Wood you like to build?
December 30, 2008
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
With Keva 200 Planks , the YES answers simply stack up - much like the beautiful maple planks that comprise the set!
The idea behind Keva Planks is simple - but what results from children’s imaginations when they build with them is anything but! Each and every plank in the set is the same size - roughly 1/4 inch thick, 3/4 inch wide and 4 1/2 inches long. By stacking the planks, structures take shape - either from imaginations or from a guide book that comes with the set.
And while Keva planks are a spectacular building tool for children as young as 5, they are also wonderful for older children and adults. Each person builds to his own skill level and what they build can be simple or complex, detailed or abstract. Building with the planks can help with mathematical skills, as well as verbal if the users are building in a group setting.
Keva Planks are made of renewable maple wood and the set contains no glue, no connectors, no different-sized shapes or sophisticated pieces and parts. Experience the unique simplicity of Keva planks; they are certainly one of our favorite building sets here at The Learning Tree!
Click here for more information or to buy.
Doctor, Doctor!
December 24, 2008
Give me the news!
Your little doctors will be giving the medical news to their patients (friends, parents, dolls, stuffed animals, little brothers and sisters and more!) when they receive this wonderful doctor set.
The award-winning Learning Resources Pretend & Play® Doctor Set promotes imaginative play with its 19 medical-themed pieces. Your little doctor can monitor heartbeats with a stethoscope that is complete with realistic sounds, use the thermometer to "take" temperatures, apply bandages, use forceps and more as they learn about each piece.
They can receive emergency notifications with the realistic-sounding pager or can call in a prescription or make a call to the surgical suite with the set’s cell phone (which requires batteries that we sell at The Learning Tree also).
Not only is this doctor set a great kit to promote education and imaginative play, it can also help children frightened by doctor’s visits ease their anxieties - afer all, once they are the doctor and use all of the tools of the trade, everything seems much less scary!
All of the durable, plastic pieces store in a sturdy, portable case. The set is perfect for children ages 3-6.
Click here for more details or to purchase.
Calico Critters of Cloverleaf Corners
December 8, 2008
Kids love playing with adorable Calico Critters - and we know of which we speak!
Each of our Kansas City metro-area Learning Tree toy stores has a Calico Critters playtable and they are never short for action. We’ll walk past them once and the Cottontail Rabbit family will be sitting in chairs "listening" to Mom Rabbit read a story. Later we’ll see that an inventive child has tucked the Buttercup Cat Twins into beds and they are dreaming away.
Calico Critters is an ever-expanding set of miniature animals that are designed with an incredible attention to detail. They live in homes like the Deluxe Village House, Townhouse, and the impressive Cloverleaf Manor that can be decorated with furniture and accessories.
From the family room with an aquarium to a baby’s pink bedroom set to a kitchen set with 9 pieces of furniture and more than 40 cooking utensils, there is a full line of furniture sets to keep all of the Calico Critter animals living comfortably.
Calico Critters encourage creative, imaginative play. We love that the animals are tiny and easy for kids to pick up, play with and move around, which encourages them to continue their inventive play. We carry a full line of Calico Critters It’s a great line of toys to ask grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends to add to as holiday or birthday gifts throughout the year.
Calico Critters, from International Playthings, is ideal for children ages three and up.
Click here to see all the Calico Critters we’ve rounded up for you at The Learning Tree.
Flip ‘n’ Tip Fred Teaches Recycling
November 18, 2008
Even kids can go green! All it takes is some play time with Flip ‘n’ Tip Fred!
Flip ‘n’ Tip Fred! is one of the WOW Toys we carry - a unique line of toys that require no batteries yet still have delightful moving and animated parts. Flip ‘n’ Tip Fred! is friction-powered and is the perfect toy for all of those kiddos who run to the window each time they hear the trash truck rumble down the street!
Not only can they make the truck do a mini-version of rumbling down the street (aka your floor!), kids can use the bucket to tip trash into the truck or sort the bins and flip them into the rear. Other animation includes an automatic trash crusher that spins, as well as a sliding door that opens to empty the truck.
Flip ‘n’ Tip Fred comes complete with three different recycle bins, a boy and girl recycling team and a sturdy carrying handle - this is a great role-play toy that your child will want to play with over and over again. For ages 18+ months.
Home School Fun with The Pretend and Play School Set
November 12, 2008
When we were kids we loved playing school at home. We’d set up kitchen chairs in rows and find some tablets and pencils and take turns being the teacher. It was fun to imagine being an instructor and helping the other kids with their lessons. Today’s kids can take their imaginations a step further with the Pretend and Play School Set . It helps kids quickly create a classroom anywhere.
The set includes a big tri-fold board that is easy to set up and it makes any space feel like a real school room. The board has a dry erase section in the middle, and maps and calendars on each side. The set even comes with a grade book, some stickers, hall passes (in case somebody needs to go to the kitchen to get snacks!), crayons, a clock and the important hand bell to signal when class is about to start.
When class is over, the board folds up and fits in a portfolio with a carrying handle so kids can put everything away. The Learning Tree Toy Experts love the Pretend and Play School Set and recommend it for pre-school and grade school age kids.
This play set is made by Learning Resources . They are a leading manufacturer of quality toys and playsets. We carry many of their items at The Learning Tree .
Click here for more information or to purchase.
Turn Your Child’s Bedroom Into a Star-filled Galaxy!
November 4, 2008
While we love the soothing, sleep-promoting aspects of the Lady Bug and Sea Turtle , the Star Guides and informational booklets that help teach about the constellations and the big, wide world in the sky also are on the list of reasons why these guys are on our favorites list.
Just think about snuggling in under all those stars and learning, all at the same time. It puts a twinkle in our eyes just imagining it!
Every Twilight Sea Turtle and Ladybug comes complete with 3 AAA batteries, energy saving time-out function, push button reactivation, Star Guide and easy 3 color selection.
Electronics are a Snap with Snap Circuits Jr.
October 15, 2008
Snap Circuits Jr. is an amazingly fun way for kids of all ages to learn the basic principles of electrical and electronic circuits.
The projects are fast, fun, and sometimes noisy. You can make a light turn on and off with a switch or your voice. You can power a fan, make a doorbell, create light-controlled sounds like a fire engine, ambulance, a computer, and more. You can also play electronic games. And all with just 2 AA batteries.
The kit comes with a base grid, over 30 various types of blocks, and a booklet of instructions with 101 experiments to build. No tools needed, everything just snaps together.
It’s easy to follow the instruction manual for each project. All the experiments are illustrated in color and numbered so you know which parts to lay on the grid first, second, and so on.
The base grid helps you space the blocks out correctly and keep them in place. All the blocks are color coded and numbered. There are switch blocks, a battery block, a lamp block, etc. We made several projects in under an hour.
The Snap Circuits Jr. kit is the starter version of the Snap Circuits 300 kit, which we also sell in our store, along with Snaptricity , and Snap Circuits Pro . All the Snap Circuits kits are a great way for kids to learn about resistors, capacitors, motors, batteries, series/parallel circuits, and much more.
The kits are recommended for children 8 years and older. There are some small parts that definitely aren’t suited for younger kids. But, our 6 year old has a great time playing with Snap Circuits and can follow the diagrams pretty easily so you may find them suitable for your 6 or 7 year old also.
We love all the Snap Circuits products here at The Learning Tree . They make terrific gifts that help kids – and adults (our Toy Experts learned a thing or three while playing with just the basic kit!) learn important scientific knowledge while creating tons of fun projects.
Snap Circuits Jr. from Elenco Electronics is our Learning Tree Toy of The Week . For more information or how to buy, click here to go to our store.
Rocket Toy Blasts Off!
August 15, 2008
When kids come into our store, we notice that they gravitate towards certain toys and the Lift-Off Rocket by International Playthings is a toddler magnet!
They love the little astronauts and their faithful astro dog. The moon buggy keep them busy rolling around on the floor. The rocket comes with a lot of interesting pieces and parts for them to play with for hours. There’s even an alien to discover and befriend. Toddlers love noises and they can press the button to hear the lift off sequence, realistic rocket sounds and see the boosters light up.
The Lift Off Rocket is a big 17 inches tall, with a cockpit area that lets little ones imagine the thrill of blasting into space. The living area has all the comfort and security of home with sleeping and kitchen areas. The space buggy fits into the cargo hold and they can use the ramp to drive it up into the rocket to await the count-down.
Three doors keep everything secure during space travel - or a car trip to grandma’s house. There’s even a handle for take-along fun. This rocket uses 2 AA batteries, which are included.
We know that this toy from International Playthings is safe and durable and it lets toddlers use their wonderful imaginations. This is so much fun for your toddler it’s like a whole toy box full of toys! This one gets our Toy Experts’ stamp of approval!
