My Go-To Toy Brands

As long as toymakers keep inventing toys that encourage creativity, imagination, and fun, I’m going to keep buying them!

Honestly, the day my girls pack up their toys and say goodbye, I’m going to cry some big Toy Story tears.

Part of the reason is because today’s toys are fantastic.

If you know the right brands, you can purchase toys that are well-made, high-quality, and long-lasting. Plus, they will be toys that not only entertain your kids but teach them something.

That’s likely why Capitol Counselor reports, “In 2020, the US retail sales of toys reached $25.14 billion.”

Parents are willing to spend the money when they see that toys are worthwhile.

Now that my girls are a little bit older, I have noticed that certain toy brands we return to repeatedly. For a good reason! My girls love the toys by these brands, and I don’t feel like I have wasted my money.

So, the next time you are searching for a gift for a kid, look to these go-to toy brands.

American Girl

If you have followed me for any amount of time, you know my girls are huge fans of American Girl Dolls.

These dolls are pricey, but they are worth every penny. The craftsmanship is superb, and I love my daughters having dolls that look like them!

Here is some history about American Girl: “Since the first catalogue debuted in 1986, American Girl has provided inspiring products for each stage of a young girl's development—from her preschool days of baby dolls and fantasy play through her tween years of self-expression and individuality. Through an array of premium-quality books, dolls, clothes, toys, and accessories, American Girl has earned the loyalty of millions of girls and the praise and trust of parents and educators.”

KidKraft

Imaginative play is at the heart of KidKraft products. We have owned several, including kitchens and dollhouses, and I can tell you that they are built to last (and last).

KidKraft makes it easy for kids to pretend and explore.

They say it best: “KidKraft products are sold in more than 90 countries, resulting in infinite smiles from children around the world.”

Mattel

It’s no surprise that Mattel is a go-to toy brand, bringing in 4.58 billion US dollars last year.

Mattel has been around since 1945 and makes favorites, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, and UNO.

Speaking of Barbie – did you know over 1 billion Barbie dolls have been sold since she first was introduced?

According to Mattel’s About Us, “Mattel creates toys appropriate for children at various developmental stages, designing products to match their current abilities while challenging them so they can learn and grow.”

VTech

My girls have owned several VTech toys since they were babies.

These tech-based toys are great educational products that kids are instantly drawn to.

Thankfully, my girls haven’t outgrown VTech yet. But, sadly, the day is coming since the toys are more from elementary and under.

The good news is that they are so well-made that we can pass our well-loved VTech toys down to the next generation.

What are your go-to toy brands?

Your Kid’s Bedtime Routine Just Got So Much Easier

As a working mom, I savor all the time I have in the evenings to be with my girls. But, no matter how much I try to get these done ahead of time, the time still seems to go by so quickly. Before I know it, we’ve arrived at bedtime. While I naturally look forward to the time to myself, I also look forward to those few sacred minutes before my girls drift off the sleep.

Rather than fighting the bedtime routine, I’ve come to embrace it. I understand that it is time when I can bond with my daughters in a way I can’t during the busyness of the day. Now, bedtime is my favorite part of the day.

Brush Those Teeth

Of course, the bedtime routine starts by brushing teeth. It is so important to teach your kids the importance of healthy dental hygiene starting when they are young. If you want teeth brushing time to not be a fight, invest in fun toothbrushes for kids. They have toothbrushes that sing, that light up, and make funny sounds.

Put On Those Jammies

After the teeth have been brushed, it’s time to put on pajamas. I love to spoil my girls with pajamas with their favorite characters. Once again, these character jammies are just a way to make the bedtime routine easier. Kids are less likely to fight getting dressed in their pj’s if they like what they are wearing.

Turn Off the Lights

Then, I tuck my babies in and turn off the lights. This is where the fun really starts. I have invested in the Moonlite Storybook Projector, and now bedtime is magical. Once the lights are off, I turn on the Moonlite app on my smartphone and choose the book for bedtime.

Enjoy the Show

The Moonlite Projector is an app and a storybook projector that allows you to project the storybook images onto any surface. My girls like laying on their beds and looking at the story on the ceiling. Not only do my girls love seeing the projections, they love hearing the sweet music and dunny sound effects.

If you do not yet own a Moonlite Storybook Projector, you can purchase the starter pack which includes a projector and five stories. For those of you who already have a Moonlite Projector, it’s time to purchase new stories! My girls love the Disney story pack.

Close the Door and Mom Can Escape

Now, if you are thinking this will hype your kids up rather than help them go to sleep, you are wrong. The projector was designed to limit blue light emissions (the kind on your phone that keeps you awake). Just like reading before can help lull you to sleep, so can Moonlite Storybook Projector. No more fighting or fussing – just sweet dreams!

After you have successfully bonded with your kids, it’s your turn to rest. Enjoy the rest of the evening and your own personal nighttime routine.

What’s your bedtime routine like?

The Hottest Toys This Holiday Season

As a mom, there are few things I love as much as seeing my daughters’ imaginations run wild. And, when I purchase the right toys, I know I am providing my daughters with endless possibilities for them to have fun and be creative. I’ve learned as a mom that the best toys provide hours of entertainment. Plus, the right toys mean mom gets a break, too.

My Visit to eBay Toytopia

Last week, my family went to the eBay Toytopia pop-up in Chelsea Market. This unique pop-up event showcased the hottest toys of this holiday season. Guests got to see what toys are currently trending, and I got to see what toys my daughters are most hopeful they will receive this Christmas. Kids even got to play with the most wanted toys! It was so much fun to see my daughters playing and feeling excited about the upcoming holiday.

I attended the eBay Toytopia event, and now I am prepared to fill you in on which toys are expected to be the biggest toys of the year. Having my daughters alongside me also helped me see which toys my little princesses are really hoping Santa brings them this Christmas – and it gave me an inside look into which toys your kids are most likely to want, too. For instance, Fingerling Hugs were a big hit with the whole family, as well as a cool electric guitar designed for kids. You can hop over to my Instagram to see my daughter rocking out.

The Surprise Toy Hits for the 2018 Holiday Season

Every year there are some surprise toy hits that all kids want for Christmas. Often, they are so popular that they run out leaving parents searching frantically to find them before Christmas morning. To help you avoid this mess, here are three of the surprise toy hits for 2018.

• WowWee Fingerling Hugs – Fingerling Hugs are bigger, huggable, interactive stuffed versions of last year’s popular fingerling toys. These swinging monkeys make the cutest sounds when you play with them and come in bright colors. My daughters love them!

• Feisty Pets – If your kid has not mentioned Feisty Pets yet, they will soon. Feisty Pets are cute stuffed animals until you squeeze them, and their feisty side comes out – complete with scary faces.

• Soggy Doggy Board Game – Last year was all about Pie Face, this year expect your youngest kids to want the Soggy Doggy Board Game.

You can find all of these at eBay Toytopia.

The Toys You Won’t Feel the Least Bit Guilty About Giving

While I am all about giving my girls toys that are simply fun and encourage imagination, I am even more excited to give them a toy that helps them learn. Thankfully, parents don’t have to look far. There are so many STEM toy options designed to help kids play and learn at the same time. For instance, my girls loved the Wonder Workshop Dash Coding Robot. There are several STEM coding toys on the market now, and your kids will love these fun challenges.

The Toys That Never Go Out of Style

At Toytopia NYC, I was also happy to see that there are some toys that will never go out of style. While they are continuously being improved from one generation to the next, some toys will always be well loved by children. Kids will always love playing with dolls and action figures (whether they are Disney princesses, Marvel superheroes, or Transformers), LEGOs, and game systems (such as PlayStation).

What toys are on your kid’s wish lists this year? What wish list items surprise you?