The Shopping Mama

30 Days of Toys: Educo Rise ‘N Shine Coffee Maker

by Monica on November 22nd, 2011 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys, Shopping

Toy: Educo Rise ‘N Shine Coffee Maker

Get It For: Your little helper who loves lending a hand while you are making your morning java. If you’re stocking a play kitchen, check out our suggestions for Play Kitchens in Every Budget.

Why We Like It: I absolutely love my coffee maker which uses K-Cups (you know the one)! Both of my kids love helping me put the K-Cup in the brewer every morning and hearing the brewing sound. When I saw this adorable wood version of the same thing, I just knew it would be a hit in our house! Simply open the lid, drop the coffee pod in like the grown-ups! Play appliance set includes six wood pieces, including coffee maker, mug, milk carton, sugar, spoon, and coffee pod. This Educo kitchen toy is made by Hape International, winner of Dr. Toys Best Green Company. The play set is made of birch plywood, rubberwood, and MDF and finished with non-toxic, water-based paint.

Shop! The Rise ‘N Shine Coffee Maker is available at a variety of retailers, but at a great price on Amazon for less than $25. Find this and many of our top toys for the holidays in The Shopping Mama’s 30 Days of Toys store.

***

To see the best toys for the holidays, check out our Toy Shopping Guide. You can also read about all our 30 Days of Toys picks.

30 Days of Toys: Classic Magic Trick Set

by Monica on November 21st, 2011 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys, Shopping

Toy: Classic Magic Trick Set

Get It For: Young ones ready to wow an audience and explore some new tricks!

Why We Like It: Sometimes it is hard to find toys for young boys that have nothing to do with cars, guns, truck, space, etc… you get the idea. This is a great set that will get even the shiest little guy to come out of his shell and take a turn at being in the spotlight for some pretty cool magic. The set includes classic magic tricks such as “Disappearing Ball,” “Vanishing Coin,” “Secret Silks,” “Money Maker,” “Cylinder Squeeze” and many more for your mini magician.

Shop! The Classic Magic Trick Set is available at The Land of Nod for $44. This and other picks are available in The Shopping Mama’s Amazon store.

***

To see the best toys for the holidays, check out our Toy Shopping Guide. You can also read about all our 30 Days of Toys picks.

30 Days of Toys: 3D Play House Pink Rug

by Monica on November 20th, 2011 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys, Shopping

Toy: Play House Pink Rug

Get It For: A future interior designer or architect who loves playing house with her tiny dolls and figurines, and has enjoyed playing with her brother’s car and road rug.

Why We Like It: There are many play mats and rugs out there with road or construction designs, but there aren’t too many out there for little ladies to play house in an open floor space. This one is particularly fun , as the details are raised in 3D so it gives it a homey and open feel. An added plus is this rug is hypo-allergenic, stain resistant, and made from all non-flammable materials.

Shop! The Play House Pink Rug is available at giggle for $150. It’s dimensions are 59″ x 39″ x 1″ so there is plenty of space for more than one child to play at a time .

***

To see the best toys for the holidays, check out our Toy Shopping Guide. You can also read about all our 30 Days of Toys picks.

30 Days of Toys: Magnetic Dress Up Dolls

by Kate on November 19th, 2011 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys, Shopping

Toy: Melissa & Doug Magnetic Dress Up Dolls

Get It For: This magnetic set is easy for little hands to manipulate, but because of the small pieces it’s probably best for kids 3 and up. There are sets geared towards boys, girls and different hobbies so it’s a great gift for preschoolers with a variety of interests.

Why We Like It: Back in the day to accomplish the dress, undress and redress of this sort kids had to spend hours cutting clothes for paper dolls. Now, Melissa & Doug offers a great alternative that’s easy for young kids to enjoy, but still captures the full of paper dolls for grade school aged kids. This Nina Ballerina set is great for your little ballerina, but we also love Joey (a boy with superhero costumes), the best friends forever set (casual clothes), and Jack (sports costumes).

Shop! The Melissa & Doug Magnetic Dress Up Sets are available from about $10.50 with Free Shipping on Amazon. This and many of our other 30 Days of Toys picks is available in The Shopping Mama’s Store.

***

To see the best toys for the holidays, check out our Toy Shopping Guide. You can also read about all our 30 Days of Toys picks.

30 Days of Toys: Memory Game

by Kate on November 18th, 2011 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys, Shopping

Toy: Kid O Memory Match

Get It For: Grade school children who have or are willing to play a game requiring patience and attention to detail.

Why We Like It: The Kid O Memory Match game is available in two sizes (36 pieces or 16, which is easier for younger children). The game set from Kid O, a great children’s toy and puzzle company, includes a playing board, green knobs to remove and reveal potential matches, and four 2-sided playing cards. Four of the games involve nature (to match animal tracks) and the others are more abstract (like matching upper case and lower case letters).

Shop! Kid O’s 36 piece Memory Match is currently $26 on Amazon – the same price as the 16 piece set. This and many of our other 30 Days of Toys picks is available in The Shopping Mama’s Store.

***

To see the best toys for the holidays, check out our Toy Shopping Guide. You can also read about all our 30 Days of Toys picks.

30 Days of Toys: Svan Creativity Cruiser

by Kate on November 17th, 2011 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys

Toy: Svan Creativity Cruiser Ride-On Toy

Get It For: This unique scooter is designed to help develop balance and motor skills for children 18 months and older. We’re pretty sure even our preschoolers would love to scoot on the Cruiser.

Why We Like It: First things first, the Creativity Cruiser is aesthetically different – in a good way! – from other scooters on the market. There are no bells and whistles, no loud noises – just an abstract design to encourage imagination and play. The Cruiser is made from birch wood is designed for indoor use only.

Shop! The Creativity Cruiser is available directly from Svan and from our affiliate Magic Beans for $80 in Natural or Espresso finish. You can also find this and many of our favorites in The Shopping Mama’s 30 Days of Toys store.

***

To see the best toys for the holidays, check out our Toy Shopping Guide. You can also read about all our 30 Days of Toys picks.

30 Days of Toys: Scoop & Sort Wood Toy Set

by Shannon on November 16th, 2011 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys, Shopping

Toy: Wood Toy Set

Get It For: Preschool children. This bowl and scoop with accompanying balls for counting and cups for filling is appropriate for boys and girls.

Why We Like It: This toy is made in the USA from all natural materials, and finished with a non-toxic color wash and allows for endless play in a child’s play kitchen or store. Additionally, this set help children learn colors, numbers, counting and fine motor skills. Once you add your child’s imagination, this toy set has infinite uses.

Shop! Bowl, scoop, balls and cups are sold as a set for $22.00 from Apple n Amos.

***

To see the best toys for the holidays, check out our Toy Shopping Guide. You can also read about all our 30 Days of Toys picks.

30 Days of Toys: Scented Play Dough

by Kate on November 15th, 2011 | 5 Comments | 30 Days of Toys, Shopping

Toy: My Little Otter’s Scented Play Dough

Get It For: Play dough keeps busy little hands, well, busy. Get this for toddlers and preschoolers to explore color and scent with sculptures but not taste! The dough is not edible.

Why We Like It: This handmade play dough is a fun alternative to big brand names because of the unique colors and fun scents. Perfect for the holiday season, kids can dig into Peppermint, Christmas Tree or Pumpkin scented dough and explore and create crazy little dough figures.

Shop! We say go big and get the set of 10 4 ounce containers of different scented and colored Play Doughs for $43.50. Or, you can purchase separately for $4.35.

***

To see the best toys for the holidays, check out our Toy Shopping Guide. You can also read about all our 30 Days of Toys picks.