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!

Shake, Rattle and Roll

Babies learn and develop through play that stimulates their sense of sight, sound, touch, taste and smell. Infant stimulation can improve your baby’s curiosity, attention span, memory, and nervous system development. Research also suggests that babies who are stimulated reach developmental milestones faster, have better muscle coordination, and a more secure self image.

Kobold Toys offers a selection of infant play toys that are safe, facilitate development, and most importantly, create giggles! Here are some of our favorites for your baby or for your next baby shower:

We love the all natural wooden rattle by Maple Landmark. The truly natural rattle has ends that are made from sustainable harvested local (Vermont) maple and have a whey-based finish. It is small with little bars that make it easy for little fingers to hold. The rattle is 2.5" long and the oval ends measure 1.5" X 2.5". The bell floats freely for maximum sound.

Lilliputiens remains a favorite for high-quality, luxurious toys that stimulate. The Leo the Peacock Activity Chain is made of 4 magnetized rings in different geometric shapes. Baby can rearrange the order of the rings to his liking. Each ring stimulates the senses through the colors, fabrics, noises and magnets. The Basile Activity Mirror (pictured above) attaches to the playpen or the bed. This funny monkey is full of discoveries, stimulating touch, vision and hearing. Making silly faces in the mirror will definitely delight baby and the rest of the family will enjoy watching too!

Everyone knows the award-winning Winkel by Manhattan Toy. Kobold Toys believes this is the perfect baby rattle! What makes is perfect is that those tiny fingers can easily get a hold of it and hold it and rattle it for hours. If put in the refrigerator, it becomes a great teether as well. Stunning colors give this perennial favorite a lively look.

A new favorite is the Calico Ball Chime. This soft ball with contrasting cotton print has old fashion whimsical charm. The bright patterns stimulate your child's visual awareness. Its small size is perfect for little hands to grab and roll with you.

Our final suggestion is the wrist rattle by HABA. In either a car or flower shape, these soft companions for the wrist and ankle will not get lost. Adorable!

Have fun playing with your baby and watching him learn. It is amazing how the little things you do now to stimulate their minds will reap incredible rewards later. When shopping for your beloved, don't forget Kobold Toys has an extensive selection of baby gifts from rattles to playmats!

Shake it Baby!

Gorgeous Baby Toy Giveaway

Kobold Toys is giving away a gorgeous baby book "Vicky the Cow" ($39.99 value).

Check it out at The Dirty Shirt!

Tweet it, pass it along, let your friends and family know!

Have fun learning!

Sick & Tired

So for the past two weeks I have had sick children. My thirteen month old son was diagnosed with pneumonia. My three year old daughter was coughing and running a high fever periodically (never at the doctor's office, of course!). My super tomboy also caught her foot in the spokes of a bike in March and suffered an ankle injury that requires daily wound dressings. In the past two weeks I have made seven trips to pediatricians and specialists, plus almost daily visits to a pharmacy. Thankfully they are both on the mend.

If this were a more personal blog I would be lambasting health insurance, giving critical reviews of health care professionals I have had to endure, or suggesting wines that ease worry. I am going to choose to focus on one of my stress reducing techniques- online shopping. In case your beloved is under the weather, I searched through Kobold Toys for some entertainment ideas. For long wait times at the doctor's office or for hospital stays, Kobold recommends these take-along toys:

Playmobil's Take-Along Island. This fascinating set includes three figures, the island, firing cannon and other accessories. The island has a handle and folds up very easily. Perfect for your pirate lover!

Lilliputien's Farmhouse and Animals. We love the plush toys from Lilliputiens and the farmhouse does not disappoint. It holds 7 chunky plush animals plus a farmer and a tractor. The farmhouse has a play mat that opens to reveal 6 field sections and folds neatly underneath the house for storage.

The smART Bag. My daughter received this art case as a gift last year, and it is a favorite. Perfect for holding crayons and pencils to decorate the exam room paper roll!

Daisy Girl Dress Ups by Shure. Dress Lilly in her favorite dress-up clothes! This engaging wooden book contains watercolor illustrations of pretend scenes and whimsical outfits. The removable wooden doll and 21 wooden outfit pieces attach with hook and loop tape to mix and match for hours of pretend play fun!

My children love the animal figures by Papo. We have quite the menagerie-- from the sea turtle to the spinosaurus. These are easy to throw in a your purse or in a back pack for pretend play on the go.

I am a member of a children's book club. It drives me crazy because I always forget to cancel the selection of the month. Last week four books about Maisy Mouse arrived. I was immediately frustrated that I had not declined the offering, but as fate would have it, these were experience books relevant to the week we were having. Maisy Goes to the Hospital was an instant hit because we were considering surgery for my daughter's ankle. I definitely recommend this book for the preschooler with hospital anxiety. We also enjoyed reading about Maisy going to the dentist, the museum and the library.

For me having a sick or injured child is the scariest aspect of parenting. We are fortunate to have friends and family who are medical professionals, and they kindly provide guidance upon request. I believe this also reduces the frequency in which I have to channel my inner "Aurora Greenway" with doctors and our insurance company- only one "outburst" in fourteen days is pretty good for me.

Stay well, use your hand sanitizer and start shopping! - Ashley