Parents Voted: Top Toys for Independent Play That’ll Keep Little Kids Busy for Hours

by Marianella OrlandoNovember 6, 2023

‘Tis the season to indulge your preschooler’s love for their favorite shows, be it PAW Patrol, Gabby’s Dollhouse, or Rubble & Crew. Are those catchy theme songs living rent-free in your head? Don’t worry, it’s the same for us, too.

While you’ll likely be in the company of these shows for a few more years, you can take solace in the valuable life lessons they provide and (drumroll, please…) the independent play they inspire. And as your little one soaks in these inspirational characters and action-packed storylines, a world of creativity and independent play awaits.

This holiday season, thanks to an exciting line of show-to-shelf toys featuring their cherished characters, your preschooler can now transform these meaningful messages into reality right at home. Whether it’s launching missions from the PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie Aircraft Carrier HQ or hopping aboard the Gabby’s Dollhouse Gabby Cat Friendship, their favorite shows will become the backdrop for thrilling solo adventures.

To help you get ahead of your holiday shopping (and gift yourself the joys of an entertained preschooler!), we’ve compiled the best TV-inspired toys for independent play. Read on as we dive deeper into how they’re perfect for sparking your little one’s creativity and imagination—all within the comforts of their playroom.

PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie Aircraft Carrier HQ

$129.99

Calling all future heroes of Adventure City. The award-winning PAW Patrol Aircraft Carrier HQ is a must-have for epic rescue missions.

Inspired by the action-packed PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie that’s in theatres now, this playset is a game-changer for independent play. Little ones can transform the Aircraft Carrier HQ into a massive, supercharged rescue mission headquarters with the push of a command center button. The playset immediately elevates the control room, creates two launch ramps, and reveals an impressive meteor core that lights up and plays seriously cool sounds.

The fun doesn’t stop there, though. Your little hero can grab Chase, who comes with his very own action figure and authentic police car rescue vehicle, to blast two projectile launchers that’ll save the day.

Buy Now

Paw Patrol Academy App

$7.99+

In need of some portable playtime for your kiddo? The brand new preschool learning app, PAW Patrol Academy, features heroic missions, engaging lessons, silly games to “get the wiggles out,” and real episode clips from episodes of PAW Patrol. With tons of age-appropriate, interactive adventures, this app is a brand-new way for your preschoolers to experience PAW Patrol and learn along the way. Available on iOS and Android for $49.99 annual/$7.99 month with a 7-day unlimited access free trial.

Download Now

Gabby’s Dollhouse Gabby Cat Friend Ship

$59.99

Ahoy, parents. It’s time to set sail on the purrfect adventure with the Gabby Cat Friend Ship. As seen in DreamWorks Animation’s popular series, this all-new playset brings the magic of Gabby’s Dollhouse to life.

Your number one fan can join Gabby Girl (who comes costumed with two fabulous outfits, of course) and Captain Mercat on the upper deck, complete with a color-changing pool and a diving board. They can then venture below deck for an electrifying dance party where they can show off their moves—with confidence, as Gabby encourages— thanks to a light-up disco ball, dance floor, and photo booth.

Little ones can further elevate their sea-filled adventure with the Carnival and Spa deluxe rooms (sold separately) that can be easily attached to the ship or the Purrfect Dollhouse. The ship can also be linked to the Purrfect Dollhouse from the diving board. Trust us, your child will be entertained for hours on end.

Buy Now

Rubble & Crew Barkyard Crane Tower

$79.99

Rubble and his family of construction-loving pups are all about working together. In this two-foot-tall Rubble & Crew Barkyard Crane Tower, your young contractor can help the crew create impressive buildings for the town.

Loaded with 12 ounces of Kinetic Build-It Sand (specifically formulated to stick together so it’s easily molded for construction play), four molds, interchangeable tools, and the trusty Rubble vehicle and pup, it’s an invitation for open-ended, sensory play that’ll keep your child busy.

Did we mention it’s also a sensory symphony? It features cool lights, sounds, music, and phrases straight from the series. Get ready to embark on a construction adventure like no other.

Buy Now

Disney Junior Firebuds Bo & Flash Rescue Adventure Firetruck with VROOMLINK

$59.99

Buckle up and join Bo and Flash for action-packed adventures with the Firebuds Bo & Flash Rescue Adventure Firetruck. Based on the Disney Junior’s preschool show, this firetruck is no ordinary vehicle when it comes to saving lives.

During a high-speed rescue, Flash springs to life with motorized moves straight out of the show, even nailing the iconic “fist bump.” With special technology, it recognizes when it’s moving forward or backward to unlock cool sounds, and can set off an ensemble of lights, sounds, movements, and phrases from the series when Bo hops in the firetruck.

Bring home all the Disney Firebuds characters (each sold separately) from the show, so your little firefighter can take on more series-inspired rescues.

Buy Now

Spin Master offers even more toys for independent play to help your preschooler create an exciting world where only their favorite characters come to life. Check out their awesome line up—and enjoy the breather these playsets will give you!

Where to Donate Used Toys in San Diego

by Nikki WalshJanuary 3, 2023

Bless this mess—until you’ve run out of space that is. Here’s a list of places where you can donate your used toys and clothes in San Diego

No matter what time of year it is, it’s always a good time to clean out those toy boxes and donate toys that the kids are no longer playing with. The best part about donating your kids’ gently used play items? They can learn to gracefully give away the things they’ve outgrown and give them to recipients who can benefit from their generosity.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CX4q_hfJQgc/?hidecaption=true

We all know about the popular donation sites: Goodwill, Amvets, and Salvation Army, but there are several smaller local organizations with a huge need for toys and goods to help out San Diego children in need. Below are donation spots that could use your support:

Father Joe’s Village: Father Joe’s Village provides meals and care to thousands of homeless people each day. They accept donations of used toys (along with many other used household goods) for their retail locations. By donating items to their thrift stores, people can support programs that help families overcome homelessness. You can find more details on their website about the logistics of dropping off used goods or scheduling a pick-up.

Online: my.neighbor.org

Birthline of San Diego: With a mission to provide life-affirming support and resources to pregnant women and families with young children, this nonprofit relies on donations. What’s more, they give out hundreds of baby gift bags every year. They are looking for donations for children 0 to 5 years. From gently used toys and shoes to formula and diapers, all these things will go to help. So, if your fam has outgrown the use of these things, it’s time to declutter and give.

Birthline of San Diego
3660 Clairemont Dr., Ste 4
San Diego

Chula Vista Office
1220 Third Ave., #1
Chula Vista
Online: birthlineofsandiego.org

Christie’s Place: Christie’s Place is a nonprofit support center for women, children, and families living with HIV/AIDS whose motto is “Love Grows Here.” They are the only organization in San Diego dedicated to serving women, children, and families impacted by HIV/AIDS. The mission of Christie’s Place is to empower individuals whose lives have been impacted by HIV/AIDS to take charge of their own health and wellness, and by doing so, improve their quality of life. 86% of their clients are at or below the federal poverty line, so used toys before Christmas will provide great excitement and joy. This will be the perfect opportunity for families to find their perfect toy that was donated by a generous family.

2440 Third Ave.
San Diego
Online: christiesplace.org

Community Resource Center: Help locally! Drop off your ‘gently used’ clothing, shoes, toys, and other household items to assist families in need. Further, the items you drop off help us turn housing into homes and the sales proceeds help to provide shelter, food, education, counseling, and back-to-work programs for many families in our community. There are three San Diego locations, just visit during store hours to donate.

Encinitas, Carlsbad, and San Marcos
Online: crcncc.org

San Diego Rescue Mission: Helping San Diego’s homeless and poor has been the goal of San Diego Rescue Mission for over 50 years. Donations go directly to those in need or are sold at one of their thrift stores. To donate, schedule a pick-up with them or drop the items off at one of four locations.

Point Loma, Mission, North Park, and National City
Online: sdrescue.org

Brick Recycler: Got LEGOS®? If you have bricks that need a new home, you can send them to Brick Recycler gives LEGO bricks to schools, libraries, orphanages, enthusiasts, and more. Their job is to match up boys and girls with charitable organizations, to let them have countless hours of play. There are limitless DIY science, architecture, and art projects that can be created using pounds of mixed pieces. So click through to find out how to ship your extra bricks today.

Online: brickrecycler.com

A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children’s Center: The Polinsky Center is a non-profit operated by the County of San Diego and offers shelter to children whose parents are unable to care for them. Toys, clothing, games, DVDs, and more are always welcome. Check out the Polinksy Wish List for more information and give them a call if you’re interested in donating.

9400 Ruffin Ct.
San Diego
Online: sandiegocounty.gov

Thrift Cottage: The Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church Thrift Cottage is a bargain-hunter's paradise taking in “gently used" apparel for women, men, and children, household items, books, and toys. You can donate anytime the cottage is open. Sales of these gently and new items support local charities, scholarships for high school seniors and youth camps, military families and disabled veterans, and children.

1211 Tenth St.
Coronado
Online: gmpc.org

The Very Best Water Toys for Kids (According to Us)

by Gabby CullenJuly 7, 2022

Parents, the hot weather is coming, and you probably feel like you need more water toys like you need more LEGO bricks underfoot. We get it! But, to guarantee a summer of fun in your backyard oasis, you might want a few new pool toys and pool floats to throw into the mix. We’ve scoured the web to find some of the coolest ones out there, and trust us, you might even be tempted to try them out. From a super backyard water slide to an obstacle course/wading pool, keep reading to see them all.

Inflatable Super Backyard Water Slide

$119 BUY NOW

Create your own water park in the backyard with this giant inflatable water slide. It inflates and deflates quickly, can be used with any water hose and works both on the grass or by the pool!

the sting ray glider is a popular water toy

Aqua Stingray Underwater Glider

$15 BUY NOW

Catch it if you can! This brightly colored stingray propels itself and glides through the water—traveling over 60 feet!

Pool Volleyball Set

$12.50 BUY NOW

Cool off with a quick game of volleyball in your kiddie pool. Made from sturdy 10-gauge vinyl with a 7-gauge vinyl ball, this kiddie pool volleyball set also features weighted pole bases so it won't tip over.

Max Liquidator Water Blaster

$35.65 BUY NOW

You can never have too many water blasters in the summer. Fun for the pool or just about anywhere, this ultimate water toy comes in a pack of six.

GoSports Splash Hoop 360

$37.38 BUY NOW

Basketball is always cool ... but it's even cooler in the pool! Make a splash as you try to beat the buzzer and the heat this summer with the Go Sports Splash Hoop 360. The set includes one splash hoop, two water basketballs, and a ball pump. Swish!

Splash Bombs Treasure Hunter Dive Set

$8 BUY NOW

Sunken treasure? Yes, please! Little treasure hunters will enjoy searching for this underwater treasure hunter set's shiny gold and silver coins, faux jewels and stones. They all glitter at the bottom of your pool, just waiting to be discovered.

Swimline BattleBoards Squirter Set

$56 BUY NOW

These kick-powered inflatable boards make for an epic pool game! There are two squirters and a splash screen on each board.

Louie Lobster Claw Catcher Pool Toy

$17 BUY NOW

Squeeze the handle and—SNAP!—Louie Lobster's claws clamp shut. This colorful playset comes with three fishy sinkers to grab.

Team Magnus Slip and Slide

$68 BUY NOW

If you don't have one afternoon on a Slip and Slide, is it summer? This heavy-duty version has twin lanes for racing, and you can get bodyboards for the extra slide factor.

The Simple Magic of a Costume

By Heather Harrell

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

October 6, 2020

Photo: Jason Hafso on Unsplash

I often wonder why costumes are so special to children. One of my children would get stuck on a particular costume for months—wearing the same thing every day. As a preschooler, he seemed to really believe that he would fly a rescue helicopter if he just had the right gear on. He would leave his “rescue helicopter pilot suit” by his bed at night, a suit which included the jumpsuit, rain boots, and a bike helmet to which he attached the plastic lid of a fruit container and some pipe cleaners to look like a mask and microphone. One night he showed up at my bed, fully dressed in his rescue helicopter pilot suit, telling me the airport had called—there was an emergency and he had to go fly the helicopter. It was 3 a.m.; he was 4 years old.

Then he moved onto the Santa costume—beard and all. He wore that for more than a month. He wore Santa pajamas to Christmas Eve service and threw a sport coat and bowtie on only to appease me—and to perhaps get even higher on Santa’s good list. After all, he had asked Santa for some pixie dust for Christmas that year so that he could fly like Santa’s reindeer.

Though he never flew a helicopter or like Santa’s reindeer, there was a common thread with these costumes—it seemed he really believed that the costume would ignite a bit of magic inside of him and he could then do the impossible. Or at least imagine the impossible in such real terms that it would change his very being. Regardless, there was a belief that magic is possible if you can only kindle that yearning within one’s self.

As adults, many of us also seem to be trying on costumes—costumes of the right job, the clothes which portray success, the good school for our kids, the impressive home in the right neighborhood, a place in the sought after social circles. These adult costumes are expensive, time-consuming, and surface-level for too many of us. We seek them out not to kindle something wonderful and inspiring inside us, but rather to fit others’ expectations of us. They are not about flying a rescue mission to save someone else, but rather to save ourselves from criticism or rejection.

We adults no longer believe in magic at all, let alone any magic within us—we understand the science behind what seems impossible; we know if it is too good to be true, it is a scam; and we are too busy to notice the enduring power of our actions, words, and relationships. We can become so frantic and drained trying to keep our heads above water that we are not still enough to hear the yearning within us. So many of us are overwhelmed with bad news and stress that we can’t see any magic in this world or believe we have any sort of power to change the world around us for the better. For so many of us grown-ups, we don’t see the disconnect between our inner yearnings and gifts and the artificial costumes of our lives.

What would our world look like if we adults sought costumes which kindle something wonderful in us? What if we adults recognized that kind words, selfless acts, and deep relationships are so powerful the effects cannot be explained by science alone? What if we took a bit of this time in quarantine to be still and listen for our yearnings, to see that we don’t need the expensive or “right” costumes to be happy, to understand the disconnect between our yearnings and our costumes? What if we started to admit that even though we are grown up there is yet a little flicker of magic within us and worked to build a costume that nurtures that magic into a roaring flame? What hope could we inspire, what joy could we bring, what change could we embody?

Heather Harrell

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Heather lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her husband, three sons, one dog, one bearded dragon, and one fish. She is a lawyer, but currently home with her children. When she is not mom-ing, she likes to spend time with her family and friends, watch documentaries, and go for a jog!

ViacomCBS Announces Exclusive Digital Release for “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run”

by Jennifer SwartvagherJune 24, 2020

Can’t wait to get back to Bikini Bottom? It was just announced that The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run will debut digitally in the US via premium video on demand in early 2021. Afterwards the move exclusively to CBS All Access, ViacomCBS’ subscription video on demand and live-streaming service.

“We are thrilled to have The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, a premier, first-run movie from one of ViacomCBS’ biggest brands, join CBS All Access’ expanding slate of franchise content from across ViacomCBS,” said Marc DeBevoise, Chief Digital Officer, ViacomCBS and President & Chief Executive Officer, ViacomCBS Digital. “This launch will be perfectly timed with our continued expansion and planned rebranding of the service in early 2021, as we welcome SpongeBob and the gang from Bikini Bottom to the service in the biggest way possible.”

In addition, all prior seasons of SpongeBob Squarepants will be available on the expanded service soon.

“I’m incredibly proud of this film, and the phenomenal cast and film making team that made it happen,” said Mireille Soria, President of Paramount Animation. “Bringing this movie to life was a true collaboration and labor of love, and I’m thrilled for audiences to enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.”

This new movie follows SpongeBob SquarePants, his best friend Patrick Star and the rest of the gang from Bikini Bottom in the first-ever all CGI SpongeBob motion picture event. After SpongeBob’s beloved pet snail Gary is snail-napped, he and Patrick embark on an epic adventure to The Lost City of Atlantic City to bring Gary home. As they navigate the delights and dangers on this perilous and hilarious rescue mission, SpongeBob and his pals prove there’s nothing stronger than the power of friendship.

Ramsey Naito, Executive Vice President, Nickelodeon Animation Production and Development said, “We’re happy to give kids and families a much-deserved lift in any way we can, and the PVOD release of the new SpongeBob theatrical and putting all seasons of the TV series on CBS All Access are two of the best ways I can think of to get immersed in the optimism and joy that this terrific character represents.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Why Nickelodeon’s “PAW Patrol” Is Your Preschooler’s Favorite Show

CBS All Access Is Launching Kids Programming from Nickelodeon & More

ML Interest Tag: rescue-mission

Parents Voted: Top Toys for Independent Play That’ll Keep Little Kids Busy for Hours

PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie Aircraft Carrier HQ

$129.99

Paw Patrol Academy App

$7.99+

Gabby’s Dollhouse Gabby Cat Friend Ship

$59.99

Rubble & Crew Barkyard Crane Tower

$79.99

Disney Junior Firebuds Bo & Flash Rescue Adventure Firetruck with VROOMLINK

$59.99

Related reads

Where to Donate Used Toys in San Diego

Bless this mess—until you’ve run out of space that is. Here’s a list of places where you can donate your used toys and clothes in San Diego

Related reads

The Very Best Water Toys for Kids (According to Us)

Inflatable Super Backyard Water Slide

Aqua Stingray Underwater Glider

Pool Volleyball Set

Max Liquidator Water Blaster

GoSports Splash Hoop 360

Splash Bombs Treasure Hunter Dive Set

Swimline BattleBoards Squirter Set

Louie Lobster Claw Catcher Pool Toy

Team Magnus Slip and Slide

Related reads

The Simple Magic of a Costume

By Heather Harrell

Heather Harrell

Related reads

ViacomCBS Announces Exclusive Digital Release for “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run”

Related reads