Hi friends! It’s officially a new year & I wanted to start 2022 off by thanking all of you that have been following along with my family this past year. I haven’t been very active on the blog, as most of my attention has been over on Instagram, but one of my resolutions this year is to change that. I plan on getting back to posting content more regularly on both platforms and FINALLY getting myself in front of the camera so I can share more of our daily life on stories. Now…on to the fun part: let’s talk gifts. My children received a ton of fun gifts this year, but there were a few that really stood out.
ANIMAL ISLAND AILA Sit & Play Plus Preschool Learning and Reading System ($229.00 on Amazon)
This is by far my favorite gift Ethan recieved this year. If you follow Becoming Bochenek on Instagram, you know that Ethan has a severe speech delay. One of the first things we decided to do was to cut down on screen time and rethink the shows we allow him to watch. As an alternative to TV, we have introduced this device as an option during his allotted screen time. The device comes preloaded with a TON of content, all designed to get your little one ready for preschool. There are 60+ stories, songs, games and more – all appropriate for 12-36 month olds. The corresponding app allows the parents to manage 3 learning modes with curated playlists: Broadcast for exposure, Learning Session for personalized learning & Lullaby for quiet time. You can also use the app to monitor their screen time, check-in on them via the phone based monitor and send photos & videos. Ethan loves “going to school” and will sit at the table and engage with the device for our personal allotted time of 20-30 minutes. I would recommend also purchasing the base ($49.99 on Amazon) and the protective “cuddle case” ($39.99 on Amazon) as we all know toddlers can be rough on their devices.
Toniebox Audio Player Starter Set ($144.96 on Amazon)
As another alternative to screen time, we purchased a Toniebox – an audio player that can play music, read stories and even record and play personalized messages from family members. This device is portable, with a battery life of 7 hours, and padded so little ones can operate the device independently without fear of them harming the box, or themselves. Our box was a starter kit, so it came with a few figurines already included. Each figurine is preloaded with content so all your little one has to do is pop it on top of the box (it attaches via a magnet) and let it start playing automatically! You can load additional free content through the app and/or purchase additional figurines so there’s always something new to play. The app also allows you to set device and headphone volume limits which is AMAZING.
Bestway Scoops ‘N Smiles Ice Cream Truck Ball Pit ($19.99 at Walmart)
This is far & wide the kid’s favorite gift and honestly, I was shocked. A last minute purchase has provided them with HOURS of entertainment. What I love about this ball pit is it’s large enough for them both to fit comfortably and there is a very low lip on the back, so it’s very easy for Ethan to get in and out of it independently.
The ball pit comes with 2 plastic ice cream comes but only 10 play balls, so you will want to purchase additional balls. We went with a set of 100 pink balls, to simulate ice cream, and they were only $10 at Walmart.
Links below:
LeapFrog On-The-Go Story Pal ($27.99 at Amazon)
We got this device specifically for use in the car, when we don’t want to give Ethan his tablet. It comes preloaded with 70+ stories, poems and songs and has a headphone jack – although the headphones are not included. Like the Toniebox, you can also record and play your own messages and create special playlists for your little listener. My favorite part? It comes with a timer so you can set the device to turn off after a determined amount of time.
If you’re interested in seeing what other fun items the kids got this year, let me know in the comments below & I’d be happy to do a “haul” video over on Instagram.
