Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Colorful Toy Boxes For Toddlers




Toddlers go through phases where they want to touch and look inside everything -- moreso if it's colorful. Therefore, it's natural to assume the items in their playroom will be vibrant, bold, and brilliant enough to repeatedly draw their attention. Afterall, they have to want to put their toys away!

The best toy boxes for kids are all of those things for children, while being durable, dependable, and long-lasting for adults. The following 3 meet those criteria!

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Little Tikes Bold N Bright Toy Chest

Constructed from solid, strong plastic, this toy box measures 6 cubic feet with plenty of holding places for stuffed animals, LEGOs, and an assortment of awesome trinkets. There are two removable boxes underneath for extra storage of smaller items or books, and the lid is detachable with a no-pinch shutting mechanism. However, what I love about this toy box are the colors! There are bright blues, neon greens, and a pristine white to contrast the vibrancy.

Recommended shopping: @ Amazon.com

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Step 2 Lift & Hide Bookcase Storage Chest

Available in a beautiful, rosy pink or rocket red, this toy chest is equipped with a shelf at the top for small objects and a bookcase at the center. It's the perfect bin for little bookworms! A lidded storage area features 5.5 cubic feet of space, with a lid that slides up to lock in place. It's also no-pinch, which means fewer boo-boos to bandage. The assembly is a breeze, taking less than an hour to put together, and a pack panel at the back prevents toys from falling between the box and wall.

Recommended shopping: @ Amazon.com

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Sesame Street Toy Box

It's Elmo! Featured on the front and sides in a fun, colorful image, this toy box is rife with Sesame Street characters. Reds and blues compliment Elmo's quirky personality, and the toy box is large enough to store a slew of action figures, Barbie dolls, and stuffed animals. For kids who make watching the show a weekend ritual, this box couldn't be anymore perfect.

Recommended shopping: @ Amazon.com

Monday, June 24, 2013

The Best Bikes For Active Kids




With technology advancing in rapid ways, it can be difficult to get kids interested in being outdoors. Fortunately, the following short-list of the best kids bikes are perfect for beginners or always-active adventurers. Each one meets a high standard of durability, strength, sporty glide, and rugged mechanics on modern structures for all-terrain riding. They're the best for getting kids active, allowing children to feel independence, confidence, and satisfying personal growth by doing something fun to maintain great health.


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Schwinn 12-inch Steerable Bike

For little amateurs aged 2-4, this bicycle is an excellent starter, complete with a removable parent push handle for balance learning. Growing with a child, the seat adjusts to fit flourishing stature; whereas, the front and rear tires eliminate trapped dirt with bumper-style fenders. It's easy to clean, simple to maintain, and offers years of active riding! Color options vary, as well as a few design features, such as handlebar tassels and front baskets. However, ever-present is a water bottle on the push handle for those thirst breaks between rides.


Recommended shopping:  @ Amazon Outdoor
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Diamondback 2013 Kid's Mini Viper BMX Bike

A far cry from novice, this bike is designed for kids with an always active demeanor. It varies in sizes to fit kids of all ages, while removable training wheels get wet-behind-the-ears beginners a chance to practice their stunts before taking it to the extreme. Made like a real BMX sports bike, the Diamondback is comprised of high-grade, heavy duty steel, complete with durable handlebars (and grips, a padded (and adjustable) seat, and large spoked wheels. It's a solid, safe, strong option for trick riders-to-be.


Recommended shopping:  @ Amazon Outdoor
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Schwinn Boy's Scorch 16" Bike

And for the lads, this durable, free-style option comes with standard foot brakes, removable training wheels, and a hand brake system for perfect, well-balanced riding. Without a kickstand, the bicycle lays down when not in use, protected by bumpers on the front axel pegs. It's basic and equipped with everything a learning boy would need for his first riding experiences.

Recommended shopping:  @ Amazon Outdoor

Fascinating Toys For Scientific Kids

When I was younger (and even now), I was fascinated by nature and scientific toys that could explain everything. It's the best way for children to explore and express their curiosity about the creative world around them! With that in mind, some of the best childrens' science toys allow kids to create, discover, and learn at their own pace.

The following short-list of the aforementioned amazing bobbles are natural, conducive to a child's need to research, and just plain cool:


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Backyard Safari Binoculars

These are blast because those usually nosy kids finally have an outlet to explore! Instead of pestering, they become discovering, constantly looking for new and interesting things in their own backyard. The binoculars are equipped with an adjustable focus with 5x30 magnification; quite a powerful device for little adventurers. The sturdy carrying strap ensures children always have a way to carry their binoculars -- 100% hands-free and secure. The entire composition of this nifty gadget is durable, with comfortable hand grips that are soft and made from foam. There are also rubber eye cups and each set are waterproof for field trips, hikes, or simple playing around the yard.

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Toysmith 4M Crystal Mining Kit

Perfect for the little architects-to-be, this set includes 8 gems and small crystals, packed into a plaster rock. The stone has to be cracked apart to retrieve the treasures! For digging and breaking, there's a digger's tool, brush for dust, magnifying glass, drawstring pouch, and a display case so kids can show off their finds. Some parents pair this gift with a rock tumbler to put a shine on their childrens' excavations! Each gemstone includes a fun fact in the instructional booklet. As each treasure is embedded in the rock, this is one science project that can take days to complete.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Toddlers Need Bikes Too!

The title says it all! However, the balance and ability to ride freely doesn't always accompany the want for a new bicycle. Which is why, I've short-listed the following bikes, all representing the best in durability, creativity, amusement, and safety. These miniature designs are comprised of only high-grade, strong materials for the most secure rides your toddler could possibly have. They're perfect for beginners, and are in fact mostly used for novices who need to gain bike dexterity.

For example:

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YBIKE Balance Bike

For beginners, it doesn't get much better than this! Toddlers ages 18 months to 5 years old can comfortably ride the YBIKE in an effort to build essential riding skills. It's specific purpose is to encourage balance and coordination, only focusing on these 2 abilities so kids can go quickly from amateur to expert in no time. The large front wheel and 2 smaller rear wheels offer premium stability, which means there are fewer accidents and very rare occasions where toddlers will actually topple off the seat. Curved for comfort, the whole structure is made out of high-impact plastic, capable of withstanding long hours of all-terrain riding.

Recommended shopping: @ Amazon.com
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Kazam Balance Bike

Another treat from the manufacturing world of balance bikes, the Kazam is for children ages 3-6. With a focal point of gaining experience and coordination, this bicycle is comprised in all steel with a solid chrome overlay on adjustable, padded handlebears. Kazam is more innovative than any other balance bike on the market right now, mainly because it is the only B.B. to have a patented foot rest for practice at maintaining balance while coasting. While there are no pedals, the steering mechanism is top notch with a foot-powered cruise to get your toddler from point A to point B. It's available in cool blues, spunky greens, and ecstatic pinks!

Recommended shopping: @ Amazon.com
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Find more current choices in top bicycles for kiddos:

http://top-10-store.com/top-10-kids-bikes/

Insect Toys For Science-Loving Kids

Children, more often than not, are fascinated by bugs! Or they're so disgusted that they're curious as long as the scuttling critters are at a distance. Either way, curiosity and insect discovery go hand-in-hand, as bugs make up some of the best science toys for kids, representing the circle of life on a smaller scale.

With the numerous reactions of both the excited and grossed out in mind, I've compiled a short-list of insect toys for the science-loving kids who can't seem to learn enough about creepy crawlies:


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Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden

This is a popular favorite among entire families because the life cycle of a butterfly never ceases to be amazing. Included in this kit are a PVC fabric shell, food and feeder for the caterpillars, and a certificate to send-off and attain 5 butterfly larvae. In a few short weeks, children can experience the whole process of metamorphosis. They'll watch as the hungry caterpillars eat and grown, eventually traveling to the feeder lid to make their cocoons. Then, the magic really begins! Butterflies with dazzling wings are born in a matter of days, allowing children to enjoy nature at it's most brilliant.

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Fascinations AntWorks Illuminated Blue

There's nothing cooler than getting to see the tunneling capabilities of ants! All working as one, they'll create a colony of twists and turns with multiple chambers to serve as burrowing rooms. Lit with a cool LED light from the bottom, this device comes with a couple handfuls of gel (also the ant's food) and a tunnel starting mechanism. There's also a voucher for ants to be sent in the mail, allowing kids to prepare the habitat in a matter of 6 weeks. Adults and children alike will enjoy watching the insects' mandibles go to work as they create amazing caverns and miniature caves within their jelly environment.