2010's Best Holiday Gifts: Línea Descubriendo

Here come the holidays and like most of you, I have been scouring the web for the perfect gifts for my children. This year, we are avoiding frivolous and mindless toys in favor of those that are beneficial to our kid's overall development. I am focusing on educational products that improve literacy, creativity, and/or other valuable skills.

At the top of my recommendation list is Línea Descubriendo by Witty Planet. This exceptional line of products for children was created in Argentina and has been embrace by many Latin American countries for its educational properties. And now, for the first time, it is available in the United States. (Yay!)

I had a chance to review some of their products, including one of their DVDs - Descubriendo mi Cuerpo - last month and they were an INSTANT hit with my children. The DVD, especially, quickly became my children's current favorite, and they have been singing and dancing to the songs ever since. The video is divided up into segments about the different body parts and how to care for them. The original songs are full of information about each topic along with images of real children preparing to take a bath, playing in the bubbles, brushing their hair, etc. The songs are separated by short skits involving the cast of puppets from Línea Descubriendo, including its host, Bubba (pronounced BOO-bah). This adorable monkey had my kids in stitches a number of times with his silly antics and facial expressions.

The DVD is more than just a video, though, and includes interactive games, which both of my kids really enjoy. I was really happy with this product, and the way that it supplemented my kid's Spanish curriculum perfectly.

A lot of thought has gone into this line of products - and it shows. Developed by professionals in childhood development, Línea Descubriendo invites children to learn through play, song, and dance. Their goal is to stimulate a child’s curiosity, interest in learning, and communication skills. The entire line was developed by keeping in mind children's visual preferences and pedagogical requirements for early childhood. Even the puppets were developed by Roberto Docampo, Director of the Puppetry School at the San Martin Theater, in Argentina.

You can see a sample of Descubriendo mi Cuerpo here.

If you are a fan of the Baby Einstein and Brainy Baby lines, and are trying to raise your children bilingually, then you will absolutely LOVE Línea Descubriendo. But though it is similar to these American products, that is only on the surface. As you explore the products you will discover a much richer Spanish-only line with songs that are original pieces, specific to the topic, with additional information about each subject.

If you'd like to examine the line a little more thoroughly, take a look at their adorable, interactive site, El Mundo de Bubba, for additional games, art, and much, much more. You won't be disappointed.

To go ahead and order your own Línea Descubriendo products, visit Witty Planet. Their website is available in both English and Spanish. Don't forget to type in the promo code LATINBABY for an additional 10% off your purchase!


Disclosure: I was compensated for this review. However, the opinions expressed in this post are sincere and true. Mi Cielito Lindo will not endorse products that it does not approve of or that we feel will not interest our readers.

New Products for Latino Toddlers

If you haven't visited the Latin Baby boutique lately, head on over there and check out a few of our newest products!

For all you mamás of toddlers, check out our two newest T-shirt designs.
If you have a rambunctious little boy in your life, why not get him a tee that sums it up? "Chiquito...pero picoso!"
And for those sweet little nenas, don't miss our adorable tee: "Chiquita Bonita"
Both shirts are embroidered and come in sizes: 2T. 4T. and 6T.

For more details, click here.

To commemorate the historic event of our first Latina Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor, Latin Baby has come out with a limited edition bib, "Wise Latina in Training." The bib comes with the words printed in hot pink, except for the word "wise" which is embroidered in a sagacious purple.

To see this and our other bib styles, click here.

We also have the most beautiful sweaters from Peru in our shop. Handmade, each sweater is a one-of-a-kind piece that your child will love and cherish. With hand-appliquéd images of nature and wildlife, your child will be delighted to wear one of these beautiful sweaters!Each style is available in one size only.

For a closer look at all three styles, please click here.

Simple, Handmade Party Piñata for Kids

Yikes! Sorry this blog has been a little neglected. So much going on - I'm drowning over here! Latin Baby is sucking the life outta me and the LBBC has so much going on right now. Not to mention family trips, house projects and my daughter's birthday.

La niña had the best time the last few weeks preparing for her cumpleaños. She fell in love with the Jungle Book story a few months ago and decided that she wanted a JB party. The last few weeks have been busy transforming our living and dining rooms into a jungle. We used up my entire stash of green construction paper to make leaves for vines and trees. It took so many leaves to transform our house that we started going cross-eyed and by the end, my daughter's colorful rainbow colored leaves had turned into mami's no-nonsense ones that were lucky to get a green vein drawn down the middle.

Since she is the daughter of one former zookeeper and one current bird curator, she has plenty of stuffed animals to decorate the house. Toucans were perched on our mantels and entertainment center; the previously mentioned vines had monkeys hanging from them; snakes, rabbits, frogs and lizards peeped out from around the couch, tables and chairs.

But the best moments of the party were definitely those of the piñata. Absolutely no child's birthday party is complete without one. We had the best (and worst) time making them last week. I was all "Oh, ja! No problema! Easy-peasy!"

PFTHT!

Chihuahua, I had the hardest time making the paper maché balls! Turns out, I don't think I put enough layers on mine and even though we made three, I made the mistake of putting them outside in our greenhouse to dry (away from little deditos, you know?) and it was too cold, so they didn't dry very well. Then, I had the brilliant idea to bring them in and put them on top of the floor vent to let the central heat blow them dry. "POP!" goes the first balloon and the paper maché with it. So I just put the next two close to the vent but not on top. They sorta dried, but not completely before my daughter’s piñata making girl friend arrived. While the kids got busy cutting tissue paper to decorate, I struggled to attach the star points. Long story, short (too late!) we finally reverted to the cardboard box method. There are advantages to having shipping boxes coming out of your ears. The girls had a blast gluing tissue all over the boxes and they went over wonderfully at the party! They may not have been the most beautiful piñatas ever made – but they were to my kids and their friends.

So I’ll share with you a few tips. If you’re ever in the need for a quick birthday piñata, all you need is a cardboard box, tissue paper in assorted colors, Elmer’s glue, a plastic lid (optional) and some tape.

- First, set your kids to work cutting little squares out of the tissue paper. They don’t have to be perfect, but each one should be roughly 2 inches square.
- While they’re doing that cut the tape holding the bottom of the box closed (if there is any.)
- Then squirt a dollop of glue onto a little plastic plate or plastic lid (for little kids it’s easier.) Take your square of tissue and wrap it around your index finger and dip it into the glue so that only a small dollop in the middle gets glue on it. Then put it on the box.
- Cover the entire surface of the box. You can do the bottom, but unless you have a place to hang it from until swinging time starts, any tissue on the bottom will probably get squished. You can add streamers from the bottom of the box, but they will be the first to go (as you can see in the picture!)
- We did two piñatas. For the first one, just use three or four pieces of Scotch tape to hold the bottom flaps closed. Add some newspaper to the bottom and add candy and/or small toys. This first piñata will give quicker and really get the little kids worked up for the second one.
- For the second one, hold the bottom flaps together with ONE piece of packing tape. You’ll be amazed how well this holds and it gives the kids plenty of whacking time.
- To hang it, an adult should use a pair of scissors to poke a little hole in the middle of each top flap, just a couple of inches down from the edge. Cut a short piece of rope about 12 inches long. Fold in, the other two flaps first, then partially close your hole-y flaps and run each end of your rope through the holes and make a knot to make like a purse strap. Now your piñata can easily be attached or removed from your main swing rope line that has been tossed over a high branch in your yard.
- After the kids have had several turns, let the parents in on the action. I’ve never seen so many gringos having such a good time!
- Keep all kids well clear of the area. Even if the box opens and spews its contents, that dangerous, obsessive, little kid with the stick will still whack away. Trust me. Even the kindest, sweetest children turn into swinging monsters once that stick gets in their hands!
- REMEMBER TO KEEP REMINDING THE SWINGER NOT TO LET GO OF THE BAT! M’ija did and it bounced off the head of one of her guests (fortunately she was pretty tough and didn’t so much as sniffle.)
- And lastly, after it’s all over, if you’ve got a giant paper mess in the yard, have a contest to see who can pick up the most paper (girls vs boys works nicely.) You’ll be amazed how a little friendly competition speeds up clean-up time.

For older kids, you can get a little more creative with your tissue paper and make strips of fringed tissue paper that you can carefully wrap around your piñata box in layers, possible alternating colors.

Now, I hope you have all found this giant post helpful!

~Monica

Add Me to the List!

My name is Keen (or at least, that’s what I go by on the Internet), and I’m thrilled to be a part of this blog, and in such good company, too!

When people ask me where I’m from, I size them up and try to figure out if they want the short version or the long version. The short, evasive version is this: I live in the D.C. area. But the long version is: I was born in Costa Rica to a Costa Rican mother and a father who was as Midwestern as they come. After a few years in the U.S., we moved back to Costa Rica for good when I was eight and I stayed there until I came back to the U.S. for college when I was eighteen. My whole family stayed there, but except for a few months here and there and a two-year stint in the Peace Corps, I’ve lived in the U.S. ever since.

I have twin boys who are three, and I’m making a tremendous effort to raise them to be bilingual, just as my parents did with me. (And at least for now, I’m happy to report, they speak way more Spanish than English!) One of them is quite the little intellectual, he is obsessed with books and can read Spanish fluently. The other was diagnosed with autism last fall and is speech delayed. You can read about it on my personal blog, Keen, if you like.

As for me, I work full time as a translator and interpreter, and I love my job with a passion. I interpret in court and in jail, in hospitals, at conferences and community meetings. I translate letters, autopsy reports, birth certificates, tax returns and court decisions. The variety keeps me on my toes, and I learn something about language--Spanish and English--every day. I feel at home among the people I work with, who have backgrounds just as convoluted as mine, and I also feel lucky to live where I do, in a city with a large Latino population, where I can easily satisfy my cravings for pupusas and salteñas, a diverse city that I hope will make it easier for my boys to remain connected to their heritage.

So for now, un saludo, y hasta la próxima.

Keen

Rewards for Toddlers

Okay, so as promised, I am posting an example of our little "reward list" to accompany the "chores list" that I mention in the previous post.

To figure out what to put on the list, sit down with your child and think of fun rewards together. You might be surprised at what your child comes up with - I certainly was! First thing out of her mouth was "hugs and kisses." Wow.

Anyway, try to think of east things that you may enjoy doing together (i.e., baking a cake, making cookies, watching a movie, playing a board game) as well as extra special treats like a trip to the museum, movie theater, or bowling.

My daughter gets one point for every chore she does. Our chore list has expanded since my last post and she now has 16 different chores to choose from plus two extra categories represented by a star and a smiley face that are reserved for those moments when she accomplishes something important or worthy that is not listed on the page.

I divided her rewards up into three sections: For 0 to 14 points she can get "hugs & kisses/abrazos y besitos" or a "heart (valentine)/corazoncito." 15 to 49 points gets her one of the following: rent a movie, a surprise gift, help mami bake a cake/brownies/cookies, or a new book. And finally, for the incredibly helpful child who racks up 50+ points, she gets to go to a movie or bowling. So get creative and list some really fun things that your child enjoys. But try to limit food related rewards and definitely stay away from candy to avoid repeated requests in the future and unhealthy associations.

To help with bilingual education, I listed all of the rewards in both English and Spanish.

New Products for 2008

Now this next product, is the most original and the most useful one that I saw at the Market. One of the newest products in the USA market, is an innovative design out of Australia. Perfect for visiting, traveling and dining out, the Baby Beetle Chair is already popular overseas. Brought to us by Ozique, the Baby Beetle is a safe, durable fabric baby chair that fits over most dining and kitchen chairs. Machine washable, it folds up into a built-in drawstring bag and is small enough to store in a diaper bag or handbag. Available in four bright and festive colores: berry, ocean, lime and tangerine.

To learn more about this neat product, click here.

Bilingual Book gift sets

If you haven't already discovered these sweet, lovable characters by Frijolitos Inc., then you need to run out and buy one right away! Established in 2002, by Martha Barrios and her family, Frijolitos is dedicated to celebrating the traditions, folklore and history of Latin America through the creation of Latino-themed products, such as books, plush toys and (coming soon) puppets.

Frijolitos characters include Albóndiga - the Mariachi dog (shown above), Tugita Tere - the book-loving turtle, Picadillo - the trouble-making armadillo, and Fifi la francesa - the pampered poodle, to name a few.

Each book is filled with colorful illustrations and presents educational and Latino values using culturally relevant themes.

I personally am looking forward to carrying this line through Latin Baby this coming year. But for now, if you'd like to learn more about the Frijolitos company, their products, or where to purchase them, please click here.

Holiday Gifts from Children

Well, a quick post tonight on where to find some great ideas for gifts that children can make and give this holiday. Meg McElwee posts one of my favorite blogs, Montessori by Hand. She is a teacher in Chihuahua, Mexico and has some wonderful ideas and stories from the children in her class. She also has her own website with a couple of sewing patterns for those of you who would like to make some gifts and are wondering what to do.

Anyhow, if you are looking for a way to keep los niños busy and help them find a way to contribute and appreciate their own hard work, click here.

Latin Baby SALE!

Latin Baby's "Dia de Gracias" Sale is going on this weekend! Check out super savings with prices reduced up to 50% on children's tees, jean jackets, bibs, books and more... This is our biggest sale of the year, so check it out right away! Sale prices are valid for on-line purchases ONLY. Latin Baby products in boutiques, gifts shops, etc... are not included.

While supplies last....

View our products here.

¡Ay! Que Frio...

With el invierno upon us, I thought now would be a great time to feature a few items for keeping our children warm. I was extremely pleased to find this shop on-line. Caserita.com specializes in Bolivian handicrafts. I love their products and am seriously contemplating carrying some of their items.

First, check out the Rainbow Poncho and Hat for children ages 1 to 3. So beautiful and colorful for any child.

And second, how about this 3 Piece Alpaca Set for babies ages 3 months to 3 years? Made of 100% alpaca, it is soft, light and warm. A perfect gift for the niños in your life!

To view these and other products by Caserita.com, click here.

Fiesta Furniture!

I love this little chair! Is is so warm and joyful! It is handpainted by Little Palm Painter. For more info see here.

Furniture Plus...

Phew! A few minutes to get some blogging done! Today's posts will be short and sweet. First, here are a few pieces of baby furniture for you to admire. I think these door pulls are adorable! Quincy Pearson has a large collection of bright and colorful door knobs in a variety of themes.

Check them out here.

Abuelita's Corazoncito...

Hola, Amigas!!

So many of you have been asking about Latin Baby getting bigger sizes for toddlers. Well, your wish is my command~ Ta-da! I am happy to announce the beginning of our toddler line of tees and sweatshirts. I am hoping to have my complete line up and running by the Spring of '08, but for now you can get a sneak preview by checking out our new "Abuelita's Corazoncito" t-shirt. It is availble in sizes 2T, 3T, and 4T.

For more information check us out here.