I love to travel. Alone. With my husband. With my friends. When it comes to travel – I am up for anything. The only thing I was really afraid of was traveling with a kid. That sounded like a terrible idea to me. Oh boy, I was so wrong.
A few months ago we decided to go on a family trip to Budapest. It was the first time we are going out of the country with our 4-year-old daughter. And guess what? It wasn’t so terrible after all. It was fun. She was having a great time. After that positive experience, I decided to take her everywhere – so we booked a cruise for November.
Since I want to prepare as much as I can, I decided to get few books on family travel. Travel With Kids from Edward Cox is one of those great books with lots of great tips. This book provides in-depth information on how to travel as a family. It includes information on how to pick the right destination and the right mode of travel, how to apply for passports and visas, and how to deal with culture shock on arrival and on re- entry. It also has special sections on how to travel with infants, toddlers, and teenagers.
My favorite part of the book is chapter ‘Surviving Re-entry’. It was always the hardest thing for me when it comes to traveling and it took me weeks to get back to my routine. So, imagine how hard will that be for the kids.
– The idea for this book has been rattling around in my head since my first child was born and most people that we knew assumed that we’d stop traveling. Traveling and living overseas was too hard with kids. I disagree. I want families to see that international travel with kids is not impossible, not too expensive, and definitely worth it – said Edward, the author and travel blogger on Nomadic Dragon.
Edward told us he also has several more books sketched out. Two are young adult fiction and two are non-fiction travel writing about the places that he, his wife and two sons traveled to so far. I am really looking forward to reading those!
Recently we talked about simple toys for kids, which reminded me about this awesome and simple game. This basic Magformers Rainbow set with triangles and squares we actually didn’t buy for our daughter, but for the older nephew. I decided to do a review anyway, because he loved it. His parents even bought him another set so he can have more pieces and better building power.
Magformers Rainbow Set
This set in rainbow colors has 18 squares and 12 triangles and it’s great for the beginning user. It appeals to boys and girls of all ages, but my girl was just one and a half when we bought that, so I wanted to wait a bit longer before letting her play with this.
Magformers are really easy to use and I even I enjoyed playing with my nephew. There are endless possibilities to the things we can create with this! I like this kind of toys that are educational and fun experiences at the same time. This type of toys develop coordination and creativity and that is awesome. We even managed to build a rocket and beautiful colorful flower! I guess we’re that good (or my nephew is)! If you are a beginner, start with simple forms like cubes. Rockets will follow!
The best thing is that kids really love Magformers Rainbow Set. It’s perfect indoor activity for rainy days… or alone activity when you just need five minutes to read a magazine or watch the new episode of Greys Anatomy!
Ok, there is another best thing about Magformers Rainbow Set – you won’t find the pieces all over your house or vacuum them up, because all the pieces stick together in a lump (because of the magnets).
I am definitely buying this for my daughter too for her next birthday. This set is excellent value and provides hours of fun. What can be better than that?
Click Here to buy Magformers Rainbow Set on Amazon.
*And just for full disclosure, there are affiliate links in this post about Magformers Rainbow Set. This means that I’m sharing something that I think is helpful, and if you make a purchase through the link, I earn a little bit back. No extra cost to you, and just a little help for me to pay for the blog expenses.
Hello my dear readers! You know how obsessed I am with Etsy shops. I can spend hours and hours just looking for a perfect gifts there. For me and for others! Unique and handmade – can you ask for more? Well, this time I would like to share with you a beautiful shop I recently came across – Fabuloos Dreams.
Fabuloos Dreams Etsy Shop – Personalized Books for Children
This wonderful shop offers most amazing personalized books for children. These beautiful books will allow children to be the star of their very own adventure. Whether you want a great gift for your son or looking something special for your daughter, you won’t go wrong with this. Any child you give these personalized books to will be absolutely ecstatic when they unwrap the present and see their picture on the cover of this personalized book!
Aren’t those super cool? It was love at first sight! I loved it, and Nela loved it even more!
The faces behind the Etsy shop are Georgina and Macarena, really creative moms. We had a small interview with them about their personalized books for children and this is what they told us.
“We create children’s books that contain finely-detailed illustrations and custom-made design. Our stories bridge the gap between books and children by sparking their creativity through fantasy and by promoting love for culture.
In Fabuloos Dreams our mission is to accompany the smallest of the house at all times and stages of life. And what better way to do it than with a good book?”
Visit her Etsy store to see more books and designs – I am sure you will find something perfect for you! You will find some really great stories. Plus, they use high quality materials and printing process so you definitely won’t be disappointed with the quality.
Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.
Best wood toys for kids will never loose on popularity. With all the new toys that are more sophisticated, work on batteries and are interactive, you just can’t have a better toy. The oldest known doll toy that has been found is thought to be 4,000 years old and it was made of wood. Wood just gives that premium and sturdy feeling in hands. It’s really hard to damage them and everyone who has kids understands how important that is. They can thank their popularity in the modern age for their teaching factor and durability they provide. Wooden toys are perfect for kids and toddlers to learn shapes, textures and much more.
Where to buy wood toys for kids?
Amazon is a perfect place to look for your new wooden toy.
Which wood is best for toys?
The toy can be made practically from any kind of wood. The only important thing is that it has a good finish, no sharp edges, and no splinters.
When were wooden toys popular?
Wooden toys for kids were super popular before the plastic toys took over the market, but with their sturdy and quality construction, they never went away. In recent times they made a large comeback.
Why wood toys for kids?
Because wood toys are more quality than plastic and can last a lot longer, even generations.
Are wood toys safe?
Absolutely!
All the Best Wood Toys for Kids
After researching and buying a good number of wood toys for kids we finally completed a long list of our favorite picks!
Every boy dreams of having his own tool box set. Set includes toolbox, big hammer, wrench, spanner, pliers, nippers, screwdriver, ruler, drill, pipe wrench, small hammer, saw and chisel. Featuring all of the tools your kids will need to own to be a real mechanic and fix the whole house. This wood toys for kids is appropriate for kids age 3+.
This wood toy for a toddler is a perfect teaching toy for your 1-4-year-old. Your baby can promote color and shape recognition and problem-solving skills and color with this wooden and sturdy box. The best thing – this toy is equally fun for your 1-year-old to a 4-year-old baby and with this wooden and sturdy box you can be sure that it will last that long.
One of classic wood toys for kids that your kids will just love. There are 18 multi-shaped wooden beads and three plastic rings that spin and slide along the wires, helping to teach tracking skills, shapes, and colors while stimulating tactile and visual. Visually such a simple toy but kids just love it because it challenges their skills to move and turn the different shapes. This is one of our favorite wood toys for kids, especially 1-year-old.
Some toys don’t have to be educational but they are just so much fun. We picked this toy because it’s sturdy and can last long while giving the kids what they want the most – Smashing things! This wood toys for kids is appropriate for kids age 2-4.
One more of the classics toys that are often a first educational toy for babies. Circles different sizes and colors will help your toddler to have fun and learn. Recommended age for this toy is from 18 month – 3 years.
This wooden toy is a first step into the world of sounds & mucic for your toddler. Wooden xylophone with a twist that makes the toy even more fun. Slide out xylophone works that you hammer the ball that slopes down the xylophone and makes different notes that are a lot more pleasing and quieter that regular xylophone. I know a lot of you parents will appreciate that.
Engine and two train cars stacked full with 15 colorful, wooden blocks. Can we get more nostalgic than that? We all grew up with that and they definitely are not obsolete. The educational and fun toy that will grab hours and hours of attention from your toddler.
It’s time to learn numbers for your kid. This wood house that helps you kids learn number, shapes, and colors while offering a lot of fun. There is one big advantage to this toy that us parents will appreciate – the toy house doubles as a storage for all the little blocks and numbers. For age 1-3.
An all-in-one melody-making music machine, with a xylophone, a drum, a cymbal, a guiro, a clapper, and drumsticks. This wooden toy will help kids to develop their awareness of rhythm and melody as they explore their own musical creativity. Appropriate for kids age 2+.
This 75 piece train set makes a perfect toy for your kids. The Large track that can go in any direction your little one imagines. With a large selection of extras, you can make your story as you wish.For kids age 2-7.
Wooden teaching clock that learns your little one to tell the time. 6 colors 12 pieces different shaped blocks which are double sided, one side numbers, another side is are animals. For kids age 3+.
This wooden board toy can offer many activities for our kids. Sorting colours of the rings, counting the pieces, stacking blocks, naming the colours, putting the rings on the wooden pegs. With 20 blocks and 10 pegs for the child to stack the colourful rings (55 pieces) on so it is not suitable for little babies. Recommended age is 3+ for this toy.
It’s time for your baby to start learning the alphabet, and what better way to do that than with this cool wood toy that makes learning fun and intuitive. This toy will encourage your kid to learn letters faster. For kids age 2+.
Our favorite wooden toy for kids and parents. This storage organizer will help every parent with kids toys all over the house. And the bonus is that you can learn your kids from an early age to put away their toys when they are done playing. For any age.
Kids like to mimic adults and playing kitchen is a favorite game for both boys and girls. This wooden kitchen has a refrigerator, freezer, microwave, oven and dishwasher doors, Stove-top burners, ice makers that has lights and sounds. For kids 3+ years.
This Checkout register is not that different from other regular ones. But the wooden construction gives it sturdy and quality feel. The Checkout Register helps kids to cultivate their role play and imaginative skills. For kids ages 3-5.
Best choice for your kids first step into the music, this wooden toy ukulele will give hours of fun. Teaches young kids about basic rhythm, strumming, and other musical techniques and encourages children to develop auditory and creativity skills. For kids age 3+
Large wooden fire station with 10 furniture piece and a truck is a fun toy for any kid who likes firefighters. This play set is full of fun details like the helipad on the roof and garage doors that open and close. There’s nothing as exciting as saving the day, so make sure you pick this set up for all the young adventurers in your life. For ages 3+.
This wooden block cart includes 30 solid wood blocks featuring pictures, letters, and numbers. Kids can have fun stacking, sorting, and matching. This toy is another reason why people prefer wooden toys because of their durability. This wood toy for kids will last for years. It’s for age 1+.
I like to call them pre-lego but they are much more. This 100 block comes in 4 colors and 9 shapes that will help your toddler learn shapes and colors. 100 piece set allows you so much creativity and imagination. The blocks come in a variety of sizes including the half-circle measuring about 1-1/2 inches long and the tallest rectangular plank measuring about 3-1/2 inches long. For ages 1+.
This beautifully detailed wooden barn comes with sliding doors to let the animals come in and out, and the folding corral can be moved around and adjusted to any number of shapes. Inside the barn, each animal can get cozy in its own separate stall until it’s time to play again. For age 2+.
There is something in retro wooden toys that we just love. This truck with 6 cars is just a perfect example of that. Great for fine motor skills, gross motor skills, counting, color recognition, and narrative thinking. For age 3+.
We all played tumbling tower game, and playing it with our kids will return all the memories. You pull one brick and try not to tumble the tower. Warning – younger kids just love to tumble the tower and that is more fun than playing the game, but it is important that they have fun. For age 3+.
These magnetic puzzle games are a creative and engaging way to encourage hand-eye coordination and fine motor development. They are challenging enough to keep kids three and older entertained. Use the magnetic fishing pole to ‘catch’ the 10 colorful sea friends from the game board, then enjoy the challenge of returning them to the depths!
This game set includes 10 different games in a sturdy wooden case. Including Tic Tac Toe, Chess, Snakes and Ladders, Mancala, Checkers, Chinese Checkers, Backgammon, Parchisi, Solitaire and Passout perfect for a family gaming night. For kids over 6+.
The toy’s design helps teach motor skills as well as basic cause and effect. With each step your child takes, the alligators take turns opening and closing their mouths with a gentle clacking noise. Perfect toy for a toddler that is learning to play.
Kids can learn about musical beats by clapping hands to a favorite song and then trying to match it on their very own brightly painted drum. They will just love this wooden drummer set. Appropriate for age 3+.
This is one versatile wood toy for kids. Your kid could use so many colorful wooden building blocks to pose a variety of graphics. You need get these blocks all back together on the board with no spaces. It is a good alternative to computer games. Perfect game for toddlers age 2+.
This large wooden activity cube is a quality product for toddler and baby’s first interaction with shapes and different interactions. This multi-dimensional activity cube has five different sides of fun games for your little one. Activities include curvy bead mazes, peek-a-boo open and close doors, racing car rollers, animal matching and ABC tiles. From age 1+.
A beautiful compliment to any nursery or playroom, the Tree Top Adventure wooden activity center was made for play with enduring quality components produced from select plywood, teak wood, stainless steel, rubber. Recommended age 1+.
If you have some wood toys for kids you would like to add to the list of best wood toys for kids, feel free to leave it in the comments.
*And just for full disclosure, there are affiliate links in post ‘Best Wood Toys for Kids. This means that I’m sharing something that I think is helpful, and if you make a purchase through the link, I earn a little bit back. No extra cost to you, and just a little help for me to pay for the blog expenses.
There is so many things parents can teach their children when they are still toddlers. At this young age is when kids are willing to learn almost anything including swimming. However, teaching a kid how to swim can be challenging for anyone. This is because kids have different learning styles compared to adults. That is their abilities, enthusiasm and way of thinking differs significantly from adults. If you want to make a swimming learning process effective for your kids, you need to think like they do. Not literally but put yourself in their shoes and see how you would have reacted if it was you.
There are various factors you need to take into consideration while teaching your kids how to swim. First is their physical appearance. Kids have smaller limbs than adults which mean that they will not swim as fast as adults. Also don’t expect them to learn strokes until their limbs are fully developed. Second, their lung capacity is very small. That means they cannot stay longer under water like adults. And third, the fact that kids have a bigger head than their body makes it harder for them to float in water. You need to take into consideration all these factors while teaching your kid how to swim. This will help you be patient with them as you they learn how to swim.
There is always a learning curve when it comes to swimming. So don’t expect your child to learn quickly how to swim like a dolphin. It takes time. When you are teaching your kids how to swim, expect them to scream when they first come into contact with water. Most kids are scared of water. It will not be easy convincing them to take the leap into water but assure them you will be with them throughout the swimming lesson. Kids are likely to trust you as a parent than strangers. The worst thing you can ever do is throw them into water when they are not ready to swim. Forcing your child to swim can result in unwanted accidents including swallowing water.
So the first thing you will have to teach your child is to love water. You can do this while bathing them in a bath tub. Let them play and enjoy the small pool so that they can come to relate water with fun activities. This will help them calm down when they jump into the big pool.
It is important you teach your kids to have fun while swimming. Even when they are scared of water make the swimming lesson as fun as possible. To make the swimming lesson fun you can start by teaching them how to kick their legs. Most kids enjoy kicking the water just to see how much water they can splash with their feet. Let them understand that kicking their legs helps them move while swimming. Afterwards you can teach them how to use their arms to pull themselves while swimming. With time they will learn how to use their arms and legs to swim through water.
For your kids to relax in water and stay afloat you need to buy them a floatation device. Make sure the floating device enables them to move their arms and legs. Once they are in their floaters you can let them balance on their own in water. A floating device helps a kid learn how to kick their legs and move their feet in water without sinking.
While teaching your kids how to swim it is important you teach them how to hold their breath. They can begin by placing their mouth in water before progressing to nose and mouth. To make it fun, you can let them blow bubbles in water. Kids always love the sound of it. After they muster this, you can teach them how to jump in the pool from the side using the floatation device. Once they grasp these basics you can teach them how to swim in the baby pool. Don’t make the lesson too long and always make it fun. After every lesson, make sure they keep progressing.
For the safety of your child you need to make sure the pool is clean all the time. You can use pool filter to collect any dirt that accumulate on water. Also make sure the steps and the pool floor is clean by choosing the best robotic pool cleaner. Robotic pool cleaner is an automatic pool cleaner that help helps you clean your swimming pool floor effectively. They rely on electricity which means you will not run your pool filter while cleaning the pool.
Teaching your kids is one of the most important life skills you can impart on them. Swimming is a good exercise for them and for their safety. I hope you drew inspiration from these swimming tips.
What does an air fryer do? This is the question of many as they are not aware of what is this cooking appliance used for. A question that holds, even more, gravity is why do you need such a kitchenware? Well, that is something we are about to find out by digging a little deeper into this inquiry and getting a fair idea about some tips on How to choose a top quality air fryer under $100.
What is an air fryer?
First things first that what is this machine all about? In short and simple words an air fryer is used to fry food without oil. An average cook at home, and of course the professionals already know how to cook on this very well. Reason being it is not at all a complex technology to be put to use but is one that provides all the benefits that you can think of.
Some benefits of using air fryer
Taking a cue from the above discussion it has to be mentioned that cooking, baking, and frying food in your air fryer has many benefits. The foremost that we can think of is to talk about the health benefits that it comes with. This is air fried food we are talking which means it is healthier to invest in. Not to mention that the food tastes as good as fried food and there is no difference that you get to notice other than the dripping oil. Here are some more advantages of air fryer cooking:
It does not heat up your kitchen which is good for those living in humid climates
Your kitchen does not become the epicenter of major smoke
Saves oil and this point can be turned into shouting save your money
Low maintenance as cleaning is lot easier as compared to traditional frying utensils
Useful tips on selecting an air fryer
Now that you have a faint idea about air fryers in general, let us focus on how to choose the best air fryer. Well, it may not be easy to make the choice provided you know certain criteria for buying one, than purchasing the right will not be a problem for sure. Below are some handy tips that can guide you to choose the right one:
Size – This has to go as the first element of selecting your air fryer as it has to endure a basic amount of cooking. If you consider investing in a small one, then it has to hold up a minimum of 2 lbs. of cooking.
Additional features:
No doubts this is a personal choice but this undoubtedly is one way to select the right product for your house. Ask questions and then find an answer to them like:
can the air fryer be shut off automatically
does it have a touch screen operation or is manual
how clear is the display to comprehend
does it come with a timer
is it dishwasher safe
Capacity – Now this has to be a deciding factor as you cannot buy a kitchen juts like that and as a homemaker or a cook, you need to know how practical an appliance can be. It can cook of 2 lbs or 3 lbs, you need to make your mind up to choose the best air fryer as per your requirement.
Price – Needless to say that this should be one of the foundations of investing in that air fryer you have always wanted. You can get air fryers at all prices and there indisputably it has to be added that if you want to buy one within $100 or more than it.
Add on – Added services include what kind of customer support you can expect and what is there a warranty you can rely on. Most definitely these things add value to a product that buyers will be interested in buying.
On the whole finding, an answer to How to choose an air fryer may not be that difficult. We recommend that you read some additional reviews from trusted sites to get an insight about the best of the lot.
to see what others are saying…
One of classic wood toys for kids that your kids will just love. There are 18 multi-shaped wooden beads and three plastic rings that spin and slide along the wires, helping to teach tracking skills, shapes, and colors while stimulating tactile and visual. Visually such a simple toy but kids just love it because it challenges their skills to move and turn the different shapes. This is one of our favorite wood toys for kids, especially 1-year-old.
