Wuggle Pets Build ‘Em With Love & Care Review

By Emily,

I think there is some unwritten formula that when you have children, you will own no less than 20 stuffed animals per child by the time they are 2. By the time they are 4, you double that, and by 6 years of age that number will equal more than you can count! So once you have a couple dozen stuffed animals, what’s a couple dozen more? The latest and greatest stuffed animals that my kids have been dying to check out are Wuggle Pets. Yes, they saw them on TV and instantly fell in love. So when I was given the opportunity to review a Wuggle Pets starter kit, I had to say yes!

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If you aren’t familiar with Wuggle Pets, they are unique baby animals that kids get to assemble, choose personalities for and name themselves. Add a little magic dust, and their new stuffed animals are brought to life as they turn the handle on their special animal making gadget (a.k.a. Wuggle Fun Fill Factory). The 12 piece starter kit ($19.99) includes the Wuggle Fun Fill factory and everything you need to create two pets. Additional pets can be purchased for $7.99 if your kids want to add more to their collection.

Supplies

Just opening the package and recognizing the colorful box, made my girls go nuts. When I tried to take a moment to read the directions, my 5 year old informed me she already knew how to do it from the commercial. And crazy enough, she did, it’s super simple:

TaDa

Just place half the stuffing into the Wuggle Fun Fill Factory, sprinkle a little magic dust (star confetti) in it and top off with the other half of the stuffing.

Place the cap on the Wuggle Fun Fill Factory and attach your Wuggle Pet to the front of it.

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Turn the handle about a couple dozen times and watch the cute little pet plump up.

As if that wasn’t fun enough for my kids, they then get to pick personality charms to put inside their Wuggle Pet. My older daughter liked the sassy and brave charms. My younger like the sweet and loving charms. No surprise to me, their wobble pets were taking on characteristics similar to themselves! Box_Back

The final step required a helping hand from me to fully zip and fasten the pet. I was actually impressed that these stuffed animals are nicely constructed and quite soft. Not some cheap-o favor toy, I know our Wuggle Pets will put up with a lot of love from my kids. And so far their Wuggle Pets are getting lots of love. These little pets are the perfect size to travel with and the attached clip keeps them secure on coats and bags without the worry of losing them.Box_Front

For more information or to place an order you can visit Wuggle Pets. Be sure to check out the Party Pack Set which includes all eight of the current Wuggle Pets. This set would be the perfect activity for both boys and girls at a birthday party or special playdate. For an additional $7.99 each (includes shipping and handling) you can also give your Wuggle Pet its very own voice with a Magical Voice Box that allows you to add a personalized message to your pet! For the next Wuggle Pet set we create, I’m planning to record a loving message for each of my girls so that they have an extra special comfort toy wherever they go.

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SAVE MONEY

Special Tip (as of 1/27/12): Save $5 on your order by visiting wugglepets.com and following the pop up when you try to close the main page.

Disclosure – These products were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

About Emily:

Emily is also very active in the local MOMS CLUB. She raises chickens and has 2 shih tzus. Her daughter Caitlyn attends Montessori school and she hates housecleaning, loves wine and enjoys dining out. She would love to find a cure for the depression and anxiety she has dealt with on and off over the past 10 years, just like me. She is an amazing mom and friend.

My BFF (best friend forever) Doll Is Fabulous! Review

By Emily,

I’ve been looking for an extra special doll for my oldest daughter. One that’s a step up from her plastic baby dolls and one she might keep forever, perhaps pass on down to her daughter one day. Thanks to My BFF Dolls, and the wonderful opportunity to review their new line of dolls, I think I may have found that special doll. My BFF Dolls are extra special because they are a fun line of create-your-own dolls that you and your child design together. From the creators of MyTwinn Dolls, My BFF (best friend forever) doll, gives girls the opportunity to become virtual “doll makers,” right at their own computer. The process is quite simple too:

1. Log onto www.MyBFFDoll.com and click “Start” to begin designing your own doll.

2. Create! Customizable features include: six face shape options, four skin tone options, nine eye color options, 12 hair style options, 5 hair color options, the option of adding earrings and eyeglasses and 10 clothing options.Eyes_2

The design step was so much fun for both my daughter and I. We enjoyed mixing up the features and creating a few different dolls. Finally, my daughter chose a doll that was most similar to her, short blonde hair, blue eyes and selected a sweet pink tee and jeans. Oh, and sunglasses, a girl can’t forget those accessories! You also get to pick out a name so we named our doll Clare, which is my daughter’s middle name.Closer BFF

3. If you need to, you can save your doll to complete it later as well as share your completed images with friends and family.

4.When you’re ready, place your order! Because My BFF dolls are hand-crafted one doll at a time, it takes about 2 – 3 weeks to arrive, but believe me, the wait is well worth it!

Two weeks after placing our order, the My BFF doll arrived in a carefully packaged box. This is, with all honesty, the most stunning doll I’ve ever seen. My husband was quite impressed as well! It’s not just all the wonderful hand painted details and quality materials that I adore, but the uniqueness of this doll and the fact that is was designed with love by my daughter and I. BFF Face

The first feature that caught my attention was her eyes! They truly sparkle and have the most amazing lashes. Her hair, which is super soft and shiny, is also thick and easy to manage. I know that sounds like a shampoo commercial, but it’s the truth, the materials are high quality and I have no fear that it will last many rounds of hair salon play with my daughter. BFF_eyes

Included with our package was a Doll Care Guide that provides cleaning and care tips. If there is an unfortunate event and your doll needs repair, there is also a Doll Hospital Admissions Form with various services you can select and their prices. These services include: Doll Makeovers, Heirloom Restoration, replacing eyelashes, new hair (just in case there is that accidental hair cutting episode) and you can even get your doll’s ears pierced.

My BFF dolls are 23 inches tall and can stand on their own. Each doll features 18 joints along the body and can pose in hundreds of positions. My BFF Dolls are compatible with My Twinn clothing and accessories for optimal playtime fun. Each doll retails for $149 and more information, including special bonus offers, can be found at www.myBFFDoll.com or www.mytwinn.com.Doll Standing

I heart our new BFF Doll!

Disclosure – This product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

About Emily:

Emily is also very active in the local MOMS CLUB. She raises chickens and has 2 shih tzus. Her daughter Caitlyn attends Montessori school and she hates housecleaning, loves wine and enjoys dining out. She would love to find a cure for the depression and anxiety she has dealt with on and off over the past 10 years, just like me. She is an amazing mom and friend.

The Brainy Company Glowberry Bears: The Glowing, Giggling, Cuddly Cute Night-light Bears

By: Ashley

Glowberry Bears are one of the great toys The Brainy Company offers for young children. The recommended age for the Glowberry Bears is 3+, but I can see how even a little guy like my (almost) 18-month-old would love to cuddle, snuggle, and giggle with Twinkleton, one of the Glowberry characters.

This is a great interactive toy that can bring smiles to any little one who loves stuffed animals. The Glowberry Bears aren’t just ordinary stuffed animals. These bears have a glowing belly that is activated by a tickle of the tummy (which also makes the bear go into a silly giggle spell) or by simply pressing the bear’s right paw. Pressing the right paw actually turns on the night light feature which can help comfort little ones as they go to sleep at night. The light stays on for about 1 minute and then turns off automatically as the bear says “Night Night.” If you press the bear’s left paw, the bear will talk to you and ask questions. Unfortunately, the bear can’t answer back, but the imaginations of preschoolers will make the conversation keep going. With a little imagination, Glowberry Bears can even talk to each other!

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You may be asking yourself what “Glowberry” is all about. Well, from the Glowberry packaging itself, I learned that:

“Behind mountains of snow and glaciers of ice, is nestled an island of magical delight. On Glowberry Island, flowers bloom, and berries glow, streams meander and waterfalls flow. Houses are orange and pink and blue, the island comes to life in every hue. It is on the island where Glowberry Bears thrive – Little Glow, Twinkles, Twinkleton, Dusty McStardust, Summer Lightly – all five!”

If you’re searching for a gift for a special little one, Glowberry Bears… or any of the great toys that The Brainy Company has to offer might be just what you’re looking for.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

About Ashley:

Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and President of our local MOMS Club chapter. She writes her own blog at Momicles.

Season of Giving Day 21: Laffy Laffalot : Laugh. Heal. Give Something Back

By Ashley

Since Summer has been working so hard on the Season of Giving series here on MomStart, I wanted to help her out. When Laffy Laffalot came to me for a review, I know I had found the perfect addition.

Laffy Laffalot

Let me introduce you to Laffy. He is a cute little orange guy who loves to laugh! He has over 20 different laughs that you (or a little one) can hear at the touch of a button. He comes with headphones that are perfect for everyone (and won’t hurt kids’ ears), MP3 quality sound, and a helium effect knob that changes the sound of any laugh for even more fun! Laffy also comes with 4 programmable buttons where you can record your own laughs or messages. Laffy is super durable and can handle drops from up to 6 feet!

IMG_5454Well, now that you’ve met my new friend Laffy, let me tell you why he’s such a perfect addition to the Season of Giving. Laffy was created by a California firefighter and paramedic. He wanted to create the perfect toy that would help put smiles on the faces of injured or ill children. Laughter has truly been proven as some of the best medicine.

Even better, Laffy Laffalot has teamed up with the National Children’s Cancer Society (NCCS). For every Laffy sold, the NCCS receives $3. It feels so good to buy something fun and silly when you know it helps improve the quality of life for children with cancer and their families worldwide. Last year, we had a small scare (thankfully ending with all good news) with our own son, and seeing the children coming into the hospital for their cancer treatments, I’ve seen what a benefit Laffy (and the money he raises) can be.

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Laffy Laffalot has now also teamed up with Autism Smiles, a group that works to give children with autism and their families special apps, products, and equipment. Right now, proceeds of $2.00 (per special promo code – autismsmiles) will go to Autism Smiles.

Laffy makes a great gift for anyone, whether their healthy, struggling with illness, or just feeling a little blue. If you can’t think of anyone that Laffy would be a good fit for though, it’s also possibly to just order a Laffy (or 100!) and send your donation to any location. Discount prices are even offered on orders of 6 or more.

So there you have it, a HILARIOUS toy that helps children and their families worldwide. I hope that fills your heart with as much happiness as it did mine during this Season of Giving!

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

About Ashley:

Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and President of our local MOMS Club chapter. She writes her own blog at Momicles.

Richard Scarry’s Busytown Town Hall Deluxe Playset with DVD

Richard Scarry’s Busytown is a hit in our house, among many of the other things we watch. But what we like to do even more than watch it is read it. We have about four different Richard Scarry’s Busytown books that we read. The Busytown cars in the book and on the show are so unique. And this new playset bring the Busytown cars to life for kids.

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You all know how much I love working for charity this time of year especially so it’s really hard to pick with toy we open and do a full review and which one we don’t. Knowing how much Miles would love this, and he saw the picture and said, Mommy I want that. Can I have that?. I said, well no, but you can ask Santa for it. But this is another toy we were lucky enough to receive that we’re going to donate to our 2011 Tweet Drive in Seattle.

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Product Description: Curiosities are everywhere in Busytown! This fun Richard Scarry’s Busytown Town Hall Deluxe Playset with DVD encourages social interaction between kids as they explore and play in their own Busytown world. This playset is loaded with play features from a drive-through tunnel to a fold-up ladder!

The Richard Scarry’s Busytown Town Hall Deluxe Playset with DVD includes:

· A double oval roadway layout
· 12 roadway pieces
· Sergeant Murphy figure to patrol traffic
· Hilda Hippo in her classic pencil car

· PLUS a bonus DVD that includes 2 Busytown Mysteries episodes!

Overview: Since the 1960’s, boys and girls around the world have grown up with Richard Scarry’s best-selling books about his busy world of iconic animal characters and their whimsical vehicles. With over 300 titles in the Richard Scarry library and over 150 million books sold, Richard Scarry is one of the best-selling children’s authors of all time. In fact, he has five books in the Publishers Weekly’s Top 100 List of All-Time Bestselling Children’s Books. His popular stories follow the adventures of Huckle and Sally Cat, Lowly Worm, Hilda Hippo, Pig Will and Pig Won’t in a very busy town, leading very busy lives. His characters have become household names that parents fondly remember and kids adore.

The Recommended Age Range is 3+ and the Retail Price: $39.99 Click here to "Like" the new Richard Scarry Facebook page or purchase the all-new Busytown toys!

 

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Janet W.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

We received samples that will be donated to our charity this month the 2011 TweetDrive, donating all toys to Treehouse.

Step2 Lifestyle Legacy Play Kitchen Set Review

We’ve been a fan of Step2 for many many years. I sold their products when I was in high school, an unmentionable amount of years ago and LOVED them then and still love them now when I purchased one of their kitchens when Zoe was only 1 year old. For her first birthday before she could even stand we bought her a kitchen (we knew her brother was on the way and that they could share it) I watched her grow and develop, pull herself up in her kitchen and now she’s learning about which foods are healthy for her. It’s been an amazing go and the kitchen has stood up to the test of time. She’s now almost five years old and we’ve had many play dates with the kitchen even been climbed on, which I don’t recommend.

Step2 sent us the Lifestyle Legacy Kitchen to review and test out and again it’s QUALITY. It’s smaller than the one we purchased which is perfect if you want to get a kitchen for your kids that doesn’t take up too much room. It was quite easy to put together everything can be screwed in by hand. It only took me a few hours because the kids were wanting to help and I always get distracted when I’m working on something and I’m constantly interrupted by the kids. If you sat down and just put the kitchen together I bet you could get it together in 30 minutes, including all the stickers.

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The Step2 Lifestyle Legacy Kitchen Set features:

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  • Fun, tasteful colors and surface decals
  • Kitchen features multi-level counter tops with sink & swivel faucet, two stove burners with clicking knobs and a fun cutting board decal
  • Accessory set includes 2 full place settings, 5-piece serving set, salt & pepper shakers, 3 bins for storage, coffee pot, phone, pot holder and a pot & pan with lids
  • 2 electronic features include stove and phone
  • 2 "Woven" storage baskets and 1 recycle basket fit underneath
  • Bake a treat in the oven or make a quick snack in the microwave
  • Realistic refrigerator features "water" dispenser
  • Loads of built-in storage makes clean up a breeze
    One of our favorite features with the Step2 kitchens is that they come with food or pots and pans for your kitchen and stimulate hours and hours of playtime in your children. It saves my life at dinner time when I need to cook, they can go and make their own meals while I work on getting dinner ready.

Disney Princesses Splashing little Hearts Under The Sea Swimming Ariel & Sisters

Princess Zoe is a princess through and through. A few years ago at Target they had princess costumes at a ridiculously low price so I bought all the dresses they had left for Zoe and she’s WORN them out. She loves anything princess. Now thanks to Disney and Mattel, Zoe can take princess time to the bath tub and swimming pool. Zoe loves to reenact all of the different princess movies with her friends. They play the princess, the evil witch and the prince. The toys and costumes help them feel like they are really there as they play their own versions of each princess movie, like The Little Mermaid.

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Now we can’t take a bath or shower without Princess Ariel joining us. The Disney Princess Swimming Ariel has become a favorite during outside play time too. Of course she also loves the Disney Princes Ariel & Sisters for outdoor play because she loves those little princess dolls and it’s a good thing because she’s getting a dollhouse for Christmas. The little princess collection is the perfect size for her coming dollhouse. Shhh don’t tell her, it’s a secret as Christmas is a few months away yet.

So the Disney Princess Ariel & Sisters is the first time in Mattel’s Disney Princess line where girls can play out their mermaid adventures with Ariel and her two sisters, Alana and Arista! All three dolls have magical tops that change color when dipped in water and playful swivel hips that mimic mermaid-like movements. We did have a little trouble changing the color, we figured it had to be cold water.

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The Disney Princess Swimming Ariel makes water play a splash away. Turn the seashell at Ariel’s waist and then place her into the water to see her really swim.  Watch as her tail moves up and down to swim through the water just like in The Little Mermaid. She does float and moves forward just a bit. The kids like passing her back and fourth in the bathtub. And here’s a video of Zoe when she first got her Little Mermaid Disney Princess Swimming Ariel.

We received samples for this review

The NEW Step2 Wild Slide Riders Zebra Can Help Your Toddler Step It Up!

step2 logoMy little boy has now officially reached “toddlerhood.” It’s taken me a month or so to accept that he isn’t a baby, but watching him as he cruises around, his babbles start to turn into words and his strong imagepersonality makes itself even more known, I’m realizing that toddlerhood is a pretty cool thing. One of the best parts is the new variety of toys to choose from. We can actually now consider ride on toys! He is so much more fun and interactive … and likes trying to do most everything HIMSELF! Step2 has such a wide variety of toys to choose from! They are a strong, reputable company that carries exactly what can support children at every stage of their development!

Right now, Atticus is just starting to cruise around. He’s a little hesitant to take risks and actually “walk” on his own, but that’s where the Step2 Wild Side Riders Zebra came in handy. As soon as he saw the pictures on the box, I knew that this Step2 product was going to be a hit. There was some very quick and easy assembly required. In under 10 minutes, with nothing more than a hammer and some easy sticker placement, our new ride on toy was ready to go.

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Since it is Atticus’s first ride on toy, I was a little nervous that he wouldn’t know exactly what to do. Boy was I wrong! Not only did he hop on board and begin scooting around the room, but he took time to pet the Zebra’s face, point out his eyes and then scratch the Zebra’s ears. The next thing was my favorite. Atticus took the lead of the Zebra and used it to walk! He also used the ears of the Zebra making it not only a ride on toy, but also a push toy to aid in the development of walking!

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clip_image004[4]Step2 describes the Step2 Wild Side Riders Zebra (taken from the website) as:

  • Lightweight design for easy storage and portability
  • Contoured seat with easy grip handle
  • Cute character gives this toy a warm appeal
  • Durable poly construction lasts for year
  • Weight limit: 45 lbs. (20.4 kg)
  • Minimal adult assembly required
  • Recommended for ages 1.5 and up
    Not a fan of zebras? No problem. There is also a Step2 Wild Side Riders Giraffe! Also an adorable and

    an enticing option for any toddler.

    As someone who has worked with children for a long time, I’ve always been a huge fan of Step2 products. Now I’m excited to begin building our collection of Step2 products!

(Thanks to Step2.com for the individual product pictures.)

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

About Ashley:

Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and a very active member of our local MOMS Club chapter. She writes her own blog at Momicles.

Disney Junior’s Special Agent OSO Whirly Bird Vehicle By Learning Curve Giveaway

Special Agent OSO logoWe were just talking about Special Agent Oso the other day, I think Zoe saw an advertisement on one of our computers and said she wanted to watch it. She’s liked it for a while even though we don’t have cable, so she doesn’t get to watch it very often. A few weeks back, Summer wrote that really great Special Agent Oso Rapide Command Center Review? She did a great job describing the show. I think she’s sat through more episodes with her kids than I have with mine. I didn’t even know that oso is the Spanish word for bear.  So, just in case you’re like me and not entirely sure about the premise of the show, it’s on the Disney Channel, it’s a preschool series, it’s starring a really cute teddy bear named Oso. Oso is a clumsy, lovable special agent-in-training under an international organization of stuffed animals, such as his co-agent Wolfie, serving the international agency called U.N.I.Q.U.E. (United Network for Investigating Quite Usual Events) which helps kids accomplish everyday tasks. I think the theme song is catchy and the episodes are educational.

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We received the Special Agent OSO Whirly Bird by Learning Curve. The Whirly Bird to the rescue is geard for ages 3+ for active imaginations! Kids get to join Special Agent Oso as he soars off to his next extraordinary assignment. One of Miles’ favorite things to do now is to pretend to fly. He loves taking toys and soaring them across the living room as he walks across the room. What’s really cool is that the Special Agent OSO Whirly Bird is equipped with an ejector seat, grappling hook, and spinning propeller, all providing more aspects of FUN! As you can see, the Whirly Bird has all the gear Oso needs to arrive at his destination! Another one of Miles’ favorite aspects of any toy is the ability for it to make sound. He has always loved making as much noise as possible. The magnetic activation point triggers electronic sounds and character voices from the show! The Special Agent Oso Whirly Bird Vehicle is available at Toys R Us for $24.99 and on Amazon the Special Agent OSO – Whirly Bird retails for 19.54.

You can learn more about Learning Curve and the outstanding name brand toys and other products they offer on their website and like Learning Curve on Facebook and follow them on Twitter @LCToys. To learn more about Special Agent Oso check out Dinsey Junior online or catch episodes on the Disney Channel – weekdays at 6:30/5:30c (a.m.) and 1/12c (p.m.), and weekends at 7:30/6:30c (a.m.). You can also find Disney on Facebook: Like Special Agent Oso and Like Disney Junior.

 

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The Special Agent Oso Whirly Bird Vehicle

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This giveaway ends June 13th. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation

Dora’s Garden Gazebo Mega Blocks Playset Review

Miles and Zoe just adore Dora. I think all 2 – 5 year olds have a thing for Dora at one time or another and I don’t see any way to avoid her. She’s everywhere, we don’t even have TV and my kids know all about Dora the Explorer. Of course, we do have a few of her DVD’s and over at Tully’s where I like to get a cup of coffee, there are some Dora toys there and the kids always rush over to the kid table to see who can get to Dora first.

Mega Bloks has two new Dora playsets that let children build and rebuild with their favorite cartoon character in many different ways. Each set has a Build a Dress feature that Zoe is just in love with. We received the Dora’s Garden Gazebo and Zoe loves having the ability to take doll clothes off and put them back on and switch them. I actually thought that was the most creative part about the playset, the ability to change the skirt.

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Miles played with it first and he needed a little help to build the playset but Zoe came home and put it right together and it looked like my husband did it. I even asked him, did you help Zoe put that together and he said nope. She did it all by herself. Dora’s Garden Gazebo comes with everything little girls need to have a garden party of their own. There is a sunflower to water, and a table with an umbrella along with a bird. Zoe put the bird in the flower pot and said that it was building a nest there and that the flower had to go somewhere else. I thought that was pretty creative of her. IMG_9564

That’s something that Mega Bloks is really great at. Mega Bloks inspire kids in role  playing while helping them to develop their hands on coordination. They build and rebuild and play.

 

For ages 3 and up, Mega Bloks has new Dora Buildable playsets that let children build and rebuild in many different ways. Each set also includes a Build & Dress Dora with fun accessories.

 

We received samples from Team Mom on behalf of Mega Bloks to facilitate this review.