My dilemma, however, has been how to display these treasures. I want everyone who enters my home to see them! Well, my problem was solved when I found Chuck Pederson and Generation to Generation Heirlooms. Chuck handcrafts a Website full of products that are certain to become family heirlooms, including children’s toys, quilt ladders and quilt racks. Here is the gorgeous 7.5-foot quilt ladder he made for me:

As you can see, I am proudly displaying my baby-clothes quilt on the rack and will soon be adding my father’s memorial quilt above that. It fits perfectly in the corner of my room, with an angled design at the top so it leans securely against the wall.

Chuck makes all of his products by hand with the utmost care and attention to detail. The solid construction of this quilt ladder is amazing, and the silky-smooth finish on it is absolutely beautiful. Due to the size of this ladder, Chuck constructs it to fold in the middle for shipping and some minor assembly is required when it arrives. Just so you know, I intended to add that project to my husband’s “honey do” list, but the instructions Chuck sent were so simple and easy to follow that I completed it all by myself using the tools he suggested: A screwdriver and wood glue. (He pre-drills the holes for the dowels, good man that he is).

You can purchase any of Chuck’s heirloom treasures on his Website (quilt racks, children’s toys and quilt project hangars) and he will ship them to you. Prices range from $100 for a Toddler Town Car, $300 for a handcrafted Rocking Horse, $100 for a traditional floor quilt rack and $125 for the 7.5-foot ladder (plus shipping). All of the toys from Generation to Generation Heirlooms would make perfect Christmas presents for children. And unlike the latest toy made of hard, molded plastic and running on batteries, these toys are certain to last through the generations, becoming family heirlooms as Chuck intended.

If  you live in/near California, you can see the items in person at the following craft shows:

October 21, 22 & 23 – Independence Hall Quilters Quilt Show, Ironstone Vineyards, Murphys, CA

November 12-13 – Tuleburg Quilt Guild Quilt Show, Scottish Rite Masonic Center, Stockton, CA

Chuck’s other tentative shows for 2012 are listed here.

Please visit Generation to Generation Heirlooms to check out Chuck’s products. You won’t be disappointed.

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Well, the new Mickey Mote, which Walt Disney studios home entertainment released on store shelves yesterday, is a kid-friendly remote that lets kids interact with their favorite Disney DVDs (it works with all Disney preschool dvd’s that include discovery mode — that’s the interactive watch and play mode on the DVD that offers different levels). there are lots of titles available with this feature, including two new ones that also debuted yesterday: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Handy Manny Big Construction Job.

So, I’ll tell you why I like this fun preschool toy, but first watch it in action:

So here’s why I like it:

Setup is easy and the instructions are given right on the screen. You’ll need to find your current DVD remote  to use during setup — likely among your child’s toys. I’m hoping that will happen less now that she has her own.]

The Mickey Mote is a shaped like Mickey’s ears and it’s bright red, so it looks fun.

There are  only 4 buttons on the Mickey Mote — a star, circle, triangle and square. So, it’s not too complicated for your young preschooler to operate. (I wish MY AT&T Uverse remote only had four buttons!!!)

As I said, the Mickey Mote works with any Disney Preschool DVD that includes Discovery Mode™, and once it’s setuup, you select the Discovery Mode feature on the menu screen and within minutes, your child will be easily responding to questions, throughout the story.  Discovery Mode features include two levels of play, which provides more challenging questions as the child grows. I think Level 2 is a little difficult for a 3-year-old, but Level 1 was perfect for my kiddo. As the DVD plays, the child is asked questions and she can push one of the buttons for her answer. Then she gets an immediate response.

Once families have purchased a Disney Preschool DVD that comes packaged with the Mickey Mote, they can continue to build their Disney Preschool libraries as the Mickey Mote works in compatibility with any Discovery Mode enhanced DVD. For example, kids can immediately use the remote with any of the following titles:

• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Road Rally
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Adventures in Wonderland
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Choo Choo
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s Bow-Tique
• Handy Manny: Manny’s Motorcycle Adventure
• Handy Manny: Manny’s Big Race
• Little Einsteins: Fire Truck Blast Off
• My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Super Duper Super Sleuths
• My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Bedtime With Pooh

Note:  Discovery Mode can also be played using any DVD remote control.

The two new videos are awesome and retail on Amazon for about $26.99 including the Mickey Mote!

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Numbers Roundup features more than 100 minutes of content with five exciting, numbers-themed adventures.  Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is the #1 program on Playhouse Disney as well as the #1 series with children between the ages of two and five years.  Bonus features include a never-before-seen (until 1/1/11) bonus episode as well as the Discovery Mode feature.

Handy Manny: Big Construction Job is a fun-filled, full-length adventure that takes Manny out of Sheet Rock Hills and to a new construction project out of town!  Introducing new tools, new songs and a never-before-seen episode, Handy Manny stars Wilmer Valderrama (TV’s “That 70’s Show”) as the voice of Manny.  It is a top 5 television series with preschoolers 2-5, and is an Emmy®-nominated show, set in a multicultural, multi-generational community and follows a curriculum that models problem solving and the importance of community.

So, my recommendation: If you’ve got a toddler or preschooler, this is a for-sure purchase on the holiday gift list.

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And if you want to win one of the award winners — the Ground Force Drifter — go here. The contest ends Nov. 19.

Among the 2010 NAPPA winning products are:

Kinect for Xbox 360—Microsoft, $149.99; Xbox.com; ages 6 and up

In this video gaming experience, you don’t have to hold any controller! With a special motion capture sensor that sits in front of your television, Kinect for Xbox 360 puts all players at the center of gameplay. Kid testers LOVED it!

MobiGo Touch Learning System—VTech, $59.99; VTechKids.com; ages 3 and up

“Edu-gaming” at its finest! A touch screen and slide-out keyboard on this portable, handheld gaming console system are accompanied by clear voice and excellent video quality. Insert cartridge to play and learn about numbers, letters, music, problem solving, and more. Additional games can be downloaded.

Beautiful Oops!—by Barney Saltzberg; Workman Publishing, 2010; $11.95; Workman.com; ages 3 to 103

Readers and listeners alike learn that there are life lessons for all of us in every “oops!” of a mistake. The author/illustrator creates a multi-media experience by showing—even more than telling—how to use our imagination to turn life’s little glitches and blips, spills and smudges, drips and smears into something positive and, in this case, a surprisingly beautiful and whimsical piece of art.

Ground Force Drifter—Razor USA, LLC, $299.99; Razor.com; ages 8 and up

This steel-framed, rechargeable battery-operated go-kart lets kids zip through the neighborhood at speeds of up to 12 mph. Thumb tab acceleration and a rear-wheel hand brake put control in the palm of kids’ hands; torque and tires give the power and precision for spin-outs, fishtails and 360s.

Minotaurus—LEGO Systems Inc, $24.99; LEGO.com; ages 7 and up

In this first game collection by Lego, players build their own game board using Lego pieces. They then strategize how to get their heroes through the labyrinth to the temple, without confronting the Minotaur. Limitless changing of the “game-scape” makes for super creative and imaginative play.

For a complete list of all 205 winners, including a printable shopping list, visit www.NAPPAawards.com. The new NAPPA website allows visitors to easily navigate by product category—toys, games, books, DVDs, music, software, and storytelling—and sort by age group. Quick lists including Best Values, Top Picks, Family Fun, and Rising Stars are also provided. To make holiday shopping even easier for busy parents, the site now provides an Amazon.com shopping cart.

About NAPPA

For 20 years the National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) has been the go-to resource for the best products for families. NAPPA’s team of independent expert judges, along with family and child testers, select the most innovative and enduring products as NAPPA Gold and Honors winners in two annual competitions, Children’s Products and Parenting Resources. Far more than a seal of approval, a NAPPA award signifies that a product has been rigorously evaluated against stringent criteria and stands out among hundreds of other products from around the world. For more information, visit www.NAPPAawards.com.

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Playskool “More Than Play” campaign answers these questions, and more, via these fun videos.

Additionally, the Playskool Play Panel answered a series of questions from Audrey McClelland of Mom Generations, several of which I thought some of you might find interesting, such as:

Q. If the brain can have only one thought at a time then how does a child do more than one thing at a time?

Whether adult or child, no one can do more than one thinking task at once. When we first learn to do something new, we concentrate on that task and shut out everything else that is going on around us. We have to focus. Then, as we do the task over and over, refining the skill, we can eventually do it without thinking about it. We call this automaticity. That’s one reason why kids say “again” and “more”. They love the experience, but they are also practicing the skill to the point where it becomes automatic and they no longer have to think about it! So…when something becomes automatic, your child can do more than one thing at a time!

Q. How do I encourage my child to problem solve through repetition rather than getting frustrated and giving up?

Everybody needs to feel the joy of success. Sometimes, the tasks we set for our children are too difficult, and involve doing more than one thinking task at once and can make children feel like the challenge is too frustrating. So, doing it over and over, when there is no “payback” doesn’t seem like a great outcome. Breaking each part of the problem down into achievable parts and doing each part over and over can encourage your child to feel a sense of accomplishment. Often this feeling leads to naturally wanting to try challenging herself to do more once she has mastered part of the problem.

Q. What is my baby learning when playing the baby drops it and mommy picks it up game?

Baby is learning so many different things. She is learning her hands can be used as a manipulative tool helping her get what she wants. She is developing strength in her finger muscles that will help her push, pull, grasp and hold, release and eventually control a writing tool. She is developing important foundational movements that help with all the movements our fingers do for us! She is also developing a tripod (three finger grip) and pincer grip (thumb and first finger). Both important grips that later allow us to hold and use writing and other creative tools as well as manipulate fasteners and tie shoes. She is learning how to pick up, hold and let go at the appropriate time and if mommy is happy to pick it up each time, well she is learning a new game too!!!  As well, she is learning about cause and effect, experiencing and observing gravity and how it works! While interacting and playing with her parent, she is bonding and learning her mommy and daddy are there to help her as she plays. It’s all part of how families cement and work together!

Q. Are the left and right sides of the brain different?

Yes. The left hemisphere is responsible for organization. It is the details side of your brain and talks to you on a constant basis…”remember to pick up the cleaning on the way home”; “if I do the ironing before the meeting I may be late”. It categorizes detail and associates information with prior knowledge. It’s also the side of your brain that helps you understand what symbolic representation is (i.e., that the symbol “5” represents five fingers, etc). The right side is more concerned with creativity, emotion, and learning through doing (play and experience) rather than symbols. It thinks in the present moment and helps us feel the environment we are in through processing sensory information. Information travels between the two hemispheres via the corpus callosum and when this happens and we are using both sides (as we need to) we call this whole brain thinking.

Q. Does messy play develop fine motor skills?

It is one of the developmental foundational activities that help prepare the fingers for manipulative skill development. When kids engage in messy play it helps develop touch discrimination and an awareness of the joints and muscles in our hands and fingers, which assists with fine motor manipulation. Sensory experiences are necessary for the brain to learn and can help grow strong muscles in the fingers. It is also a trigger that can ignite creativity, is foundational for sophisticated problem solving later on, and helps develop skills that later will be used in the beginnings of learning how to write, and above all is lots of fun. Kids need messy play every day.  

Q. Are there certain textures I should be exposing my child to at an early age?

As many different sensory experiences your child can have in the preschool years will help the development of fine motor skills. Some children prefer some textures and not others, however, different consistencies provide different learning experiences, so vary it all if you can. Feeling the fall leaves crumble in your hands, baking at home (with hands and fingers immersed), drawing with fingers and not the paint brush, playing in water, rubbing ice blocks on feet and hands, pulling wool or string between your little ones toes, making  mud pies…anything you can think of that is gentle and enjoyable is great. And…its best to do it every day!!! As well as feeling all these wonderful sensory happenings remember to talk about them as well.(e.g., ” Wow those cookies smell great”; “How do they taste to you?”; “What sound do they make when you crumble them?” New language can be discovered at the same time!

Playskool’s More than Play campaign site offers information on what skills different Playskool toys can help your child learn. And if you want to learn more about how to facilitate your child’s learning, and how to be your child’s “First, best teacher,” then check out Parents as Teachers.

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Bravo Sports recently introducted their latest creation — the one-of-a-kind Pulse Slither drift scooter — and my 11-year-old son says it’s in a class by itself in coolness.

At first, I thought my husband and son had put this scooter together improperly, because it has TWO wheels in front and one in back. Again, I was mistaken. This  innovative three-wheeled scooter with two large front wheels offset by a single pivot-mounted swivel rear wheel offers the ability to pull off tricks and maneuvers that are simply not possible on any other scooter or wheeled good.  

The Pulse Slither translates the fun of riding a snowboard, skiing or surfing into a street toy. It can be ridden facing forward or standing to one side and is propelled by “slithering” from side to side or by pushing with your foot, opening up even more trick possibilities and making it that much harder to put away.  The tension on the rudder-like rear wheel is adjustable, which is key to helping smaller riders (such as my son) the ability to maneuver the scooter. It also gives the rider the freedom to drift in and out of turns, zip around corners, execute lightning-quick 180º turns and adjusts to their skill level.

Emblazoned with vibrant in-molded graphics, that won’t chip or peel, the Pulse Slither is available in two dynamic color ways: Electric Blue “Skull Wing” and Toxic Green “Von Scroll.” 

Upsides:

• Easy to assemble (according to husband)
• Fun to ride (according to son)
• Cool-looking (according to son)

Downside:

• The “slithering” motion takes some practice! (according to son)

You can buy a Pulse Slither for $59.99 here.

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Leapfrog has long been a leader in creating educational but FUN toys, and now they’ve gone and created one that even a two-year-old can enjoy. The Tag system makes it fun for toddlers to connect words with pictures and other thoughts. By pressing the Tag Junior Book Pal onto the pages of specially designed books, the words and pictures come to life.

 The Tag Jr. is easy for a toddler to use because all she has to do is touch the  book pal (which fits perfectly in a toddlers chubby little hand) anywhere on the page and she will be rewarded with a response. Each Tag Jr. book has a theme and focuses on a skill.

The Tag Jr. system is geared toward young preschoolers ages 2-4. Leapfrog
also lets you create an account at LeapFrog’s Learning  Path site where you can track your child’s learning progress online and download and print free activities to compliment your child’s Tag Jr. books.

LeapFrog toys are always fun-forward and engaging with educational benefits and skill-building fundamentals that last well beyond the holiday season. In other words, they’re invaluable.

Upsides:

• Easy for a toddler to use
• Great learning tool
• Encourages reading
• Portable – great toy for road trips and hotel stays
• Reasonably priced

 Downside:

• The process of downloading the audio from the Leapfrog site to your Tag Jr. Book Pal was a little tricky for me, but there is lots of online support on the site.

You can buy the Tag Junior here for $24.99 and it comes with a book. You can buy extra books here and here.

Also from Leapfrog is the Text & Learn. Tech-savvy preschoolers on your shopping list can imitate Mom and Dad (Big Sister in our house) with this durable, just-for-kids learning PDA.  Games focus on letter recognition, shape matching, and QWERTY keyboard skills, allowing preschoolers to exchange text messages with Scout, check Scout’s planner, and explore in a pretend browser mode. You can buy it  here for $21.99.

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This kitchen has all the bells and whistles that would delight any kiddo — oven, microwave, refrigerator, sink with faucet and accessory set. It comes with frying and boiling sound effects and cabinet and drawer space. I think I might be spending some of my toddler’s Christmas gift money on this item from which I’m sure she’ll get plenty of years of play.

Walmart also is offering some other amazing online specials. Check them out:
Save on Amazing Online Specials at Walmart.com!

Huge Savings on Holiday Rollback Electronics at Walmart.com!

Holiday Rollbacks in Electronics, Toys and Video Games at Walmart.com!

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Because of the hundreds of times we’ve “played puzzles,” my toddler can recognize EVERY letter in my 14-year-old’s name. I’m afraid she’s going to have a serious “hand-me-down” complex. Can’t you just hear her whining to her therapist someday, “I didn’t know how to spell my own name until I was 10 because the letters in MY name weren’t in the hand-me-down puzzle I had to use.”

So, I decided it was time for her to have her own name puzzle, and I also wanted to have a full alphabet puzzle because she’s starting to show some real interest in letters (Did I mention that she’s very bright?)

Anyway, one of the problems with letter puzzles is that so many of them have funny-shaped or fancy letters. Those are pretty, but they’re not the best puzzles to use if you want your child to learn his or her letters. However, the educational puzzles from Puzzle Man  ARE shaped properly. Plus, the puzzle pieces are thick and the puzzles are sturdy. In fact, they will probably last long enough for my toddler to hand them down to her children someday.

Ed (the puzzle man) and his wife, Suzanne, have been making wooden puzzles and selling them at craft fairs and through the mail for more than 20 years. All of their puzzles are individually hand-crafted with quality and education in mind. They use only the highest quality, furniture grade plywood that is domestically made from replenishable forests. Each puzzle is cut one at a time, then sanded and stained using a non-toxic, water-based stain. The puzzle is sealed with a clear, non-toxic finish so that it is BABY SAFE and may be cleaned using a damp cloth.

Now get this: they offer FREE REPLACEMENT PIECES for all of their puzzles. That’s amazing! All you have to do is send a tracing of the missing space, type of puzzle, color if known, and $1 for shipping.

Their puzzles are more substantial than most you’ll find on the market, and  they are stained and not painted, so the color penetrates the wood and won’t chip.

They offer educational puzzles such alphabets, numbers and maps, personalized puzzles, plus a host of other adorable items. Prices start around $20 ($15 for a name puzzle, plus $1 per letter), to up to $65 for a map of France and Italy puzzle. You can order the puzzles here, and if you want to talk to Ed or Suzzanne, call the number on their site and they’ll answer the phone personally!

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Holiday shopping season is here again and the Global Influence network has some great gift ideas for you, tried and tested by real moms. Click on the links to check out what our team of reviewers had to say about each of these gift ideas, and then take a moment to enter our fun giveaway and take a chance at winning some of these fabulous products. Featured Reviews Pouchees –

Busy moms need all the help they can get to stay organized and keep life as simple as possible. The Pouchee is the perfect solution to keeping all those little things together, putting everything you need, right at your fingertips.

Duck Hunter -

Duck Hunter turns the excitement of the hunt into an activity the whole family can enjoy. Launch the duck in the air and try to hunt it down with the toy shooter as it flies freely in the air. A fun choice for those who love outdoor sporting.

CardStore cards

-Personalized holiday cards are an important item on everyone’s to-do list and often a hassle to create and print. Cardstore.com has everything from family photo cards to invitations for your big holiday party, simplifying your holiday season.

Great Holiday Gift Ideas Things Remembered Custom Couture Jewelry Just Elfin’ Around Card Cubby Harumika By Bandai Harumika Runway Showstopper Harumika Style Starter Baby Alive Whoopsie Doo Strawberry Shortcake Playset Kota Monty Rex Wall to Wall Basketball Nerf Pocket Vortex Busy Ball Popper Talking Chuck Truck Leapfrog My Pal Scout Leapfrog Tag Jr Leapfrog Scribble and Write Animal Planet Polar Land Playset Animal Planet Dinosaur Playmat Onionhead Adult/Teen Feelings Pack OnionHead Children’s Feelings Pack Onionhead A-Z Feelings Magnet Set FotoboxPlus MeTime Tees

Fun Holiday Giveaway!
For this holiday guide, we want to share the love with the blogosphere! Some of our generous sponsors have donated prizes to be given away to lucky readers! To enter to win one of the following fabulous prizes, simply fill out the form here: http://tinyurl.com/y8t92rw

Prizes include: Things Remembered Custom Couture Jewelry Pouchee Elfing Around Harumika Onionhead Feelings Pack Nerf Wall to Wall Basketball Baby Alive Whoopsie Doo MeTime T-shirt

Entries will close on December 6, 2009 at 11:59 PM EST. Winners will be contacted by email after the close of the contest.

Global Influence Member Guides Need more ideas for this holiday season? Check out the guides that some of our Global Influence members have put together on their own sites! Thrifty Jinxy, Happy Healthy Hip , And Twins Make Five , Because Two People Fell In Love, Mommy Musings , Lipstick to Crayons , Bargain Briana , Mommy PR , Shop With Me Mama, Santa Picks, Rave and Review, Connected 2 Christ , 3 Boys and a Dog, The Classy Closet , Contest Corner, Lisa Reviews , A Giveaway Every Day, HulaHoopinMom, Spalibrations, High Impact Mom, From Cribs to Car Keys

All reviews listed in the Global Influence gift guide were product provided. Featured positions were purchased by sponsors. Member gift guides are not affiliated with Global Influence.

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