Shakira’s Favorite Things
Hey, friends! My favorite time of the year is right around the corner, and I may be counting down the days until our home turns into all things holiday magic. I am one of those early-bird moms who likes to plan for and knock out my holiday shopping as much in advance as possible. I also try to wrap the gifts as I get them to save myself a few hours come December. We are a family of six which means there is quite a bit of planning that needs to go into gifting. With four children in differing age ranges—we must be very intentional with what we buy. Our oldest daughter Raegan is 8, Zarie follows at 6, Xander is our 3-year-old, and this will be baby Miles’ very first Christmas at 6 months old. Thankfully, this veteran mama knows that LeapFrog® offers a variety of fun toys for children of different ages and interests. I also love that there are so many fun but also developmental options. I’ve put together a gift guide that will hopefully save you some time this season. Less time searching, and more time making family memories.
Our son Xander already LOVES his LeapFrog® Chat and Count Emoji Phone™. This toy is perfect for toddlers---Xander was always reaching for our smartphones, and now he can use his imagination with his very own. This phone encourages playful conversations, and he even receives pretend calls and voicemail messages. I would say this gift is perfect for littles 18 months and up!
Speaking of Xander, I am super excited to gift him the LeapFrog® Shapes & Sharing Picnic Basket™. Our girls LOVED this toy in previous years, and I know he will, too. I’ve come to know that some of the best learning can be accomplished within play. With the LeapFrog® Shapes & Sharing Picnic Basket™, he’ll learn about colors, shapes, manners, and more while on a pretend picnic. The interactive shape sorter on the lid recognizes the food pieces and says the shape and color of each one. I also love that it lets him practice polite responses and good manners. They’re learning important life lessons and developing critical skills.
This is Xander’s first year of preschool, so he can also expect the LeapFrog® 100 Animals Book™ under the tree this year. It provides a hands-on way for him to learn about and celebrate different animals—just like he does in school. This book provides lots of opportunities for exploration with illustrations and photographs of animals from the desert, savanna, rainforest and more. The three modes teach about animal names, animal sounds and fun facts on each page. I’m sure he will be teaching us a thing or two before we know it.
I think I am most excited to gift the boys the LeapFrog® My Pal Scout Smarty Paws™ toy. This little guy is truly iconic! His right back paw button activates nighttime mode that plays soft lullabies for 5, 10, or 15 minutes to help soothe little ones to sleep. My girls still hum the bedtime lullabies years later. One of the coolest features is that you can PERSONALIZE their play and learning by programming Scout with their names, and favorite things. This can be done while still in the box, so my plan is to have Scout magically know their names on Christmas morning. What a sweet surprise that will be.
Baby Miles is becoming more alert with each passing day, and I just know the LeapFrog® Learn & Groove® Shakin Colors Maracas™ will be a huge hit for him, as they’re designed for kiddos aged 6+ months. One maraca includes colorful shaker beads and the other features a light-up dome that changes colors and plays sound effects. This musical toy includes three play modes that introduce colors, numbers and music. These fun maracas will easily grow as he does. Speaking of growing, I am also super excited that we snagged the LeapFrog® ABCs & Activities Wooden Table™. It’s a two-sided table packed with fun things to do with your little ones, whether they’re sitting on the floor, crawlers or cruisers. Kids will enjoy tons of activities with this wooden activity table that introduces letters, vocabulary, numbers, and colors; it makes a great holiday gift or birthday present. The LeapFrog® ABCs & Activities Wooden Table™ is made with 100% FSCTM-certified wood that comes from well-managed forests.
Okay, friends! I hope I’ve made your holidays just a little easier by sharing these fun ideas for how to create memories, engage your kiddos, and keep learning fun! Happy Holidays and Happy Memory Making!
Xoxo,
Shakira
Author Bio:
Shakira is a proud mama of 4, active-duty military spouse, and the creator behind the Occasions by Shakira motherhood lifestyle blog. She shares ideas for intentional memory-making, celebrating the everyday, and holiday magic. She is also the creator of the largely loved #OccasionsBin ® trend.