The games include the Memory Matching Game which helps children learn the plural form of irregular nouns like goose and geese, foot and feet, mouse and mice. It’s designed to improve concentration skills.

The Mad-Magnet Match series comes in a travel tote with large magnetic pieces and play activities that teach Opposites, Associations, and Part-to-Whole Relationships.

Finally there’s the Cool Cards series. All of the games have won numerous awards including Disney’s iParenting Media Awards.

Both normally developing children and children with special needs benefit from playing the games. The games help children as they help develop language concepts, vocabulary, critical thinking, and pre-literacy skills with these fun activities.

The new language games feature large magnetic play pieces, colorful cards sized for small hands, and activities for family play. The games range in price from $11.99 to $19.99, the games also are available in combo packs to create an ideal set of tools for daycare centers, clinics, and schools. You can find more information about these great learning games at the Fit and Function Website.

Image: Fun and Function

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Nickelodeon is hoping kids will get up and dance to the fresh new sound of The Fresh Beat Band. The show will be about 4 friends who are not only in a band together, but also go to school together, and  love to sing and dance.

The the four members of the band include, Marina (played by Shayna Rose) is the drummer, drumming on anything she can get her hands on. Kiki (played by Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer) makes up the groups dance moves. Twist (played by Jon Beavers) uses his voice and the turn tables to make his beat box sounds. The final member is Shout (played by Thomas Hobson) likes to raise the energy of the band by jamming on his keyboard.

Preschoolers love music, so it sounds like Nickelodeon has a hit on their hands. I can see preschoolers dancing around their living rooms this fall.

Image: Newscom

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My son used to love the Leapfrog characters when he was younger. We had several of the Leapfrog games and DVD’s. Of course he’s outgrown them now, and he’s on to Bakugan and Harry Potter, but I still remember those fun LeapFrog stories.

The new DVD is geared toward preschoolers, and has lessons to help your preschooler prepare for their first day of school, including lessons on phonics, counting and learning about animals.

The DVD also features 5 new sing along songs, and an interactive alphabet book.

If you have a preschooler who’s nervous about starting school this could be just the thing to help them get ready.

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All the Zoobies are cute and cuddly, plush animals, and pillows, that can turn into a blanket. Zoobies can be comforting friends, a soft place to lay a head, or a warm and snuggly blankie. Perfect for wee little hands to hold. Where were these when I was a kid?

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Some of the same Star Wars Mr. Potato Head toys that I bought for my kids that day are now available through the Toys ‘R Us website, and they would make great gifts for children, Star Wars collectors or Mr. Potato Head fans!  These Star Wars Mr. Potato Head toys are recommended for ages 2 and up and cost only $10.99 each.  Check them out:

First, check out the R2D2 Mr. Potato Head named Artoo Potato.

Next up is the Darth Vader Mr. Potato Head aptly named Darth Tater.

Finally, here is the Storm Trooper Mr. Potato Head also known as Spud Trooper.

What do you think?  Aren’t these Star Wars Mr. Potato Heads fun?

Images: Toysrus.com

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I’m happy to say that the Real-Action Automatic Bowling Alley is a hit among my triplets (and Mom and Dad, too)!  They love it.  The Real-Action Bowling Alley comes with 2 balls and an automated pin and alley set up.  You just insert 3 D batteries, turn it on and you’re ready to go.  There is even a ball return!

The Real-Action Automatic Bowling Alley is meant for children ages 4-12 and retails for $49.95.  I think that price is probably a bit high.  I also don’t think 12-year olds would be entertained by it for very long, but overall, it really is fun and does work.  If your kids like bowling then this would be a fun toy to add to their toy collection.  Bottom line, I give the Real-Action Automatic Bowling Alley a thumbs up.

Image: ToystoGrowOn.com

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My first thoughts after opening the box was that it’s very challenging to put together.  The more pieces you have together, the easier it gets, but I had a really hard time connecting the first few pieces.  It took me about a half hour to put it together, but my husband probably could have done it faster.  Your hands need to be strong in order to pop the pieces together.

Once the iPlay Aquatrax Water Adventure was set up and filled with water, I was happy to see that water didn’t leak out of it.  My triplets really enjoyed it and fought over the two boats and people.  It also comes with a small life raft.  The spinning wheel actually moves the water and the boats float quickly around the track!  My kids loved that feature.

Overall, my kids enjoyed this toy and it’s small enough that it’s easy to store.  I think they’d have a lot more fun with the larger version, the iPlay Aquatrax Deluxe Water Adventure System, but that one costs $99.95 vs. just $25.99 for the smaller version.  It would also be harder to store and much harder to put together.

Bottom line, I give the iPlay Aquatrax Water Adventure a thumbs up and recommend it with a warning – it might be hard and time consuming for you to put together.

Image: International Playthings

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This toy looks so cool.  I’ve seen other tree house play sets, but they’re usually made with plastic and lots of small pieces that have to stick together.  The Melissa and Doug Tree House Play Set is made primarily of wood, so it should be more durable than a plastic toy.  It also includes awesome features like a pulley system, retractable stairs, a working trap door, a porch swimg, a hammock, a tire swing and two wooden people play figures.  The Melissa and Doug Tree House Play Set is big, too.  It measures 42″ high!

With all these features, the price tag is steep – $129.99 from the Melissa and Doug website.  In some ways I can justify spending more on Melissa and Doug toys, because they typically hold up to my 3-year old triplets’ use and abuse longer than most other toys, but I’m not sure if $129.99 is justifiable for this particular toy.  It’s recommended for ages 3 and up, so I’d imagine a child who really likes it will use it for many years, but still, that’s a hefty investment.

What do you think?  Does your child have the Melissa and Doug Tree House Play Set?  Does he or she like it?  Have you tried a tree house play set from another manufacturer?  Leave a comment and share your thoughts.

Image: MelissaandDoug.com

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I’ve seen toys like the iPlay Aquatrax Deluxe Water Adventure System before, and I’ve considered buying one. However, I haven’t been able to decide if a toy like this would actually be worth the hassle of setting it up and putting it away each time the kids want to use it. I’m wondering if it will lose its appeal very quickly (like after they push the boat around it 3 or 4 times). The iPlay Aquatrax Deluxe Water Adventure System is $99.95, so it’s a big investment. I want to feel confident it’s a toy they’ll use for a long time before I spend that much money!

What do you think of the iPlay Aquatrax Deluxe Water Adventure System? Does your child have this toy or a similar toy? Leave a comment and help me decide if I should get one for my kids or not.

Image: SensationalBeginnings.com

Tags: iPlay, water toys, childrens toys, preschool toys, outdoor toys, water toys, iPlay aquatrax

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Elmo Live is supposedly the next big thing in interactive toys. While previous interactive Elmo toys have laughed and danced, Elmo Live will move his mouth when he speaks, bob his head back and forth, wave his arms, sit, stand, cross his legs, blow kisses, clap his hands, tell stories, tell jokes, sing songs and play games. Elmo Live is for kids ages 18 months and up who can activate Elmo by tickling him or squeezing his foot, tummy, back or nose.

At a hefty price of $66.00, Elmo Live will be available for presale in August through major online retailers and will roll out everywhere on October 14th.

You can watch a video demonstration of Elmo Live on the Fisher Price website filmed during the 2008 Toy Fair. It’s very cool!

What do you think of Elmo Live?

Image: Fisher-Price.com

Tags: Elmo Live, Fisher Price, TMX Elmo, new Elmo toy, holiday toys 2008, interactive Elmo, Elmo toys

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