Easter Basket Goodies!

My children love the countdown to Easter.  After we take down all of the St.  Patrick's Day decorations (March 17 is Little C's birthday after all), they begin egg hunting training.  Miss E is extremely serious about Easter egg hunts.  She likes to practice hiding eggs, and she likes to practice searching for them.  Our dear friends have an incredible hunt at their farm every year, so Miss E embraces every invitation to "minor" hunts in preparation for the big event.   She is also counting down to the delivery of Easter basket goodies.  I try to avoid the chocolate aisle at the area super store when it comes to creating baskets (but I love a certain peanut butter and chocolate egg!).  Kobold Toys has several great additions to your beloved's Easter basket... that will not cause cavities or sugar rushes at the egg hunt!

Kobold's top 5 picks for the Easter basket are:

1. Kobold loves the puzzle ball eggs from Ravensburger.  Perfectly crafted, curved puzzle pieces allow for an exact fit and are easily assembled together to form a solid, smooth ball - with no glue required!  Includes Base and Nylon String for Hanging.   Appropriate for ages 8+.  $7.50

2. Need a friend to snuggle up with this spring?  Kobold recommends the Two-Dees Chick from North American Bear Co.  Two-Dees Chick has quirky  two-dimensional charm and embroidered facial features.  Machine  washable.  Newborn +  Also available as an adorable pink rabbit.   $15.99

3.  Want to skip the real sugar?  Little fans of bakery play will  adore this set of 3 yummy-looking treats from Haba. This delicious pastry set  includes: a donut with chocolate glaze and white sprinkles, a bakery  fresh croissant, and a hazelnut twist in an beautiful bakery box. $13.50.  If you have a chef, you'll also love the Haba grill set and Haba pizza!

4.  Enjoy your love of the bunny all year with Ravensburger's Funny Bunny Game. Who will be the first player to reach the carrot at the top  of the hill? The cards will tell how many holes each bunny gets to hope,  if there's another bunny on a hole, your bunny gets to jump over him.  Everyone watch out! One of your bunnies may fall through a hole and  disappear! The player who makes it to the carrot first wins! This game  helps children learn counting skills and color recognition while having a  "hole" lot of fun!  No chocolate involved!  $20.99

 

5.  Kobold loves the KidO brand,  and the floating ducks are a favorite. Graceful mother duck and her  duckling are the perfect size for little fingers to stack together  during the bath. Out of the tub, they gently rock together. So cute!  Wonderful  bath toy for ages 1+.  $11.00

Visit the website for a peek at all of Kobold's favorites for your beloved's basket from bunnies to handbags.  Don't forget that orders above $40 (pre-tax and  after coupons) ship for free, and below $40 they ship for a very small  flat fee of $3.99 (Continental US orders only, standard ground service,  to the same shipping address).

Are you following us on Twitter and Facebook yet? We'll be offering special codes for fans in the coming weeks.

Have a wonderful weekend... Spring is here, at last!

Take Advantage of the Kobold Kid Discount Code!

Attention Kobold Kids! Thru April 14, friends of Kobold can receive 20% off any PlanToys product in celebration of Kobold's 2nd Birthday.  Enter F5G8LL  at check-out and remember that all orders over $40 receive free shipping. 

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

Happy Birthday Kobold!

In March we celebrate spring and the second birthday of Kobold Toys!  Two years ago Ana and Carmina created an on-line store that is committed to carrying toys that are safe, fun and conducive to your child’s emotional, physical, and mental development.  As parents, all of us take the recommendations we offer to you very seriously.  We see these toys in action in our own homes and give them to our nieces, nephews and best little pals.

In this economy, we know that spending money on toys and books can be taxing.  We try our best to offer high quality and safe toys that accommodate all budgets.  Kobold Toys continues to identify toys from around the globe that we think are unique and will ensure that you and your child have fun learning.

In appreciation of your support over the past two years, we are kicking off our Kobold Kid Club discount promotion.  Each month we will provide our blog subscribers and Facebook fans with a unique discount code towards one of Kobold’s favorite brands.

The first promotion for our Kobold Kids is 20% off any PlanToys product.  Kobold Toys has long admired the award-winning PlanToys.  PlanToys has been creating innovative educational toys for every developmental stage of childhood since 1981.  From blocks to cars to pretend food, all products are made of non-chemically treated rubberwood.  When you purchase a toy from PlanToys you can be rest-assured that the product is educational, eco-friendly and will offer hours of fun.  We also admire the company’s commitment to giving back to the community.  There is just so much to love about PlanToys!

Starting today thru April 14, friends of Kobold can receive 20% off any PlanToys  product.  Enter F5G8LL  at check-out and remember that all orders over $40 receive free shipping.

A new code for another Kobold Kid favorite brand will be available on April 15^th.   Become a fan on our Facebook page to receive frequent updates on new items and other surprise discounts and offers in the coming months.  We also invite you to post reviews on the products you do purchase so that Ana and other shoppers can have your insight. And please continue to let us know if there is a brand or toy that you think Kobold should offer.

Thank you for your continued support of Kobold Toys.  We appreciate being a trusted resource for you, and we remain committed to bringing you more of the high-quality, fun toys you expect form Kobold Toys.

As always, have fun learning! ~ Ana, Carmina and Ashley

Fashions for Every Month!

A miracle has happened.  Miss E has started using a purse.  She received her first purse at age 3 months in Sarasota, Florida when a lovely store owner gifted her one due to her adorable quotient.   That may be the last time she held a handbag.  Fast forward 4.5 years.....last week she dusted off a red bag monogrammed with her initials and loaded it with change for the collection basket at church.  I am holding my breath that we may have turned a corner in girlish tendencies (maybe we can dust the hairbows off next!).  Thankfully North American Bear Co. offers handbags for every season and for every age...here is a peek at what is available at Kobold Toys!

January: Snowgirls!

February:  Sweetheart Candy!

March: Princesses! (also available in Brunette)

April: Easter Bags! Kobold Toys also offers chicks and lambs.  Don't miss the full collection of Easter suprises!

May: Celebrate Spring!

June:  Fresh Veggies Tote!

July:  Surf & Turf!

August:  Chasing Butterflies!

September:  Dog Days!

October:  Halloween!

November: Cat's Meow!

December:  Santa, of course!

These bags range in price from $9.99 to over $20 depending on the size and detail.  I think a 1, 3 or 6 month supply of handbags is a wonderful gift for the  fashionista on your list.  Also fun favors for themed parties and birthdays.

Visit Kobold Toys for the full collection of bags and accessories for your beloved.  Remember..."The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize"-Olympia Dukakis as Clairee Belcher in Steel Magnolias.

Love Is In The Air...

Valentine's Day is coming soon. Miss E has already selected the cards she'll distribute to her preschool friends, and we are thinking of all kinds of red and pink crafts to keep us occupied at home. This is the one month where Ellis does not show her disdain for the color pink!

Kobold Toys has ideas for sweethearts of every age on your list! Our top 10 Valentine's Day gift suggestions are:

1. Toysmith's Sweetheart Tea for Two Set ($14.99). Cheers! This child sized 9-piece ceramic tea set will provide tea party fun throughout the year. Includes 3.5" pitcher with lid, two 4.25" plates, two 1.75" cups, creamer and lidded sugar bowl all molded in a whimsical sweetheart shape. Recommended for 3+

2. "Be Mine" Candy Heart Bag by North American Bear Co. ($11.99) . The stylish tote is lined and has velcro handles. Machine washable in case her chocolate hearts melt inside! Kobold Toys also offers goody bags in the shapes of dogs, fish and princesses!

3. Barefoot Books. Books offer a wonderful way for you to snuggle up with your valentine and Kobold offers a collection of books for children ages birth to 8 years old. Kobold recommends "The Journey Home from Grandpa's House." Hop in the yellow car and look out for all the other forms of transportation on the way home from Grandpa's. A beautiful, double-page spread at the end features all of the colors and modes of transportation from the story. Includes cd for easy singalong fun. What a great gift from grandparents (hint, hint Papa Charlie!).

4. ZOOB Tubes- Classic and Sparkle ($7.99). ZOOB building sets encourage creativity and are appealing to both boys and girls. These cute tubes offer the chance to make 17 creations from rocket man to a crab (instructions included).

5. Dolls and stuffed animals. Every child loves the chance to share the love with her own baby doll and bear. Kobold Toys offers a collection of adorable dolls and plush animals for all ages from Corolle, Lilliputiens, Shure, and North American Bear Co. Kobold loves the Babipouce Pink Striped Doll from Corolle - a perfect first doll. Other favorites include Baby Rose from Lilliputiens, Vanilla Redhead Doll from Corolle, and Rosy Cheeks Big Sister by North American Bear Co.

6. Heart Puzzle by Ravensburger ($11.99). Kobold is a fan of the incredibly cool and unique puzzleballs designed by Ravensburger. This 3D Heart Puzzle has curved, sturdy plastic pieces that fit snugly to form a perfect heart. The end result is a unique, decorative piece that can be displayed as a constant “I love you!” Your child will enjoy putting together this 60 piece puzzle that once completed creates a box. Ages 8+

7. Rose Baby Playmat from Lilliputiens ($99.99). Perfect baby shower or new baby gift! This flower-shaped play mat offers a bouquet of activities: sounds, different textures and various forms. Ideal to stimulate babies' curiosity. Plus, the mat is very practical: it folds, zips and can be taken along anywhere!

8. Fire Department Puzzle and Book by Shure ( $14.99). Let him know your hear is afire! Read to your child the colorful firefighters board book as you match each illustrated fireman and firetruck wooden piece with the image and shape in the tray, or stand them up for pretend-play on the table or floor.

9. Heart ball by Tatiri. ($9.99) With Tatiri's 5" inch playball, ball games become more fun. With their unique design and beautiful prints (hearts, cars, dinosaurs, airplanes and jungle theme), they become hard to miss and leave behind on the playground.

10. Lilliputiens LadyBird Rattle. Kobold thinks the rattles by Lilliputiens are adorable, and this ladybird rattle is perfect for Valentine's Day. Each time it squeaks, it says "I love you."

Have a wonderful weekend! And, as always,we hope your children have fun learning!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

My children tell me they are freezing to death (or at least Miss E is sharing this proclamation with me). Little C prefers to stomp his feet and just say "Brrrrrrrrrrr." Ahh, the joys of January. The tree is down, the lights are packed away, and the boxes of decorations all stacked away in the attic. The cold reality that winter is here can no longer be disguised by reindeers, ribbons and mistletoe. Every errand requires an additional 20 minutes of layering and dressing (I am sure you true "Northerners" are giggling, but to girls raised in the deep south, 24 degrees is COLD).

January is the month in which many parents must dig deep into their resources for indoor activities. You might relax the rules a little and allow elaborate forts out of the den cusions or even sofa dancing "Flashdance" style...anything to get the ya-yas out! After baking goodies for everyone on your street (cupcakes and cookies are great distractions, but not for the new year's diet plan!) and extracting snowflakes and collages out of the remaining construction paper, rest assured your little friend Kobold has some ideas to keep the troops entertained! The best part is that you only have to open the door to pick up the delivery box - no need to bundle up and brave the winds when winter crafts can come right to the doorstep!

Kobold's top three picks for keeping busy and having fun learning are:

1. Any craft kit from 4M. Dinosaur bone digging.... rocket launching...mosaics...crochet...science projects. These incredible kits, $15.99 and under, are perfect for the winter doldrums. Kobold especially likes the Princess Window Mosaic and the Soda Can Robug (a "green" robot!).

2. Games! Kobold loves the games from German company Ravensburger. Known for their puzzles and games, Kobold is recommending Teddy Bear Mix & Match (cards are shaped like bears!) and Tell-A-Story Game. In the Tell-A-Story game each player uses their memory skills to try to be the first player to collect all five story cards about a single character. Once all of the players have collected all of their story cards, they arrange their cards to tell a story of their choice. This game encourages children to develop their imagination and creativity as well as logical thinking and language skills.

3. Puzzles are a tried and true favorite of our little Kobold. The 2 foot x 3 foot jumbo Fire Engine Shaped Floor Puzzle by Shure is oversized, durable, glossy pieces printed with colorful, hand-painted artwork are big fun for little puzzlers! Kobold also offers floor puzzles from Mudpuppy and the more advanced "Discover The World" Puzzleball by Ravensburger. Discover The World Puzzleball includes 540 pieces and is 8.5" in diameter when completed. The puzzle comes with its own stand so you can celebrate the accomplishment and keep it safe from the curious fingers of little brothers and sisters.

Kobold Toys also offers building blocks, art supplies and the very best of toys to promote learning so visit the site for more ideas for entertaining your own children or the must-have gift.

Kobold and his team wish you and your family a very happy and healthy 2010. We are grateful for your support of Kobold Toys, and look forward to sharing our favorite finds from around the world with you again this year.

Stay warm and have fun learning!

Kobold Toys Salutes Veterans!

On Veterans Day we thank and honor those who served in the military. There are many ways to talk to your children about this special day...attend a parade in your neighborhood, discuss bravery and freedom, and just say "thank you" to these men and women for their service and sacrifice. One idea Kobold likes is to make a card to thank veterans and send the card to a local VA Medical Center. What a morale booster!

Kobold introduced the new COBI building blocks line on Monday. In addition to the Formula 1 models, Kobold Toys also offers a variety of military blocks for your little colonel or for the military toy hobbyist. Some of Kobold's favorites:

Eagle Airplane

Gamma Helicopter

Line of Jeeps

Secret Mission

Torpedo Boat

Happy Veterans Day!

Angels We Have Heard On High

Okay Halloween is officially over, so now the decorating plans turn towards Thanksgiving and Christmas! I love decorating for the Christmas holidays. We started a tradition of letting Miss E decorate her own little tree each year, and it is fun to let her select the ornaments. Some will become keepsakes and others are fun little whims from the Target. I think it is nice to have some holiday decor that the children can touch and even play with through the season. Our little Kobold has selected some adorable pieces that will add to you and your beloved's holiday joy.

Music lovers will love the adorable wooden angel with a violin. She also has friend in the choir who loves to sing, and a friend holding the candle of hope for the season. These wooden angels by HABA are sure to delight. And what a perfect gift idea for your music teacher!

Collect the family of HABA angels for your child's mini- tree, hang from greenery on the mantel, or tie to a holiday gift. With wonderfully unique colors, striped socks and curly hair, these will bring a smile to faces of all ages! Gloria, Felicia, Marina, Lemona, Rosa and Stella are keepsakes that will delight for years to come.

Kobold Toys is a fan of the Angel Dolls by North American Bear Company. Lovably sweet in soft velboa with embroidered facial features, in blonde and brunette, ribbon accent and attached tricot wings. This soft doll is a keepsake friend for baby and is machine washable!

The holidays are upon us, and Kobold will be sharing his and Santa's elves favorite toys for the children on your list. Keep checking our site daily for updates on holiday items and gifts.

Happy Holidays! ~ Ashley

Have a Ball!

This past Saturday it rained and rained and rained. Miss E and Little C created this crazy game with a ball and a child-size broom. I never really understood the gist of the game, but I did love listening to the giggles on such a gloomy day. It also reminded me that sometimes the simplest toy- the ball!- can provide endless laughter and entertainment. Here are some of Kobold Toy's favorite balls- perfect (and affordable!) birthday and holiday gifts:

For the baby/toddler, we love the Allegro stacking ball. This colorful and extra soft plush ball is perfect for grabbing, stacking and rolling. The ball can be separated into 4 pieces. We also love the Lilliputiens Musical Handles Ball. This ball is perfect for little hands. It emits 8 different sounds and is suitable for children from 6 months up. Lilliputiens also offers the pretty in pink Musical Humps Ball.

For the toddler and up interested in kicking, rolling, and creating crazy in-door ball games, Kobold offers the brightly colored balls by Tatiri. These balls are perfect for inside and outside play and come in fun designs. We especially like the cars, rockets and hearts patterns.

Now, I appreciate that not everyone would appreciate an indoor game with a real ball (hello, Mimsi!). For those who prefer a quieter ball experience (stocking alert!!), Kobold recommends the puzzle balls by Ravensburger. These perfectly crafted, curved puzzle pieces allow for an exact fit and are easily assembled together to form a solid, smooth ball - with no glue required! Kobold Toys offers the sports ball in the form of soccer, basketball and baseball. And for the holidays, we are offering the puzzle ball in seven beautiful patterns. The end result of one of these 60-piece puzzles is an unique decorative piece that can be displayed in your child's room or hung in the Christmas tree as an ornament.

Also, just a reminder that there are only a few days left to complete a product review on the site and be eligible for a $50 gift certificate towards your next purchase.

Have a ball! ~ Ashley

The Advent Of Christmas

You can pretend you are still distracted by pumpkins and spiderweb decor, but I know you are starting those holiday lists! (And if you are not, and you still need to catch up on Halloween fun, check out the offerings at Kobold Toys!).

So it is official, Kobold and I are getting ready for Christmas!!! My family has been in search of a fun and reusable advent calendar for the past few years. We have picked the cardboard ones up at the bookstore in the past, and they are fine... but an advent calendar is supposed to be a special calendar that you use to count down the days of Advent in anticipation of Christmas.

Our little Kobold has found some adorable advent calendars that meet the needs of beauty, fun, and longevity.

Mudpuppy's At the North Pole Advent Calendar is a fun, creative way to count down the days to Christmas! First choose your favorite 24 stickers (bears, reindeer, snow angels, skiers, stars, snowmen, etc.) and place them on the calendar squares. Each day of Advent, move one sticker from the square onto the calendar board's background picture to build a scene. On Christmas Eve, your beloved adds Santa. The stickers are reusable, so you can vary the scene year by year.

We also offer Mudpuppy's Christmas Tree Advent Calendar to help you enjoy a festive December. First choose your favorite stickers (illustrated by Janell Genovese) and place them on the calendar Squares. Then beginning December 1, move one ornament from the calendar to the tree until it is decorated. On December 24, add the angel to the tree top.


The Playmobil Christmas in the Forest Advent Calendar features 24 different items to open up each day of December. This Advent Calendar also features a fun backdrop that all of the prizes can be played with in. With this advent calendar kids not only count backwards till Christmas but won't stop playing with the addition of each new figurine every day. Playmobil also offers the Unicorn Fairy Advent Calendar for the princess set.

Stifle those Bah Humbugs! Christmas is only 66 days away, so start planning now! Kobold Toys is adding new toys and games every day, as well as holiday decor for the little ones, so please visit the site for the latest must-haves for your beloved.