Safari Ltd Incredible Creatures Penguin and Chick

Imagine this.  A tiny, squeaky voice saying, "Oh my goodness! Look how cute that baby penguin is!"  You are smiling, aren't you?

With quality toys like Safari Ltd.'s Incredible Creatures Penguin and Chick, you really will smile.  The mama (or dad, not sure which!) Is about 5 inches tall.  It is very detailed and painted so carefully, so life-like.  I am amazed by their toys every single time.

I have used Safari Ltd toys in many capacities over the years as an early childhood educator, mom, Auntie, nanny, and community center arts teacher.  They are my 'go to' toys, because 1) Safari Ltd toys are always high quality, detailed, and well priced, 2) they have a huge selection of animals 3) their Too line have a theme to fit almost any theme you are looking for.

I do talk about Safari Ltd toys on my blog A LOT.  I am not getting paid to say these wonderful things (but wouldn't working at Safari be sooo fun?!), but they did send me 5 items to review. I only talk about products on this blog that I have used and played with and trust.  I trust the quality.  I know their values.  I love their toys.

I have an upcoming post of 101 Ways to Play with Safari Ltd.  Stayed tuned.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Safari Ltd Toobs - A Review

Let me be completely honest with you.

I have used Safari Ltd. Toobs in a plethora of ways for many years.  So when Safari Ltd. asked me to review a few of their Toobs - it was a no-brainer.

As a preschool teacher, Auntie, craft teacher at the local community center, nanny, and that woman who sits at the table beside you at the restaurant and saves the day because your kids are screaming because the food is taking too long and she offers small toys to your children to help calm them (true story!), I have always relied on the quality and durability of Safari Ltd Toobs.

Safari Ltd has many variations of Toobs - something for almost any theme you can think of.  The toys are small - about 2 inches tall - but they don't skimp on detail.  The toys are realistic and high quality.

They sent me 3 Toobs - Dinosaurs, Exotic Birds, and Rainforest.  You can see the detail, the precise paint jobs, the vibrant paint.  Usually 6-12 animals come in a Toob and cost $9.99 or so. 

I am working on an upcoming post of 101 Things to do with Safari Ltd. Toobs, but for now, let me give you some ideas.  Easter egg stuffers instead of candy.  Cupcake toppers.  Math counters.  Game pieces.  In church or restaurant quiet bags.  In the car toys.  Dollhouse accessories.  Stocking stuffer.  Fun mail.  Birthday gift.

Or you can play with them on a playscape like above.

I really like the variety of animals that Safari Ltd. puts in their Toobs.  G, age 4, squealed when she saw the tapir in the rainforest set.  She reallllly is into tapirs right now.

Recently, we used some of the animals in our terrariums.  They added a lot of whimsy and fun to our little terrariums.

Disclaimer:  Safari Ltd has seen my posts about their products and sent me several things to review.  They did not pay me to write this glowing review.  I do LOVE their products - Toys that Teach - and would only give a positive review if I felt strongly about the product.  You will note that I do not recommend many things on this blog, but I will HIGHLY recommend Safari Ltd toys to anyone!  See www.safariltd.com for more educational and creative toys - including their large selection of Toobs.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Safari Ltd Incredible Creatures Eagle - A Review

When Safari Ltd contacted me and asked if I would review something for them, I first squealed and did a little happy dance.  I, of course, said yes.  I love the mission of the company, the quality and selection of their toys, and the toys themselves.

Since, 1982, Safari Ltd. has been a leader in making "Toys that Teach".  Their mission is to teach children the importance of nature and conservation through the joy of imaginative play.  As an early childhood educator of 20+ years, their mission means a lot to me.  Children do learn through play (I say it all the time on this blog), and when they have realistic, detailed toys like Safari Ltd. toys, the learning is endless.

One toy that Safari Ltd, sent to me to review is the Bald Eagle from their Incredible Creatures line. This eagle is sculpted so well with tiny details like hundreds of feathers or the wrinkles on his feet.  The paint job is superb.  He stands about 6 inches tall and has some weight to him.  Here's what G, age 4 had to say about this Eagle. "He has tons of feathers.  He looks a little mean, but maybe he's just hungry.  He's America's bird, you know?  I like him.  I like that he looks like a real bird."  :)

G immediately put Eagle (along with Owl and Penguin) in a "cage" to sell in her pretend pet shop.  "He's a good bird, strong and a good flyer."

As a preschool teacher, I used Safari Ltd. toys for years in my classroom.  In the science area, I used them for animal and habitat studies, learning about nature, or in terrariums.  In the block area, children created elaborate zoos and forests for the animals to live in.  What stuck my most about Safari Ltd. toys then,  and still is true today, 1) the amount of detail in each animal and 2) how well they hold up after being played with (sometimes not gently - we all know how 3 & 4 year olds can be!).

I am a fan of Safari Ltd.  I make no bones about that.  I do not endorse a lot of products on this blog.  But, when I find high quality, detailed toys at exceptional value, then I will share.  That's why I like Safari Ltd. so much.

I will be posting reviews on the Incredible Creatures Penguin and chick and 3 Toobs, as well as a list of how you can use and play with Safari Ltd toys.

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

A box from Safari Ltd

Okay, you all know that I looove Safari Ltd toys.  I talk about them alllll the time, have used them in my teaching for year, and am always finding new things to do with them.  So when the good folks at Safari Ltd. asked me to review an item for them, I first did a happy dance in my head then said, "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

I didn't have to wait long.  I arrived home last week to a boxful of happy!  Not one item but 5!  I know, right?  They sent me 3 Toobs - Dinosaurs, Exotic Birds, and Rainforest plus 2 Incredible Creatures - the Eagle and Penguin with chick.

I will be photographing these items and posting my review this week.  I am honored and so happy to do this for Safari Ltd.  They make quality Toys that Teach (that's their motto).  I am also compiling a list with photos of fun things that you can do with their toys.

If you have a young child in your life, you cannot cannot cannot go wrong with Safari Ltd toys as a gift, stocking stuffer, Easter basket filler, special treat, etc.

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel