Giving Back with Playskool

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Playskool. I received product samples to facilitate my party and review, and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

I grew up pretty poor. I just didn’t know it. I had toys but mostly played outside as a kid. I grew up on a reservation (still live here) and saw a lot of poverty and neglect. Toys weren’t always at the top of parents lists when thinking of their children. Fast forward a few decades and now I have kids of my own.

My Little Man has a good number of toys. He plays with toys from the time he wakes up until he goes to bed at night. We’ve really thinned out the toys he hasn’t been playing with and donated many to needy families in church. The toys can easily take over the whole house if you let them, can’t they? But, there are some toys that we like to hold on to. These are the toys that encourage creativity, that enhance developmental skills, and toys that make our Little Man really smile. These are the important ones. The keepers.

Playskool offers these kinds of toys for my children. I was very thankful a few weeks ago when I was able to bring some new Playskool toys to the kids at our church. We drive an hour north to attend church each weekend at a neighboring Native American reservation. I grew up attending that small reservation church — it’s like home.

The neighbor kids on the street live a hard life. Harder than I saw growing up on my reservation. Many have grown up coming to church and now a few even have babies of their own. Ten or more kids come to church each week to sing songs, listen to a Bible story, create a craft, and eat lunch. So a few weeks ago, when I had Playskool toys to give some of the younger ones — they were beyond excited. {Thank you, Playskool!}

The huge potluck meal we provide the kids might be the largest, best meal they get all week. We seem to think so based on the left overs they bring home. They are faithful in coming every week. Besides the usual chips, juice, or bread I normally bring (the older ladies really have it covered with all the hot dishes), I made the kids cupcakes. They love cupcakes! {Who doesn’t right?}

The highlight of the potluck at church was of course the Playskool toys. I was sent the STACK ‘N SPIN MONKEY GEARS Toy to hand out and the TRANSFORMERS MIXABLE, MASHABLE HEROES OPTIMUS PRIME AND GRIMLOCK. My Little Man got to play with the Stack ‘n Spin Monkey Gears and he loved it — spinning gears, music and lights — exactly what kids love. My Princess and her five year old friend both got the Transformer Grimlock spud and had a great time constructing parts onto the potato body.

They were a hit with the kids, including my own kids. You won’t see pictures of the reservation kids in this post. They always come to church without their parents. So I can’t really ask “permission” to have photos of them here on my blog. This particular week there was one set of young parents that have a toddler — but he was having a hard day. They were happy to take the Transformers Mixable home with them though.

We were sent one very awesome Playskool toy and my Little Man and Princess literally fight over it – Let’s Imagine Elmo. We didn’t bring this one to church with us. We didn’t want any of the other kids to be jealous. Let’s Imagine Elmo is for ages 2-4, but my six year old loved it possibly more than my two year old.

From Elmo the Musical on Sesame Street, this cute 13-inch Elmo Playskool toy comes with three different hats to unlock imaginary themes and play. With the hats you’ll get to play Prince Elmo, Countin’ Cowboy, and a sea captain Sounds of the Sea game. Both my kids also loved to tickle his belly and squeeze his nose for a fun reaction.

I love toys that encourage imagination don’t you?

About STACK ‘N SPIN MONKEY GEARS Toy

(Ages 9 months & up. ARV: $19.99)

Gear up for some silly fun! With the STACK ‘N SPIN MONKEY GEARS toy, little ones can build up the fun by placing colorful gears all around their monkey friend’s belly, hands, and feet. Once all the gears are set, press the central gear to make them turn, hear silly monkey music, and watch little lights twinkle! Kids’ sorting and stacking skills will be rewarded with this delightful visual experience!

About TRANSFORMERS MIXABLE, MASHABLE HEROES OPTIMUS PRIME AND GRIMLOCK

(Ages 2 years & up. ARV: $14.99)

Optimus Prime spud partners up with Grimlock spud to battle the Decepticons! Squeeze the Grimlock figure’s eyes and watch as his jaw chomps and launches a projectile! Includes one two-inch potato body and three pieces to construct Optimus Prime spud and one four-inch potato body with parts and pieces to construct Grimlock spud.

Connect with Playskool

Facebook // Pinterest // YouTube