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Letters from Santa!

December 9, 2013 By 8 Comments

 

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Letters from Santa (www.easyfreesantaletter.com), provides parents a simple way to create beautiful, personalized letters from Santa that can be printed instantly. Available in both a free and low-cost Magical Package version ($3.99) ,
Did I say personalized? That is an understatement! In addition to 16 gorgeous Letter designs, there are 13 highly personalized messages! The Letters are full of special details only Santa could know, and address a multitude of worries that little ones might have.

Santa eases the concerns of children that Santa won’t find them because they will be on vacation at Christmas time, because they have moved that year, or even because they don’t have a chimney. Santa soothes the little hearts of children whose families are living apart, or who have military family members that can’t make it home for Christmas. Santa even addresses specific gift requests, celebrates the little one’s big accomplishments, and commemorates Baby’s First Christmas.

In addition to these very special Letters from Santa, when you purchase a Magical Letter from Santa, it comes as part of a package which includes 2 envelopes, a lovely personalized printable Official Nice List Certificate (spectacular when printed out on heavy paper), a beautiful printable autographed photo from old St. Nick himself, and a 27-page printable Coloring& Activity Book!

But that’s not all…this year they have added a set of 16 adorable printable Christmas Lunchbox Jokes!

To sweeten the deal, they even have extra freebies on their website…from jokes, to printable gift tags and labels, to coloring pages, as well as an awesome Free printable Official Letter to Santa! It is perfect for your little people to write or draw their biggest wishes to the big guy himself!

They also have a BOGO offer …all you need to do is sign up for their newsletter on their website homepage, and you will get a free coupon code for your second Magical Letter from Santa Package!

Once you have received your coupon code via email, all you need to do is enter the code into the coupon code space before you pay for your first Magical Letter from Santa Package! Then, after your first purchase, make your new letter using the same email address, and enter the code into the coupon code space once again, and voila! Your second Magical Letter from Santa Package is provided free of charge! Make sure to enter the BOGO code for the first letter as well as the second.
To make the letters, just go in and make your Magical Letter from Santa, then enter the code when prompted. You will see that the links to download your Letter and goodies are available on the website right away. I would encourage you to download them directly off the site, as there is the rare occasion that the email is delayed, and that is no fun! In addition, people have very robust security systems these days, and they are sometimes blocked as spam and not delivered!  Enjoy!!
We have teamed up for a giveaway!! We have 5 FREE codes to giveaway to the first 5 people who enter! Leave a comment below and “like” their Facebook Page! Deadline to enter is December 12, 2013 or until there are the first 5! 
Self Disclosure: I received free codes to facilitate this feature/giveaway!
Filed Under: Archived Content

Holiday Gift Suggestions for the Kids!

December 9, 2013 By 5 Comments

Can you believe that Christmas is almost here?! Just barely over two weeks away! Here are some Holiday Gift suggestions the children are sure to love!

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“The Hive: A Very Buzzbee Christmas”  (SRP $12.95)

Pint-size viewers will have a lot to bee excited about this holiday season when The Hive, the animated TV series for preschoolers on Disney Junior from Bejuba! Entertainment, comes to DVD and digital for the first time! “A Very Buzzbee Christmas” features nearly 90 minutes of high-flying hijinks starring the tiny, stripy Bee family – Pappa Bee, Mamma Bee, Buzzbee, Rubee and Babee – as they buzz around the sky, take part in Honeybee Hive’s Harvest Festival of Lights and await the arrival of Pappa Christmas. The adorable new release captures all the most buzz-worthy themes of the popular series, including spending time with family, making friends, and finding out about the world and how it works.

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“The Secret World of Santa Claus: Elves in Toyland” (SRP $14.95) and
“The Secret World of Santa Claus: A Present for Santa” (SRP $14.95)

Kids and families will count down to Christmas with the DVD debut of the beloved international sensation, The Secret World of Santa Claus! The two special two-disc sets each feature a dozen episodes of the timeless animated series. In “The Secret World of Santa Claus: Elves in Toyland,” Santa, his reindeer and trusty elves sleigh into a land full of enchantment. But when they arrive, they find the meddlesome Gruzzlebeard has cast a wicked spell on the toys, making them come to life. With Christmas fast approaching, Santa and his elves must undo the maleficent magic before it’s too late…! And in “The Secret World of Santa Claus: A Present for Santa,” children work with Santa’s elves to make him a gift so he won’t be the only person on the planet who never receives presents on Christmas. While they’re hard at work, the dastardly Gruzzlebeard unleashes hungry termites that nearly eat Santa’s house, along with his trademark suit with special powers! Santa is very distressed, but when he awakens to a big present outside, courtesy of the children, he discovers all hope is not lost. We received both these DVDs and these are entertaining and fun for this holiday season! They would also make a great gift suggestion for the Christmas Eve pajama gifts..you just stick one of these fun DVDs in with the pjs!

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“Enchanted Tales: The Night Before Christmas & The Christmas Elves” (SRP $9.95)

“Enchanted Tales: The Night Before Christmas & The Christmas Elves” brings two of the most beloved classic holiday tales to colorful animated life in a pair of complete 48-minute movies on one DVD! “The Night Before Christmas” presents a whimsical holiday surprise package bursting with comical elfin escapades, musical fun and inventive fairy magic. The festive tale is followed by “The Christmas Elves,” which centers on a kindhearted, orphan boy and his loyal cat as they discover the true spirit of the season in a Yuletide tale of musical, magical holiday cheer. The multi-award-winning Enchanted Tales series, produced by Golden Films and distributed in more than 80 countries around the world, has already delighted millions of young viewers through Comcast and Hulu.

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Tickety Toc Toys:

Based on the hit animated TV series for preschoolers on Nick Jr. from Zodiak Kids, the new Tickety Toc toy line for children ages 3 years and up, features a standout assortment of imagination-inspiring playthings available exclusively at Toys“R”Us stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.com

Tickety Toc Matching Game (SRP $9.99)

It’s the classic game of picture matching – now starring preschoolers’ favorite Tickety Toc characters! Kids can flip over colorful tiles to find a parade of friendly faces, from Tommy and Tallulah to Pufferty and Hopparoo. The player who collects the most matching pairs wins! This is a fun one for younger kids!

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From Wooky Entertainment:

 

Design Masters (Ford Focus RS500, Ford Boss 302 and Ford Street Racer I, SRP $6.99 each; Ford F-150 SVT Raptor and Ford GT, SRP $9.99 each)

For 2013, the Design Masters line of auto sketchbooks is rolling out a new fleet of popular vehicles from The Ford Motor Company! Each offering presents base model vehicles and color instructions for kids 7 and up to follow or creatively interpret to produce their own unique concept car. Artists choose the wheels, spoilers, bumpers and emblem as well as a range of car parts to create awe-inspiring vehicle designs. We received this one and had so much fun with this! I like how creative it is and how kids can make their own unique car designs.

We are having a Holiday Giveaway! One reader will win  both Secret World of Santa Claus DVDs! Just leave a comment below telling us one of your holiday traditions! Deadline to enter is December 15th, 2013 at midnight. One winner will randomly be selected from all entries!

Self  Disclosure: I received samples of these products to facilitate this feature/giveaway.

 

Filed Under: Archived Content, Featured Products of the Week

More Holiday Gift suggestions from mark.

December 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Cozy Duo Gloves (2) full service 5-piece pro brush set

Looking for really cool stocking stuffers and gifts for the Teens and women in your life? Mark. has you covered this holiday season! Here are some of my absolute favorites! The Cozy Duo Gloves are two-in-one style and these are really stylish and keep your hands warm. You can actually customize your look and level of warmth. I love how comfy and cozy these really are! They retail for $24.00. Looking for some great make up brushes? mark. has a Full Service Set that I just love! I love the variety of brushes this one comes with.

mini juice gems set      Music To My Ear Muffs

The Juicy Fruits Mini Juice Gems Set will make the best stocking stuffer! This lipgloss set retails for $14.00 and comes in raspberry, honeydew, fig and pomegranate!  But, my ultimate favorite are the Music To My Ears Ear Muffs! These really are like two gifts in one! I love these! These are headphones that are also ear muffs and they really do keep my ears warm! The Volume control feature is on head phone cable: cablue plugs into standard headphone jacks. Retail for $30.00. Find these and so many other cool holiday gift ideas at mark.

Self Disclosure: I received products for free to facilitate this feature but any opinions are my own. Photo Credit: mark.

 

Filed Under: Beauty and Fashion, Beauty and Fashion Corner

Niagara Molded Chocolates: Nutcrackers, Santas and more…yum!

December 9, 2013 By 11 Comments

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Our Holiday Giveaways with SweetWorks continues with our week #2! This is my absolute favorite! The Niagara Molded Chocolates! They are just delicious! It’s really difficult to pick a favorite! I received samples and they are just all soooo good! I have to say the foiled Milk Peanut Butter Filled Santas just may be my absolute favorite!! But, the foiled solid milk crisp ornaments are my son’s favorite!

We have teamed up with our friends at SweetWorks for a Holiday Giveaway every week until Christmas! Isn’t that exciting?! This week is the second week! One subscriber will win a package of the Niagara Molded Chocolates! You must be a subscriber to enter! Next, leave a comment below telling us what you like to bake this holiday season! Next, “like” their Facebook Page Deadline to enter is December 15th, 2013 at midnight! One winner will randomly be selected from all entries!

Self Disclosure: I received products for free to facilitate this feature but any opinions expresses are my own. Photo Credit: SweetWorks.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Archived Content

THE SIMON SANTA PHOTO EXPERIENCE SET TO CREATE MORE MAGICAL MEMORIES AT DEL AMO FASHION CENTER

December 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Eager children and their families can once again experience the magic of the holiday season with a visit to the Simon® Santa Photo Experience at Del Amo Fashion Center. Children can be photographed with Santa through December 24 in his winter wonderland, in JoAnn’s Court. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/235319723295101/ for a complete list of dates and times.

 

HP is the presenting sponsor for the 2013 Simon Santa Photo Experience and will demonstrate its next generation PCs, printers, and tablets in select malls this holiday season. The HP Holiday Workshops in select Simon malls will bring the thrill of gift giving back this holiday season with workshops powered by HP technology, ranging from the newest motion-sensing and touchscreen devices to stylish, sleek notebooks (and everything in between).

 

ABC Family, Universal and Gymboree are associate sponsors this year.

 

ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas is sponsoring the Simon Santa Photo Experience for the ninth consecutive year. 25 Days of Christmas is the holiday viewing destination for holiday classics, blockbuster movies and original holiday programming, December 1 – 25. Visitors to the Simon Santa Photo Experience will receive a 25 Days of Christmas programming guide and scented holiday ornament.

 

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is celebrating the highly-anticipated release of Despicable Me 2, available on Digital HD on November 26 and Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, and DVD on December 10. Come visit the Simon Santa Photo Experience and pose for photos with the Minions standee while watching highlights from the movie.

 

Returning again as a sponsor this year is Gymboree. The Gymboree Corporation is a specialty retailer operating stores selling high-quality apparel and accessories for children under the Gymboree, Gymboree Outlet, Janie and Jack, and Crazy 8 brands.

 

“One of the great traditions of holiday shopping at Del Amo Fashion Center is the annual family visit to the Simon Santa Photo Experience,” said Lindsay Hermance, director of marketing and business development at Del Amo Fashion Center. “I know Santa can’t wait to greet children bringing him their holiday wishes.”

 

WorldWide Photography, operators of the Santa Photo Experience at Del Amo Fashion Center, offers services in over 300 locations and 48 states nationwide, presenting more than 40 years combined experience. Widely known for Christmas and Easter photo memories, WWP provides more than just a photographic experience. WWP captures hearts, one smile at a time.

 

For more information, visit Del Amo Fashion Center on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DelAmoFashionCenter, Twitter at https://twitter.com/delamofashion or Instagram at http://instagram.com/delamofashion.

 

About Del Amo Fashion Center

Del Amo Fashion Center is the South Bay’s retail destination for shopping, entertainment and dining. It boasts more than 200 stores, including Macy’s, H&M, Anthropologie, Barnes & Noble, Coach, and more. Visit the outdoor promenade and enjoy dinner at Stacked or PF Changs before a movie at our 18 screen AMC Theater. The indoor mall offers fashion for women, men and children plus jewelry, footwear and electronics. Del Amo Fashion Center serves the nearby communities of Palos Verdes, Lomita, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Redondo Beach and Gardena. For a map and store listings, as well as directions, events and job listings, visit http://www.simon.com/mall/del-amo-fashion-center or call 310-542-8525.

 

About Simon Property Group

Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG) is an S&P 100 company and a leader in the global retail real estate industry.  The Company currently owns or has an interest in 326 retail real estate properties in North America and Asia comprising 241 million square feet. We are headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employ approximately 5,500 people in the U.S.  For more information, visit the Simon Property Group website at www.simon.com.

 

About Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporate.

Filed Under: SoCal City Kids News

CARING SANTA TO BE HELD AT THE SHOPS AT MISSION VIEJO

December 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The Shops at Mission Viejo announced today that it will hold a Caring Santa™ event this holiday season on December 8th, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. on the lower level near Nordstrom. Caring Santa is a special event dedicated to families that have children with special needs, providing a subdued environment to visit the Simon® Santa Photo Experience.

 

The presenting sponsor for the 2013 Simon Santa Photo Experience is Microsoft retail store.

 

ABC Family, Universal and Gymboree are associate sponsors this year.

 

Caring Santa has been developed by Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG), the world’s leading retail real estate company and is guided by AbilityPath.org, a national online resource hub and special needs community.

 

Simon’s Caring Santa program has grown in popularity in a few short years to become the most comprehensive offering of its type in the shopping center industry. Started in 2010 in just a handful of malls, today over 100 Simon regional malls participate. Last holiday season, the program was featured on such national outlets as ‘Entertainment Tonight’ and www.parents.com, and well-known regional outlets such as The Orange County Register.

 

Many steps are taken to reduce sensory triggers, creating a more comforting environment for the children’s magical visit with Santa. This environment is likely to include (specific elements or aesthetics may vary):

 

  • Turning off in-mall music, stopping escalators located near the Santa set, dimming the lights, and shutting down fountains during the duration of the event.
  • Eliminating queue lines through the use of a numbering system whereby guests approach the set when their number is called.
  • Special activities and stories geared toward the needs of the child during the ‘wait’ period to help the child understand what activities will occur during the visit.

 

Sheryl Young, CEO of AbilityPath said, “That moment when a child gets to meet Santa is a magical one, and every child should get to have this magical moment. Unfortunately, many children with special needs have never had this opportunity. The hustle and bustle of the malls can be overwhelming to the children and their families. That is why we facilitate the Caring Santa Program with Simon Property Group; to create an environment that will lessen potential triggers for children with special needs.”

 

“We are thrilled to be the venue for this incredible event,” said Patsy Sanquist, director of marketing and business development at The Shops at Mission Viejo. “The Caring Santa program brings a lot of joy to children with special needs and to see that happen at our mall is truly an honor.”

 

Participants are encouraged to RSVP for the Caring Santa event at The Shops at Mission Viejo by going to www.CaringSanta.com. The event is free and professional photo packages will be available for purchase through The Shops at Mission Viejo’s photo operator. The event will be held during private mall hours in order to provide a calmer sensory-friendly environment, so please enter the mall using The Cheesecake Factory entrance.

 

For more information, visit The Shops at Mission Viejo on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ShopsAtMissionViejo, Twitter at https://twitter.com/ShopsMV or Instagram at http://instagram.com/ShopsMV/.

 

 

About The Shops at Mission Viejo

Among the 150 stores and restaurants at The Shops at Mission Viejo, this indoor mall features Nordstrom, H&M, Macy’s, Apple, Sephora, and The Cheesecake Factory. Home to Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour, Paradise Bakery and Microsoft, recognized by the OC Register’s 2013 People’s Choice Awards for “best ice cream,” “best cookie,” and “best tech store” respectively, The Shops at Mission Viejo serves many nearby communities such as Ladera Ranch, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, San Juan Capistrano and the city of Mission Viejo. The Shops at Mission Viejo is conveniently located at the intersection of the I-5 and Crown Valley Parkway in the city of Mission Viejo. With over 150 stores and restaurants, The Shops at Mission Viejo is south Orange County’s main shopping destination. For a map and store listings, as well as directions, events and job listings, visit http://www.simon.com/mall/the-shops-at-mission-viejo or call 949-364-1771.

 

About Simon Property Group

Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG) is an S&P 100 company and a global leader in the retail real estate industry.  The Company currently owns or has an interest in more than 325 retail real estate properties in North America and Asia comprising approximately 242 million square feet. We are headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employ approximately 5,500 people in the U.S.  For more information, visit simon.com.

 

 

 

About AbilityPath.org

AbilityPath.org is an online hub and special needs community for parents and professionals to learn, connect and live a more balanced life. The website combines social networking features with expert content from AbilityPath.org’s team of educators, parents, therapists and medical professionals.AbilityPath.org was created by Community Gatepath, a nonprofit with over 90 years of experience serving families and children with special needs by fostering hope, dignity and independence. AbilityPath.org may also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

Filed Under: SoCal City Kids News

A CHILD’S HOLIDAY DREAM COME TRUE

December 6, 2013 By 2 Comments

Create fond family memories this Christmas at Patina Catering’s Breakfast with Santa at the Los Angeles Music Center and Descanso Gardens

WHAT:           In the spirit of the holidays, begin a new family tradition and treat your children to “Breakfast with Santa,” complete with a sumptuous buffet, children activity areas, gifts, a visit from Santa and his elves, plus more.  The festivities are offered at the downtown Los Angeles landmark The Music Center and the urban retreat of year-round natural beauty,Descanso Gardens, available on December 14, 15, 21 and 22, 2013.  After breakfast, make the day even more enjoyable with the family. The Music Center features daily matinees while Descanso Gardens offers beautiful botanical collections for a family walk.

 

At The Music Center, Patina Catering will serve a buffet-style breakfast with highlights such as a buttermilk maple waffle station, Chino Ranch scrambled eggs, hand carved honey mustard ham, delicious Christmas desserts and cookies plus a complimentary mimosa or glass of champagne for the adults. Meanwhile, Descanso Gardens will feature Santa’s Fully Loaded French Toast Bar with buttery brioche French toast including an array of toppings, soft scramble eggs with cream fraiche and chives, honey glazed ham and a holiday cookie and cupcake workshop for children to build and decorate their own holiday treats.

 

THE LOS ANGELES MUSIC CENTER

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA MENU:

 

Freshly Baked Pastries

with artisanal jams

House Cured and Smoked Skuna Bay Salmon

Cowgirl Creamery cream cheese, pickled red onions, organic lemons, chives, bagels from the Bagel Broker

Winter Waldorf Salad

Toasted walnuts, navel oranges, red flame grapes

Heirloom Beets

Belgium endive, stilton, port wine pears

Holiday Season Fruit Potpourri

Steel cut oats, Strauss Farms organic yogurt

Buttermilk Maple Waffles

Seasonal spiced apple compote

Stewed persimmons

Hot chocolate sauce

Whipped sweet cream butter

Creole bananas

Fluffy Chino Ranch Scrambled Eggs

Crispy Breakfast Bacon

Hand Carved Honey Mustard Christmas Ham

Artisanal Sausages from Patina Catering’s House Butcher Eugen Goetz

Crispy Potato Skins

with melted sweet onions

Assorted Christmas Desserts and Cookies from Patina Catering’s Patisserie

 

DESCANSO GARDENS

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA MENU:

Santa’s Fully Loaded French Toast Bar

Buttery brioche French toast

Served with an array of toppings to include:

Vermont maple syrup, Chantilly Cream, fresh strawberries, toasted nuts,

whipped sweet butter, wild flower honey, powdered sugar, cottage cheese, chocolate syrup, caramel sauce, and maraschino cherries

North Pole Breakfast Station

Baker’s basket of fresh baked muffins, croissants and Danish pastries

with sweet butter and preserves

Wild berry and vanilla yogurt parfait, house made granola

Soft scrambled eggs with cream fraiche and chives

Yukon breakfast potatoes with caramelized onions and fresh herbs

Applewood smoked bacon

Turkey breakfast sausage

Honey glazed spiral sliced ham

Wild arugula, fresh Laura Chanel goat cheese, toasted almonds, balsamic vinaigrette

Baby mixed greens, roasted winter heirloom squash, toasted pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, walnut oil vinaigrette

Old Saint Nick’s Holiday Cookie and Cupcake Workshop

Build and decorate your own holiday cookies and cupcakes

Gingerbread cookies

Holiday sugar cookies

Mini vanilla cupcakes

Mini chocolate cupcakes

Mini red velvet cupcakes

Assorted frostings, candies and sprinkles for decorating

 

WHEN:           Available two weekends only:

                        The Music Center

December 14 & 15 and December 21 & 22

9:30a.m. and 11:30a.m.

                       

Descanso Gardens

December 14 & 15 and December 21 & 22

10:30a.m. and 11:30a.m.

                       

PRICE:            The Music Center

Adults, $55; Children, $25 (3 and under are free)

Family 4-pack: Two adults and two children for $135

 

Descanso Gardens

Members, $39; Non-Members $46; Children, $19 (ages 4-12)

 

RESERVATIONS:

                        Required; please contact the below numbers to reserve.

 

The Music Center

213.972.7565

 

Descanso Gardens

818.790.3663

 

WHERE:         The Music Center

135 N. Grand Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90012

 

            Descanso Gardens

1418 Descanso Dr.

La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

 

ABOUT

PATINA

RESTAURANT

GROUP:         Patina Restaurant Group (www.patinagroup.com), a bi-coastal boutique company, is a leader in the premium segment of the restaurant industry with over 60 establishments. On the West Coast, its portfolio includes the renowned Los Angeles Times’ four-starred and Michelin-starred Patina Restaurant in Walt Disney Concert Hall, Nick + Stef’s Steakhouse, Café Pinot at the Maguire Gardens, Catal Restaurant, C+M, and Ray’s & Stark Bar, honored by Esquire magazine as one of the “Best New Restaurants 2011.” Additional West Coast establishments include three restaurants in Anaheim’s Downtown Disney District®, Leatherby’s Cafe Rouge at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Pinot Brasserie in Las Vegas, and catering and food service in museums and cultural centers throughout California.  On the East Coast, its portfolio features The Sea Grill, The Grand Tier Restaurant at the Metropolitan Opera, La Fonda Del Sol and Lincoln Ristorante, also honored by Esquire magazine as a 2011 Best New Restaurant and named “The Best New Restaurant in America” by GQ Magazine. 

 

Filed Under: Archived Content

Ravensburger Has the Right ‘Formula’ for Fun and Learning with All-New Science X® Collection

December 5, 2013 By 6 Comments

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Science, fun and learning collide with Ravensburger’s debut collection of Science X® activity kits!  The toymaker that’s celebrated around the world for its high-quality, beautifully-designed puzzles, games and playthings this year introduces a sci-sational assortment of hands-on biology, chemistry and physics sets, designed to draw out kids’ natural curiosity and encourage countless hours of exploration and discovery.

Ravensburger’s first ever science-based collection includes ten kits in three different sizes and price points: four “minis” (SRP $13.99 each), four “midis” (SRP $34.99 each) and two “maxis” (SRP $44.99 each).  All of the sets feature richly-illustrated manuals and easy-to-do, success-based projects that encourage kids to become active scientific explorers.

 

The Science X maxi kit assortment, designed for children ages 10+, includes:

 

  • Electronics and Circuitry – Aspiring electrical engineers can delve into eight different science activities to produce real working gadgets such as an alarm to protect their things, a loudspeaker for their music, reading lamp and flashlight.  The kit also lets kids create and send Morse Code messages.  Contents include an array of equipment such as resistors, transistors, LEDs, loudspeaker, battery terminal, printed circuit boards and more.

We received the Electronics and Circuitry to try out for ourselves and this one is, as my son(age 10) says “so cool!”He really liked being able to create Morse Code messages! If you have a child that loves gadgets, putting things together and science this is a must-have this holiday season!

 

  • Crystals & Gemstones – Future gemologists can perform 20 different activities such as growing druse crystals (calcium oxalate) and checking the composition of real gemstones.  The kit includes five different crystal salts and real gemstones to introduce kids to this shimmering world of science.  Also included are a magnifying glass and various chemicals and accessories for conducting the experiments.

Ravensburger’s midi Science X offerings include:

 

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigations – Sleuths in training can dive into a dozen different science activities with this kit that lets them identify fingerprints, analyze evidence and isolate DNA!  The package includes: tips to help young investigators learn how to use scientific methods to examine clues along with a magnifying glass, safety glasses, fingerprinting cards and crime scene cards, among other items.  Ages 8+

 

 

  • Nature’s Energy – With 25 different activities to facilitate learning about the origins of wind power, solar energy and more, this kit puts the whole world into the hands of kids to explore.  Experiments help them discover wind power, utilize hydropower and create a wind-powered plant.  The kit’s contents include a sail-car chassis panel, solar disc, sundial, water cycle model and hand-heated wind wheel.  Ages 10+

 

  • Simulating Nature – This activity set contains everything young scientists need to accomplish 15 activities that zero-in on bionics and how technologies are designed to resemble the process animals and plants use to solve problems.  Explorers can construct a stable bridge, create the Lotus Effect and discover analogies.  The set comes equipped with: simulation cards, nasturtium seeds, model components and more.  Ages 8+

 

  • Exploring Careers – Children can be anything they wish – and this kit contains all the elements they need to conduct 15 activities that immerse them in possible future careers.  They can study aerodynamics in their quest to be a pilot, discover the solar system like an astronaut and build a bridge like an engineer.  Contents include: a cardboard solar system mobile, water wheel, camera obscura case, heart rate chart and more.  Ages 8+

 

Science X mini kits open the door for kids to engage in six different activities each in four different areas of study.  They are:

 

  • 3D Optics – Kids can discover the secrets of the third dimension and find out how 3D optics really work.  They’ll learn how to use 3D glasses and make a stereoscope that turns two flat images into a 3D object.  Among the included materials are: 3D glasses, magnifying lenses and stereoscope.  Ages 8+

 

  • Secret Codes – Tween secret agents will learn the basics of cryptology by deciphering hidden codes, mirror writing and secret messages with this “top secret” kit.  Contents include: knot holder, decoding discs, code templates and more.  Ages 8+

 

  • Crystal Magic – Becoming a mineralogist was never so much fun!  With this incredible kit, mineralogy comes to life via a host of mineral- and crystal-growing experiments.  Equipment includes: safety glasses, wooden spatula and potassium aluminum sulfate.  Ages 10+

 

  • Magnetic Magic – Floating paper clips, the inner workings of a compass and other fascinating aspects of the invisible force will “attract” explorers to this “powerful” set.  Contents include: ring and bar magnets, compass and galaxy maps and more.  Ages 8+

 

About Ravensburger

Newton, NH-based Ravensburger is the U.S. subsidiary of Ravensburger Spieleverlag GmbH, a German toy and game manufacturer with a 130-year history of tradition.  Founded in Ravensburg, Germany in 1883, Ravensburger is a leading producer of toys loved the world over and celebrated for its meticulous commitment to detail, high production standards and superior quality control.  In addition to Ravensburger-branded puzzles, games and arts & crafts sets, the company is the exclusive distributor of WOW preschool toys and holds licenses for such well-known brands as Chuggington™, Thomas and Friends™, Tinga Tinga Tales™, The Hobbit™, Moshi Monsters™ and more.

We have teamed up for a Holiday Giveaway! One winner will win the Electronics and Circuitry set. You must be a subscriber to enter! Next, leave us a comment below telling us who you would give this to this Holiday season! Deadline to enter is December 10th, 2013 at midnight. One winner will randomly be selected from all entries.

Self Disclosure: I received a free product to facilitate this feature but any opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Archived Content
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