The Shopping Mama

Best Toys for the Holidays 2012!

by Kate on December 3rd, 2012 | 5 Comments | Shopping

It’s here! Our third annual 30 Days of Toys is complete and the result is a collection of the Best Toys for the Holidays! We love this year’s finds and know you will, too. We have everything from stocking stuffers to WOW gifts, from indie artisans to big brands, from super affordable to splurges. We think you’ll find something for every little one on your holiday shopping list.

Check out the Best Toys for the Holidays 2012 to see this year’s Toy Shopping Guide. For more detailed description of each pick, visit the 30 Days of Toys.

Happy toy shopping!

30 Days of Toys: Wishbone Flip Bike

by Kate on November 30th, 2012 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys, Shopping

Toy: Wishbone Flip Bike

Get It For: Preschoolers on the move, recommended for kids 12 months to four years

Why We Like It: We love all toys that grow with your child. After all, if we’re going to spend good money on something we want it to last. And that’s just what the Wishbone Flip Bike is all about: it’s a Rocker, it’s a Ride On, it’s both! With a simple unfasten and flip, the Wishbone can switch from a Ride On to Rocker and we think both options will delight kids. We love the modern and sleek look from Wishbone and think it would be a great WOW gift this holiday season.

Shop! The Wishbone Flip Bike is available at our affiliate Magic Beans for $150. It’s featured as an Ultimate Holiday Gift in their Holiday Gift Guide. And don’t forget to enter our Hot Holiday Toys giveaway from Magic Beans!

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To see the best toys for the holidays, check out our Toy Shopping Guide.
You can also browse our picks in the third annual 30 Days of Toys.

30 Days of Toys: Fairy Train Set

by Kate on November 29th, 2012 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys, Shopping

Toy: Fairy Figure 8 Train Set

Get It For: We know train sets aren’t just for boys so we love this set designed to appeal to the girliest of girls. Great for preschool and young kindergarten aged kiddos.

Why We Like It: We featured a girly train set two years ago but it’s no longer available so we knew we had to find a good replacement. We love the Fairy Sets from Bigjigs, and this is an affordable, basic figure 8 train set with three car train. The set also includes delightful little trees and buildings to complete a perfectly playful fairyland. The wooden tracks and train cars are compatible with most major wooden sets so you can mix and match your train sets.

Shop! The 40-piece set is about $45 from our affiliate Amazon. We also like the more elaborate 75 piece set for $80. You can find this, and many other of our top toy picks in The Shopping Mama’s Amazon store.

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To see the best toys for the holidays, check out our Toy Shopping Guide.
You can also browse our picks in the third annual 30 Days of Toys.

30 Days of Toys: Colorful Cars

by Kate on November 28th, 2012 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys, Shopping

Toy: Bannor Toys Set of 6 Organic Colorful Cars

Get It For: Because these cars are built to fit a little child’s grip, sanded for safety and use non-toxic and safe paints, there’s no need to worry about a wee one putting a car in his mouth. Of course, older preschoolers will enjoy the set, too.

Why We Like It: Bannor Toys has a fantastic selection of Waldorf-inspired and thoughtfully crafted wood toys. These cars stand out because of the bright colors and affordable price tag. The cars about about 4 inches long, and the simple design leaves the true play up to the imagination of the child. No need for batteries or loud noises when you have an active toddler, amIright?

Shop! The set of 6 colorful cars is $32. If you haven’t yet, make sure you check out everything Bannor Toys has to offer. The toys are gorgeous!

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To see the best toys for the holidays, check out our Toy Shopping Guide.
You can also browse our picks in the third annual 30 Days of Toys.

30 Days of Toys: Custom Map Play Mat with Stickers

by Kate on November 27th, 2012 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys, Shopping

Toy: Board Stiff Custom Play Mat with Stickers

Get It For: Frankly, we think this is so cool that it will delight most little people, but particularly those who are into cars or building imaginary towns. Or not so imaginary since the play mats are created from maps of your neighborhood.

Why We Like It: We’ve featured the Board Stiff Custom Neighborhood Play Mats before, so they may look familiar. We’re bringing them back because of a new inexpensive accessory: stickers! In case you’re not familiar, the Neighborhood Play Mat is a hand drawn map based on an address you provide then printed on high-quality vinyl. The brand new stickers are only $1.75 and allow your child to add some creative flair to the map of his neighborhood. There’s a set of sticker for urban neighborhoods and rural neighborhoods or go a different route and add some trees, points of interest and whimsy.

Shop! The Custom Map Play Mats are available in 3 sizes: Small ($28.50), Medium ($53.50) and Large ($73.50). The new Stickers are $1.75.

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To see the best toys for the holidays, check out our Toy Shopping Guide.
You can also browse our picks in the third annual 30 Days of Toys.

30 Days of Toys: Wooden Baseball Pinball

by Kate on November 26th, 2012 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys, Shopping

Toy: Take Me Out to the Pinball Game

Get It For: Hard to impress bigger kids

Why We Like It: This tabletop game brings the home runs and stike outs of baseball to a pinball game. Pull the plunger to put the ball in play and use the flipper bat to send it to the outfield. This is one of those toys that will engage everyone in the family, including even the most blasé tween.

Shop! The Wooden Baseball Pinball Game is available from our affiliate The Land of Nod for $39. You can find this, and many other of our top toy picks in The Shopping Mama’s Amazon store.

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To see the best toys for the holidays, check out our Toy Shopping Guide.
You can also browse our picks in the third annual 30 Days of Toys.

30 Days of Toys: Carry Cot for Dolls

by Kate on November 25th, 2012 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys, Shopping

Toy: Haba Carry Cot for Dolls

Get It For: The little mama-wannabe. It’s a great gift for any little one who loves playing with dolls.

Why We Like It: We like our real baby gear to do double duty so we think it’s great that doll gear does the same – this sweet thing is a carry cot for transporting doll from room to room and, with the addition of the canopy, a darling little bed. The set includes pillow, blankets and canopy. The Carry Cot is nearly 14 inches long so it may not fit all of your child’s average sized dolls (for example, it is pictured above with a 12 inch Haba doll).

Shop! The Haba Carry Cot for Dolls is currently about $54 from our affiliate Amazon. If you want a complete doll gift set, add in one of the cute Haba dolls for about $31. You can find this, and many other of our top toy picks in The Shopping Mama’s Amazon store.

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To see the best toys for the holidays, check out our Toy Shopping Guide.
You can also browse our picks in the third annual 30 Days of Toys.

30 Days of Toys: Magic School Bus Young Scientists Club

by Kate on November 24th, 2012 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys, Shopping

Toy: The Magic School Bus Young Scientists Club Experiments

Get It For: Ross Gellar Jr. and the next great inspirational female scientist (think Debbie Sterling, the founder of Goldie Blox)

Why We Like It: If your kindergartener is anything like ours, The Magic School Bus is a highlight of every trip to the library and of many lessons at school. Bring the lessons from the television series and books to life with science kits that include awesome experiments. For example, Jumping into Electricity (pictured above) helps kids create static hair. And in Blasting Off with Erupting Volcanoes, you learn about tectonic plate movement and blast a volcano. Don’t worry, even those of us who aren’t science whiz kids can help participate thanks to the included illustrated manual for adults.

Shop! The Magic School Bus experiment sets start at $19.99. There are also “Labs” for $40. You can find this, and many other of our top toy picks in The Shopping Mama’s Amazon store.

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To see the best toys for the holidays, check out our Toy Shopping Guide.
You can also browse our picks in the third annual 30 Days of Toys.