Pocoyo Water Taxi Tub Toy Review

If you read my post from the other day, you are now familiar with Pocoyo and his lovable friends.  Now, your child can not only enjoy Pocoyo on television and online, but in the tub too!  Pocoyo Water Taxi features a big green fish that pulls Scuba Pocoyo and Fred the Octopus. 

When I pulled this toy out of the box, I couldn't keep Mason's hands off of it.  He was so excited and started saying "I do!, I do!".  He immediately placed it on the floor and started pushing it around.  He had a ball saying fish and making his fish faces!

He was even happier when I brought the toy into the tub later that night.  I placed the Water Taxi in the water and it floated nicely on the water.  Mason pulled the fish all around the tub and soon discovered that Pocoyo was removable from the 'starfish' he was sitting on.  I showed him how to place Pocoyo so he could sit on the fish's head for additional fun.  He really loved playing with the Pocoyo Water Taxi. 

Aside from Mason loving this toy, from a parents perspective, it really is a fun toy for little ones.  It is not flashy or complicated.  There are no lights, batteries, or sounds. It is a simple plastic toy made for fun play in the tub.  I love the simpler toys that lend themselves to children using their imagination. 
This is also an affordable tub toy.  Another nice feature of the Water Taxi is that it did not hold water once it was removed from the tub.  Hopefully this will cut down on possible mold growth. 

The Pocoyo Water Taxi is a great tub toy for ages 18 months to 3 years of age.  It retails for $9.99.

Three-Sixty Marketing provided me with the item above in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Moon Dough by Spin Master Review

I admit, I am THAT mom who tries to make sure her kid never eats a crayon, sand, leaves, paper, or just about anything else he could possibly get his hands onto.  So Mason is 20 months and I have to loosen the reigns.  Now is the time for coloring and drawing and yes, eating crayons.  I understand how important it is for development of fine motor skills, but still.  I imagine this opens the door to other creative play like finger paints and clay.  Oh, the fun (and clean-up) that awaits!

As a child I played with Play-Doh .  I really can't think of anyone who hasn't really.  Play-Doh was a staple in my house, along with the play sets and refill containers just ready and waiting to be mixed with the other colors.  Here is a a nice alternative to Play-Doh if you are looking for a change of pace or just something different this holiday season.  It is called Moon Dough.  Have you checked this out yet?  It is from the makers of Moon Sand, is like Play-Doh, but claims to never dry out.  I got my hands on a sample of Moon Dough to check it out.  The dough is light and soft, kind of  feels like a marshmallow.  It is very easy to shape and mold into whatever you want.

For the parents out there who have children with skin sensitivities or allergies, know that your child can play with Moon Dough since it is is also hypo-allergenic and wheat-free.  That is a hugh plus in my book!

Clean-up was pretty easy.  I just took a larger piece of the dough and used that to collect the smaller pieces.  It washes off your hands easily if need be.

There are also some play sets available - Moon Dough Diner, Moon Dough Puppies, Moon Dough Magic Barnyard.  The play sets retail from about $9.99 to $19.99.  You can also buy Moon Dough Refill Packs and retail for about $4.99.



Spin Master provided me with the product reviewed above in order to facilitate this product review.  All opinions are 100% .

Mega Bloks Pull Along Musical Pirate Ship



Mega Bloks Pull Along Musical Pirate Ship is adorable!  If your little one love to drag everything around with them, this toy is perfect!  There are small wheels underneath the ship that makes it easy for anyone to pull along.  This 20 piece play set is complete with 2 pirate characters, 1 shark figurine, a treasure chest, and a ship monkey that plays music, monkey and ocean sounds.  It also has a real working front mounted cannon!  Mason especially loved this feature.

As he pulled it along, the pirate ship played a cute pirate tune that Mason bounced along to.  You can take the pirate hide out off the ship and create an on shore hideout for the pirates.  There is a 'quick-release' trapdoor on the back of the ship that will hold all the blocks for storage when play is finished. 

Again, this is a great toy for young children that is safe and fun to play with.  Your little one is sure to have hours of play with all of the characters included in this set. 

This toy is for children aged 1 and up.  It retails for $29.99.

Mega Brands provided me with the product above in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Happy Holidays from Chasing Tiny Feet!

Let It Snow Christmas

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Playmobil's Unicorn Take Along Castle Set and Conveyor Belt with Mini Excavator

Playmobil's Unicorn Take Along Castle Set is great fun for little girls who are on the go.  This play set is ideal for bringing along to play dates or over to the cousins house during holiday visits.  All of the pieces included in this set can be locked away behind the doors on this set, making travel a breeze!  There is also a handle that makes carrying for little hands easy. 

Included is a princess figure, two unicorns, little birdies and more that can be placed in the castle's storage compartment

This play set is appropriate for children ages 4+ since there are many small pieces.  It retails for $12.99.

Conveyor Belt With Mini Excavator

Playmobil got it right with this cool truck!  This play set measures measures 19.2"L x 6"W x 9"H.  That means there is a lot of fun to be had.  With it's sturdy construction, this will easily make for creative and independent play.  There are so many vast possibilities with this toy, from stacking the boulders in the cart to running the conveyor belt.  The best feature on this toy is the 21.6" long conveyor belt and tipping cart that actually moves.  The excavator scoop moves moves up and down too!

Included in this playset is a construction foreman and worker, 16 boulders of various sizes, fire extinguisher, tool box, 4 tools and laptop.

The Conveyor Belt with Mini Excavator Playset is recommended for ages 3 and up.  It retails for $34.99.



Playmobil provided the products above in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Learning Curve Dinosaur Train InterAction Review (T-Rex Boris and Triceratops Tank)

If you have been following my posts, you know that we are huge Dinosaur Train fans in my house.  Mason just loves all the Dinosaur Train characters and I love the educational value inherent in the television show.  That being said, it is no lie when I say I was really excited when I found out that I had the chance to review Learning Curves new InterAction line of toys. 

Learning Curve Dinosaur Train - InterAction Roar 'N React Boris Tyrannosaurus Ultimate T-Rex and Learning Curve Dinosaur Train - InterAction Tank are two of the best toys I have reviewed yet.  As you would expect, these toys are based on the hit television show, Dinosaur Train. Because of "SmartTalk" technology, these dinosaurs have the ability to recognize and interact with each other. Each dinosaur has an interactive button that you can push to make the dinosaur speak and to start solo or interactive play. 

Tyrannosaurus Boris was really cool to play with. This dinosaur has fully poseable arms and legs.  By pressing the button on his back, you can start real play with him.  I loved the chomping sounds he made when you press down on his tongue.  He will roar when you press his tail down and make stomping sounds when he walks.  He will also share dinosaur facts with
                                                         you. 

Tank Triceratops was also a lot of fun to play with.  Interactive play began by pressing his button.  My favorite feature is the crashing sound he makes when you tilt his head forward.  The chomping and stomping sounds are always fun too!  Tank also has fully poseable arms and legs.  

Because I had two of the dinosaurs, I was able to get them to "speak" to each other.  Not only do they talk to each other and answer each other's questions, but they sing in harmony too!  Through play with these toys, you will not only have a ton of fun, but you will learn educational facts about the dinosaurs.

These dinosaurs are made of a hard, durable plastic.  There are no sharp edges, which is a nice feature when you have a toddler that insists on carrying toys everywhere, but can't seem to not  fall over 10 times a day.  They are brightly colored and very eye-appealing too.  If you get one Dinosaur Train InterAction toy, make sure you get two so you can have the real experience of how these toys were meant to be played. 

Learning Curve Dinosaur Train InterAction line is recommended for ages 3+.   They retail from $14.99 to $39.99, depending on the Dinosaur Train character.

Learning Curve provided me with the items above in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Dinosaur Train: Dinosuars in the Snow DVD Review

Have you become a Dinosaur Train fan yet?  What are you waiting for?  This is one of the cutest and most educational shows for pre-schoolers aged 2-5 that is out here!  Each episode is filled with facts about life science, natural history, and paleontology.  You can't go wrong with anything that includes Dinosaurs and Trains.  Now there is a new DVD, Dinosaur Train: Dinosaurs in the Snow, just in time for your little ones for the holiday season.  And I can tell you, we have already watched this great DVD several times and I have a feeling that it will be a staple throughout the holidays!

There are eight great episodes on this one DVD.  Dinosaur Train: Dinosaurs in the Snow episodes include:

Dinosaurs in the Snow - Buddy and his Pteranodon family ride the Dinosaur Train to the North Pole - where it's cooler, and the skies are dark all winter long!;

Night Train - Dad, Buddy and Tiny take a special ride on the Dinosaur Train at night, learning about animals that are active after dark, culminating at the Big Pond for a nature walk under the full moon;

Fossil Fred - Buddy, Tiny and Don play "detective" and search around the Big Pond for fossils. The kids end up finding an entire skeleton of a Jurassic dinosaur;

King Cryolophosaurus - Buddy, Tiny, Don and Mom meet a reclusive, singing dinosaur named King who has a big swooping crest on his head and a voice that sounds an awful lot like Elvis Presley;

Dinosaur Block Party - The Pteranodon family hosts a block party to introduce their new neighbors, the Lambeosaurus family, to all the other neighborhood creatures;

Buddy's Surprise Birthday Party - Shiny, Tiny and Don throw a surprise party for Buddy on the Dinosaur Train and invite a whole caboose full of his friends!;

Mom's Day - The kids go to the Big Pond to look for flowers to give to Mom on her special Mothers Day; and

Cretaceous Conifers - The whole Pteranodon family have fun celebrating Mom's favorite holiday, Winter Solstice. You can find encore presentations of Dinosaurs in the Snow; “Cretaceous Conifers” to be broadcast on December 8, 12, 20, and 24 (check local listings).

The DVD also features an interactive game, coloring pages, a dinosaur reference guide and parent information about the program and characters. It retails for $14.99.

In case you still were not convinced about how great of a program Dinosaur Train is, Dinosaur Train is also a Parents’ Choice Recommended TV series, and the Dinosaur Train website has received a Parents’ Choice Silver Award and was the recipient of a prestigious 2010 Prix Jeunesse Award.

360 Marketing provided the item above in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Dora's Christmas Carol DVD by Nickelodeon Review

Have your kids already asked you to sit down and make a holiday list?  Here is one more item to add! Dora the Explorer: Dora's Christmas Carol is a wonderful holiday DVD that will be a hit for the whole family! 

The movie begins with Dora and her friends preparing for Christmas Eve, or a Nochebuena party. Swiper the Fox arrives and steals the star off of the tree, which places him on Santa's naughty list. Santa gives Swiper a chance to fix his mistakes.  Dora tries to help Swiper get off of Santa's naughty list and learn what Christmas is all about.  Dora must help Swiper travel through the past, present and future if they are to learn the true meaning of Christmas.  You will quickly realize that this is an adaptation of Dickens', A Christmas Carol.  Dora and Swiper visit the past when Dora’s friends were still babies and when Dora was a little girl.  You will also visit the future and see Dora as a young teenage girl and Swiper as an old fox.

In Dora fashion, she must solve a problem during the movie. Dora is interactive with your child and she encourages completing simple math skills, answering riddles about Christmas figures like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman, and finding hidden objects in a picture. 

I love that this movie emphasizes the importance of friendship and having people in your life to help you, all while learning the value of giving to others during the holiday season.  The joy of receiving presents is also explored, which pre-schoolers easily relate too.

There are also special features at the end of the main program.  You will find a "Jingle Bells" music video, a "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" music video, and the Young People's Chorus Behind the Scenes Featurette. 

I am always impressed by the programming that is inherent  in the Dora the Explorer series.  Your children will learn language skills (both English and Spanish), cognitive skills, and physical skills.

I highly recommend this DVD for young pre-schoolers.  This DVD will make an excellent holiday stocking stuffer, that is not only educational, but entertaining, especially for kids who love Dora the Explorer!

Dora the Explorer: Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure runs for 52 minutes and can be purchased for around $14.99.

Nickelodeon provided me with the item reviewed above in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% mine

Paper Jamz by WowWee Review

Does your kid want to be an instant rock star?  Have you seen WowWee's new Paper Jamz line of Guitar, Drums, Straps, and Amps?  You better keep reading because kids everywhere are going to have this on their Christmas list this year!

Paper Jamz are brand new and really cool.  These "instruments" use "Active Graphics circuit-embedding technology" that allows you to play like a pro just by touching the Paper Jamz.  Basically you have a guitar or drum that you can play like a real musical instrument.  There are three main modes: Perfect Play, Rhythm, and Freestyle.  Each Paper Jamz instrument also features a built-in speaker with volume control, plus line out for earphone or speaker accessories, which are not included.  There are 6 guitars and drums to choose from in Series 1 of the Paper Jamz line.  There are also 3 drum and guitars to choose from in Series 2 of the Paper Jamz line.  Each Guitar/Drum features three hit songs ready to play

For example, Paper Jamz Drum, Series 1 - Style 2 features three hit songs, including Born to Be Wild, Mississippi Queen, and Smoke on the Water.  In Perfect Play mode, you tap along to the song to hear the drum track.  Rhythm mode lets you create your own drum sounds, and Freestyle mode lets you play a drums solo and create your own song without any background music.  

Wow Wee Paper Jamz Drum Set  is perfect for ages 5 and up.  They retail for $24.99.  For more information about Paper Jamz products, don't forget to check out http://paperjamz.com/.

 

WowWee provided me with the item above in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Playmobil's Large Zoo and Racing Car with Transporter Review

Playmobil Large Zoo

Playmobil Large Zoo is the perfect play set for little ones who love visiting the Zoo!  Kids can imagine and create their very own Zoo without even leaving their living room.  Included in this Large Zoo play set includes fence to corral the animals, a giraffe, a baby elephant, a zebra, a lamb, a tractor, ponies, a cute little monkey, and a tractor with a detachable trailer, just to name a few.  This set also includes 2 figures, a dad and daughter, to add to the fun of visiting the animals.   

The pieces are colorful and sturdy.  The large, rounded pieces are a perfect size for little toddler hands to manipulate.  Any toddler will have fun learning through play as they imagine a day at the Zoo.

Playmobil's Large Zoo is recommended for ages 18 months and up.  It retails for $ 44.99

Playmobil Racing Car with Transporter

Playmobil's Racing Car with Transporter is very cute play set.  Little kids love cars, trucks, and racing all around, so how can you really go wrong with this play set?  The big pieces are safe for little ones to play with independently.  Like all Playmobil sets for this age, the Racing Car with Transporter is made with rounded shapes and bright colors. It is very easy for little hands to get the drivers in and out of the car and transporter.  A nice feature is that the pieces are made of sturdy plastic, making them washable.

Included in this play set are two figures, the race car driver (with safety helmet on) and the transporter driver.  Also included is the racing car and truck with trailer that really tilts!  Kids will easily be able to load the car on and off the truck.

 Playmobil's Racing Car with Transporter is appropriate for ages 18 months and up.  It retails for $ 19.99.

Visit http://www.playmobil.com/index.html for more additional products and information.

Playmobil provided the item above in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Chuggingtin Training Yard with Loop Action Playset by Learning Curve Review

Learning Curve has designed a fantastic playset for Chuggington fans!  Are you familiar with the Chuggington line of die cast toys and playsets?  If not, you better catch up because these toys are in high demand this holiday season! 

This line of die cast toys and playsets is based on the animated TV series for pre-schoolers.  Stories reinforce early preschool skills like color, verbal skills, and taking and understanding directions.  Along the way, you will meet characters who are "train"ees named Wilson, Brewster, and Koko. "Chuggers", or the more experienced engines, will help to teach important social skills, like paying attention, being a good friend, and believing in yourself.  Your child will also learn "positive life lessons", as well as, "social readiness skills" like honesty, friendship, patience, and being a good listener.  Kids will easily relate to the trainees, the challenges, and mistakes they face along the way.

Your child will be able to continue imaginative play and lessons learned from Chuggintgon while playing with the Training Yard Playset.  This playset includes a diecast Wilson engine that has a coupling system so that other engines can be easily connected to ensure hours of play.

It took about 10 to 15 minutes for me to put this set together.  It is quite sturdy and I had no doubts that this playset would be a hit with Mason.  I set up the flags and caution area on the track, turned the motor on and we were set!  Mason squealed and laughed each time the train went flying around the loop!  This will no doubt provide many hours of fun in our house.

What I really love about this playset is that you can actually propel the engine around the 360 degree loop using the motorized launcher.  And yes, it actually works.  Quite well, in fact!  Also, the fact that you can add additional track packs and playsets, which are sold separately, to this playset makes it doubly appealing.  We will definitely be purchasing the additional playsets to continue the fun and play possibilities.

This set includes:

Motorized launcher

Chuggington Tower platform
Risers
8 x Track pieces
Loop
Signal pieces
Mail bags
Diecast Wilson engine

The Chugginton Training Yard with Loop Action Playset is going to be in high demand amongst Chuggington fans this Christmas!  The Training Yard Playset with Loop retails for $39.99 and is recommended for ages 3 and up.  Additional playsets retail from $19.99 to $24.99.

Don't forget you can also catch Chuggington on TV at Disney Playhouse, Monday through Friday at 6am and 11:30am.  On Weekends, 6am.  Or you can log onto the Official Online Store at: http://www.chuggingtonstore.com/  or find games, activities, or watch a show at: http://chuggington.com/.



Learning Curve provided me with the item above in order to facilitate this review.  all opinions are 100% mine.