Build & Color DIY Kids Fantasy Toy Castle

Creative Kids Toys

Named a Top Natural Toy of 2010

by Mothering Magazine

Fantasy Castle Tower Giveaway - Ends 1/1/2011.

This is no fairytale.  Every child can have a castle of their very own for this holiday season with this innovative product from Imagination Box Company (IBC).

American-made and green, IBC's Castle Tower for ages 3 and up is designed with a child's creativity and imagination in mind.  This product, for certain, lives up to the company's motto, "We Make Toys Children Remember."

As we discovered, this is no ordinary kid's castle.  This structure, which comes unassembled and printed in black and white ready to color, is made partially with post consumer material, is all non-toxic, and is 100% recyclable.  It measures 39" tall and 18" in diameter when it is put together and can be colored with the included watercolor paints or your child can use crayons or magic markers to make this uniquely their own.  Included with the castle tower are 6 miniature cardboard shields to add to the fun.

After this castle tower project arrived, I thought this would consist of 30 minutes maximum of crafting and play time for the kids.  But, when my daughters (13 year-old triplets) and their little 6 year-old friend opened the box and saw everything that was inside, they were ecstatic.  

As it turned out, this was so entertaining that the time they spent working on this stretched into multiple sessions of a few hours each over 3 weeks.  I could see from the outset that this project would be fun for even a single child to do or for cooperative play with siblings or friends.  It would also make an excellent manipulative for you and your child to enjoy some quality time together.  As a homeschooling mom (like the mom who invented this) I think that this is a really brilliant product that helps build motor and creative skills in a super fun format.

From the results pictured here you can see that they really went to town coloring the sturdy cardboard castle tower and the little cardboard shields that came with it.  But, there's no reason why little boys won't like making the castle and playing with this too as the brother of this little girl discovered.

 
Regularly priced at $40, the Castle Tower is currently on sale online for $31.20 plus shipping at Imagination Box Company.


About Imagination Box Company

Imagination Box Company, www. imaginationboxco.com is based in a yurt in Sandpoint, Idaho and is run by Kim and Russ Cash who are homeschooling their 3 children.  This small business has won multiple awards such as Dr. Toy Green Product and Mothering Magazine's Top Natural Toy, among others.  All IBC green toys currently available -- the Castle Tower, A Country Cottage, and Barn -- are made with sturdy double-walled corrugated board and are made to last.  Toys are printed inside and out with IBC's unique and original play time designs. 

ENTER this Giveaway NOW by leaving one or more comments below this post.

Contest ends January 1, 2011 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only.

For the Required (Mandatory) Entry

Simply leave a comment below this blogpost with your email address, Facebook or Twitter contact info so we may contact the winner. 

Optional Extra Entries

Get extra entries for following MommyBlogExpert and/or Imagination Box Company on Twitter and/or Facebook.  Remember: Be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert to leave an additional comment after each individual action you do to confirm them so we can record all your extra chances to win.

Follow MommyBlogExpert (1 or 2 extra entries)
on Twitter
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In ADDITION to doing any or all of the extra entries above, you can earn one extra entry each time you Tweet the message exactly in the paragraph immediately below (limit 3 separate tweets for 3 extra entries per day).  Don't forget to return to leave a comment on MommyBlogExpert with the direct link to right after every Tweet so you'll receive entries for all your RTs.

Award-Winning Child Size Castle Tower Toy @imaginationbox GIVEAWAY http://tinyurl.com/2bf59uj #xmas #kids #eco #contest #gift RT 2 WIN

Remember, for each of the above entries to count, be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert to leave an additional comment after each of the above actions to confirm them so your extra chances to win will be tabulated. 
   

FTC Disclosure: I received the Castle Tower reviewed from Imagination Box Company to facilitate this review blogpost.  Also, IBC is providing an additional Castle Tower for the giveaway being hosted on MommyBlogExpert.  However, I did not receive payment or any other compensation associated with this particular post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one. 

Luxury Travel SWEEPSTAKES Contest to Win an Exotic Trip Valued at More Than $30,000

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ENTER to WIN This Luxe Vacation NOW
Contest Ends January 1, 2011

Whether it's you and a friend, your spouse and yourself, or even you and your family who seek an upscale trip, JustLuxe has the solution that's just right for you: a destination that is simply luxurious and fun for everyone.

Just Dreaming about an Exotic Vacation?

Then Enter to WIN it...

If you enter then you could be the lucky one to win this Trips of a Lifetime sweepstakes sponsored by JustLuxe, which is the largest affluent lifestyle guide in the world.  For this generous sweeps, JustLuxe has teamed up with some of the most prestigious hotels in the world to offer an incredible array of luxury vacation giveaways every month for you. Featured destinations are Paris, Greece (my personal fave), St. Lucia, Vienna, and many others.

No purchase is necessary.  One entry per household.  The GRAND PRIZE winner will get a 4 night stay in $7,000/night suite at Halekulani Hotel and Resort in Honolulu, roundtrip airfare -- and if that is not enough -- an exotic car rental complete with a personal chauffeur. Paying for all that yourself would cost more than $30,000.  Contest ends January 1, 2011.

Enter to win this Luxury Travel Sweepstakes HERE

FTC Disclosure: JustLuxe is providing the travel prizes in this sweepstakes.  All MommyBlogExpert readers' individuals entries will be included with all other entrants in this contest, making you eligible to win the Grand Prize.  I did not receive payment or any other compensation associated with this particular post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

10 Tips to Get Your Kids to Eat Vegetables and Fruits During the Holidays & All Year from American Heart Association

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Fresh Fruit Plate,The Standard, West Hollywood, California

Among the Healthy Foods Served at Jane Fonda's Workout Relaunch Tonight

Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

In the midst of the holidays it's a wise idea to do some motivational posts to help you make sure that your family doesn't fall victim to unhealthy eating during December that spills over into the new year.  Now is as good of a time as any to talk about some great strategies to get your children to eat vegetables and fruits during the holiday season and throughout the whole year, too.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), in a new study, children who ate the most vegetables and fruits had significantly healthier arteries as adults than children who ate the fewest.

 Here are AHA's 10 tips to encourage your children to eat more vegetables and fruits

1. Make fruit and vegetable shopping fun: Visit your local green market and/or grocery store with your kids, and show them how to select ripe fruits and fresh vegetables.  This is also a good opportunity to explain which fruits and vegetables are available by season and how some come from countries with different climates. 
2. Involve kids in meal prep: Find a healthy dish your kids enjoy and invite them to help you prepare it.  Younger kids can help with measuring, crumbling, holding and handing some of the ingredients to you.  Older kids can help by setting the table.  Make sure you praise them for their help, so they feel proud of what they've done.  
3. Be a role model: If you're eating a wide range of fruits and vegetables -- and enjoying them -- your child may want to taste.  If you aren't eating junk food or keeping it in your home, your kids won't be eating junk food at home either.  
4. Create fun snacks: Schedule snack times -- most kids like routines.  Healthy between-meal snacks are a great opportunity to offer fruits and vegetables.  Kids like to pick up foods, so give them finger foods they can handle.  Cut up a fruit and arrange it on an attractive plate.  Make a smoothie or freeze a smoothie in ice cube trays. Create a smiley face from cut-up vegetables and serve with a small portion of low-fat salad dressing, hummus or plain low-fat yogurt. A positive experience with food is important. Never force your child to eat something, or use food as a punishment or reward.
5. Give kids choices -- within limits: Too many choices can overwhelm a small child.  It's too open ended to ask, "What would you like for lunch?" It may start a mealtime meltdown.  Instead, offer them limited healthy choices, such as choosing between a banana or strawberries with their cereal, or carrots or broccoli with dinner.  
6. Eat together as a family: If your schedules permit, family dining is a great time to help your kids develop healthy attitudes about food and the social aspects of eating with others.  Make sure you are eating vegetables in front of your children.  Even if they aren't eating certain vegetables yet, they will model your behavior.
7. Expect pushback: As your kids are exposed to other families' eating habits, they may start to reject some of your healthy offerings. Without making a disparaging remark about their friends' diet, let your children know that fruits and vegetables come first in your family.
8. Grow it: Start from the ground up -- create a kitchen garden with your child and let them plant tomatoes and herbs, such as basil and oregano in window boxes.  If you have space for a garden, help them cultivate their own plot and choose plants that grow quickly, such as beans, cherry tomatoes, snow peas and radishes.  Provide child-size gardening tools appropriate to their age.
9. Covert operations: You may have tried everything in this list and more, yet your child's lips remain zipped when offered a fruit or vegetable.  Try sneaking grated or pureed carrots or zucchini into pasta or pizza sauces.  Casseroles are also a good place to hide pureed vegetables.  You can also add fruits and vegetables to foods they already enjoy, such as pancakes with blueberries, carrot muffins or fruit slices added to cereal.  On occasions when you serve dessert, include diced fruit as an option.
10. Be patient: Changes in your child's food preferences will happen slowly.  They may prefer sweet fruits, such as strawberries, apples and bananas, before they attempt vegetables.  Eventually, your child may start trying the new vegetable. Many kids need to see and taste a new food a dozen times before they know whether they truly like it.  Try putting a small amount of the new food -- one or two broccoli florets -- on their plate every day for two weeks; but don't draw attention to it.

What are you doing to get your kids to eat their vegetables and fruits? Would love you to share your advice with this blog's readers.  Please leave a comment and let us know what works for you and your family.

FTC Disclosure: I did not receive payment or any other compensation associated with this particular post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.