Category: gadgets

Gift ideas for 3 Year Old Girl

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Friend and NKT reader, Sarah, posted a really great question on the NKT FB page last week.  With her daughter turning three soon, she asked if I had any gift ideas.  On the heels of last month’s Toy Fair, I have stacks of ideas, actually.  As a mama to a three year old boy, I was excited to research some answers to Sarah’s question.

Three year olds are known for continuing to express their individuality and independence. They are honing their gross motor skills, and for most, attention spans are still quite limited. Role playing and group play is a growing trend at this stage, too.  And as much as I’d like to ignore the whole gender toy issue, like many of you, I’ve seen firsthand just how different play patterns are of boys and girls at this age.

Sarah said her three year old is into girly toys, pets, bubbles and jumping.  And since I haven’t had a chance to talk about many of the fun toys I saw at Toy Fair, this is a great topic to discuss since I saw so many great products that embrace these exact themes.

Princess

Princesses, long-loved favorites to toddlers, preschoolers and beyond, still have a strong presence on the toy front, especially with the success of last year’s Rapunzel.  Even though Disney has hinted at no more new princesses in the near future, toy makers still have a strong grip on this multi-million dollar license.

Squinkies, the tiny bubblegum machine-inspired trinkets that the kids love (and moms not so much), are now available in Disney Princess themes.

Word of caution: these toys are rated 4+ for safety purposes.

With the upcoming release of Tangled on DVD and Blu-Ray, there are quite a few cute dolls that focus on Rapunzel’s hair.

My favorite Tangled-inspired toy is the Toddler Tangled Rapunzel Doll from the Disney Store.  Only caveat with this adorable doll? She’s sold out on Disney Store’s site, but is probably available at select stores.  She’s cute and her hair looks manageable for the littler girls.

Tangled Sing and Glow Rapunzel doll, with her light up hair and singing voice is another cute doll that might be of interest to little girls.

Dolls and Doll Accessories

Doll and doll accessories are, no doubt, a big hit with toddlers and preschoolers because of the imaginative and creative play involved.  Quite a few toy makers have cool new doll accessories coming out, but Hasbro’s Baby Alive and Step 2’s Deluxe Nursery Station are two products that stood out for me at this year’s Toy Fair.

Read More

First-Ever Brooklyn Baby Expo Set for This Weekend

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

For quite some time now, Brooklyn has been undergoing a baby boom of sorts.  And quite appropriately, on Sunday, March 13, Brooklyn will welcome its first-ever Baby Expo.

Hosted by Karen Connell, the brains behind A Baby Grows in Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Baby Expo will be held at Toren Condos from 11am to 4pm.  The Expo, expected to attract expectant moms, new parents and young families, boasts a day full of activities, exhibitors, demos, seminars and raffles.

The Expo transcends the usual fare of baby shows and boasts a line-up of helpful demos and speakers that most modern parents would appreciate.

Read More

International Women’s Day and Empowering Young Girls

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Today marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, a day that continues to acknowledge women’s path to equality.  And ladies, we’ve come a long way.

But before these strong women forged paths and made waves, they were, of course, empowered young girls.  Many sites will focus on the modern role women play in today’s society, but I’m most interested in how we can continue to influence this generation of girls to become strong, smart and independent young women.

Here are just a few sites and organizations that are leading the way:


Girl Talk, the brainchild of Hailey Kilpatrick in 2002, is a student-to-student mentoring program that pairs middle school girls with high school girls who serve as mentors.  It was founded as a way for middle school students reach out to their peers and to help cope with the pressure of being a young teen.  Because in any scenario, smart girls always trump mean girls.

Girls Incorporated is a leading advocacy organization dedicated to extending girls’ voices, issues, and concerns to policy makers, corporations, and the media.  Last year Girls Inc. tapped Michelle Obama as an honorary chair of Girls Inc. Board of Directors to help get their important message for empowering young women.  The Girls’ Bill of Rights and Girls Inc. Online are both worth checking out.

So many things have changed in 100 years, but we still have quite a ways to go.  Here are so many resources that are keeping the girl power movement going, but these are just a few to get the ball rolling.

Toy Fair 2011: Hasbro Showroom, Boy Toys

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Along with many of my blogging and media colleagues, Toy Fair affords us an opportunity to take a glimpse into toy manufacturers’ lineup of new products for 2011.  A few big brands opened their doors for informational tours of booths and showrooms, including #2 toy maker, Hasbro.

I already mentioned a few notables from our tour of Hasbro’s Toy Fair showroom, but Hasbro continues to underscore their success in existing toys and licenses, which includes many of the familiar products that have shows on the new family channel, the Hub, a joint venture with Discovery Communications.

I’m finding it quite difficult to organize everything I saw over the past few weeks, so I’ll try to post them in good-sized chunks to avoid bombarding too much information at once.

Here are just a few of the many new toys for boys from Hasbro:
IMG_8860wtmk

Hasbro’s new Boys Toys didn’t disappoint. Marvel Super Heroes, once again, have a big presence in Hasbro’s lineup of new toys.  With Thor and Captain America hitting the big screen later this year, Hasbro has several new toys, including role play sets, that will have launches coinciding with movie releases.

(above) The Lightning Hammer is a replica of Thor’s signature weapon, and is fully equipped with electronic battle sounds and a launching projectile.
IMG_8871wtmk

The Captain America Disc Launching Shield fires miniature foam disks and has a diameter of 15 inches.

Because I have a smaller super hero fan, I love the Super Hero Squad 3-Packs.  In addition to other popular super heroes, Hasbro will have Thor and Captain America 3-Packs as well. I’m excited to see this segment of Super Heroes go on to expand with more accessories and playsets
IMG_9157wtmk
IMG_9150wtmkIMG_9158wtmk

Aside from the Marvel Super Heroes, Rescue Bots (Transformers) and Star Wars are joining this chunkier line up for smaller hands.
IMG_9153wtmkIMG_9152wtmk

Read More

Toy Fair 2011 Trends and Beyond

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Whew.  What an exhausting week it’s been.  You probably wouldn’t know it from my absence here on NKT, but I was at the New York Toy Fair, and what a productive week it was!

Every time I attempted to write up a post or two, I was distracted by toys or discussion about toys with my blogger pals. For my second year at Toy Fair, it was yet another fun adventure, and one that I’m excited to share.

From babies to big kids, manufacturers are stepping in up with their latest fares.  I spotted a lot of great trends ranging from active-inspired toys and games, to tech enhanced toys, to many licensed products in line with new movie releases (Pirates of the Carribean, Cars 2, Captain America, Green Lantern, etc.) to toys that continue to mimic the real world and of course, anything that’s old is new again.

Still in the process of digesting all this information and downloading the thousands of photos I took, I can’t wait to share more detailed information and sneak peeks of new toys, books and gifts that I saw in my travels.

In the meantime, here are just a few of the many photos I took over Toy Fair:

Skylanders Spyro’s Adventures from Activision incorporates actual toys with video game play.  This game, geared to gradeschoolers and up, is unique, exciting and the first of its kind.
IMG_8805wtmk

Call it Monopoly 2.0 or video games of the future,  Monopoly Live involves electronic interactivity, player recognition and more.
IMG_8959wtmk

In line with their 10-year deal with Sesame Street, Playskool rolled out their new line that celebrates America’s favorite furry monsters. Let’s Rock Elmo was the big reveal in this new Sesame Street line boasting accessory recognition, dancing and singing capability and more.
IMG_9049wtmk

Megablok’s Need for Speed line was one of the many licenses-turned-toy/games that’s indicative of the impact games and apps have on kids and the products we’re finding on our toy store shelves.
IMG_9396wtmk

Continuing on with the Teeny Tiny trend that I talked about last year and a trend that we saw continuous growth all year, Spinmaster is introducing Gomu, another line that will have girls lining up to collect more teeny tiny toys. Gomu, a line of tiny erasers, was one of my personal favorites since I love pens, pencils and writing tools, and collectible (and affordable) erasers.
IMG_9454wtmk

I’ll be back with more finds and thoughts from Toy Fair 2011, but in the meantime, feel free to check out my Flickr photos.

Harumika Does Lady Gaga

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Happy Grammy day! Today marks one of the biggest days for the music industry, where music from all genres are celebrated with one big bash in LA.

This year, quite a few NKT faves are up for Grammys in the Children’s music category, including Justin Roberts, among others.
But because it’s also the first day of Toy Fair, I thought I’d spotlight an interesting and relevant use of a toy, combined with a Grammy-nominated artist.

I spotted this photo gallery that implements Bandai’s Harumika and showcases a few mini-versions of Lady Gaga memorable outfits. Always known to shock and awe the crowd with her eclectic fashion statements, I thought fashion student, Anna Chang’s use of Harumika the fashion toy from Bandai, paid an appropriate homage to the Queen Monster herself.


I can’t wait to see what Gaga has in store for the Grammy’s tonight, but in the meantime, check out these cool Gaga-inspired outfits.

To learn more about Harumika be sure to check out my review here.

Also, be sure to follow along the #tf11 hashtag where Toy Fair attendees and exhibitors will be tweeting about this year’s show.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Q and A: Sarah Ball, Chuggington Writer and Director

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Over the weekend, the kid and I did all kinds of fun stuff that were NKT-related. Among the fun events on our agenda, we went to a Chuggington screening and storytime at the Scholastic Soho store.

IMG_8652

Along with other Chuggington fans, we had the chance to view a fan favorite, “The Chugger Championship” and preview a never-before-seen episode, “Snowstruck Wilson.” The sneak preview of “Snowstruck Wilson” involved a curious trainee straying, after being told to stay close. Having lost my own curious and adventurous kid the other week at a store, “Snowstruck Wilson” hit pretty close to home.

In addition to the screenings, Sarah Ball, Writer/Director of Chuggington, gave a brief introduction before the episodes. After the screening, the kids all enjoyed a little bit of coloring and crafts, which made for a fun afternoon.

IMG_8644

As we’ve been reporting, Chuggington has a whole slew of new licensed products coming our way, which includes a series of Scholastic books (reviews are forthcoming.)

It’s always a pleasure to share the latest and greatest about one of our favorite properties, but it’s even cooler to be able to speak to the brains behind such a beloved show. Check out my brief Q&A with Sarah Ball who told us a little bit about the ideas behind the episodes and the new characters, Hoot and Toot.


Check it

Season two of Chuggington debuts on February 14 on the new Disney Jr.  If you’re on Twitter, join me and other Chuggington fans tonight at 9 p.m. as we celebrate the upcoming Season Two premiere. Follow @Chuggington, and #Chuggington.  And of course, my twitter handle is @jenrab.

Finally, let’s give @Chuggington a shout out for the Shorty Awards. Chuggington is currently in 8th place 7th place and needs to get to 6th to get to the finals.   To nominate Chuggington, just tweet why you think the property deserves a Shorty Award. Easy enough!

Vday Goodies for Girls

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, so I thought it’s a good a time as any to share some cute finds that channel lots of love, practicality and a whole lot of springtime, too.

Lambs & Ivy, Beaba, Children's Place, Ralph Lauren

A big fan of giving practical gifts in lieu of trinkets that will get sucked up by the vacuum, I wanted to spotlight a few of the many cool hot pink snack containers and bottles that are out right now.

  • Boon, always a forward-thinking baby gear company, makes a Snack Ball in a hot pink.
  • And the Kid Easy Squeeze Chopsticks from Fred, are an inspiration from a friend and reader whose boys love eating with chopsticks.  Utensils with little dudes on them=cute and practical gift ideas that will go beyond Valentine’s Day.
  • As a writer, I always have a notebook and pen handy. I think this sparkly heart notepad from Children’s Place is another fun inexpensive gift idea that’s practical and encourages creativity. Pair the notebook with a few cutesy pencils and erasers, and you have a cheap gift bag that will go on to get good use in class.
  • And the cupcake necklace? I’ll have a batch of real ones to go along with that too, please!
  • Want to find out more info about the other products? You can click on each item to get info via ShopStyle.

The Robot Book Reveals What Matters Most

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Even though I’m in the “Valentine’s Day is everyday” camp,  I can’t help but share some favorite goodies that celebrate all things heart-y.  While chocolates and candy are yummy treats, I can think of so many other ways to spread the love.

Books, even in the era of iPads, will always remain one of my favorite gift-giving ideas. With a love for robots, gear and gadgets, I think this book is a fun gift idea for our fellow robot fans.

The Robot Book by Heather Brown, a thoughtful and multi-faceted book about a robot, gets into the nuts and bolts of what matters most.  From page to page, the interactive book features working and moving gears, cogs, nuts, and bolts throughout the creative illustrations, leading to what makes robots tick.

All of the interactive components of the book, paired with a straightforward storyline, make The Robot Book a fun read for babies to big kids and robot enthusiasts alike.

Because of the kid’s love for robots, The Robot Book always finds its way into our bedtime storytime list.  We love turning the knobs and talking about how each part works together, which usually leads to more silly stories and laughs.  It’s a story that engages imagination, thoughtfulness and conveys a message that everyone should take to heart.

Check out the cool trailer after the jump.
Read More

Round Up: Elmo Gear, Gadgets and Goodies

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

In the past, I’ve profiled a variety of Sesame Street-themed toys, home goods and more.  Last year, Elmo’s image and branding transcended toys and books; we found Elmo on digital media, accessories and more.  Indicative of how connected our kids are these days, you better believe our kids’ favorite characters are following suit.
In honor of Elmo’s birthday, here’s a just a few fun Elmo goodies and gadgets that are worth checking out.

Elmo’s A to Z Wii Game

From Warner Brothers, Elmo’s A to Zoo Adventure is an educational video game that is one of two games that mark Sesame Street’s entry into the gaming sector.  In the game, kids can supplement their alphabet lessons with Elmo’s assistance.  Geared to the pre-k set and up, learning the alphabet gets a new dimension in Elmo’s A to Zoo Adventure where kids can interact with animals and Elmo.  Designed with the help of educational professionals, the details of the video game and the way it’s played cater specifically to the younger kids’ capabilities.?  Having attended the launch event of this game last fall, we’ve had a fun time testing out this game out, and it’s added a fun element to our daily lessons.  I love the little Elmo Wii controller cover–seriously so cute and the kid loves it.  Reluctant to recommend video games to the young ones, Elmo’s A to Zoo game is a great way to change up the usual alphabet-learning routine.

DreamGear Accessories

IMG_7434wtmk

Ok, so maybe the little guys don’t have their own iphone or ipads yet (or maybe they do?), but companies like DreamGear are helping mom and dads outfit their smartphones and tablets with fun kid-friendly accessories.  The silicon iphone case from DreamGear is durable, fun and washable–perfect for parents that appreciate Elmo’s cuteness.  I received a Cookie Monster case from DreamGear for review and receive so many compliments from parents and kids alike.  Who knew a phone case could be such a conversation piece?  Beyond phone and (fuzzy!) tablet accessories, DreamGear has a whole line of Sesame Street branded gaming and electronics accessories that are suitable for kids.

Elmo USB

I chatted about this cool Elmo USB from ATP case before it hit the market, and I still think it’s pretty cool.  It has room for storage for your files and for a video that’s included.  In addition to it being waterproof, drop proof, the plug and play convenience of these Sesame Street video usbs give our favorite furry monsters even more tech cred.

Earth’s Best


Earth’s Best has had Sesame Street branded food for the wee ones for quite some time, but they’ve been adding more to the mix.  Characters all over food isn’t my most favorite thing in the world, but when the food is a healthier option, then I’m on board.  Earth’s Best offers organic foods that don’t contain artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.  We are big breakfast people, so I have Elmo’s Oatmeal and O’s cereals on our must-try list.

Elmo Birthday Talking Plush


All Elmo fans must have their own plush furry monster, especially the toteable, talking kind.  In honor of Elmo’s birthday, I’m kind of smitten with this Elmo Birthday Talking Plush.  I might have to add this guy to my first birthday present ideas for my Sesame Street-loving nieces and nephews.

Happy Birthday, Elmo!

Check it

All of these fun Elmo gear, gadgets  and goodies can be found on one of my affiliates, The Sesame Street Store.  As always, shopping at my affiliates and sponsors helps me to make this website possible.

Full disclosure:  Select samples were provided for review purposes.  As always, all opinions are my own.