The New Parents Guide Blog

For every child, there is a toy that will keep him busy for hours upon hours–that toy he just never gets tired of.  This Melissa and Doug Activity Cart is one of those toys.  Built for solo or group play, it’s great for a preschool classroom or family playroom.

This rolling toy cart has something to do on every side!  You’ll find shape sorters, a magnetic farm scene, 81 building blocks (that’s enough for a nice tall tower!), a tool kit, sliding counting beads, a chalkboard with chalk, and a handy storage drawer.

The activity cart is a high-quality item with lots of play value.  It contains small parts, so it’s recommended for children ages 3 and up.

Whether your child likes to build, hammer, sort, count or wheel the cart around serving pretend food, there’s something for him to do with this toy.

REMINDER

Did you enter our giveaway of My Brest Friend products yet?  Don’t miss your chance to win a great gift basket!

BASKET OF BARGAINS

20% off the list price of one item at Borders.com
Valid only at Borders.com. Not valid in stores. Certain exclusions apply. Coupon cannot be combined with any other offer, including but not limited to “3 for 2,” “Buy 4, Get 5th Free,” or “Buy 1, Get 1 Half Price” offers. Excludes previous purchases, non-stock special orders, bargain books, gift cards, newspapers, magazines, comics, coupon books, eBooks, digital downloads, self-publishing programs, Rosetta Stone software, shipping, and all electronics, including the Sony Reader and the Zune. May not be combined with other coupons, sale pricing, corporate, classroom, or other group discounts. Promotion code good for single-use only.
Enter coupon code BEG93010X.
Valid through: September 30, 2010
See other Borders coupons!

TODAY ONLY!
Extra 80% off Dining Certificates at Restaurant.com
This discount is in addition to the everyday discounts at Restaurants.com. So if you buy a $25 Certificate for $10 and use a 80% off coupon, you pay only $2!
Enter coupon code CLEARANCE.
Valid through: August 31, 2010
See other Restaurant.com coupon codes!

Summer’s not over by a long shot, and around here the weather is hot, hot, hot!  If you’re looking for a way for your kids to beat the heat without risking major sun damage to their skin, the Little Tikes Wade Lagoon is the perfect solution.  The shade tree in the middle is also a misting sprayer–just hook it up to your garden hose for a nice cool mist.  There’s a mini-water slide, a step-down in the side wall for easy access (great for toddlers!) and a corner seat.  You’ll even find handy cup holders.

This backyard water park is inflatable, using an included blower that inflates the pool within minutes.  The Little Tikes Wade Lagoon measures just under 10 X 9 feet so there’s plenty of room for fun.

BASKET OF BARGAINS

33% off Photo Cards at Walgreens.com
Use coupon code 33cards at checkout in the Photo Center.
Valid for up to 5 uses per account. Does not apply to custom framing, gift cards, taxes, or shipping charges.
Valid through: September 30, 2010
See other Walgreens coupons!

$15 off $150 in Home items at Kmart.com
Valid online only. Cannot be combined with other coupons.
Enter coupon code AUGUSTHOME.
Valid through: August 28, 2010
See other Kmart coupon codes!

You probably had one of these as a kid.  Surprise–they still make them, and they’re super-popular! Despite the fact that there are few children who will ever see a phone that resembles this one–with a cord connecting the handset and the base, never mind one with a dial rather than push-buttons, little ones just can’t resist playing with this classic toy.

My kids always loved playing with the Fisher-Price Chatter Phone, just as I did when I was little.  How cute is this phone?  With a colorful dial and a pull-string that will entice beginning walkers to take their phone along, it’s lots of fun.  And when you pull the phone by the string, the eyes move up and down and the phone “chatters.”  A bell rings when you spin the dial, and retro packaging completes the old-fashioned fun.

BASKET OF BARGAINS

25% off the Sunny Days Bouquet, plus a free Garden Green Vase at ProFlowers
Now only $30!
Valid through: August 31, 2010
See other ProFlowers coupons!

Free shipping on orders containing $125 in Home items at macys.com
Enter promo code BACKHOME in your shopping bag.
Some exclusions may apply. Only one promo code may be used per transaction. Offer applies to Standard Shipping to one location and may be applied to Premium or Overnight Shipping for an upgrade fee. Free Shipping does not apply to Coach, area rugs, furniture, mattresses, gift cards, or purchases on macysweddingchannel.com. Due to size and/or weight, certain items bear a shipping surcharge, which will still apply. When shipping to multiple addresses, only shipping to the first address will be free; Standard Shipping will apply to all other addresses. Free Shipping offer cannot be applied to purchases being shipped to Alaska, Hawaii, US Territories or APO/FPO addresses.
Valid through: August 15, 2010
See other Macy’s coupon codes!

Are you looking for a comfortable, colorful, fun place for your baby to enjoy some important tummy time?   It’s important for infants to spend some time playing on their bellies so they can strengthen the muscles that help them hold up their heads, roll over, sit alone, and ultimately crawl and walk.

The Lamaze Spin & Explore Garden Gym has its own “lazy susan” built right in.  Babies’ arm and leg movements will set them gently moving around the petals of the flower.  Each petal has its own interactive activity, including crinkle sounds, rattles, mirrors, peek-a-boo flaps and more.  Once your baby can sit on her own, it’s easy to remove the spinner and she can enjoy the soft, colorful play mat and the activities it offers.

BASKET OF BARGAINS

Free 2-Week Subscription to Disney Digital Books when you buy a select Backpack at DisneyStore.com
Your promo code will be sent by email.
Encourage your child to read with a free two-week subscription to Disney Digital Books!
Valid through: August 30, 2010
See other DisneyStore.com coupons!

$3 off any Tag Book at LeapFrog.com
Use promotion code TBOOK3 in your shopping cart.
This offer cannot be combined with other offers requiring a promo code. Promotion not valid on gift packs. Limit 5 per order. Merchandise discount will appear at Review Order Page. Limit one discount per person. No adjustments can be made on prior sales. Discount does not include tax and shipping. No substitutions or cash equivalents. LeapFrog reserves the right to change this promotion at any time. Offer void where prohibited or restricted by law. This offer is only valid in our online store at www.leapfrog.com. This offer cannot be used for purchases made on flyworld.com or the LeapFrog School store.
Valid through: September 30, 2010
See other LeapFrog coupon codes!

If your little girl’s a fan of dollhouses, she’s sure to love the Princess Play Castle from Teamson.   It’s 45 inches high and set on a swivel base so she can easily access it from all sides.   This hand-carved, hand-painted castle comes with furniture for the sitting room and banquet hall, as well as figurines and even a horse and carriage.

The Princess Play Castle is easy to assemble with no tools required.   The flag turrets provide storage for all the furniture that’s included.  The front of the castle features balconies and a drawbridge-style door.

Let her imagination run wild as she re-enacts scenes from her favorite fairy tale or makes up her own princess stories.

BASKET OF BARGAINS

25% off School Uniforms at The Children’s Place
Discounts will appear on item pages.
Valid through: August 1, 2010
See other Children’s Place coupons!

10% more off Clearance items at LeapFrog.com
Use promotion code CLEARANCE10 in your shopping cart.
Purchase amount necessary to qualify for discount does not include tax or shipping. No substitutions or cash equivalents. LeapFrog reserves the right to change this promotion at any time. Offer void where prohibited or restricted by law. This offer can not be used for purchases made through LeapFrog School or the Employee Store.
Valid through: July 26, 2010
See other LeapFrog coupon codes!

Is it a beautiful day in your neighborhood?  Surely there must be some parts of the country that are not sweltering under the same hazy-hot-humid conditions that we in the Northeast are feeling this summer. On those super-hot days, I encourage the kids to play in the pool if they want to play outside.  But when we get a nice-weather day, I chase them out to run around, kick soccer balls, play tag and climb on our fort.

The toddler next door has a brand-new “fort” and it sure is a nice one!  Last weekend his family assembled this Naturally Playful Clubhouse Climber from Step2.  It’s big enough for that little boy and a whole bunch of his friends.  Scale the climbing wall to access the tower with a steering wheel and telescope, then cross the connecting bridge to the playhouse–fully equipped with a message board, toy phone, skylight, table and two stools.  Then slide down the slide and peek through the porthole to see if anyone’s hiding in the cubbyhole beneath the bridge.

The Clubhouse Climber measures over 10 feet across, so plan your yard space accordingly–and then get ready for many years of outdoor fun.  We’ve had a Step2 “fort” in our yard for more than a decade and it’s still got plenty of life left in it–and practically looks new.  Those Step2 folks really know how to make sturdy, durable outdoor toys.

BASKET OF BARGAINS

TODAY ONLY!
$5 off Kids’ Graphic Tees at LandsEnd.com
Discounts will appear on item pages.
Valid through: July 15, 2010
See other Lands’ End coupons!

TODAY AND TOMORROW ONLY!
Free shipping on orders containing DERMAdoctor brand products
Use promotional code DSHIP09 during checkout.
One use per customer. Applies to standard shipping to US orders only.
Valid through: July 16, 2010
See other DERMAdoctor coupon codes!