Review: Fat Brain Toys trio for tots to pre-teens (and beyond)

Review: Fat Brain Toys trio for tots to pre-teens (and beyond)

The holiday gift-giving season will soon be upon us, and Fat Brain Toys is among the tops spots for grandmothers and others seeking screen-free fun to give the grands.

Fat Brain Toys sent me a special trio of toys to try out with my favorite boys — two ideal for my tiniest grandson plus one that’s fun for the bigger kids (and grownups, too).

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Benjamin reviews the Infantino 2-in-1 Bouncer & Activity Seat

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Having a baby in the house means having lots of stuff. Not just stuff like bottles and diapers but big stuff, too. I’m talking bassinets and bouncers and baby seats of all sorts, gear befitting kiddos from infant to beyond.

Whether you’re a parent or a grandparent, if you’ve got a baby, you’ve got too much baby stuff.

Thankfully Infantino has come up with a remedy for at least a portion of baby equipment overload. Introducing the all-new—as in, launched just last month—Infantino 2-in-1 Bouncer & Activity Seat, available exclusively at Target.

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5 screen-free gift ideas (toys!) for grandkids

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Looking for unique toys that boast no screens?

Check out these goodies reviewed and recommended by my grandsons: a smart MP3 player and a smart top, plus a slap-happy penguin, a “green” doctor’s kit, and an art projector for ages 5 to 105.

Fun stuff!

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Baby shower gift ideas: 4 for grandmas to give

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This time of year, gift ideas naturally lean toward what to give (and get) for the holidays.

Despite the season, though, there are still babies being born, still showers being thrown. Which means many grandmothers and others seek goodies for giving newborns and new moms.

Here are four of my recent favorite baby shower gifts, perfect for grandmas to give whether they prefer passing along presents of a practical sort or something sweet and sentimental.

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Wherein I review the DOZZI Natural White Noise Machine by WITTI Design

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My newest grandson will soon arrive, and the baby shower for his mama — my eldest daughter — is on the calendar. With Brianna's shower scheduled, all things baby have been on my brain lately. She'll receive a nursery glider from her dad and me (not a secret, so no spoiler here) but I plan to present her with a few other little goodies, too, as grandmas do.

Yet as I peruse the possibilities, everything seems so, well, generic, typical, common. All that's on Brianna's registry is adorable, yes, but I'm looking for something a little different, useful gifts versus...

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Extend summer fun with Pressman Toy and Goliath Games (review)

Though school bells beckon in the distance, there's still a fair share of summertime to spare. Why not gather the grands and try your hands at these six entertaining options for school-age kids and older?

I received the six following toys and games from Pressman Toy and Goliath Games free for review, and my review buddy, James, and I had a blast putting each to the test.

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Review: Gramma in a Box

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Grandma Terry Chamberlin has come up with a pretty sweet subscription service for serving up grandma-style food activities from faraway. When three of Terry's grandchildren moved away from her, she began sending them boxes of cookies and treats to go along with their Skype sessions. She soon realized other grandmas just may want to do the same, and the Gramma in a Box subscription service—tagline Gramma does all the work. You have all the fun!—was born. 

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Coming soon from Goliath Games: Pop Rocket (game review)

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Game play is a given any time my grandkids and I get together. Despite last month's visit from my grandsons being their shortest stay ever, we still successfully fit in not only game time, but game review time.

Mere days before my desert-dwelling grandsons arrived at my door, I received a package from Goliath Games with new options for family fun launching at all major retailers this fall. First up for review by Brayden, Camden, Declan, and their Colorado-based cousin, James: Pop Rocket, featuring the intriguing tag line, Catch the most stars when he pops to win! 

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Review: Bifocal readers from Readers.com

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I can no longer deny that readers are an absolute must for me. Stretching my arm as far as can be in hopes I might see print large or small hasn't made a difference for quite some time, so readers strewn about my house are a given.

Another given of late has been that those readers go off and on, off and on, up and down depending on what I'm doing. I put them on to check my phone, take them off to see the television across the room. Put them on to read a restaurant menu, prop them atop my head to...

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