Imagine Toys Blog

Best Travel Game For Kids Is Spot It!

Posted on May 11, 2012 No comment

We take the game Spot It! everywhere. To ballet practice, long road trips, to restaurants, . . . it’s the best travel game for kids. It’s small, fun, and has many options for play.

Kids ages five and up practice their powers of observation playing Spot It! Spot the match and you’re on your way to winning the game.

What’s great is there’s five different games you can play with Spot It! And you can have from 2 to 8 players. Versatility!

Generally we play the game where each player starts with one card and the rest is in the middle pile with one flipped over. When players spot a match, they can take that top card for their own stash. The player with the most cards at the end wins.

Reverse the game and deal out all the cards instead. Now the first player out of cards wins.

My kids (ages 7 and 10) LOVE Spot It! So do many others – it’s won tons of awards: 2010 Toy of the Year Nominee, Parents’ Choice Foundation Gold Award, ASTRA Best Toy for Kids Gold Award, NAPPA Gold Award, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award Gold Seal, Dr. Toy 10 Best Games, Best Vacation Children’s Product, Major Fun Award, Canadian Toy Testing Council Children’s Choice Award, National Parenting Center Seal of Approval.

What are your kids’ favorite games for travel?

8 Mother’s Day Gifts Kids Can Make Themselves

Posted on May 4, 2012 1 comment

Happy almost Mother’s Day! Moms, give your kids (spouse / partner) some help by presenting a list of gift ideas that they can make themselves. Like these darling projects.

1. This looks challenging but worth it — Simple As That shares a handmade mini album idea and FREE downloadable digital template.

2. Mod Podge Rocks shares a tutorial for how to make photo vases out of PVC pipes. Cute, right?

3. For the gardener, make these recycled spoon garden markers with directions from Domestic Simplicity.

4. A writer’s favorite idea is this printable World’s Best Mom newspaper from Martha Stewart. Precious!

5. Recycle aluminum cans into colorful flower pots with mom’s favorite flowers. Great idea from Craftzine.

6. Kids can make homemade votives using these simple directions from Homemade Serenity.

7. Oh, this is a heart-strings gift that moms will love. Making Teachers Nerdy shares an idea to do poems about mom, turn black-and-white and format onto a large 8 x 10.

8. Give mom homemade jewelry with this button bracelet idea from Kaboose. (Younger kids can just use pipe cleaner or elastic.)

In the United States, Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13, 2012. It’s usually the second Sunday of May. Happy Mother’s Day!

Bird Watching for Kids

Posted on April 27, 2012 1 comment

Get your kids interested in nature with backyard birds. Bird watching provides an amazing nature opportunity for kids. Watching birds slows you down, increases your powers of observation, and helps increase your appreciation for nature and animals.

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To become a bird watcher, you’ll need a few basic supplies:

Notebook and pencils

Binoculars

Camera with zoom

Bird feeder by a window with birdseed

Bird guide

Make Your Own Bird Feeders & Bird Baths

DIY bird feeder

DIY birdbath

Recycled bird houses

Seed heart bird feeder

Keep a Nature Journal

Record the birds you see in your nature journal. Draw and label the birds using colored pencils like scientists do.
Blank printable nature journal

Nature rocks journal

Printable Nest observation journal from Ranger Rick

Invest in a Bird Field Guide

Get a book or field guide to identify birds in your area.

More Bird Watching Activities for Kids

Bird clicker and magnifying glass for younger bird watchers.

Great Backyard Bird Count

DIY binoculars

Matching pairs bird game

What do you think? Are you so excited? I wish you lots of fun watching your backyard birds.

What Are the Essential Art Supplies With Kids?

Posted on April 20, 2012 1 comment

Kids thrive when they have easy access to art supplies that are age-appropriate for them to use independently. So, what are the basic, essential art supplies? And, how can art supplies be organized?

Writing, Drawing

crayons
pencils
markers
paints
paper
easel

Creating

scissors
old magazines
toilet paper rolls

Sticking

glue
tape
stickers

What other essentials do you have?

Mommy’s Idea Book blog has another list of essential art supplies for kids as does Kids Craft Weekly.

Art Supply Storage and Organization

Art supplies in a shoe organizer.

DIY art supplies turntable

Art supplies in glass jars.

Art supplies a magnetic tote. (Family Fun)

How do you organize your art supplies?

Favorite Building Toy For Lego Fans = Laser Pegs

Posted on April 12, 2012 No comment

Twins, Max and Duncan, who own a million Legos, LOVE these light-up construction Laser Pegs. I’m talking over the top squeals, laughing, “this is cool” LOVE. You know that kind, right?

They’re obsessed with the World of Bugs building set which has 84 Laser Pegs. Above they’re checking out the 18-pages of bug model directions. One boy decided to follow the directions while the other made his own inventions. Either approach works and has it’s own learning and design benefits.

Of course we know that building with blocks has lots of brain boosting benefits beyond just the improved hand-eye coordination. Remember this research about block play?

Create and Decorate

What can you create with these Laser Pegs? Well, bugs and bug-like creatures, of course, as well as robot-like figures, and action-figures.

Max’s grasshopper actually became the center piece at the family’s Easter table –all lit up. (Now there’s a new decoration tip Martha might not have thought of!)

Science!

The entire set reminded the twins of a science unit in school on electricity. And, they loved the choice between batteries and a docking station. Lots of science lessons.

The boys mom says, “I LOVED it because it made them think, follow directions, stretch in ways they hadn’t in awhile. It excited me that they were following directions with an added dimension (light/sound). I had to hide them in order for homework to get done. I would definitely recommend this. It was a HIT!”

What do you need for Laser Peg Play?

World of Bugs Building Set- 84 Laser Pegs

Laser Pegs 72-Piece 3-in1 Construction Set

PLUS

Laser Pegs Sounds Cubes - 6 cubes with Jet, train, monkey, laser, motor bike & engine sounds! (I apologize in advance for the noise.)

Laser Pegs AC Power Adapter – no more batteries needed.

Laser Pegs Stackables – a must have to connect your laser pegs to Legos.

Easter Egg Play

Posted on April 6, 2012 1 comment

Easter is days away and your plastic eggs are ready. Remember, you can use your eggs for more than just an egg hunt on Sunday. Keep them out for a few more weeks to use in fun play.

Fitting together plastic eggs is good fine motor skill practice.

Mix up your eggs. Match the colors back together.

Get out your craft supplies and decorate your eggs.

Think of all the things you can make!

Float your eggs in water. Fill and sink. Experiment.

What else can you do with your plastic eggs?

* Use as snack containers.

* Draw faces on the eggs with sharpie.

* Make into musical shakers by filling with rice, beans, or beads.

* Use as scoopers for the sand box.

* “You’ve Been Egged” – a neighborly game of kindness.

What do your kids love to do with plastic eggs?

Playful Easter Basket Ideas (That are Fun and Easy!)

Posted on March 29, 2012 No comment

Don’t you love finding wonderful, playful goodies to fill your child’s Easter basket? We have some great Easter basket ideas for you that your kids will LOVE. They’re small, play-based, and affordable.

For Toddlers

Snuggle Pods Hunny Bunny – a soft pink bunny perfect for hugging!

Snuggle Pods Snuggle Bug – a blue bunny snuggled in a pod with cute curly antannae and ribbon legs.

Trio Wood Baby Rattle – colorful wooden rattle with a mirror, bell, and squeaker.

For Preschoolers

Racing Bugs – colorful wooden car-like bugs that race across the floor when you pull them back and release.

Magic Moves Electric Wand – a wand that gets your kids moving with 90 physical activities, music, and lights.

Calico Critters Cottontail Rabbit Family – these fuzzy little rabbits are perfect for playing and pretending.

For 5 – 6 Year Olds

Frolicking Foals Pocket Barn – a small fold-up stable with two foals and a yellow fence for imaginative play.

Spot It! – a fun game of search and find.

Calico Critters Dalmation Dog Family – the most popular toy in our house, this family of dogs has many adventures together.

For 7 +

Sasha & Jasmine Paper Doll Set – 2 multicultural, sturdy paper dolls with background scenes, clothes and accessories (from eeBoo.)

Laser Pegs Stackables – a super cool light up building set.

Glowing Crystals Set – grow your own glow-in-the-dark crystals.

6 Fun Ideas for Spring Break At Home (a Staycation!)

Posted on March 23, 2012 No comment

image cc Some rights reserved by Bluenose Canoehead

Well, spring break is around the corner and you have no plans. (Or is that just me?) So, it’s time to get organized and plan the best spring break staycation ever!

1. Get Arts and Crafty

cc Some rights reserved by In Paris Texas

We love arts and crafts. Find ideas on Pinterest and must-read blogs.

Pinterest

Must-Read Blogs:

- Kid Activities Blog
- No Time for Flashcards
- The Artful Parent
- Lasso the Moon
- Red Ted Art
- Hands On As We Grow
- TinkerLab

2. Get Outside

cc Some rights reserved by guy schmidt

Outside time is essential. Now that the weather is improving, spend time outside. Think old school play like:

- hopscotch
- jump rope
- kickball
- frisbee
- kite flying
- pretend play
- scavenger hunts

3. Museum Day

cc Some rights reserved by D'Arcy Norman

Let the kids pick a museum — our choices are the Nature and Science Museum, Art Museum, Doll Museum, and Train Museum.

4. Friend Day

cc Some rights reserved by Explore The Bruce

It’s the perfect time for friend time!

5. Read-a-Thon

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Fill up your library bags with books and spend a day lounging around reading.

6. Movie Date

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I don’t know about you but we never see movies in the theater — maybe it’s time! But a movie day would be great, too.

What will you do for your spring break staycation?

Best Bookshelves For Children’s Books

Posted on March 16, 2012 2 comments

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I’ve been looking for a better way to store my kids’ books. Of course, I started on Pinterest to find the best ideas — and now I have lots to choose from. These bookshelf ideas are so creative, I think you’re going to be inspired! Click on the photograph to see the directions.

Use Vinyl Gutters.

from Sunshine on the Inside

Use Spice Racks.

from Domestic Simplicity

Build Mini-Bookshelves.

from The Sweet Survival

Build Your Own.

from That's My Letter

Use a Cube Organizer.

from Smart Bottom Enterprises

Make From a Old Pallet.

from Six Sister Stuff

Show Your Green! Best Eco Companies and Toys for Kids

Posted on March 9, 2012 No comment

I don’t want my kids to be poisoned by paint, varnish, or glue if they put a toy in their mouths – which, kind of happens a lot at a certain age. That’s why I’m a huge advocate for eco-friendly toy companies that assure me their products are 100% non-toxic and safe for my children.

This St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) go green and support our favorite eco-friendly toy brands at Imagine Toys!