With over 140 million active users, there is a pretty good chance that you have at least 1 Minecraft player in your family. That can actually make it easier when it comes to gift-giving. At least you have a place to start!

My Son’s Favorite Minecraft Gifts

When it comes to gift ideas for Minecrafters, there are tons of options. But, the gifts below are things we actually own and have been well-vetted. From Lego’s to decor, these are some of my son’s favorite Minecraft-related gifts.

Minecraft Legos

Maybe it is because both revolve around blocks, but Minecraft and Legos are a perfect match. Many kids who play Minecraft are also into Legos, so they make a perfect gift for Minecraft-lovers.

We have a number of Minecraft lego sets now, and they are some of the few Lego sets that we actually mix together. The individual sets are fine, but mixing them together is way more fun. We have used them for stop motion video, school projects, and just putsing around. When we lived in an RV, we even used them to make our Christmas tree each year!

A Working Minecraft Torch

This torch lamp is so freaking cool. What you can’t see in the picture is that one side of the bottom flips down so that you can mount it to the wall at a 45 degree angle. It really looks just like it does in Minecraft!

Minecraft Card Game

If you want to get your kid off the computer for a bit, this Minecraft card game might be just the ticket. It isn’t very hard to play and it is small, so it travels well. It isn’t as good as the real thing (obviously), but it isn’t a bad way to spend a rainy afternoon.

Minecraft Potion Light

In the same vein as the Minecraft torch lamp, the potion bottle light makes a great gift for kids who play Minecraft. My son’s friend got it for him for Christmas, and it was (and is) a huge hit.

Minecraft Guides

My son has an older version of this set of guides, and has read them cover to cover a number of times. Even though he knew just about everything there was to know about the game, they were still a handy reference. I can’t get him to donate them, even though his are painfully out-of-date.

More Minecraft Gifts

We haven’t actually tried the Minecraft gift ideas below, but they look pretty darned cool. Everything on here has gotten 4+ stars on Amazon, so even though I haven’t vetted them myself, they should make pretty good gifts.

Minecraft Mini-Builds

Speaking of ideas…This book looks like loads of fun. It has great ideas and easy-to-follow instructions for smaller builds.

Minecraft Playing Cards

If you like the idea of a small, non-computer-related gift, but you don’t want to learn how to play a new game, Minecraft playing cards might work. These come in a travel tin and would make a good stocking stuffer for any kid that plays Minecraft.

Minecraft Magnetic Logic Puzzle

I wish they had this magnetic logic puzzle when we lived in an RV…The small size and magnetic pieces would have been perfect for the RV life. I love the fact that it is educational as well!

Minecraft Stuffed Animals

My son has a stuffed glow squid that he loved, but I couldn’t find the exact one on Amazon. There are actually quite a few options for Minecraft-themed stuffed animals, but these got really good reviews.

Minecraft Joke Book

OK…So this Minecraft joke book is totally up my alley. I am always up for a good joke, and as a Minecrafter myself, I think this book would get a few good snickers from any kid (or adult) that plays. I flipped through it (virtually on Amazon), and I can see why it has gotten such good reviews.

Minecraft Idea Book

Regardless of how creative you are and how long you have been playing Minecraft, it is always good to get more ideas. Flipping through this book (virtually), I was stunned by some of the builds.

The post Minecraft Gifts: Great Gifts for Kids Who Play Minecraft appeared first on Wild Edisons.

As the mother of a teenager, I can confirm that thinking of gift ideas for teens can be tough. They’ve outgrown most of the little kid toys, but they may not be ready for adult stuff. So, what do you do?

The list below isn’t long, but it has been approved by my teenage son. Maybe they aren’t right for your teenager, but hopefully it will lead to some other ideas. Enjoy!

Teenager-Approved Gift Ideas for Teens

1. Portable Charger

Portable chargers are THE BEST. My portable charger has gotten me through countless long trips, many power-outages, and plenty of heavy phone days. After constant request from my son to use my charger because his device was “almost dead!”, we finally wised up and got him his own. 

View This Portable Charger
Shop for Other Portable Chargers 

2. Phone Charging Station

If your teen is constantly losing or forgetting to charge their devices, a phone charging station might not be a bad idea. Once they get used to putting their phone and such in the same place, they will always know where to look for it.

View This Phone Charging Station

Shop for Other Phone Charging Stations

3. Cell Phone Gloves

I don’t know how they work, but cell phone gloves allow you to use a touch-screen on a cell phone without taking your gloves off. These are a great gift idea for teenagers who hang out outside a lot. 

View These Cell Phone Gloves

Shop for Other Cell Phone Gloves

4. Steam Gift Card

If your teen plays video games, a Steam gift card might be just the thing. Steam is an online gaming system that allows you to purchase tons of online games. (I would recommend finding out if they use Steam to play games first. No sense in wasting money. Plus, you’re going to need their Steam username as well for the gift card.)

One thing to note here…In order to get a Steam gift card, you have to sign up for a free account for yourself first. Then, you need their username in order to send the card. It is a bit of a pain, but this is one of my teen’s favorite gifts.

Go to Steam

5. Amazon Gift Card

This one is pretty tried and true. My son can almost ALWAYS find something he wants on Amazon. Amazon gift cards are also good if you have an idea for what you want to get them but want them to be able to pick out the exact item they want.

Buy an Amazon Gift Card

6. Cash

It isn’t glamorous, but you really can’t go wrong with cold, hard cash. Whether it is for little things like candy or money towards something larger, cash is a much-appreciated gift for teenagers.

You can still make it personal by putting it in a card with a message. You can even get creative by wrapping it up in a box or putting it inside another gift. 

7. Get-Out-of-Chores-Free Coupons

For free gifts for teenagers, coupons to get out of chores or extra screen time might work. It doesn’t have to be fancy. You can try creating one on a computer or just write them out by hand. They can all be for the same thing or different coupons for different things.

Some ideas for coupons include:

• Get out of doing dishes
• No chores today
• Extra screen time (Specify how much)
• Stay up late
• You pick the movie
• Your favorite meal
• Family game night

It also isn’t a bad idea to add disclaimers like:

• One time use only
• Only for use on the weekends
• Expires XX/XX/XXXX

See? Finding Gifts for Teenagers Isn’t Hard

I hope you were able to find something on this list that would work for your teen. Sorry there were a number of things related to phones, but a lot of teens have phones these days. If your teenager doesn’t have a phone or just isn’t into it like a lot of teens are, hopefully you found something else that will work.

The post Gift Ideas for Teens (Teenager-Approved) appeared first on Wild Edisons.

Well, since I already have posts for Best Books for 2 Year-Olds and Best Books for 3 Year-Old Boys, I figured it was high time for me to put together a list of the best books for 4 year-olds. You may notice just a couple of repeats, but just because my son is a year older, doesn’t mean he no longer likes books from when he was “little”.

Without further ado, below are my 4 year-old son’s favorite books!

The Day the Babies Crawled Away
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Right now, this is one of my top 3 favorite books. It’s rhythm and rhyme make it fun to read and the pictures are phenomenal. If you look closely, you can see that the sun gradually sets as the story is told.

TIP: Look for the upside-down baby. There is one on almost every page!

Flotsam
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

My sister-in-law sent this book out of the blue, and I immediately fell in love. There are no words, but Flotsam proves that a picture is worth a thousand words. The story is absolutely magical.

Gulliver Snip
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Yes, this is a repeat from my Best Books for 3 Year-Olds list, but I love it too much to not put it on this list as well. The day that I read it for the first time, I actually contacted the author and told her to write more books. I haven’t written an author since a 4th grade reading assignment. (And, yes, she responded. Double stars for Julia Kay!)

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Any book that involves huffing and puffing is a fun read, but I also dig the story. It is a spoof on the Three Little Pigs (duh), told from the point of view of the wolf. I am not keen on the fact that he ate the pigs (it isn’t graphic or anything), but I guess that is how it went in the original story.

Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

My 4 year-old son and I both love reading this book. “Rings on fingers. Rings on thumb. Drum Drum Drum Drum Drum Drum Drum.” The rhythm and rhyme make it absolutely addictive, and the pictures are too cute!

The Foot Book
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

The Foot Book is classic Seuss; easy for early readers and so much fun to read. It is my go-to book whenever I want my son to practice his reading because he enjoys it so much he doesn’t even notice that he is doing all the work. (Sneaky, sneaky.)

Dinotrux
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Lord help me, but my 4 year-old loves this book. Frankly, I am a little tired of reading this one, but I have to include it in the list because my son thinks it is the bees knees. As a parent, you have to suspend all semblance of reality as you read; but just about any 4 year-old boy will love it.

Harold and the Purple Crayon
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

So simple, and yet so perfect. Harold and the Purple Crayon is a sweet story about a boy who has a little adventure, armed with nothing but his imagination and a purple crayon. The drawings are simple, but still so engaging. It is a nice, calm read before bedtime.

I Broke My Trunk!
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

When you read this book, you absolutely must pinch your nose when you speak for the elephant. It is a requirement. I like a lot of books by Mo Willems, but this is my favorite to read because it makes my 4 year-old laugh out loud. Always a good thing when making a life-long reader.

Where the Wild Things Are
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

This book is a classic, and it is easy to see why. The story is beautifully written with wonderful rhythm. Even though it does not rhyme, it still reads like a poem. My 4 year-old is entranced by the pictures, and I love reading it.

Big Plans
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Big Plans is about a little boy who is sent to the corner in school where he thinks about his plans. This is another one of those books where the main phrase has made its way into our family vocabulary. Now, Edison will say, out of the blue, “I got big plans! Big plans, I say!” Too funny…

I Am A Leaf
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

This book is such a great way to explain what leaves do to little kids. I discovered I Am A Leaf when Edison was 2 years old, and now I check it out from the library every fall. Although it is perfect for autumn, it goes through the entire life-cycle of a leaf, so it works year-round.

The post The Best Books for 4 Year-Old Boys appeared first on Wild Edisons.

For 3 years-old, my son has become quite the literary critic. He spends quite a bit of time, thoughtfully choosing the picture books he wants before bed. Some of the books inevitably get chosen time and time again…and again…and again…

Obviously, there are countless amazing picture books out there, but these are some of his absolute favorites. Check out our list of (what we consider to be) the best picture books for 3 year-old boys.

Gulliver Snip
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

The very first time I read this book, I absolutely fell in love with it. It has everything, and I mean everything, that I look for in a great children’s book. The story is imaginative and reads like a poem without being too rhymey. The pictures are beautifully done and the idea is wonderfully unique. When my preschooler asked to read it again a few hours later, I had no complaints. I love this book!

Mungo and the Spiders from Space
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Little man is all about rockets right now, so this book is just perfect. It is about a little boy reads a book and gets to join in a space adventure. The pictures are interesting, the storyline is cute, and it is fun to read. (Thanks for adding this to the library, “Glandpa”.)

How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

This book is absolutely perfect for a 3 year-old boy. First, it is about dinosaurs. But, what I love is how I can make references to it during bed time. “Hey…”, I say when my son whines about going to bed. “Do dinosaurs do that at bedtime?” Of course they don’t. This book makes bedtime a lot nicer.

Hare and Tortoise Race to the Moon
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

I actually found this book when I was pregnant. I was looking for books with high contrast images because I read that babies found them more interesting. Well, my son wasn’t really interested in it as a baby. No surprise. But, now as a 2 year old, this is one of his favorite books. This is one we have to hide or else we would have to read it every night.

Please, Puppy, Please
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

I found Please, Baby, Please at a thrift store and immediately went on a hunt for more books by this incredible author/illustrator team. Both books are easy to read, great for practicing sight words, and the pictures are mesmerizing.

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

I adore Mo Willems…He has a knack for writing easy-to-read books that are fun for both kids and adults. Edison is so engaged when we read this book, and that is half the battle with spirited kids.

Chicka Chicka 123
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Known in our home as “Chicka Chicka Number Boom Boom”, this one instantly held a number 1 ranking for our 3 year-old. It is a sequel to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (obviously). Although it focuses on the numbers 0-20, the numbers 0-100 are listed in the back. Every time we read it, my son insists on counting each number. This wouldn’t be too bad, but if he messes up, he starts again. Ugh. But, he is learning to count to 100, so it is totally worth it.

Making the Moose Out of Life
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

This book makes me happy, and Edison can tell. I love the art, and I love the message. It is about a moose who goes off on an adventure and finds there is a lot more to life than he thought. My husband and I just love the message, and it is such a good thing for kids to learn when they are young. (Actually, we love a number of books by this author…see more.)

Blue Hat, Green Hat
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Blue Hat, Green Hat has a special place in my heart because it was the very first book that my son read cover to cover. It is so much fun to read all because the “oops” make my son laugh every time. (If you read the book or look at the Amazon preview, you will know what I mean. )

Shark VS Train
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

When my husband brought this home from a book fair, I rolled my eyes. Could a book be more boy? But, when it was my turn to read it, I changed my tune. It goes through different types of challenges and whether a train or a shark would win. Silly, but it sparks some great conversations. I wouldn’t say it is my favorite book, but it is certainly one of my preschooler’s top picks.

Little Pirate: What’s in the Egg?
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

I finally had to hide this book for a little while because my son picked it so often. Don’t get me wrong, I totally get why my 3 year-old loves this book. It has flaps and dials surprises and all the things that boys his age love. And it’s educational…I think I just talked myself into bringing it out of hiding.

P.S.
In case it isn’t obvious, I love picture books as much as my son. I put a lot of time into looking for books for him, and I can get a little picky. Check out my post on how I choose the best picture books for my son.

The post Best Books for 3 Year-Old Boys appeared first on Wild Edisons.

Traveling with toddlers can be a wild ride. They’re cute, they’re nutty, and they always seem to be hungry. Seriously…why do they need to eat every five minutes?

As a parent, it can be tough to find healthy snacks that your toddler enjoys, especially when you’re on the go.

Luckily, using my son as a guinea pig , we have found some tasty (and relatively healthy) snacks that are sure to please. They are perfect for road trips, airplane flights, or any adventure where you and your little one need a healthy nibble. They will keep your kiddos fueled and happy, and hopefully, prevent any hangry meltdowns.

Who knows, you might even discover a few snacks that you want to steal for yourself. (Hey, I won’t judge.)

Brothers-ALL-Natural Fuji Apple Crisps

We discovered these freeze-dried apple slices about a year ago and now they are an absolute must-have in our pantry. I love the fact that apples are the only ingredient and there are no preservatives or nasty stuff.They are crispy like potato chips, so our toddler thinks he is eating junk food when he is actually eating a healthy snack. Brothers has other types of fruit as well.

The strawberries and bananas are good, but they are crumbly and make too much of a mess for traveling. The Asian pears are actually the best, but for some reason the pears do not have free shipping through Amazon. So, I recommend the apples.

Annie’s Homegrown Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks

These gummy snacks have saved us on countless outings with our toddler. While they aren’t quite as healthy as the apple slices, I don’t feel too guilty about them. The nice thing about gummies is that they take longer to eat, so they last awhile. Plus, they aren’t really filling, so they don’t spoil his dinner too much. They sell them in individual packages, but I buy the bigger bags and use little travel containers. We have a lot less waste this way because I can portion them out better.

YummyEarth Organic Lollipops

We bought these before our first airplane ride with our toddler. I read somewhere that when you fly with a toddler, you should give them a lollipop or a pacifier during takeoff to keep their ears from popping. Of course, lollipops come in handy in other traveling situations too. I chose these because they are made with fruit juice instead of sugar and crazy preservatives. If you haven’t introduced your toddler to lollipops, try them at home first. The first few times were pretty messy because our toddler didn’t really know how to keep his mouth closed around the stick yet. He would just sit there smiling and drooling sticky juice.

Annie’s Homegrown Organic Cheddar Bunnies

When we are out and about and my toddler is about to gnaw his arm off, these cheesy snacks buy us enough time to finish up and get to some place with proper food. He loves them and they are healthier than the other cheesy crackers out there. They are small enough to eat in a single bite, but big enough that they don’t fall out of those little snack cups. (You know the ones that let their hands in but keep the snacks from falling out.) I am pretty sure they sell these in individual servings too, but I portion them out in individual containers.

Horizon Organic Reduced Fat Milk

I couldn’t believe it when I found this…Milk that doesn’t need to be refrigerated until after it is opened! This stuff is amazing! I throw one 8 ounce serving in my bag and hit the road. If my toddler drinks it, cool. If he isn’t in the mood, I just put it back in the pantry when we get home. The only downside with this wonderful product is that they don’t have a whole milk version. (I called the company and made a suggestion though.) We buy the plain milk, but they also have chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla.

The post The Best Healthy Toddler Traveling Snacks appeared first on Wild Edisons.

At any rate, below are some of our favorite toddler books. All kids are different, but I would consider them some of the best books for 2 year olds.

PS…In case it isn’t obvious, I get our books and a lot of other toddler stuff from Amazon.com. There is no tax, most stuff has free shipping, and it is a heck of a lot cheaper than our local chain bookstores. If you aren’t a millionaire and don’t need it tomorrow, I suggest looking there first.

Sorry. Now, to continue with my 2 year old’s favorite toddler books…

Llama Llama Red Pajama
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

I enjoy this book as much as my son does. We both identify with the story of a baby llama freaking out because he is scared that his mother is gone. Plus, the pictures are so expressive. Even though the book is about llamas, I have seen the exact same expressions on my 3 year old’s face. I mean, look at the cover…

Bear Hugs
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Every time my son picks this book, I roll my eyes because we have read it SO MANY TIMES. But, then I change my tune because he gets so involved as we read. I know that most of it is memorization, but it is so cool that he “reads” along with me. It is clearly designed for children that are getting ready to learn how to read.

I Like Stars
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

In case you haven’t noticed, I tend to gravitate towards books that are written to help children prepare to read. This is another one of our favorites. It is about stars. Duh. But, I like the fact that we can talk about the different colors and practice counting as we go. “Star” is one of the words he recognizes by sight when we are out and about, and it is definitely because of this book.

Hare and Tortoise Race to the Moon
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

I actually found this book when I was pregnant. I was looking for books with high contrast images because I read that babies found them more interesting. Well, my son wasn’t really interested in it as a baby. No surprise. But, now as a 2 year old, this is one of his favorite books. This is one we have to hide or else we would have to read it every night.

Pajama Time!
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

My neighbor, with 4 boys of her own, introduced us to this fantastic toddler book. Pajama Time! was one of her youngest son’s favorite books, and now it is one of my 2 year old’s favorites as well. We love all of Sandra Boynton’s toddler books, but this one has a special place on the book shelf.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

This toddler book was a lot more fun to read before my son learned his alphabet. Now, it takes forever to read each page because he has to point out every letter. There are worse things that he could be doing though. I can’t complain. Either way, this is definitely one of my 2 year old’s favorite books.

No David!
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Honestly, I wasn’t keen on this book at first. It was page after page of stuff I did not want my 2 year old doing. But, it grew to be one of my favorites because it gave us an opportunity to talk about all of the bad things that David was doing. It really sunk in too. Once at dinner, my son opened his mouth with chewed up food. Then, he promptly shut his mouth and said, “No, David!”

The Little Red Caboose
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

This golden book is a classic, and we know why. I have had to hide this book more times than I should admit, because my 2 year old requests it every time he sees it. I like the message too. Everyone is important, even if they are just a little red caboose.

Let’s Go to the Zoo
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

OK. If you have a 2 year old, you know that lift the flap books rock. They are more than just a book. They are an activity. I like this particular book because there are lots of things to talk about. My son likes it because it has tons of flaps on each page.

Hop on Pop
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

This was one of my favorite books growing up, and now that I have been reading it to my son I remember why. OK…So the story is a little thin, but the words are simple and memorable. (I still remember most of it from when I was a kid, and now my 2 year old happily reads along. It has lots of site words, so it is good for pre-readers.

The post Toddler Books We Love: Best Books for 2 Year Olds appeared first on Wild Edisons.

Electric golf carts are a convenient way to get your kids out of the house. In addition to being convenient, they’re also easy to maintain and a blast to ride. But finding the right one is important to ensure that they’re safe while they’re having fun.

But what should you look for in an electric golf cart?

Read on for the best features that you should be looking for in a kid’s electric golf cart.

Speed

One of the first questions kids will ask is how fast can the golf cart go? Speed is an important factor in choosing the best electric golf cart for kids.

How fast the cart can go is an important factor for a number of reasons. A golf cart’s speed can be a major selling point for some people. But what you look for in a golf cart’s speed can be very different when you’re shopping for your child.

But luckily, most of the golf carts made for kids were designed to keep them from going too fast.

On average, child-sized golf carts won’t go much faster than five miles per hour. While they won’t be able to move fast enough to hurt themselves, they can still enjoy their sweet new golf cart.

Numbers of Seats

The number of seats your child’s golf cart can also influence your decision. After all, what’s the point of buying a golf cart for your children if they can’t share with their friends?

Golf carts that were designed for kids typically either have one or two seats. While having two seats can make it easier to encourage sharing, single-seat carts can still be fun for the whole neighborhood.

The number of seats your golf cart has will depend mostly on the size of your family or neighborhood. If your child will be around other kids with the cart, having more than one seat may be helpful.

But at the end of the day, having a single-seated golf cart is better than not having one at all!

Power

The types of batteries your golf cart uses can be a very important part of the decision. The strength of the battery determines how well it can hold a charge.

Picking the right amount part is an essential part of choosing the perfect electric golf cart for kids. Not only will it determine how long the battery will run, but it’ll also affect how long it takes to recharge.

Golf cart batteries typically come in 6 volts or 12 volts. Batteries vary from cart-to-cart, but the differences aren’t as noticeable as you’d think. Your battery’s power will mostly affect how long its life and recharge time.

Another factor to consider when choosing a battery is whether it’s “deep cycle” or not. Deep cycle batteries use more of the battery’s capacity than normal batteries. These kinds of batteries are more versatile and can endure more over longer periods of times.

But batteries aren’t the only factor that affects the golf cart’s performance. There are also many differences between electric- and gas-powered carts.

Electric Versus Gas

There are two types of golf carts out there: electric and gas. While both work well, they do have their differences. But which one should you get for your child?

Electric golf carts rely on the batteries to run. Not only are they a little bit cheaper, but they’re also more convenient.

While they won’t move as fast as a gas-powered golf cart, electric carts will still get the job. They’re easier to maintain and can prevent your child from driving too fast.

Gas-powered carts usually a little bit more of a hassle to keep up and running. While you won’t have to deal with charging batteries, there is much more maintenance that needs to be done. In addition to doing regular oil changes and tune-ups, they’re more expensive to have around in general.

While electric golf carts for kids aren’t the best electric utility vehicle on the market, they are convenient and child-friendly. The fact that they stay at fairly low speeds and are easy maintain makes them an ideal choice for most families.

Safety Features

The top priority when shopping for a golf cart for your child is safety. While you want your children to have fun with their new vehicle, you also want them to be safe. Luckily, there are a number of different features that help make the ride a little bit safer.

One thing to look for in a cart is seatbelts. Passenger ejection is a major issue in golf cart accidents out there, especially because they aren’t required to be installed. But even if your golf cart doesn’t already have seatbelts installed, you can create your own restraints to ensure your child’s safety.

There also general features like brakes and headlights that can affect safety. Being able to see and stop are essential functions for a golf cart, especially if it’s taken out of the yard and into the neighborhood.

Doing the necessary research on the golf cart you’re looking at is an easy way to ensure they’re safe for your child to use. Take the time to look at reviews and read through different product descriptions to see what kinds of features the cart has.

Picking the Right Kids Electric Golf Cart

Golf carts can be a great investment for any family. They’re a fun way for kids to get around and get outside. But picking the right right kids electric golf cart can be a difficult decision.

The perfect electronic golf cart for your children will not only be easy and convenient to maintain, but it will also be safe. Taking the time to research your different options is the best way to ensure that your kids enjoy their new ride.

Are you looking for more fun family bonding activities? Visit our blog for more great ideas for you and your family.

The post What is the Best Kid’s Electric Golf Cart? appeared first on Wild Edisons.

With so many sites listing the “Best Hybrid Bikes” for adults, adult hybrid bikes are easy to find. But kids hybrid bikes are harder to come by and scarcely researched.

Relax. We’ve done the research for you.

Just browse our list of the highest-rated kids hybrid bikes for the 5 best options in quality and price on the market today. Then follow the links to the manufacturer or retail site and purchase. Simple!

Trek Kids Neko and Kids Dual Sport Bikes

Price: $469.99 Wheel Size: 12″-26″ Purchase at: Trek

As long as the price isn’t an issue, the Trek Kids Neko and Dual Sport are the highest quality kids hybrid bikes you will find. They are based on the adult Dual Sport and Neko models with the same quality only smaller.

These two adult-quality kids bikes may seem overpriced at first, but due to their durability and upgradability, they will likely save you money in the long run. Both bikes can be upgraded to accommodate riders from under 3 feet to 5 feet 3 inches! These bikes will last through most of your child’s childhood, saving you the cost of buying a new kids bike every couple of years.

They can easily traverse mountain and city terrain, have 7 speeds, a sturdy silver-aluminum alloy frame, and weigh less than 25 pounds. They are both rated 5 out of 5 by reviewers.

Frog 55

Price: $450.00 Wheel Size: 20″ Purchase at Frog Bikes

The Frog 55 doesn’t have the upgradability of the Trek Kids Neko and Dual Sport, but it does have some unique advantages over the Trek bikes at a comparable price. Where the Trek models are made to look like Mom and Dad’s bike, the Frog 55 was designed more with 6 and 7-year-olds in mind, featuring kid-friendly, colorful patterns to make your kid feel like a kid.

It also comes with two sets of wheels, hybrid wheels for most terrain and heavy-duty off-road wheels for more adventurous riding sessions. This gives the Frog 55 quite an advantage over the Trek bikes in terms of both versatility and value at a similar price. The Frog 55 has 8 speeds and weighs only 19.4 pounds.

The Frog 55 has received top scores on several bicycle retail sites.

Nishiki Manitoba Kids Hybrid Bikes

Price: $249.99 Wheel Size: 24″

Purchase at: Dick’s Sporting Goods

Available in boys and girls designs, the Nishiki Mantiboa has 7 speeds and is designed for older kids ages 10 and up. It features a lightweight alloy frame at 24.25 pounds, an exciting color-scheme for the boys and elegant color-scheme for the girls.

Though the tires aren’t as well-designed for mud and rocks as the above models, one extremely convenient feature is an easy release mechanism for the front and back tires. This makes changing a flat or switching in more off-road tires fast and easy without any tools.

At almost half the price of the Trek and Frog models, the Nishiki Mantiboa is a good quality, affordable option. Reviewers at Dick’s Sporting Goods rated them 4.3 and 4.5 out of 5 for value and quality.

2017 Diamondback Insight 20

Price: $204.17 Wheel Size: 20″ Purchase at: Amazon

Rated 5 stars at Amazon, the 2017 Diamondback Insight 20 is an excellent and affordable first bike for kids aged 6-10. At only $204 down from $259.99, plus free shipping, it’s the most economical option on this list.

But that doesn’t mean lower quality. The 2017 Diamondback Insight 20 features 7 speeds and a lightweight alloy frame with a total weight of 27.6 pounds. As for ease of use, one Amazon reviewer notes that their 8-year-old got the hang of it in 5-10 minutes.

Most Important Thing to Consider

Surely you’ve now decided the perfect bike for your child. But the most important biking decision to make for your child is always put their helmet on before they bike. Helmets save lives; NEVER let your child bike without one.

For related fun, check out more fun activities to do with your kids or more places your kids can follow you.

The post What Are the Best Kids’ Hybrid Bikes? appeared first on Wild Edisons.

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

This is officially my new favorite picture book, hands down, no question. There are a number of things I like about it, but I think my favorite part is that Edison WANTS to read it on his own. With some coaxing, he will read other books, but he wont even let me hold this one.

Aside from that,  I like Pete the Cat and his Four Groovy buttons because:

• It has a great voice, rhythm, and meter
• It reinforces basic match concepts
• It has content that is repeated throughout (which is always good for beginning readers)
• And, it has a great message.

The post Best Picture Books: Pete the Cat and his Four Groovy Buttons appeared first on Wild Edisons.

(I originally wrote this post when Edison was a toddler. This activity was fantastic for practicing the alphabet and phonics. Now that he is in preschool, we are still getting a lot out of it. Even though he knows his alphabet, the game is great for phonics practice and we have modified it to help with vocabulary too!)

I have a lot of board games left over from when I was a kid, and I just can’t wait until my son is old enough to enjoy them. Lately, I have started adapting some of the games to work for younger kids. Even though Scattergories is quite a bit above his level (it requires writing), I did manage to find a great way to “play” it with my son.

My spirited child has more fun learning when he is moving. So, the other day, I pulled the alphabet die out of our Scattergories box and turned it into a little alphabet and phonics game. We called it Letter Ball.

The “rules” were simple. My son would roll the die, run after it, tell me the letter on the top of the die, and then we had to come up with words that started with that letter. The nice thing is that the Scattergories die does not have the notoriously difficult letters like X and Z.

This little alphabet activity kept him occupied for about a half an hour. It also gave him the opportunity to run around and throw things in the house, always a plus with an active child.

Practice Phonics and Introduce New Vocabulary with Your Preschooler

Even though my son is now a preschooler, I am still able to modify the rules to keep it challenging. Now, we pick a category like “food”. Then, when he rolls the die, we have to come up with foods that starts with that letter.

So, not only does the game help him practice phonics, but it also expands his vocabulary because he can’t just come up with the same old words time after time.

Scattergories Letter Ball in Action (Toddler style…)

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