Fashion & Gear - Toys

Green Lullaby

Green Lullaby — an eco-friendly design company based in Israel — has debuted an adorable new dollhouse girls of all ages will love.

Easy-to-put together and take apart, the My Green Dollhouse ($70) is made of 100% extra-tough cardboard made from recycled materials. Added bonus: the paints, adhesives, lacquer and fire retardant are non toxic and water-based.

A fresh take on the traditional dollhouse, it sports a modern pink/brown palette and whimsical home decor drawings. It’s also 100% recyclable and biodegradable, so when its time is up — just throw it in the recycle bin.

Natural Pod Tree Branch Blocks

Since arriving in our playroom, the award-winning Tree Branch Blocks ($30 CAD) from Natural Pod have been a major source of entertainment for my children.

Packaged in a simple cotton bag, these beautiful ‘blocks’ are made from local tree branches from Vancouver Island. They’re sanded until smooth (so no splinters!) and finished with beeswax.

Available in three sizes, the smallest set has 14 pcs — which is a great starter set for mini builders. My son and I loved playing with all the different shapes and creating all kinds of new structures together.

Interested in buying a set? Right now, Natural Pod is offering 10% on all purchases until December 1st. Just enter the coupon code CBB.66f71de.

While you’re shopping, check out their new Natural Pod dollhouse — it’s beyond drool-worthy. Another fave is the innovative Push-Cart/Doll Rocker combo. Both will provide hours and hours of incredible family fun.

– Stephanie

P’kolino Little Reader Sofa

I love the idea of having child-size seating for my toddlers to cozy up on while reading. And the P’kolino Little Reader Sofa ($98) is a great option. The long size is perfect for two or more little ones which encourages shared reading. And the super soft, stain resistant faux-suede is both luxurious and easy to clean. Plus the mini sofa sports two side pockets — perfect for stashing extra books.

And if your kids really want to relax, it unfolds to create a comfy sleeper. We admit it’s not a cheap buy, but if you have more than one little reader in your house it could come in handy. And the well-made construction ensures it will go the distance. The sofa also comes in red.

– Sarah

Svan

It’s hard to find furniture or toys for that matter that will stand the test of time. But Anka by Svan’s Mini Furniture ($199.95-$249.95) is the real deal. Available in three glossy finishes (natural, honey or espresso), the durable Scandinavian set includes a round table, three chairs and a stool.

Easy to clean, you can wipe away anything from washable marker and crayon marks to juice and food, which makes it perfect for both tea parties and art time. The stool is super sturdy so parents can sit comfortably and play along.

Although recommended for ages 2 to 7, my very tall 19-month-old twins enjoyed the set a great deal. It’s a great investment for parents who want a toy that will last.

Exclusive for CBB Readers: Use code QUACK for 10% off the Anka by Svan Mini Furniture at AnkaBabyStore.com.

– Sarah

Svan Scooter

I’ve only had the Svan Scooter ($99.95) for a week and already I’ve received a dozen compliments. My husband was blown away by the sleek, modern design. My twins love how smoothly it rolls. And friends and family who stopped by wanted one for their own kids or as a gift for new parents.

I admit I was initially impressed with the sculpted curves of the luxurious birch wood (available in a natural or espresso finish). Unlike most of our kids’ toys, I didn’t mind leaving this one on display in the living room. But it’s not only good-looking, the sturdy construction and thoughtful safety features are also a plus. The wheels have covers to protect little fingers and the front wheels turn 360 degrees to make steering effortless and easy for my 19 month-olds.

Perfect for ages 18 months and up.

Exclusive for CBB Readers: Use code SCOOT at checkout for 10% off the Svan Scooter.

– Sarah

Step 2 LifeStyle Gourmet Café Kitchen

One of the highlights of the Step 2 LifeStyle Gourmet Café Kitchen ($100) is the dual-sided design that gives my twins plenty of space to interact. Sure they can both stand on one side of the kitchen, playing with the sink, stove or appliances. But the open window and counter space on the opposite side makes it ideal for shared play.

Putting it together wasn’t difficult, especially once we got out the drill to burrow the screws through the plastic. And when the stickers were in place — which gives it a French country/modern look — my little ones were ready to get cooking.

The kitchen includes two battery operated sound features: a burner that has boiling and frying sounds and a cute phone. However, without batteries, it was just as fun for my kids. The deep sink has a swiveling faucet and there’s storage space for all of the accessories.

It also comes with two place settings of bowls, plates, cups and flatware, three storage baskets, lidded pots and pans, spices, a pepper grounder, food, etc. Plus, the durable plastic is easy to keep clean and built to go the distance.

– Sarah, mom to twins Lily and Logan, 19 months, works part-time and obsesses over things that are perfect for two while simultaneously making her life a little easier

VTech Kidizoom Plus

Ever since our baby Ella was born in June, my husband and I have been snapping pictures left and right, capturing those precious first months of our newborn’s life. And thanks to VTech’s Kidizoom Plus camera ($60), our 8-year-old daughter has joined in on the photography fun!

Designed for ages three to nine, this camera is more sophisticated than other kiddie toy cameras we’ve tried. With a memory big enough to store 2000 photos, it’s digital and has a 2.0 pixel resolution for super sharp images.

Despite its many cool features, the Kidizoom Plus is surprisingly easy to use. My daughter figured it out in a few minutes and loves the photo editing feature that allows her to distort images (of dear old Mom!) or embellish them with horns, oversized lips or silly frames. Though I expect she’ll soon find these special effects too babyish, the five hand-held games on the camera — such as Jigsaw or Dance with Me — are unlikely to lose their appeal.

My favorite part of the camera, though, is the video feature which allows budding directors to shoot up to 10 minutes of home movies. Cables are also included so the whole family can view the masterpieces on a TV screen.

– Joanne, a Manhattan mother of aspiring writer, Olivia, 8, and cuddly newborn Ella, three months, is always on the lookout for stylish yet durable clothing and gear for her family

Scribblenauts

We’re not big fans of video games in general, but when this cool — and addictive — game arrived we got an instant crush. It’s not only really fun, but it’s a great way to boost your budding wordsmith’s vocabulary.

Made for the Nintendo DS, Scribblenauts ($30) features a hero, Maxwell, who’s searching for “Starites” on a Super-Mario style quest. To help him claim his stars, kids can conjure up whatever tool they can think of. Star stuck in a tree? Just type in “lumberjack” and “ax” to chop it down. Or type in “fire” to burn the trunk until the tree collapses. Either way, Maxwell gets his star.

The game challenges kids to expand their imaginations and knowledge of words. Points are awarded at the end of each level based on how innovative a solution is (the lumberjack is worth much more than, say, using a chainsaw). It even teaches kids to find positive ways to solve problems — Maxwell gets bonus points if he’s nice to his enemies and for heroic acts like saving other characters.

Overall, it’s a fun, learning game that the whole family can play together.

– Sara Gaynes

P’kolino Multi-Use Art Easel

Disguised as a simple easel, the thoughtfully designed P’kolino Multi-Use Art Easel ($99) is actually so much more. Not only does it sport lots of cool features, it doubles as a puppet theater — perfect for all budding artists.

Made of a sturdy wood frame, it has a chalkboard on one side and a whiteboard (a.k.a. dry-erase board) on the other. It also holds paper rolls and single sheets up to 18” wide. The supply tray has two cup holders and space to place basic art supplies.

Transforming it into a puppet theater is easy as 1-2-3. Just flip the board upside down and let your little ones choose from two colorful backdrops. Putting it away is also a cinch, the entire easel folds flat so it can be tucked out of the way.

It comes in natural wood with your choice of orange or white accents.

– Sarah, mom to twins Lily and Logan, 20 months, works part-time and obsesses over things that are perfect for two while simultaneously making her life a little easier

Citiblocs

CitiBlocs are a pretty simple concept, but the execution is actually high tech! Crafted from smooth New Zealand pine, each block is shaped precisely with clean edges for a perfect fit. Sets range from 52 blocks (just $15) to 1000 blocks ($230) and each comes with a how-to booklet that has some of the coolest-looking structures I’ve ever seen. My 4-year-old son and I played with a 100-block set ($28) and were able to make a really tall tower with pieces left over. Overall I loved the retro feel and the appeal of high-quality wooden toys never gets old for me.

– Kristen