As a mom of three active boys, I know all too well the feeling of kids bouncing off the walls indoors when they’ve had too much time on electronics or just too much time sitting around.

When they start climbing on furniture and jumping on each other, I know it’s time to get out and release energy.

That’s why over the years, we’ve loved all sorts of active outdoor play — or when indoors, we’ve just let the kids bounce on the couches or resorted to home-made crash pads to soften their falls.

But one of our favorite less messy and safer alternatives has been a ready-to-go bounce house for both outdoor AND indoor use (if you have the space)!

That’s why I “jumped” at the opportunity to check out one that could stand the test of time and weight, from POGO Bounce Houses — designed for residential use, but with the strength and durability of commercial-quality material.

Crossover Rainbow Castle Smiley Face Bounce House + Slide

POGO offers several style bounce houses and slides that appeal to kids of all ages, but this one especially caught our eye. The bright rainbow colors, smiley face, and ample 12×12 room for bouncing are ideal for my growing boys with tons of energy.

We got the combo bounce house with a built-in 4.5 ft slide — perfect for a little thrill after the bouncing. It comes with a splash pool attachment to add even more fun possibilities when used dry or wet. The little pool can be filled with balls, soft blocks or their gym mat for extra cushion when coming down the slide, or of course, with refreshing water for those hot days — there’s even a built-in mister to cool kids off as they head down the slide!

And if you’re worried about quality, it’s reassuring to know that POGO bounce houses are not your typical inflatable bounce houses — their crossover bouncers are constructed with 100% vinyl material much stronger than the more common, cheaper nylon inflatables. They feature multiple layers of double and quadruple stitching to last for years.

We saw this in action as multiple kids jumped together and the bouncer endured — and if you go over the weight limit (about 4 kids, 500 lbs for ours) the option to add a second blower is key to prevent deflating!

Although we’ve only had the Rainbow Castle for a couple of weeks, we’ve already found SO many ways to get creative.

Below are 5 ways we’re getting the most out of our POGO bounce house (and how you can too, year-round!

Releasing energy

As I mentioned, my boys have a lot of energy, and releasing that energy is a big goal of ours. So whenever weather permits, we will take advantage and let them bounce around in the yard to let go and burn energy more safely.

Physical exercise

Along with releasing energy, our new bounce house is perfect for engaging the boys in more physical activity (and away from screens!). This way they can jump up and down, flip, slide, dive and move as much as their little hearts desire all while getting a workout in.

Motor Skills & Coordination

Yes! If you’ve ever stepped foot in a bounce house, you surely know how much coordination is needed to keep your balance! Not only do you need coordination to jump up and also land where you want, but you also need the skill to carefully time your movements and not crash into other kids! I love knowing that our bouncy house helps my kids get better body control, learn spatial awareness, and strengthen those motor skills as they play!

Boredom buster

I’ve lost count of the number of times my kids have uttered those words… “Mom, I’m bored!” It’s as though they need to always be “doing something” right?! Lucky for us, we have this big ole’ bouncy house to minimize the boredom. And I find they can get so creative in their play, they start with bouncing and then end up in an imaginary play for hours on end.

Birthday parties

How can you see a bounce house and not think of birthday parties? I know that’s always on my mind, especially as a mom with 3 back-to-back spring birthdays. We broke out the Rainbow Castle for our middle guys’ recent party and hope to use it again next month for our oldest’s birthday. It’s an easy way to up-level any kids’ party and just brings so much joy and excitement to everyone’s eyes!

If you’ve been considering a bounce house for your kids or getting an early start to your birthday/holiday shopping, check them out! You can learn more about POGO and see the array of bounce houses they offer like the Rainbow Smiley Crossover, here.

I received the featured product to facilitate this review. However, all opinions are 100% my own. To hear more as we share our experience, follow on Instagram stories.

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

mommysbundle.com

The post Rainbow Castle Smiley Face Bounce House Slide Combo Review appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.

RELATED: Beach Essentials for Baby and Toddler

This post may contain affiliate links.

Build a Sand Castle.

There’s nothing better than a good old sand castle — it seems to be a rite of passage for annual beach visits in our family. Plus building one requires lots of shapes — the perfect use for those shovel-pail and other assortment of beach toys toddlers love! You can buy one on sale here.

Bring a Kiddie Pool.

Is your little one not quite ready to splash about in the ocean yet? No worries. Take the kiddie pool to the beach! Just add some ocean water to the pool for hours of entertainment for your baby and toddler. This is one of our favorite ways to introduce our kids to the water.

RELATED: Pool Toys Every Toddler Will Love

Write in the Sand.

Teach your kids their ABCs as they roll around in the sand! There are so many ways to have fun with this activity: use your feet to write out the different letters and have your child mimic you; use your fingers to practice writing their name and have your child trace the letters with their fingers; or use sticks as a writing implement!

Make Ocean Pools.

For kids who enjoy the calming sensory experience of pouring and sifting water and sand on the beach, making ocean pools is another really fun activity.  The simple idea here is to dig a small hole and have your child fill it with buckets of water. They will enjoy the repetitive motions of pouring and playing with water and can add some more excitement by mixing rocks and seaweed to the pools for pretend play cooking. This shovel set is perfect for an activity like this!

Chase Waves.

We all know how much toddlers love running. So why not continue the fun at the beach? If your child is a bit out of his or her comfort zone in the water, help them adjust by playing “water tag”. Playing is easy. Have your kid chase waves into the water and then watch them run away when those big waves come crashing back. This is also a great way to tire them out and ensure a long nap afterwards ;)!

Collect Seashells.

Grab a bucket and go on a little hunt for seashells! Look for them in the sand and on the shore to gather an array of different shells your toddler can later decorate or use in sensory play at home.

RELATED: Ocean Beach Sensory Bin

Make a Sea Creature.

You can call it a sand monster or a mermaid depending on what your child prefers, but this is another beach activity your little ones will love. Use a shovel and pail to gather up sand, water, rocks, shells, seaweed (for the hair) and whatever else you find to create a unique, texture-rich sea creature.

Throw Rocks.

With every trip to the beach our kids love the opportunity they get for tossing rocks into the ocean. The “plop” sounds splashing into the water is something every toddler enjoys hearing. So (as long as there aren’t any swimmers in the way) let your kids throw some rocks and enjoy it while they can!

Skim board.

This may seem a little challenging, but if your kids are interested (and like to live on the wild side like my boys) skim boarding will be a really fun activity for them to try at the beach. Plus, it’s better to start early when they’re fearless!

Swim like a Fish.

Sometimes kids just want to sit by the water’s edge and wait for the waves to come rushing in. A fun game for those shore-hangers is what we call “swimming fishy”. Your toddler can pretend he/she is a fishy (facing towards or away from the water) by kicking their legs (tail) while they sit at whatever water level they’re most comfortable in.

Toss a Beach Ball.

This is a classic beach game kids of ALL ages will love! Simply grab an inflatable beach ball and let your kids toss it around in the air. You can start with a basic 2-player game or get the whole family involved for a volleyball game.

Try a Scavenger Hunt.

Another way to keep kids active and busy at the beach, is via a beach-themed scavenger hunt. Pick a few essential beach items like seashells, seaweed, rocks and have your child find them. They can use a pail to collect all the goodies and show them off to mommy and daddy.

Play, I Spy Game, Beach Style.

Similar to a scavenger hunt is a search and find type beach activity. I like to differentiate the two, because one is more active than the other. It’s helpful to throw in an “I Spy” type activity to help kids recognize essential beach elements without having to actually get up and gather them. So you could yell out things like “I spy sun glasses” or  “I spy pigeon”  and “I spy a boat” type phrases and have your child point them out. (This is great if you have other children to attend to and need to be seated!)

Go Fishing.

When the kids have had enough running around and want to try to a more sedentary game in the water, try fishing! Simply grab a small net and bucket and let them go at it. Sometimes you can catch minnows right by the water’s edge so the kids don’t have to go in past their knees!

And if they’re more keen on staying out of the water, this magnetic fishing set that comes with an assortment of fish can be used right in the kiddie pool!

Heading to the beach now?  Get our printable checklist of activities to do with your toddler  right below!

                                                                       You may also enjoy:

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

mommysbundle.com

The post 14 Super Fun Beach Activities for Toddlers appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.

As curious little animal-loving boys, they have a particular fascination with sharks (amongst other creatures), so I knew I had to put together a fun little kids activity for shark week. Something quick and effortless, but perfect for their sensory play needs.

RELATED: Ocean Beach Sensory Bin

That’s when a shark-infested sensory bin came to mind.

This post may contain affiliate links.

To get started, we gathered a few very basic supplies of whatever we had in house.

I grabbed a long, yet shallow storage bin we purchased here that is ideal for sensory play. After gathering rocks from the yard, we filled the bin with water and added a few of these cute little plastic trees to decorate the ocean floor.

I also added a little blue food coloring to make it even more exciting for the boys. Seriously that color change made things so much more interesting. My kids kept ooing and ‘ahhing’ over it. The little things :).

Finally, we added the sharks. We love the Schleich brand sharks because they are super durable and can withstand the rough play of toddler and preschool age boys. You can get the one we own at Amazon.com or even this cute little set that comes with a cage and underwater diver my kids would’ve gone nuts over!

My 4 year-old added a little turtle and brave little “sea diver” to fight off the sharks.

Look at those jaws! What a scary close-up of the vicious sea creatures.

The boys had so much fun watching the ripples in the water form and listening to the splashing sharks. They eventually added a bunch of other animals too – some dino-like critters I can’t even name to be honest!

Definitely a great way to entertain them while simultaneously teaching them a thing or two about sharks. I should definitely do more of these sensory bins, since they can have such a calming effect and help wind kids down after a hectic day!

Please share the image below with someone you think would love this activity!

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

mommysbundle.com

The post Shark Sensory Bin: An Easy Shark Week Activity appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.

But then you remember the task ahead of you is real: dividing your time and attention between the baby, toddler and other kids. This is especially true when it comes time for entertaining the little ones ALL AT ONCE.

It’s not always easy to find activities that both baby and toddler can partake in. Typically babies and toddlers don’t have the same interests and aren’t quite on the same skill level. That’s when life calls for a little creativity.

This post may contain affiliate links.

Read at home or visit the library

Reading to children of any age is one of the best activities you can do together as a family. You can read at home with the kids any time or when you’re ready to brave it and head out the door with more than one kid in tow, the local library makes a great destination. Story time in a public setting like this, however, works best if your baby isn’t incredibly mobile yet. Sit the baby on your lap, or put that baby sling to use while you take in the story with all your children.

Related: Why You Need a Baby Carrier With Second Baby

Get your groove on

Don’t underestimate the power of some fun tunes when it comes to keeping baby and toddler entertained! Simply find a way to incorporate music into whatever activity you’re doing. Turn the music up and start dancing, find a show with their favorite music, or make your own beats with musical instruments!

You can start with a basic music set that includes maracas and drums (buy here) or upgrade to this Melissa & Doug set as your kids’ musical interests expand!

Blow bubbles

This is a favorite for children of all ages, especially little ones! Toddlers will get a kick out of chasing and popping bubbles and even practicing the art of blowing, while babies will love to track bubble movements with their eyes and feel the sensation on their face. Such a hit indoors and outdoors, any time of the year.

Related: Easy Bubble Art Activity for Toddlers

Play with toys on the floor

You don’t always need a fancy pre-planned activity to get the kids involved. Occasionally, it will suffice to simply grab a bunch of toys, arrange them on a blanket and let imaginations get to work.

Babies can explore the different textures and sensory stimulation around them, while toddlers enjoy some pretend play with mommy nearby!

Make food art

Not afraid of a little messy play? It can be super beneficial developmentally to both kids. Strip down your baby to the bare minimum: diapers and bib and set some pudding or applesauce in front of them to explore. Have your older child explore other foods like fruits and vegetables and help them create funny faces and practice their color skills.

Chat up a storm

Have you ever just sat down to talk to your baby and toddler? Ask your toddler questions and then help him start a conversation with baby. This is a great activity to help your little one learn fundamental language skills, even if they can’t yet talk!

Take a walk

If you are blessed to live in warm weather year round, this is an activity you can add to your list every day. Consider a walking trail or even taking a nature walk around your property, if you have it. Walks are great for everyone, but especially toddlers and babies when it’s time to wind down.

Related: How to Get Your Baby & Toddler to Nap at the Same Time

Go to the local zoo

Find your nearest zoo, animal farm or aquarium and make a day trip with the kids (and bring a friend to help too!). Toddlers will love to see their favorite animals in real life, while baby can enjoy the new sights and sounds.

Try sensory play

We are big fans of sensory play for a number of reasons, but mainly because of how much our kids love sensory-based activities. Exploring different textures and objects with favorite toys tends to have a calming effect on our rambunctious toddler and helps baby with sensory stimulation and development.

Some of our favorite sensory play activities include a dinosaur sensory bin and a winter snow sensory bin.

Get outside

In need of some fresh air? The kids will surely appreciate it. Getting outside for some seasonal fun can do wonders for children. Whether it’s jumping in leaf piles, splashing in the kiddie pool or playing in the snow, toddlers are bound to crave some outdoor time! As for that little baby in your arms? They can join in the fun by watching their big brothers/sisters and mimicking what they see.

What is your favorite activity that baby and toddler can do together?

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

mommysbundle.com

The post 10 Easy Activities Baby & Toddler Can Do Together appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.

No one wants to picture that dreaded scene during bath time, especially when your toddler really needs to get clean.

Luckily, I’ve found a few tips that have helped end our bath time struggles. In fact, nowadays when we utter “bath” our two boys jump for joy and race to find their favorite bath toys. What a difference time and a few adjustments have made!

This post may contain affiliate links.

1. Toys

This should be a no-brainer. To make bath time less of a “chore” for toddlers means making it all about fun play time rather than just getting clean. But don’t grab any old bath toys. Think of the toys that your child enjoys playing with most. Is it animal figurines? Under the sea creatures? Stacking cups? Whatever it is, make sure you incorporate those into bath time. Once those favorite toys are part of the process, bath time will just mean fun water time :).

2. Toy Storage

Now that you’ll have an assortment of toys cluttering your bath (hehe), you’ll need to find a little space to store them neatly for easy access next time.

We’ve tried several toy storage ideas, but really love our Whale Sea Scooper!! Not only is it a fun-looking bright addition to the bathroom, it is also large and sturdy enough to hold a number of our favorite bath creatures.

My boys love using it to scoop up all the other animals come clean-up time. The holes allow the whale to drain water so toys dry quickly.

Another plus? You can easily attach it to the wall to make room for all the splashin’ around.

3. Tear-Free Wash

It goes without saying, that a shampoo/conditioner or body wash used on little ones should be tear-free. Although it can be tempting to buy a wash based on the cute character packaging, if it contains harsh chemicals that can irritate the skin or eyes, it should be avoided.

I love to keep it simple with Aquaphor baby wash — perfect for delicate skin and won’t provoke unnecessary tears.

4. Tear-Free Rinse

For some reason, my kids HATE when it comes time to wash their hair. They are fine with splashing about and making all sorts of water mess, but anytime the water touches their heads it’s a different story. That’s why I have to be very cautious and gentle when rinsing shampoo from their little heads.

In the past, I tried a few things that didn’t quite work: a washcloth (which didn’t quite get all the suds out) and of course, a regular cup for rinsing (which only caused more tears!).

But when I started using this Rinse Cup from Nuby, the number of tears dropped dramatically! The tear-free edge is soft and contoured so it can be gently placed against the skin to help prevent water from running into baby’s eyes while rinsing their hair. That is simply genius! I wish I had discovered this cup a few years ago!!

5. Safety Accessories

Safety in the water is major deal so I couldn’t leave it off the list. Besides keeping an eye on kids while they play in the bath and monitoring water temperatures, it’s important to make sure that any injuries are avoided. Whether that means adding a no-slip mat the tub or making sure the faucet is covered with a little cushion like this adorable Hippo Water Spout Guard, safety shouldn’t be neglected.

This spout cover is perfect for protecting little heads from accidents as they focus on the water fun around them.  We love how the hippo’s mouth can alternate between free-flowing water and a spray water from the hippo’s nostrils — keeps things entertaining :)!

So if you haven’t yet found a way to simplify the bath time process, make a few small adjustments like these to see how much fun bath time can become for everyone!

What are some bath time must-haves your family uses?

Disclosure: I received products samples from Nuby to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

mommysbundle.com

The post 5 Must-Haves for a No-Fuss Toddler Bath appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.

My 3-year-old is always looking for an excuse to dump glitter or salt all over the table. It must be that exciting rush he gets from doing what’s forbidden as he asserts his toddler independence (and looks for a reaction from mommy)! What can I say, he knows how to push my buttons.

But with the cold winter keeping us indoors more and more these days, I thought I would give him the chance to dump as much glitter as he desires with a fun icicle craft.

We had so much fun exploring snow with our winter sensory bin, that I figured it was only fitting to continue the pattern. If you have a child around the same age, or one that is looking to do a craft inspired by Frozen, this one is an easy one to try!

This post contains affiliate links.

Simple Icicle Craft

Materials

• Glitter (we used a mix of white and blue)
• Construction paper
• Glue
• Tray (to contain the mess – if you don’t have one this works too!)

This is a really easy craft that only takes a few minutes and is a great way to help kids understand more about the changing seasons — especially as the snow begins to fall and icicles form around the house. It was inspired by this wonderful post from Inner Child Fun.

Tape a piece of construction paper to a tray or box to make it easier to work with and catch all your glitter.

Then instruct your child to draw a line with glue at the very top of the paper. For smaller children, you can draw a line with a marker and then ask them to trace it with the glue. I did this with my son and he had no problem.

Let the kids go over the line several times to make it thicker.

Then tilt the tray up and watch the icicles form! The kids will stare in amazement :).

We drew two lines of glue to make it even more fun.

Now let the kids go wild with glitter. It’s best to use a glitter jar that has holes punched out so you can limit how much glitter is used…otherwise there will be none left ;).

Let the glue dry and you have a beautiful piece of winter art!

This icicle craft is perfect for teaching kids about the letter “I” if you do letter of the week type activities. It is part of the fun collection of Kids Crafts from A-Z hosted at Playdough and Popsicles through the month of January. Check out the remaining crafts and activities HERE.

You may also like: 

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

mommysbundle.com

The post Icicle Craft: Easy Winter Activity for Toddlers appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.

It’s the middle of January with freezing temperatures every day. But the kids don’t mind. They’re still looking for fun ways to play outside with snow even though it hasn’t actually snowed yet…

Of course, as a reasonable parent, the last thing you want to do is take them out to play in the bitter cold. So why not bring the fun inside with some easy indoor winter sensory play?

Our winter sensory bin includes a variety of items that serve as pretend snow when the real thing isn’t available.  So they can get that fun sensory experience and pretend to build snowballs or even a snowman! All you need is a few supplies to keep the kids entertained and learning.

Related: The Best Winter Activities for BabiesThis post contains affiliate links.

RELATED: INDOOR ACTIVITIES TO KEEP KIDS BUSY IN WINTER

How to Make a Pretend Snow Sensory Bin

Supplies

• Cotton balls (we used a couple of bags from the dollar store)
• Styrofoam balls (we found ours at Michael’s)
• Cotton blanket/pretend snow
• Blue tissue paper
• Blue gems or marbles (from the dollar store)
• Decorative snow flakes
• Spoons, shovels or clothespins (to scoop up the “snow”)
• A shallow storage bin
• Arctic animals (my kids love these go-to polar bears)

To start, gather all your ingredients and begin filling your bin.

We found most of our pretend snow at the dollar store. We used a variety of material to make for a fun mix of different textures and types of snow the kids would have fun exploring. Cotton balls and crumpled tissue paper for snow balls, glass gems for frozen snow, styrofoam balls for giant snowman-ready snow, iridescent snowflake ornaments for pretty snowflakes and icicles and some cotton blanket for even more variety!

Grab whatever utensils you have around the house like spoons and shovels for scooping up the different types of snow and clothes pins for helping kids practice their fine-motor skills.

Our guys had a great time exploring the bin and sorting through all the different types of snow.

They even invited some arctic animals (you can get a family set or an array of friends) in for a visit :).

Such an easy way to help keep those kids entertained and actively learning!

Next time the kids are begging to go outside in the colder winter days, bring the fun indoors with a wintry mix sensory bin they can’t refuse – it makes for a great boredom buster and ensures everyone stays nice and toasty even in the (pretend) snow!

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like:

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

mommysbundle.com

The post Winter Snow Sensory Bin Activity appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.

So naturally, he took an early liking to all things science-related including sensory bins, bath playtime and exploring with art.

Preschoolers seem to have a knack for testing the limits as they fill their growing little brains with new information each day.

This post may contain affiliate links.

So to help those little ones continue learning in a more ideal way and not cause so much stress to parents, we put together an assortment of science activities to help nurture their growing minds.

Sensory Bins

Winter Sensory Bin

Water Beads & Apples Sensory Bin

Magnet Sensory Bin

Ocean Sensory Bin

Ice Cube Exploration

Melting Ice Experiment

Painting with Ice

Polar Ice Fishing Experiment

Escape Ice Mountain with Batman

Dinosaur Eggs Ice Exploration

Floating & Boating

Simple Floating Sailboat Craft

Clay Boat Science

Water Experiments

Water Cycle Experiment

Walking Water Experiment

Cotton Ball Water Absorption Experiment

Watercolor Resist Experiment

Gravity Experiments for Kids

Gravity & Weight Experiment

Growing Grass Experiment

Baking Soda, Vinegar & Potions

Chemical Reactions with Baking Soda & Vinegar

Keep Preschoolers Busy with Science

Baking Soda & Vinegar Dancing Rice

Baking Soda Art

Hatch Dinosaur Eggs

Valentine’s Love Potion

Fizzing Fairy Potions

Laboratory Tools for Preschoolers

To get started with all these great science experiments, a few essential laboratory tools are needed. You can grab a few cups and spoons from the kitchen or use this handy science kit from the folks at Educational Insights!We love this lab kit for a few reasons.

First, what kid doesn’t love fun safari animals?! These adorable jungle animals decorate each test tube and lab tool? The lion, tiger and elephant make creating chemical reactions even more of an adventure!

The kit includes:

• Large lion and small cub test tube with pour-spout mouths
• Rhino flask
• Elephant funnel
• Hippo tongs
• Monkey dropper
• And 10 hands-on activity cards using ingredients in your kitchen and yard

Another great feature of the kit, is the durable tubes and flasks that can handle the strength of 3 and 4 year olds…because we all know tools may inevitably be tossed to the floor a few times.

Preschoolers will also love the kid-friendly sizes that are prefect for their little hands to grasp.

Exploring with science is not only great for helping to stimulate those little brains, but also keeping kids focused on a task.My 3 year-old didn’t want to stop experimenting…especially with the baking soda and vinegar reactions — one of his favorites!

This kit is perfect for STEM learning and makes a great gift for the budding scientist!

You can grab the kit on Amazon on sale HERE.

I received a GeoSafari Jr. Jungle Crew Lab Kit to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

mommysbundle.com

The post 25+ Fun Ways to Introduce Your Preschooler to Science appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.

Remember how much fun you had playing the Wii? It was an action-packed video game system that enabled an adult to feel like a kid again and get a little exercise in the process!

If you have small children that were too young for the Wii, LeapFrog’s LeapTV is the perfect solution. It’s an educational gaming system designed specifically to keep small kids moving and learning. And with the days growing colder and colder, this is an amazing way to help kids burn off some energy indoors!

Why the LeapTV is Ideal for Small Children

Makes Learning Fun

The number one reason, your kids will love playing with their new LeapTV is simply because of all the fun they will have. With more than 100 games and apps to explore, the LeapTV helps little ones learn through motion to get their minds and bodies moving. They can practice dancing, jumping, or even racing and skating with their favorite characters like Elsa and Anna!

The gaming system is all about kid-friendly themes and play patterns to keep those little minds actively engaged.

3 Ways to Play

Playing is never boring with the LeapTV which offers three different ways to have fun. Kids can shake and tilt the controller for fast-paced playing with the classic control; They can twist, turn and move all around using the controller as a pointer; Or they can go all out with their entire body: dancing, jumping and karate-chopping as their unique movements control the on-screen action so they can see themselves on TV! How fun is that?!

Made for Young Kids

One of our favorite things about the LeapTV is how age appropriate the system is. The controllers are ergonomically designed to make it easy for little hands to manage, while the simple interface makes it intuitive for kids to navigate through.

And because it’s specifically for kids age 3-8, the audio instructions makes it much easier for a pre-reader like ours to follow along.

We have a very active 3 year-old who gets a bit of cabin-fever every winter when we are confined indoors. He is ALWAYS wanting to watch his dad play video games or build characters on the TV, so will really love having a gaming system made just for him.

This will also be one, brilliant way to help him burn-off energy in a fun and educational manner. We can’t wait for him to open it this Christmas!!

Be sure to check out the LeapTV this holiday season for your loved ones. You can find it on sale for more than 50% off (down from $129) HERE while supplies last!

Connect with LeapFrog on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more fun learning products!

Find more ways to help an active child burn off energy indoors?

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

mommysbundle.com

The post LeapTV: A Video Game to Keep Small Kids Active Indoors appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.

Ever since my toddler was born, his 3 year-old brother has been craving extra attention. And unfortunately sometimes that takes the form of acting out to make sure mommy notices…which of course then has the same effect on the little one. So you can imagine how difficult dividing time between my boys is.

I was therefore intrigued when I learned about My Friend Teddy — a teddy bear that interacts with little ones, doing everything from talking and laughing to learning and reading with them!

If you grew up in the 80’s you may recall a childhood favorite, Teddy Ruxpin — a similar-looking interactive teddy that read via cassette player. If you were a fan of that toy, you’ll be excited to hear about everything the super cuddly My Friend Teddy can do to help you manage time between your children.

My Friend Teddy Features

Interactive

My Friend Teddy is an interactive plush bear that talks, sings and reads to your little one. He can be personalized to learn everything about your child from their favorite games and foods to what they want to be when they grow up. This is a great feature because then Teddy can incorporate what he knows into engaging story time and conversation.

Touch & Motion Sensitive

When you press Teddy’s belly he begins talking. But the fun doesn’t stop there. Turn him upside down and he’ll say things like “wee — everything looks funny when your’e upside down”. It’s as if he is really alive!

Kid-Safe

Works off-line and does not connect to the internet. So although he can talk to your child based on the app settings, he is programmed to be use appropriate language for little ones.

Grows with your child

Once you configure the My Friend Teddy app to include your child’s age and info, Teddy adjusts his level of play. So each activity increases in complexity as your child grows, making it an incredibly fun learning tool for preschoolers.

Setting Up

My Friend Teddy starts talking to your child the moment you flip on the switch, but to get the most out of him, you will need to download the free app via Google Play or iTunes.

Then you simply fill out your child’s profile to include all his personal info and favorite things so Teddy will adapt to your child’s settings once you sync the info from your phone or tablet to the bear.

Playing

My boys LOVE My Friend Teddy!  There is just so much to do with the toy to keep them engaged and happy during those moments when I need to attend to the other.

They can’t stop snuggling with the soft bear, especially when Teddy asks for a hug.

And they really are having fun reading and learning with Teddy – Teddy knows so much about them already. Having him around helps make things a little easier when I need to spend a few minutes with the other! It’s amazing to see how much he can do!

My Friend Teddy Giveaway

Want a chance to win your very own My Friend Teddy?

Simply use the Rafflecopter form to leave a comment below for your chance to win. You are also encouraged to connect on social media for additional entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway open to all US residents 18  and over. Ends 12/28.

Learn more about My Friend Teddy and get him in time for the holidays here!

Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

mommysbundle.com

The post My Friend Teddy {Review & Giveaway} appeared first on Mommy's Bundle.