toys - Parenting Healthy

Your toddler can learn to handle a balance bike as early as 18 months old. Strider Bikes makes the best first bike for kids.

It is always so much fun when the kids get their first bike. We buy a color or design we know they will like, put the training wheels on and pick out a cool helmet so we can give them the best first bike. Now you don’t have to wait as long for them to be ready for training wheels. Your toddler can learn to handle a balance bike as early as 18 months old. Strider Bikes makes the best first bike for kids.

This is the Strider 12″ Sport model balance bike for ages 18 months to about 5 years old. The 12″ also comes in a Classic and Pro model. With any of the models there are colors to choose from. It is so easy to assemble – one of the easiest items I have had to assemble in a long time!

The extra seat extender is included so as your child grows, the seat will raise to appropriate height. My nephew just turned 18 months old so I have the short rod in for now. The handle bars and seat have the quick release clips so adjusting is very easy and quick. The saddle and footrest are performance style and the amazing quality in every piece is clearly obvious.

Strider Bikes can start your infant as young as 6 months old on their Rocking Bike, then move to the 12″ Balance Bike models and eventually to the 14″ models for ages 3-7. Teaching balance before pedaling is the best way to raise confidence in your child as they progress to the ‘big bike’. Visit Strider Bikes today and get those bike skills started by summer!

Create a Nerf Gun Battle Ground with Make-A-Fort Kits

February 2, 2021July 9, 2023 Erin Sluka

Even on the rainiest of days I can get my tween to gather up neighbor boys and get outside away from video games, especially when I give them a nerf gun adventure. With Make-A-Fort kits your child, tween (or adult) can make forts, tunnels, mazes, a Nerf gun battle ground and more. They can be creative or follow their project guides.

Our son is 12 and there are many neighbor boys his age and they always bring out laser guns or nerf guns when they meet outside. They are cool 7th graders, but there is still some ‘boy’ left in these growing tweens and it showed the day I brought out the Make-A-Fort kit. The rain didn’t stop them either. Before the kids arrived, Anthony started building. He decided to use only 1 kit for this day because rain was off and on and he wasn’t sure how long they’d stay in the cold rain. He created ‘walls’ or bunkers and used them as hiding blocks.

Make-A-Fort kits are made from an upgraded cardboard that is much stronger and much more durable than normal shipping box cardboard. When the rain didn’t stop, we brought out blankets so it wasn’t sitting in direct puddles gathering. Then I grabbed my old paining cloths for him to drape over so they didn’t get too wet and we would have to dry the panels.

Using the painting cloths actually made it look like real bunker walls and kept the rain off. The boys said it felt like they were in paint ball courses. Even as the rain came down they lasted well over an hour out there and the kit was in great shape afterwards. We brought it right inside and in a moment was torn down and back in its carry box it arrived in. It packs up neatly and is narrow to store in a closet or on a shelf.

The 2 walls he built was 1 full kit. You can have a load of fun with 2 or 3 kits. There is a Mansion pattern for 2 kits he wants to build one day with our second kit, but he still is thinking about gifting the second kit to his cousins. He kept saying how much fun my nephews would have with a kit then when they get together he can bring his and then with both they can build bigger things. They really do make great gifts!

What is included (per kit)?

18 x Panels (each 23” x 23”)
10 x Braces (each about 8″ x 8″)
80 x Connectors (each less than 3″ in diameter)
1 x Carrying Case (24” x 24” x 4.25”)
1 x Getting Started Guide
1 x Children’s Product Certificate

Interested in finding a fun activity that your kids can entertain themselves or the whole family can play together? Visit Make-A-Fort and order as many kits as your kids need for that building fun!

Infant Toddler Products, STEM Learning, Toy Reviews

Stick-O Cooking 16 Piece Set – Toddler Toy Review

January 29, 2021July 8, 2023 Erin Sluka

Looking for some new toys to engage your toddler? These Stick-O Sets by Magformers are such a blast. I may or may not have been caught piecing these together as I sat with my nephew at play. This is the Cooking 16 Piece Set. Each piece can match to its pair – such as a handle to the fry pan or the yolk with the egg shells or watch them mix and match the pieces.

Magformers has a very safe reputation for making magnetic toys for kids that are well made with very little risk of harm to your child. There are no visible magnets or easy access to them at all. They just work and build and are an engaging imaginary and role play toy.

These Stick-O sets are great for brain development, critical thinking and STEM education. Develop color and shape recognition, fine motor skills and problem-solving ability. Buy on Amazon today.

2020 Holidays, Toy Reviews

3 Favorite L.O.L. Surprise Gifts for the 2020 Holidays – Giveaway

November 13, 2020November 14, 2020 Erin Sluka

I was sent samples. Opinions are my own and this post may contain affiliate links. Thank you for visiting.

3 Favorite L.O.L. Surprise Gifts for the 2020 Holidays

If you have a little girl on your gift list chances are there is an L.O.L. Surprise gifts listed! From dolls to fashion there are so many gift options in this years line up of these popular fashion dolls. Let me show you 3 of them including the Limited Edition L.O.L. Edition Advent Calendar with over 25 surprises to open daily beginning December 1!

I snuck a piece out to show you just 1 of the many surprises behind 25 doors as they count down to Christmas day! Pull up to pop up the new 3-tier packaging, then follow the numbers to unbox Tricksta B.B., her fashions, her shoes, and her accessories with bold patterns that make her stand out on any runway. Also includes an exclusive L.O.L. Surprise! doll.

Available at LOLSurpise.com for $29.99

Below are the newest L.O.L. Surprise! Wireless Earbuds for Kids w/ 3D Stereo Sound & Built-in Mic. I know that battery life matters with wireless kids products and these will satisfy! The rechargeable lithium batteries fully charge in under 45 minutes and can run for 5 hours continuously, plus the portable charging case holds an additional 5 charges for a total of over 25 hours of battery life.

These are built for comfort and to fit most kids ears. The built-in microphone works with most phones. I love the fashionable design!

Available on Amazon for $49.99 – on sale often.

The third gift option worth mentioning is this L.O.L. Surprise! Smartwatch, Camera & Game. This smartwatch features L.O.L. Surprise! characters: M.C. Swag with 100+ expressions that will keep kids laughing, dancing, playing, learning and more!

It has two cameras for taking selfies and videos (plus room for 3,000 photos or 30 minutes of video) plus sticker for customizing their photos. As they play the games they earn fun rewards like fashion and pets. There is a built-in pedometer to get them moving and dancing. They can also learn to tell time on the 50+ analog and digital watch faces. There is so much more built into this watch – see here!

Also available at Amazon.

Make sure to keep the kids active by visiting the L.O.L. Surprise website for gift ideas and information for parents as well as activities and videos for the kids!

Enter to win!