Super Wings Transforming Characters Have Flown in to North America!

    

Super Wings toys are now here in North America! 

For those of you who are not familiar with the show Super Wings, Jett - the main aircraft character, delivers packages to kids around the world. Jett frequently encounters problems of various kinds, and therefor calls upon his cohorts for assistance in figuring it out.  In the show, these little planes can walk on their own two feet, and then transform themselves back into planes as the need arises.  

Given the theme of the show, it should come as no surprise that toy designers came up with the idea to create transforming figures for children to play out their own scenarios. These Super Wings Transforming toys come in 6 different designs - Jett, Jerome, Donnie, Paul, Bello & Dizzy. 

We sampled Transforming Jett & Transforming Jerome.  Like the show, these adorable little guys can stand on their own two feet while in the bot position, and then also change into an aircraft in order to complete their deliveries and solve problems. They switch from aircraft to bot, and vice versa, in 10 steps or less. In the bot position, they stand approximately 5" tall. 

These toys are geared for kids 3 years and over. Personally, I think they are best suited for those around 5 years of age. My 3 year old has so far been unable to figure out how to transform them without help, as they do require a bit of a firm hand. With that being said, he does very much enjoy playing with them in both positions and likes to have them switched back and forth.  They are perfect for small hands and both my youngest and my oldest have been playing with them quite a bit since they arrived. It should be noted that, like many toys, they have some small parts. As such they could pose a choking hazard for children under 3. So be sure to keep them away from little ones, if you have any. 

These Super Wings Transforming characters are available at retailers such as Toys R Us and Walmart and retail for approximately $17.99CAN/$9.99USD.

Happy flying! 

***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post. *****

Finding Dory Dive Characters, Pool Shooter & and Mr. Ray Ride-On Make Great Waves!

   

Swimways Corporation is known for its selection of water toys and accessories.

This summer's line up offers a number of Finding Dory themed items in their Finding Dory Pool Shop. From themed life jackets to swim masks, to body boards and a sprinkler, you'll find all sorts of cool stuff! 

I reviewed 3 products from their 2016 Finding Dory summer line up: 

The Finding Dory Dive Characters come in a 3-pack and include Dory, Nemo & Hank. They are made of flexible plastic and will sink to the bottom so that kids can practice retrieval drills without even realizing they're working on their swimming skills. These are also fun for kids to play with in the bath tub. They retail for approximately $16.99USD and are geared for kids 5 years and over.

They have a Finding Dory Pool Shooter which has Hank affixed on the end of it. When the shooter is activated, water will spray out of 6 of his tentacles. It retails for approximately $12.99USD and is geared for those 3 years and over. This pool shooter has some weight to it, but fills up and sprays very easily. You can rotate the shooter chamber while spraying, allowing you to change up the direction of the output.  When full of water, this shooter will reach lengths of over 6 feet in any given direction! This would also be fun in the tub, but I would avoid using this item at the beach. The tentacle shooters have small tubes and debris could get stuck inside.When not in use, it floats, which makes it handy for any impromptu water battles that may arise. My 3 year old loves playing with this, particularly when he gets to blast his older sibling, or one of us parents with a surprise spray! 

We also got to sample the Finding Dory Mr. Ray Ride-On inflatable pool float. This stingray is pretty big! It measures 53" long and 42" wide, and is quite simply, an adorable floaty. Not only could you partially lie on it, you could use it as a flutter board. This inflatable retails for approximately $15USD, and like the Dive Characters, is geared for kids over 5 years of age. It also comes with a repair patch. While I did not notice anything on the packaging indicating weight capacity, I did see that 150lbs was listed on the Target webpage for this product. My oldest is approx 90lbs and he had no problem being on it, so that 150lbs is likely accurate. It does require a fair amount of air to fill, so you as the parent will likely be blowing this stingray up. 

It is important to note that the Mr. Ray Ride On inflatable toy is not a flotation device. It is simply a toy. As with any water or bath activities, it is imperative that you never leave children unattended while in or around water. All of the above mentioned water toys should only be used under the supervision of an adult. Vigilant care needs to be taken to ensure that children do not enter a body of water that is deeper or more challenging than their swimming skills can handle. When using these or other water toys and accessories, be sure that they are not located in an area in or around water which could be way too deep for their abilities. This has nothing to do with the products, and everything to do with basic parenting. So, just as you would watch your kids in a pool in general, be particularly vigilant when playing with toys that could get them closer to the deep end, or farther than their swimming skills can handle. 

Swimways products are sold at a variety of retailers. To find one near you, visit their Store Locator page. 

Enjoy your water play this summer! 

***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post. *****

Get Your Read on with DK's Summer Book Boutiques! There's Something for Everyone!

   

Summer is the best time to put your feet up and kick back with a great book. Whether you are a child, or an adult, DK Books has something for everyone.

My favorite thing about DK Books is that they have so many titles which appeal to kids. Like most parents, I think it's important for my kids to read and do my best to encourage them any way I can. In the summer months, my kids participate in a book reading rewards program and they can read anything they want. My oldest son almost always gravitates towards LEGO levelled reader books, as well as, super hero and other character books.

DK Books' Summer Reading Boutique has a wide variety of levelled reader books. From various LEGO themes, to Star Wars, to animals and everything in between. In addition to the Summer Reading Boutique, DK Books has so many other topics & titles that are not mentioned in the boutique. The levelled readers go from Level 1 to Level 4, which is perfect for readers who progress in their skills over the summer months. Some of these levelled reader books also have new covers with foil embellishments on them that are sure to catch the eye of your little reader. My youngster is currently reading the Level 3 LEGO Nexo Knights Monster Battles, and will then be moving on to LEGO Ninjago Team Ninja.

DK Books features a number of Canadian Editions on a variety of titles in their Oh Canada Boutique. I sampled the Pocket Birds of Canada. I was eager to get this book in particular as we've set up bird feeders around our yard this summer and have been curious to see which feathered friends have been visiting us. This book has 285 pages of different birds here in Canada. The book breaks down identifying features, where they are commonly found, as well as, what their feeding, nesting and habitat tendencies are. It's been neat to use this book as a reference, and gets the whole family involved.

Not included in a particular boutique, but definitely worth a mention all the same, is their LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes Character Encyclopedia. My son had seen this in a book store and was goo goo for ga ga over it. Aside from breaking down all the minifigure characters, it also comes with an exclusive LEGO Pirate Batman minifigure. The book is hardcover and contains 208 pages of engaging data. He thinks he's getting a cool book, but does he know that I'm all for it because he's reading without even realizing that that is exactly what I want him to be doing this summer? ;)

DK Books Canada is also featuring other boutiques this season. Their Summer Living Boutique offers titles related to smoking your own meat, growing vegetables, as well as, books for kids with regards to bugs, sleepovers, outdoor activities and a whole lot more. Their Food & Drink Boutique states the obvious, and their Back to School Boutique offers all sorts of educational material.

Get your read on people, it's the perfect season!

***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post. *****