Melissa and Doug Hide and Seek Puzzle

Melissa and Doug Hide and Seek Farm

Leah became very interested in this puzzle at 16 months.  She realized that when she "opened' the different doors, she found animals that could be removed. At first, she really only cared about the cat (one of her favorite animals). However, it wasn't long until she would take each animal out and hold it up to me asking, "wassat?"  It has been a great way to name animals and teach animal sounds.  She can't identify all of the animals yet, but she definitely knows the horse, cat and bunny.  Like all puzzles, this one works on her fine motor skills. However, it is different than a regular puzzle because it involves opening and shutting doors (that have little openings for her fingers), taking out and replacing the animals.  The  "doors" are all different sizes so she has to figure out which animal will fit in each one.  It's fun to watch her "try" and realize it won't work, so she looks for another one!

Mozart Munchkin Cube

Mozart Munchkin Cube

OK, I have a lot of favorites when it comes to Leah's toys and books so I am worried that every time I say "I love this product" people are going to start wondering if I throw those words around easily. Well, I don't!!  I'm choosing to highlight my favorites so you should expect me to say I love the product.

The Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube is one of the coolest toys Leah has.  Seriously, I enjoy playing with it (at times more than Leah does). 

This is how it works:  It's a cube, so it has 6 sides. Five sides have musical instruments (word and picture) and one side says orchestra.  You can press any side to start the music. If you press the orchestra button, it will play a song with all 5 instrument parts. You can keep pressing the orchestra button to choose a different song.  If you choose the piano side, however, the song is played with only the piano part. If you choose the harp, the song is played with only the harp part...and so on! 

This is the part that I have fun with:  You can start with the orchestra and then press an instrument button and take that part of the orchestra away!!!  Likewise, you could start with just one instrument and keep adding the other instruments until you build back up to the orchestra.  There are so many ways to listen to songs, it's hard to get bored with this toy!

The sides of the cube will light up- either all 6 sides if you are listening to a song on the orchestra, 1 side if you are listening to the piano etc. Depending on whether you are adding or taking away instruments, the lights will also appear or disappear.

The manufacturers age for this toy is 6m to 4 years. Mom2MomPhilly agrees with this recommendation. Leah really became interested in this toy around a year but certainly she liked it before this.

There is only one setting for this toys. Personally, i don't think it's too loud but if there was one thing I would change, it would be to have 2 volume settings. Most noise toys have soft and loud switches and I do think it's a good idea. 

This toy takes 3 AA batteries.

All-Star Sports Climber

Step2 All-Star Sports Climber

We are currently using the Step2 All-Star Sports Climber indoors, in our playroom, since outside play is not happening much these days!  Assembly of this climber really wasn't very difficult (this coming from a husband who does NOT enjoy anything to do with manual labor).  It is definitely helpful to have 2 people when attaching the slide and steps (as well as a powerdrill).

The climber is well-made- it seems very sturdy.  The "landing" at the top of the steps is pretty narrow- definitely have to be careful when a child is up there that they don't step around too much.  The slide is perfect- a great angle- not too steep.  Leah slides quickly down, which she doesn't seem to mind! 

The climber has a basketball hoop, a soccer "goal" and a football side.  It comes with 3 balls (you will need a pump athat has a needle to blow them up).  My husband likes the basketballs even more than my daughter, does!  So really, this is fun for the WHOLE family!

Baby Einstein Alphabooks

Baby Einstein Alphabooks
It should come as no surprise that I love books (I am second grade teacher).  Honestly though, in my case, it's not just that I love them...I am obsessed with books! I love buying Leah books and I really have to practice self-control when I go to a bookstore. I am thrilled that Leah already has favorite books and it warms my heart that she often goes to her room, pulls books off her bookshelf and "reads" them to herself.   

Before Leah was even born, two of my co-workers gave me the Baby Einstein Alphabooks.  I figured we would enjoy them with our child someday, but truthfully, I never expected for Leah (and me) to love them as much as we do.  Leah will sit and listen to us read each and every book.  They are alphabet books...so that means she reads through 26 books!  Granted, they are short books....each opened page has a picture on one side and the word on the other side.  But still, it does take us quite a while to get through every book and often times, we even reread certain ones!

I love these books for their simplicity.  The picture side alternates between photographs and illustrations and some of the chosen words are really unique- Zucchini, Violets, Garden, Quail- words that children might not hear daily.  There are also many familiar words- apples  foot, nose, dog, cat- which children will also enjoying hearing and seeing.  Leah especially loves the eyes (she will poke my eyes), hat (she points to her hat), Kiss (she kisses the book) and Dog (she barks).

These books are interactive, engaging for children and sturdy (they are board books).  I have no doubt your child will enjoy these books over and over and over again!