A Basket Full of Bunnies – Make it a Max and Ruby Easter

Looking for the perfect presents for the Easter Bunny to bring your young child this year?  Look no further than the tales of Max and Ruby.   These lovable bunnies are the perfect addition to any child’s collection and are sure to bring more than just fun and entertainment to your child’s life.  Centering on the relationship between two siblings, the Max and Ruby toys, books, and television show provide opportunities for learning and growth with every experience.

All About Max and Ruby

The stories found in the books and on the Nick Jr. television show feature Max, his sister Ruby, and their friends and family.  Max, who is three years old, is trying to learn to do things for himself.  He is very determined and offers children of a similar age an excellent role model for overcoming challenges.   Ruby, who is seven, is supportive of Max and tries to help him learn something new in each story.  The children are fortunate to have a wonderful, funny grandmother who lives in the house next door.  She offers guidance and support through all the children’s antics and models a positive relationship between young children and older family members.

Educational Messages

Each Max and Ruby story offers up a key message that is meaningful to children in this age group.  Some stories feature Max and Ruby playing together or interacting in positive, supportive ways.  Other stories focus on modeling respectful behavior by showing the bunnies being respectful to each other, to their grandmother, to their toys and their friends.  Often, the message of the story will be brought about through some conflict or issue that Max, Ruby and the other characters need to resolve.  As the bunnies overcome each challenge, learn each lesson and resolve each conflict, your child will benefit from the positive messages the stories provide.

Bringing the Books Home

Read one of the books together and then use the message in the story to spark discussion and interactions with your own children on the same or similar topics.  Use Max and Ruby plush dolls to act out stories from the books with your children to help make the message of the book stick.  If you are having trouble with sibling arguments or rivalry, use a Max and Ruby game or book to bring up the topic and offer your children role models on working and playing together.

There are also Max and Ruby books that take on specific issues in a fun and interesting way.  In Max Cleans Up, Ruby tries to help Max learn to clean his own room.  But Max doesn’t

want to throw his things away, even the clump of dirt from his floor.  Instead, he stuffs them all in his pocket and learns his lesson later in the story.  In Goodnight Max, Ruby helps Max through a series of mishaps, trying to get him to bed.

Bunny Filled Basket

Whether your children already love Max and Ruby or if you are bringing these loveable bunnies into your child’s life for the first time, Easter and bunnies are a perfect fit.  From a Max and Ruby backpack full of books to a basket full of games and toys you can use to re-create their many adventures, you are sure to find Max and Ruby merchandise that will bring a bounce to your child’s step this Easter.

Kids Umbrellas Provide Fun and Protection

The rain is darkening the morning. But, luckily, your kids umbrellas are leaning in the front door frame, ready to lead a parade of your cute umbrella ducklings into the day.

It is true, though, that for years there have been kids who complained about the raincoats, the galoshes, and especially the umbrellas. But just the way the Cat in the Hat made a rainy day a memorable adventure for kids, the new amazing selections of childrens umbrellas now give them a wet and wild play toy, rather than a bleak, dreary necessity.

The truth is, kids love the rain — it’s water, it’s wet, it’s splishy, splashy. Kids don’t worry about chills, dampness, clothes that stick to your bones. Using any kids rain umbrellas today, is like wielding a  magic wand, or is the perfect stirring stick for the wild weather puddles. Even 5-year old Matthew proudly pushes up his Toy Story umbrella with a molded Buzz handle, and he is ready to rescue mommy and daddy –holding his prize high to hopefully shield them too! Not to be outdone, Kristin, an older and wiser aged 6, comes double handed–an umbrella in each hand. She never could decide between the Barbie umbrella or the Hello Kitty umbrella, so indulgent Dad got them both since there are plenty of rainy days.

Toddler Sasha at age 3 lags behind but still sports an adorable Dora umbrella–her hero. Today, specialty toddler umbrellas as well as older children’s umbrellas are all available easily online. And, you don’t even have to search for a specialty children’s umbrella store because all these umbrellas and more great rainy day fun is all together in one place online–these days!

Some Rain Must Fall

Now, as you’re parading or skiddadling in the rain, or forlorn and waiting under a store overhang for Dad, play some umbrella games, like who spots the first pink umbrella, or can anyone spot a Monster High umbrella–a real challenge in the sea of black ones, but hey, kids love those monsters, especially in the rain.

There’s a lot of sense to “Singin in the Rain”. You know the old favorites–Itsy bitsy spider went up the waterspout. Down came the rain and washed the spider out. Or, Rain, rain go away, come again another day, little Johnny wants to play. Here’s another one you may not know sung to Sing a Song of Sixpence. And this one has the lesson that rain makes things grow. Pitter patter raindrops falling from the sky. Here is my umbrella to keep me safe and dry. When the rain is over the sun begins to glow. Little flowers start to bud and grow and grow and grow.

And here’s another one.   Rain on the grass Rain on the trees Rain on the rooftops But not on me! Rain on the grass Rain on the trees Rain on the windows But not on me.

Weather or Not

Indoors you can continue rainy day pleasures with rain activities. If you didn’t already venture out, the kids may want to don their raingear and get poised with folded up umbrellas to be in the mood for fun with rain. Here’s one suggestion. Make a weather station with a map and some makeshift microphones, desk and pointers. Kids really love the opportunity to be weather reporters. Nothing like a cute photo of the clan in the rain holding up their colorful umbrellas for kids. These young weather people are prepared to announce the latest downpour.

More great water activities science oriented that are great to go along with rainy days are easily found online.

Here’s an activity that may help any child afraid of thunder. Do a thunder painting with gray black and white paint. You can reassure them while they are painting—a great art therapy activity.

Rainbows are sometimes seen with storms, and kids love to color them, or use scrap materials to design rainbows.

Now, Aunt Sue just asked you where to buy a Tinkerbell umbrella.  Well, you don’t have to fight the mall crowds because the best children’s umbrellas are available online–along with their matching lunch boxes, book bags, carryalls, and rain boots.

It’s true that even into little lives some rain must fall. So keep your tykes happy and prepared, with their favorite kids rain umbrella.

Spiderman Swings in and Crawls Your Walls in Style

The Amazing Spiderman has been a favorite super hero for decades. So here is a great opportunity for dads and moms to not only be in the know with their kids, but to relive a bit of their own heroic childhoods!

Kids look to super heroes (as well as their super moms and dads, of course), and having a Spiderman decor right in a kid’s own room is a great place for those developing great aspirations.

The Kids as Heroes

Kids love comic book heroes. And, both boys and girls today know the story of this teenage boy who had a little accident with a radioactive spider, and from then on had the abilities to climb walls and ceilings, and with his amazing “Spider Sense,” able to sense any approaching danger. And because of this, every child becomes a Spiderman, (or woman!) scaling their jungle gyms and climbing walls. But know this important thing–the powerful message of Spiderman in all his Spider decor is to be able to gather your inner strengths. This makes Spidy the perfect theme for kids, and Spiderman room decor right in their own bedrooms gives them a home base for keeping that idea growing.

The Web Head’s Web Bed

Kids today don’t want to be softies, so Spiderman bedding is power packed with the reminder to reach out for doing good deeds like Spidey. The cool Spiderman bedding available online shows the hero shooting webs from his wrists, enabling him to easily jump and swing from one place to another…and kids certainly want him right there climbing their own walls!

Spiderman can’t fly like Superman, or Peter Pan, but  it’s way cooler to climb the walls and ceilings, and jump with great leaps and land softly. A nice soft landing is provided by a neat Spiderman comforter. Yet the comforter itself, like  Spiderman, reminds kids that “with great power comes great responsibility” and gives kids the impetus to take responsibility to make that bed, clean their room and do other heroic chores around the house.

The terrific Spider man bedding available online has a perfect pillow case so that Spidey sits right at their mascot’s head.

The Wall Crawler on the Walls

For an additional zing, use one of the Spiderman sheets for a whole wall hanging via curtain rod, or choose some of the various designs of specialty Spider man wallpapers. Spidey is there to grab onto your child’s bedposts, or hand, because these designs really bring him to life. Check out the designs in Spider man decals and wallpaper where Spider man is up on top looking down–a cool perspective that continues to give kids a good sense of empowerment.

Kids in the know about Spiderman also have internalized the great lesson of this story–that with great power comes great responsibility. What better theme could you want in his or her own room! The Spiderman pop up hamper is a sure hit with helping kids pick up toys or gather up dirty laundry. And the Spiderman waste basket keeps your little Spidey remembering there is a place for all things, and that includes garbage.

Parents often speak about their kids “climbing the walls” but with Spiderman wallpapers and decals, and posters they’re all climbing the walls indeed! Many moms have also added their own simple painted murals of skyscrapers–often notable landmarks like the Empire State building. With skyscrapers it’s really only a matter of ruling out straight lines, and many many windows. Kids can paint in the buildings.

Girls Dig Spidey Too

Now Spiderman is not always just for boys, not all girls are pinkalicious and many girls,  as well as boys, will choose the bold, bright vibrant red, blue and white of Spiderman decor as their faves. These colors are alive, that must be why they call red and blue the primary colors. For a touch of zaniness, humor or thrills and chills, add some constructed or bought spider webs and spiders, and spider stickers, as decorative accents. Make sure their door announces and warns “Super-Villains Beware” to all who enter with Spiderman decals or posters.

Your young Spideys can pack a few spider treats in his or her Amazing Spiderman Tin Carry All, and bring them to bath time fun, finishing off with that ample Spiderman beach towel.

Amazing Playtime

Room games are also great with Spidey right in their own bedrooms. Playtime get togethers are fun with the Spiderman 3D image floor puzzle. Maybe they have their camera handy to be Peter Parker getting a good story for the Dailey Bugle. What’s the story about? Kids will create their own themes, or maybe it’s the Green Goblin on the loose and Spidey needs their help, so Jayson and Ray move on with the Spiderman Triple Battle Truck to the scene of the crime to scale some skyscrapers.

If your kids have a computer in their room, there is a wonderful, safe, educational site with Spiderman printables and projects, sponsored by the US Dept of Education as a response to the America Reads Challenge.

Now here’s another suggestion for a little break from the computer world. Remember those pinball machines good kids got to congregate around? Well, you can get a Spiderman electronic tabletop pinball machine right online. It’s good clean fun for the family!

So swing into action and comfort with everyone’s favorite web-slinger and Spider Man Room Decor.

Start Your Engines! Disney Pixar Cars 2 Racing into Theaters This Summer

The countdown has begun for the much-anticipated, long awaited sequel to the hit Disney movie Cars.  Coming in June, Cars 2 stars the original crew from Radiator Springs who find themselves a long way from home as they travel around the world participating in the first ever  World Cup road race.  Filled with adventure and intrigue, this movie is sure to be a summer blockbuster and THE movie your kids will want to experience again and again.  Don’t miss the opportunity to stock up on Cars 2 toys, games, and backpacks before the rush.

The movie features two parallel plotlines that keep our favorite Disney Cars twisting and turning as the story unfolds.  In the beginning, everyone’s favorite red racecar, Lightning McQueen, travels overseas to participate in the World Cup.  The race, which is actually 5 different races in 5 countries, features the best of the best from each international racing style.  Mater, McQueen’s trusty friend and the Tow Truck from Radiator Springs, accompanies him and becomes unwittingly entangled in international espionage.   Known for his tall tales and truth embellishing, Mater finds himself a key player in an international spy game befitting one of his stories.   This second plot line introduces several new characters including Finn McMissile, a British super spy, Siddely, his spy plane partner and Holley Shiftwell, a rookie agent with lots of cool gadgets but little experience.

With race locations in Japan, Germany, Italy, France and the United Kingdom, the adventure plays out across the globe.  Mater feels torn between helping McQueen win each of the races to capture the World Cup and completing the super secret spy mission he has been drawn into.  His struggle intensifies when Holley Shiftwell comes on the scene, overwhelming Mater’s simple sensibilities with her looks and know-how.    Conflicted, Mater works with the other secret agents, which includes America’s greatest spy Rod “Torque” Redline, to foil the evil plans of Professor Zundapp.

The Professor, who schemes and plots to ruin the World Cup, is the bad apple of the movie.  Flanked by Grem and Acer, his henchmen, the Professor is bound and determined to keep Lightning McQueen from taking home the World Cup victory.  No one knows the Professor’s hidden motive for wanting to ruin the race.  Joined by most of the original cast including Sally Carerra, McQueen’s love interest, Ramone and Flo, Luigi and Guido and the Sherriff and Mack, McQueen and Mater are sure to be entertaining for kids of all ages.

The trailers and teasers leave us with many questions, but few answers.  Is Mater’s mission related to the Professor’s plot to ruin the race?  Who can be trusted and who is a double agent working for the other side?  With Mater distracted, does McQueen stand a chance in the World Cup race?  Will the Professor and his henchmen prevail or will the heroes save the day? Don’t miss this sequel coming out in June.  If you can’t wait, check out the great selection of toys already available including Cars 2 puzzles, luggage and backpacks featuring the main characters and die cast replicas of each of the Cars characters.

Caillou – More Than Just a Boy in a Yellow Shirt

Caillou, the small boy in the yellow shirt, has been entertaining and educating children for more than a decade.  Parents and children alike are fans of the small bald boy because the stories, as told in the books, on the television show and in the children’s DVDs promote communication between parent and child.   The series of books begins when Caillou is a baby, not quite a year old and go through his 6^th year.  This allows children to grow up with him and offers them a friend they can relate to through each age and stage.

The stories are written from Caillou’s perspective – a key element to their educational value.  Because he mirrors other children in age and life experience, the problems Caillou encounters and the feelings he has are the same as his young fans.  This gives them someone to relate to and provides parents with a view into the world as experienced by their children.  He is seen as a real hero to them and many children love to carry their Caillou plush toy with them as they go about their day.

The stories were all written based on the work of Dr. Francoise Dorto, an expert in child development.  Her work centered on the premise that children do not have the carefree life they are thought to have, but come up against the same obstacles and challenges as adults.  The difference for children is that they lack the communication skills and problem solving experiences of adults.  She felt that in order to aid in the development of each child, they need to be respected as a person.  This focus on childhood development is why the stories are so popular with parents.

Although the series can be seen on TV, your child can still watch Caillou, his parents, sister and cat in their adventures with the Caillou DVD collection.  Each story takes on a problem or challenge that Caillou is facing and explains how the people in his life him to find a good solution.  Using an everyday scenario that children can understand and relate to as the basis for the story helps children understand what they are going through.  Watch the DVDs together and use Caillou’s adventures as a topic of discussion or to work through a challenging issue your child is facing.

The story of Caillou and the Missing Sock is a good example of how the books use Caillou’s experiences to teach children to problem solve.  In the story, when he cannot find his sock, he ventures to the basement laundry room and through a series of misfortunes winds up locked in the basement with his Dad.  His mother comes along and rescues them, providing a happy ending.  This story offers several key learning opportunities to children.   Caillou is self sufficient; he goes in search of his sock alone.  When the basement door handle comes off the door, he knows he cannot handle this problem alone so he calls for his Dad to help.  This also demonstrates trust and communication between parent and child.  Caillou also learns that Dad can’t always save him, and that sometimes you need assistance from someone else if you are stuck.  The way stories like this mimic real life situations and provide a possible solution from the child’s perspective, teach children how to handle similar situations in their own lives.

Aimed at helping parents and children learn to communicate and encouraging children to develop into their own unique person, Caillou provides both entertainment and education to children.  The books, DVD collection and companion toys make great gifts for children from babies through the start of school.