Toy Blog - Toys, Parenting, and Kids

Making Grocery Shopping Bearable With A Grade-Schooler

By the time children reach school age, they can at least be reasoned with in regards to a trip to the grocery store.  My son, though, still has his “moments” where grocery shopping is the last thing he wants to do, and he will try his best to make it as miserable of a trip as he can.  So, here are some pointers to avoid the conflicts (or at least some of them):

Read more…

Making Grocery Shopping Bearable With A Preschooler

The dreaded grocery store.  It is always such a precarious balance between getting the job done and keeping your young child or children occupied.  As children grow older, their needs (and demands) change, too.  Tips that worked wonders with little ones don’t seem to be quite as effective as children hit preschool age.  Here are a few tips to making grocery shopping with a preschooler a little easier (and fun!): Read more…

CPSC Recalls

1. Plan Toys Inc. Recalls Toy Penguins Due to Laceration Hazard

2. Downeast Concepts Inc. Recalls Water Bottles Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

3. Plush Rocker Toys Recalled By Tek Nek Toys Due to Fall Hazard

Making Grocery Shopping Bearable With A Toddler

Gone are the days of snuggling my baby in the sling as I perused the aisles of my local grocer.  No longer will he sit idly in the “bucket” (infant carrier) while I push the cart and make googly eyes at him from time to time.  Nope, that is all gone.  Say hello to Toddlerhood and a host of New Rules, especially when it comes to navigating the grocery store.

Read more…

Oh My Oh My Oh AQUASAURS!

AquasaursLast week, my boys received a package in the mail - it was an Aquasaurs kit I had ordered.  An “Aquasaur” is a crustacean (named by the company, Uncle Milton, I assume) that dates back to prehistoric times.  It is a tiny organism that thrived in standing pools of water and could withstand years of inactivity and dry conditions in its egg state.  These hardy water-dwellers can be “hatched” in the right conditions and will grow to be about two inches in length, provided the conditions are right.

Read more…

Letters to Travis

My mother-in-law started a project almost 8 years ago that has evolved into an Event each August.  She hand-wrote a letter to her first-born grandson, my son, Travis.  Read more…

CPSC Recalls for March 21

1. MEGA Brands Recalls MagnaMan Magnetic Action Figures; Ingested Magnets Pose Aspiration and Intestinal Hazards

2. MEGA Brands Recalls Magtastik and Magnetix Jr. Pre-School Magnetic Toys; Ingested Magnets Pose Aspiration and Intestinal Hazards

3. Hobby Lobby Stores Recalls Easter Egg Containers and Spinning Egg Tops Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Spring is AGAIN in the Air!! (Naturalist Intelligence revisited)

It’s close to Springtime again and as such, we felt it was time to revisit the types of products that are available at WonderBrains to help your budding (no pun intended) Naturalist Child. We hope you enjoy!!

Well, it’s Spring time and for many of us, it’s time to say goodbye to dreary overcast winter days and say hello to warmer temperatures and maybe even more importantly FINALLY getting a chance to spend some quality time outside. Looking for educational toys and activities can be a challenge for parents, but the world outside provides ample opportunity to learn and experience.

When writing this article, I couldn’t help but take a moment to think about what a great time of year Spring is. If you live in a place that has discernible changes in your seasons, then it’s hard to dislike Spring. Life seems to return each and every year at this time and while many of us may enjoy the blooming of the trees and flowers, for Naturalist Intelligence-oriented people, Spring is the ULTIMATE!!

Read more…