How to Plan a Mothers Day Family Picnic at the Park

If you’re looking to surprise mom on mother’s day, one of my favourite activities is planning a family picnic. In setting up the big event, you’ll want to consider locations, picnic games, and of course picnic foods.

Picnic Locations

For the sake of convenience, the easiest location for a mother’s day picnic is of course your very own backyard! But if you’re looking to veer off site, consider state parks, zoos, beaches, botanical gardens, or natural preserves. Depending on which location you finally decide on, make sure you bring with you appropriate picnic gear. Scouting the location before hand is an option. You’ll want to make sure they have picnic tables and other amenities you might need.

Picnic Activities for the Family

Some of the best times of our lives are spent with our families. On a picnic we want to make it as fun and entertaining as possible. Just sitting around and stuffing our faces is kind of boring when you have little ones to consider. Keep them busy with picnic games that will occupy their time in the sun. Some of my favourites include the following:

• Kite flying
• Soccer
• Football
• Badminton
• Butterfly catching
• Scrabble
• Yahtzee

Picnic Foods for the Kids and Family

The most important aspect of the family picnic is of course FOOD! Keep it easy and keep it simple. Try to pick foods that don’t require utensils, but if you’re a keener and want to go all out, then make sure you have the right equipment. There are picnic sets on the market that come nicely assembled with plates, forks, cutting boards and everything you need to plan an exciting family picnic event.
The simplest picnic foods to choose include chips, dips, finger sandwiches, dried fruit, corn on the cob, and cookies. If you go to a park that has a BBQ, then bring along your frozen burgers and hot dogs. My favourites, you might even want to grill a few veggies.

End off the main course with a picnic dessert. Here are some popular picnic desserts recipes I’ve put together:

1. Lemon Bars
2. Chocolate Cakies
3. Easy Fruit Smoothie

How to Choose Umbrellas for Kids

The long and cold winter is finally over. Spring has arrived. Trees are budding and new spring smells are tickling our senses. But with spring comes April showers. Outfitting the kids with the right kids umbrella is a task in itself. Here are some tips to consider when purchasing umbrellas for kids.

1. Opening and closing mechanism. Depending upon the child’s age, you’ll first want to consider whether to purchase a kids umbrella that opens manually or automatically. For ages five and under, the manual kind is recommended. Test it out before purchasing. Have your child open the umbrella to see whether there are any chances of little fingers getting caught.

2. Protective piece. At the tip of the kids umbrella, make sure that there is a protective piece (usually in the shape of a ball). Make sure the piece is well glued and does not easily come off. We don’t want to poke any eyes out!

3. Handles. Typically, kids umbrellas have three different types of handles. Some have plastic moulded handles in the shape of a cartoon character, others have a plastic handle with an image, and of course the classic round hook kind. Make sure the kids umbrella handle is not made of wood. We don’t want those pesky splinters getting in those little hands.

4. Size. Consider two types of shapes for umbrellas for kids; the bubble shape and the standard shape. Which to choose is really a personal preference. Some argue that bubble shaped umbrellas for kids give more coverage. We’ll leave the choice up to mom. In terms of size, a kids umbrella will measure approximately 28 inches in diameter.

5. Design. The most important factor in choosing a kids umbrella is of course design. Ask your child which character they love best. There are many themes available nowadays. For boys you might want to consider Toy Story umbrellas, Spiderman umbrellas for kids, or Disney Cars to name a few. For girls umbrellas, consider Disney Princess umbrellas, Strawberry Shortcake umbrellas or Dora the Explorer umbrellas. Popular choices for tweens include iCarly, Hannah Montana, or Wizards of Waverly umbrellas.

Some Tips and Warnings about Umbrellas for Kids

1. After prolonged use, you might want to double check to see if there are any missing pieces or protruding metal rods. Those little kiddie eyes need to be protected at all times.

2. Look for matching rain coats and boots. What’s cuter than your little girl all dressed up in Disney Princess or boy outfitted in Disney Cars!

3. Make sure when purchasing umbrellas for kids that they are age appropriate. Again, there are different sized umbrellas out on the market and you don’t want to get one that is too difficult for your little one to open and close.

Visit our kids umbrella store here…

Safety Tips for Baby Seats

When you are a new parent, or even a seasoned parent for that matter, you are constantly on the lookout for ways that your child can hurt themselves.  You watch the stairs and block them off with baby gates, you make sure cords are out of reach and that baby can’t grab any hot liquids.  You are constantly on the watch and there is a very good reason why you are.

That vigilance for safety is also seen in the toys that a parent will buy for their baby and everyone at Kimmy’s Shop is just as focused on safety as the parents who shop here.  We are worried about the overall safety of children and make sure that we offer parents the support they need to keep their little bundles safe.

And that brings us to today’s post, safety with baby seats and exersaucers, which are a very popular toy that you can purchase to keep your baby entertained for a few minutes of each day.  While they can be a lot of enjoyment, especially seats like the Fisher-Price Song and Story Learning Chair, there are a few safety concerns that you should be aware of before you purchase.

Tip Number One:

Make sure the toy has a firm base.  One of the most common accidents with exersaucers and baby chairs is that they tip over.  When they do tip over, baby goes for a tumble and this can lead to serious injuries so it is very important that no matter what type of seat you are buying.

Tip Number Two:

Limit the amount of time your baby is in the toy.  This is a very important tip since studies have shown that the prolonged use of exersaucers can cause delays in development.  By keeping the time short, you can make sure that your baby gets just enough time in the exersaucer without hurting their development in any way.  For even more security in your baby’s development, you can purchase a Three Stages Super Seat, so baby has all the benefits of an exersaucer without a lot of the negatives.

Tip Number Three:

Keep seats on the floor.  While it may be tempting to place baby in the Three Stages Super Seat and then sit them up on a table beside you, it is much better to keep baby on the floor.  Your baby’s movements can send the seat sliding around, which can result in a serious fall.  In addition, keep the seat away from stairs or counters since seats offer your child extra height for reaching.

Tip Number Four:

Check for recalls.  The last tip that I am going to mention with exersaucers is to make sure that you really watch for recalls.  Being aware of the recalls can make a lot of difference and you will be ready to either return your toy to the manufacturer or order the safety product that will fix any problems. So whether you are purchasing the Three Stages Super Seat or the Fisher-Price Song and Story Learning Chair, keep an eye on those recall lists.

Top 5 Toys that All Girls Want

If you remember a few days ago, I posted an article on the top 5 toys that all boys want.  There were some good old ones, a couple new and a few that have endured the years with much more grace than one might have expected.

Today, I would like to look at the top five girl toys that usually find their way onto a little girl’s wish list with very little difficulty.  As with the boys list, there are some new toys that have been propelled into the spotlight but there are also some oldies that have endured the test of time and are still popular today.

So let’s get down to business and start looking at a shopping list that will delight any little girl.

NUMBER FIVE!

Dora the Explorer

Dora the Explorer has been a big hit for a decade and is still going strong with many little girls around the globe.  She is polite, helpful and always greats the day with a big smile and a loud, “Hola!”  She has been popular with boys and girls but the latter has moved on to Diego and Dora has still remained a favorite with little girls that have made her number five on our list.

And what is not to like about Dora.  Originally found in a television show and later in Story Reader Video + with BONUS Dora the Explorer Cartridge, she can now be found in just about anything from raincoats, such as the Dora the Explorer Rain Poncho, to puzzles, like the Dora the Explorer 24 Piece Puzzle – Dora and Boots, to toy sets like the Dora The Explorer Electronic Adventure Phone Set.  She is a character that delights many kids and with a new makeover expected this upcoming fall, she is about to make a whole new splash with an older audience that loved her when they were toddlers.

NUMBER FOUR!

Disney Princess

When I first experienced the trend that is Disney Princess, I was a little on the fence with all the Disney Princess Mini Backpack and Flip Flop Set – Size 6½, Disney Princess Umbrella and the Disney Princess Before Once Upon a Time – Belle Doll. It just seemed like too much pink and while I enjoy the occasional splash, I was worried about having too much.

Of course, my fears weren’t necessary and I realized that Disney had found a way to make every little girl feel like one of the gang; a princess that will shimmer in her Disney Princess Backpack with Purse and Pencil Case as she closed her very own Disney Princess, Sleeping Beauty Flip Phone.

After realizing that, I began to see all the cute accessories and toys that you could find for Disney Princess and the delight of my students as they would show me their latest Disney Princess Shimmer Princess Cinderella Doll or Disney Princess costume.  It is for all that delight that Disney Princess is ranked fourth on our top 5 toys that all girls want toy list.

NUMBER THREE!

Bratz

A fairly new kid on the block, the Bratz dolls and accessories have made a surprisingly big splash in the world of toys for girls.  Most girls have seen one and are desperate to own a specific one such as Bratz Babyz Magic Hair – Cloe.  They even have their own movie and that has gained them a bit more appeal and has made them our third choice on our top 5 list.

NUMBER TWO!

Dolls

Well, it would seem that both lists will have something generic on it and for girls, that generic item is dolls.  These little treasures have been just that, a treasure, for girls for decades, if not centuries and you can pretty well find a doll for any age possible.

I personally purchased a baby for my niece before she had even reached the age of one and she cared it around everywhere with her. While that doll was pretty basic, you can find a doll for any little girl and they can do everything from simply look cute, like the Anne Geddes Baby Flower Plush Doll, to wiggle and interact, like Baby Alive Wets ‘N Wiggles Doll.

In addition to all the dolls, you can add a number of accessories to care for your doll, which boosts the games that you can play with a doll, making them number two on our list.

NUMBER ONE!

Barbie

The number one toy that every little girl is going to ask for at one time or another is Barbie. She has been around for 5 decades and for the looks of things, she isn’t going to be going too far.

Over the years there has been a few changes for Barbie and we have seen her become everything from Barbie as The Island Princess Doll to a mermaid and girls still take the time to purchase her, dress her up and shower her with all the must have accessories.

In fact, there are so many accessories for Barbie, like the Barbie Repunzel’s Wedding Horse that half the fun of owning a Barbie is in owning one of the many things that she can use or ride herself.  She has even come out of the toy aisle and had successful movies and even fashion accessories or fashion inspired toys like the Barbie I-Design Slide 2 Style with 35 Fashion Cards and 2 BONUS Fashion Cards Pack.  There is little doubt that Barbie will be here for another fifty years and will continue to be a hot item for little girl’s wish lists.

And that is our top 5 toys for girls but I am sure that for every child, there is a unique list of top fives.

Visit our toy store here…

Top 5 Toys that All Boys Want

Every year around September or October, thousands of newspapers, radio shows and television programs will start listing out all the items that are a must have for Christmas.  It doesn’t matter that Christmas is still several months away or that most parents aren’t even planning for that event, all that matters is that everyone is up to date on the latest and greatest toys.

While I am not a big fan of the push, I am usually a huge fan of the new toys that are coming out and every year I watch the list and one thing that I have noticed is that there always seems to be similar toys on the list and there are tons of classics that are always a must have toy for every child.

Today I am going to look at the must have toys for boys and over the next few weeks, I will also have a must have list for girls.

NUMBER FIVE!

Thomas the Tank Engine

When I first arrived on the child toy circuit about ten years ago, I found much to my delight, a little toy train that was capturing the hearts of children and parents alike. There wasn’t much that you could dislike about Thomas the Tank engine with his large box sets of wooden tracks, his colorful friends like Salty or his cheerful nature that always made him a very useful engine.

Every time I thought the glory that was Thomas the Tank Engine was fading, another generation of mini conductors was born and the lure of all things Thomas from the Thomas & Friends Folding Potty Seat to the Aquadoodle Thomas Toot N Doodle was once again established.

For this reason, Thomas and all of his friends are still a must have for boys around the globe and are popular with girls as well and makes this useful little engine number five on our list.  You can find Thomas in toys, puzzles, such as the HIT Kids’ Favorites 6 Puzzles Set and videos, like the Story Reader Video + with BONUS Thomas the Tank Cartridge.

NUMBER FOUR!

Spiderman

Number four on our list is a favorite superhero that has proven time and time again that you don’t need to be the biggest guy on the block to fight evil and save the day.  Perhaps that is that reason alone that has made Spiderman one of the most popular superheroes for boys and he often outsells all of the other superheroes that are on the market today.

With several movies behind his stardom and several animation series, there really is a Spiderman for all ages, whether you are young and receiving your Spider-Man & Friends – My First Spider-Man or you are a teen and waking up to the The Amazing Spider-Man Alarm Clock.

In fact, there are so many things that are Spiderman related that you can find a toy or puzzle, like the Spider-Man & Friends 25 Piece Puzzles – Set of 2, for just about anyone.  You can even find Spiderman clothes and baseball hats like the Spider-man Baseball Hat Cap that is sure to delight any boy that you are shopping for.

NUMBER THREE!

Cars

Although it may seem like I am talking about Disney’s creation, Cars, with all their wonderful toys  and memorabilia such as Disney Pixar Ramone DVD Player with Toggle-style Remote, Disney Pixar Cars Pit Race Off – Lightning McQueen – Die Cast and Mega Blocs Disney Cars – Lightning McQueen, I am actually talking about general run of the mill cars that have captured the attention of little boys (and big) for the last five decades or so.

Boys love cars and when they are asked for a top 5, they are sure to spout off a dozen little cars that they absolutely love such as Hot Wheels 40th Anniversary Die-Cast ’70 Mustang – 1:64 Scale or the Hot Wheels 40th Anniversary ’56 Ford F-100 and ’56 Crown Victoria Collector Set .  Cars are a big hit and boys are always happy to add a few more to their collection of die casts but cars can go a bit farther and you can now add to any boy’s collection a number of race car tracks such as the Hot Wheels Monster Jam Crash Cage Action Set or the Carrera Go Speed Racer Racing System.

With all the things you can purchase for generic cars and the relatively low price of these little treats, there is very little surprise that they still remain an all time favorite for boys and make our list at number three.

NUMBER TWO!

LEGO

Lego, number two on our list is met with a mixed review on my part. On one hand, I love the fact that you can purchase anything, and I do mean anything, in Lego. My house has become a haven for LEGO Indiana Jones – Jungle Duel , LEGO Star Wars Ahsoka’s Starfighter and Vulture Droid , and LEGO BIONICLE® Toa Hahli.  In fact, there is so much Lego in my house that I often find it sitting just about everywhere, a piece here, a piece there and even a few in the bathtub.

Lego is a hit with children, especially boys, and I have seen children build with it for hours.  I have always wondered at the wow power behind a simple block but watch one child build his own city or LEGO Build You Own Harbor, and you soon realize that the wonder of Lego comes in the ability to create things with your own hands out of your own imagination.

With all the wonder of Lego, there is little doubt that it is a must have toy for thousands of boys and the only thing that needs to be figured out with Lego is how to avoid stepping on it.

NUMBER ONE!

Transformers

Our number one toy that all boys should have is one that I am always excited about because it has been a classic for a long time. Transformers is what I am talking about and there is a lot of excitement over the whole Transformers toy line, whether it is the TransFomers Movie Premium Series – Megatron or the TransFormers Movie Premium Series Optimus Prime.

Even without being completely cool and transformable, these toys are sure to be a number one wish list for Christmas since the new movie is now out and has been met with rave reviews.  Boys, and their parents, are flocking into theatres to see the latest Transformers movie and after the movie, they are sure to be heading back out to the buy toys such as the Transformers Movie Voyager Ironhide.

Transformers have even moved past their trademarked images such as Transformers Premium Series – Bumblebee and Transformers Decepticon Heavy Load & Drill Bit Mini-Con! and have moved into other franchises with Transformable Star Wars.

And that is where we will leave you today, with 5 top toys that are sure to brighten the eyes of any little boy who receives it.