They are encouraged to pull themselves up and stay standing at the table while they play. I already have the Baby Einstein Discovering Music Activity Table by Disney for my infant and can’t wait to watch her interactions with it as she grows. The Baby Einstein Activity Table even has pull off legs so that babies can play on the floor. The table helps babies learn colors, shapes, and counting to five in three languages and plays five classical melodies. The light up colors and sounds attract babies’ attention and are just fun.

You can buy the Baby Einstein Discovering Music Activity Table at Target for $39.99.

No pedals, no extra parts and you propel the roller around using your legs.

Order the Ezy Roller for $129.98 from Amazon with free shipping.

Tegu Blocks now makes Mobility which is a series of car packs that come with wheels, blocks and more for more endless play!  We have the Dart ($38), which comes with 10 blocks and wheels you can click into place and make various shapes.

Ages 3+ only (small magnets involved in the wheels).  Get Tegu Blocks and Magnets on the Tegu website.

The sounds and mouth motions are activated by gently touching a button in his year. Rocking ponies have long been a favored toy and the Rockin’ Rider’s sounds, singing and mouth movements make it all the more fun and entertaining for your child. The pony is available in either pink or brown and features a soft and plush body, non-slip foot steps and easy to grip handles.

Check out Rockin’ Rider’s Facebook page for more information.

A-dorable!  That’s what I said aloud (to my cats as my house was empty as I opened this box) when I opened up a box from Pottery Barn Kids that included one of these Remote Control Dinosaurs ($59).

Geared towards kids ages 5+, these toys go to show that simple really best in so many cases!  These wooden dinosaurs are remote control and come with an easy to use remote that move the dinosaur forward, left and right.  It also has them roar and bite.

They come fully assembled and your options are a T-Rex or a Triceratops.  Get a Remote Control Dinosaur for $59 with free shipping at Pottery Barn Kids.

By the way, these dinosaurs were voted the Toy of the Year in Creative Child Magazine in 2010.  It’s easy to see why!

So when my mother in law asked what Nate wanted, I mentioned this as a great birthday or Christmas present for him.  She gave it to him fir his birthday this past weekend and boy does he love it!  But what she actually gave him was the Razor Spark Scooter and it has the neatest add on to it – it creates sparks as they scoot!  The kids can depress a pedal in the back while scooting around and it’ll literally make huge sparks on the road/driveway as they scoot by.  My boys just LOVE this.  What boy wouldn’t?

The best deal I found online was at Walmart – Razor Spark Scooter – $49.94.  Get it in-store or order online and ship to store for free.  A fabulous gift for kids 5+!

Here’s Nate showing off how to use it:

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I love the look on my kids’ faces when they see something with wheels under the tree. Here are my picks for some great ride-on toys for every age – and 3 great giveaways in a super short contest below!

Prince Lionheart Wheely Bug – Perfect for tiny riders over the age of 1, the Prince Lionheart Wheely Bugs are just as fun to ride as they are adorable to look at. Available in 6 unisex designs, choose from a ladybug, bee, cow, mouse, tiger or pig to take for a whirl. The seat is padded, easy to clean and resistant to potential “accidents” from over-excitement. The multi-directional coaster wheels and handy handle will keep your tiny rider amused ride after ride. Safe for indoor or outdoor use. (Also available with a large seat for kids 3+.) $50 at Amazon.com

Kickboard USA Mini and Maxi scooter – These 3-wheeled scooters definitely make it on my top 10 list of must-haves. My kids were riding the Mini version before they were two years old and now at 5.5 and 4, they can zoom around corners, jump off of curbs and do a handful of other head-turning tricks. And we’ve had no major wipeouts or ER visits! The scooters are durable, stable, easy to ride, come in a ton of fun colors and are fairly compact. The Mini Kick is geared for kids 2-5 years old while the Maxi Kick is best for kids 6-11 (or up to 120 lbs.) The Mini comes with a T-bar handle while the Maxi also has the option of the pilot stick which allows for the best performance and handling.  

Kickboard has also been adding to their collection of accessories for the scooters including bags, bells, lights and plush buddies. But don’t let the kids have all the fun! Kickboard USA also makes 2-wheel and 3-wheel scooters for the 11-111 crowd. I recently tried out this 2-wheeled number and had a blast zipping around the block with my kids. Now if only it had a cup holder to make my walk to Starbucks faster…. Starting at $85 at Kickboard USA and totally worth it. (Scroll down for a giveaway!)

KaZAM Balance Bike – When your tot is ready to trade up, consider skipping the training wheels and going to a balance bike first. With my first, we did training wheels and it took some time to ween him off them. With my second, I’m hoping to bypass the transition by using the KaZAM Balance bike. What sets KaZAM apart?

It took a few minutes for my son to get a hang of it, but I’m hoping this will help us bypass training wheels in a few months and go straight to a regular bike. The KaZAM seems durable and is easy to steer. I only wish the seat was a little wider. KaZAM comes in red, blue, orange, green and pink and also comes bundled with a helmet for a complete ready-to-ride package. $100 at KaZAM (Scroll down for a giveaway!)

Trek Jet 20 – When your rider is ready for a real bike, Trek makes superb, sturdy bikes that will easily last through multiple children. I’m not a particular fan of cartoon characters plastered over bikes, and I love that Trek bikes look and are made like grown-up bikes. The Jet 20 is geared for kids 6 and older depending on height and ability. It features 20″ wheels, the option of either coaster or hand breaks (one of my fav features) and cool extras like a kickstand, fenders, plates, pads. The bike has a lightweight aluminum frame that means I can hoist it up on our bike rack, and a construction that will last through everything from neighborhood rides to off-road adventures AND still be passed down to younger brothers. The Jet 20 comes in blue or green though girls may prefer the color selection of the similarly designed Mystic 20. Like all Trek bikes, the Jet 20 has a lifetime warranty. Available for $220 at Trek Bikes.

** GIVEAWAYS ** Three awesome giveaways in this short contest! Enter once for all three items (if you’re only interested in one of them – mention that in the comments so I don’t send you something you don’t want!) Enter by leaving a comment below. Here’s what’s up for grabs:

1) a Kickboard USA Mini or Maxi scooter(color options may depend on available stock)

2) a Kickboard USA white 2-wheeled Kick Scooter for teens or adults (up to 220 lbs)

3) a KaZAM Balance Bike in any color (except pink)

Earn additional entries by tweeting about the contest with the hashtag #MWSridegiveaway or posting about the contest on Facebook. Be sure to leave us an additional comment for each extra entry you do.

Contest is open to U.S. residents only. Sorry no PO boxes. Contest open until 11:59pm on Wednesday, December 14th!

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Note: MWS was not paid for this post. Some of the companies provided samples for review.

Compared to other dolls on the market, the price point makes these dolls really appealing to me.  Corolle makes both baby dolls and girl dolls and they have a wide assortment available for the baby or girl on your holiday list this season!

There’s a whole line that goes along with it too – strollers, baby carriers, clothes and more.  And again, the price point is very competitive compared to other doll manufacturer (just sayin’).

Check out the entire Corolle doll line at Amazon.

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Here’s the bad news: We’ve come to the final holiday LeapFrog giveaway. But the good news is that one of YOU will win! You’ll want to get your hands on this latest releases from LeapFrog – all 8 of your hands if you have them! The LeapFrog Peek-A-Shoe Talking Octopus is a fun, interactive, hands-on activity toy geared for kids 9 months and older.

2011 Winner of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Toy Award!

Drop the ball into Octopus’ open arm or hat and then guess which of his 5 colored feet the ball is hiding under. Encouraging words help while the child searches for the ball and celebrates when they find it. A switch on the blue collar lets you turn it on/off and control the volume (the toy also auto-shuts off after a few minutes of inactivity.) Another switch lets you choose between counting and color mode. The third central button plays fun, educational songs and instrumental music. Designed to help your child develop and reinforce motor skills, the Peek-A-Shoe Talking Octopus also teaches colors, numbers, counting and sea animals.

My 16-month-old had a blast dropping and searching for the balls, and I love how it encouraged his hand-eye coordination and searching skills. I also love that it’s a toy that my two older sons (5 and 3) like to play with him. Fun for all!

** GIVEAWAY ** Win a Peek-A-Shoe Talking Octopus of your very own! To enter, just leave a comment below telling us your favorite part of the holidays. Entries must be received by December 9th 11:59pm, PST. One winner will be picked via random.org and notified via email. Sorry, no P.O. boxes. US residents only.

MWS was not paid for this review. LeapFrog provided a sample of the product for review.

Kate Bayless is a writer, editor and loves holiday music. Her work has appeared in Parents, American Baby, Fit Pregnancy, iVillage and other publications. Visit her at www.katebayless.com or @katebayless.

When it comes to toys I am always looking to find ones that are both fun and educational. And even more so with the holidays quickly approaching. With my son being almost a year old every day is an adventure, and everything that crosses his path is in some way a learning experience. That is why I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the toys from Melissa and Doug. And this holiday season they have put together their top 20 items designed to inspire and educate young minds.

Melissa and Doug have over 1000 unique and exciting toys, and that means that there is something for everyone. The same holds true with their holiday collection.

Company co-creator Melissa Bernstein says:

“Our strong holiday collection is in keeping with our signature approach: staying in touch with the way children naturally play, listening to their parents’ concerns and advice, and designing every toy we make to inspire a world of imagination. Our goal is always to spur the creativity of children, and this year’s lineup of holiday toys includes plenty of inspiration!”

Melissa & Doug have released their list of must have products for the 2011 holiday season.

18 MONTHS+

Snowman Stacker ($12.99)

Caterpillar Gear Toy ($9.99)

AGES 2+

Stack and Sort Butterfly ($14.99)

Happy Giddy Bowling Set ($19.99)

AGES 3+

Sort & Snap Color Match ($19.99)

Low Loader ($19.99)

Wooden Farm Train ($19.99)

Town Blocks Wooden Play Set ($29.99)

Doorbell House ($29.99)

Bake & Decorate Cupcake Set ($19.99)

Felt Food Sandwich Set ($19.99)

Scoop & Stack Ice Cream Cone Play set ($29.99)

Grocery Cart ($69.99)

Deluxe Floor-Standing Wooden Easel ($79.99)

Giraffe Giant Stuffed Animal ($99.99)

AGES 3–6

Trunki ($39.99)

AGES 4+

Make-a-Face Sticker Pad ($4.99)

AGES 6+

Flip-to-Win Hangman ($12.99)

Butterfly Treasure Box Peel & Press Sticker by Numbers ($14.99)

AGES 8+

U.S.A. License Plate Game ($19.99)

See? Something for everyone! Right now Melissa & Doug is offering FREE SHIPPING on orders over $60. Just use FREESHIP60 at check out. Happy Shopping!

I was provided with a Melissa & Dough Snowman stacker for the purposes of this review. As always all thoughts and opinions are my own.