Fall in Love with Lakeshore Learning Toys and Homeschooling Resources #homeschool

* I received toys to review for this post from Lakeshore Learning, all opinions expressed are my own.

As a homeschooling mom I am constantly looking for new ideas for teaching my son. Lakeshore Learning has a fabulous Free Resource area on their website for lesson plans, craft ideas, printables, word searches and a create your own section with flash cards, award maker and more. I found so many ideas and printables that we will be using for school.

Check out this fun and festive Lakeshore Learning free October writing prompts to help kids celebrate autumn while sharpening their writing skills http://bit.ly/OctoberWritingPrompts I know I will be using these for my son's daily journal writing this month.

I am a big believer in learning should be fun and interactive. I keep that in mind when selecting toys for my son. Shopping at Lakeshore Learning my needs are met for fun and educational. My son loves it when I will do STEM style learning with him. The science of things fascinates him. With that in mind I selected 3 toys that would encourage his love for science.

Young Scientist Chemistry Lab

My son loved this kit! He wanted to do every experiment in one day. He loved following the directions and measuring out the parts needed. His favorite one was the Rocket Ball experiment and I loved the Glowing Ice Spheres. It was so enjoyable to spend time with my son doing a hands on learning toy that we could make into a memory together. We learned and bonded.

Real Bugs Discovery Kit

This toy has been absolutely great! My son has loved using a magnifying glass to inspect each bug. This has led to conversations about more bugs, googling facts about the bugs and trips to the park to see what other sorts of bugs we could find. I had so much fun learning with him!

Fascinating Facts Human Body Game

As soon as this toy arrived my son declared it must be a 2nd grade toy since it looks a little too scary for him. I laughed a bit to myself but respected his wishes for the toy to be hid in the closet until he is older request. I did check it out for myself, when he was asleep of course and it looks like it will be a very cool and valuable learning resource for when he is ready for it.

You can shop online for Lakeshore Learning and also in store. We have one here in Roseville that you can shop in store off Douglas Blvd. Plus of you are a teacher you can sign up for their Teacher's Club and get 15% off. I will need to find out of they offer discounts to Home Schooling families.

Lakeshore Learning shares ideas for learning and more of their products on social media. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Have you shopped online or in store with Lakeshore Learning? 

Do you have any must check out items that you recommend?

Post by- Laura

Hearthsong Toy Review and $50 Gift Certificate Giveaway

 I was provided with a product for my review. All opinions are mine alone.

  

 As a mom and grandmother, I have been buying toys for almost 40 years. What's important to me now when I give my grandchildren toys, is that they are well-made, creative, and sparks their imaginations.

That's exactly what Hearthsong toys do. Hearthsong lets parents provide their children with wholesome, age-appropriate, and high-quality playthings.

When I was given the chance to review the Skyscraper Glow-in-the-Dark Marble Run, I knew my grandsons would really love it. And they do, with it providing hours of creative play and fun.

Here are this toy's very cool features:

Our bright-window-filled skyscraper blocks are fun to play with day and night! Glittery windows soak up the sun and reflect it back to you after dark. Build stacks of varying heights and connect their tops with a marble run so you can watch the glow-in-the-dark marbles jump down, around, and along that fun run's stair step, water wheel, seesaw, and funnel. Illuminating!

• Glow-in-the-dark skyscrapers make a marble run
• Wooden blocks with glittery windows
• Windows soak up the sun and glow at night
• Build stack of varying heights
• Connect stacks with marble runs
• Includes tricks like stair step, water wheel, seesaw, and funnel

It's really been fun for me to see how creative the boys are with this Marble Run, and the glow-in-the-dark feature is awesome. They love turning off the light at night and playing with it. It's an absolutely great toy that boys and girls will love, all the while using and developing their imaginations.



 You can visit the Hearthsong website here to shop for toys. It's actually one of the best shopping sites I've ever used because it's so in-depth and easy to navigate. It lets you find the perfect toy for your child by age groups, interests, categories, and prices. And using the Gift Finder is very helpful to narrow down your choices from the hundreds of selections available.

I love talking about the Hearthsong company because it's toys remind me of the days when children had the chance to be creative and make using their imaginations a part of growing and learning. Good toys like these are important, I think, for developing creative thinking and imaginative playtime.

Besides the Hearthsong website, you can visit them on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter.

I'm so happy to share with you that Heartsong is giving away a $50.00 gift certificate to one of our readers. Be sure and enter and have your own chance to experience these great toys.

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 *Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts Dec. 18, 2014 and ends on Jan 1, 2015 at 12:01 am EST. Winner will be emailed and has 72 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize. I was sent a product to review for this post.

HearthSong Legends of Magic Kit with DVD Review and Giveaway #sponsored

 

My oldest son is about to turn 7 years old, like most 7 year olds he is starting to find out what his real interests are. It is so neat to see him learning about life, our planet, the way things work, and recently the "magic" of magic. We went to a birthday party where they had a magician, Jayden was memorized, watching and waiting to see the magicians every move. He was studying him so hard, trying to see exactly how he executed each trick. When we left all he could talk about was how awesome it was, he asked if magic was real because although he thought it was great, he also had his doubts. Jayden is a "has to see it to believe it kind of kid" and magic was just so out of this world to him. He wanted to learn the magicians tricks so I knew he would love the HearthSong Legends of Magic Kit with DVD!

 

Uncle Milton National Geographic Review and Giveaway #sponsored

Finding unique and fun gifts for my children over the holiday season is one thing I like to do, feeling like your child has that special something is worth searching for. If you are looking for toys and gifts to give your little ones that not everyone will have then Uncle Milton is the place to shop! They have product lines like National Geographic, Fireworks Light Show,  Marvel Science, and more.

Imagine Toys Discovery Space Center Review and Giveaway

There are so many toys on the market to select from sometimes it can be overwhelming on what brand to pick and what types of toys to buy. My son loves make believe play. He can play for hours with his "guys" ("guys" are the action figure toys he has). He makes them fight, jump, fly, talk and dance. I have been looking for a toy that he can have as the hub of where his action heroes could play. Little girls have doll houses and little boys do not have many cool options. When I found the Hape Discovery Space Center toy online at ImagineToys.com I was thrilled to have an answer to a cool toy for my son.

My son can be rough with his toys and a few plastic toys did not survive a week in our house. The Discovery Space Center is made of wood with non toxic paint and very durable. He has pushed it over when there was a "monster alien attack" he has thrown the little space ship that launches from the top when it was blasting off and it has all stayed intact.

I love to encourage his imagination with toys like this one. He can make up little stories as to what adventures are happening. The toy is very interactive with a pulley system elevator, 3 astronauts, an alien and four levels of space center activities. We are planning a trip to a Discovery Space Center Museum locally and this is a great way to introduce the topic to my son in a fun way. He is learning and playing at the same time.

Imagine Toys has many wonderful options when it comes to Pretend Play toys. I think kids need more toys like this to help with their creativity development and story telling skills. 

To celebrate the Spring and to encourage you to buy Pretend Play toys for your kids this summer when school is out we are hosting a giveaway for 1 lucky winner to win a Discovery Space Center for your own child or grandchild. 

GIVEAWAYa Rafflecopter giveaway





 *Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts April 16 2013 and ends on May 7, 2013 at 12:01 am EST. Winner will be emailed and has 72 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize. I was sent a product to review for this post.

Doodle Dome Glow Crazy Review and Giveaway

To keep my boys busy as we wait for Spring to finally get here I introduced them to the Doodle Dome Glow Crazy. They are having a blast together!

 

Here is information from their site to explain what a Doodle Dome is-

Glow Crazy™ Doodle Dome™ Product Description

Now, kids can play in the dark anywhere, anytime of the day with this portable glow art studio from Techno Source. With the Glow Crazy light pen they can draw, write and play games on the dome’s special inner glow wall. Kids can also put on light shows for their friends and family, use stencils to create cool glow scenes, and make fun silhouettes using their hands, toys, or even their friends. Kids can let their glow creations fade or “glow over” them to clear their canvas and start again. Includes light pen, 4 stencil sheets and everything needed to assemble the glow dome in a handy carrying case.

The boys have been spending hours playing in their Doodle Dome. They love that it is dark like a cave and they have their own "secret" hide out. The possibilities of what they can create is huge, they love the stencils but using their imaginations is priceless.

Enter to Win a Glow Crazy Doodle Dome

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 *Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts March 26, 2013 and ends on April 9,  2013 at 12:01 am EST. Winner will be emailed and has 72 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize. I was sent a product to review for this post.

Puppet Monsters Review and Giveaway

My son has seen the commercial  for these puppets many times on tv. He always makes me watch the whole commercial then tells me how cool they are and how monsters say "Raaaaaaaw".  The puppet is a hat that kids wear and put their fingers into the hand holes. Super easy to use and can be fun imaginary play. I let my son select the one he wanted, which was the red one. I like the yellow one too since it looks like a bird.

The puppets come with a base puppet and you can buy accessory kits to make different faces on your puppet. The hands, eyes, mouth and hat/horns are easy on and off like using a button on a coat. When you order your Puppet Monster online you get a free accessory kit with your order.

We had fun playing with the Puppet Monster. We took turns wearing the hat and giving puppet shows. The best was when he surprised his Dad with it and yelled Rooooaaaarrr like a monster. Then he took off the hat and told his Dad, its ok it me not a real monster. Hes so funny. He even likes to wear it as a regular hat when we go out. We do get looks and giggles though.

You can take advantage of a special offer for our readers for your order with promo code PUPPET at check out for an extra $5 off.

GIVEAWAY You can enter for a chance to win your own Puppet Monster for your child. 


a Rafflecopter giveaway








 *Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts March 9, 2 2013 and ends on March 24,  2013 at 12:01 am EST. Winner will be emailed and has 72 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize. I was sent a product to review for this post.

Online Shopping for Kids Toys

Shopping for toys can be a fun but sometimes stressful experience. I know for me trying to go by myself to buy toys can be hard since my son always wants to go with me to the store. No hiding gifts when he is with me. Plus with the rush of the holidays it can be hard to find the toy you want in stock and even harder to find a parking lot. I have been shopping online for Kids Toys.

I have found many great sites where you can search by category, age and toy type. A few sites have great features like searching from best customer review and tv characters. My son loves Disney, Leapfrog, Trains, Musical toys, cars, action heroes and I love educational toys. There are so many types of toys to select from online, you dont have to wonder if the toy you saw in an ad is in stock since it is listed online if its available or not.

I have found some sites that are not brand sites but shopping sites that carry a variety of brands and have a huge toy selection. Shopping online for toys can be a easy way to stress free shop for Holiday toys. How easy can it be to fill your cart, place your order and wait until the internet elves deliver it all while sitting at home. No screaming kids wanting everything they see, no fighting for a parking spot and no waiting in line!

What types of toys are on your kids wish list this year?

*This is a sponsored post, the opinions are 100% mine and may differ from yours.

Neat-Oh! Dinosaur ZipBin Toy Review

Last year for my son's birthday he got his first Neat-Oh ZipBin toy. I was so impressed with how fun and functional the line of toys are. They are fun and colorful and then zip up into a useful bin to hold toys. My son love all his ZipBins and the newest one he has from the Dinosaur Collection is his favorite. He loves dinos, he calls them dragons or my guys lol. He is so funny and makes them growl and bite each other. I love that when we are done playing we zip up the side and the toys are contained in there until next time we play.

ZipBins encourage my son's imagination. He makes his dinos play in the river, eat the leaves on the trees since he tells me they are hungry and he even makes them climb into the lid of the toy box to growl at the pictures. Its so fun to watch him get lost into playing dinosaurs and not watching tv.

Information about the ZipBin Dinosaur:

Bring your Dino collection everywhere with the ZipBin® Dinosaur Collector Toy Box & Playset. The best-seller fits in any corner or closet and inside, it's packed with prehistoric play power. Weighing two pounds with sturdy sides and lid, it unzips to become a dinosaur Playmat, with two toy dinosaurs that spark imaginative play. Store, stack and stow when it’s time to hide from your own prehistoric predators! Wipe clean surface with damp cloth. Have fun and decorate your room with all Neat-Oh!® ZipBin® Dinosaur products.  Have fun and decorate your room with all of our Neat-Oh!® ZipBin® Dinosaur products. Ages 3+. We ARE kid’s storage. Keep It Together™

• Colorful, Durable, wipe-clean surface
• Sturdy, Heavy Duty Zipper
• Meets Child Safety Standards
• Patented
• Dimensions
Bin: 13.5 x 12 x 8 inches
Mat: 29 x 26 inches 

 

If you are looking for a great idea for a gift for a birthday or the upcoming holidays ZipBins are great for kids of all ages. ZipBin even makes cute lunch boxes that unzip into a placemat. I have one of these on my sons Holiday wish list. They are super cute and there is a really cute cow one.

You can learn more about Neat-Oh ZipBin products by following them on Twitter and Facebook.


*I was not paid for this post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. I received a ZipBin to review for this post.

 

Indoor Fall Fun: Crazy Forts Review

As Fall approaches and the weather starts to turn here in Washington we start looking for more and more things to do indoor to keep the kids busy. My boys love to build and play in tents so when I heard about Crazy Forts , I knew that we had to get one! We have built many forts at our house with blankets and sheets but they were lacking the structure to keep it up properly.

Crazy Forts gives you easy instructions and some pretty cool design ideas that take 5 minutes to put together.

Liam is so excited about the new Crazy Fort they will build :)

The boys "helping" Dad.

Ready to go!

The finished product! Can you see Liam poking out of the blankets? That was our first attempt, next time we will use lighter bed linens like the sheets they suggest.

My boys have enjoyed building and rebuilding their forts, it has been great. It is cool to see what JJ will create next, maybe I have a little engineer on my hands? If you are looking for a cool way to make a tent or a fort when the rainy weather hits Crazy Forts is the way to go!

You can learn more about Crazy Forts on Facebook.  You can join the facebook page and upload your photos of new and creative Crazy Forts designs. You can look at their website to see who carries Crazy Forts in your area. You can also shop at home online at Shop In Bliss for a Crazy Fort. It would make a great gift.




*I was not paid or compensated for this post. The opinions in this post are 100% mine and may vary from other opinions. I was provided for free a Crazy Fort  for my review.