Dora and Friends

My kids grew up watching Dora the Explorer go on adventures with Backpack, Map, Boots and Swiper.  It was a fun show for toddlers, full of color and music–entertaining and educational.   My kids are “grown up” middleschoolers now, but remember the show with fondness.  And now Dora has grown up a bit too–in the Dora and Friends series on Nickelodian (10 ET on weekdays) she is a tween living in and exploring  her city (Playa Verde) with friends.  They have adventures with her smartphone taking the place of her old backpack and map (Map is now a Map App!).

The show looks like lots of fun for the younger crowd–and Walmart and Fisher Price have lots of great Dora and Friends toys to get your favorite child for Christmas.  Walmart offered me some of the new line to see and share information about.  Although my kids are too old to play with them, after my review the toys will be going to some families I know that have a hard time making ends meet at Christmas.  It’s so nice when my blogging allows me to share blessings with others.

If you child watches Dora and Friends they are familiarwith the Arco Iris Cafe–where Dora and her friends like to gather.   The Arco Iris Cafe Playset not only is a fun “playhouse” style toy where children can use their imaginiation to have adventures with the included Dora figurine and accessories–it also comes with a charm braclet and 6 magical charms that activate the interactive part of the playset.  That’s right, the cafe has lights, sounds, a song from the TV show and over 35 multi-lingual phrases that it can say when you place the charms in the playset.  The set is just $15 at Walmart, and comes with the 2AA batteries included (which always makes Christmas morning easier–doesn’t it?  Nothing like giving a child a toy and then having to hunt all over the house for batteries).  

The Talking Dora Doll with Smartphone is 11 1/2 inches tall, has soft brown hair and is wearing her signature outfit from the show. Included is a charm bracelet that matches hers from the show.  She is not only carrying her smartphone in her hand, there is a child sized “smartphone” for your little girl or boy to play with and enjoy as well.  Dora will magically respond to and interact with the childs phone phone and when she talks and sings, her shirt and charm bracelet will light up and sparkle.   The doll and phone are $29 and comes complete with all the batteries (3 button cell batteries and 2 AAA).

As you have no doubt noticed, charm bracelets feature heavily in the world of Dora and Friends.  Not only do the playsets come with charm bracelets, but you can also purchase a varitey of bracelets and charms in different price points.

Dora and friends magic Charm Bracelet  ( $8.99) Dora and Friends Adventure Charm Case  ($7) and Dora Magic Adventure Charms (not sure the price).  The charms are small hard plastic figurines with a hole in the back that sticks onto a post on the charm bracelet.  They seemed pretty snug when in place–and because of the design there are no difficult latches for smaller fingers to try to manipulate (or to break).  Of course the charms are small enough to be a choking hazard for really little ones–the suggested age is 3.  On the back of the packaging is a pictoral list of all the charms available so the child can keep track of which ones they have and which ones they would like to get in the future.  A “Collect them all” kind of thing 🙂

So head off to Walmart and pick up some Dora and Friends gear for your favorite little fan this Christmas.

****This is a sponsored post****

Disclosure: As a participant in the Walmart Moms Program, I’ve received product samples and compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.