TV NBC CT 6-14It was fun to share some of the latest PAL Award winning toys and games today at NBC CT in a live interview with Kerry-Lee. Summer is all about fun but we can also provide some great toys for our kids to spark fun, and keep language and literacy skills sharp over the summer–including reading and writing. Don’t forget, toys can teach too!

Letter Slide by SimplyFun (7 years and up, $30 )

  • kids choose water slide game board
  • draw a word card with 2 letters missing at the beginning or end of the word, turn over the timer and race to make as many words as they can, from letter lagoon
  • po__ became poke or poem
  • learn spelling, reading, letter-sound association and sound sequencing as kids, sound out possible words
  • earn letters on their game board for completed words
  • full review and where to purchase, click here

Play Park by Plan Toys (3 and up, $80)

  • encourage oral story telling
  • take a ride down cable car, Kids rode their bikes, raced down the ramp, climbed the rope ladder and took off on the glider from the launch area.
  • fun scenario to encourage pretend play and stories
  • full review and where to purchase, click here

Counting Animals by Ravensburger ( 3 and up, $15)

  • preschoolers love their super sized puzzles
  • friend got into the counting as he randomly called out the next number he needed to complete the puzzle
  • goofy animals: 1 cycling giraffe, 4 happy hippos playing tennis
  • lots of buzz as kids describe the pieces they need and what they’ve assembled
  • full review and where to purchase, click here

Speedy’s Magical Shell by BKids (1 year and up, $15.00)

  • indeed magical with all the learning options, favorite toy of 1 year-olds and up
  • pull toy, shape sorter push colored balls, open and shut shell, shell becomes a drum (antennae/sticks)
  • make a little music
  • full review and where to purchase, click here

My Super Life Journal…By Me by PomTree (6 and up, $13.00)

  • I would have loved this when I was a kid
  • inspires girls to celebrate and document the special things in life with color, over 200 stickers, cut outs, art work, words and adornments.
  • favorites, places to visit, their town, doodles, trips, super special pockets to hold notes
  • vinyl storage zip bag and pockets hold little pieces in process
  • full review and where to purchase, click here

XL Graffiti Black White Board by Janod (3-8 years, $90)

  • accommodate author and illustrator on each side
  • pull down paper and write story or paint
  • pretend play:  Menu at restaurant, store prop,, write message to mom or day to see before work
  • adjustable height for table top
  • full review and where to purchase, click here

DIY  Dream House by Hape (3 and up, $200)

  • dream come true for little decorators
  • all wall accessories are magnetic–(shower,  sink or clock) transformed and reinvented for play over and over again
  • fill empty frames with personalized drawings or photographs–personal touch
  • favorite feature is the elevator–that’s a pulley-engineering lesson
  • “I want to live in a house like this..it’s modern,” kids say.
  • full review and where to purchase, click here