NAPPA Archives - L.A. Parent

Fun, Creativity & Games

Published February 7, 2024

NAPPA Awards Team

Games can enhance connection, build social skills, support critical reasoning skills and simply add more fun to our daily family activities.

Congratulations to these recent NAPPA Award winners:

Smart Sudoku

A hand-held game featuring 2500 paperless puzzles across 5 difficulty levels. The interactive grid provides instant answer checking, auto-timing and connective battle functions to enhance the puzzle-solving experience. $56, ages 4-adults, giiker.com

Waffle Time

Draft combinations of fruit toppings and whipped cream to load up your waffle. Create patterns to spread syrup for scoring points. What you draft not only affects your score, but also your turn order and how much syrup you can use. $39.99, ages 10+, alderac.com

Prickly Path

Join the coyote for a stroll through the desert to admire the beautiful groups of wild cacti in bloom. A fun family strategy and decision-making game that can be played in 20 minutes. $36, ages 8+, simplyfun.com

My Mine

Eureka, you have struck gold! Try to mine as many nuggets as you can in this board game, but beware—the other miners will also be trying to stake their claim and may even try to take some of yours. $30, ages 6+, simplyfun.com

Nanodoodle Doodle Board

Make up your own games with this portable LCD writing tablet that can be attached anywhere—clip to school bags or suitcases and take creativity on the road. Parents can also use it as a memo note for shopping lists. $19.99, ages 5+, mytekfun.com

For more product reviews visit nappaawards.com.

We Love It

Published January 8, 2024

By Elena Epstein

Bene Buddies Collection

Features the Bene Bear, Sparkle the Dog and Seawhee the Turtle. All three buddies are ready to help your child practice respect, kindness, empathy, giving, patience, cooperation and sharing. Learn all about animal and pet care as well as ocean conservation. Includes stuffed animals, tokens and books. $39.99/each & $108/all, ages 3-12, benebeargiving.com

Nanodoodle Doodle Board

A portable and whimsical LCD writing tablet that can be attached anywhere. Great for school and travel bags. $19.99, ages 5+, mytekfun.com

Lingokids

Educational content fueled by interactive technology. Curriculum spans across subjects such as math, literacy and music, and modern life skills like empathy, creativity and mindfulness. Features 1,200+ interactive games, songs, videos, puzzles and more. 14.99 (per month) – yearly plans available, ages 2-8, lingokids.com

Custom Camp Labels Pack

Includes 73 personalized stick-on labels that are waterproof, laundry safe, dishwasher safe, sunscreen proof and bug spray proof. $39.99, ages 5+, namebubbles.com

STRIDER 12 SPORT

Give toddlers the thrill of riding while developing confidence and coordination. Mini-grips mean easy control of this light yet durable bike. No tools required. $139.99, ages 18 months-5 years, striderbikes.com

Decorate Your Own Sparkly Jewelry Box

An engaging craft activity that becomes a stylish storage solution. Kids can follow a pre-printed design map or plan and make their own. Each kit contains over 1500 sparkly gems, a durable wood box and everything else needed. $14.99, ages 6+, amazon.com

Brandage Brand Adhesive Bandages

Make bandage removal fun and exciting with bandages that include a temporary tattoo. Just wet the bandage, peel it off and voila. $5.99, ages 2+, antixbandages.com

Expo Notes: The Latest in Baby and Toddler Gear

Published May 22, 2023

Elena Epstein

The ABC Kids Expo took place at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino last month, and I was thrilled to be in attendance. This year’s event once again brought together companies focused on baby and toddler products, ranging from strollers and car seats to smart monitors and anything else that might make parenting and childhood more fun, comfortable and safe.

The expo featured 250 exhibitors from the around the globe, and as I walked through exhibit halls — 15,000 steps the first day — I was thrilled to see many NAPPA Award winning companies showcasing their latest line of products.

Safety and innovation in car seats and strollers were two big trends, as were gender-neutral tones and natural and breathable fabrics.

Take a look at the video below for a sneak peak of what’s new in the world of parenting gear. And for more gift ideas and product reviews on award-winning baby and toddler essentials, visit nappaawards.com.

_{ABC Kids Expo at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas}

Celebrating Kindness and Positivity

Published February 13, 2023

By Elena Epstein, Director of the National Parenting Product Awards

We’re so excited to bring you our latest NAPPA Award winners that are full of kindness and positivity.

**Sing A Song of Kindness**
Rediscover your favorite nursery rhymes, adapted to celebrate kindness, friendship and compassion. This beautifully illustrated collection comes with a touching message that a little kindness makes the world a better place. $9.99, ages birth+, silverdolphinbooks.com

**The Hero of Compassion: How Lokeshvara Got One Thousand Arms**
A retelling of a classic Asian Buddhist tale of compassion and resilience that teaches that even when we feel overwhelmed by the suffering we see in the world, we can still find creative ways to help those around us. $18.95, ages 4-8, shambhala.com

**Work, Parent, Thrive**
Ditch guilt and manage overwhelm with these science-backed strategies. The friendly and supportive tips and anecdotes are designed to give working parents the tools they need to better manage the daily challenges and focus more on the joy. $19.95, shambhala.com

**“I’m a Great Recycler”**
Sing along with your little one on how you can help save the earth by recycling, composting and donating. Catchy tune with a positive message. 99 cents, ages birth+, debiderryberry.com

**Baby Ballers: Venus and Serena Williams**
Before they were serving up grand slam victories, Venus and Serena Williams were just two sisters growing up in Compton. Follow along this inspiring story as they go from learning tennis with their dad to winning Wimbledon. $7.99, ages birth-2 years, silverdolphinbooks.com

**More Than Affirmations: Inspiring Affirmation Cards, Reflection Prompts and Activities for Kids**
Features 30 positive affirmation cards for kids with different and unique reflection prompts, mindful activities and exercises. Promotes confidence, positivity and self-reflection. $19.99, ages 4-11, meditationfairy.com

**‘The Moon is Broken’**
A lyrical bedtime story that explores the power of imagination and friendship while teaching children about the phases of the moon. $9.99, ages 2-5, amazon.com

**We Listen to Our Bodies**
Gives children a vocabulary to understand and communicate their feelings, develop personal boundaries, and build their social and emotional skills. $15.99, ages 3-5, freespirit.com

**Be Bright Lulu Doll**
Help your child discover their strength and courage with this unique doll whose lilac hair has a UV activated blonde streak that turns pink in the sun. Kids can join five animal guardians and use their spirit to be confident, dream big and change the world. $49.99, ages 3+, adora.com

**Care Bears Dare to Care Bear**
A new friend whose all about kindness, compassion and acceptance to all around her. This multicolored plush wants everyone to know that “it’s cool to be kind!” $14.99, ages 4+, basicfun.com

NAPPA Awards has been celebrating the best in family products for 33 years. For more product reviews and gift ideas visit nappaawards.com.

2022 Guide to Summer Fun

Published June 8, 2022

By Nina Harada

The summer season has arrived; let the family travel and fun commence! Our friends at the National Parenting Product Awards have put together a list of all the best summer travel gear, games, crafts and more in their annual Summer Fun & Travel Guide. The guide includes over 100 NAPPA Award-winning products that have been tested and evaluated. From summer music and summer reading to nostalgic fun and imaginative play, this guide will help you and your family have a blast all summer long.

NAPPA Awards is a family-focused brand with a mission to “showcase the best toys, learning tools, games, books, music, baby, family and home products.” It has been serving families for more than 32 years.

For even more product reviews, check out nappaawards.com