LilSugar

Sort It Out! 8 Shape Sorters For Busy Hands and Minds

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:03:07 PST

There are few toys more universally loved by toddlers than the shape sorter. A first toy for many tots, the shape sorter helps lil ones build hand-eye coordination, recognize shapes and colors, and encourage independent play. While a basic cube with spaces will do, these eight sorters add even more excitement to the activity. Check them out!

5 Cool Rides For Modern Tots

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:02:32 PST

The Little Tikes Cozy Coupe may be a classic when it comes to ride-on toys lil ones can power on their own, but the bright red and yellow plastic pieces don't suit every mama's style. For those that prefer wood to plastic, and warm tones to bright, we turn our attention to more contemporary designers. Using eco-friendly materials, these toys give tots the rides of their lives without sacrificing one ounce of style! Check them out!

Playtime! 5 Creative Additions For Your Toy Box

Kate Stahl — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:04:00 PST

Winter can call for a little - OK, a lot - of creativity. Get some help (and get your kids away from the television) with these five supercreative new toys. From an affordable, make-your-own model that your lil one will spend hours designing online to a book with incredible disappearing-ink technology that requires some fun and time-consuming interaction, these toys are totally worth the cost. Now how many days do we have until Spring?

Tops Are Making a Resurgence, But You Won't Recognize Them!

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:34:57 PST

Everything old is new again - just with a different spin on them. Tops, the classic toys that have occupied tots for hundreds of years received a 21st century makeover with the introduction of Beyblades. Using a "launcher," or a rip cord, the tops then spin on the floor or in an arena where they battle to see which can spin the longest. The sleeper-hit holiday toy of the season, Beyblades were one of the most requested toys among kindergarten to fifth-grade boys last month.

Now Hasbro is set to put a decidedly girlie spin (pun intended) on the age-old toy. In March, the company (which also distributes Beyblades) will expand the FurReal Friends line with the introduction of Dizzy Dancers ($9) - a collection of "twirling, dancing pets." Using the familiar rip cord (now called a Dizzy Cord), the stuffed animal-topped toys can be launched to spin their way around the home. The cute characters are interchangeable, so they can be mixed and matched to create custom pets. Each package will also come with a "Twistin' Tricks Card" to teach lil ones new ways to spin.

Similar to Lego's recent launch of girl-friendly Lego Friends, how do you feel about female versions of popular toys?

Organize Your Life: 6 Tips For Cleaning Up Toys

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:16:18 PST

Ask most moms the biggest hurdle to having an organized home and you're sure to hear a chorus of "toys!" Sure, we try to keep our lil one's dolls, trucks, blocks, and puzzles under control, but there's just so much of it and so little space to put it in!

As we work to better organize our lives in the New Year, we turned to Sarah Giller Nelson, a Chicago-based professional organizer and the owner of Less is More (and a mom of two), for some advice on what to do with all those toys. According to Sarah, "There's always an accumulation of toys, it's just figuring out the right way to store them." Keep reading to see Sarah's suggestions!

Best of 2011: What Was Your Favorite New Toddler Toy?

Nicole Abbott — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:37:45 PST

Toy makers released lots of new toddler toys this year - was there one in particular that your tot couldn't get enough of? Eco-friendly mamas opted to entertain their tykes with green - and educational! - toys like the Green Toys' Pizza Parlor ($19) and the Plan Toys' Build a Robot ($32). Tots who are always on the go got the ride of a lifetime on the new Wishbone Flip Rocker & Rider ($165). Pint-sized photographers got a kick out of taking pictures of themselves with the Fisher-Price Kid-Tough See Yourself Camera ($40) - while little engineers built spaceships with the Educo Discovery Spaceship And Lift Off Rocket ($96)!

So which new toddler toy did your tyke love the most? Let us know or add another toy in the comments.

Lego to Introduce Girl-Friendly Lego Friends Sets in the New Year

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:47:11 PST

Think the LeapPad and Air Swimmers were the most anticipated toys of 2011? Think again! On Jan. 1 (or Dec. 26 in the UK) Lego is introducing Lego Friends - its first significant entry into the world of girls play, with a $40 million global marketing plan to support 23 different products - including six new colors (think pastels) and 29 minidolls that look more lifelike than the current minifigs.

After years of anthropological studies, Lego learned the differences in how boys and girls play. Among their findings are:

"Whereas boys tend to be 'linear' - building rapidly, even against the clock, to finish a kit so it looks just like what’s on the box-girls prefer 'stops along the way' and to begin storytelling and rearranging."
"The key difference between girls and the ladyfig and boys and the minifig was that many more girls projected themselves onto the ladyfig - she became an avatar. Boys tend to play with minifigs in the third person."
"The greatest concern for girls really was beauty." Girls want their toys to demonstrate beauty, just as boys wanted theirs to demonstrate mastery.

The result is a line of toys that includes five main characters, each with a backstory and a "set" that she can play in, including a salon, a horse academy, and a veterinary clinic. Major retailers plan to give the new sets plenty of shelf space after the holidays, so expect to see the pastel colors everywhere.

Do you think the new Lego Friends will attract more girls to build and play? Click through the images that follow for a sneak peek at the sets and share your thoughts in the comments below!

Vroom, Vroom! Play Garages For Kids Who Love Things That Go!

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:15:54 PST

Honk, honk, beep, beep, hey buddy, move it! For kids that love things that go, the garage is equivalent of a dollhouse to lil doll lovers. Available at almost every price level and made from a variety of materials, wooden versions can stand the test of time and be handed down to future generations. The tall structures - full of ramps and elevators - can take the traditional route (like the Down the Earth version above) or go modern (like Melissa and Doug's). Take a look at some of our favorite wooden garage playsets and tell us which your tot prefers!

Melissa and Doug's Parking Garage Playset ($80), Alex Toys Parking Garage ($95), Down the Earth Auto Play Center ($220), KidKraft Deluxe Garage Set ($89), Educo by Hape Park and Go Garage ($80).

10 Hysteria-Inducing Toy Crazes

Natasha Dantzig — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:50:14 PST

Step away from the Tickle Me Elmo! Toy crazes are nothing new, and 2011 is no exception. There's always that one certain toy, game, or doll that every child simply must have, and parents will go to any length to acquire it for them. Keep reading for some of the most popular toys in history that turn generally well-mannered adults into toy-crazed maniacs.

6 Tips For Buying Safe Toys This Holiday Season

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:31:58 PST

There's more to picking a tot's holiday gift than meets the eye! Sure, we go into the store armed with lists of toys that will make our lil ones grin ear to ear, but smart mamas know there's still more work to be done. Before putting a toy in your cart and moving on, be sure it is safe for the intended recipient. From what to look for on the box to which toys to avoid, follow our tips to ensure you're bringing the safest gifts into your home!