Project Play Smart Review/Giveaway Amazing Educational #Toys!

I'm going to ask an obvious question; Do your kids like to play with toys? Quite obviously the answer is YES! Hello; what kid wouldn't love toys! But my problem is that finding great toys at reasonable prices are getting hard. I'm a bit stingy and I don't like to buy things unless I can get it on a deal. Are you like me? So I've been looking for a website that will offer a variety of fun and educational quality toys at discounted deal prices, and that is when I found Project Play Smart.

Project Play Smart is a FREE members-only website featuring weekly sales of high quality educational toys and parenting tools. Each week they rotate new toys into each age group. the goal is to help parents find and discover new educational toys for their kids. It is a place where you can:

• Discover toys that educate and inspire children
• Access ongoing sales up to 50% off retail prices
• Easily discover toys that are appropriate for your child's age?
• Share and discover new ways to play, learn and grow with your kids
• And MORE!

?As I said, it is FREE to create a shopping membership. So I took the opportunity to try it out. It was rather easy to set up a shopping account. And then even easier to browse the website looking for toys! The site has the toys clearly organized based on age appropriateness. The groups include Newborn-12 months, 12-24 months, 2 years, 3-4 years, 5-7 years, and 8-12 years.? I was rather impressed that the toys in each category were rather accurate with the age, unlike when I go shopping at regular stores, I see toys with the age category of say 3 years, when it is really appropriate for say a 6 year old.

Each Monday, they update the list of toys that are currently available and it will also showcase the discounted sale price. Sometimes the toys will stay for more than just the one week, but other toys, if that toy sold out during it's given week, it won't be available the following week. That being said, I'd recommend if you see a toy you are dying for; grab it before the deal is gone!

The week that I first discovered Project Play Smart and placed my first order, there weren't very many toys in each age category, but this week, there is a great variety of toys in each category. And I've found many different toys that my kids could enjoy! Even my 8 year old would enjoy the educational toys they have offered for 8-12 year olds! Especially the Erector Multi Model 10 Model Set.

But don't worry, they also have a nice array of girl toys too!

I finally decided on purchasing the Small World Toys Laptop. Jade has a fascination with buttons, lights and anything electronic, and as she is ALWAYS trying to get on my laptop, her daddy's computer or even her brother's age 8-12 educational toy laptops; I figured it was time she had her own, so she'd leave everyone else's alone! We had an old v-tech toy laptop that both boys have outgrown, but the activities on it are still far too advanced for little Jade. She needed something appropriate for her age, that would help her learn shapes, colors, numbers, etc. And that's exactly what this little laptop is meant to do! Did I mention how I love that the toys are actually accurate to the age they claim to be appropriate for?

I placed my order, and I quickly got an email confirming my order. Ironically they had an inventory issue with our item. I was notified by email saying that there would be a slight delay in shipping the product. And yet it was only a few short days later that I then received another email stating that my item had shipped. Delay? That was the fastest delay I've ever experienced! I was surprised at how quickly that issue was resolved! Normally when there has been an inventory issue with a product I've ordered on other sites the delays usually take anywhere from 2-6 weeks! And yet this was solved and shipped in less than a week!

?It didn't take very long for the package to arrive either. OK, so it took a little longer than it would probably take for you all to receive a package, but I'm in the rural area of Idaho! Everything takes longer to get to us! But in comparison to all other mail; it arrived rather quickly. Once Jade saw it, I didn't stand a chance at keeping it away from her! She wouldn't even let me take it out of it's packaging!

First of all, it arrived in perfect order! The box didn't even have a dent in it! The colors are very bright, the buttons are large for her little fingers and are very easy to push. The sound that it makes is not completely irritating.? When I was finally able to wrestle it away from Jade I was also very impressed with how easy it was to open! You know those toys where the packaging is so overkill that you almost threaten to just throw the entire thing away because you can't even get it out of the box? I know you've had those nightmare toys before! So it was rather refreshing, that I merely had to open the side of the box, slide the toy out and then remove it from the back cardboard. And even that process was easy, because instead of being greeted by those horrible nightmare inducing wire tangles; it simply had the very simple "turn knob" clocks. I simply turned each black knob about 90 degrees and it unlatched and was good to go!
The laptop is the perfect size for our little Jade. The buttons fit her fingers just right, the colors are bright, and overall it is rather appealing in it's appearance and functionality.
The Screen even folds down just like a regular laptop, making it easy for storing, travel and more. It even has a handle at the top so it is easy for the little one to carry around, as we all know little kids can't sit still for more than just a few minutes. But they always carry their toys around. This handle is perfectly sized and shaped that Jade can easily carry the laptop without constantly dropping it. The screen is full of pictures, numbers and shapes that light up when certain buttons on the keyboard are pushed, to help associate the object on the keyboard with what is said as well as the picture on the screen.?
The left side of the keyboard has four different animal buttons. These are not actual push buttons. Each one has a different way to activate it. The Bird up top is a push down, but the monkey button has to be 'turned' and the tiger? has to be pushed up, where the duck has to be pushed to the side. This helps the child learn problem solving skills, exploration, and the fine motor skill of moving objects in different ways. Each animal also makes the correlating sound so the child also learns the sounds of the animal.
The right side of the keyboard displays musical instruments. And each one also makes the coordinating sound. The Sax at the top can only be activated if the child pushes the little blue buttons. The drums are only activated if they roll the drum. The Violin only plays if they push the bow from side to side. And the piano plays when the keys are pushed. Again great development for fine motor skills, and learning music at the same time!
The Center of the keyboard correlates with the screen. When each button here is pushed the laptop states what it is, the color, shape, or number. When the mouse is pushed, the lights on the screen go in a pattern and then settle on one picture. The computer then states what that object is and the object of the game is that the child learn how to then push the coordinating object on the keyboard. At which point a joyous noise is made. What I love is that if the child pushes the wrong button they are not met with a negative feedback sound, but merely it remains quiet and allows the child the opportunity to try again. Jade has absolutely loved this laptop! She carries it around the house all the time and plays with it constantly. As I said it is nice that it doesn't have a completely irritating sound to each button, so I can stand her playing with it so much. But even so, I thought I'd let you hear each of the sounds yourself and see how a child will typically interact with it.

As? you saw from the video, yes, if it is played over and over again, the sounds can get annoying, but that is the case with any toy that makes noise. Which actually brings me to the drawbacks of the toy. There isn't a volume control or an off switch. Sure it won't make any noise if the screen is folded down, but what child won't figure that one out quickly? If you want to have silence you will have to simply hide this toy as there is no "quiet" setting.

Also as far as the quality of the toy, the plastic that it is made from is not as thick as say a big name brand toy. If you are a military family; think PX/BX brand toy quality of plastic. If you aren't in the military...well, maybe compare it to a store brand toy? Although this toy is probably slightly better. But as far as the electronic quality; this toy is much better quality than PX/BX or store brand, and will last much longer before there are any shorts in the wires.

But that being said, I don't see it breaking any time soon. It would still be able to hold up to quite a number of drops, the electronic components inside seem to be more secure, and oddly enough I am quite thrilled with the battery compartment. Normally I hate the battery compartments that require a screwdriver to open. Yet I'm actually grateful for it, as I was recently reminded how easy the other kind is for little toddlers to open, gain access to the batteries which they then like to put into their mouth. So, although it is a little irritating when it comes time to change out the batteries, but it is a child proof blessing!

Overall, I have been quite impressed with my shopping experience with Project Play Smart, their customer service, speed of delivery and the quality of educational yet fun toys they offer! And the variety is growing larger all the time!

I love the idea that the toys are updated each week, with new toys being discovered and added at discounted prices each Monday!? Although since the site is still rather new, the variety is a little on the small side, but it is getting there.

The Prices are also rather reasonable! The Small world toys laptop was only $15, where regular retail price is $34.99! Quite the savings!

And to make it even better, they also have a program where you can refer your friends to shop for toys at discounted prices with them. When your friends make purchases, you are gifted with a store credit to use on free toys! You know that if you like the service you will be telling all your friends about it anyway, so why not be rewarded with a thank you gift from the company for referring business to them??

You can create your own FREE membership and begin shopping at Project Play Smart.

Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter, to stay up to date on deals, sales, and new product releases!

GIVEAWAY!

How would you like to win a $25 Gift Card to Project Play Smart and try out their service and amazing toys for free? One of our readers will be able to do just that!

**Note, only entries from the Rafflecopter form will be counted for the giveaway, Simply commenting does not enter you into the Giveaway, you must use the form.**

**Please be aware, if you click the "enter" button on the form, be sure that you have completed the coordinating task; as we do verify entries, if you didn't do the task, that entry is voided. Thank you for understanding.**

Contest is open to US residents Only, ages 18+.

Winners will be announced via the Rafflecopter form below once they have been selected, verified and accepted their prize.

Winners will be notified via email. Winners will have 48 hrs to confirm and accept or another winner will be drawn.

Giveaway product provided by Project Play Smart.

Giveaway closes at 12:00am EST April 20, 2012

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Mom Blog Society Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers

nationwide race wanderlust gone tyler perry good deeds pretty in pink nba all star game shark tank