Summer Entertainment Ideas For Kids

School's out, the backpacks and books are away and... your kids are bored. Even with the pool and sports and camps, somehow, at some point during the summer, your kids manage to have "nothing to do".

But that's OK, because you'll be prepared! Melissa & Doug have some great arts & crafts sets that will keep your kids entertained for hours... or at least until it's time to hit the pool again.

Horse Stamp Set - This stamp set lets your child mix and match the stamps to create hundreds of horses scenes and pictures! The set includes 10 detailed stamps, a two-color stamp pad and 5 colored pencils.

Paint-Your-Own Dinosaur Figurine - This kit comes with two plain dinosaur figurines ready for kids to paint. They can try to recreate the look of their favorite dinosaur, or maybe make up their own new species!

Butterfly Friends Bead Kit - Your budding fashionista/jewelry designer will have a ball making necklaces and bracelets with these wooden butterflies and accessory beads.

50-Page Jumbo Coloring Pad - This is one coloring book they won't tire of quickly! Picture themes include animals, sports and vehicles.

Build Your Own Birdhouse Kit - Your kids will love all the new feathered friends they meet once they build this easy-to-assemble bird house!

The Best Toy Brands For Stuffed Dogs

We're always happy to see the brands we carry get recognition. It just reinforces that the brands we love are well-loved by others as well! A recent post from Dogster.com features some of the "most adorable and realistic" stuffed dogs and guess what? Several of the selections are some of our biggest brands available at The Jungle Store!

Melissa & Doug

Dogster.com says: "Melissa & Doug are a toy-designing couple whose company produces an impressively broad range of canine likenesses, from Beagle (shown) to Border Collie, Basset Hound to Boxer. M&D get extra credit for creating a cuddly stuffed Rottweiler (shown), a lovely breed that isn't always perceived as cuddly."

JooJoo

Dogster.com says: "For little kids who are irresistibly drawn to big dogs, the gift of an oversize (60-inch) plush canine is just the ticket. JooJoo's Jumbo Bernese Mountain Dog ($89.95) was created to stay permanently in the "relaxed" position (i.e., lying down,reclined to resemble a cross between a rug and a pillow) and is extremely soft with friendly features. This dog also conveniently doubles as a neck and back rest, offering support to little ones reading their favorite comic books (or least-loved school books)."

 Gund

Dogster.com says: "Gund has been making what it modestly calls the "world's most huggable" stuffed animals since 1898. Among its offerings are a cute white-and-brown mutt puppy named Daisi Daisy Dog ($18), and a convincing likeness of a famous Pomeranian named Boo ($20, shown), aka the fluffy Facebook phenomenon billed as "The World's Cutest Dog." In this case, the stuffed dog looks arguably more realistic than the too-cute, flesh-and-blood canine it's modeled on!"

Webkinz

Dogster.com says: "Advocates of shelter dog adoption will be pleased to know that Webkinz uses highly evolved lingo -- when you acquire one of its plush dogs, you "adopt" (nice). Plus, profits help support Webkinz Foundation, a charitable organization focused on supporting programs for children worldwide. The Shar Pei ($29.99) sports just the right wrinkle ratio, while the Bull Terrier ($49.95) will score a bullseye with fans of bully breeds."

Want to see what other brands Dogster.com recommended? Click here for the full blog post!