The Clock's Ticking! 5 Ways Smartwatch DX4 Makes Holiday Prep More Fun

Hey friend! My absolute favorite time of the year is upon us, and we are leaping right into all of our holiday traditions and adventures. I am big on wholesome family fun, and I wanted to share a gift that my seven- and four-year-old have both been loving the KidiZoom Smartwatch DX4 from VTech. My kids love taking photos and documenting their fun - I think this is one of the biggest reasons they love the Smartwatch DX4 so much. This smartwatch features two cameras, a high-resolution screen, a splash-proof metal body and a fashionable watchband, making this full-function smartwatch the coolest tech around. Kids can also practice telling time with over 50 clock faces or shake the watch to hear the time out loud. Continue for more reasons to snag this “it” gift for your fun-loving kiddos, and how we’re incorporating it into our memory-making!

1.     In-Store Shopping Hack – Does anyone else dread the inevitable begging kids can do when they tag along for shopping? My kids spot fun toys and games in the store and immediately ask for them. This isn’t always feasible for our budget, so I redirect them by having them take a photo to save for later on their Smartwatch DX4. I explain that this allows them to remember the things they’re wishing for when it comes time to write their letters to Santa (or to put on birthday wish lists when it’s not the holidays). I also reassure them that I won’t forget about these fun items, as we have a visual record right there. This also works well with the toy catalogs that we get in the mail as well. It’s so easy for them to snap a photo of the gifts they are most excited about.

2.     Keeping the Kids Active. It’s harder to keep the kids up and active during the colder winter months here in North Carolina. We aren’t getting out in the backyard or to the park as much, and I love how the Smartwatch DX4 encourages kids to get up and move their bodies. It even has a step counter and exciting movement games that challenge them to reach goals. My hope is that this level of activity will live on with them into adulthood.

3.     Boredom Buster – There are so many fun activities (like finding AR monsters in the real world), music and ways to get creative with the dual cameras to personalize the clock face, photos and videos with the effects and filters. This is a huge help for parents when it comes to car rides, waiting in lines and at restaurants. Winter Break is a lot slower paced, and I love that the kids have their DX4s to turn up the fun. Xander is always composing his own music, using instruments and sound effects, and we just downloaded additional games from the Vtech Learning Lodge. They make it so easy!

4.     Holiday PJ Selfies – Christmastime means many family traditions and plenty of matching pajama moments. My daughter Zarie, like her mom, loves to document these fun moments. She is always taking fun photos to share with relatives and friends.

5.     Holiday Baking Assistant – Nothing says the holidays like all of the yummy dishes and sweet treats. I love getting the kids in the kitchen to bake, and we make cookies AT LEAST once a week. The kids use their DX4s to help with these tasks. They can save recipes with their camera, time the oven, and track their steps while they’re running around the kitchen. It’s so cute and extra messy when they get involved. I love it.

Okay friends, I hope I’ve made your holidays just a little easier by sharing fun ideas for how to create memories, engage your kiddos, and keep learning fun! Happy Holidays and Happy Memory Making!

Xoxo,

Shakira

Shakira is a proud mama of 3, military spouse, and creator behind the Occasions by Shakira motherhood lifestyle blog. She shares ideas that spark intentional memory making, celebrating the everyday, and holiday magic. She is also the creator of the largely loved #OccasionsBin trend.

Holiday Shopping as Easy as 1-2-3: Great Gifts for Your Preschooler

The holiday season is upon us, and while it’s a time for joy and celebration, it can also feel overwhelming—especially when it comes to shopping for the little ones. Over the years I’ve relied on a few simple tips to make holiday shopping as easy as 1-2-3.

As a busy mom of three who balances motherhood and running a business, I’m always searching for ways to make things easier. Get ready as I share some of my tried-and-true tips on how to streamline your gift-buying process and highlight some of the best toys from VTech that are sure to delight your preschooler this holiday season!

Step 1: Make a List and Check It Twice

Before diving into the holiday shopping frenzy, take a moment to create a list. I start working on this list early in the Fall so that I know exactly what I want to buy so that I can stay focused and avoid impulse purchases that lead to stress. Consider your preschooler's interests and developmental needs. VTech offers so many great toys that not only entertain but also promote learning. For example, the VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker is perfect for toddlers mastering their first steps, providing support and fun as they explore their world. Does your toddler love balls? The VTech Bright Lights Soccer Ball is the perfect gift. My kids love having a ball they can toss or kick inside; this one even plays music!

Step 2: Prioritize Quality Over Quantity

It’s tempting to load up on numerous gifts, but quality often trumps quantity—especially for preschoolers who thrive on interactive play. We stick to a strict rule of 4 gifts per kid at Christmas. We like to focus on toys that encourage open-ended creativity and learning. The VTech Touch & Learn Activity Desk Deluxe is a perfect choice, with its various interactive activity pages that teach letters, numbers, and shapes. You can even lift the desk to reveal a chalkboard on the inside! By choosing quality toys, you will ensure that your gifts will be cherished and used for years to come.

Step 3: Simplify Your Shopping Experience

Take advantage of online shopping to save time and reduce stress. Many retailers offer convenient delivery options, allowing you to browse and purchase from the comfort of your home. Grab some cozy pajamas and turn on the holiday music to make a fun night of checking off your shopping list from the comfort of your couch.

When you shop for VTech toys, you’ll find easy-to-understand descriptions and clear age ranges marked, making it easier to select the perfect gift. For example, the VTech Sort & Discover Activity Wagon is a fantastic pick for 1-3-year-olds, combining physical play with learning. Your little one can fill it with their favorite snacks or toys and push it around the house or use the fun spinners, gears, and mazes on the outside for play.

Bonus Tips for Stress-Free Shopping

As you head into the holiday shopping season, keep a few extra tips in mind. Consider purchasing a few classic favorites like the VTech Count & Win Sports Center, VTech Turn & Learn Driver or the VTech Push & Pop Bulldozer, which have been fan favorites for all 3 kids in our house and encourage active play. Gifts like VTech Count & Win Sports Center provide a variety of play experience options from basketball to soccer, ensuring that your preschooler stays engaged. It even has an adjustable-height hoop to grow with your little ones.

Celebrate the Season with Ease

With these simple steps and the variety of VTech toy options, holiday shopping can actually be enjoyable! Remember, the goal is to create memorable moments and share the excitement of the season with your little one. By choosing thoughtful, engaging gifts, you can make this holiday one to remember—easily and effortlessly. Happy shopping, and enjoy the magic of the holidays with your preschooler!

Mandy Roberson is a certified childbirth educator, mom of 3 and founder of Momma Society--the community for modern moms. She loves holidays and making memories with her children. In her free time, you will find her crafting and creating fun printables for Magic Playbook--a monthly digital subscription for moms

Gifts That Go WILD! Top Picks for Your Little Animal Lovers

As a mom of four animal-loving kids, I'm always looking for toys that not only keep my children entertained, but inspire their curiosity and foster a love of learning as well. I have found that the best way to develop a child’s love of learning is to combine learning with play, and to start really early.

I’m excited to share this gift guide featuring some of our favorite animal-themed toys from LeapFrog and VTech—these are interactive, educational, and sure to bring hours of fun for kids of all ages.

For your shopping ease, I’ve divided this gift guide up into ages, by toddlers and preschoolers. At the bottom of this post, I’ve included 2 gifts that merge nature and science together and are perfect for older kids to foster a love of learning (and keep things FUN)!

Animal Lovers Gift Guide for Toddlers

Introducing concepts early is one of the best ways to help your child learn. It may feel silly to teach your child colors and animal sounds before they can even speak, but it’s definitely not too early! Their brains are like sponges and absorb everything.

VTech has some wonderful toys that will help your little one learn about their animals, as well as keep them entertained for hours! The VTech Animal Rhymes Storytime is an engaging, interactive storybook with light up buttons and delightful beginner rhymes. It introduces your child to animal names and their sounds, along with colors, and classic nursery rhymes. The compact size and handle make this toy a great option to travel with, and it is one of our very favorite toys for road trips with toddlers.

My kids have all loved their LeapFrog My Pal Violet Smarty Paws. The best thing about Violet is that you can personalize her to say your child’s name! My kids have all loved playing with Violet, whether it’s singing along with her or simply snuggling with her as she sings lullabies.

This year, we are sharing the love of animals with my 2-year-old nephew. My kids were beyond excited to choose toys for their cousin, and the first thing they chose was the VTech Gallop & Rock Learning Pony. It’s an interactive, 2 in -in-1 rocking horse that turns into a ride on--on toy. It plays realistic pony sounds and introduces your toddler to colors and animals. My four kids were all unanimous in their decision!

Another VTech toy that is a toddler favorite in our house is the LeapFrog 100 Animals Book. There is just so much to love about this book! Children can tap the pages to hear animal names, the sounds animals make, and even fun animal facts. The book introduces animals from 12 categories, such as the farm, the forest, the ocean, and more.

The VTech Touch & Teach Sea Turtle is an interactive toy that introduces kids to letters, numbers, and sea life through fun activities and songs. It's perfect for curious minds and busy hands. This is a great toy for older toddlers to help them learn the alphabet, in a way that VTech does best- keeping things fun and engaging!

Animal Lovers Gift Guide for Pre-Schoolers

My youngest is preschool age and it is such an exciting age. He is constantly learning new things and is all about exploring nature and animals. I've rounded up his favorite V-Tech toys as well as some new ones that I'm excited to gift to him this holiday season!

The LeapFrog Touch & Learn Dinosaur Book is a huge hit with preschoolers who love prehistoric creatures (and I think that’s all of them!). It’s a fun and interactive book with touch-sensitive pages. Kiddos can tap on the dinosaurs in the book to hear the dinosaur names pronounced correctly, learn what period the dinosaurs lived in, and explore lots of fun dino facts and sounds. It is the perfect gift for the dino lover in your life!

If there’s one thing that preschoolers love just as much as animals and dinosaurs, it’s music. The VTech Zoo Jamz Giraffe Piano is a playful, interactive keyboard in the shape of a giraffe. It has an adorable smiling face, and the keys that light up one by one, showing little ones how to play their favorite songs. There are 20 songs,  and 4 different instrument sounds, and even a microphone to sing along with!

VTech Sandy Snacks-a-Lot is an adorable axolotl that kids love to feed. As you feed Sandy, she will tell you how she feels about the food, expanding your child’s vocabulary, and helping them to have a healthy relationship with food!

The VTech Zoo Jamz Doggy Xylophone is another favorite toy for preschoolers. Kids can make music with the playful puppy themed xylophone, featuring colorful, light up keys that are great for improving hand eye coordination and enhancing your child’s creativity. Kiddos can also take the pup for a walk by giving the mallet a pull.

Keeping the Love of Nature Alive for Older Kids

Now that some of my kids are getting older, it is still important to me to give them gifts that continue to inspire their love for nature and learning. Giving my children the gift of being life-long learners is the most important gift I can give them. The LeapFrog Magic Adventures Globe is will be such a big hit with my 10-year-old this holiday season.

Magic Adventures Globe lets kids explore all around the world from the comfort of home with interactive games and immersive, high-quality BBC videos. Children can tap anywhere on the globe with the stylus and videos will pop up to teach them about  cultures, animals, and landmarks in various countries. It makes learning about geography so much FUN!

The gift that I’m most excited to give to my twins is the LeapFrog Magic Adventures Binoculars. These interactive binoculars take exploration to the next level by giving kids the opportunity to see things up close with stunning detail. It has built-in videos and images from the BBC, and I know my girls are going to love discovering all of the wildlife, habitats, and natural wonders.

I hope this gift guide gives you inspiration to find the perfect gift for your animal-loving kiddo!

Caitlin Rogers has blogged about twins and parenting, with a little dash of health and fitness, for years. As she says, "life as a family of five has its struggles, challenges, hardships…. and yes, it does have its joys. It’s chaotic and messy with lots of crying and lots of laughing. I hope to capture and convey those emotions to my readers... my goal is to help your family laugh a little more and cry a little less by sharing my experiences and what’s worked with our crazy little family."