2020 Holidays, Education, STEM Learning, Toy Reviews

Smarty JOJO Toy teaches directions, shapes, colors and opposites with Play

Smarty JOJO Toy teaches directions, shapes, colors and opposites with Play

Smarty JOJO!™ is not just smart, he is interactive. Smarty JOJO toy teaches directions, shapes, colors and opposites with play. Flycatcher is an early UK company that offers innovative tech toys that are brilliant. Available in the US on Amazon is this genius toy plane with personality (if there is a toy out there that has its own personality, JOJO is it)! He retails for under $25 and I still can hardly believe its price point is that low for what he offers in play.

The question I had after learning about Smarty JOJO is how well he actually performs in person so I was able to give him a try. I do not have any preschoolers at home. I do watch my 12 month old nephew – too young for this but he was highly intrigued by his voice and fun design. He carried it all around with him. But I was the one who played with Smarty JOJO for his features and any child from 3-5 will have instant friend with JOJO.

Let me list his awesome features for you

  • Identifies colors
  • Speaks English and Spanish
  • Encourages physical play with its motion sensors. The more your child moves with JOJO the more fun he offers
  • Fun missions teach directions, shapes, opposites, and emotional intelligence: Right & Left, Up & Down, Fast & Slow to name a few
  • Follow a task correctly and JOJO’s lights flash as he states you are correct

Kids learn as they play. For instance, when JOJO is asking your child to “go left” or “go right” there is a small light on each wing that will light up so they know which direction is right/left. When asked to go “land on a color” he will flash lights and give a congratulatory command to indicate you are correct.

He will surely be a hit over the Holidays. Smarty JOJO is likely to remain my favorite recommendation for ages 3-5 for the 2020 Holidays! Find Smarty JOJO and other Flycatcher products on Amazon. Another Flycatcher hit in our home for the older sibling (ages 5-99) is the smART Sketcher! Learn more at Flycatcher Toys!

Smarty JOJO Pin
Toy Reviews

Johnny the Skull: Pirate’s Cove from Goliath Games Review

Comment: I was sent the game for review. Opinions are my own

Toy Review - Johnny the Skull: Pirates’ Cove from Goliath Games

What a week! This time last week we had no idea that our power flickering would lead to a long week of worsening fires on our hills and power, cell and internet outages for days. Some around us went on Level 3 evacuations while the rest sat in the dark with no services to stay updated. Smoke and embers all around and anxious kids with schools cancelled. Then I remembered about a new game I was just sent that is meant to play in the dark!

Johnny the Skull: Pirate’s Cove from Goliath Games is an electronic game that projects ghost images all around that you must blast away to get to the treasure.

As I had my son make his way to my office to retrieve the game I had him stop to capture this moment. As we could turn around to our window and view fire up in the hills from out valley, sitting in the dark was getting tense until we brought Johnny the Skull out.

To hear the fun spooky noises as images randomly appear all around the dark room on the walls and ceiling was so much fun. You have to be quick and accurate with your blaster that also makes noises so you know if you captured a ghost or not.

Johnny the Skull: Pirate’s Cove is now available at Target. It retails for $24.99 and well worth every penny. This WILL get played with and even since our lights are back on it has been played with again. That next boys (or girls) birthday party invite that comes in I know what gift I will pick up at Target because it is a blast (pardon the pun)!

Goliath Games has been dedicated to creating toys and games that inspire young minds and adults alike to reach beyond their imagination. Johnny the Skull: Pirate’s Cove is an example of the creativity and engagement that their toys bring for the entire family.

Buy Johnny the Skull: Pirate’s Cove at Target

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.

2019 Holidays, Reviews, Toy Reviews

SWAGTRON Swagskate NG3 Kids Electric Skateboard

Comment: I was sent product for feature. Opinions are 100% my own. May contain some affiliate links within post

Let’s get the kids outside! Swagtron has great gift ideas to encourage your tween and teen to head outdoors. As they begin to gain more freedom and walk to the store or to friends, they want the coolest and popular wheels.

In our small town where a lot of kids walk and bike to school, scooters and skateboards are always hit gifts. Swagtron has introduced its new Swagskate NG3 Kids Electric Skateboard. This is a board with “kick to cruise” technology so riding and stopping safe and easy.

The Swagtron Swagskate NG3 is such an easy ride. I love how it stops. My son can jump off or use his foot to drag and the motor stops. It is like you would stop a standard skateboards. The LED lights are bright at nighttime so I know others will see him.

Among the kick to cruise ride, this fun skateboard has some great features to make it a hit gift!

  • Compact electric skateboard built just for kids
  • Smart sensors in the board maintain speed automatically
  • Speeds up to 9.3 mph, but rider maintains which speed (cruise control)
  • 1.5 hour charge time
  • Motor disengages with any resistance for safe on-time stopping
  • 100-watt motor and 6 miles per charge
  • LED taillights doubles as a color-coded system indicator

The NG3 is only 19.6 inches long and about 7 pounds so it actually fits into large backpacks or stores easily. The LED lighting helps with visibility of the rider at night.

The Swagskate NG3 kids electric skateboard retails for $160 and is available now at Swagtron.com, Amazon and select retailers for an introductory price of only $129.99.

Wanna win some Swagtron products, signed by Donnie Walhberg, Jordan Knight, and your other favorites? Help spread the word, and hopefully win some one-of-a-kind SWAG

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