Time to Play! #toys

A few weeks ago, I was contacted and invited to attend a Bloggers lunch for a toy review. I immediately agreed. How fun would it be! 

Being a new Momma I am not much of an up-to-date toy expert. My kids have received a lot of toys in the last 3 years as gifts and we have shopped for very few, when we have, we thought we were doing very careful child age appropriate research, oh boy was I wrong! 

{The picture below has a smudge in the middle of it..because my lens was dirty and I didn't realize it!}




Our lunch took place on a very sunny Friday afternoon, we met at a little Italian restaurant here in Houston and that meeting has changed my perspective on "toys". I met a new parent Blogger who also changed the way I look at toys when it comes to children's development and motor skills. I also got to personally meet a Facebook friend and Blogger who I am in awe of...she has a Full-time outside the home job, 2 children, a Hubby and an amazing Blog! She talked about how she organized game night with friends and I don't know how she does it all....

We met with Jim from Time to Play, to hear him speak about his work and the amount of dedication that he has for the industry was so inspiring. He explained their website and it's resources such as their price comparison tool, which is so convenient! As a Dad he talk to us about his favorite reviews and shared picture of his beautiful daughters! I am always so inspired by parents who have turned their passions into their everyday career! 

It was a great experience for me and I enjoyed not only the great food but the very knowledgeable company! I thought that Jim was very informative and I loved hearing him speak about toys on a whole new level! As a fairly new Momma his passion for toys and their function as well as safety really opened my eyes as to what I have sitting in my home and to what I will consider buying or spending money on in the future! 

Needless to say, I am very Thankful for the opportunity and am happy to have been able to attend! 

We had a fun afternoon and I can't wait to do it again! 

Oh and did I mention. We got a Time to Play tote FULL of great...TOYS! I have decided that I will personally gift some of these toys to our friends and family! My children have too many toys but we might keep one or 2 for a review later. 





{Momma Disclosure: The above statements are both my true and honest opinion.It is not a compensated post. However, I did receive complimentary merchandise from TIME TO PLAY as a Thank You for attending the luncheon/meeting. And, I was not required to post about my experience.}

{Developing Language & an Imagination} #hasbro #latism12 #LATISM

Last week the kids and I patiently waited a couple of days while we received our very first package with contents to be reviewed..literally. Ha.

The package arrived before Thanksgiving but with all the hustle and bustle I was unable to open it. But, as we ate breakfast and played with the kids Sunday morning, I decided that we would open the box and see the kids reaction.

So, we opened the box.

This is what came from it:

We received the Baby Alive Baby All Gone doll and the Poppin'Park Learn n'Pop Lion from Hasbro.

Source: Provided by Marketing Representative

{BABY ALIVE BABY ALL GONE Doll

(HASBRO/Ages 3 & up/Approx. Retail Price $24.99/Available: Fall 12)

It’s snack time for your BABY ALIVE BABY ALL GONE doll and she’s hungry for strawberry yogurt! Put the yogurt in the spoon and “feed” it to your adorable little baby to watch her “eat” it all up. If baby is still hungry after her snack, she’ll call for her mommy to feed her more with sayings like “Strawberries are yummy!” and “Where did it go?” When it is time for a drink, the BABY ALIVE BABY ALL GONE doll can be fed from her bottle, and her milk will magically      disappear. Since there’s no mess to clean up, you can cuddle and play with your little one right away! Requires 2 “AAA” batteries, included.  Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.}

 

Source: Provided by Marketing Representative

{LEARN ‘n pop lion

(PLAYSKOOL/Ages 9 months & up/Approx. Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Fall ‘12)

This adorable lion is a playful grow-with-me toy that helps little ones develop fine motor skills and learn to count to ten in four different languages – English, Spanish, French and Mandarin Chinese. Babies can drop balls into the lion’s belly from the side and push down on the tail to activate music and lights as the colorful balls bounce out of the lion’s belly to encourage chasing. As babies grow, they can feed the balls into the lion’s mouth and hear him count up to ten in four different languages.  Toddler is rewarded with lights and sounds as she counts along! Includes three POPPIN’ PARK balls and an easy-carry handle for on the go fun! Requires two AA batteries, included. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.}

Both Baby All Gone and Learn N'Pop Lion are Bilingual and the kids had so much fun listening to {& learning} everything they said in BOTH Spanish and English. My son was so thrilled for the rest of the afternoon he went around saying... "ENGLISH:ESPAÑOL! HOLA!" when he would switch between the two languages. The Lion counts in Spanish, English and French! Santi is learning his numbers so this is helping to reinforce what he has already learned! Plus he is also learning the numbers in Spanish so again the Lion is a big help in that area!

It's pretty interesting to watch him speak both languages. He has been a late bloomer as far as language goes; plus having to learn two languages has made this milestone a little difficult to reach. His vocabulary is very ample now and with toys that allow for bilingual learning like the ones provided to us from Hasbro, I think he will love learning in both ENGLISH and ESPAÑOL! Ha.

Cami on the other had was quickly transformed. There is something about little girls and baby dolls that just instantly turns them into the most caring little Momma's. Cami spent the rest of the afternoon reading, feeding and changing "her baby". She loves her Baby All Gone doll! And, she too spent the afternoon saying..."pa-tanos", "rico-sh"! Ha. It's been fun! 

Both toys are very much age appropriate and effective learning tools. I think. I would definitely place these items on my children's Christmas wish list. They would also make great gifts for toddlers who are learning to speak and more importantly who are learning both Spanish and English. If you have toddlers who are learning both languages I highly recommend  these toys they are very effective and child safe. I loved them and the kids loved them too.    

Before I had children I never even thought about this type of toy but now that I do, I am in love. Do you know of any good toys that will help your children both learn a second language and develop a good sense of imagination? If so share! I would love to know!

Momma Disclosure: This is not a compensated post. However complimentary Hasbro products were provided through a representative for the purpose of producing this review. The above statements are both my true and honest opinion.