Category Archives: ParentClick Picks!

May 8 2012

Who Loves Me? Personalized Book

[ABOUT] It is often said that there is no better gift that you can give a child than love. Who Loves Me? features the names of family members and friends who love the child, and encourages the child to reach to the sky when asked “how much” each of one of them loves him or her. This beautifully illustrated book reassures the child that he or she is loved “so much” by each person, with melodious rhymes describing the depth of each individual’s love. Written by Jennifer Dewing, with colorful, whimsical illustrations by Maria Carluccio, this hardcover book is a perfect gift for a new baby or young child!

[REVIEW] This is the sweetest book and you can include all the extended family member names in it when you personalize it. The story is sweet and on each page, your child is reminded of someone else they know that loves them. It makes a wonderful gift and one we will order again.

Feb 23 2012

Alphabet Napkin Rings – Uncommon Goods

[ABOUT] Get your table talking with porcelain alphabet napkin rings by Gail Garcia. Modern, lovely and interactive, these rings encourage you to get creative at every meal. Use them as abbreviated place cards or to spell out “pasta” on spaghetti night or to send a cheeky message to guests. Handmade in New York. WEBSITE

[REVIEW] We ordered these because we wanted a way to “Go Green” with our family. We were tired of using paper napkins but we found as a family of 5 that using cloth napkins was a hassle because nobody ever remembered which napkin belonged to them. These Alphabet Napkin Rings solved the problem! Each family member has their own napkin ring and we are now eco-friendly at meals.

Feb 8 2012

Comfy Critters – Huggable Hooded Blanket

[ABOUT] Comfy Critters is the first and only huggable stuffed animal that is also a cozy, snuggable hooded blanket.  You can hug, love, wear and cuddle up in your Comfy Critters Huggable Hooded Blanket, and it’s great for all kinds of occasions: naptime, playtime, sleep over time, car time or anytime!

[REVIEW] These are so wonderful to travel with. Our kids took their Comfy Critters on the airplane and snuggled up. They also used it as a pillow in the car. We will be giving these as gifts from now on! Fabulous gift idea for Valentine’s Day!

Feb 8 2012

Teddy Needs a Bath – finally a way to clean stuffed animals!

[ABOUT] Teddy Needs a Bath is the first wash-and-dry bag for toys, stuffed animals and everything in-between to keep your kiddo germ-free and happy. TNB is one of the best ways to steer clear of unwanted germs and bacterias. Mommy-invented, kid tested and consumer approved, Teddy Needs a Bath is 100%, eco-friendly and your new house hold helper.

[REVIEW] Theses bags are fantastic! I am constantly getting rid of stuffed animals because they are just dust collectors and most of them say you can only surface wash them. I was THRILLED to test this bag and yes, it works! The bags are large and can hold plenty of animals. No more dust collectors!

Dec 7 2011

DryCASE – waterproof case for electronic devices

[ABOUT] DryCASE is a flexible, crystal clear waterproof case that allows complete use of your tablet or e-reader while keeping it dry and clean. Keep Your Devices Dry Underwater.

[REVIEW] Parents, you will want this for beach and pool outings with your kids. You can take your phone or iPad, camera, Nook or any device and know that it is protected from water and sand! You may even want it on hand when you are bathing your toddler. It is not ideal for taking photos through the bag but we are not using it as a camera. We are using it to read the iPad and make phone calls on our cell phones.

Dec 7 2011

Letz Talk CareMail

[ABOUT] Letz Talk is a new product line that gives kids and teens a creative way to help them to open up and share their thoughts, concerns and dreams with the adults in their lives.  Whether it is their parents, grandparents, aunts, teachers or simply a friend they want to chat with. The CareMail is aimed at boosting self-esteem, growth and building confidence.

Check it out at www.letztalknow.com. Age choices are: 5-8, 9-12, or teen. Category choices are: question cards or combination cards.  Question Cards allow children to open up and share their thoughts. Effective communication increases self-esteem, encourages growth and builds confidence.  Combination Cards allow children the opportunity to feel worthy and proud.  The opportunities are endless. This group includes intriguing questions, motivational messages, and challenges to develop confidence and pride.

[REVIEW] We were not quite sure what we were doing when we first opened these cards but quickly realized they were a wonderful way to create discussions with our kids. I am planning now to use them with a group of teen girls that I meet with on a regular basis. There were even cute little magnets so the kids could personalize their mailbox where we get to exchange cards. I love that there are cards aimed at older kids since conversation can become more challenging in the teen years. It creates a wonderful way to spend time together and get to know each other.

Dec 5 2011

Go2Bras — AMY Go2 Bras – Cami Style

[ABOUT] This sexy cami style bra in ivory, toast and black can be shown and no one will know it is your bra. It is a full coverage bra with an embroidered lace that can be worn under plunging necklines and jackets giving the appearance that you wearing a beautiful cami, without the extra layer. WEBSITE

[REVIEW] I love this bra. I often have blouses and sweaters that I wish came up a little higher so I could wear them without a shirt or tank underneath. This is a fabulous option and they are comfortable and sexy. This Go2Bras website is also a great resource for bra purchases.

This company also gives back with their Buy ONE, Give ONE campaign with Clothes4Souls… “We are thrilled to partner with Clothes4Souls and help provide hope and clothing to those in need,” said Connie Elder, Founder and CEO of Connie Elder International. “We hope you will join us in this effort by purchasing a gift or something for yourself from our Go2 Bra collection and help someone else at the same time,” she said. Clothes4Souls has distributed more than 1 million pieces of clothing since the charity’s inception after the Haitian earthquake in 2010.

Nov 29 2011

Shake It Up! 3-1 Handshake Game – Grandcamp Adventures

[ABOUT] Great times are in store as you play your way through these handshake games and create your own Grandparent/Grandchild secret handshake.   Turn the cards over and solve the floor puzzle picture from the Here We Go! storybook adventure.  Enjoy these fun games at home, on vacation, or anytime you’ve got a few minutes for GrandCamping.

  • Activity contains 24 Handshake/Puzzle cards
  • Pictures of Handshake gestures on one side
  • Other side of each card is a puzzle piece
  • 3 Levels of difficulty to ensure fun for all ages
  • Puzzle is a picture out of our Here We Go! storybook

Grandcamp Adventures is a company dedicated to delivering toys and activities that help kids have fun and maybe even strengthen their relationship with their family members, especially grandparents! WEBSITE

[REVIEW] This is such a cute idea for parents, siblings and grandparents to do with each other. It is playful and engaging and you get three activities in one. Grandparents will feel very hip and young when they have their special handshake with their grandchild.

Nov 23 2011

Banangrams Games

[ABOUT] Bananagrams is the first in the bunch, the game that started it all. Great portable word games for kids of all ages.

  • Bananagrams: The Anagram game that will drive you bananas. The award-winning word game that needs no pencil, paper, or board. Fast and fun. Players race against each other to build crossword grids and use all their letter tiles first. Great for travel. [players ages 7-97]
  • Pairsinpears: Fresh Fun comes in pears. Race to make pairs of connecting words in matching patterns. A great way for children to develop memory and cognitive skills while learning the alphabet, pattern recognition, vowels, vocabulary, rhyming, and more. Advanced players can use semi-palindromes and palindromes to win extra points. The pear-shaped pouch contains four full alphabet sets in four distinct patterns. [players ages six and up]
  • Appleletters: An Apple a day for us all to play. Create a continuous word snake by adding your word to the head or tail. Orginally designed with younger players in mind, APPLETTERS features three levels of play to amuse children and challenge adults. The free-standing tiles are easy to handle and can be used to play three different games. [players ages six and up]
  • Zip-It: The Twenty-second word race you can play anyplace. Take 12 cubes and race against your opponent to build a word grid. One hand can be played in as little as 20 seconds and everything you need is in the bag. An exhilarating, high-speed, two-player game with 24 letter cubes in a unique cloth pouch with colored scoring zippers.The ability to play on an airplane or train makes Zip-It the ultimate travel game. Each pouch includes a WEORDS dictonary of weird words that help win word games. [players ages seven and up]
  • Fruitominoes: Connect Fruit, instead of dots. Take turns matching six attractive fruit patterns. A fresh, fruity and colorful twist to the classic game of dominoes. Twenty-eight beautifully crafted dominoes in a compact pouch make this a great game for young and old. [players ages five and up]
  • WEBSITE

[REVIEWS] We LOVE these games. We bought our first set a year ago when we were traveling and they were a hit with the whole family and kids ranging from 6-13 years. It is faster and simpler than scrabble and it is completely engaging. It is easy to take with you and quick to set up so we keep one in the car.

Nov 5 2011

Hess Toy Truck & Race Car

[ABOUT] This truck goes on sale NOVEMBER 11th! Following a long tradition of craftsmanship and innovation, this year’s truck has four-wheel spring suspension and a pull-out ramp that automatically activates a hydraulic sound. The truck cab features three more sound effects and flashing lights. The truck’s flatbed trailer carries a race car modeled after an American stock car that sports a pull-back racing motor and Hess Express logo. A push of the race car’s gas cap activates flashing lights and the sound of the car’s engine. The toy set’s full lineup of fun features includes:

Truck:

  • Pull-out ramp with automatic hydraulic sound
  • 3 additional sound effects activated by cab buttons (ignition, horn and back-up alert sounds)
  • 34 lights with all-on and flashing modes
  • Flashing light mode activated by cab button, chassis switch and ramp
  • Four-wheel spring suspension
  • Chrome-look detailing

Race Car:

  • Engine sound effect activated by gas cap button
  • 10 lights (all-on and flashing modes)
  • Flashing light mode activated by gas cap button
  • Pull-back racing motor

[REVIEW] This was an immediate hit with our kid testers! A fun truck and car that will keep kids entertained for hours with design elements that emphasize quality and encourage imaginative play.

Oct 29 2011

Start Something that Matters

[ABOUT] In Start Something That Matters, Blake Mycoskie tells the story of TOMS, one of the fastest-growing shoe companies in the world, and combines it with lessons learned from such other innovative organizations as method, charity: water, FEED Projects, and TerraCycle. Blake presents the six simple keys for creating or transforming your own life and business, from discovering your core story to being resourceful without resources; from overcoming fear and doubt to incorporating giving into every aspect of your life. No matter what kind of change you’re considering, Start Something That Matters gives you the stories, ideas, and practical tips that can help you get started.

[AUTHOR] Blake Mycoskie, Founder of TOMS Shoes

[REVIEW] If you’ve not yet heard the story of TOMS shoes, well, first, where have you been? Second, it’s a story worth learning, sharing, and replicating. In Start Something that Matters,TOMS Founder & Chief Shoe Giver, Blake Mycoskie, opens the hood of his company to explain how and why his company works so well, and gives practical advice and encouragement on how to harness the passion that fuels you as a sustainable career.

Blake Mycoskie was experienced in successful for-profit start-ups when he made a fateful trip to Argentina. On an unplanned detour among the poor in Argentina, Blake befriended children in an impoverished village and witnessed first-hand the heartbreaking difficulties that stem from not having shoes. Barefoot children are often prevented from attending school and are vulnerable to disease and injury. His brain whirling, he set to work concocting a business that would bring the popular Argentine espadrilles to the US market, and individually match children in need to a pair of new shoes – for free.

Blake quickly realized he had something more than a business plan – it had the qualities of a crusade. His story caught fire among consumers eager to transform a routine purchase into an opportunity to make a tangible difference in the world. For every pair you purchase, TOMSwill give a pair of shoes to a child in need. One for One. As audacious as this might sound, TOMS is part of a growing and influential movement, sometimes known as Conscious (or Compassionate) Capitalism. The people behind it promote the idea that one can make a living while making a difference. TOMS’ success is proof positive of the power of a story-driven business to secure customer loyalty.

Blake relates the story behind TOMS in the introduction. The meat of the book is a step-by-step plan for how to channel your passion for good into a business. This is an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand business primer, explaining basic management principles and strategies (from hiring well, to inspiring your staff, to dealing with mistakes). Blake recommends incorporating giving into any business, and offers up reasons that are both altruistic and practical.

This book is not reserved to those in a mid-life career crisis; it should be required reading for teens and college students wrestling with the age-old question, “What do I want to be when I grow up?” In a TOMS world, there is no conflict between making a living and making the world better. And in practical terms, Blake demonstrates how helping the world can be profitable, with examples from business leaders and entrepreneurs doing both. From his own solid business experience Blake offers advice on how to start a story-based organization.

Whatever your life stage Start Something that Matters will get you thinking about what “story” you want to be about. It’s a great read for you and your teen, and hopefully will kick start family conversations about what really matters in life.

As you would expect, with every book you purchase, a new book will be provided for a child in need.

Start Something that Matters. Blake Mycoskie. Spiegel & Grau. 2011.
Available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Books-A-Million. 

Video trailer for book: www.startsomethingthatmatters.com/2011/08/start-something-that-matters-official-video-trailer/

Oct 29 2011

TRIKKE T5 Jogo 3 Wheeled Scooter for Kids

[ABOUT] Awarded both the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award and The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, the T5 Jogo helps kids enjoy a really fun, physical activity while building confidence in agility, balance and coordination. The three wheeled design allows kids to feel secure, whether they are kicking around the neighborhood scooter-style, or propelling via the fluid, Trikke carving motion. The fun, new fairing adds a full vehicle look to this classic. Performance and fun guaranteed.

Buy it online at www.trikke.com.

  • Durable molded foot platforms, molded and decorated fairing
  • Soft foam, colored hand grips
  • Adjustable handlebar height
  • 5″ Polyurethane Wheels
  • Dual hand brakes with dual rear wheel braking system
  • Three points of contact for a balanced and stable riding platform
  • Durable Steel frame construction
  • For kids 4-7 years of age
  • Suggested weight Limit: 80lbs
  • Suggested Height: up to 4′

[REVIEW] Kids can get ready for the ski season this winter with the T5 Jogo by TRIKKE that encourages them to use their whole body to carve out their turns and propel them forward. We found this new scooter in the hot pink and bright blue to be a fun activity for kids where they get exercise and a chance to burn off some of that extra energy. The scooter is sturdy and kids can either use it as a kick scooter or be self propelled by carving and leaning into the turn.

We have one for a GIVEAWAY so enter our ParentClick.com Contest! Go to your community and click on the CHATTER page to find out the latest way to enter the contest.

Oct 29 2011

Handstand Kids Cookbook series

[ABOUT] The Handstand Kids Cookbook series introduces kids 3-13 to new and familiar foods, featuring the languages  and cuisines of Italy, Mexico and China. Each Handstand Kids cookbook translates each of the ingredients and utensils into the country’s primary language, familiarizing them with international cultures.

[REVIEW] The Handstand Kids Cookbooks are a  great way to introduce children to culture, language, cooking and at the same time expose them to thinking of others. Kids are given choices with how to alter the recipes by substituting ingredients and make healthier meals. The illustrations are captivating and fun.  These are wonderful cookbooks for kids and make terrific gifts with the fun packaging and accessories that they include.

We have one for a GIVEAWAY so enter our ParentClick.com Contest! Go to your community and click on the CHATTER page to find out the latest way to enter the contest.

Oct 29 2011

Kidizoom Camera

[ABOUT] The Kidizoom Camera by VTech lets your child become the family photographer by allowing him to take photos, edit photos, make movies and play games. Store up to 1,000 photos (128 MB internal memory) and connect to computer (PC & MAC) to download. Real 1.3 megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom.  Best for ages 3 to 8 years.

[REVIEW] Finally an affordable way to protect our expensive camera. Our kids were instantly taken with this fun bright colored camera. It met all their needs especially since they could instantly view their pictures on the back of the camera. The quality of the photos is not great but I find that my kids are not really interested in long term. They like the independence of being able to take their own pictures and video and show them to their friends. They are event able to edit the photos with fun borders. This is a great holiday gift!

We have one for a GIVEAWAY so enter our ParentClick.com Contest! Go to your community and click on the CHATTER page to find out the latest way to enter the contest.

Oct 29 2011

Boom Boom! Cards

[ABOUT] Change the world in four easy steps with these intentional act of kindness kits. With the 26 cards in each, you’ll find yourself picking up someone else’s tab at a restaurant, writing a letter to someone who inspired you, picking up the trash on your street, giving genuine compliments and so much more! The coolest thing about Boom Boom! cards is that you can create a chain reaction of covert kindness that could theoretically travel around the world!

Become a Card Carrying Member of the Revolution

  • Original: Set of 26 cards that encourage you, your friends and passersby to act on good intentions.
  • Family: Designed with children and families in mind, the Family Deck includes an interactive “Command Central” activity board with stickers to keep track of your Family’s progress, discussion cards to inspire meaningful family conversation and do-it-yourself cards so kids can make their own.
  • Teen: Playful prompts written for high-energy teenagers make motivating and inspiring goodwill a fun, everyday activity. Use it in a group setting >

HOW TO PLAY

  1. Do the revolutionary act of kindness on the card.
  2. Go to boomboomrevolution.com and tell your story and upload pictures and video.
  3. Pass the card on to anyone (a friend, a stranger, your mom).
  4. Follow your card on the website’s map as it moves across the globe!

[REVIEW] We are going to start using these with our family. It is a simple way to remind us all to pay it forward. We also are involved in a volunteer teen group and the Teen Edition is perfect to use as conversation starters that the kids can then go out and act on…  Teen Card 13: Stop a rumor. Teen Card 9: Hold the door open for someone. It is amazing how good you can feel after doing something for someone else. The website is wonderful because it allows you to track your cards and see how others have made a difference.

I was curious what others thought of them and loved this quote I read from someone who was the recipient of a card... “Someone paid for my coffee the other week and handed me one of the cards. At first I was grateful for the coffee and confused about the card. I threw it into my purse unread and when I stumbled upon it a few days later I took the time to see what it was about and I was intrigued. I decided, since the price is so reasonable, to purchase a set and find out first hand what it is really about. I got them a few days ago and I LOVE THEM! I have already done three cards and posted on the website.  Thank you to the random person that offered me the random act of kindness that changed my day and the card that has led me to make the same difference in someone else’s day! “ 


We have one for a GIVEAWAY so enter our ParentClick.com Contest! Go to your community and click on the CHATTER page to find out the latest way to enter the contest.