brand new Number Lovin’ Oven and Scout’s Build & Discover Tool set are perfect examples of that.

The LeapFrog Number Lovin’ Oven not only lets kids pretend to cook just like mom and dad, it introduces basic number concepts including counting and fractions. With sixteen different food items to cook, little ones can pretend to make all their favourite treats. And with more than thirty songs and phrases from the talking oven to engage kids, learning to cook is more educational than ever!

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LeapFrog LeapPad Platinum, Imagicards and Word Whammer Build Literacy for Life

September 28, 2015 by Kathryn 25 Comments

I remember when my oldest son was about six months old and it occurred to me that he didn’t really have any baby toys. He had stuffed animals and a few rattles, but nothing interactive with buttons and music. I made a trip to the local store and found a toy that I could hang on the crib with handy rubber straps. Featuring a butterfly, caterpillar and ladybug, it had music, sound effects and talking characters. Zackary absolutely loved it.

That toy was a LeapFrog toy and though I didn’t know it at the time, that was when we took the first step to becoming a LeapFrog family. In the years that followed, my boys have learned and played with countless LeapFrog infant and toddler toys, the Leapster Explorer, the Tag Reading System and every single LeapPad tablet.

Needless to say, I was thrilled when I was chosen as a member of the LeapFrog Mom Squad, since it would mean even more chances to experience the toys my boys have loved since they were babies. And sure enough, my very first LeapFrog package was one that had my youngest son Benjamin in paradise! Even better, these newest toys from LeapFrog are the perfect choice for building literacy skills, something my Grade 1 boy is going to be doing a lot of this year! [Read more…]

Combine Fun and Learning with Magformers Building Sets-Giveaway

August 19, 2015 by Kathryn 164 Comments

When it comes to finding the best toys for my boys, I tend to favour those that encourage creativity. That’s why building blocks have been a favourite with Zackary and Benjamin for years now; the building possibilities are only limited by the imagination of my children. But recently I had the chance to review a toy that gave children a different way to create…Magformers! These clever geometric shapes contain magnets on each side so that they can snap together in all kinds of ways.

Recently I had the chance to review some of the newest Magformers sets and I knew my boys would be only too happy to help me out. I received the Unique 44pc set and the WOW 27pc set to review. I loved the idea of a set that included wheels since my boys love any kind of vehicle. But they had just as much fun seeing how many shapes they could build with the Unique set!

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Kids Will Love Learning this Christmas with the VTech InnoTab Max Tablet-Giveaway

November 4, 2014 by Kathryn 257 Comments

It’s hard to believe it, but Christmas is only about six weeks away and my boys are already starting to get excited. The hunt to find the perfect toys for under the tree has begun and this year, VTech has a great new option for parents that want to combine fun and learning! The new VTech InnoTab Max is the ultimate learning tablet for kids between three and nine years of age and is sure to be a hit this holiday season.

So what sets the VTech InnoTab Max apart from previous VTech tablets? The 7-inch, high-resolution multi-touch screen is part of the tablet’s appeal. And the included kid-friendly cover protects the tablet when it’s being used by smaller children, yet is removable when an older child wants a more adult-style tablet experience.

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