As you may know I’ve been asking companies for donations to give to charity. Hasbro/Playskool stepped it up and donated almost 300.00 worth of toys. So they deserve much more than one post, but it’s all I have time for right now.

For birth plus, I recommend the Glow Worm. Both of my children had one. My daughter lost hers and we had to replace it so then we passed it on to my son. He didn’t get as much use out of it but my daughter cuddled with it at night.

For ages 6 months plus, I highly recommend the Busy Ball Popper.

Miles played with this toy for a year, we had to take it away because they didn’t share it well. It’s always been a popular toy at playgroup too.

For ages 18 months plus the classic Mr. Potato Head.

My kids play with my husband’s collection. He has so many different Mr. Potato Heads, Transformer, Party, Fireman, I don’t even know all of them. Mr. Potato Head was donated to the Maltby Food Bank, courtesy of Hasbro.

We also enjoy the Clippo the Hippo.

The creativity of a can of playdoh can last for hours. At Walmart you can purchase individual colors and I did for my kids stockings. You can guess right? Purple for my daughter and my son chose blue and black.

For ages 3+ Playskool Dinoroars Monty Rex seems like an excellent choice.

My son Miles loves dinosaurs, I’m not sure I’ve met a child that doesn’t. Going Roar is a lovable classic. My son thinks most animals go “ROAR”. Touch his back and he’ll stomp, roar and purr his way into your heart! Moving his arms and head — just like a real dino! – this mischievous MONTY REX dinosaur pet sniffs and sneezes too! Wanna “rock” out like they did in the Stone Age?

DINO ROARS HATCHLINGS

(PLAYSKOOL/Ages 3 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $14.99-$16.99/Available: Now)

Preschoolers will want to collect all of the adorable HATCHLINGS dinosaurs!  For the first time, dino-loving tots can have their very own newborn T-Rex, Pterodactyl, Stegosaurus, or Triceratops as a playful pet. The HATCHLINGS dinosaurs respond to touch with a variety of lifelike movements and prehistoric sounds, and each comes with a fun dino fact card.  Two additional HATCHLINGS dinosaurs, a Brontosaurus and Hadrasaur, will be available this fall for even more prehistoric play!  Requires three "AAA" batteries, included.  Each sold separately.  Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

DINO ROARS Stompers

(PLAYSKOOL/Ages 3 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $24.99/Available: Fall 09)

With exciting movements and lifelike sounds, these walking dino pals are sure to become toddler’s best friend. Push a sensor on the dinosaur’s back to see it "come to life!" The lively triceratops stompers pal marches and throws its head back, and the adorable anklysaurus stompers dino swings its tail as it stomps forwards. Each realistic, roaring dinosaur friend is sold separately. Requires three “AA” batteries, included. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

The Play-Doh Burger Builder is also for ages 3+

The PLAY-DOH BURGER BUILDER set is back and better than ever! Interchangeable molds offer everything kids need to create the perfect PLAY-DOH hamburger including tomatoes, lettuce, buns, and more. In addition, kids can crank out pretend potato or pickle chips with the exciting TWIST-A-CHIP Super Tool. Set includes five 2-ounce cans of colorful PLAY-DOH compound. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

It’s nice because it comes with five colors of play doh in small containers the kids can play with, the pepper mill is improved from their past design. It’s easier to get playdoh our of. The last one I had to throw away. My complaint, it doesn’t fit back in the box after you put it together. I would love it if Play Doh sold a caddy that you can put a variety of sets in.

Strawberry Shortcake – Shortcake’s Berry Cafe for ages 4 +

This was also donated. I was supposed to open it and review it but it had so many small pieces that I didn’t want my son to play with it. My daughter was crazy about it. It’s like a cute little house

It comes with comes with mini scented Strawberry Shortcake figure, dress, hat, bed, bed tray, 2 “fruit smoothies”, 2 “ice cream””muffins”, tray with 3 “croissants”, tray with “pie”, tray with 4 “cupcakes”, plate with “slice of cake”, plate of “sandwiches”, plate with “waffles”, plate with “pancakes”, 2 mugs, counter with smoothie blender, oven basket, bistro table and 2 bistro chairs accessories.

You gotta get an I-Dog, the soft I-Dog Soft Speaker (pink) for ages 8+ but I have given it to my two year old.

We like the I-Dog because you can plug in a Zune or an I-Pod and you can tuck it into the dogs belly pocket. So the kids can’t play with the Zune. It would be nice if the belly was clear so they could watch the movies and home videos that are on the Zune, but it’s perfect. Zune’s or at least the old ones don’t have speakers so it’s the perfect solution to letting your two year old play with your electronics. My kids cuddle with it and love to hit the nose they can watch the lights light up.

Another for ages 8+

NERF DART TAG CAPTURE THE FLAG SET

You’ll have to use your stealth and speed to win NERF’s adrenaline-pumping twist on capture the flag. Complete with two redesigned scoring vests, two STORMFIRE blasters, six DART TAG DARTS and a new Electronic Flag, the NERF DART TAG CAPTURE THE FLAG Set offers an advanced way to enjoy classic DART TAG action. The Electronic Flag features flashing lights, sounds and motion sensors and includes three built-in game modes: Battle your opponents to see who can capture the Flag and not get tagged! Or race to “seek” and “disarm” the Flag with challenging five and fifteen-minute timed modes. Requires two “AA” batteries; not included. Each Set sold separately. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

Hasbro and Playskool sent us three items to review, the I-Dog, Strawberry Shortcake, and Playdoh Burger Builder. Separately they also sent us The Mr. Potato Head Suitcase, Two 25th anniversary Nerf Water guns, Hasbro’s Nerf Wii, Nerf N Strike Wii Video Game, Two Helmet Heroes, Room Tech Beingz, and a Nerf Sword all for donations. It was our choice to donate Strawberry Shortcake.