Favorite Toys

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Welcome to the Favorite Toys Blog.  This is a review blog about all the toys that my kids love and that I think are well made, educational, fun and reasonably priced.  These are the toys that get played with on a consistent basis and don’t settle to the bottom of the toy box.

Most of these toys are not only fun but teach something useful to children as well.  Of course all toys are to be played with and enjoyed and you want to get the most from them.

If you are looking for some great age-appropriate toys for that special child in your life, toys that they will love and play with for more than five minutes, then check out the toy suggestions here on the blog.

Feel free to add your questions or comments on any of the toys listed here or any others that you have purchased.

Enjoy!

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Piper Raspberry Pi Computer Kit with Minecraft

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Looking for a great toy that encourages your child to get more involved with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)?  Well the Piper Computer Kit with Minecraft is just the thing.  I got this gift for my elementary school aged kids and they are loving it.


Piper Computer Kit | Educational Computer that Teaches STEM and Coding through Minecraft

The computer kit is relatively easy to put together.  There is no complicated instruction manual, just a fun blueprint format with clear diagrams on what goes where.  If your kids can put together a simple Lego set, this is even easier.  It comes with everything you need including a small screwdriver.

There are several coding games your child can play in addition to the Minecraft based adventure.  There is Scratch, a visual coding program and Sonic Pi, a sound synthesizer program if you have a musician in the family.  It is also a real computer that you access the internet with a built in browser and lots of other great features.

I have to say that this “toy” is one of the best investments I have made in my children’s education.  It will give them the knowledge and skills for the future in a fun and engaging way and they don’t even realize it’s educational.  They have really taken to it and I am so glad they are learning while playing.

Check out how you can get one for your family.

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Littlest Pet Shop Lots Of Pets

Littlest Pet Shop Random Pets

Littlest Pet Shop 10 PCS Lot

 

This 10 PCS littlest pet shop lot has new and old styles of the cutest dogs, cats, fish, and more animals. Every lot you buy has 10 littlest pet shop figures of all kinds and colors!

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Spongebob 2015 Happy Meal Toys – Sponge Out of Water Straw Toppers

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The new Spongebob Movie Sponge Out of Water Happy Meal Toys are available in your McDonalds Happy Meal now.  There are six fun straw topper toys to choose from in all.

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Sponge Out of Water Happy Meal Toys Complete Set

#1 – Invincibubble Sound Straw Topper – This Spongebob Straw Topper says “Prepare to be Teamworked”.

#2 – Plank-Ton Smashing Straw Topper – This toy is Plankton’s hero form with huge smashing arms.

#3 – Mr. Superawesomeness Straw Topper – This one is Patrick’s super awesomeness power of attracting ice cream and he says “Justice is best soft served”.

#4 – Sir Pinch-a-Lot Claw Pinching Straw Topper – This figure is Mr. Krabs with pinching claws to pinch pennies.

#5 – Sour Note Sound Straw Topper – Squidward’s clarinet blowing hero has him groaning.

and

#6 – Spinning Eyes Invincibubble Topper – You can spin Spongebob Invincibubble’s eyes in this bubble blowing toy.



You can scan each toy to play a different online game.

Invincibubble Memory Game
Plank-Ton’s Number Popper
Mr. Superawesomeness Bubble Bumper
Sir Pinch-a-Lot’s Alpha Bubble
Sour Note’s String of Sounds
Invincibubble’s Capture the Cannonballs

For even more fun you can download these fun Nickelodeon Spongebob Movie Sponge Out of Water Coloring and Activity Pages.

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Sponge Bob Movie – Sponge Out of Water Activity and Coloring Pages

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Read Across America – Dr. Seuss Day

Read Across America 2015

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Dr. Seuss Day Fun

Read Across America Day is March 2, 2015 this coming year. Read Across America is a nation-wide week long event that with many activities planned that promote early literacy and reading in children. It also celebrates Dr. Seuss’ birthday, which is March 2nd. Many of the books from this well-known children’s book author, will be featured at events in schools and libraries across the nation.

Dr. Seuss’ beloved Cat in the Hat is the mascot for the event and will be traveling across the country with appearances in many cities to encourage reading. Find out more about ways to celebrate and participate in an event near you and share the joy of reading with children.

Photo Credit NEA Read Across America

The Cat in the Hat

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The Cat in the Hat

The Cat in the Hat is a classic children’s book by Dr. Seuss about a brother and sister who are stuck inside on a rainy day when the Cat in the Hat comes to play. This is a wonderful beginner’s book for children learning to read.

 

Dr. Seuss Hat

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Dr. Seuss Hat

A Dr. Seuss Hat is a fun dress up idea for Dr. Seuss’ birthday or a Read Across America event. This silly red and white striped hat like the one the Cat in the Hat wears is just the thing to have for reading Dr. Seuss books to kids.

Dr. Seuss Toy

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Dr. Seuss One Fish Stacking Blocks

Introduce even the youngest of children to the Dr. Seuss books with toys and games that feature the characters from the stories. Read to them every day and they can play with Dr. Seuss toys too.

 

Dr. Seuss Rewards

 

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Geddes Dr. Seuss(TM), Oh the Places You’ll Go! Pencil Assortment – Set of 72


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Spongebob Movie – Sponge Out of Water – Spongebob Hero Pants Game for XBOX

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Took the kids to see the new Spongebob Movie – Sponge Out of Water last night.  They had a great time and enjoyed Spongebob and all his friends in their silly antics.

Antonio Banderas is great as the bearded pirate Burger Beard and the live action combined with animation worked well.

The movie is a hodge podge of other movie ideas mixed with a Bikini Bottom theme.  The opening was reminiscent of Indiana Jones and throughout there were themes from Mad Max, Finding Nemo and Pirates of the Caribbean, Back to the Future all rolled into one.

The kids especially enjoyed when Spongebob, Mr. Krabs, Squidward, Patrick, Sandy and Plankton are magically turned into superheros.  Each character has a unique super power that helps them save the Krabby Patty secret formula and restore order to the lives of the fish folk who inhabit Bikini Bottom.

A new XBOX 360 game Spongebob Hero Pants features the characters and story lines from the Sponge Out of Water movie.

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Spongebob Hero Pants The Game 2015 – Xbox 360

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Disney Princess Lego Frozen Elsa’s Sparkling Ice Castle

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The new 2015 January release Disney Princess Lego Set 41062 Elsa’s Sparkling Ice Castle is available now.  This lego set has Elsa’s Ice Castle and Anna’s Sled.  Olaf is having a picnic too.




This Disney Princess Lego Set Number 41062 comes with three Frozen mini-figures.

41062Elsa
Elsa

41062Anna
Anna

41062Olaf
Olaf

This awesome Frozen Lego set is great for any Frozen fan ages 6-12 and up.

LEGO Disney Princess Elsa’s Sparkling Ice Castlelego-41062-disney-princess-lego-frozen-elsa-s-sparkling-ice-castle

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McDonalds 2015 Sweethearts Plush Hearts Happy Meal Toys

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Get Yours Here

McDonalds has a bunch of new Sweethearts plush toys available in your happy meal just in time for Valentine’s Day.  There are 12 different ones to choose from with different sayings like #Love, XOXO, Hug Me, Be Mine and more.  Each comes in three different color choices and you can play a fun online game when you scan your happy meal toy code.

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McDonalds Sweethearts Plush Happy Meal Toys




There are some fun Sweethearts Plush Activities and Coloring Pages you can download too.

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Sweethearts-ActivityColoring


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McDonalds 2015 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Happy Meal Toys Battle Tops

TMNT Happy Meal Toy Tops

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle 2015 Happy Meal Toys Complete Set

 

The 2015 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Happy Meal Toys are available now.  You can get one of six different battle tops in your McDonalds Happy Meal.

Michaelangelo

Donatello

Raphael

Leonardo

Shredder

and

Foot Solider

Spin you top or battle more than one and see if your Turtles can defeat the evil ones.

Scan your toy code and you can play an online game for each different toy.

Mikey’s Rad Race

Donnie’s Dojo

Raphael’s Top Ninja

Leo’s Spin Out

Shredder’s Spin Maze

Foot Solider Trap

You can also get some fun Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Happy Meal Activity and Color Page downloads for even more fun.

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TMNT-ColoringActivity

 

 

 

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Ty Beanie Baby Hello Kitty Rainbow Plush Beanie Ballz

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Ty Beanie Ballz Hello Kitty Rainbow Plush

Ty Beanie Babies are fun collectibles.  This fun Rainbow Hello Kitty Ty Beanie Ballz is so cute.  It is that loveable Hello Kitty in a soft round plush with a rainbow bow and outfit.  Catch this playful toy and a variety of other popular characters in plush form like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

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Ty Teenage Mutant Turtles Beanie Ballz Plush Toy Set of 4

There are lots of cuddly animals and creatures to love.

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2015 McDonalds Happy Meal Books

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McDonalds has teamed up with Reading if Fundamental and Harper Collins Publishers to provide books to children and encourage reading.

In January 2015 your McDonalds Happy Meal will have a choice of one of four books for kids.

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

Flat Stanley Goes Camping

Big Nate In A Class By Himself

Pete The Cat And His Magic Sunglasses

You can also download some fun activity and coloring pages.

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Happy Meal RIF Books Activities And Coloring

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Check out all the free kids ebooks you can download at happymeal.com

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2014 Spy Gear Happy Meal Toys

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The 2014 SpyGear Happy Meal Toys are available now.

There are six toys in all. Here is a demo of each toy.

Spy Walkie Talkie will let you listen to spy messages.

Spy Watch is every secret agent’s must have accessory.

Spy Night Vision will help you on night missions. Press and it lights up.

Spy Periscope lets you peer straight ahead or turn the dial and you can look around corners.

Spy Wristband Laucher. Just insert your missiles and launch.

Spy Glasses are just what every spy needs.

Scan the code that comes with your toy and unlock an online SpyGear game.

You can also download some fun Spy Gear Activity and Coloring Pages.

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Spy Gear Activity And Coloring Pages


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Flutterbye Happy Meal Toys

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The new Flutterbye McDonalds Happy Meal Toys are available now. There are six toys to choose from.

Flutterbye Push-Along Happy Meal Toy – Just roll along a table and she turns in circles as she goes.
Flutterbye Snowflake Spinner – Place the Flutterbye on the disk and squeeze to launch and she’ll spin around.
Flutterbye Balancer – Place her in the balancer and put it on the snowflake stand, then tap to twirl her around.
Flutterbye Wand – Spin your Flutterbye round and round the wand.
Flutterbye with Floating Wings – Put on your Flutterbye’s wings and place in base then press to spin.
Flutterbye Twirler – Place her in ring and press the button to twirl.
Scan your Happy Meal Toy code for more online fun.

You can also download some fun Flutterbye Activity Sheets and Coloring Pages

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Flutterbye Activity And Coloring Set



 

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Penguins of Madagascar Happy Meal Toys

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The Dreamworks Penguins of Madagascar Happy Meal Toys are now available at McDonalds.

This demo shows you the toys and what they do.

There are six toys to choose from.

Penguin Binoculars is a pair of spy binoculars made from two penguins.

Skipper Rolls is a wind-up toy that you can make roll. You can put it in the blue wheel and it glides along too.

Kowalski Launcher is a toy that you can load and launch with the press of a button.

You can look through the Penquin periscope to see what’s going on above.

You can hide secret messages in the Rico Fish Flyer.

And Private Penguin is a water squirter.


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McDonald’s Happy Meal Book of Life Halloween Pails

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McDonald’s Happy Meal Book of Life Halloween Pails are available now from McDonald’s.  Get you very own Book of Life Halloween pail with your Happy Meal.  It comes with sticker to decorate any way you want and features the characters from the new Book of Life movie.  They are just in time for Halloween and trick-or-treat so pick up a happy meal and a pail for your candy too.

Book of Life Toys

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Download Activities Printables




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2014 Hexbug Happy Meal Toys

hexbug-2014-happy-meal-toys

The 2014 Hexbug Happy Meal toys are now a McDonald.  There are eight different Hexbug toys inside your Happy Meal.

You can play some Hexbug word games and coloring activities with these fun print outs.

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Hexbug Coloring Sheet

and

HexBugs Activity Sheet

You can enjoy a Happy Meal and collect your favorite Hexbugs.


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