Latest at Forbes- Holiday Toy Shopping List on Non LEGO Blocks

ZOOB DNA photo courtesy of inventor of ZOOB:Michael Joaquim Grey

WHAT: Latest Forbes.com list- Why Buy Something Other than LEGO?  Here are ten reasons why. 


I love LEGOs as do many of you but I find that as you get older, kids really benefit from having played with another system.  They don't have to amass an entire collection like they do LEGO but getting different stuff helps.

Review + Giveaway: Disruptus: The Kids Will Blow You Away

 You will want to be a disruptive person after you read this review and everyone will think you're awesome!

WHAT: DISRUPTUS by Funnybone Toys
INVENTOR: Julien Sharp

DOES: it really is possible to practice creative problem-solving with real-life themes in a controlled game setting, excellent way to practice communicating ideas via speech and/or drawing

INVEST:  $24.99 MSRP
AGES: Box says 10+ but we went a bit lower. See Adaptive Play ideas here.

TOOLS: Think Like a Scientist/Engineer, Express Yourself, Work Experience
GIVEAWAY: Two winners will each get a game of Disruptus- Open to U.S. and Canada

Review & Giveaway: KENDAMA: "For Hand-Eye Coordination, It's Superb"

WHAT: Kendama and Kendama Pro by YoMega

DOES: allows your child to work on those very important hand-eye coordination skills!

INVEST:  $9.95 and $19.95 respectively
AGES: 8+

TOOLS: My Body Needs to Move, Social Scene Helper, My Body Needs to Move

EXPERT OPINION: Pediatric Occupational Therapist and Integrative Nutritionist, Susan L. Roberts, MDiv, OTR/L 

GIVEAWAY: Win BOTH Kendama toys featured in this review! $30 value! 

Review + Giveaway: Power Popper: Rough and Tumble Play is Good

I am going to lose weight with this toy.  Oh, and he'll have fun too.

Mobility and Stability aka "helper hand and worker hand"- a key component in handwriting, using a baseball bat, etc.... do you practice that with this? YOU BETCHA!

  
WHAT:  Power Popper by Hog Wild

DOES: great opportunity to do rough-and-tumble play but safely, great for bilateral coordination (writing skills)

INVEST:  MSRP $14.99 comes with balls too but extra set of popper balls is $4.99 

AGES: 4+

TOOLS: My Body Needs to Move, Holiday Build-Uponner
EXPERT OPINION: Pediatric Occupational Therapist Susan L. Roberts, MDiv, OTR/L 

GIVEAWAY:  Win your own Power Popper