toys Archives - Page 5 of 7

June 3, 2019 by

Watching babies discover and explore new sounds and textures is so rewarding. These NAPPA-Award winning toys are perfect for enhancing your babies development and they are super fun!

Lights & Stripes Zebra

Lights & Stripes Zebra

Dance all day with the Lights & Stripes Zebra™. Upbeat music and playful sing-along songs encourage your baby to move and groove. This zippy plush zebra features bold black and white stripes, colorful patterned fabric and a variety of textures to enhance tactile awareness. The friendly zebra’s tummy plays endearing phrases and introduces colors through catchy songs while glowing in five different colors. The plush zebra has a washable surface with removable electronics. This snuggly striped sidekick is perfectly sized for your little one to hug and bring on-the-go! $14.99, ages birth+

My First Farm

My First Farm

My First Farm is a farm set for toddlers, which playfully introduces them into the BRIO wooden railway system. This frustration-free play set will give small children hours of fun and help teach them about farmyard animals. The five wooden animals fit into the animal wagon ready to be transported by train to the farm. Each animal also comes with three distinct sounds, which are activated automatically when placed in the farm meadow. Learning about animals has never been so much fun! $59.99, ages 18 + months

Butterfly Counting Pal

Butterfly Counting Pal

Enjoy a flutter of color with the Butterfly Counting Pal™ plush learning toy. Five colorful number buttons play a variety of songs to teach colors and numbers. A kaleidoscope of color, Butterfly’s light-up wing shows the colors of the rainbow. She also helps your baby fall asleep with soft, classical melodies. Each segment of this on-the-go toy features a dangling toy that rattles, squeaks, turns or crinkles to help develop fine motor skills. Learn at home or on the fly by using the included straps to secure the butterfly to infant carriers and strollers. $17.99, ages birth+

Lalaboom Educational Beads

Lalaboom Educational Beads

Lalaboom Educational Beads are designed for exploration and learning. Featuring vivid colors, unisex patters and soft texture. These beads are designed to guide children through their developmental learning curve based on the Montessori educational approach. Children will be able to explore five developmental functions by manipulating the beads at their own pace. All beads can be easily washed and cleaned.
10-15 months: Explore Colors, textures & shapes with basic POP IT action.
15-18 months: TWIST IT.
18-24 month: MIX IT.
24-36+: STACK IT!
36+: LACE IT! $5.99 to 29.99, ages 10 to 36+ months

Whimsical Wheel High Chair Toy

Whimsical Wheel High Chair Toy

Capture baby’s attention with the spinning wheels, cascading beads and bright colors of the Whimsical Wheel! The spinning wheels encourage baby to reach, tug, and bat, strengthening hand-eye coordination. Trapped within the clear structure are colorful beads, which help baby connect the sound to sight. One wheel features a mirror, which is perfect for self-discovery. Plus, the suction cup base attaches to flat surfaces such as high chairs and table tops for frustration-free play. $9.99, ages 6+ months

My Peek-a-Boo LapPup

My Peek-a-Boo LapPup

Learning is important business with My Peek-a-Boo LapPup™! Open the toy laptop and say hello to Scout or Violet before getting to work on learning about rhymes, shapes, colors and numbers. Press Scout’s or Violet’s name tag button to move their paws in front of their eyes and hear cute peek-a-boo phrases. Five crayon buttons light up while playing phrases and songs about colors. Shape buttons play rhymes about shapes, colors and numbers. Slide the clicking mouse up and down for additional imitative play. Close the lid and say goodbye! Available in Scout or Violet. $14.99, ages 6+ months

Do-Re-Mi Textured Tunes

Do-Re-Mi Textured Tunes

Dance along to three fun melodies on the Do-Re-Mi Musical Toy, teaching baby cause-and-effect by pushing the buttons to hear each song. At the bottom are soft, textured surfaces that encourage mouthing, aiding in the development of communication skills. The easy-to-grasp handle has a black & white pattern and click-clack rings to stimulate baby’s vision and auditory awareness. A great toy for playtime on-the-go! $9.99, ages Birth- 24 months

Scout’s Learning Lights Remote Deluxe

Scout’s Learning Lights Remote Deluxe

Learning is on every channel with Scout’s Learning Lights Remote™ role-play toy. Explore all 17 buttons on the learning remote to hear more than 100 phrases, sounds and music while building fine motor skills. Flip between modes for role-play excitement or learning activities that introduce numbers and letters. Silly pretend channels inspire imaginative play. Switch to the Spanish channel to hear common Spanish phrases, listen and dance to three different music styles on the music channel and hear rain, snow and wind sound effects on the weather channel.$12.99, ages 6+ months

Spin & Chew Ring Rattle

Whether at home or on-the-go, keep your little one entertained with the Sassy Spin & Chew Flexible Ring Rattle. Perfectly-sized for little hands, this rattle is easy to grab and features a spinning ring and ball to stimulate senses. $6.99For Ages: Birth to 24 months

Bend & Twist Rattle

Sassy Baby’s Bend & Twist Rattle is soft and squishy — perfect for baby. The bright colors, different materials and variety of surfaces help stimulate baby. Rattle beads and click-clack rings stimulate baby’s developing vision and awaken auditory awareness. The soft, squishy material is perfect for baby’s environment. Dishwasher safe. $6.99, ages birth-24 months.

For more all things baby, visit nappaawards.com. #playlearnconnect

May 21, 2019 by

Meet our latest NAPPA Award-winning toys that will make great new friends for your kids.

Rubber Ducks from Wild Republic

These are not your mother’s rubber ducks! Wild Republic’s Rubber Ducks are free of any opening making them mold-free due to the unique hole-less design that does not allow moisture from collecting inside the duck. Rubber ducks are the perfect collectable for a water or land. Wild Republic has 31 different unique designs that can be used to educate children on animals of the world! $6.99

Squishmallows Hug Mees

Newest additions to the Squishmallows family have a “3D” look with hands, feet or paws for even more cuddling. Hug Mees are ready to give and get lots of love and are sure to please the ever-increasing Squishmallows fan base. Kids, tweens, collectors and toy lovers of all ages can look forward to adding the Hug Mees to their #SquishmallowSquad collections. Eight super soft, colorful, Hug Mees include two unicorns, two foxes, alpaca, blue bear, sloth and a raccoon available in four sizes: small (10”), medium (14”), large (18”) and jumbo (20”). $6.99, $14.99, $19.99 and $24.99, respectively.

Flutter Friends

Flutter Friends are birds that interact with kids and each other! Pet the hummingbird’s head or back to unlock over 40 realistic hummingbird sounds. Each tap will activate a variety of movement and sounds. Each Flutter Friend features soft, shimmery wings kids will love. Kids can help their Flutter Friend learn to fly by tapping their back twice. Their Flutter Friend will open their wings as she is guided through the air. $14.99, ages 5+

Hairdorables Pets Series 1

The Hairdorables Pets are just about the cutest fur-friends you’ve ever seen! Lovable, loyal, and with lots of “Big Hair Don’t Care” style, the Hairdorables Pets express their unique personalities. Each pet comes with their own brush, so girls can style their Hairdorables Pet’s hair, just like their Hairdorables Dolls. Pull, peel, and reveal 8 surprises inside. Each pet includes 2 accessories, 2 stickers, one brush, one adoption card, and one collector list. $7.99, ages 3+

Lights & Stripes Zebra

TLC Kritters

TLC Kritters need your care and love. Take home the incubator and open to reveal which baby animal you’ve received. Time for the gender reveal. Drop the included packet into water to reveal if your Kritter is a boy or a girl. The packet will include a gender reveal card and accessories for your Kritter. Use the included bottle to feed your new pet and – give it a squeeze to make it sneeze. Take off the Kritter’s diaper and dunk it in cool water to reveal a dirty diaper, noted by emojis. Clean the diaper by soaking in warm water. Collect all the TLC Kritters! $9.99, ages 6+

May 21, 2019 by Elena Epstein

Summer is almost here and we have some great new toys that will definitely bring the FUN! Check out our latest NAPPA Award winners.

Free Wheelin’ Rider Sport Convertible Balance Bike

Free Wheelin’ Rider Sport Convertible Balance Bike is a stylish and original pushbike that changes and grows along with your child. Start it off as a 3-wheel push bike for younger children. As they get older, it easily converts into a 2-wheel balance bike to teach more advanced riders the skills they need for all future cycling. The height is also adjustable as little ones grow bigger. $59.99, ages 1+

POWERUP Toys 2.0 Free Flight Electric Paper Airplane Conversion Kit

POWERUP Toys is taking paper airplanes to new heights with the POWERUP 2.0 Free Flight. The powered propeller transforms your paper airplane into a soaring electric aircraft with more than 30 seconds of flight. It’s as easy as folding a paper airplane, clipping on the propeller, and launching it into the air – just like a normal paper airplane. $19.99, ages 8+

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.

JBL JR POP

Keep the music going this summer — anywhere, anytime! The JBL JR POP has epic sound quality and will be an instant favorite with kids and parents alike. With five hours of playtime, a waterproof design and JBL’s Signature Sound, the JR POP will have kids rocking out to their favorite “parent-approved” playlists from the school bus all the way through after-school activities. The best part is that this speaker is made just for kids – small enough to fit in their hands with a built-in strap for on-the-go listening. The JR POP comes in a variety of vibrant, two-tone color combinations that kids can customize with included sticker sets. The JR POP has a multi-color lighting mode that illuminates when it is playing — perfect for expressing your own personal style. $29.95, ages 3+

Rock Around Wobble Disk

Hold on tight for a rock, wobble, and 360 degree spin adventure with the Simplay3 Rock Around Wobble Disk! Kids 2 years and up can rock and wobble solo or have a parent add to the fun with a playful spin. Promotes core strength and balance. Molded in hand grips provide extra stability and a safety ring wraps around the middle of the toy saucer to help limit extreme wobbling. Made in the USA.$39.99, ages 2+

For more product reviews, visit nappaawards.com. #playlearnconnect

April 23, 2019 by Elena Epstein

The weather is getting warmer and we want to get outside and play! These recent NAPPA Award winners will definitely get the fun started.

Fold & Go Rally Racer

Ready. Set. Go…with this fun toddler race car that’s parent-powered. The Fold & Go Rally Racerfeatures realistic race car style detailing and can easily be transported and folded away for compact storage. Folds in three simple steps and locks together again when ready for a ride. Dual purpose seat belt for security and holding racer together in carrying position
Lightweight and made in the USA. $59.99, ages 1.5- 4

DROP DOTS

Add some color and fun to outdoor summer play with Drop Dots. These bounce balls from Kess feature a spiky texture that gives them an awesome unique feel while making them easier to catch and grip. Available now in Junior, Classic and Mini-sizes, Drop Dots are sold at major retailers nationwide in dozens of color combinations. $8.99, ages 6+

Big-A-Bubbles

Let the summer time fun begin with Big-A-Bubbles from Zing! Simply remove the bubble pouch from the packaging and pour one of the two bubble solutions into the pouch. Then dip the glove into the pouch, open the mouth of the glove with your hand, and watch GIANT bubbles form right before your eyes. The pouch is also re-sealable and refillable. Big-A-Bubbles comes in six different themed gloves, including, Lion, Crocodile, Pirate, Shark, Duck, and Bear characters. There’s a Big-A-Bubble for everyone! $1.99, ages 3+

More outdoor fun inspiration at nappaawards.com! #playlearnconnect

February 26, 2019 by

Check out our article published in L.A. Parent highlighting the Toy Trends for 2019. Click below to read full article.

February 26, 2019 by Elena Epstein

We had a blast covering Toy Fair New York. We saw so many fun products including carpool karaoke, a booty shakin llama, super heroes in all shapes and sizes, a new Harry Potter Sorting Hat, the latest surprise toys, giant outdoor bubble makers, dolls and doll houses, great games for the whole family and so much more!

We’ll continue to bring you the best throughout the year.

#PlayLearnConnect #tfny

February 20, 2019 by

We had the best time covering the International Toy Fair in New York for our media partner, L.A. Parent!

January 14, 2019 by Makenna Sievertson

Play is a critical part of child development. It is through play that kids learn about the world around them. It’s important for parents to not only encourage their kids’ growing imaginations, but also to take some time to get back in touch with their own sense of wonder.

This little dinosaur is ready to run Jurassic World with this imaginative toy.

What is imaginative play?

Imaginative play is essentially roleplaying, when kids are re-creating their own experiences or modeling their behavior off something that interests them. If your child only responds in animal sounds for a week, or insists you refer to their chicken nuggets as dinosaur bones – they’re practicing imaginative play. They can gain inspiration from a commercial, a career day at school or from pretty much anything they encounter in their day-to-day life. Children learn from these experiences, and in order to make sense of the world, they need to engage in imaginative play.

“Play is generally the way that children under age nine learn, so engaging children in play that inspires their imagination — through pretend play and perspective taking — develops both cognition and creativity in youngsters,” said Dr. Gisele Ragusa, an education specialist and professor at the University of Southern California.

Nurturing imagination can help develop an array of cognitive and social skills, as seen here with the Disney Doorables.

Why is it important?

Although this sort of play seems fairly simple, it’s a critical stepping stone for expanding several developmental skills like language, critical thinking and appropriate social responses. When your child is playing make-believe with their friends, they are passing along, growing on and understanding ideas they might not have otherwise. It’s kind of like your kid’s first business meeting, except with Play-Doh over pencils. In a group imaginative play setting, they’re learning how to work with others and how to communicate what they think in a way that will be received well by their peers. It will also help boost their self esteem when they know they can be anything and everything, just by pretending.

There’s no right or wrong way to play – just let the creative juices flow!

If you listen closely while your kids are engaging in imaginative playtime, you may be shocked to hear words you never thought they’d know. Kids imitate those closest to them, so don’t be surprised if mommy’s or daddy’s favorite phrase turns into Candyglitteropolis’ town slogan. Imaginative play helps your child understand the power of language, and allows them to practice words that can help them describe, organize and reenact play. Developing these kind of language skills will also help them connect experience to written words, and will eventually make learning to read a breeze.

For a variety of playsets, check out our latest winners.

Since the bulk of imaginative play is based in your children’s growing brains, it will blossom their thinking and problem solving skills as well. What happens when two friends both want to be the captain of the spaceship? It forces them to come up with solutions that work for everyone, and these situations help expand their creativity in addition to their critical thinking.

Playing with others helps kids generate and expand on ideas they might not have come up with otherwise.

“Imaginative play enables children to develop independent mindsets and to think beyond the immediacy which is a precursor to abstract thinking; a key feature of higher order thinking,” says Dr. Ragusa.

How do we encourage it?

To help nurture the imagination, you should provide plenty of props. Toys and playsets are definitely a great tool for fostering creativity. And so are everyday household items. It can be as simple as cardboard and old clothes. Have a box of raggedy blankets? Make a fort! Collect postcards? Time for a vacation to Pluto!

The best part of imaginative play is the quality time you can spend with your kids.

The most important thing you can do to encourage imaginative play is to join your little ones. There will always be a good excuse to do something else, but taking the time to pick up a wand and walk into their magical world is the ultimate inspiration. Not only are you helping them develop their creativity, you’re nurturing fantastically influential memories that will bring a smile to both your faces for years to come. We promise your kids won’t care if your lion’s roar sounds silly – they’re just happy you’re there.

December 2, 2018 by Elena Epstein

Bundle, our Baby & New Mom Gift Guide is here!

November 13, 2018 by

We are so excited for our Facebook Live Event with Evite this Thursday, Nov. 15 at 4 p.m. PST! We will be showcasing a few of our favorite Holiday Gifts and also giving away some amazing prizes!

Join the Facebook Live, comment and share for a chance to win one of these amazing prizes! Make sure you follow @Evite and @NAPPAawards