Reviews – Page 2

Tranquil Turtle

December 12, 2021 By denise Leave a Comment

Post contributed by Guest Writer: Nancy Trapuzzano:

I received the product in exchange for reviewing the item, however all opinions are my own.

Tranquil Turtle adds yet another sensory element to the mix with it’s underwater ocean visual effect being added to the soothing sounds of Surf (soft ocean waves) or Serenity (soothing music and sounds of the beach).

Tranquil Turtle has a soft, slightly textured plush fabric and a hard turtle shell from which the light emanates. Place the turtle in the middle of the room or on a dresser, and watch as the light forms the appearance of gentle moving waves on the ceiling and walls. It’s a welcome, soothing feel of being enveloped in a hug of soothing sight and sound. It’s so tranquil, calming and peaceful as it engages the senses and lulls little ones (and as I’ve learned from experience, at times, even parents!) off to sleep.

Like Sleep Sheep On the Go, Tranquil Turtle has an auto shutoff after its 23 minute cycle, extending the battery life of the included 3 AA batteries.

In addition to the auto shutoff, other key features include the ability to select your preferences of light, sound and volume. You have the option of having the Surf sound, Serenity music, or no sound at all. Light options are that of nightlight (stationary wavy blue lines projected on to the walls and ceiling) and water effect (moving wavy blue lines reminiscent of moving water).

Tranquil Turtle and Sleep Sheep On the Go have been such wonderful additions to my son’s sleep routine. I’ve noticed that with them, he falls asleep sooner, and is more relaxed as he drifts off to sleep.

Holiday Gift Guide-Children-Story Time Chess

December 5, 2021 By denise Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This is not a compensated or sponsored post. I was provided the product for review purposes only. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I have always loved playing games and I love Story Time Chess. This game is geared for all ages. Chess is an amazing game that sharpens critical thinking, boosts intelligence, and helps academic performance. What sets Story Time Chess apart is its ability to teach chess to young children. It does this using silly stories, colorful illustrations, custom chess pieces, and a custom chessboard.

The purpose of the 30+ minigames is to reinforce the mechanics o how the pieces and the game is played. The storybook shows each piece and the illustrated story behind how that piece likes to move. It brings the chess pieces to life with their fun characters and interesting movements. This really helps children visualize the piece on the chessboard and really understand how to move each one.

If you have young children or even older children that you are trying to teach the game of chess to, this is a great time to help them build lifelong skills. This is a great holiday gift to get this year.

Smithsonian Toys Let’s You View the World Differently

November 7, 2021 By denise Leave a Comment

I love STEM toys, I am a firm believer in having children engage and encourage them to learn more about science and the world around them. I love when I find toys that educate and are fun. I recently was introduced to a line of toys from Smithsonian that are perfect for the holidays.

Let’s start with a quick list of our favorite toys:

Product links:
Wave Machine: Smithsonian Wave Machine : Target
Prehistoric Sea Monsters: Smithsonian Prehistorian Sea Monster Kit : Target
Newton’s Cradle: Smithsonian Newton’s Cradle Science Kit : Target
Perpetual Motion: Smithsonian Perpetual Motion Kit : Target

These kits not only teach about important science topics like waves, magnets, potential and kinetic energy and prehistoric creatures, but also helped us to view the world. It is awesome to look at the ocean and to realize to realize the science behind the waves. There is so much to learn and this gives them the opportunity to learn so much.

The Smithsonian Wave Machine is a cool way to learn about waves! Not only that but it’s soothing to watch! This toy was inspirational for them to learn about waves. You could explore how waves impact the landscape. You learned about how waves and rip currents form. This kit really inspired his curiosity to go out and learn more, including about the largest waves ever recorded, what causes tides and why they are good to track, rogue waves, tsunamis, and more! This kit definitely made him view the world differently and he now has a better understanding of water, waves, and more! This kit is for ages 14+. It uses one C (1.5V) battery (not included).

The Smithsonian Prehistorian Sea Monster Kit is the coolest kit! Kids get to hatch their own prehistoric pets that grow to more than 20x their original size. It’s really quite amazing to watch a 220-million year old species come to life. This is another one of those toys that received hours and hours of attention from my children! This toy is for ages 7+. It does not need batteries.

The Smithsonian Newton’s Cradle Science Kit is another family favorite. I think that Newton’s Cradle is a staple in many high school science classrooms, so I was excited to show this amazing concept. It was fun to talk about Newton’s Third Law of Motion – for every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction. It’s so easy to observe how potential (stored) energy becomes kinetic energy and how momentum and energy are transferred from one side of Newton’s Cradle to the other. This toy provides the opportunity for many different experiments! This toy is for ages 8+. It does not need any batteries. It just needs a little energy from your little ones to get it started by dropping one of the balls!

The Smithsonian Perpetual Motion Kit is a fun toy that you may recognize. Perpetual motion machines are often seen in movies when there is a science lab. If you were lucky as a kid, one of your teachers had one in a classroom. This Smithsonian Perpetual Motion Kit is mesmerizing! It’s powered by an invisible magnetic field. Kids learn how batteries create the magnetic force to keep the machine working. This toy provides a fun opportunity to learn about first and second laws of the thermodynamics. We had fun learning about magnets, their early uses, and some of the ways that they are used in contemporary times. This toy is for ages 8+. It requires 4 (1.5V) AA batteries (not included).

I hope that you enjoyed this glimpse into these STEM toys. I love when I come across toys that inspire children to have fun learning about science and the world around them. These toys were not only fun, but they help children to view the world differently. I can’t say enough great stuff about how much we love these Smithsonian sets! We definitely recommend them for holiday gifts!