gear – Page 15 – The Next Kid Thing

Quirky Toy Fair Finds

February 26, 2014 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

With every Toy Fair that I attend, I come away with a good idea of the direction that toy makers are going. In terms of toys, we’re getting more tech-enabled, yet we’re riding the throwback wave. I try to mentally catalog the cool new toys and how the kids will receive them. As the experts say, ultimately, it’s the kids who deem the cool factor of these shiny new toys and games.

BUT… that’s not to say that the Toy Fair showroom floor doesn’t have its crazy aspects. There are some crazy-cuckoo ideas and then there are some crazy-cool ideas, too. And then, there’s the quirky things that find their way home with me. And by quirky, of course I mean unique!

So, here’s a round up of a few things that I found quirky-cool.

Lady Gaga Brush Buddies

Ok, so, I love Gaga. I would go as far as saying that I secretly wish I could be one of her little Monsters. But alas, I’ll just continue to rock out to Paparazzi full blast while carting my kids around in the car. Or maybe, just maybe, I’ll rock out to “Born this Way” as I brush my teeth. What!

Brush Buddies features a replaceable brush head and two buttons to play two different songs. Each song plays for 2 minutes, which is the dentist-recommended time for brushing teeth. This Lady Gaga Brush plays Born this Way and, aptly, Teeth.

Rabbids

Who doesn’t need a collectible rabid, um, punk rock rabbit? Inspired by the hit video game-turned popular Nickelodeon show, Rabbids Invasion Toys embrace the quirkiness of these characters known for their wild antics.

This line, which is a part of McFarlane Toys, features a new lineup of crazy toys that include a sound blaster, action figures, plush and blind packs such as this. As you can imagine, each Rabbid is just as crazy as the next.

Lil Bub

Unbeknownst to me, Lil Bub is a full-blown internet sensation; as in, she has upwards to 357k followers on Instagram, 34K followers on Twitter and very own Wikipedia page—celebrity status. Lil Bub, who was born with several genetic mutations, has a short lower jaw and toothlessness which makes her tongue always hang out.

She also has osteoporosis and short legs, which is said to restrict her movement. She’s doing well thanks to her owner and therapy. Lil Bub’s story has been a heartwarming sensation; her owner has sold Lil Bub merchandise to benefit animal shelters.
Lil Bub will now have her very own plush to benefit even more great causes. My cat has made a friend with the plush Lil’ Bub.

Mad Lab from Fairy Dust

While walking the aisles of Toy Fair, I’m always on the hunt for something different, even if it’s totally gross. Fairy Dust, makers of girly bath gels, lip gloss, sugar scrubs and DIY bath product stations often found at little girl spas, made me stop in my tracks when I spotted their bowl of eyeballs and zombie heads. Amidst the pink and sparkly backdrop, with table after table of beautiful tubs of lotion and soap, in one corner sat a gross-looking selection of stuff that I knew my boy would LOVE.

I made my very own tub of bath gel with a green soap that pumped out like ooze, threw in a layer of sparkles, plus a few zombie heads, eyeballs and a finger for good measure. Oh, and the finger? It unscrews and is a bubblewand.

As crazy as it looks, it was an absolute hit with my zombie and gross stuff-loving dude. Bath time has never been more crazy.

Emoji Icons

Everyone loves Emojis, right? The fact that emoticons are now embedded into our vernacular says a lot about us. Emoji Icons extended everyone’s love for our digital expressions of emotion. They made Emojis into a bracelet that can be personalized and it features the fun little faces and even the quirky little poop icon. ha!

Rattlesnake Eggs

Now, this last one wasn’t a toy sample or anything. It was actually given to me in a trade show survival kit from one of my favorites, Prince Lionheart.

The kit was so memorable and functional; I ate the granola bar and used an Advil that was included in the kit. But the rattlesnake eggs, well, that knocked me off my socks! I got a kick out of it, for sure! If you’ve ever seen something like this before, I’m sure you know what I mean!

Toy Fair 2014: The Year of the Hedgehog

February 24, 2014 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

For the past few years, there seems to be a few popular themes or animals throughout exhibitors’ booths at Toy Fair. Whether reflecting popular shows, songs or designs, without fail, there’s always a cool new creature that makes the rounds at the show and then all over baby in kid products. A few years ago, the owl ran rampant, followed by the fox and other animals. This year, I noticed that the hedgehog was trending all over Javits.

Be on the lookout for these cool new products featuring the fuzzy face of the hedgehog:

Skip Hop

One of my absolute favorite hedgehog interpretations appeared on a Skip Hop Lunchie. That sweet face, combined with the cool color combo of teal and red, will, no doubt, make for another popular extension of Skip Hop’s versatile lunch packs. I didn’t get word on when it will be released, but my guess is probably before the push for next school year.

Prince Lionheart

Another interpretation of the hedgehog was found on Prince Lionheart’s classic Wheely Bug. The wooden toddler ride-on toy has been seen in ladybug and bumblebee varieties, so this plush version made my head turn. The softness of the hedgehog is a fun take on this popular toy and easily the cutest ride-on toy at the show. The hedgehog Wheely Bugis already out and can be found at retailers such as Yoyo.com and Amazon.com

Hape

Another adorable hedgehog themed toy was found at Hape’s booth in the form of a Walk-a-long Toy. This toddler totable toy touted Hape’s beautiful wooden construction and kid-safe paints. It looks like it comes in a big and small size, with plenty of cuteness to go around. My friends and fellow trendspotters over at Popsugar Moms were just as smitten with this Hape hedgehog.

Tomy and Sonic Boom
I have much more information on what’s up and coming for Sonic, but as a quick preface, the Blue Blur has an upcoming new show, Sonic Boom, and Tomy has been named as the master toy licensee. Be on the lookout for Sonic plush, action figures, RC, role play, vehicles and novelty based on the re-imagined Sonic the Hedgehog.

Safari Ltd.
After ogling at all the cute hedgehogs, leave it to Safari Ltd. to bring me back down to earth with their life-life figure of a hedgehog. Safari Ltd., known for their Toobs and educational figures, has a hedgehog in their Incredible Creatures collection, which is the largest figures in any set.

Toy Fair 2014 Day 2: Moose Toys, VTech, BToys, Hasbro, Skylanders and More

February 19, 2014 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Even though Toy Fair is winding down on day 4 now, I thought I’d share some thoughts from a few days ago.

By the middle of day 2 of Toy Fair, I was thinking about how many new toys I had just previewed. Nonetheless, it was a good variety of new toys, some good, others not so much.

I started the day by meeting with Pillow Pets, the makers of the plush pets/pillows. The brand has a variety of new characters joining their already robust lineup. They’re also introducing an inspirational line with faith-inspired sayings and designs featured. The highlight of their new offerings, however, are Tricksters, a line of bike helmets with the plush characters on top of the helmet. Stuffed animals meet function and safety.

I checked out Moose Toys’ latest wares, which included the latest series of Trashies and Ugglys. Moose Toys, known for their gross factor and great girly crafts, are set to release lifelike electronic pets. The Little Live Pets look and feel real, without all the fuss.

The butterfly pets have a cool fluttering feature that seems so tranquil and the birds look so exotic and cool.

My personal favorite from Moose’s new line up are Shopkins, which is being dubbed as Trashies for girls.

These tiny collectibles are shaped as food items that you’d find at a grocery store. Emblazoned with cutesy faces with lots of pink throughout the line, this new line of toys from Moose will be a hit with girls looking for that next big collectible.

B. Toys, one of my absolute favorite toy lines has some great beach toys coming out this year. Ranging in size, the beach toys are grouped into sets featuring gender-neutral pieces.

Perhaps one of the most eye-catching elements of this line is the jewel-toned color scheme. I’m always a fan of the musical instruments from B. Toys, and that makes no exception for the beautiful carousel bells.

In my travels, I found several new toys including baby toys constructed from plant materials and silicone and other cool baby accessories. I discovered Sand Alive, which is one of my favorite play materials, something I think would be ideal for OT and Early Intervention. I found this sand product in other booths, sometimes referred to as Kinetic Sand. In particular, I’ll definitely be checking out where I can get these for my guy now.

Surprisingly, I haven’t found too many Rainbow Loom accessories. Rainbow Loom, who isn’t at the show, but won four Toy of the Year awards. I did find, however, Loomey Time, which is a company that creates time pieces that are compatible with Rainbow Loom bracelets

VTech was my next appointment of the day. At this electronic toy maker’s meeting room, I had a chance to preview the highlights in their line’s new toys. The Switch and Go Dinos have a new starting point and also a a cool RC car joining this popular lineup.

I checked out Playmobil who had a cool offering up new toys. Their warrior line is the main focus, with dragons and fairies as awesome focal points, too.

Skylanders showcased a few new characters being released for Swap Force. My favorite? Springtime Trigger happy which will be available in the next few months.

Hasbro was the highlight of my day because it meant that I got to see Transformers, Super Heroes, Sesame Street, Ponies and much more. There was so much to see and check out in their showroom, but a few of my favorite highlights were definitely Dohvinci, a new take on Play-Doh, but much more malleable and can be released in a hot glue gun-like device. The Star Wars toys, too, look to be incredible, as well as the Marvel Mashers which are my absolute favorite thing right now. Elmo has a new toy, which touts his imagination and use of hats. My Little Pony has a quite a few new offering such as a DIY pony line and rockstar Equestria Girls.

There was so much fun to see and check out, I’ll be sure to share more soon.

Prelude to Toy Fair 2014

February 16, 2014 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

It’s that time of year again when toy makers, idea generators, retailers, movers and shakers convene at Javits for the 111th International Toy Fair.

There’s so much to be excited about this year, but in specific, I’m gearing up to check out the latest and greatest in fun, smart toys. Toys that aren’t just mindless, but instead, toys that have substance, smarts, interactivity and are sustainable.

Before setting foot into Javits, I know we’ll see a lot of monster and zombie-inspired toys. This segment, we know, has been a major hit with kids of all ages. Zombies and monsters aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

I expect to see a lot of new Disney properties brought to life in toys. With Muppets Most Wanted out in the spring, Captain America in April and Marvel-Guardian of the Galaxy out in August, Disney will be out in full force at Toy Fair per usual.

Toys will be smart, as in app centric or have some sort of parallel online presence. In fact, Alicia Keys, co-creator of the interactive children’s app The Journals of Mama Mae & LeeLee, will help cut the ribbon at Toy Fair’s opening ceremony on Sunday, February 16 at 10 a.m. Singer/songwriter/producer, entrepreneur, humanitarian and app co-creator Alicia Keys, along with Jessica Walton, have teamed up with Bento Box Interactive to develop a series of storytelling app experiences for tablet and mobile devices under the The Journals of Mama Mae & LeeLee franchise. The apps engage children 4+ on an interactive journey through stories, journaling, games and original music scored by Keys instilling important values for the target audience.

Alicia keys talks journals mama mae leelee 527x285 Photo credit: Aliciakeysmedia.com

From babies to big kids, I hope to seek out toys that both parents and kids love. But most importantly, I hope to find toys that have a bigger meaning; whether it’s toy companies involved in charitable foundations or toys that reach kids of all abilities or toys that truly transcend gender.

Be sure to follow along at #TF14 or #TFNY, and of course @jenrab on both Twitter and Instagram.

Monster Jam Throttles and Thrills NJ

February 15, 2014 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

As the snow falls yet again, kids (and parents) are stirring with boredom from cabin fever. If you’re willing to escape the confines of the indoors, there’s fun to be had that doesn’t involve shoveling snow.

If your family is into monster trucks and motor sports, Monster Jam is in town and is ready to excite.

Hailing from the south, big trucks are a way of life down there. Big trucks and big wheels equal big fun from where we come from. What was originally planned as a whole family outing, turned into a date with just the big boy to the first night of Monster Jam at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, NJ.

Invited as part of blogger outreach, we were treated to an intimate before the show q and a with top driver, Adam Anderson of the famous Gravedigger driving family. And since Gravedigger is a legend from Kill Devil Hills in North Carolina, just a few hours south of our hometown, I took particular interest in meeting Anderson. Well spoken, gracious and proud of his family’s legacy and driving fame, Anderson answered questions from the crowd and gave us some cool information about Gravedigger history.

Afterwards, we all took part in the pre-show pit party, which was just as fun. With special entrance, show-goers had the chance to get up close and personal with drivers and the trucks. This cool hour before the show gave fans an opportunity take photos and collect autographs. Biggie had the best time flipping through the yearbook to check out drivers and trucks, and in turn, get autographs on those pages. I totally get why my friends and family back home have been huge fans of these sort of rallys and monster truck shows.

Some of the trucks in the NJ show included: Grave Digger, Madusa, Grave Digger The Legend, Captain America, Thrasher, Black Stallion, Overkill Evolution, Crushstation, Storm Damage.

As the lights were dimmed, the main attraction started promptly at 7:30, as all the drivers paraded in their trucks started the show. The drivers started an exciting showcase with a wheelie competition and were then rated for their performance. One by one, they revved their engines and charged two piles of old cars. Biggie cheered for his favorite, Captain America, while I cheered for the Legend, of course. The Legend outperformed the other drivers and was given an award before the crowd. I loved the announcer and drivers’ interaction with the crowd.

Biggie’s favorite competition was the race between drivers and freestyle. He loved watching the drivers soar over the cars, racing toward the finish. “They go so fast for being so big” he kept saying. I love how wide-eyed he would get from each demo or race. Monster Jam makes for an exciting family outing, or even a boys’ night out. I particularly loved taking my older boy out for one-on-one time, especially for having focused on little brother quite a bit lately. It’s important to have that one-on-one time, and I’m so glad I was able to enjoy that with so much action at Monster Jam.

The show got quite loud at times—really loud—so, I definitely recommend bringing ear protection. The small kind that go into your ear work well. I definitely wouldn’t recommend this show for smaller kids or those who are sensory sensitive to lights and sounds. I was overwhelmed at times, so I couldn’t imagine how a sensitive one would react. For those who like high powered, full energy, thrilling sports, Monster Jam is THE show to check out. The lights, engines, legendary drivers, massive monster trucks and thrilling shows, Monster Jam is a great way to get out and forget about this frightful winter!

Full disclosure: We were given comp tickets to facilitate this review; however, as always, all opinions are my own.

Things We Love: Fun and Colorful Goodies and Gear

January 23, 2014January 23, 2014 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Cold, wintry days often mean monochromatic shades of gray for weeks at a time. We’re currently craving warmth and color on the dull days, and enjoying these goodies (and gear) that channel some much-needed cheery vibrance.

NKTPopsofcolor

EO Bubble Buddy

Winter, especially with small children in school, typically equates to germs…lots of them. There’s been a lot of negative reports about antibacterial products lately, which is why I prefer old fashioned soap and water when it comes to hand washing. In fact, I’m currently I’m in love with EO’s Bubble Buddy. This kid-sized foaming soap squeezes out and features natural and pure ingredients and is paraben free, polysorbate free, disodium EDTA free and sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate free. With scents like orange, coconut and lavender, Bubble Buddies makes clean up time a little more fun.

New Balance

A departure from my predictable and conservative gray New Balance sneakers, the Splatter 890v3 make quite the colorful statement for kids. Neon colors are a resounding throwback design trend and remain a mainstay in kid style. These New Balance sneakers not only boast a brighter presence, but also feature glow in the dark details and splatter design. My boys have this style and have been sporting them when we head to the indoor playspace. I love how the bright colors contrast against all the snow and gray landscape of winter. Aside from the bright colors, I always love that the New Balance’s baby and toddler sizes feature a hook and loop closure.The Splatter 890v3, which was unveiled this fall, is available in toddler and youth sizes and are currently on sale.

Play-Doh Rainbow Pack

A longtime fan of Play-Doh, I’ve probably mentioned how my love for this classic modeling compound has been renewed with the babe’s ongoing therapies. Between his occupational and developmental therapy, we get even more use of Play-Doh around here. So, between the big kid’s creative sessions and the little’s therapy, we seem to always be creating something colorful, which is why I absolutely love Play-Doh’s Rainbow Pack. With a palette of 33 different colors, the Rainbow Pack is ideal for those open-ended play sessions where a handful of colors just won’t do. Even better, the singular packs found in the Rainbow Pack make Play-Doh even more portable for those families on the go. The only caveat I found for this fun spectrum of Play-Doh is the clean up and storage afterward. I don’t like mixing the colors, so we try to preserve each individual color by wrapping each one in plastic wrap. There has to be a better way, though.

Pantone

Having studied a bit of graphic design and then working closely with magazine production, I appreciate that Pantone remains the color standard. A Pantone-influenced children’s book is an ingenious idea. I couldn’t think of a better way to introduce a spectrum of color to young kids, than by the authority itself. In this Abrams title, nine basic colors and 20 shades of each are overviewed, giving toddlers and preschooler a bright primer on the beauty of color. The puzzle element to the book gives it a tactile approach to engaging the kids even further, though unfortunately, we’ve learned by experience that these pieces are easily lost. Nevertheless, Pantone Colors is our color theory board book of choice.

Ruum Headphones Hat

We’re obvious fans of Ruum Kids Wear, but when I say I love them for their unique style, I mean LOVE. Beyond the cool, yet classic styles, Ruum has some of the best accessories to boot. Right now, they’ve got crazy sales going on, including their winter gear. In January and early February, I like to stock up on basics for the next size up, but I positively love this cool headphone hat. You rarely see purple for boys, so I always love that I can turn to Ruum for boy color schemes beyond baby blue. Best part of this unique hat, besides the fact that it’s on sale for about $3? You can wire a pair of buds so that they actually depict the design. Want some gloves to match? Those are $3 bucks too! Cool!

Hunter Kids Boots

I’m sure I’ve professed my love for Hunter Wellies before, but I’m currently loving these bright yellow boots for kids. The fire fighter and lady bug rain boots get overplayed, so why not opt for a pair of yellow Hunters that are well worth the investment. In addition to rainy days, Hunter boots can be paired with warm boot socks and worn in the snowy weather. If you have an older kid and need functional, colorful rain boots, check out Hunters. These are the kind of staples that are worth the investment and hold up as hand-me-downs.

Kid Made Modern

I’ve been in love with Todd Oldham’s kid craft line Kid Made Modern since its debut at Target a couple of years ago. From the basic colored pencil sets to the craft kits, Kid Made Modern takes craft sessions to an all new level of cool. Santa gifted Biggie with the coolest ukelele personalization kit and comic creation kit. It’s like Kid Made Modern can read our creative minds to combine fun, function and crafting. I’m currently eyeing the Felt Frenzy kit, which would be a great collaborative craft with the toddler and big kid. The colorful kid-friendly felt crafts make this kit a perfect snowy day activity.

I Have a Dream Today (and Every Day): Learning about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

January 20, 2014January 20, 2014 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

For the past few years, I take this important day to share Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech with J. For me, it’s important to leverage this opportunity to chat about Dr. King’s work, his life and how his actions and words continue to elevate generations today and tomorrow.

05 martin king 010909 14089 600x450

I trust that his teacher does an adequate job introducing Dr. King’s monumental influence but, does she have a conversation that only a parent might be able to engage? As a biracial child, my six year old doesn’t fully comprehend ethnicity yet, though he understands that multiculturalism and different skin tones exist in our world.

I may not have a History degree, but candor and honesty in this case are valuable—nay, imperative—teaching tools. Even further, for reinforcement mini lessons, YouTube and Pinterest are invaluable resources. For this convo, I turn to the tv and computer to help teach the importance of Dr. Martin Luther King’s wise words. This is when Apple TV and YouTube become teaching tools. After reading an excerpt of the speech on our own, I loaded some videos online and we watched Dr. King’s speech together, pausing in between to ensure J understands language.

Here’s a great mini-bio that we watched this morning from the Bio Channel. At just under five minutes, we had a great discussion about Dr. King and his children. However you choose to engage in a conversation about Dr. King, I hope it’s meaningful and thought-provoking.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

CES 2014: Smart Bulbs, Smart Monitors and New Tech for Babies and Beyond

January 9, 2014January 9, 2014 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

I’ve been following the reports from Vegas and the Consumer Electronics Show which is the international trade show that unveils the latest and greatest in technology. From curved tvs to smart light bulbs, it seems everything is connected or has a smart element in it these days.

CES Logo

Since I’m not at the show this year, here are just a few interesting products I’ve found and read about:

Lumen Smart Bulb

The Lumen TL800 is an app-enabled Bluetooth smart bulb that is said to last 30 times longer than a typical incandescent bulb, but uses five times less power. There are 16 million color options and the dimmable LED bulb create their own lighting atmosphere. It’s like the ultimate black light and beyond.

Lumen bulb w app1

With its proprietary app, this smart bulb features include:

Call Alert Mode: Notifies users of incoming calls by flashing when the phone rings.
Music Sync Mode: Visualize your music by synchronizing your music and lighting effects.
Party Mode 1 and 2: Transform any space into a dance floor with pre-programmed flashing beats that match the music.
Wake Mode: Mimics the sunrise in the morning, gradually brightening until it reaches maximum intensity at the stipulated wake up time. Users can customize how long the brightening process should take, from 5 minutes to 15 minutes.
Romance Mode: Creates the perfect condition for a romantic date or quiet evening at home with a warm atmosphere.
Relaxation Mode: Simulates calming moonlight, creating a relaxing ambiance.

I actually think this bulb would come in handy for parents of young children, especially those who rely on night lights. Think of those late nights when you’re up feeding late and need minimal, yet functional lights to change a diaper or get to the restroom. My phone is always accessible, especially during late night feedings, so this would be something I can see parents using to update nurseries and kids’ rooms.

The TL800 is available at Amazon.com for $69.99. Check out a video of the TL800 here.

Mimo

Baby monitors are getting even smarter. Taking a cue from other smart devices, Mimo uses a small monitor that clicks onto a compatible baby kimono and, literally, tracks baby’s every move. Baby’s movement is reported on its proprietary app, and parents can track from their smart phones. The small turtle-shaped Bluetooth-enabled device is too big to be a choking hazard and it comes on and off of the kimonos. The organic cotton kimonos are machine washable, as is the device itself.

Mimo kimono hq

And while traditional media seems to be reporting Mimo to be an “extreme” monitor, I can see this concept as being borderline excessive. Do we really need to know baby’s every move?

But on the flipside, consider parents with sick babies or babies with special needs who do require extra care. With an infant who was diagnosed with epilepsy at four months old, I could have used this device when we returned from the hospital after his diagnosis. We went from 24-hour care from the most knowledgeable nurses to me, on my own, caring for a small child with a neurological condition that I knew nothing about. Though he sleeps right next to my bed, there are times when we are away from each other and his breathing patterns can indicate an oncoming episode.

I think the smart baby monitor is going to change parenting and how connected we are to our children, but it certainly won’t escape its critics. Talk to any parent who has had to rush their small child to the ER because of a sickness; knowing those exact vitals could be life-changing.

I’m hoping that I’ll be able to learn even more about this device. Stay tuned, and hopefully, I will get more info as it this shelves after CES. I dislike the whole mom brain angle (we’re all exhausted, but this is a tired excuse) check out a video of Mimo here.

Owlet

The Owlet is another smart baby monitor that provides an overview of baby’s well-being with a Blue-Tooth enabled sock.

According to the manufacturers, the Smart Sock uses Bluetooth technology to wirelessly transmit information to your phone. The Owlet tracks baby’s heart rate, oxygen, temperature and roll over alerts via pulse-oximetry.

MG 5205

This monitor reminds me of the devices that are used in the hospitals to track sick babies’ vitals. The Owlet monitor is bringing the comprehensive smart technology that’s been used in hospitals for years to the homes of consumers. To reiterate my feelings on smart monitors, this information is great to have, especially for sick or babies with special needs. But if there isn’t medical necessity to know all of these vitals, do we truly need all of this information about our babies day-to-day? Are we harboring anxiety for new parents with this sort of technology?

I’ll be interested to see how consumers embrace this new technology. Whether we really “need” it or not, I think this new technology is simply amazing. Check out the Owlet video here.

Christmas books and instilling family traditions

December 24, 2013 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Christmas brings with it a myriad of traditions and nostalgia. Perhaps my favorite traditions are reading Christmas-themed stories with my brothers and fully divulging into the Christmas spirit through festive stories.

I’ve tried to instill this fabulous tradition with my boys by reading stories with them throughout the season. I recently received two new books that are worthy of adding to our library and Christmas tradition. The Magic Christmas Key and My Snowman and Me, both from Pine Tree Publishing embody the beauty of the season and all that I hope to share with my kids.

MCKSET 2T

The Magic Christmas Key by Leeann Smith is about Andy’s adventures with a magic key, which his grandfather gave to him for safekeeping. With this key, Andy learns about Christmas and Santa and the magic of believe firsthand. In the story, the key finds its way into the wrong hands, but with his bravery and courage, Andy’s adventures lead him to the big guy in red himself.

This is a beautiful and well-written book that keeps kids engaged in the Christmas spirit. For younger kids, it’s a special book that can be read over a course of a few days. And for older kids and families, it’s well worth sitting and reading together. The beautiful metal key that comes in the book set is a fun tactile extension of the book that kept my kids intrigued. There’s so much beauty and mystery with a beautiful Christmas key, and one worth sharing.

SNOWBK 2T

My Snowman and Me by Leeann Smith also comes in a fun gift set, complete with a stuffed and detachable snowman. This story is an easy read, and totally appropriate for that first snowfall, or if you’re lucky, a white Christmas. This is such a cute, fun read that teaches kids the magic of building a snowman, and that despite him going away because of warmer weather, the snowman will always be back when it snows. The end of the book has a great way to engage kids even further and to capture memories for days to come.

NKT Gift Guide: Best Toys for Boys

December 19, 2013December 19, 2013 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

There are so many fantastic toys out there for boys, and since my older son is at the sweet spot for big boy toys, I thought I’d round out his absolute favorites of the season.

My older son, whom I often refer to as Biggie or just ‘J’, has been tagging along with me to media and blogger events since he was just a year old. He’s always had quite discernible taste, but as he’s gotten older, in terms of the next big thing in kid stuff, he’s truly seen it all. Every November, when we open the Big Box stores’ toy circular, he circles less, if anything, and instead, offers his personal opinions on the toy manufacturer’s latest wares.

We had grand plans of having him do videos of the below toys, but life got in the way. Nevertheless, here’s a round up of really awesome goodies, gear and gadgets that my blogger’s kid really appreciates with my annotations :

1. Skylander’s Swap Force

After much anticipation about this mega-successful franchise, J’s first impression of Swap Force was that it has a “new Chompy.” That wasn’t exactly the reaction I was expecting, but nonetheless, we’ve enjoyed exploring Skylands even further with Swap Force.
The ability to swap characters’ bottom halves to determine how they move and interchange tops which determines how they fight. The interchangeability makes gameplay possibilities practically limitless.

2. Lego Marvel Superheroes

This game is by far the most played game at our house. My husband and son co-play video games, so playing a game with every (Marvel) superhero imaginable is beyond addictive for our house. Combine the love with superheroes and Lego and you have Lego Marvel Superheroes, which is perhaps, our most favorite game of the year. The story lines, graphics, superhero theme are just a few of the many elements that keep my guys engaged for hours. True story: I know that a game is really good if my husband continues to play after my son goes to bed.

3. Angry Birds Go! Telepods Pig Rock Raceway Set

I’ve said it for years, but one of the smartest things for toy manufacturers to stay relevant in this ever-evolving digital world, is to coexist. Hasbro is proving just that with their Teleport series of games, including their latest Angry Birds Go! Teleport game. Angry Birds Go! is the latest version of the uber popular app that features those pesky pigs and titular Angry Birds, but this time, they’re racing. The Angry Birds Go! Teleport Game allows players to race with tactile play and a physical race track, but also use the game figures to teleport into the app via front-facing camera on a smart phone or tablet.

4. Rainbow Loom

Rainbow Loom, created by a dad of young girls who wanted to make rubber band bracelet creation easier, is rightfully up for one of the Toys of the Year. This sensation is an old skill that’s making waves. The Rainbow Loom is engaging both boys and girls, and giving them time to disconnect, stay focused on the task at hand while using their creativity, math skills and often times, encouraging charitable giving with completed bracelets and other creations. What’s NOT to love about this fantastic toy?

Loom Boom is a holder and display fixture in the shape of a boom. This simple structure was created by a young NJ boy who fulfilled a need to display creations. The Loom Boom is proof that the Rainbow Loom and its creations fosters imagination and ingenuity. The Loom Boom comes in a variety of colors and can be found at TRU. Support small business and USA-made products by grabbing a Loom Boom for stockings.

5. TenKai Knights

Introduced to this shapeshifting Ionix building set from Spinmaster at the recent Kidz Vuz event, J loves how the ninja warrior aspect meets building with your hands. This is a brand new toy that’s based on a series, so I’m excited to learn more about Tenkai Knights soon.

6. Kreo Cityville Invasion

Another amazing building set, Kreo’s Cityville Invasion brings monsters, zombies and more to “life.” The cool monster theme keeps J engaged in this version of Kreo.

7. Crayola Crayons and Markers

Screentime during the week is extremely limited. Depending on how much reading and homework is done, J gets less than an hour of screen time. And in these cold winter months when we don’t have a sport during the week, we have to fill that downtime with something. J creates murals and masterpieces almost daily with his Crayola art supplies. Each cool drawing makes my heart grow even bigger.

8. Minions

Those little yellow dudes have captured America’s hearts—well, with the littler guys anyway. J cracks up at these guys’ gibberish and silly shenanigans. Thinkway Toys’ Dave, which can be found at Toys R Us, is truly one of the coolest interactive toys on the shelves today. This toy says upwards to 50 phrases and makes us laugh effortlessly. Looking for a last minute add-on gift? Download Minion Rush for the kids. My guys is obsessed with Minions!

9. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

There’s so much to love about TMNT, that it’s hard to narrow it down for J. I just love that this franchise is almost as popular as it was when I was a kid! The Nickelodeon series heightened the popularity of this throwback brand, it’s no surprise the toys are super hot sellers, too. From the lair to the RC Subway Car to the role playing gear, TMNT is taking over our Christmas gifts.

10. Zoomer

I was smitten by Zoomer at Toy Fair this year. Zoomer was one of the most memorable toys that I knew would be a hit this holiday season. Zoomer is a robotic dog, who is ideal for those families who can’t have a real dog, or just aren’t ready. Zoomer has quite the character and can be trained to learn commands. He sings, “runs,” rolls over, goes to sleep, among other tricks. J’s favorite trick: having him pee. What’s so fantastic about Zoomer is that he is popular with both the big kid and with the toddler. Even more? Zoomer has an app where you can learn different commands. Zoomer, another favorite for Toy of the Year, is, no doubt, one of my personal favorites as well.