Awesome Holiday Gift Ideas for Kids from Dr. Stem Toys

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

As a preschool teacher, I am always on the lookout for fun, educational toys for both my kids and my preschool classroom! 

Some of the best toys around for young kids come from Dr. Stem and ThinAir Brands! I have always found their toys to be so fun, so educational and provide hours and hours of learning and fun!

If you are looking for a fun, educational gift to keep the kids busy if they are learning or doing school from home, then check out some of these gift ideas below: 

I talk often to my kids about saving their money instead of spending it and what greater way to make saving money fun than with this super awesome Talking ATM Bank! 

This large talking ATM machine works with real U.S. Money (bills and coins). Just insert the special debit card key and the bank comes to life as it talks and counts. Make a deposit, make a withdrawal, the ATM always knows your account balance. 

The large LCD screen shows deposit amounts and adds them to your balance. Or, the screen shows your withdrawal amount and subtracts it from the total to give you a new balance. It talks, it counts, it always knows your account balance. Roll bills into the feeder with the twist knob. Includes special debit card key. 

And a great way to work on counting, money and math is with a fun cash register! Kids can have fun for hours playing grocery store or bank as they give and take money to put into their cash register!

Cha-ching! that's the sound this deluxe cash register makes as kids play for hours and hours. Kids will have fun playing store, counting money, making change, swiping debit cards, and making announcements on the loud microphone. 

PLUS, this toy teaches kids other languages including English, French and Spanish. This huge play set includes a large electronic cash register, play bills and coins, debit card, receipts, and open/closed sign. 

  

And my personal favorite gift idea (because I am a teacher!) is the Play Teacher Set!

A realistic teacher and student role play set. Call the class to order, take attendance, write on the board, ring The bell, hand out grade cards, and much more. Kit includes an easy to clean desk blotter, USA map, bell, flag, pointer, write and wipe board, eraser, attendance list, name card, play clock, Certificate of Completion and much more. Includes everything you need to be a pretend teacher or student.

Don't they all look SO FUN??!! I told you they had some of the greatest gift idea for kids this holiday season!

Buy It:

You can purchase these Dr. Stem Toys from their website. 

Disclosure: A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

I Can Do That! Activity Books

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Summer is here and parents everywhere are stockpiling games, activities, and great ideas for keeping their kids occupied an engaged. And now that school is starting soon (or has already!) you can also continue the learning at home with 3 new activity books that are budget-friendly, imaginative, and perfect for preschoolers who are bursting with creativity and eager to show off their independence.

I Can Do That! activity books are filled with fun, super-easy activities that empower children 3 and up to create amazing art, make cool paper-folding projects, and master mazes and other puzzles with adorable stickers.

These three charming interactive books are popular in Japan. And they are now available for the first time in the U.S.

They are:
• great for boosting skills over the summer
• ideal for rainy day play and quiet time
• perfect to pack for any car ride, flight, or train trip
• budget-friendly (and beloved) birthday gifts and thank-you gifts

Check out more about each activity book below:

I CAN DO THAT! ERASABLE ART by La ZOO

The illustrations of food, animals, clothing, and vehicles by La ZOO are designed to get little ones to use their imaginations—and their fine motor muscles. Who wouldn’t want to decorate their dream donut or give a zebra its stripes. Wipe-off pages hold crayon beautifully and can be wiped clean easily with a paper towel so little artists can make their mark again and again. (Wet erase and dry-erase markers also work on the pages.)

I CAN DO THAT! ORIGAMI

Children as young as 3 years old can follow simple instructionsfor cutting and folding to transform an elephant into a teapot, make a hippo roar, or turn a car into a dessert. The activities are clever and surprising and help to build focus, encourage children to follow sequential directions, and enhance fine motor skills.

I CAN DO THAT! STICKERS

Matching and counting games, mazes, picture puzzles, and other fun activities will keep preschoolers entertained for hours. What’s more, these value-packed pages help children ages 3 to 5 build problem-solving, number sense, fine motor, and reasoning skills while they play. Plus, the 350 reusable stickers in the book can be enjoyed again and again.

*Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

We LOVE ANIA Animals!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

As a preschool teacher AND mom, I am always on high alert for fun new toys that will help my children and my classroom have fun while they develop and learn!

So I am so thankful (and so is my classroom!) for ANIA, a line of cute and articulated animals designed to inspire exploration and a passion for nature. ANIA brings animals around the world to your home and is perfect for the animal lover in your family.

Get ready for a pack of animal fun with ANIA Animals, the all-new preschool line of articulated animals and playsets designed to inspire hours of nature-themed play and exploration. Highly-detailed ANIA Animals feature multiple points of articulation for realistic role play and feature animals from around the globe.

I was REALLY impressed with how natural and accurate looking these animals from the ANIA line were! And when I showed the children how their mouths and other body parts moved, they were so excited!!! All the children immediately wanted to play with the animals and it kept their attention for much longer than other toys in the room! 😊

I love the great selection of different animals, different groups of animals and types: from dinosaurs to ocean animals to jungle animals - the ANIA line has it all!

My children immediately gravitated to the animals like the Lioness, Giraffes and Rhino and they even used the box as a backdrop for their animal play!

They had so much fun moving the parts by themselves and pretend playing - as a teacher I love that it is great for fine motor development and social development as they play together!! Plus, they get the chance to learn new vocabulary as they learn about animals they didn't know before!

These ANIA animals really are a great addition to any learning environment or home where animals are loved and learning is fun!

Buy It:

You can purchase ANIA products from Toys R Us for a SRP of $4.99-$6.99

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Count & Build TotBot & #Giveaway #LearningResources

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Do you have a child like mine that likes to build, create and use their fine motor skills? My son LOVES building and creating like his Daddy using tools so we are loving the NEW Count & Build TotBot™ from Learning Resources in our house!

The new Count and Build TotBot will help young children learn their numbers, shapes, and colors while working on the fine motor skills necessary to twist and turn the bolts on their new robot friend.

Children definitely have a blast using an easy-to-hold wrench to build their very own robot. Using fine motor skills, they will twist color, shape, and number pieces (1–5) into place. It measures 8”H when complete.

As a preschool teacher, Learning Resources is one of my favorite educational toy companies. Their products never disappoint and the Count & Build TotBot is no different! This toy is great for working on fine motor skills while also working on intellectual development. Plus, children will love using their own tools and building like grownups!

Buy It:

You can purchase the Count & Build TotBot for $12.99 from Amazon.com

Win It:

Learning Resources is generously offering (1) Count & Build TotBot to a lucky winner!

Enter here for a chance to win:

(1) Count & Build TotBot 
from Learning Resources
a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Give Fun AND Educational Gifts this Holiday Season!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

As a preschool teacher and mom, I always have my eye out for the best EDUCATIONAL gifts for the holidays! To me, I don't just want to get my kids (or nieces or nephews!) gifts that just entertain - I want them to educate my children too!

This holiday season, check out my favorite educational and FUN toys for all the children on your list this year:

Space Wow 22Pc Set

Build spaceships and rockets with Magformers Space WOW 22Pc Set. Beginner builders can blast into space with the new astronaut character! Add antenna and wheels to create a space buggy or search for extra-terrestrial life by building a space station. Great for young minds to learn about constructing cube nets, patterns, shapes and colors!

MSRP $59.99

School Zone Get Ready for Preschool Learning Set

School Zone Publishing is proud to introduce boxed bundles of fun - set up a pretend classroom at home! These packages come complete with School Zone’s award-winning workbooks and flash card sets, as well as coloring pads, stickers, crayons, lotto boards and more for endless hours of educational entertainment. The Learning Box Sets are available exclusively at Toys ‘R’ Us. 

MSRP $19.99

Fire Station Playset

Spark imaginative play with the Green Toys™ Fire Station! This playset has everything your little firefighter needs to save the day, including a fire station, fire engine, firefighter cat characters, rotating water cannon, command center, and stackable bunk beds. Open and close the doors to both the front and back of the station, help the cats slide down the fire pole, and race to the rescue in the fire engine, all while helping to develop fine motor cooperative play skills. 

All pieces fit inside the fire station, so clean-up and storage is a breeze, and the built-in handle makes it easy to take all the fun on-the-go. Made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic with no BPA, phthalates, or PVC. Dishwasher safe. Packaged with recycled and recyclable materials printed with soy inks. 

MSRP $49.99.

Stack Up!

Spin the Spinner and Get Stacking with Stack Up from Peaceable Kingdom!

Can you stack 12 blocks before the Stack Smasher gets to the tower and topples it? Spin a color and stack a block. Spin a Challenge and add a tricky task like stacking while singing “Happy Birthday!” Spin the Stack Smasher, and you’re one space closer to the big topple! Ages 3-5, 2-6 Players

MSRP $19.99 Available at TARGET

Playroom Prep

Playroom Prep is an innovative new, hands-on, dry-erase, activity book designed for one-on-one use between an adult and a child. This activity book is easy to use and features simple instructions that detail suggested practices that reinforces discussion and practice. Each activity follows a set sequence: the adult demonstrates, the child and the adult try together and the child repeats the steps alone. As a result, Playroom Prep helps cultivate concentration, fine motor skills, letter sounds, writing skills and important face-time with mom or dad.

MSRP $18.99. Buy it on Amazon or PlayroomPrep.com.

*Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

The Gift that Keeps Giving - The Gift of Fun Learning!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

As a preschool teacher and mother, I know there is absolutely no better gift that keeps giving than the gift of education and educational toys! They are my favorite gifts to give to my nieces and nephews and my favorite gifts that my children receive! I know they will play with them for years and learn so much as they play!

Two of my favorite educational toy companies are Learning Resources and Educational Resources! My children have LOVED every single item we have ever used or played with and I love watching learning become fun thanks to their innovative and fun educational toys!

Check out some of my favorite educational gift ideas below:

Learning Resources:

Mini Motor Math Activity Set

Count your way to the finish line! These colorful cars are ready to rev their engines for early math learning fun. Attach the finish line to the track numbered 1–10 for a high-octane counting race up to 10, or push it into overdrive by racing to 20! Start your engines to learn counting 1–20, early addition, number sequencing, patterning, and more! Set includes 25 mini motor cars in 5 colors, 2 pieces of connectable track, 1 color die, 2 number dice, and Activity Guide featuring multiple activities to boost early math skills. Track pieces measure 12"L; cars measure 1"L.

Available for $19.99

Counterpillar

Count on this friendly caterpillar to invite early learning exploration! Slide the colorful beads––sized perfectly for little fingers––to learn counting, more or less, and early addition. Includes two rows of 10 beads, with numbers 1–10 printed on the base. Measures 11½"L x 8"H.

Grades: PreK+

Available for $19.99

STEM Magnets Activity Set

Attract early learners to the wonders of magnetism! STEM lessons are irresistible when you add the excitement of fun, colorful tools to scientific exploration. Durable, playful magnets in a variety of shapes engage children as they explore magnetism, polarity, and magnetic attraction & repulsion.

Includes 2 bar magnets, 2 magnetic bugs, 4 ring magnets, horseshoe magnet, magnetic post, 2 snap-on cars, tray with maze, string, and 10 double-sided Activity Cards. Comprehensive Activity Guide with reproducible materials is also included. Largest piece (maze tray) measures 11"L x 8½"H x ½"W.

Available for $34.99

Educational Insights:

Nancy B's Science Club® Garbage to Gardens Compost Kit & Decomposition Book

Which decays faster—a banana peel or a Styrofoam cup? Find out with the only transparent composting kit designed just for kids!

This set introduces life cycles and composting, promotes environmentalism and journaling activities encourage creativity!

This set is the only transparent composting kit designed just for kids and includes:

• Clear compost container with 2 compartments includes removable divider
• two 3x magnifiers
• 2 write-on/wipe-off boards
• lid with air holes
• 22-Page activity journal

It's such a Fun introduction to life cycles and environmental science!

Available for $24.99

Hot Dots® Jr. Famous Fables Interactive Storybook Set

Turn story time into an interactive learning experience with four timeless tales and Ollie—The Talking, Teaching Owl™ pen! Each fable teaches an important life lesson and features interactive activities to help children master important skills.

This set:

• Introduces important life lessons
• Supports the understanding of numbers and counting; making comparisons; understanding patterns and rhyme; and other early learning skills crucial for school success
• Helps children master reading comprehension and encourages an early love of reading
• Encourages independent, self-paced learning

It includes:

• Set of four 24-page storybooks—The Tortoise and the Hare, The Lion and the Mouse, The Ant and the Grasshopper, and The City Mouse and the Country Mouse—each with 11 early learning activities
• Includes Ollie—the Talking, Teaching Owl pen, which lights up and has 17 speech and sound-effect responses
• Pen requires 2 AAA batteries (not included)

Available for $24.99

Design & Drill® Power Play Vehicles™ Race Car

Kids can zoom into build ‘n’ play fun with Design & Drill® Power Play Vehicles™! Your junior pit crew can build their vehicle by snapping the pieces together. Then, they can use the motorized mini-drill to add the bolts. Finally, it’s time to add artistic flair and customize their creation with colorful stickers, and zoom into creative STEM play! Once their racer is ready to hit the road, they can use kid-power to send their car speeding!

With this set, your children will explore patterning, matching, and counting, build construction and fine motor skills and encourage creativity and imagination while building confidence.

It includes:

• Build your own race car, complete with moving pieces, using 7 snap-on parts
• 15 Clear bolts
• Motorized, kid-friendly mini-drill with socket bit
• Colorful & decorative stickers
• Multilingual instructional guide
• Drill requires 3 AAA batteries (not included)

Available for $21.99

*Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Gifts that Keep Teaching All Year Round!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

ETA hand2mind, an educational company that provides learning resources for grades PreK – 12 teachers and students, has two awesome science kits this holiday season to give the learning lover in your house!

As a preschool teacher, I am instantly excited about cool new kits that make learning fun and easy - for both teacher and student! These STEM at Play kits make perfect gifts this year and bring science concepts to life through hands-on activities.

Check out two of my favorite kits below:

Splash! Water Science Lab Kit

This kit encourages children to become an expert in all-things-aquatic. The fact-filled lab guide is chock-full of pictures and information for hours of experimentation in your own aqua lab.

I love that this one box allows for 23 fun experiments including dancing bubbles, color changing flowers and a tornado! It is perfect for pulling out on a rainy day and having a lot of education fun with the kids.

What's in the Box?

Kit includes:

• 32-page Career and Lab Guide
• Straws
• Balloons
• Pasteur pipettes
• Small measuring cup
• Petri dish
• Syringes
• Transparent tube
• Modelling clay
• Cardboard box
• Bottle with bubble solution
• Soap bubble hoop
• Rubber bands
• Paper clips
• Marble
• Blue food coloring
• Red food coloring
• Liquid glycerine
• Plastic test tubes with lids
• Protective goggles

Boom! Combustion Science Lab Kit

Become and expert in things-that-go-boom! This box also contains 25 experiments including how to make rockets from a chemical reaction or a balloon, make fizzy bombs, make a fun explosive bag, and create a color explosion.

What's in the Box?

Kit includes:

• 36-page Career and Lab Guide
• Protective goggles
• Sodium bicarbonate
• Salt
• Citric acid
• Large measuring cups
• ‘Kaboom’ paper sheet
• Funnel
• Round plastic container
• Small measuring cups with lids
• Colored paper sheets
• Decorative sticker for the rocket
• Rectangular plastic container
• Round filter papers
• Balloons
• Plastic spatula
• Pasteur pipettes
• Wooden spatulas
• Plastic bags with zip-top
• Plastic test tube
• Iron powder
• Red food coloring
• Green food coloring
• Candle
• Protective gloves

These STEM at Play kits provide hours of fun and learning for the whole family! I love that there are so many experiments in each box! These make a really great gift for any child that loves to learn, experiment or learn about science. I love these as a teacher and as a parent!

Buy It:

You can purchase the STEM at Play kits for $24.95 from Amazon.com

*  Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*