The Crew News. . . . . . .

Lookie at all the new toys; Melissa & Doug, Maxim, EverEarth & more! Loads of new toys and goodies.

Dollhouse kits, craft kits, baby dolls, sleeping bags and tunnels! Come see what all the excitement is about!

Mollie Sleeping Bag from Out of the Toy Box

I’ve chuckled to myself  while watching my 10-month old grandson fight going to sleep at times, when I would give anything to be able to turn off the world and zone out for a power nap.  He doesn’t want to miss anything going on around him, but when he finally succumbs, he wakes up refreshed and in a much more cheerful mood.  It’s as simple as that.  Just sleep.

It is my personal opinion that the world would be a much happier place if it would simply get some sleep.  I know I feel better when I get a full eight hours of uninterrupted sleep a night.  Not that it happens often, but there is a noticeable difference when it does.

And if I, an almost 40-year old woman, can benefit from full eight hours of rest at night, what about babies, children, and teenagers, who experience rapid growth spurts and tremendous hormonal changes in their bodies on a daily basis?  How much sleep do children really need?

The answer is a lot more than we think and probably a lot more than they’re actually getting.  Of course, everybody is different, but I think this article has some good guidelines.

Here are some tips for helping your child get a good night’s rest:

• Turn off the television early. Give them some time to get that last show out of their mind.  This goes for the computer too.

• Read to them. It benefits them in more way than you can imagine.  It they are older, they can quietly read to themselves.

• Have them take a warm bath. A warm bath before bed is relaxing and calming.

• Adjust the temperature of the room. Everyone usually sleeps better when the temperature of the room is mild and on the cool side.  Shoot for between 65 and 70 degrees.

• Be consistent as possible with bedtimes.

• Be careful about late night snacking. Too much heavy food on the stomach can make it difficult to go to sleep and also to have peaceful sleep.  Foods that contain caffeine, such as chocolate and colas, should be avoided during the evenings.
  

  Augie Alligator Sleeping Bag from www.OutoftheToyBox.com

And speaking of sleep, these adorable sleeping bags would make any child want to hit the sack!

Pretend Food Toys from OutoftheToyBox

Antioxidants are all the rage right now in the medical news, but what exactly are they, and why do we need them?  An antioxidant is a substance or nutrient (think vitamin C for one) that can prevent or slow down cell damage done by free radicals.  Free radicals are formed from the oxidation of molecules.  In a nutshell, antioxidants help prevent our bodies from free radical damage.

Pretend Fruit Box from OutoftheToyBox.com

One of my favorite summer fruits is blueberries, which just happen to be full of antioxidants.  Fortunately for me, I live in an area with an abundance of blueberry farms, so I have a plentiful supply of fresh berries when they are in season. I freeze them in the summer months so I can use them all year long in my baked goods, smoothies, and even straight out of the bag.

I also want to make sure my grandson gets his share of antioxidants, so I created these frozen blueberry pops that also incorporate the juice of another fruit rich in antioxidants-the pomegranate.  This recipe is quick and easy, and is a super healthy alternative to the sugar-laden frozen treats found in the grocery store.  Kids love them because they are purple, but they have no idea how healthy they’re eating.

Purple Power Smoothie Pops

Purple Power Smoothie Pops

1/2 cup 100% pure pomegranate juice

1/4 cup plain, unsweetened yogurt

1 medium banana, chopped

1/2 cup fresh or frozen whole blueberries (no need to thaw if frozen)

Place the ingredients in a blender in the order listed; process until smooth.  Pour into popsicle molds and freeze until firm, usually overnight.  This recipe makes about 1 1/2 cups smoothie liquid, before freezing.  Popsicle molds will vary in size.  Mine held 1/4 cup of liquid each.

Smoothie Pops

Congratulations Konstantin, you are the winner of this month’s drawing!

Konstantin won a coupon for 20% Off any in-stock purchase form www.OutoftheToyBox.com.

How can you win? It is so simple!

Be sure to tell us how you found us each time you shop  at Out of the Toy Box and you will earn a chance to win a prize! It is very easy. Even grandmas can do it!

Use the message window near the end of checkout to tell us :

1. Which search engine you used (earns 1 chance)

2. The exact search term (earns 1 chance)

3. Why you clicked on our link (earns 1 chance)

4. That you are a previous customer (earns 3 chances)

5. Other way that you found us ie:  friend, magazine (earns 2 chances)

….and you will be entered in the next month’s drawing according to the chances that you earned.  The more you tell us, the more chances you earn! Thanks for helping us and Good Luck!

Keep watching for other opportunities to win coupons and prizes for Melissa and Doug toys, Maxim Toys, EverEarth Toys and more!

My son-in-law is doing a research paper on childhood obesity, and I have been quite intrigued to read his research findings.  This subject is in the headlines quite often, and there is no disputing that Americans have a weight problem and have handed it down to their children.  Too much television, video games, and social websites like My Space and Face Book, definitely keep children indoors and in stationary positions for long periods of time.  While none of these things are inherently wrong, moderation is the key to keeping kids from being sedentary.

We all know that exercise is good for our bodies, but let me go a step further.  When we exercise and our heart rate goes up, our body releases endorphins, or chemicals in the brain.  These chemicals can moderate our appetite, among other things.   I’m not suggesting that we make our children run five miles a day, but incorporating physical activity into our daily lives is one way to establish a healthy way of life from early on.

We parents need to offer some alternatives to endless television viewing and computer use.  Out of the Toy Box has a fantastic selection of fun toys and games that will draw families outside and get them moving.

Check out these cool, colorful jump ropes by Just Jump It.  They’re reasonably priced so everyone can have their own, and there is also a 16-foot group jump rope that the whole family can play with together.  Imagine how your children will feel with mom and dad jumping alongside them!  This skipper ball and rope is also a variation of a jump rope and helps to develop coordination, as well as getting the heart pumping.

Now that the days are warmer and longer, everyone can go outside and play a game of Yackle Ball.  Yackle Ball is fun for every member of the family because it is specially designed for easy catching, so that even little ones or special needs kids can play along.

My personal favorite is this adorable croquet set by Melissa and Doug. What child won’t want to go outside and play a round of croquet with this colorful equipment?

Happy Giddy Croquet by Melissa & Doug

After a particularly cold winter for this part of Mississippi, the flowers are finally blooming and spring fever has officially hit everyone I know. I am enjoying getting outside and doing yard work right now, which is a stark contrast to my opinion of yard work in July, when it is at least a 100 degrees and 100 percent humidity. Unfortunately, my allergies are in full bloom, too, but I’ll take allergies over sweltering heat any day.

This is no time to be cooped up indoors watching television or playing on the computer. Let’s draw our children outdoors for a heavy dose of vitamin D. Vitamin D helps aid the absorption of calcium and phosphorous in the body. UV rays from the sun trigger vitamin D synthesis in the skin. How cool is that? That is why spring and fall are the perfect times of the year to be outside. Even though little ones (and older ones) should still wear sunscreen for prolonged time outdoors, the sun’s rays are not as strong as they are in the summer, so there is less chance of sunburn.

With the Easter bunny coming soon and all the spring birthday parties that are being planned, not to mention first trips to the beach and my all-time favorite excuse which is “just because I love you,” here are some great gift ideas for some outdoor toys.

These gardening “tools” are colorful and fun and will get your child working alongside you in the garden or flowerbed.

How cute is this bug catcher by Melissa and Doug? Your child will spend hours catching rolie-polies and grasshoppers.

Are your children begging to go swimming? How about letting them run through this adorable sprinkler while you work on getting the pool in shape for summer? Check out all our fantastic outdoor toys right here. There is something to get everyone outdoors and into the light!

Be sure to tell us how you found us each time you shop  at Out of the Toy Box and you will earn a chance to win a prize! It is very easy. Even grandmas can do it!

Use the message window near the end of checkout to tell us :

1. Which search engine you used (earns 1 chance)

2. The exact search term (earns 1 chance)

3. Why you clicked on our link (earns 1 chance)

4. That you are a previous customer (earns 3 chances)

5. Other way that you found us ie:  friend, magazine (earns 2 chances)

….and you will be entered in the next month’s drawing according to the chances that you earned.  The more you tell us, the more chances you earn! Thanks for helping us and Good Luck!

Sometimes we adults forget that the most mundane chores such as cooking dinner, can, in fact, be quite exciting to a young child.  Cooking together is a fantastic way to spend quality time with children while teaching them a valuable life skill and even a little math and science to boot.  I recently bought my niece Zoe this adorable little chef’s outfit by Melissa & Doug for her fourth birthday, and we had our own pretend cooking show right in the kitchen.  I took the time to help her measure and count, and I even explained technical things, like why baking powder goes into cookie dough.  She might not remember everything we talked about, but I know that she had the time of her life, and the best part for her was getting to eat what she had made and then serving it to others with a big proud grin.

I have found that children love the hands-on part of cooking.  They love putting their little fingers in dough, rolling it into little balls and then patting it out.  I have also found that if they have a part in creating it, they will be more likely to eat it, which is a great trick to getting them to eat healthier foods.   They might not eat raisins or celery alone, but show them how to create “Ants on a Log” and you might be surprised to see them gobble it down.

Cut up a bunch of vegetables and tell your child to arrange them on a big platter any way they want.  This helps them use their imagination and even develop an eye for art by creating a way for them to learn how to combine colors and arrange shapes.

Don’t feel you have to follow a recipe exactly.  Who says that the only thing that goes on a peanut butter sandwich is jelly?  Let them decide what they think would taste good.  If you’re the type that stresses over a dirty kitchen, take a deep breath and just let them do their own thing for a bit.  You’ll be glad you did.

My grandson is at that cute but very slobbery stage of trying to insert everything he can get his little hands on directly into his mouth. As I rocked him today when he and my daughter came to visit, he gnawed on my (clean!) t-shirt until he fell asleep on my shoulder. It seems almost impossible to keep up with what he tries to put in his mouth, and we are constantly moving items away from him.

Babies love exploring with their mouths. They want to taste everything and find out if something is hard or soft or what it feels like exactly. This type of learning, known as mouthing, can last well through the second year. It only makes sense that the mouth would play an important role in their development. The sucking reflex shows up immediately after birth and provides much comfort and satisfaction, as well as the obvious job of getting nourishment. As babies get older and start teething, they often plunge things into their mouths to ease the pain of tender, swollen gums. This brings relief for the little ones, but adds a new worry for moms which is trying to keep items germ free and clean for tiny mouths.

Soft Rainbow Stacker by Melissa & Doug

That is one of the reasons my daughter loves the line of soft baby toys from Melissa and Doug. The toys can be washed in the washer with mild detergent and some can even be put in the dryer on low heat. This is especially convenient when there are other babies or toddlers around sharing toys. Dirt and dust are one thing, but viruses and bacteria are spread by human contact. Although we can’t protect our babies from every germ, we all like to feel like we are doing all we can to prevent sickness and maintain healthy homes.