Infant Toddler Products, Kids, Toy Reviews

Why You Should Stop Buying Expensive Branded Toys For Kids

Why You Should Stop Buying Expensive Branded Toys For Kids
Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash

Imagine walking down the aisle of your favorite “go-to-mall”, got your eyes fixed on the Toy Store you love with your jaw-dropping on the floor over the prices you see and probably, wanting to buy these expensive toys for kids! Especially, having a partner who loves collecting toys, it is fun to plan toys that they think the future kids would love. But, on the other hand, it is impractical, non-psychological and not creative.

On a daily basis, there are a lot of necessities added to live happily and well-balanced. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: physical survival needs, physical safety needs, love and belonging needs, self-esteem and self-fulfilled are the five Fundamental things a person needs to have. Shelter and healthy food are some of the things that are needed to secure a lot of money.

Would you buy expensive toys for your little ones and give them fast food? Of course not! It would be impractical to think of buying expensive toys where you can help them be imaginative and creative at the same time. Since these shiny plastic toys for kids and battery devices can kill our children’s imagination, try giving the practical play they need. It might sound thrifty, but it will help the kids build their creativity, social skills, and intelligence quotient.

You may try to give them alternatives, such as art supplies, building blocks, and musical instruments. Some parents think toys are needed to help children focus on something so parents can do other things while pampering them. 

When saying “toys,” people eventually think about cars, dolls, action figures, and so on… But art supplies, books, building blocks, and musical instruments are also part of the toys. Help them be imaginative using art supplies and books. Meanwhile, building blocks help children develop their vocabularies, improve math skills, and even teach them about gravity, balance, and geometry. Furthermore, musical instruments will help them create and explore ideas since it creates pathways in their brain.

Physical interaction with your children will build their character and attitude instead of the toys just on their hands. They will further develop their intrapersonal skills since they will see their parents as their role models and partners. Moreover, playing with children will create a strong bond between parent and child. The intimacy between will be the foundation of their relationship. It can build a child full of love, respect, and satisfaction, which if this is founded strongly then, the child will not look satisfaction and acceptance to anything or on their surroundings.

Thus, the toys will not be a hindrance to their attention for them to listen to parents because of that strong connection. To wrap this up, expensive toys or toys may help your child enjoy but, giving them real joy and satisfaction through you by playing with them will have a significant impact on them. It will help you create a child with a strong personality. 

Furthermore, it will not give you any headache since toys can be a part of the expenses that aren’t necessary to buy. Let the child know that having toys for kids are not as important as the things they need to survive, such as food and shelter. Lastly, those suggested practical toys mention will develop the brain of the child to bring the innate intelligence they have.

As for gift giving, especially in special occasions, your kids may learn about customizable gifts as they grow up. They can create their own or ask an artisan to build it for them. An example of this would be bobbleheads that look like you. These figures can be expensive depending on the manufacturer, but if you taught them how to distinguish legitimate sellers and products that offer great value for money, they should be fine.

Those things have the best effect on children than those expensive toys. Unless, you want to your money be on a garbage bag because of buying expensive toys for kids that will, later, be damaged? If I could choose, I would choose the practical one.

2020 Home Series, Home, Infant Toddler Products, Kids

Kid Proof – The Fabric Protectant Every Parent Should Own

Kid proof

Need to Kid-Proof some things around your house? Perhaps we can’t keep glass from breaking or tools from going missing, but Kid Proof Resistant spray can keep your fabric a bit safer from spills and stains. What I love about Kid Proof is that it is not to clean up the messes, but to be used proactively to treat fabrics incase of spills.

Fabric protectant

This means you can go Kid Proof happy around your house with this nano technology fabric protectant spray bottle then have a bit more peace of mind going through your days. This is because when you spray those surfaces you want protected as I did with my dining chairs, you only need to wait about 24 hours so that product can set itself up into protection mode for you. When you protect your surfaces with Kid Proof it will do its job for about 15 washes before you need to retreat.

treat fabric

Kid Proof is non-toxic and safe for kids and pets. See liquid and spills roll right off the treated fabric. Use it on your car upholstery, kids clothing, favorite blankets and stuffies, pet toys…you name it. If it has fabric and is a favorite, spray it down with Kid Proof. It does not stain. Buy Kid Proof now!

Apps, Education, Infant Toddler Products, Parenting, STEM Learning

Animal Island Learning Adventure (AILA) Sit & Play for Babies and Toddlers

Photo Source: AILA Sit & Play Lifestyle

I think I found the most genius learning screen ever made for babies and toddlers and the only problem is my oldest is 11 now and missed the boat on this one! I would have surely had him using Animal Island Learning Adventure (AILA) Sit & Play as a toddler for many reasons! Instead we had DVD’s and bulky tablets we always feared he’d drop, spill on them or navigate into unsafe content.

AILA box

Animal Island Learning Adventure (AILA) Sit & Play is safe! It comes pre-loaded with early preschool curriculum that supports your infant, toddler or preschooler’s cognitive growth, without interruptions from ads, apps, or inappropriate content.

AILA Sit Play

About Animal Island Learning Adventure (AILA) Sit and Play:

  • Original exclusive series: a fun and robust curriculum filled with animations, songs and stories designed to prepare toddlers for preschool over the course of 18 months
  • Along the way, young learners will reach key milestones in literacy, numeracy, communication, creativity and socialization
  • Activities are delivered in 10-15-minute learning sessions, in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidelines for screen time for young children
  • No ads or inappropriate content, free lifetime updates with no subscription required
  • The AI adapts to each child’s engagement, allows for a tailored learning experience and offers the right content at the right time
  •  The AILA Parent App lets parents set learning sessions, check in on their child, send photos and videos, and control the screen time

The characters are engaging and there is a good mix of talk, song and even dance to get them moving. Even in screen-free homes, you can’t ignore the benefits of technology to assist in child development so this is the perfect solution. It is hands-free and worry-free. Once you press power it starts teaching-no touchscreen/play required. If you have to walk away and power it off, AILA remembers where your child left off and starts right back up again at their last learning session. It is designed to walk your child through a progressive learning plan.

The free parent app allows you to make some customized adjustments. You can monitor screen time and progress. You get alerts and updates on content your child is currently mastering. The fun part is you can monitor your child as in, you can see their face as your phone app becomes the screens point of view. Make sure they are still engaged. Available for Android and iOS.

If you need to move from learning to nap time, simply put AILA in lullaby mode and slow animation with sleepy-time music will play. Traveling? AILA is portable as learning and sleep help.

Get learning now because the earlier the better as we now know. AILA is best for ages 12-36 months. This learning program is simply the best value and best curriculum I have seen yet in all baby and toddler products I have seen involving a screen. I highly recommend for families looking technology but not game play. Remember, they don’t press the screen or buttons. They sit and learn (only instead of a Teacher they get fun and engaging animal friends). Buy AILA today – It’s at Amazon!

Infant Toddler Products, Mother's Day, Natural Products

The Spunky Stork clean, organic, non-toxic clothing for babies and children

The Spunky Stork

I have to start by saying that with social distancing, the baby I am gifting my onesie to is unavailable to us right now and I am so sad because this is too adorable to keep at my house! This onesie by The Spunky Stork “My Sibling Has Paws” is perfect for a first child (who’s only siblings may be the family dog). Maybe Maya is unsure about it below, but when that baby visits she is so curious and protective of him. They have dogs too so I can’t wait to be able and give him his easter basket I still have here until we can get together.

Dog Onesie

This is my first experience with The Spunky Stork and right away I can feel the quality in the fabric. It is soft yet thick and snaps at the bottom and pleated at the shoulders. They source only 100% GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic cotton material. We love sustainable products here!

Sibling onesie

Have you seen the chemicals and dyes used in much of the infant/toddler clothing in stores? It is a lot for those new immune systems of theirs. Clean and organic is the best clothing option for them. This is why you will find only white in colors – to avoid toxic dyes. Non-toxic dyes are hard to develop and would be cost prohibited for a piece of clothing.

Just wait until you see their Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Twinning sets! The designs and sets are too adorable! Find the baby, child, Mom or Dad clean, organic, non-toxic clothing for babies and more at The Spunky Stork available here!