Toys for Budding Eco Engineers

Would Santa like to leave toys that not only green but so fun the educational value escapes the child?  You bet!  Check out these fabulous blocks from Citiblocs.  They come in different colors (I like the warm colors for this time of year) and are open ended fun leading to hours of quiet--that's right, quiet--fun.  My six year old loves to play with these and I'm amazed at how calming and creative they are.  The blocks are made from certified renewable pine and they are completely free of any toxins, so if they end up in any mouths, kids or canine, they should be okay.

The more technical oriented and older children will love science based kits from Thames and Kosmos. I'm especially intrigued by their Alternative Energy and Environmental Science projects.  Check out this Renewable Energy Science Kit focused on wind energy.  This is so cool, think of how toys like this could potentially have an impact on the future.  I also like this Remote Control Machines kit which is so much more interesting than a plain RC car.  Shaping young minds to create eco friendly transportation and renewable energy is very exciting and I think these would also be fabulous in the classroom.

For stockings, Think-A-Lot makes a holiday edition of their clever Think-ets, an open ended story telling game featuring little trinkets.  There are numerous ways to play this game and their size makes them wonderful for travel.  Not for little ones due to choking hazard, older kids get a kick out of using their imagination in tandem with being able to touch the little objects such as a Christmas tree, a snowman and a polar bear among others.  My six year old loves to scatter them on the table and make up stories using the pieces for the story line.  Think-ets encourage creativity, logic and reason along with good old fashioned fun.

Tweet

Gearing Up for Spring Break Part 2: Kids

Want to get the kids excited about travel?  Give them their own gear.  Not only does it give them a thrill and sense of responsibility, it makes things easier for us.  I love this DANTE BEATRIX PERCIVAL WHEELIE BAG.   How cute is this?  It's pthalate, lead, and pvc free and has the same charm as the cool Dante Beatrix lunch boxes.  There are organization compartments and those cheeky devil horn zipper pulls.  You can write your name on the label in the back and I suspect this would be a very hard bag to lose track of as it would really stand out.  The handle is adjustable for different heights (even adults) and they come in various ultra-cute designs.  Just looking at them warms my heart.  I think it's one of those things that you'd want to hang on to even after your child has grown up.  It could house various mementos from your trips, artwork, special clothes and other childhood treasures.  Find them HERE.

Like adults, kids need a day pack.  I like this Kelty Kids Grommet pack because it is heavy duty and will last forever.  It will double as a school pack and the straps stay put with weight.  It comes in several colors and patterns and has plenty of organizer pockets for snacks, books, a jacket, electronics and water bottles.  If your child travels light it would work fine as an overnight bag, and I think it's perfect for the plane and use as a day pack for longer trips.  Find it HERE.

For kids beyond toddler-hood (that you don't have to worry about choking hazards with), I like these Think-ets.  It's the perfect size to slip in your purse or pack and pull out when needed.  Having a few tricks up your sleeve can save the day and this should keep them busy for a while.  I love open ended imaginative play and that is what this is.  It's a small tin box filled with tiny trinkets including an arrowhead, a small tomato, an air plane and a star.  It can be used a number of ways--pull out various pieces and tell a stories based on various criteria, pick a piece and tell everything you know about it, make up questions, ad-libs, it's all about your imagination.  This would be great to have on the train, in the hotel and in restaurants. Wrap it up as a little present and pull it out at the right moment.

Tweet