The Best “Star Wars” Merch in the Galaxy Has Arrived

by Karly WoodJune 6, 2021

If embracing Star Wars style only on May the 4th isn’t enough for you, you’re not alone. Ever since Star Wars Day has come and gone, there are tons of new galaxy-inspired products hitting store shelves. From baby Yoda jammies and Mandalorian-inspired backpacks, there are plenty of ways to show your strength against the dark side! Keep scrolling to see our faves.

Columbia Outer Rim Collection

Columbia is back with another limited edition collection! The special lineup includes three styles for men, women and kids with prices ranging from $45 to $65. Each piece is packed with Star Wars iconic images and is perfect for summer adventures.

Shop the collection at columbia.com

Hanna Andersson Apparel

When it comes to stylish duds, Hanna Andersson has it in the bag. The brand's collection of PJ's for the whole fam and comfy shirts, dresses and more mean you'll be embracing the Force in total style.

Shop the whole collection at hannaandersson.com.

Otter Box Grogu Echo Dot Stand

May the Force be with your Amazon Echo Dot 4th Generation! Otterbox has just dropped a new Grogu Echo Dot Stand in its Made for Amazon Star Wars OtterBox Den Series and its available for pre-order starting May 4.

Head to amazon.com to pre-order, with shipping starting Jun. 10, 2021.

Hershel Mandalorian Collection

Herschel's second Star Wars collab has landed! The Mandalorian-inspired lineup features a Little America Backpack, Classic X-Large backpack, Little Herschel Pop Quiz Lunch Box and a Heritage Kids Backpack––all with legit Mando patterns and phrases.

Shop the new collection at herschel.com, $45-$120

Grown-Up LEGO "Star Wars" Sets

LEGO recently announced the addition of three new Star Wars sets—and they're all for you! The three new sets include the LEGO Star Wars Darth Vader Helmet, LEGO Star Wars Scout Trooper Helmet and the LEGO Star Wars Imperial Probe Droid.

Find all three builds on LEGO.com.

The Mandalorian Blueberry Bounty Iced Tea

This Grogu-approved tea is made with hibiscus, blueberries and organic monk fruit and comes in a collectable tin. It's a part of the Mandalorian Tea Collection and joins The Child Green Tea and Mysterious Black Tea.

Available at www.RepublicofTea.com and select specialty retailers across the country, $8.50

The Black Series Galaxy's Edge Captain Cardinal Electronic Helmet

Available at Target, $79.99

Star Wars Galaxy Edge Customizable Droid BB-8

Littles can get in on the action, too! This plush BB-8 droid is customizable and easy for kiddos as young as three to play with.

Available at Target, $11.99

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of retailers

“Star Wars: The Bad Batch” Debuts Just in Time for Star Wars Day

The Force Is with This Epic Star Wars Charcuterie Board

Three Moms Share How They’re Keeping Their Kids Safe and Healthy While Online

by Kenzie KramerMay 25, 2021

Over the years, you’ve taught your kids a lot of ways to stay safe: look both ways before crossing the street, wear a helmet while riding a bike, go feet-first down slides and so much more. As your kids get older and technology evolves, parenting takes a turn from teaching safety on the swings to having the tech talk and showing kids how to navigate the digital playground. Luckily, Google Families has everything parents need to help their tiny humans stay safe online and develop healthy digital habits. We teamed up with three moms to see how their families are navigating technology right now. Keep reading to see what they had to say:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by TwinDollicious & Co. (@twindollicious)

Natasha D’Anna, a New York City-based mom of three, is working on balancing screentime with her kids—especially with the additional time they’re spending online with remote learning. To help them balance their time online, Natasha incorporates screen-free, hands-on activities into their day like baking or a trip to the playground. She also has regular tech talks with her kids and has shown them resources through Google that can help them stay safe online, like Google Safe Search.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chelsi Eiselstein ♡ (@raisingwolvess_)

Like most parents, So-Cal mom Chelsi Lovos saw her kids’ screentime increase in the past year. After she saw grades drop and attitudes change, she knew it was time to switch things up with a digital detox for her family. After they took a break from tech, she reintroduced devices to her kids with new rules including screentime limits, additional educational apps and regular check-ins about online safety. Now Chelsi uses Google Family Link to monitor her kids’ online activity and set device limits.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vera Sweeney – Blogger (@verasweeney)

Vera Sweeney’s youngest loves to play games—whether they’re online or board games—so when it came to having the tech talk, Google’s Interland game was the perfect opportunity for her to teach her kids about online safety. Interland takes gamers on an online adventure and teaches them about digital safety and citizenship along the way.

Google Families has everything parents need to help navigate the digital playground and teach their kids healthy online habits. Learn more at families.google!

Social Media: It’s like Riding a Bike

By Laura Domer-Shank

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

April 2, 2021

Photo: Matheus Ferrero on Unsplash

Social media is like riding a bike—just make sure you give your child a helmet, knee pads, training wheels, and a whole lot of instruction.

I’ve researched the dangers of social media, including conducting a study on recruitment into sex trafficking through social media. Yes, social media can be very dangerous—particularly with little supervision. So, most are surprised when I allow my children, at age 10 and 11 to use social media instead of waiting for the more accepted age of 13. Before getting all judgy, hear me out.

When the magic age of 13 hits, there is a lot that is going on with your child. Developmentally this is the age when children seek independence, crave having their own space, rely on friendships over family, value privacy and may even dabble in rebellious behaviors. This happens whether we want it or not—they are hardwired for this—it is part of their natural development.

If social media is introduced during this time, parents may have a hard time monitoring, exploring together and many children will attempt to push boundaries. In contrast, my 10 and 11-year-old still find me tolerable, and even (dare I say), cool on some days. They still feel close to the family, eagerly share about their school days, and have a healthy fear of the world. I know that in a couple of short years, that could all change and I may miss my opportunity to lay down some critical groundwork in their ability to safely navigate social media.

So, to their surprise and excitement, we embarked on the ride of social media together—equipped with training wheels, knee pads, a helmet, and strict instructions on where and when to ride the bike. We started off slow, I instructed them along the way, I was there to caution them, I let them have some independence, we processed any mistakes they made, they were aware of the dangers and trusted me to guide them. We also have a lot of fun—I have my own Tik Tok account, we watch together, I try to dance, they are embarrassed by my comments, I learn about their friends, and I have valuable insight into their life. They also know the stakes—any purposeful wrong move and the bike goes in storage.

I know that by the time they are 13, when I ever so slowly let my hand off the back of the bike seat, they are equipped with the knowledge to steer independently. While I will always make them wear the helmets of parental control, time limits, and privacy settings, I will take off the training wheels and knee pads and trust that the practice we have had will keep them safe.

So, if you get a disapproving glance or are questioned “Your kids are on Tik Tok?” just say “Sure, it’s just like riding a bike.”

Laura Domer-Shank

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Hello! I am a mom to three children, ages 11,12, and 20 and happily married to an awesome guy! Professionally, I am a psychologist and Life Coach, and founder of Brave Embrace, a practice focusing on female empowerment. We are a sports-oriented family and enjoy learning, growing, and laughing through every opportunity!

New Grown-Up LEGO “Star Wars” Sets Are Your Next Master Build

by Erica LoopMarch 25, 2021

LEGO recently announced the addition of three new Star Wars sets—and they’re all for you! That’s right, these new Star Wars LEGO brick sets are super-sophisticated and made specifically for the grown-up master builder.

The three new sets include the LEGO Star Wars Darth Vader Helmet, LEGO Star Wars Scout Trooper Helmet and the LEGO Star Wars Imperial Probe Droid. Each set is a complex build that will challenge your spatial skills—and leave you with a standout Star Wars display piece to show off to your fan friends and fam.

Jens Kronvold Frederiksen, Creative Director, LEGO Star Wars, said in a press release, “Some of our favorite Star Wars characters have the most profound, intimidating on-screen presences, despite the fact that you can’t see facial expressions.”

Frederiksen continued, “In recreating the sinister helmets of Darth Vader and the Scout Trooper, it was important to capture the details and essential features that people around the world will recognize, even those who aren’t too familiar with the Star Wars galaxy. I think all three display sets are extremely cool and I hope fans will enjoy the building process and be thrilled to display them once complete.”

The Star Wars Darth Vader Helmet is an 834-piece build and is $69.99. The Star Wars Scout Trooper Helmet is $49.99 and comes with 471 pieces.

Along with the two helmets, fans can also build the 683-piece LEGO Star Wars Imperial Probe Droid ($59.99). Find all three builds on LEGO.com. The new Star Wars sets are available for pre-order starting Mar. 25 and will go on sale Apr. 26.

—Erica Loop

Photos: Courtesy of LEGO

LEGO Just Dropped a Carnage Set & This Is the Only Place to Get It

This New Winnie the Pooh LEGO Set Is as Sweet as a Pot of Honey

LEGO Just Dropped a Carnage Set & This Is the Only Place to Get It

by Karly WoodMarch 11, 2021

Stop what you’re doing if you’re a Marvel fan! LEGO is dropping a brand new building set and it’s available for pre-order today.

If you know the Marvel universe, then you know Carnage––one of the scariest super villains out there. The new LEGO Marvel Spider-Man Carnage Building Set makes this evil character a little less menacing and is perfect for collectors.

photo: LEGO

The 546-piece set is geared towards adult builders and makes a bust of the villain. When you’re done, the piece measures seven inches high, three inches wide and five inches deep.

It’s only available for pre-order at Target.com at 8 a.m. CST and retails for $59.99. If you miss the window, don’t worry! The set is coming to Lego.com on Apr. 11.

––Karly Wood

Celebrate Amelia Earhart with a Free LEGO Set

Your Master Builder Can Re-Create This Iconic 80’s LEGO Ad

These Innovative Products Will Help Save Your Sanity This Winter

by Amber GuetebierFebruary 17, 2021

Whether you’re gearing up for a long, snowy winter or just riding the waves of cooler storms, there’s no question that winter comes with challenges. Keep your kids warm and dry with these new and cool items.

Bern Helmets

The problem? Newbies on the slope fall a lot!

The solution: For the littlest of littles shredding the gnar for the first time, you want them outfitted in the safest gear possible. We love Bern helmets for their safety and design (in fact, we use the adult version ourselves when skiing).

The Camino is the smallest helmet in their winter line and fits our almost three-year-old perfectly. It's easy to adjust to your child's head, they're lightweight and apparently very comfortable—we were quite surprised that our tot didn't complain once about wearing his helmet all morning (and we all know how toddlers love to complain). The designs are fun, too. Choose from snowflakes, airplanes, a shark and more.

And, what we really love is that this helmet also doubles—at least for our family—as a winter helmet for bike riding. It keeps our son's ears and head warm, while providing protection since he's just graduating from a balance bike to a pedal bike and prone to bumps and bruises.

$59.99

Shop at bernhelmets.com

Gordini Gloves

The problem? There's an artic freeze but your kids still want to play outside.

The solution? Gloves that will keep frostbite at bay!

When it comes to winter gloves, not all are created equal. When there are low temps and lots of snow, having a glove that stays in place while keeping those fingers nice and cozy is a must. We love Gordini gloves: they're high-quality, come in an array of stylish colors, have little hidden pockets for things like a key, and kept our Managing Editor's sons hands plenty warm during a Minnesota winter. Plus, you can find them in styles from baby/mitten to junior.

Shop them on Amazon or check out gordini.com.

Most kid styles are between $35-$50.

Cubcoats Panda Down Jacket

The problem? It's cold and you want your kids to stay cozy and not forget their coat!

The solution: Cubcoats convertible attire. Whether you're traveling or playing right at home, Cubcoats innovative design insures your kid will never forget their coat! The newest additions to the line of cozy stuffed animals that convert to jackets include super-warm down vests and coats. We're pretty much in love with the Papo the Panda but other designs are available including Kali the Kitty and Pimm the Puppy.

$65-$80

Shop at cubcoats. com

Reima Snow Suits

The problem? Layers upon layers of gear weigh kids down and, especially, slow kids down!

The solution: Reima Snowsuits

There's a Finnish saying that there is no bad weather, just bad clothing and Finnish brand Reima makes some of the best snow and cold-weather gear money can buy. In many cold climates, kids need to gear up to go out to play at recess, and for some kids it takes waaaay too long to get ready to go. We love one-piece snow suits for kids for just this reason, and thanks to Reima you can find them well beyond the baby years, with sizes up to age 10. They make lots of other gear too, including gloves, hats and rain gear. It's a little spendy but they last forever and can be passed on from sibling to sibling/younger friends.

Find them on Amazon or at us.reima.com

Tiger Paw Mittyz

The problem? Baby and toddler gloves are either impossible to get on or fall off too easily.

The solution? Veyo's Mittyz

These adorable animal-inspired mittens not only keep their hands warm in the winter, they are super easy to put on, ideal for wriggling babies and toddlers. They are waterproof, big enough to fit over any coat sleeves, and feature an elastic gauntlet to keep out snow and ice and keep them in place. Snag a matching tiger Noggins ($14.95) and you’ll be ready to roar.

$39.95

Shop at veyokids.com/mittyz

Buckle Me Coats

The problem? Getting a car seat on over a puffy winter coat.

The solution? Buckle Me Coats

Parents in cold winter climates know the struggle is real: you’ve got your car seat fitted nice and snug and then the winter coat throws everything off. Enter, Buckle Me Coats, a mom-invented car seat friendly coat that allows you to buckle your kids right into their seat without having to remove the coat or re-adjust the straps.

From $59.99

Learn more at bucklemecoats.com

Dry Out Gloves & Boots Faster with the Green Glove Dryer

The problem? Those boots and gloves get damp inside!

The solution? The Green Glove dryer, a mitten and boot dryer that an adapt to a heater vent!

Michigan-based mom Karen Smoots came up with a genius way to dry out her family’s wet gear during one of Michigan’s long, cold winters. The Green Glove Dryer doesn’t just work for gloves: you can use it for hats and boots too. It attaches to a heat register and the warm air circulates inside the gear through nozzles. You can use on a floor vent or wall vent, and both are super easy to install, lightweight and portable. Our editor tested both versions and fell in love.

$19.99, free shipping in the US and $5 flat rate to Canada.

Get yours at greenglovedryer.com

—Amber Guetebier

RELATED STORIES

The Best Winter Boots for Kids

Winter Festivals Every Family Should Experience at Least Once

18 Easy Play Ideas for Winter Break

Feed Your Kids’ Need for Speed

by robin bratslavskyJanuary 14, 2021

Remember the days when mom or dad would let you sit on their lap and help them drive the car into the garage? Sure you were only driving 5mph, but it was still pretty awesome. If you’ve got a little speed demon in your family, give them a dose of some fast-paced and thrilling go-kart racing. Today’s indoor karts are designed for drivers as young as 5 or 6, and they can drive independently. The only requirement: drivers must be at least 48 inches tall for most karts (some require a height of 50 inches). This isn’t the type of place you’ll find located in a strip mall—these karts are powerful!

Fortunately, indoor kart racing venues are big on safety. All drivers are required to wear a head sock, a helmet and neck guard. All of this gear is provided at no extra charge, but you certainly can bring your own. Most places have an “arrive and drive” policy, but be warned that weekends are popular race times and you might have to wait a while. Prices are pretty standard across the board, so plan on spending about $20 for a multiple-lap race. Also: kids and adults do not race together. Speeds are pretty consistent, as well: most junior races (for kids) are held at a max of 20 miles per hour, while some adult karts go as fast at 45 miles an hour.

photo: SLR Lounge via Unsplash

Here are our picks for an adrenaline-pumping day at the races.

MB2 Raceway
This popular birthday party spot is a hit with kids of all ages. Races are limited to 10 drivers, so kids have plenty of driving space for each 9-lap race around the indoor track. The ¼ mile track has strategically placed bumpers so drivers learn to maneuver their karts while keeping their speed at a steady clip (the cars can be controlled remotely, so if kids are driving unsafely, the operators can slow their kart). No reservations are necessary, and MB2 is open seven days a week. Expect to wait as long as one hour on a weekend. Fortunately (or not!) there is an onsite arcade to keep kiddos busy while they wait.

13943 Balboa Blvd.
Sylmar 91342

1475 Lawrence Dr.
Thousand Oaks 91320

Online: mb2raceway.com

K1 Speed
This indoor kart mecca is located in the South Bay area, so beach babies can get their race on! The state-of-the-art track is made from etched concrete — a change from the typical asphalt track. Junior racers (from 48 inches tall through 58 inches tall) drive 12-lap races in specially designed junior karts that have emergency shut-offs for extra safety. K1 also has a junior karting league for wee enthusiasts who really want to learn the nuts and bolts of racing. Like most karting venues, K1 gets super busy on the weekends, so plan accordingly. Don’t worry, though, your kids will find the experience is worth the wait. Open seven days a week, but they do close for special events, so be sure to call ahead

19038 S Vermont Ave.
Gardena
Online: k1speed.com

— Robin Heinz Bratslavsky

Columbia’s New Collab Is All about “The Mandalorian”

by Karly WoodNovember 23, 2020

It’s Mando Monday and Columbia just announced its fifth collaboration with Star Wars. In December, you’ll be able to shop the special-edition Columbia Sportswear and Star Wars: The Mandalorian collection online and in select stores.

The five-piece lineup ranges from $40 to $300 and is rich in detail with fabrics that resemble the Mandalorian’s beskar armor and winks to storylines and characters. There are even secret messages written in the Mandalorian tongue, Mando’a. The collection includes an infant bunting inspired by The Child, kids jacket, heavyweight hoodie and gaiter and technical 3-in-1 jacket.

The Mandalorian Interchange Hybrid Jacket ($300) is inspired by Din Djarin’s armor and is constructed with a durable canvas and softshell construction with lightweight insulation and a powerful Omni-Heat™ 3D thermal-reflective lining. The Helmet Gaiter ($40) is made with water-resistant fabric, fleece lining, and stretchy soft shell construction. It comes with a coded message written in Mando’a on the fleece lining and a Mudhorn signet on the back label.

Keep your baby cozy in The Child Bunting ($50), with iconic ears and microfleece and ultra-soft Sherpa lining. Bigger kiddos can cuddle up with The Child Jacket ($75-$80), a water-resistant shell and Omni-Heat™ thermal-reflective lining, Sherpa fleece, a hood with stowable ears, a snackable Sorgan frog label, coded messages written in Mando’a, and a graphic screen print of the Child.

Finally, adults can layer up with the Heavyweight Hoodie ($120), a special-edition hoodie with a tonal Mando’a message.

Shop the new pieces at columbia.com/StarWars starting at 12:01 a.m. EST on Dec. 4 and at select Columbia-branded retail locations in the U.S.

––Karly Wood

All photo: Courtesy of Columbia

The Disney x Happy Socks Collab Just Got a Festive Update

Celebrate Mando-Monday with Yogibo

This Is the Way: New Star Wars x Stanley Collab Is Out of This World

by Karly WoodOctober 26, 2020

Everyone is excited about season two of The Mandalorian returning this week, even Stanley. The company behind the all-steel vacuum bottles America has grown to love and lean on has just launched a limited-edition collection with original artwork––and it won’t last long.

The Child-inspired Trigger-Action Travel Mug, Legendary Warrior Quencher and The Mandalorian-inspired Bottle were carefully considered and reflect natural elements from the show. You’ll be able to spot Mandalorian iconography and text written in Mando’a.

Each cup retail for $30 each and you can only find them at stanley1913.com, while supplies last.

The Child-Inspired Trigger-Action Travel Mug

This cup is all about The Child peeking and is made with double-wall vacuum insulation and a trigger-action, push-button lid for one-handed sipping. It keeps drinks hot for seven hours, cold for 10 hours and iced for 30 hours.

The Legendary Warrior Quencher

This warrior cup comes with a mythosaur insignia and “Legendary Warrior” written in Mando’a. The three-position lid lets you rotate the collar and sip through the opening, with or without the reusable straw or remove the lid all together. It keeps drinks hot for five hours, cold for nine hours and iced for 40 hours.

The Mandalorian-Inspired Bottle

The Mando-inspired bottle is double-walled and vacuum-insulated. It comes with an illustration of the Mandalorian’s helmet and the Mandalorian mantra on the side. It keeps drinks hot and cold for 15 hours and iced for up to two days.

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of Stanley

Disney+ Announces Release Date for “The Mandalorian” Season 2

Disney+ Debuts All-New Character Art for “The Mandalorian” Season Two

These Are the Top Selling Items the World Bought on Amazon Prime Day

by Karly WoodOctober 18, 2020

Amazon Prime Day has come and gone and this year, the two day event was the biggest ever for small and medium businesses who sell through Amazon with over $3.5 billion in sales. So what did people buy on Amazon Prime Day this year?

Prime Members saved more than $1.4 million and earned tens of millions of credits through promotions while shopping this year. Here are the top sellers.

Echo Dot

The Amazon Echo Dot was the number one purchased product globally this year. All in all, customers millions of Alexa-enabled devices, and more Fire TVs than last year's Prime Day.

Fire TV Stick 4K

Prime Members love streaming and the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K with remote control was one of the top sellers globally this year. The $50 purchase also comes with a remote.

iRobot Roomba Vacuum

iRobot Roomba Vacuums were one of millions of smart home devices purchased on Prime Day. Not only did this little sucker take home the prize for top seller in the U.S., but globally, too.

MyQ Smart Garage Door Opener

Prime members proved they want their deliveries safe and sound in the garage, and that's why the MyQ Smart Garage Door Opener was a best seller again this year. Link to your key app and control where, when and who opens your garage door––no matter your location.

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

LifeStraw is a personal water filtration system that is ideal for hiking, camping, backpacking or doing anything where freshwater isn't always available. Shoppers stocked up on this environment-friendly gadget that also gives the gift of clean water for a year for a child in need for every purchase.

LEGO Star Wars Stormtrooper Helmet

The force is not strong with this one! The LEGO Star Wars Storm Trooper Helmet building kit was a super popular buy this year, coming in as a top seller globally.

—Karly Wood

Featured Photo: Bruce Mars via Pexels

This New RBG Book Will Inspire a New Generation of Readers

Deal Alert: Whole Foods Market Is Having a Huge Beauty Sale

Columbia Outer Rim Collection

Hanna Andersson Apparel

Otter Box Grogu Echo Dot Stand

Hershel Mandalorian Collection

Grown-Up LEGO "Star Wars" Sets

The Mandalorian Blueberry Bounty Iced Tea

The Black Series Galaxy's Edge Captain Cardinal Electronic Helmet

Star Wars Galaxy Edge Customizable Droid BB-8

Related reads

Related reads

Laura Domer-Shank

Related reads

Related reads

Related reads

Bern Helmets

Gordini Gloves

Cubcoats Panda Down Jacket

Reima Snow Suits

Tiger Paw Mittyz

Buckle Me Coats

Dry Out Gloves & Boots Faster with the Green Glove Dryer

Related reads

Related reads

Related reads

The Child-Inspired Trigger-Action Travel Mug

The Legendary Warrior Quencher

The Mandalorian-Inspired Bottle

Related reads

Echo Dot

Fire TV Stick 4K

iRobot Roomba Vacuum

MyQ Smart Garage Door Opener

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

LEGO Star Wars Stormtrooper Helmet

Featured Photo: Bruce Mars via Pexels

Related reads