Top 10 Toy Fair Picks

Last Tuesday, I attended the Toy Fair. Stepping into the Javits Convention Center was like walking into Santa’s workshop – there were toys everywhere! Fortunately, I had set up several appointments for the day. (It would have been WAY too overwhelming for me to just wander from booth to booth.) Below are my top ten favorite picks for kids five and under:

1. Color Shifters Blaster
This product works with the Hot Wheels Color Shifters cars. (They’re so neat – they change colors when you dip them in water.) This set (which comes with 1 color shifters car) also comes with a spray gun, a self-contained transformation unit, customization tanks and a car launcher.

2. Etch A Sketch Freestyle
This updated version of the classic Etch A Sketch features a controller device that swivels 360 degrees and allows the user to draw lines, loops, curves, and curlicues. (It’s amazing what people can draw using Etch a Sketches. See the picture below that was created with an original one.)

3. Manny’s Motorcycle
This motorcycle based on the Handy Manny series is so cool! It comes with a poseable Manny. What I especially like about it is that there are 15+ fix-it jobs to keep the little ones busy. The motorcycle also comes with four additional parts to customize the bike.

4. My Natural Toys
This is a new line of all-natural plush toys that are available at Target. They are created by Hosung, the makers of miYim organic toys. However, since they’re not certified organic, they are sold at a much lower price point. (They range from $4.99 to $14.99.) They’re still really soft, environmentally friendly…and charming!

5. Princess Tiana Doll
This Mattel doll is based on Disney’s highly anticipated The Princess and the Frog movie. Tiana is Disney’s first African-American princess. (She is also Disney’s first American princess.)

6. Smart Fit Park
This upcoming Fisher Price game reminds me a little of the Active Life: Outdoor Challenge Wii game. I like that this “plug & play” learning mat helps kids to stay physically active while learning. (Kids can walk, run, jump and stomp while playing and learning letters, numbers, shapes, colors and more.)

7. Spin Me A Rainbow Puzzle Game
This eeBoo game helps young kids with colors, shapes and spelling the names of colors. The goal of the game is to be the first to gather all the shapes. It’s a simple game, but simple is sometimes best. I also love the way that it’s beautifully designed.

8. Strawberry Shortcake Sweet Surprise Strawberry Doll
This is a nostalgic pick. I grew up loving Strawberry Shortcake. I think that little girls will love playing with her long, red hair and makeup. Of course, the Hasbro doll also features the classic strawberry scent.

9. UNO MOO!™ Preschool Game
This is a smart, simplified UNO® game for preschoolers. It comes with 28 cute farm animal figures that pack neatly into a barn. The object of the game is to be the first to get rid of all your barnyard animals by matching colors and figures to get your animals in the barn. When the players are down to one figure – they yell “UNO Moo”! This Mattel game will be available in the fall.

And

10. Zambi, the Baby Elephant
In addition to being adorable, this Hasbro special edition FURREAL FRIENDS plush elephant is for a great cause. It is a part of PROJECT ZAMBI, a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness and supporting programs that help care for African children orphaned as a result of the AIDS epidemic.

Like other FurReal animals, the elephant is super soft and interactive. He plays, blows kisses, raises his trunk, trumpets his elephant call, and holds your finger with his trunk (it has a sensor on it). The ears and feet are also covered in a special fabric pattern designed by boys and girls from Zambia. Retailing for $49.99, the elephant is available from Hasbro in the fall.

Disney’s Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey

From last Thursday to Sunday, I have been blogging for Disney’s Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey. I wrote almost 20 posts over the four days which you can read here. It was a lot of work (I was up until 3AM and 4AM on two of the nights!), but it was so worth it. This has been one of the best experiences of my life. What I learned/was reminded of was this truth:

If you can dream it, you can do it. -Walt Disney

If you have some time this week, definitely go over and read my posts on the Steve Harvey Blog. There is so much valuable information and inspiring stories (of the Dreamers, speakers, parents, etc.) there. I’m sure that in reading what was experienced, you too will learn/be reminded to dream (it’s not just for kids!). (Parents of teens will especially enjoy these posts!)

EXERGEN TemporalScanner™ Will Change The Way You Take Temperatures

(I don't do a lot of product reviews on this site, but I just had to share about the following product...)

True confession: I rarely take my kids’ temperatures when they are sick. Rather, I just feel their heads and body in order to make my “diagnosis”. “He’s regular” or “He’s a little warm” are my two usual verdicts. Fortunately, neither of my kids has been extremely sick, so this hasn’t been that much of an issue.

The reason I don’t take temperatures is that I cannot read a regular thermometer at all. I still have no idea what red line people who can read them are looking at. (My husband laughs at me when I can’t do simple things like this. “So, that’s what a Columbia education gets you…” is the running joke. Oh well, I can figure out other things!) I did have an electronic thermometer at one point. It worked pretty well when the kids weren’t fidgety/kept it in their mouths long enough, but then it broke.

At the boys’ last doctor’s visit, the nurse used this really cool thermometer where he just briefly touched the kids’ heads. This was the first time that he hadn’t used an oral or rectal thermometer. I was intrigued and asked him about it. He said that it was some new technology, but that it was really expensive.

The nurse was wrong. There’s a new temporal artery thermometer called the EXERGEN TemporalScanner™ that does the exact same thing! This technology is the least invasive, fastest and most accurate way of taking temperatures. I was sent one to review and it is now an indispensable part of my “Dr. Mom” kit.

It’s so easy to use. You simply put the device flat against the center of the forehead; press and hold the button; and then you slide the thermometer across the forehead until you reach the hairline. You will hear a beeping sound and see a flashing red light showing that the temperature is being taken. You then release the button and read the temperature on the display. I tried it out on myself and both of my sons. Fortunately, none of us have fevers at the moment. I could see how sensitive the technology was though, because I took each of our temperatures twice. Both Sean and I were at 98.1. Michael started off at 97 but after running around a bit (as he often does), I took his temperature again and it was 99.5.

A swipe across the forehead – temperature taking can’t get any easier than this. It’s also reasonably priced ($49.99) and is available at a variety of stores including Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Costco, Babies R Us, Toys R Us and Sam’s Clubs around the country. I really think that every mom should have this in their “Dr. Mom” kits!

Baby Loves Disco Valentine's Ball (& A Giveaway!)

Baby Loves Disco is giving one lucky reader a family four-pack of tickets to their 2/15 Valentine's Ball in Manhattan.

To enter this giveaway, leave your favorite aspect of Baby Loves Disco in the "Comments" section below. The winner will be chosen at noon on 2/11 and notified by 5pm. They must respond with the requested information by 2/12.

Date: Sunday, February 15- Valentine’s Ball: It’s all about the LOVE! Disco down to the Valentine’s Ball where our DJ will be spinning their favorite love songs – not too mushy, not too sweet, and guaranteed to get you on your feet. Yummy goodies and giveaways are planned.

Time: 12-3 pm

Venue: (Le) Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker Street, NYC, www.lepoissonrouge.com, 212.505.FISH

Host mom: Heather Murphy Monteith (co-founder of Baby Loves Disco)

DJ: The Rub DJs / MC: MC Loki

Emcee: Tah

Ages: 6 months to 7 years

Fun stuff: A full spread of healthy snacks and juice boxes, stroller parking, a changing station and chill-out area with books and kid-friendly activities, hula hoops, rhythm instruments, swirly scarves, giveaways and services for parents and kids. A photographer will be roaming to capture the moments (with free pix and frames thanks to Bugaboo - see our sponsors, below).

Tickets: $15 online advance purchase, $18 at the door. Price is for each walking human. Buy tickets online at www.babylovesdisco.com. Limited tickets may be available at the door, but advance purchase is highly recommended.

Fox and MGM Valentine’s Day (5 Romance DVDs!) Giveaway

(*This is a special cross-promotion with my Mom in the City site.)

20TH CENTURY FOX and MGM are doing a special Valentine’s Day promotion where they are offering over 55 romantic DVDs perfect for that “special someone”. Many of the movies are Oscar nominated favorites like An Affair To Remember, The Princess Bride, Lars And The Real Girl, The Devil Wears Prada, Moulin Rouge and When Harry Met Sally. Select DVDs also include an exclusive film-themed Valentine’s Day postcard featuring memorable quotes and romantic movie images. (All of the DVDs can be purchased at foxstore.com.)

The best part is that they are giving away a bundle of the following five DVDs:

-4 Weddings and a Funeral

-27 Dresses

-An Affair to Remember

-Princess Bride

And

-Moulin Rouge

To enter this special one week giveaway, leave the name of your favorite FoxStore.com romance movie in the “Comments” section below by noon on 2/9. The winner will be notified and must respond with their shipping information by noon on 2/11. Good luck!

Avon Valentine’s Day Gift Basket Giveaway

(*This is a special cross-promotion with my Mom in the City site.)

Avon has some great Valentine’s Day products that I know you moms will love. I’m so excited that they are giving away a gift basket (Total Value - $72.99) to one lucky reader! The basket includes the following items:

-Avon Heart Pendant

-Avon Bond Girl 007

-I’m Loving My Feet Pedicure Set

-Avon Heart Shaped Candle

-Avon Heart Bath Fizzy

And

-Avon Sweet Delicious Lip Balms

To enter this special one week giveaway, leave the name of your favorite item from the Avon Valentine’s Boutique in the “Comments” section below by noon on 2/9. The winner will be notified and must respond with their shipping information by noon on 2/11. Good luck!

Dear Edwina (Review)

(Cross-posted from Mom in the City)

The off-Broadway kids’ musical sensation, Dear Edwina (from the creators of Theatreworks USA’s popular production of Junie B. Jones) is playing at the DR2 Theatre in Union Square through April 19th.

(FYI: Dear Edwina is also a great idea for birthday parties. Groups of 10 or more pay only $29 for individual tickets (regular price is $39). Groups of 20 or more can also party in the downstairs D-Lounge for an hour following the show at no additional cost! For groups fewer than 20, there’s a small fee for the party space.)

Mom in the City member and reviewer Atireme Matos went to see the show last weekend with her daughter. This is what she wrote about the play:

“What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon with my five year-old boss!

This weekend she and I went to see Dear Edwina at the DR2 Theatre in Union Square. A small, intimate theatre, without a bad seat in the house, full of what I’d guess were mostly 5-8 year olds and their families. The space helped to create the perfect environment for a fun, relaxed, entertaining event.

Dear Edwina is about a young girl and her attempts to help others while finding a niche for herself with her own family and friends. Edwina, a self proclaimed expert advice giver, produces a musical advice review out of her garage with the help of five colorful friends and two siblings who provide drum and keyboards for each of the musical numbers. Comparing herself to one sister who is some sort of math wizard and her musical siblings, who win ribbons which are posted on their home refrigerator, Edwina hopes to claim some recognition and a space on the fridge by winning a spot at Adviceapalooza- an advice giving state fair (and talk show host preparatory camp in my opinion).

A wheel barrel filled with letters seeking counsel from Edwina on pressing childhood matters like how to set a table, and what to say to your crush, lead the ensemble into both touching and humorous musical numbers, through which the cast and song lyrics manage to impart useful guidance to the young audience without coming across as lecturing. The large colorful props and quirky choreography help to keep the younger ones entertained when the dialogue and movements become a little quick and garbled at times, but these few moments are quickly made up for by catchy choruses and meaningful messages.

Overall, the performance ran just short of an hour, which was great for my kiddo, and just about at the time when you could feel the other little ones stirring in their seats. Free lemonade after the show and warm greetings and autographs from the cast were a sweet way to end the experience and definitely merit a recommendation.

So, I’d say this is a great way to spend some time with your child, although I would emphasize that they be at least 5 years old- due to the quick language and movements. Edwina also shared some meaningful talk about saying “No thank you”. Immediately after the show, we took a walk over to Barnes and Noble, just two blocks away from the theatre, and shared a hot chocolate at Starbucks just across the street. It was a nice afternoon all in all and definitely worth the trip. Go see it!”