Kid’s Bargain Style

Ready to Go Retro? This Radio Flyer Retro Rocket is a keeper! AJ is 4 now and plays with this toy every single STINKIN’ day inside (yes, I said inside) the house. He gets on the rocket, scoots his little bum from door to door, picks it up, turns it around and heads back. In fact, sometimes he goes through the kitchen into the hallway, back into the living room and then back into the kitchen. It creates a neat little figure 8. Creative little guy.

Last week he took it outside and made it into a home for the worms he was harvesting from the garden. I, of course, made him clean it before it came back inside. I was not going to allow worms into my house!

The funniest part? He chases the dog with it.

The Retro Rocket has won the Parent’s Choice Recommended Award, Child Magazine’s Top 50 Toys Award, Parenting Magazine’s Toy of the Year Award, and the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award. It is a classic foot to floor push toy that has a no-slip seat (that opens up to carry plenty of worms), covered wheels for safety, and plenty of sounds and lights. It actually vibrates and makes space sounds; 3-2-1 Blast Off! Its great sensory motor and Heavy Work for Little Feet.

Little Pickel, one day after coming home from Russia, July 30, 2005.

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Julie Deardorff, an Opinion Columnist for the Chicago Tribune, wrote today on her current situation…finding a good teether for her child. Does one use a plastic polycarbonate teether that has tested positive for bisphenol-A (poses a risk for brain development of fetuses, infants, babies and older children) or does one give him a wooden toy with brightly colored chipped paint?

Hmmmmmm….tough question.

Debra at Debra’s List takes it one step further and suggests Sophie the Giraffe, organic teething biscuits, and an organic (frozen washcloth).

She also suggests this organic teether but I just can’t seem to get my teeth around chewing on wood and honestly I don’t think it would be all that appealing to a baby whose mouth was hurting. But, thats just me.

How about chewies and teethers from sensory therapy stores like the TherapyShoppe.com?

Latex-free mouthing toy is FDA approved-Great for oral exploration, and encouraging jaw and tongue movements.

Scented Chewies
Chewy Tubes

These were all Little Pickel’s favorite things to chew on when he went through his chewing phase…and I mean CHEWING PHASE! He chewed everything so we made sure he had a chewy all the time. We could HEAR him chomping away through the monitor every night. For kids who chew ALL the time they even have Chewy Necklaces and Bracelets. (contain latex)

After long “stressful” days at preschool (yes, I know…it can be stressful) AJ needs a calm night with calming activities. He is really into games right now and is constantly heading to our game closet to attempt to take out Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land, both of which he just does not get yet. He simply takes out the game, gets out the characters and the spinners and plays with those. Or, he gets out Memory and plays with the pieces…making noises with the box and the cards.

However, Haba over at my favorite toys store, Oompa gets AJ. They understand the concept of kids and perhaps they have done some training in special needs. I have a feeling you are getting tired of me telling you its my favorite but I keep finding new things that I LOVE.

Here are some games I found while searching for Family Game Night activities.
I chose my niece for our Christmas gift giving this year…and the theme is games. Do you think she might like this Sleeping Beauty Game ? She is 3.

Or, for AJ who does not quite get the roll the dice and move games yet…check out these FABULOUS stacking games… Think Jenga for kids, with color.

AJ has this one and it is a GREAT travel game. I purchased it for his first vacation on an airplane and he loved his new travel case. In fact, he was carrying it around today! Maybe its because it has to do with Crocs…

One for Family Game Night…Orchard. Its just like one I used to play but I can’t remember the name. Can You?

One for the Boys…Rev Up.

And, one just for kicks, get it???

Do your kids like to sing, dance, get down? Do they love Dan Zanes as much as I do, ooops, AJ does? Well, The Land of Nod: now has Nod Cast Pod Cast featuring kid’s artists’ such as Dan Zanes.

I know most of our toddlers would absolutely love Dan Zanes who stars on the Disney Channel quite often, and my absolute personal FAVORITE, ELLA JENKINS. I hadn’t heard the name in so long I don’t think I would have remembered it until I saw it…or heard her voice. But, as soon as I saw her picture and pulled up the titles of her songs I was transported back to 1981…the day my mother took me out of Kindergarten to go see her in concert. She was mesmerizing. Her voice boomed from the stage, captivated each and every wide-eyed child and every mother was satisfied with a few hours of relaxation.

My mom, a kindergarten teacher, and child at heart, pulled us all out of school for the day to see Ella Jenkins in concert. I remember watching her sing “I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream.” It was my favorite song for the longest time. That, and “Miss Mary Mack”, who, obviously had buttons all down her back.

Toddler Moms, do you know the words? I DARE YOU.

Almost all of The Land of Nod CDs are now $12.98 or less! Plus, all CDs now ship FREE! You’ll find tons of new titles and sound samples. We think it’s the coolest selection of kids’ music on the plant. We think you will, too.

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