Monday, December 12, 2011

Spark Toddler's Curiosity and Learning... and Have Fun Too!

Click the link at the bottom of the article to see the product reviews and purchase on Amazon...

This holiday toy buying season is in full swing, and the choices for the "best" kid's gifts are tough. There's sooo much out there, and not all it is good or worth your time. That's why I decided to share the information I have on this toy from first hand experience. I found a toy that my grandson really likes and I think it's great. I've seen how well it helps him in a totally unassuming way, to learn about the alphabet, colors and it's has even sparked his creativity all major pluses for me...

If you want to buy something that will last, that the kids will enjoy, that will grow with them, look at this toy that is a spin on the alphabet refrigerator magnets. If you're like me, you want something that will be educational and fun at the same time. For babies and toddlers that can sit and walk (you'll want to look at the package for appropriate age levels), here's a toy that has my grandma's seal of approval.

The Leapfrog Fridge Phonics Alphabet Magnet set is a great little gift that's fun, educational and affordable. The refrigerator magnet reader is lightweight for little hands, and the magnets are totally encased in the hard plastic outer shell so there's no chance that the magnet will be swallowed.

There is more than one design, I purchased the version that has Scout the puppy, since my grandson has a Scout and liked playing with it as well. Scout is another educational toy that was a great purchase, and his character is scattered through the Leapfrog toy line. But that's another story.

Anyway, Scout says each phonetic sound in a cute little jingle for each letter of the alphabet. Scout also sings the alphabet song in it's entirety, and the child can switch back and forth between modes. The toddler places the magnetic letters into a slot on the base and Scout sings the song for that letter.

I actually find myself singing the jingle in my head, so I can imagine that kids remember the song as well. It can be placed on any magnetic surface, which also works out well. It can be placed on the refrigerator at eye level and moved around and up as the child grows and becomes comfortable with different arrangements. The magnets stay on the refrigerator so their available each time the child walks past. My grandson is two and he arranges the letters to make a train, even though he doesn't know the order of the letters yet. But it has helped him learn his letters and colors.

This toy educates in a fun, no hassle way. When they pass by, they pick up a letter and sing the jingle, they learn something in the process. The time they spend can be minutes or hours, but they are learning the entire time.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Outfit Your Infant and Toddler with Football Inspired Designs

It's football season the fall weather will change to cold and frigid,if it hasn't already and outdoor activities, including tailgate parties, will go indoors.  In case you don't know, a tailgate party is a social event held around the open tailgate of a car or truck to support a team or celebrate an event. At sporting events, iIt involves getting together with a group of friends, grilling food, dressing in football garb and showing your team spirit.

They normally takes place in the parking lots of stadiums and arenas, before and occasionally after games and concerts. The festivities are not limited to partying at the stadium however they are commonly held at homes and sports bars where people get together, eat, drink and watch the game on big screen TVs.

If you are hosting a party at your home, it's common to dress in football jerseys and decorate in your team's colors.  If your party includes the kids, finding items for your infant and toddler to wear may be an issue.  Licensed gear is very costly and they become keepsakes very quickly since the kids grow out of them at a rapid rate.  Our football inspired designs are on infant and toddler hats, bibs, one piece and single t-shirts in long and short sleeves.  They are also available on other items for mom and the rest of the family.  Better yet, and we're adding more color combinations on a daily basis. 

Tailgate parties are so popular that people participate even if their vehicles do not have tailgates.  They have spread to the pre-game festivities at sporting events other than football, like basketball, hockey, soccer, and baseball, and also occur at non-sporting events such as weddings and barbecues.

Show your team spirit and don't leave out the kids, check out our football inspired designs for mom and the kids.   

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Welcome to Sweet Beginnings!

Baby One Piece
Bodysuits Are Popular
Year Round!
As a new mom, you don't want to spend all your time going from store to store to find cute, comfortable items for your baby.  You want quality, a no hassle return policy and the ability to shop from the comforts of home or even the office.  If you're looking for a place that has the cutest little items for the newest member of your family, bookmark this blog or subscribe to get our updates. This is the first of many posts for Sweet Beginnings, our online shop for babies and moms.

Our blog is a companion to the shop that provides product features and details, as well as useful information for our readers. We will also give you ideas and feature selected items from our shop including clothing, accessories, room decor, cards, buttons and more. 

We specialize in fun, colorful coordinates that will work for babies, toddlers and moms.  The kids especially love to dress alike and we will be adding big brother/sister items on our site. We also have accessories, room decor, cards and announcements.

We haven't forgotten about personalized items.  Personalized gifts and apparel are popular for babies too! We have some designs that allow you to add the baby's name, special dates, and initials for very unique and personal gifts, so make sure to check those out.    

Thanks for visiting our blog, we hope you share your ideas and comments with us.