Build Away & Water Play with New Sesame Street Toys

by Sarah ShebekMay 19, 2021

It’s hard to beat Sesame Street when it comes to classic kid’s entertainment. From Big Bird to Bert and Ernie, these characters are a reliable hit with the smallest members of the household.

Now there’s another way to learn and play, thanks to a partnership with toy companies Little Kids Inc and CreateOn! They’ve launched a number of new products just in time for summer fun.

Sesame Street Splash & Play Water Mat

The Sesame Street Splash & Play water mat looks perfect for beating the heat. It's designed for ages 18 months and up, with inflatable Elmo characters and a gentle water mist. For tactile play opportunities, the mat includes a push & play water pillow and floating foam characters. You can buy it for $24.99 on Amazon.`

The Monster at the End of This Story Magna-Tiles

Add a Sesame twist to standard Magna-tiles with three new sets! The Monster at the End of This Story set features lovable Grover and a structure set. The interactive toy shows kids Grover has nothing to be afraid of, with help from his friend Elmo. It's available now on Amazon for $39.95, for ages three and up.

Oscar's Garbage Truck Magna-Tiles

Learn eco-friendly tips with The Sesame Street Garbage truck, featuring Oscar and Elmo. Take the truck for a ride and find out ways to help planet earth. Kids can build Oscar's garbage can to put in trash, or set up a conservation scene. It's $49.95 on Amazon for ages three and up.

Hooper's Store Magna-Tiles

Finally, kids can take part in another favorite activity, shopping, with the Hooper's Store set. Big Bird, Cookie Monster and Abby Cadabby are ready to shop and there's plenty of food to find in the store. Plus there's a lesson on the food pyramid as they build a shopping cart. This one's also $39.95 on Amazon for ages three and up.

––Sarah Shebek

Featured image: CreateOn

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Survey Finds Children of All Ages Have Increased Their Reading During The Pandemic

by Karly WoodMay 11, 2021

Did your kiddos find themselves reading during the pandemic? A new survey says they’re not alone.

Epic, in partnership with Morning Consult has just released a report on the habits and reading preferences in kids taken from a survey of parents. The report, titled Read All About It: A Report on the State of Kids’ Reading Habits and Interests During the Pandemic, combines the result of the survey on the activities and feelings kids had during the pandemic with date taken from Epic’s data team. What did it find?

photo: iStock

The report found that children of all ages increased their reading, resulting in improvement of their wellbeing. 2020 found that kids read an extra hour each month, read for fun four or more times per week and that they read for 20 minutes each day.

Most importantly, parents reported they felt that 69 percent of kids were happier after they read and close to 75 percent said their children were more creative, curious and willing to try something new.

Kevin Donahue, co-founder of Epic shares “It’s a dream for us to see that the data reflects one of the founding principles of Epic: to inspire curiosity in children and fuel their innate love of learning. Discovering that 82% of parents said their kids were eager to discuss what they read after putting down the book made us proud of what Epic has accomplished; not only in its ability to effectively engage kids in reading, but to spark family conversation and continue the learning beyond the platform.”

What else did the study find?

86 percent of finished books were fiction of the books kids finished in 2020 were fiction
Kids read more Monday through Friday and in June and July
The 10 most popular search terms were animals, friendship, funny, pet, cat, bedtime, strange, monster, family and dog

––Karly Wood

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Walmart Teams Up with “Waffles + Mochi” for a Game That Gives Back

by Sarah ShebekMay 6, 2021

Healthy food is fun! The hit kid’s show Waffles + Mochi uses a colorful universe and quirky characters to illustrate this concept for skeptical young eaters. Now there’s another way to immerse yourself in their world, thanks to a collaboration between Walmart, Partnership for a Healthier America and Higher Ground Productions.

The Hidden World of Waffles + Mochi launched online today and features 20 different activities centered around 10 different ingredients from the series. You’ll find interactive recipes, games and video clips from the show. Better yet, as you complete activities, you’ll unlock donations from Walmart to the Partnership for a Healthier America’s Pass the Love campaign to help feed food-insecure families across the country.

“I’ve long said that supporting parents and helping our kids build healthy habits isn’t just a job for nonprofits or governments – the private sector has a critical role to play as well. That’s why I am proud to see Walmart continuing to lead the way with The Hidden World of Waffles + Mochi, a wonderful food adventure that not only educates families on how to make quick and easy meals at home, but also teaches kids that they can give back to their community at any age,” said Former First Lady and PHA Honorary Chair, Michelle Obama.

Ready to dive in? Visit the new site on any device and choose an ingredient, ranging from tomatoes to eggs. The activities will help your family put a fresh twist on food you regularly eat, or help your picky child try something new.

Once kids master an ingredient, they receive a badge, just like on the show. That badge unlocks a donation and through May 31, Walmart has committed to donating up to $1 million to the campaign to help feed families in need. Pay it forward while you play together!

—Sarah Shebek

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These Spicy Snacks Aren’t Your Kids Goldfish!

by Erica LoopApril 28, 2021

Your kiddo’s fave snack cracker is getting a very grown-up upgrade. Goldfish recently teamed up with Frank’s RedHot for a spectacularly spicy can’t-miss collab!

Forget about nabbing your tot’s leftover Goldfish after they leave a teeny tiny pile left on their snack-time plate. Now there’s a version that’s made just for you.

photo courtesy of Pepperidge Farms

The classic snack and the beloved hot sauce brand are now one! Even though you may know Frank’s RedHot as the condiment you slather over chicken wings or dip everything from celery sticks to bread sticks in, the vinegar-y, cayenne-spiked sauce is now amping up the already unforgettable flavor of the fish-shaped crackers.

Janda Lukin, Chief Marketing Officer, Campbell Snacks, said in a press release, “We learned that adults are big fans of Goldfish and it’s an appetite we’ve never fully satisfied.” Lukin continued, “‘Hot’ is the #1 most requested Goldfish flavor across social, so we wanted to bring the heat with an unexpected partnership between Goldfish and Frank’s that fans will love.”

Jill Pratt, Chief Marketing Excellence Officer, for McCormick, added, “At Frank’s we are always looking for new ways for our fans to enjoy our hot sauce. This limited-edition Goldfish flavor brings a spicy bite to a nostalgic everyday snack. We hope that consumers enjoy this partnership between our two iconic brands for a fun experience that is sure to wake up your taste buds.”

Goldfish Frank’s RedHot crackers are available for a limited time starting this May! Look for the spicy snacks at retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $2.49 per 6.6 ounce bag.

—Erica Loop

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Play Ball! Le Creuset Just Teamed Up with MLB on New Dutch Ovens

by Erica LoopApril 15, 2021

Are you a major “major league” fan? Now you can show off your baseball fan flare with the new Le Creuset Dutch Oven from Williams Sonoma!

Le Creuset’s recent collab with Major League Baseball brings your fave team’s colors and logo to the dining table. The partnership is the perfect pairing for your next game-day feast.

Fans of the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, NY Yankees and LA Dodgers can find their team’s official MLB logo embossed on the top of these stylish 7 1/4-quart dutch ovens.

Find the Le Creuset Limited-Edition MLB Signature Series Dutch Ovens online at William Sonoma here. Each dutch oven is made from enameled cast iron, dishwasher safe and heat-safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. All four team styles retail for $450.

—Erica Loop

Photos courtesy of Williams Sonoma

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One Upon a Time There Was a New Collab Between Disney & JuJuBe

Once Upon a Time There Was a New Collab Between Disney & JuJuBe

by Erica LoopApril 14, 2021

Are you searching for a new baby bag or backpack to haul your gear from here to there? JuJuBe recently announced the release of the brand’s third collab with Disney—and these bags are comically cute!

Whether you’re a fan of Disney, JuJuBe, or both, the Disney x JuJuBe “Once Upon a Time” line of bags is a can’t-miss collection. The third line from the epic partnership features a comic strip-like pattern that highlights fave Disney princesses.

The black and white drawn portrait style includes pics of Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Snow White and Ariel, accented with a bold coral color. Along with the pretty princesses portraits, the bags feature magical hardware elements.

Look for sculpted castles on the single zipper pulls and fab fireworks on double zipper pulls. Each bag’s interior includes a coordinating coral color and the names of each Disney princess.

The newest Disney x JuJuBe collection comes in an awesome array of styles, including diaper bags, backpacks, totes and more! Prices range from $15 to $195.

Nab one of these bags for yourself or a friend starting Apr. 27, 2021 at jujube.com or in Nordstrom, Buy Buy Baby and other premium baby boutique retailers nationwide.

—Erica Loop

Photos: Courtesy of Disney x JuJuBe

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Have Breakfast with Chrissy Teigen with This New Cereal

by Karly WoodApril 13, 2021

Can you ever try enough cereal? The pantry staple is great for everything, from snacking to last minute dinners and General Mills just dropped plenty of new options to keep you cereal game going strong.

In addition to launching limited edition Ghostbusters Afterlife cereal, the brand is also welcoming three new flavors that are part of the permanent lineup! Keep scrolling to see all the details.

Dulce de Leche Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Your fave Cinnamon Toast Crunch just got a makeover! The new Dluce de Leche flavor ensures you have a bite of caramel in every bite, and makes sure that "cinnamilk" at the bottom is sweeter than ever. You can find this new cereal starting Apr. 12. for $3.99+.

Apple Cinnamon Chex

Launched in partnership with Chrissy Teigen and her Cravings line, Apple Cinnamon Chex is great for families. The subtle flavor works great for Chex recipes and when you buy three boxes, you'll get $5 off any purchase on cravingsbychrissyteigen.com. The permanent addition to the Chex cereal lineup includes Chrissy’s Apple Pie-inspired recipes and will be available at the end of April for $3.79+.

Cheerios Oat Crunch, Almond

If you're an OG Cheerio lover you'll want to get your hands on the new Cheerios Oat Crunch, Almond. It's made with Multi Grain Cheerios, whole grain oats and real almond slices, nine vitamins and minerals. It's available now for $4.79+.

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of General Mills

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Yelp Adds New Way to Support Asian-Owned Businesses in Your Community

by Karly WoodApril 8, 2021

Yelp continues to make it easier for consumers to shop and dine specific communities. The platform’s newest Economic Impact Report on diverse businesses has revealed a 130 percent surge in searches for Asian-owned businesses so it has partnered up with Gold House to provide a new feature.

Gold House is a nonprofit organization that creates inclusive unity, representation and success of Asians and Pacific Islanders. Their partnership with Yelp is providing a way for businesses to self-identify as Asian-owned, if they choose.

photo: Yelp

The new option allows businesses to self-identify so it will be opt-in only. Yelp will also be proactively monitoring businesses for hate speech against the Asian community, ensuring content guidelines are being followed.

Business owners can log into their Yelp for Business account, then navigate to the Amenities section. Then click Add or Edit, “Yes” next to “Asian-owned” and then Save.

It’s Yelp’s hope that this new option will help elevate Asian-owned businesses and bring owners and consumers together to support local businesses.

––Karly Wood

Feature photo: iStock

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The #1 Kids Podcast, “Wow in the World,” Is about to Get Even Bigger

by Karly WoodMarch 29, 2021

Are your kiddos superfans of Mindy Thomas, Guy Raz and the famed “Wow in the World” podcast? News released today is going to change things up in a big way.

Tinkercast and Sony Music Entertainment (SME) have announced a new partnership that will develop premium podcast content that caters to kids and families––and undoubtedly take the growing audio market into the next dimension. Leading children’s media company, Tinkercast, and its vision of bringing engaging stories will soon be available on an even bigger scale.

photo: Meeno Peluce

If you aren’t familiar with Tinkercast, it was founded by media veterans Guy Raz, Mindy Thomas and Meredith Halpern-Ranzer. The Tinkercast team creates award-winning, immersive audio-first content that encourages “thinkers and tinkers” to embrace their role of shaping tomorrow.

SME’s role will broaden the scale and scope of Tinkercast’s work with its content creation, monetization and marketing expertise. So what does that mean exactly? You can expect tons of new episodes, international versions of existing content, PLUS brand new shows that will roll out this year!

Meredith Halpern-Ranzer, CEO, Tinkercast said “When we launched Tinkercast and Wow in the World, we were driven by our desire as parents and media makers to engage kids beyond the screen, in conversations and in their future. As parents, we wanted our kids to feel agency in their world. As media makers and storytellers, we believed that well-told stories could inspire hope, optimism and “wow.” We are thrilled to be partnering with Sony Music Entertainment in order to amplify our mission and to bring beloved and new original content to families around the world.”

Tinkercast content and programming will be available on all major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Pocket Casts.

––Karly Wood

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“It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown” Is Hippity-Hopping on Over to Apple TV+

by Erica LoopMarch 26, 2021

The kids are ready to color eggs, gearing up for a backyard egg/candy hunt and so much more. This means you’re on the lookout for ways to keep the Easter cheer going. Now you can stream a sweet story with a classic Easter message!

Charlie Brown and the whole gang are back—on Apple TV+. The streaming service recently released one of your kiddo’s fave holiday specials in a partnership with WildBrain—It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown.

photo courtesy of Apple TV+

The animated holiday treat features some of the most iconic Peanuts characters, including Peppermint Patty, Marcie, Linus, Sally and of course the “Easter beagle” himself, Snoopy.

In case you’re not up on your Peanuts holiday specials, Peppermint Patty attempts to teach Marcie how to create Easter eggs in It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown. Along with the egg decorating story-line, Snoopy gets Woodstock a birdhouse and Linus tries to make Sally believe the Easter beagle will deliver eggs, making it totally unnecessary for her to dye her own.

How can your fam watch It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown? The adorable Easter animated special starts streaming Friday, Mar. 26 globally on Apple TV+!

—Erica Loop

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ML Interest Tag: partnership

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