Sharing family space with children can create a sense of unity and togetherness. Kid Places in Family Spaces (tm) is the newest category on toytips.com. Providing research on products that kids can either use with mom and dad or use on their own, this area is dedicated to products in all areas of the home to make family life a little more comfortable. In hopes to make family life with children convenient, we carefully select products that make sense for family use with children of all ages.

Dinosaur Nesting Bins (set of 3)	KNORK Plasticware	Disney Popcorn Popper	Paint 'n' Play All Purpose Play Suit
Slow Cooker	Bajer Pop-Open Toy Tote	Bajer Deluxe Pop-Open Toy Tote	Pizza Cutter & Pizza Peel Set
Mini Rolling Pin Recipe Cardholder	HealthPro Plus	Funny Face Pizza Party	Switchit Spatulas
Cookies By Design	The Nutcracker Sweet, Show-stopping Desserts Inspired by the World's Favorite Ballet	Mrs. Prindable's 8 Piece Specialty Apple Assortment	Johnny-Light
Moon & Stars Media Carousel	Disney Princess Waffler	Nature's Baby Products Shampoo and Body Wash	heart measuring spoons
KitchenAid Professional Waffle Baker	mary-kateandashley Lotta Dots area rug	MannerMinder	'Tween Dollhouse Furniture- Bookcase
ZipBin(TM) Mansion	Ozone Space Rocker

Whirlpool Polara Refrigerated Range $1799 whirlpool.com For busy working parents, this is a time-saver for cooking healthy family meals. This is a standard-size electric range that can be set to a refrigerator temperature and then switched to a baking mode so dinner is ready at a predesignated time. A "warm" mode automatically kicks in after an hour and if not tended to, will switch to refrigerator mode for 24 hours. Children should not use this oven alone.

DYSON Vacuum cleaner $399.99 dyson.com This vacuum uses cyclone technology and picks up debris, dirt, pet dander and allergens. Filters and bags and not needed and the assembly is easy. It can be used on carpet or hard floors and the cord is long to go from room-to-room comfortably. NOTE: It is important that dust and dirt are removed from flooring often to eliminate children breathing in debris.

GE Advantium 120 $749 ge.com For families on the go, this speedcook oven cooks food up to 4 times faster. It looks and runs on a 120 outlet like a microwave but it cooks with light. It has a microwave option to switch between a convection cooking mode or a microwave mode. This cannot be used on a countertop and must be placed over the range. Children should never use this oven alone. NOTE: It is important to have children assist you while preparing meals, not only to teach them how to cook but also to let them know they can be part of the preparation process! This is a great chance to begin teaching the importance of healthy ingredient choices.

InterfaceFlor Prices vary by room and tile size interfaceflor.com These are changeable 19.5 square-inch tiles of carpet. They come in many styles and colors so you can design a room based on your preferences. The installation process is simple and our testers put an entire floor down in less than 2 hours! There are sticky low-tack adhesive tabs on the back for secure positioning and because each tile is identical in size, they can be cut to cutom fit areas that may need less. NOTE: Be sure to use a chalkline in the center of the room to make sure you set an even fit. If a tile becomes stained or worn down, you can replace the individual tile, leaving the rest of the floor as is--this is both cost-effective and sanitary. TIP: For age-appropriate children, having them choose their own color and design based on their (parent-approved!) individual tastes may encourage a family project to do together! As long as an adult is involved, children can assist with the installation process.

GE Arctica Refrigerator $1699-2999 ge.com The best feature on this side-by-side refrigerator is the accurate temperature controls. For families with on-the-go needs, you can cool foods and beverages in minutes, thaw meat and other freezer items SAFELY in hours and accelerate ice production up to 50% more (a much appreciated feature for unexpected social gatherings of big birthday parties!) The ice dispenser accommodates sports bottles, oversized glasses and mugs, smoothie makers and blenders. NOTE: For families with preschool, school age children and teens, we suggest to keep a shelf in the refrigerator filled with after school snacks that children can access. Be sure to choose nutritious options. To read the Toy Tips nutritious and delicious guide, click here)

Capstone Industries Timely Reader $9.99 timelyreader.com Reading to children and having them read to you is important to begin as early as possible. This will encourage reading interest and developing vocabulary and intellectual thinking. This reading light is ideal for parents and children who prefer to read in bed or as a convenience for bedrest moms that are expecting! Featuring an adjustable arm with multi positions, it easily 'clamps' on books, magazines, newspapers and oversized reading materials. There is a programmable timer and beeper which is ideal for children with timed reading homework assignments. 4"AA" batteries are required and are not included.

Lightwedge $34.95 lightwedge.com A page of a book or magazine slides into this reading light and with the press of a button lights up the page for easy reading in the dark. It provides two levels of light: a high beam and a low beam for sensitive eyes. Four "AAA" batteries (not included) are required and last for approximately 40 hours of lighted reading. Ideal for adults, school-age children or anyone who needs a little extra light while reading, this is portable and can also be used on an airplane or outdoors when light is limited.

Duet Washer/Dryer Whirlpool $2200 for the set whirlpool.com A household with children seems to need to do the laundry more often. When choosing a washer/dryer, we recommend that the size accomodates your laundry needs and fits comfortably in your home. NOTE: Children should not operate either machine unless there is parental supervision.

Toy Tips tested this model with the clothes listed in our Spring/SummerStyle guide
(click here for more details)

This washer and dryer each comes with an elevated base (that pulls out to a storage drawer) to reduce bending and boasts a futuristic-style design. The front-loading automatic washer is energy-efficient and features electronic controls and sensors, child resistant safety catches and electronic doors to prevent the door from opening during the wash cycle. It has five temperature combinations and numerous speed settings facilitated by a variable-speed motor. The tub is constructed of stainless steel, and the water level automatically adjusts to the size of the load.

Using less water- approximately 18 to 25 gallons (compared to 40 gallons for a top-loading capacity load), the lower half of the tub fills with water then lifts and tumbles clothes using approximately 35% less water and 50% less energy. It does not require a central agitator and can accommodate larger items including blankets and bedspreads. Because there is a higher spin cycle than conventional washing machines, it extracts more water, so less time in the dryer is needed providing another energy efficient savings.

The WHIRLPOOL "DUET" dryer compliments the washer in both form and function.

The safety features are similar and include child resistant safety catches and automatic doors that open upon completion of the drying cycle.

The dryer may be operated in either manual or automatic cycle. In the manual mode, time can be set in one-minute increments; temperature can also be set. Any of these parameters can be changed anytime during the cycle. Any of three variations can be programmed: timed-dry, touch-up and quick-dry.

If the automatic cycle is chosen, time is not adjustable, as in the manual mode, rather dryness level is selected and built-in 'wet' sensors set the drytime.

Overall, we found both machines to be an ideal choice for families who do laundry often.

HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports iExtreme (Ti.Agassi Series) $140 head.com The game of tennis promotes family interaction, sportsmanship, competition and hand eye coordination. This tennis racquet features large sweetspots for ball control and easy handling. Available in 25", 23" and 21" lengths, these racquets can accomodate family members of various ages. Available in fun bright colors, these will definitely stand out on the court. Encouraging tennis as a family game promotes sportsmanship, taking turns and practicing individual skill.

Big Bang Products Kelysus Self-Opening Beach Mat $29.99 kelsyus.com It is important for children of all ages to be protected from the sun. For parent and child sunbathers, this self-opening beach mat uses the flick of a wrist to open a compact 19" disc to a 65" by 38" oval. Features include a terry top water-resistant flat surface with an inflatable pillow, drink holder for bottles or cans and an optional canopy for face protection. The wind-resistant inner ring keeps the mat flat and open so it will not blow away. It is compact, weighs 2.5 pounds and fits in its' own shoulder bag that doubles as storage for sunscreen, sunglasses or keys.

Outdoor Toys

It is important for a child to play outside in the fresh outdoors. Adult supervision is ALWAYS recommended and given today’s busy parent lifestyle, it is nice to spend time with our children outside playing in the sandbox or pushing swing!

Outdoor toys encourage gross motor movement, social interaction and physical exercise. Getting kids outdoors with parental supervision must always be in a safe environment. Toy Tips offers toy reviews for outdoor play.

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