11
Jan

Top Ten Apps for Preschoolers

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Fingerprint Big Kid Life: Firefighter

Price: FREE
Platform: iPhone/iPad
Age: 4-7
Review: Put out fire monsters in this adorable Big Kid Life Firefighter which allows firefighters-in-training to test their skills including saving animals and putting out fires.

Fingerprint: Playmaker

Price: FREE
Platform: iPhone/iPad
Age: 4-8
Review: Highly customizable Playmaker teaches math and spelling skills through custom recorded sounds and interactive features for parents as well!

Fingerprint: Do Re Mi 1-2-3

Price: $2.99
Platform: iPad
Age: 3-8
Review: Interact with musical animals in Do Re Mi 1-2-3 while learning pitch and melody which brain research shows "helps forge new brain connections for math and language learning."

Disney DigitalBooks: Toy Story Showtime!

Price: $4.99
Platform: iPhone/iPad/iTouch
Age: 4-6
Review: Disney DigitalBooks are narrated read-along books with sight word and context-based vocabulary. In Toy Story Showtime! Buzz tries to impress Jesse as users read along with an interactive story that moves, shakes and teaches all at once.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast: Storybook Deluxe

Price: $6.99
Platform: iPad
Review: My children absolutely love Belle's maze in this Beauty & the Beast app. I love the ability to narrate the story in a completely interactive tale as old as time which also includes coloring pages.

Disney's It's a Small World

Price: $3.99
Platform: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
Review: This kids #1 favorite app at the moment? Hands down It's a Small World . They've been singing the song like crazy, and the app with it's clickable kids from all around the world that each perform different tasks is the best I've seen to date.

Disney's Winnie the Pooh Puzzle Book

Price: $.99
Platform: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
Review: Affordable at .99 users can get their Disney fix with Winnie the Pooh and friends in this puzzle book app. Activities including read, finding missing honey pots, and of course puzzles!

Disney Princess Dress-Up: My Sticker Book

Price: $3.99
Platform: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
Review: This app takes the prize for most engaging over a long period of time. We downloaded the Disney Dress Up app nearly a year ago, and they still love to change their favorite princesses clothing and accessories, changing them over and over. They can even add their own picture to "become" a princess themselves.

Teach Me: Kindergarten

Price: $.99
Platform: iPad, iPhone
Review: We have more educational apps than we know what do to with. Hand down the best learning app is Teach Me. It's simple but effective and includes sight words, addition, subtraction and spelling. The built-in rewards system with "stickers" is their favorite!

Jumpstart Preschool Magic of Learning

Price: $2.99
Platform: iPad, iPhone
Review: We've been fans of Jumpstart for years when first introduced to their online virtual learning world. The app is just as comprehensive teaching preschoolers math, pre-reading and critical thinking skills. It's a go-to app for both kids, but my nearly 3-year old son is particularly mesmerized.
Disclaimer

A sample product was provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

Cool Giveaway: Enter to win a gift pack of Disney apps including Toy Story Showtime, Beauty and the Beast Storybook Deluxe and all new Disney Publishing’s first Marvel app, The Amazing Spider-Man: An Origin Story by commenting on this post with your favorite kids’ app. For extra entries:

  • Like Cool Baby Kid on Facebook
  • Follow Cool Baby Kid onTwitter
  • Follow Disney Digital Books on Twitter
  • Follow Disney Digital Books on Facebook

Check out even more entry possibilities if you’re really determined to win. Read the prize claim information; we announce winners on Prizey.net. Contest ends 1/26/11.

Filed Under: Disney, Gift Guides, Picks & Tips, Toddler & Preschooler, Top Picks · Tagged With: , , , ,
15
Dec

Top 5 Green Mountain Coffee Gift Ideas

Posted by · 1 Comment

Spicy Eggnog & Gingerbread K-Cup Coffee

MSRP: $16.49 (24 Count)
Review: Get into a holiday seasonal mood with Gingerbread and Spicy Eggnog coffee which are both Fair Trade Certified so you can feel good about your purchase too!

Green Mountain Coffee Signature Sampler

MSRP: $27.95
Review: Coffee eficinados rejoyce in this gift which brings together some of Green Mountain's most popular coffe blends including Dark Magic Expresso, Breakfast Blend and Vermont Country Blend (fair-trade).

Keurig Brewers

MSRP: Various
Review: My mother received one for Christmas a few years back, and now the entire family is hooker. With Keurig Brewers ranging in price from $79.95-$199.95, there's a perfect one for your gift needs. (I own and love the Special Edition Brewer.)

Thermo Ceramic Mug

MSRP: $17.95
Review: For coffee or tea drinkers who like the feel of a ceramic mug but also want their drink to stay hot, this Thermo Ceramic Mug offers the best of both keeping your liquid gold hot for an hour!

Cafe Express

MSRP: $Free!
Review: Cafe Express gives users Regular Green Mountain Coffee delivery with addes bonuses such as K-Cup portion pack savings, free standard shipping, a free travel mug and replacement Keurig brewer if theirs breaks. Paying ahead for the service could be a great gift idea for those short on time.

Cool Tip: Visit our other top picks and gift guides for even more holiday gift ideas, top 5 and top 10 posts.

Filed Under: Gift Guides, Top Picks · Tagged With: ,
15
Dec

Holiday Gift Pick: Uncle Milton *Fireworks In My Room*

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When you have 10 and 13 year old boys, not many toys impresses them anymore. Fireworks in my room did impress both my boys. A matter of fact, my ten year old took this out for a sleep over party and all the boys were highly impressed and were talking to about this to their parents the next day. I’m sure there will be several units purchased after this sleepover.  Allof  the boys said the fireworks were amazing, they kept this gadget out all night.  I was impressed with the quality of the sound effects; there is sizzling sounds and crackles, just like real fireworks would sound. The launcher is very easy to use, first you choose your firework; you pump the launcher with air and pull the trigger to view an incredible firework display from the comfort of your bed. This cool gadget is a hit for all ages and great idea for an age segment whose gadgets are typically quite costly.

Written by Amy, Cool Baby Kid Review Team

 Disclaimer

A product sample was provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own. 

Cool Tip

Follow Uncle Miltion on Facebook and Twitter for updates and promotions on their cool line of toys. 

Buy or Gift It

Amazon.com

Filed Under: Big Kids Corner, Family Activities, Gift Guides ·
05
Dec

Top Spinmaster Toy Gift Picks *Mutliple Winner Giveaway*

Posted by · 105 Comments

Watch our Top Spinmaster Toys Video

Why We Love It

From Aquadoodle to Moon Dough for little ones, to Redakai for the older kids, we’ve spotlighted Spinmaster toys in the past and are happy to highlight some of their coolest picks this holiday season.  With a chance to personally check out the best toy gifts Spinmaster has to offer, it was difficult to limit our video montage to just a few. We love Bizu beads because of their unique take on jewelry making with bracelets and fun animal friends all wrapped into one with just s quick twist. And Liv and her spa world is hard to resist with color-changing hair, nails and more; this was favorite of my daughter’s who could seemigly color change all day. As we said, it’s impossible to share every cool Spinmaster pick but would remiss in leaving out AppBlaster with it’s augmented reality shoot ‘em up feature utilizing the iPhone or iPod Touch. From board games to high tech, girlie gifts and more, our SPinmaster Amazon shop below is a one-stop shop for all things cool this holiday. Enjoy!

Disclaimer

Sample products was provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

Cool Giveaway: Enter to win your choice of Spinmaster prizes including board games (Quelf, The Logo Board Game, Stomple) or a Liv Color-Change Doll (2 winners). To enter, comment on this post telling us which Spinmaster page you like/follow. All additional follows or likes will be considered extra entries. Exp. 12/18/11.

AppBlaster: Facebook, Twitter

Redakai: Facebook, Twitter

Moon Dough: Facebook.com, Twitter

Liv: Facebook

Spinmaster Games: Facebook, Twitter

Cool Baby Kid: Facebook, Twitter

Buy or Gift It:

Filed Under: Adults Only, Big Kids Corner, Editor's Picks, Family Activities, Featured, Gift Guides, Giveaways Galore, Toddler & Preschooler, Top Picks, Tween Hangout · Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
21
Nov

2011 Holiday Gift Guide & Giveaway *Over $600 Giveaway*

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The Diva Holiday Giveaway is here! The Double Duty Divas have cooked up a holiday prize pack worth approximately $600 for one lucky winner this holiday season! Along with my fellow divas – Angie at My Four Monkeys, Bridgette at Experimental Mommy, and Renee at What Mommies Need – we have put together a very helpful Holiday Gift Guide for 2011 that includes gifts for babies, children, teens, and mom, and dad. Just follow Double Duty Divas on Pinterest and browse the boards and find gift ideas for everyone on your list. PLUS, check out the holiday giveaway board for pictures of all the items included in our Diva Holiday Giveaway!

GIVEAWAY ITEMS:

 

All entries must be received by 11:59 PM on December 5th. Enter below to win all of these fantastic prizes, and don’t forget as your mandatory entry to leave a comment on this post telling me which item(s) you are most excited about entering to win.


 

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Gift Guides, Giveaways Galore · Tagged With: , , , , ,
07
Nov

YBike Extreme: Promotes Balance and Fun *Giveaway*

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The new YBike Extreme is a promising find for promoting balance.  After spending the summer with my three and five year old progressing beyond their big wheels and moving onto their first two wheel bikes, of course with training wheels.  I witnessed their hesitation and fear of falling even with training wheels and often wondered, “How can I possibly remove the training wheels?”  I now have hope thanks to YBike that a safe orderly transition to a two wheel bike may be possible.  The YBike is designed for 3 to 5 year olds and works perfectly on our carpeted basement and although our carpet is plush, the YBike Extreme easily moves across it. We chose the extreme model because our kids are a little older and also because the extreme works well off road.

 The standard model has a wider rear wheel and therefore seems to be a little easier to balance. Assembly was very easy and only took about 15 minutes; no tools required.  Both kids have been experimenting riding back and forth across the basement and are truly enjoying their new YBike.  In a week’s time I have seen their balance improve with longer and faster movements.  I am confident that by next year, they will be able to balance, and I’ll be able to remove their training wheels. My only job will be to teach them to peddle.  Thanks YBike for putting my mind at ease.

Written by Mr. Cool Baby Kid

Disclaimer: Product samples were provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

Cool Giveaway: Enter to win a YBike by commenting on this post telling us about your favorite bike riding experience.

Check out even more entry possibilities if you’re really determined to win. Read the prize claim information; we announce winners on Prizey.net. Contest ends 11/21/11.

Filed Under: Adults Only, As Seen In, Baby Picks, Big Kids Corner, Cool Opps, Deals, Discounts, Editor's Picks, Education Corner, Family Activities, Gift Guides, Giveaways Galore, Goals & Inspiration, Picks & Tips, Toddler & Preschooler, Top Picks, Tween Hangout · Tagged With: ,
03
Nov

Perplexus Maze Game: A Family Obsession

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 My boys, ages 13 and 10 love this 3D circular puzzle. Just when I thought our toy days were over, along came Perplexus which was showcased at the 2011 Time to Play Holiday Showcase in September. It can sometimes become an obsession. I’ve told them put the Perplexus down and finish their homework. Perplexus truly engages you while playing, it teaches patience, manual dexterity and enhances logical thinking skills.

This amazaing spherical game has multiple starting points so that you don’t have to start at point one and keep making the same mistakes over again. Turning the maze while your little ball is balanced takes practice and much patience. After completing the maze you can race to beat a time. I fully recommend Perplexus and plan on buying more for gifts. PlaSmart also offers educational toys and games such as the PlasmaCar and PlasmaBike, Fun Slide Carpet Skates and other innovative solutions for combining educational, fun and functionaity. Check out their full line of products and be sure to follow on social media listed in our cool tip.

Written by Amy, Cool Baby Kid Review Team

Disclaimer: A sample product was provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

Cool Tip: Follow PlaSmart Toys, creator of inventive Perplexus on Twitter and  Facebook for additional information on their fun and educational games and puzzles.

Filed Under: Big Kids Corner, Family Activities, Gift Guides, Picks & Tips ·
11
Oct

Top Ten Hot Holiday Toy Picks *2011*

Posted by · 2 Comments

Lite Sprites *Wow Wee Toys*

Recommended Age: 6M-4Y
Retail Price: Various
Comments: We absolutely love these color-capturing Lite Sprites. Build a Lite-Topia world with Sprites, Pods, Playsets and even Lite Pets.

LeapPad Explorer *LeapFrog*

Recommended Age: 4-9Y
Retail Price: $139.97
Comments: This starter bundle includes a $40 app card and is the perfect way to get started with our #1 toy pick.

Squinkies *Blip Toys*

Recommended Age: 4Y and up
Retail Price: Various
Review: Though a hot holiday pick from 2010, Squinkies with an all new boy line, Disney, Marvel and more, are as hot ever!

Hearts for Hearts Dolls *Playmates Toys*

Recommended Age: 6Y and up
Retail Price: $29.99
Review: A standout toy from Time to Play, i was immediately drawn to Hearts for Hearts Girks, beautiful dolls from six countries with a portion of proceeds to WorldVision helping empower girls around the world.

Voice Rockrz Mic & First Act Musical Instruments

Recommended Age: 3 and up
Retail Price: $24.99
Review: Between voice altering microphone Voice Rockrz and other musical instruments including cool kids' guitars, First Act Discovery is music to little ones' ears.

Playskool Heroes *Hasbro*

Recommended Age: 3 and up
Retail Price: $29.99 (pictured)
Review: Action figures and playsets for the young boys' age group such as Marvel Super Heroes (pictured) were hard to come by before the advent of Playskool Heroes and Transformers Rescue Bots which are chunkier for little hands.

Appmates *Spinmaster & Disney Consumer Products*

Recommended Age: 4+
Retail Price$12.99 (single)
Review: If your kids have taken over the iPad like mine, why not harness their inner Lightening McQueen with Appmates, an innovative, interactive toy/tech gadget which revolutionizes iPad play.

Laugh & Learn Apptivity Case *Fisher-Price*

Recommended Age: 6M and up
Retail Price: $14.99
Review: Genius! Encase your iPhone or iPod Touch so the little one stays on a chosen app without the ability to call your contacts. This was another Time to Play Holiday Showcase standout that I fell in love with instantly.

Chuggington Wooden Railway Trainee Roundhouse

Recommended Age: 3Y an up
Retail Price: $119.00
Review: The Trainee Roundhouse Set is a perfect starter for what promises to be years of Chuggington Wooden Railway fun. The Over & Under Start Set at $59.99 is a great lower price point starter as well.

Cool Tip: If you’re visiting from our segment on WBRE PA Live! thanks so much for stopping by and be sure to subscribe/follow Cool Baby Kid for more cool picks, tips and giveaways!

 

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