toys for summer Archives

July 2, 2019 by Elena Epstein

Summer means outdoor fun and what’s better than water play! These NAPPA Award winners are perfect for hot summer days.

Baby Spring Float Splash Station

The Baby Spring Float Splash Station is a part of the SwimWays Swim Steps program, designed to provide a fun and secure first-time water experience for babies. It includes adorable whale and starfish interactive water toys that squirt and spray water. It also features a patented inner spring around the outside edge for added stability, removable sun canopy with UPF 50+ sun protection, soft mesh seat with secure leg holes and mesh sippy cup holder. $29.99, ages 9-24 months.

X-Shot Fast Fill

The X-SHOT Fast-Fill allows you to refill your blaster in 1 second and get back to the water blasting action long before your opponents. Just dunk, fill and close with rapid sealing technology. It shoots up to 30ft/10m and you can fill it anywhere, because a Fast-Fill is everything. Up Your Game this summer! $12.99, ages 5+

PAW Patrol Swim Trainer Life Jackets

The PAW Patrol Swim Trainer Life Jackets are U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices for kids. Permanent flotation in the arms and chest provide greater mobility and the out-of-reach adjustable back buckles are convenient for parents and more secure for kids. The life jackets feature soft fabric and fit most children weighing 30-50 pounds. Available in PAW Patrol 3-D Chase & Skye characters (Chase & Skye sold individually) and PAW Patrol non-3-D character graphics. $18.88-$24.99 each, fits most children weighing 30-50 pounds.

For more award winning products, visit nappaawards.com

June 26, 2019 by

Kids are out of school, but that doesn’t mean the learning has to stop. Check out these latest NAPPA Award winners that keep the fun and learning going all summer long.

ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy by Age of Learning, Inc.

ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy is the leading and most comprehensive online early learning resource for children ages 2–8. It offers an expert-designed curriculum for preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades. With more than 9,000 individual learning activities and 800+ complete lessons along their Step-by-Step Learning Path™, ABCmouse.com encompasses reading and language arts, math, science, social studies, art, and music. It is available on computer, tablet, or smartphone. Ages 2-8, 9.95/monthly or $59.95/annually.

Smithsonian Mega Science Lab

Learn about volcanos, weather, outer space and more. The Smithsonian Mega Science Lab is six different STEM kits in one. Observe the process of crystal formation; assemble and paint a model of the earth and moon; and erect and erupt your very own volcano. Create an Eco Dome Habitat where you can catch, collect and study bugs. Assemble and install your own weather station and start logging temperature, wind direction and speed, barometric pressure, humidity, clouds and precipitation. Put on your safety goggles and chisel away at your sand block as you excavate bones that you can assemble into a model dinosaur. This kit is a science sampler that offers six amazing adventures that are safe and easy to do. Detailed instructions are included. Ages 10+, $34.99.

Smithsonian Planetarium Projector

The Smithsonian Planetarium Projector brings the nighttime sky into your room. Just aim the projector at a light-colored wall or ceiling, and project a rotating star pattern of the northern sky. Three disks also feature 24 high-definition space images that you can project alongside the stars: planets, nebulae, moons, asteroids and other celestial bodies, as well as a satellite, space station, astronaut, space shuttle and more. Project more than 50 different image combinations. The Smithsonian Planetarium Projector features a 15-minute auto-shut-off, so you can fall asleep under a magical night sky. It comes with STEM educational content and requires 3 AA batteries (not included). Ages 8+, $39.99.

For more educational toys, apps and products, visit nappaawards.com

June 22, 2018 by

School is out and it’s time to PLAY! With these new NAPPA winners, your kids will not want to come inside.

Super Spinner

Get ready for some spinning fun with PlayMonster’s Super Spinner. The round curved seat centers little bodies in the most secure part of the seat; combined with its adjustable double-braided ropes and weather-resistant clips, the Super Spinner is designed for a safer, more comfortable ride — making it one of NAPPA’s best outdoor toys. Super Spinner holds multiple patents and is designed so kids can swing and spin from a tree, a play set or a secure structural beam. Swing, spin and soar – swinging will never be the same.

Easy to install and made with durable materials, Super Spinner swings are built to withstand the elements. A small hole in the middle of the seat allows for water drainage.
$49.99
Ages 3+

Splash Tail

Popping up in 2018 is the water balloon sling launcher, the Splash Tail. Kids will have a blast hurling the water balloons in the air or throwing them in a game of toss and catch. Recommended for ages 8 and up, each Splash Tail set comes with a colorful blue/orange sling and pack of water balloons.
$7
Ages 8+

Baby Spring Float Sun Canopy

The Baby Spring Float Sun Canopy features a patented inner spring around the outside edge for added stability in the water. Additional features include a removable sun canopy with UPF 50+ sun protection, see-through mesh sides on the canopy , fabric-covered inflation and a soft mesh seat with secure leg holes for durability and comfort, a wide base, child safety valves, dual air chambers and a mesh play space for splashing and playing with toys.
$19.99
Ages 9 to 24 months

My Buddy & Me SUV

Another fun product by Simplay3 — My Buddy & Me SUV is a two passenger ride-on featuring a large handle for push along cruising. When your toddler matures, a removable floor board panel rotates and locks underneath never detaching from the vehicle. The child is now the driver in foot-to-floor mode. Front seat back can be placed in multiple positions. When it is all the way forward, there’s room for a buddy to ride along. When placed all the way back, it serves as a tailgate.
$99.99
Ages 2-4

Happy Summer. Remember to #PlayLearnConnect with #NAPPAAwards!

Elena Epstein is a mom of two and the director of NAPPA Awards, the longest running and most respected awards program in the industry, celebrating the best in family products for 28 years. For more product reviews, visit nappaawards.com.