educational Archives - Rave & Review

Iconic Ambi developmental toys for baby and beyond

Do you remember these toys from Ambi from when you were young? I’m betting you do, because every single person that has come over and seen my kids playing with the set of Ambi Toys has remarked about how they used to play with them when they were little. Notice how I said “my kids”? Not “the baby”, but “the kids”.

In fact, I had these toys all set aside waiting for when the baby was old enough to play with them, thinking that my older kids were well past the Ambi Toys stage. Then, one day when we had a house full of kids, the box got torn open and the toys were immediately pounced on – by all the kids, from age 3 months to 7 years. How could you possibly be mad when the toy thief is this adorable? You just can't.

A sensory adventure with SentoSphere art and learning kits

This is going to come as a shock to anyone who knows how close my daughter and I are, but a few months ago I found it hard to bond with my sweet little girl. We spent most of the day together but sometimes it felt like we were so similar that we were constantly at odds. With the start of school and the addition of ballet and playdates there was a lot of hurry up and clean up and eat up and we’ve got to go, but not a whole lot of time to just sit and talk and enjoy each other. I realized I had to do something fast or this school year was going to be pretty awful for both of us, but I wasn’t sure what. It was then that I tried crafts and I realized that was going to be our saving grace. Crafting gave us a time to slow down, to relax, and for some reason, it made my girl open up. Crafting time told her she had my undivided attention – and she was going to make the most of it.

For that reason I am constantly on the lookout for crafts that we can do together, and I’ve found the perfect company to help me keep us both happy and connected. SentoSphere started in France creating high quality artistic and educational games, kits and toys but are now selling most of their lines in the States. Sure, we still do coloring books and doodling on some days, but other days we want something with a real wow factor, and that’s when we turn to SentoSphere.

Galt Toys offers educational and developmental toys and gifts for kids of all ages

I’m guessing most of you out there are very familiar with Galt Toys, even if you wouldn’t recognize the name. With a history spanning over 175 years and with toys for ages 0-12, Galt Toys has been celebrating the importance of childhood play in Europe and is now moving into North America just in time for the holidays.

From their iconic Ambi Toys collection that I remember vividly from my own childhood to the Galt learning books that are used in schools and homes alike, Galt Toys have been a staple in many homes for generations. Do these look familiar to you?

VINCI Tab III M 5” Learning Tablet {Review – Part I}

I love teaching my daughter new things and watching her eyes light up with each newfound piece of knowledge. Nothing can beat the feeling of watching her process something complex or advanced for her age and seeing the puzzle pieces slowly come together as she gets the concept fully. Unfortunately for us, I am vastly … Read more

Shop Smart with Project PlaySmart

Do you ever find yourself feeling lost in your local toy store? Maybe it’s the fact that there are too many options or maybe it’s because half of the toys are plastic junk, but I feel like I’m in the same position every time I’m shopping for birthday presents for my kids’ friends. I certainly … Read more

BigJigs Polar Glacier Playset

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide – Day 6 Don’t you love when companies just “get it”? BigJigs is one of those companies that understands that parents these days want the best of all worlds – imagination inspiring, adorable, educational, quality-made, and extended play value toys for their kids. For 25 years BigJigs has been all the … Read more

Our LeapFrog Learn, Create, Share Party!

Holiday Gift Guide – Day 3 Being big fans of LeapFrog and their collection of education toys and software for kids, I’m sure you can imagine just how excited we were to learn that we were going to get a chance to check out and share the newest LeapFrog offerings this holiday season. As the … Read more

SmartLab Toys Art and Education Kits

A girl after my own heart, my daughter likes nothing better than a good art project. Close second on her list of loves would be jewelry, so of course I was excited when I heard about the Snap Fashion Jewelry Studio from Smart Lab that would allow us to easily create our own custom rings, … Read more

Magic Cabin Tree Trunk Fairy Home

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide: Day 16 It's not often that I throw out the word "magic" when describing something, but there is honestly no better description for what you will find on the pages of the Magic Cabin catalog. The first time I ever looked through a Magic Cabin catalog I didn't even have children … Read more