As kids, my brothers and I took the good ol’ Flintstone Vitamins, which, if I remember correctly, were one of the only options for vitamins for kids way back when. Since then, the kid market has flourished with so many innovative products, including those of Hero Nutritionals, the creators of the first gummy vitamins.
Hero Nutritionals has recently added Yummi Bears Organics to their Yummi Bears Gummy Vitamins product line. The organic option is GMO-Free, as well as allergen, gluten and casein free. The Yummi Bears Organics are manufactured with natural flavors and colors, too. The organic product line is gelatin free and vegetarian approved, so parents, rest assured, there are no harmful pesticides, no insecticides, no growth hormones and no antibiotics added to the gummy vitamins.
The organic product line touts five different varieties, including the Multi-Vitamin & Mineral; Immunity Shield; Brain Boost; Super Vision and Bone Builder. The vitamins are best recommended for kids over 2 years old. Hero Nutritionals, including the Yummi Bears Vitamins and the new organic products can be found at health food stores and great stores like Whole Foods.
Moms and dads, the gummy vitamins are so popular, they even offer Slice of Life Gummy Vitamins for Adults.
Don’t forget to check out the $1 off coupon they have, too.
Category: goodies
Wellness Wednesday
I’ve been so inundated lately with press releases and content ideas (which is awesome!), so in an effort to organize future NKT content and have some semblance of a comprehensive calendar of topics to cover, I will slowly but surely introduce daily topics. Today, and hopefully more Wednesdays to follow, will be Wellness Wednesday which will include products and suggestions on promoting wellness for kids.
The “wellness” umbrella is quite large, so even though it’s still a broad topic, it should give us a chance to cover new and innovative products a little more effectively. I’m so excited to announce another great giveaway and review, so stay tuned this afternoon!
Y Water? Why, of course!
What do you get when you combine a nutritious drink that can be multi-purposed as a toy? Well, besides my kid’s sippy cup.
I’m talking about Y Water.
On first impression, I was so intrigued by the eye-catching packaging. It’s almost like abstract art that contains a kiddie drink. In a similar vein of the wildly popular Vitamin Water, Y Water drinks, which are aimed at kids, are organic, low calorie beverages with vitamins and minerals. Y Water which hit the shelves in 2008 comes from Venice Beach, Ca. Y Water can be bought at various Whole Foods and health food stores on the West Coast, and seems to be making its way here on the East Coast.
Michelle Obama visits Sesame Street
In between meeting with diplomats and helping to promote the President’s new foreign policies, the First Lady took some time out last week to visit Elmo and the gang at Sesame Street. Michelle Obama visited Sesame Street to tape a Public Service Announcement with Elmo as part of Sesame Workshop’s Healthy Habits For Life initiative. Mrs. Obama and Elmo discussed eating right, exercising regularly and being a healthy and positive role model for children.
“If you want your child to have healthy habits, practice healthy habits, because you’re your child’s role model,” The First Lady suggests in the PSA.
I thought the news about planting an organic garden at the White House was pretty cool, but Mrs. Obama’s visit to Sesame Street is just as much a highlight for her, as it is for her fans!
(photo credit: Richard Termine)
Hasbro will be one to watch
…quite literally, perhaps.
It was reported last week that Hasbro and Discovery Communications are partnering up to launch a new tv network and website, built around toys that many of us—and now, our kids—have grown to love. New programming will be based on shows, toys and games such as Romper Room, Trivial Pursuit, Cranium, My little Pony, G.I. Joe, Transformers, among others.
Discovery Kids Channel, which currently touts shows such as Bindi the Jungle Girl and Hip Hop Harry will be replaced by the yet-to-be-named channel that is set to debut in 2010.
Moms and dads, what are your thoughts on this new format?
Etsy Find: Full Moon Flower Prairie Dress
Despite those scorching days we had here on the east coast, summer isn’t exactly here yet. But just because summer isn’t here yet, doesn’t mean we can’t bolster the kids’ closets with warm weather frocks. Need some summer dresses? How perfect is this adorable prairie dress from Earth Groovz?
With its bold, contrasting patterns, this dress is light and versatile–perfect for spring and summer! Not only is it cute, eco-friendly, too. The prairie dress features organic adjustable knit straps that tie in the back, organic natural elastic and the sustainable cotton material, leaving no carbon footprint. The dress is made to order and comes in sizes 6M, 12M, 2T, 3T, 4T. Be sure to check out Earth Groovz’ shop on Etsy for even more cute, eco-friendly spring/summer dresses.
Pushalong Duck by ImagiPlay
Right now, wheels and animals are a big deal in our house. So when we spotted this Pushalong Duck by ImagiPlay, you can only imagine how much excitement it brought the kid. Made from Rubberwood, the Pushalong Duck is a classic and eco-friendly toy that encourages the development of motor skills and balance. It’s amazing how something like a duck with wheels can be so entertaining!
ImagiPlay is a green company that produces sustainable and safe toys. The company employs fair trade craftspeople, and reinforces their social responsibility by planting more than 5,000 trees a year. The Pushalong Duck retails for about $15 and can be found at toy shops and online.
Global Green Pals
Perhaps one of my favorite toy concepts I’ve seen in a long time is Global Green Pals. I came across the Global Green Pals while at the Go Green Expo and was immediately intrigued. What first caught my eye about these dolls was the fact that they’re multicultural and very unique. Growing up with not many multicultural dolls, it’s nice to see that toy companies are mirroring the diversity of the kids that love their toys.
What’s great about the Global Green Pals is that each one has a story. All unique, their stories involve environmentalism and a fervor to save the Earth. Though not available until this summer, check out the Global Green Pals’ site and get to know Offset Chet, Clean Air Kate, Pani Rani, Pink Coral Laurel and Recycle Kyle! Just as the dolls are poised to Save the Earth, with every Pal purchased, a portion of the sales will go to 1% for the Planet.
I love the concept behind these dolls and can see them becoming a huge hit! It’s toys like Global Green Pals that epitomize The Next Kid Thing!
I’ll be sure to share more information about them once they’re available!
Young Scientists Club
That Summer weather has simmered and now we’re back to the fun Spring weather that we all love. What better way to welcome Spring “back” and get outside with a few nature-inspired kits. Because Earth Day should be celebrated every day, I think these new eco-themed kits from The Young Scientists Club put a cool spin on the 3 Rs—Reduce, Reuse and Recycle—as well as embrace fun with good ol’ nature, making them a perfect environmentally-friendly gift idea or a great green addition to science classrooms.
Science on a Gardening Adventure
Through hands-on science experiments, kids can learn the ins and outs about gardening, underground habitats, explore plants, grow seeds and study bugs. The kit for kids ages 4+ includes a handy dandy carry-all kit and kids can also create a terrarium and much more.
Magic School Bus Going Green
Through experiments kids ages 5+ can go for a “ride” and learn even more about how to go green, specifically on how to recreate the water cycle, build a compost tube, shrink plastic, magically make packing peanuts disappear, decompose food with fungus, form pulp, create new paper, design recycled paper shapes, and much more. The Going Green is a part of the award winning Magic School Bus series.
Go Green Mini-Kit
With this kit, curious scientists can better understand what it really means to be green by learning more about acids and bases, use pH paper to test rain water, make Styrofoam magically disappear, create pulp from old newspapers, recycle paper, make new paper and recycle leaves in a peat pellet. To better care for our ailing environment, it’s never too early to foster green-living for the next generation with a cool Save the Earth kit like this.
The Young Scientists award-winning science kits were created by a Harvard-trained mom and can be found at various toy and parent/teacher shops.
Giveaway winners
I’m a bit behind on announcing giveaway winners, sorry ’bout that. But alas, here they are: