Boost your child’s motor skills, imagination, and more with our list of the best baby ball pits!
Baby ball pits are a great toy that can be used for both indoor and outdoor play, and I’m not talking about the ones at Chuck E. Cheese (which they don’t have anymore). If you’re interested, go here for an awesome deep dive into the history of the ball pit.
For our list of the best baby ball pits, we’ve got ball pits for babies and toddlers as well as tent and tunnel ball pit combination toys. Many of the baby ball pits available develop cognitive skills, offering calming sensory experiences, and encourage imaginative social play. So, basically, your child will be having a ball !
Speaking of, a lot of baby ball pits don’t actually come with balls, so go here to fix that. Also, while you’re at it, pick up some sanitizing wipes to keep those surfaces germ free!
Want more fun ways to entertain your little one? Be sure to check out our list of the best baby and toddler indoor and outdoor swings!
Ready to go? Then, let’s get rolling!
I was looking for a gift for my niece’s first birthday and wanted something unique and educational. I found this Melissa and Doug Turtle ball pit and fell in love. It encourages early childhood development in three key skill areas: physical, cognitive, and social. Further, it has a plush design that your little one can play in or climb on. As always, Melissa and Doug’s travel-ready turtle ball pit holds up to the company’s commitment to cute, high-quality, educational toys.
I reviewed sports-related indoor toys so my toddler could actively play inside on those rainy days without destroying my house. I came across the Little Tykes Slam Dunk Big Ball Pit and loved the design. Firstly, it’s perfect for indoor play and quickly inflates so your toddler can bounce around inside. Secondly, its 3-in-1 design can be used as a bouncer, ball pit, and basketball. Lastly, there’s an easy access crawl-through, so your child can safely enter and exit during playtime.
For even more Little Tikes toys for babies and toddlers, check out our list of Little Tikes swings and other outdoor toys!
Baby Ball Pit & Activity Gym Combo
The Infantino baby ball pit and activity gym combination is a great toy that offers versatility and multiple play options. I always love to find a multi-functional product that can grow as the child grows. With this, your little one can use it from infant to toddler stages. Further, this baby ball pit quickly transforms from a baby activity gym to a ball pit, and it’s easily packed away with the adorable storage sloth. With toys of different shapes, colors, and textures for motor skills development and sensory play, a linkable teether, and 40 play balls, your infant or toddler will have hours of playtime!
The memory foam ball pit is an excellent design for your toddler. Made from high-quality memory foam, non-toxic, and BPA-free, it’s cushy and safe, so you won’t have to worry about your little one getting hurt during playtime. In addition, the soft fleece material has a zippered design, allowing for easy cleaning by removing the outer lining.
The VTech Drop & Pop Ball Pit is perfect for younger children aged 9 to 36 months. If you’re looking for a fun, interactive, and educational toy that builds cognitive and problem-solving skills, this toy has all those features and more. Further, it comes with an interactive activity panel with a hoop that counts the balls. In addition, it features buttons that play imaginative phrases, animal sounds, and music.
If you are looking for a gated-in play area to keep your little one safely confined, this item fits the bill. With a length and width of 71 by 47 inches, your little one will have room to crawl and roll around. Further, the gate height of 25 inches, along with the pull-up rings, are perfect for learning to stand. Lastly, the mesh basketball hoop and soccer nets at the ends encourages active play for your toddler. Just be aware that it doesn’t come with balls, so you’ll need to pick up a pack or two of them.
If you’re looking for a unique and multi-use ball pit for your toddler, I recommend this ball pit and kiddie pool combination toy. Your toddler will have hours of fun swimming in the pool or playing in the ball pit. Even better, you can combine both by adding the balls to pool time. Further, you don’t have to blow up this ball pit and pool combination toy, which means there’s no need to worry about rips or water spills.
Rocket Play Tent and Tunnel Ball Pit
If your toddler loves imagination play, then the rocket tent and tunnel ball pit will provide hours of enjoyment. Have your toddler press the blastoff button, so space exploration sounds fill the room. Further, the easy storage and assembly make this ball pit portable, so your child never misses out on space exploration play.
If you are searching for the ultimate fun in ball pit and tunnel play for your toddler, look no further. With this combination of tents, tunnels, and ball pits, your child can crawl thru and explore for hours of fun. Not only is it large enough for multiple children to use, but it also encourages group play and problem-solving skills with its maze-like design. You can rearrange and add sections to increase outdoor and group play size or remove tunnels or tents for more compact indoor play.
Ocean-Themed Tunnel, Tent, & Ball Pit
This toy is an excellent option for any little ones learning to crawl or for toddlers who love to explore. Firstly, separate ball pit areas are attached between two tunnels, and one of the open ball pits includes a hoop for coordinated ball play. Secondly, it’s made with a durable mesh material, so you can easily unfold and set up, or fold and store, the tents and tunnels within minutes.
The 6-sided ball pit makes an excellent alternative to a playpen for your little movers. The 6-sided tent includes roll-up doors for older toddlers to enter and exit as they want. In addition, the windowed mesh sides allow you to observe your toddler’s playtime, and when done, you can easily wipe everything clean. Further, it pops up quickly, folds down easily, and fits into a small zippered bag for easy storage.
My child loves their hearts & starlights ball pit and tent toy, and so do I! Firstly, it stores easily, but also fits the bedroom’s decor when we do leave it up. Secondly, if you want to keep any toys and ball pit balls inside the tent, the front flap can be untied and lowered. Lastly, the string of star lights that come included add a nice glow during the evening. We use it as a night light until my child falls asleep.
Boost your child’s entrepreneurial spirit with this food truck play tent and ball pit. Perfect for any kid who loves mixing food and imaginative play. Roomy enough for multiple children, and spacious enough for kids up to 8 years old. The wide front door unzips for easy ins and outs, and the rear area is the ball pit. In addition, a set of fifty-four play foods come with it as well as a QR code to print a menu and fake money!
The post Best Baby Ball Pits Any Kid Will Love! appeared first on Geek Baby Clothes.
Boost your child’s motor skills, imagination, and more with our list of the best baby ball pits!
Baby ball pits are a great toy that can be used for both indoor and outdoor play, and I’m not talking about the ones at Chuck E. Cheese (which they don’t have anymore). If you’re interested, go here for an awesome deep dive into the history of the ball pit.
For our list of the best baby ball pits, we’ve got ball pits for babies and toddlers as well as tent and tunnel ball pit combination toys. Many of the baby ball pits available develop cognitive skills, offering calming sensory experiences, and encourage imaginative social play. So, basically, your child will be having a ball !
Speaking of, a lot of baby ball pits don’t actually come with balls, so go here to fix that. Also, while you’re at it, pick up some sanitizing wipes to keep those surfaces germ free!
Want more fun ways to entertain your little one? Be sure to check out our list of the best baby and toddler indoor and outdoor swings!
Ready to go? Then, let’s get rolling!
I was looking for a gift for my niece’s first birthday and wanted something unique and educational. I found this Melissa and Doug Turtle ball pit and fell in love. It encourages early childhood development in three key skill areas: physical, cognitive, and social. Further, it has a plush design that your little one can play in or climb on. As always, Melissa and Doug’s travel-ready turtle ball pit holds up to the company’s commitment to cute, high-quality, educational toys.
I reviewed sports-related indoor toys so my toddler could actively play inside on those rainy days without destroying my house. I came across the Little Tykes Slam Dunk Big Ball Pit and loved the design. Firstly, it’s perfect for indoor play and quickly inflates so your toddler can bounce around inside. Secondly, its 3-in-1 design can be used as a bouncer, ball pit, and basketball. Lastly, there’s an easy access crawl-through, so your child can safely enter and exit during playtime.
For even more Little Tikes toys for babies and toddlers, check out our list of Little Tikes swings and other outdoor toys!
Baby Ball Pit & Activity Gym Combo
The Infantino baby ball pit and activity gym combination is a great toy that offers versatility and multiple play options. I always love to find a multi-functional product that can grow as the child grows. With this, your little one can use it from infant to toddler stages. Further, this baby ball pit quickly transforms from a baby activity gym to a ball pit, and it’s easily packed away with the adorable storage sloth. With toys of different shapes, colors, and textures for motor skills development and sensory play, a linkable teether, and 40 play balls, your infant or toddler will have hours of playtime!
The memory foam ball pit is an excellent design for your toddler. Made from high-quality memory foam, non-toxic, and BPA-free, it’s cushy and safe, so you won’t have to worry about your little one getting hurt during playtime. In addition, the soft fleece material has a zippered design, allowing for easy cleaning by removing the outer lining.
The VTech Drop & Pop Ball Pit is perfect for younger children aged 9 to 36 months. If you’re looking for a fun, interactive, and educational toy that builds cognitive and problem-solving skills, this toy has all those features and more. Further, it comes with an interactive activity panel with a hoop that counts the balls. In addition, it features buttons that play imaginative phrases, animal sounds, and music.
If you are looking for a gated-in play area to keep your little one safely confined, this item fits the bill. With a length and width of 71 by 47 inches, your little one will have room to crawl and roll around. Further, the gate height of 25 inches, along with the pull-up rings, are perfect for learning to stand. Lastly, the mesh basketball hoop and soccer nets at the ends encourages active play for your toddler. Just be aware that it doesn’t come with balls, so you’ll need to pick up a pack or two of them.
If you’re looking for a unique and multi-use ball pit for your toddler, I recommend this ball pit and kiddie pool combination toy. Your toddler will have hours of fun swimming in the pool or playing in the ball pit. Even better, you can combine both by adding the balls to pool time. Further, you don’t have to blow up this ball pit and pool combination toy, which means there’s no need to worry about rips or water spills.
Rocket Play Tent and Tunnel Ball Pit
If your toddler loves imagination play, then the rocket tent and tunnel ball pit will provide hours of enjoyment. Have your toddler press the blastoff button, so space exploration sounds fill the room. Further, the easy storage and assembly make this ball pit portable, so your child never misses out on space exploration play.
If you are searching for the ultimate fun in ball pit and tunnel play for your toddler, look no further. With this combination of tents, tunnels, and ball pits, your child can crawl thru and explore for hours of fun. Not only is it large enough for multiple children to use, but it also encourages group play and problem-solving skills with its maze-like design. You can rearrange and add sections to increase outdoor and group play size or remove tunnels or tents for more compact indoor play.
Ocean-Themed Tunnel, Tent, & Ball Pit
This toy is an excellent option for any little ones learning to crawl or for toddlers who love to explore. Firstly, separate ball pit areas are attached between two tunnels, and one of the open ball pits includes a hoop for coordinated ball play. Secondly, it’s made with a durable mesh material, so you can easily unfold and set up, or fold and store, the tents and tunnels within minutes.
The 6-sided ball pit makes an excellent alternative to a playpen for your little movers. The 6-sided tent includes roll-up doors for older toddlers to enter and exit as they want. In addition, the windowed mesh sides allow you to observe your toddler’s playtime, and when done, you can easily wipe everything clean. Further, it pops up quickly, folds down easily, and fits into a small zippered bag for easy storage.
My child loves their hearts & starlights ball pit and tent toy, and so do I! Firstly, it stores easily, but also fits the bedroom’s decor when we do leave it up. Secondly, if you want to keep any toys and ball pit balls inside the tent, the front flap can be untied and lowered. Lastly, the string of star lights that come included add a nice glow during the evening. We use it as a night light until my child falls asleep.
Boost your child’s entrepreneurial spirit with this food truck play tent and ball pit. Perfect for any kid who loves mixing food and imaginative play. Roomy enough for multiple children, and spacious enough for kids up to 8 years old. The wide front door unzips for easy ins and outs, and the rear area is the ball pit. In addition, a set of fifty-four play foods come with it as well as a QR code to print a menu and fake money!
The post Best Baby Ball Pits Any Kid Will Love! appeared first on Geek Baby Clothes.
Sorry y’all, I know I’m a bit tardy to the party. But better late than never! If you’re a fan of the Borderlands series, you’re familiar with Tiny Tina. She became a fan favorite in Borderlands 2 and her DLC: Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep. Tiny Tina’s Wonderland is an expansion on the idea of her playing their version of Dungeons and Dragons into a full-blown game. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up my controller, but what I got was WAY more D&D than I expected and I must say, they made it work.
The in-world D&D, called Bunkers & Badasses, is a welcome addition to the Borderlands formula. Here are still the tons upon tons of unique guns to find and added are magic spells and new class abilities. Crafting your character felt truly in-depth for the first time in the series. Seriously, I took about an hour just rolling up my character. The magic helps vary up the different play styles especially with bullet sponge bosses. It keeps things from getting old too quickly, but that also depends on which class you decide to roll up. Unfortunately, some classes are a little underwhelming and a little boring. Even so, it’s varied enough to want to try them all and figure out which one works best for you. Yes, it’s a bit basic, but I really enjoyed the Spellshot + Graveborn combination.
Another new addition is the tabletop style overworld. It’s fun to see your little character figure running around the map littered in cheesy puffs and empty soda cans. It shakes up the formula of “Go here, talk to them, kills tons of people” but not by much. Of course the standard Borderlands formula is definitely still here and strong, for better or for worse. And even though the story itself isn’t anything to write home about, it’s the humor that keeps the whole thing from sinking.
Returning for the titular Tiny Tina is Ashly Burch and she is as funny as ever. The way she plays this manic, yet lovable character has me in awe. As for newcomers, there’s Will Arnett as the BBEG (Big Bad Evil Guy) Dragon Lord, Wanda Sykes is the battle hungry Frette, and Andy Samberg as the dorky but earnest Valentine. Everyone really brings their acting chops to the forefront in Tiny Tina’s Wonderland. The absurdist comedy and geeky culture references wouldn’t work if it wasn’t for the delivery of these comedy veterans. Honestly, I love the humor…but I also understand it’s not for everyone.
Even with all the additions and changes, this is still very much firmly a Borderlands game. And whether or not that’s a good thing depends entirely on the player. The writing is still that Borderlands humor, there are still thousands of randomly generated guns with crazy perks to hunt for, and even with magic the gameplay is very much the same. You go from place-to-place fighting ever stronger enemies that level with you and at 20+ hours, it can get a little monotonous.
If you’re a long-time fan of Borderlands and are still enjoying the series, I think you’ll love it. Finding that right character class you love and getting that rare drop will still give you the rush of endorphins you’re looking for. Along with that, there’s enough new additions and humor you’ve come to love to scratch the Borderlands itch. Big however though, if you’ve been waning or have completely fallen off the psycho hype train, this isn’t the game that’ll get you back on the pandoracorn. And if you don’t like Tiny Tina, then Tiny Tina’s Wonderland definitely isn’t the one for you.
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The post D&D and Borderlands Make a Great Couple! – ‘Tiny Tina’s Wonderland’ Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Afronerd Radio can now be heard LIVE courtesy of Apple Music/Itunes
Time to make the donuts or at the very least, conduct an internet broadcast huh? Listen to the latest musings from your "Cyttorak-empowered" AFROnerdit hosts during this Sunday's (8 p.m. eastern) Grindhouse show airing on the one and only BTalk 100 platform. The topics up for grabs this week are: technologist and Tesla entrepreneur, Elon Musk is causing quite a ruckus with his recent purchase of Twitter social media platform for purportedly 44B; legendary artist, Neal Adams passes away at 80 and we discuss his impact, legacy and his influence on current comic book culture; our thoughts about the penultimate episode of Disney plus' Moon Knight; and then there was Knight's Jewish identity episode-some applauded the long-awaited nod to cultural representation and others deemed it illusory; the Warner-Discovery Channel merger continues to consume....hence, the cancelations of CW fan-favorite shows, Batwoman, and Legends of Tomorrow; Spider-man franchise director, Jon Watts leaves the highly-anticipated Fantastic Four reboot due to "genre fatigue"; Lastly, our impressions of CinemaCon revelations.
One thing that Dburt is doing (finally) is investing in cryptocurrency, courtesy of Roundlyx. We would implore our followers to investigate, discern and then explore by using our referral code: afro-87A4BF
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Too often in popular media and especially in the world of literature, via comics and graphic novels, mothers are glaringly absent. It is a depressing observation on my end as I always look for them, especially the mothers of Black characters. This is a work that goes beyond the scope of a simple editorial. Alas every journey starts with one step. Here I choose to start small and explore two women from one of my favorite graphic novels that feature incredible women who are the mothers of the main character in Nubia: Real One.
These women are named, thankfully. They are not dead before the start of either book and neither are they killed off in the name of plot advancement in either graphic novel. As supporting characters, these women have voices, agency, flaws and secrets, even. These mamas show us a glimpse of Black motherhood that is not always seen or even accessible in comics. It is perhaps only in recent years for more mainstream publishers and audiences that we begin to see this type of Black motherhood.
Nubia: Real One is a graphic novel aimed for the young adult audiences published through DC Comics centering the adventures of teenage Nubia, Wonder Woman’s twin sister. Author L.L. McKinney (A Blade So Black trilogy) and artist Robyn Smith (Wash Day) teamed up to bring a fresh spin to an older comic book character who has been on the sidelines for too long. A widely misunderstood woman, seen as a disrupter, rival and challenger to her twin sister, Wonder Woman, this graphic novel presents an awkward teen and absolutely loveable high schooler figuring out who she is in the times of Black Lives Matter, hypervigilance due to police brutality, and school shooters. The narrative threads connecting this young Black woman’s heroic efforts to living in a world that doesn’t always see her as a whole person, much less a hero worthy help, makes this book a worthy addition to any library.
Teenage Nubia has a family unit that I can’t say that I saw too often in comics or graphic novels growing up. Instead of a nuclear family unit of a mother, father and child, her parents are two women, and I can’t be happier to see it. Danielle and Amera are her brilliant and fiercely loving moms who bring double the discipline but also double the heart as a tag team. Families such as these do exist, and Black and Brown women deserve to see themselves on the page represented as mothers and parents in households they lead with the children they raise and love. In that same breath, as do their offspring.
The real kicker, plot wise, that took me by surprise in such a pleasant way was the reveal that one of Nubia’s moms once hailed from the island of Themyscira. As a former Amazon under the rule of Wonder Woman, Amera found love with a woman from the world of man and left her life on the island behind her. With the love of her life, they saw a baby Nubia in need and stepped up to raise her as their own. Two queer women took up arms of another kind to raise a Black girl child in a unforgiving world where girls and women aren’t given the same protections and importance as they would be in the land of their Amazonian sisters. Their mission to raise Nubia and keep her safe is marked by layers: due to her skin color, they know their daughter won’t be welcomed, respected, protected, or cherished everywhere. There are those who are eager to paint a target on her back. Gleeful, even since she’s a young woman. Thanks misogynoir! Throw in her super powered strength and her family heritage and relation to a certain superhero that ruffles feathers and challenges gender stereotypes everywhere she goes–that has been kept a secret-makes the target on her back even bigger.
To be clear, there are several really tough scenes and panels throughout Nubia: Real One: some involving interactions with police officers. (See some trigger warnings at the end of our site’s review here) In the earliest chapter of the graphic novel, there is a police officer who places young Nubia in handcuffs, deeming her suspicious. He then drives her home, still sitting in the backseat of the car handcuffed. When she gets home, she is in tears–the interaction with the police officer has left her emotionally devastated: before speaking with him she had stopped a burglary when out with friends, and acted on using her super strength, potentially exposing her secret identity and her beloved parents. The cashier at the store mistakenly assumes Nubia to be one of the burglars and adds her description to the cops after Nubia leaves the scene, even at the behest of the witnesses there, a schoolmate of Nubia’s.
Upon that, she encounters a person of authority who does not make her feel safe, decides that she’s suspicious, and makes her feel like a criminal by handcuffing her. He doesn’t call her parents. Upon seeing her in distress, he does not comfort her or do any type of damage control by offering resources. Nubia enters her home in tears and her mothers soon bumrush her, embracing her, and loving on her. Once the story is out, they are angry. Enraged and wanting justice for how their child was handled, they are furious at how their Black child was treated.
These are the images I want to see in the world. These are visuals that I know, love, and want to always see in any book of a Black mother and their children. Black mothers know that they cannot protect their children from a world that is so anti-Black and preys upon girl children. But in a Black mother’s arms, if only for a moment or a few minutes, they are safe.
“We’re with you, always” – Mama Danielle
“…You are perfect, Nubia, exactly as you are. The rest of the world is broken. Not you. Never you…” – Mama Amera
In an interview about the graphic novel with CBR, Author L.L. McKinney mentioned relationships of Black girls and women as one of the biggest takeaways that she wanted readers to walk away with after reading: “…I wanted to show that we deserve to be loved and supported and protected and defended. Nubia’s moms are willing to upend their entire lives repeatedly if it means keeping their baby safe…” As moms, Danielle and Mera are quick with affection as are they also quick with a disciplining word. Nubia may be called out on talking back or going to parties when grounded but she’s still loved, still called down to the table for dinner, and still comforted. Most importantly, she is still their child and they never let her forget that through the thick and thin.
My favorite set of panels in the latter half of the book are of Danielle grabbing her daughter as she’s off to a local protest for a slain black teenager, who was killed by police officers. Amera holds her tight after reminding her of safety tips for attending a protest (most helpful when you’re a activist from a marginalized background, especially if you’re a Black one–turning off your location, having an exit strategy, and using milk, not water, in case of pepper spray) and fiercely reminds her that she is proud of Nubia.
She then stands as a united front with her wife Danielle, holding hands as they watch their little girl–now their almost adult daughter leave home to join the others at the protest to take a stand in their community. These pages are among some of the most impactful and loving scenes between Black women and their child in a comic book that have touched me and made me feel seen. The images of these Black mamas in Nubia: Real One continue to stay in my heart, a buffer against the awful things that plague living a life while being Black and woman. These panels continue to make me grateful for Black women in comics: the ones making them and the ones on the page. Author L.L. McKinney and artist Robyn Smith did a masterful job on being inspired by the women in their lives and bringing that love in creating Amera and Danielle, Nubia’s moms. Their work should definitely be the start of a masterclass on bringing Black motherhood to the page in comics and it stays an impactful and meaningful representation that should never be overlooked or forgotten.
Nubia: Real One is available where comics and most books are sold.
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The post Tell Mama: Black Motherhood in Graphic Novels Centering Black Girls appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.