I never had one when I was growing up. Neither did my husband. But boy, did we both want one! So when we got the chance to try a Hop Ball from LivingPlaying, an online toystore filled with green goodies, we jumped at the chance. (Yeah, that was a bad one.) The Hop Ball is made in Italy out of a latex-free vinyl, and it’s very easy to set up. As is my experience with European-made toys, the packaging is minimal. Just pump it up and hop on!
My son is a little young for this one yet, so mom and dad did the test run. While LivingPlaying recommends a load of no more than 100 pounds, the instructions with the ball say no more than 300. Since we both meet the weight requirement (must be all those green smoothies), and since I’m all about putting these toys to the test, we bounced away. The ball seems very sturdy, and the exercise you get from one of these is enough to keep mom in bikini-wearing shape. For the kids? This will keep them outside and entertained, away from the computer games and having fun!
I have one orange Hop Ball ($27.99 retail) to give away. It’s size 45 which is an 18″ ball. This size is recommended for children 3 and up, and although it’s the smaller of the three sizes, older children can easily sit on this and bounce till their heart’s content. I managed just fine myself. I have the butt muscles to prove it.
3 Ways to Enter:
1.) Leave a comment after visiting the LivingPlaying site. Tell me which toy you like the most, or you can tell me something you like about the site in general. (Winners are chosen at random, but if the first winner selected does not claim the prize, the second winner is chosen based on comment originality. So have fun with your comment!)
2.) Subscribers are automatically entered into this and all future giveaways. Just click here: Subscribe to dkMommy Spot by Email (Please make sure to verify your Feedburner subscription by responding to the email they send you. If you don’t receive it, check your junk mail. Only after you verify will your subscription register you to win.)
3.) Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post.
Do all three, and you’ve got three entries to win! You have until midnight EST on Thursday, June 26, 2008, to enter.
The lucky winner will also receive one bottle of Super Echinacea thanks to our friends at Herb Pharm.
Note: Jen from LivingPlaying is so pleased with your wonderful comments that she’s offering a special 10% off coupon just for you! It’s good through 06/30/08. Enter code: AKidAgain08
The kids would love this.
I really like that they have an entire fair trade and green toy section. The knit food (cupcakes and donuts) are super cute.
like the Retro Rocket prints!
I post with Jen from LivingPlaying on a mommies’ board and she rocks.
I remember having a hop ball as a child. My sister and I would have races through the house all the time until we were finally banned to the basement with them. This brought back great memories!
Nice to know they have a line of “theraputic” products. I especially like the balance board.
Colleens last blog post..Meal Plan Monday in MA
I loved the Tumbling Mat and sure wish I had one right now. My kids love jumping on the couch cushions and doing flips.
the mama hoods last blog post..An Island Life’s Summer Giveaway Event!!
There are so many great toys but I love the super parachute game. I still remember that being my favourite gym activity when I was a little girl!
I loved my easy bake oven…but always wanted a big wheel. If I would have had the big wheel I could have delivered by cute little cakes in style, or ran over them. =)
Love the site!
The wooden Alligator Pull Toy at LivingPlaying is adorable
Wow….those hop balls bring back memories!!
The website – at first site – made me bookmark it. Exactly the kind of toy site i look for; green toys & Fair Trade on their home page worked for me!
I love the hop balls. I had one and am looking to get one for my kids. Also, the Rainy Day Playground looks like a lot of fun! It snows a lot here and this would be great to entertain my three kids.
My sons could use some good butt muscles too!
I love the variety of products, especially the therapeutic products. I work for a school that serves children with disabilities so it’s nice to learn of this website. Thanks. m_huston(at)hotmail(dot)com
I love the Fortamajig Single Layer Fort! It’s a lot cooler than the sheets we used when I was a kid!
I love the wooden dollhouse family-asian!
I was so excited to see this Hop Ball on the giveaway. Growing up, I had a neighbor who had the best toys. Not necessarily the most, just the best. She had two balls similar to these, with horse-shaped heads to hold on to. We’d come up with the most bizarre obstacle courses that always involved those horses and a ping-pong table, among other things. My daughter is still a little young for a Hop Ball, but she would adore any of the Waldorff Baby dolls.
I love the wooden tablestand market place! So cute for my girls to play with together!
Suzanne Bs last blog post..Nashville Star
Rainy Day Playground – Awesome! Why didn’t I think of this? This thing would have saved my sanity (my oldest is 28)… maybe my sanity will regenerate (still have 2, 8, 10 and 17 at home).
I really like the Wooden Ladybug Tree Swing.
I really like the HoneyBake wooden bake set or should I say my daughter would flip over it?
This Hop Ball looks like so much fun. I also love the Dancing Alligator Pull toy. Thank you so much for this giveaway and please enter me. Thanks.
wow how cool i love to try and win this and well do i have a fav? not realy i think every thing at livingplay web site is so cool thanks jenny9675309@yahoo.com
both my kids would love to play with this
I like the Kids Deluxe Garden Kit with Apron. My daughter is always planting flowers and digging in the dirt, I think this would be ideal for her! I like this site because it has such a variety of things that help with kids imaginations and helps them be creative. Thanks for a great opportunity to win!
love the animal alphabet puzzle
Underground Garden Laboratory is the coolest.
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Link will be here to this contest in this afternoons blog update http://www.powersweepstaking.com/BrowseSweepstakes/onetimeentry/
Ron Millers last blog post..When Daniel told me he was in between jobs, I believed him
i love the paper fairy doll.
i love the originality of the offerings on the website. much better that the average toystore!
My favorite toy is the My Little Sandbox Playset Big Builder. It looks like so much fun, I’d play with it
I am very fond memories of my big wheel. I also remember fighting my brother for it.
This is great excercise!
No really a toy, but I like the tumbling mat on that site. My dd is so bouncy that it would be perfect to put down on the wood floor and have her tumble all about. And when her brother decides to “play” with her it always turns into a wrestling match. Looks like it would be ideal in our house. Wonder if I can get enough mats for all of the floors? lol
Hop Ball looks like so much fun. my grandson woyld like it .Thanks
aww the kids delux garden set with apron looks adorable! (and fun! they can dig to China and make mud pies without using Mommy’s kitchen stuff! LOL!)
I have to get my sons the Housekeeping Stand with Broom, Mop, Dustpan and Featherduster for our house — they love to play with the one at school!
I like Julianna’s Wooden kitchen
I love the “Wooden Balancing Cactus Game”! What a great site!
TThere is something about buying wood toys that makes me feel OK about spending a little more money on it. They seem timeless..like something you could keep in the attic for your grandkids after your kids outgrow it. I think my son would love the Plan City Parking Garage, he’s so into cars now and this toy seems like it has a lot of fun stuff to do on it.
The Rainy Day Playground is perfect for our rainy northwest.
I like the emphasis on natural toys, and the coking items are so cute, my girls love their play kitchen.
Jennifer Bogarts last blog post..Book Review: Let’s Get Ready for Kindergarten! AND Let’s Get Ready for First Grade! by Stacey Kannenberg
I love the one of a kind sock animals. Expecially Poky the kitty!
Thats funny, the Wee Enchanted Garden is something I wanted! Loved the site, good place to shop for my niece’s 8th birthday!
Love their Tumbling Mat it would be perfect for my very active daughter! lol
The Honeybake oven set looks wonderful!!
Andreas last blog post..Wordless Wednesday – First Dress
I also blogged about it here: http://www.jonathanandandrea.blogspot.com/2007/09/countless-contests.html
Andreas last blog post..Wordless Wednesday – First Dress
The car wash in the tub looks like a lot of fun!
Car wash in the tubby!
the Wooden Leaf Tree Swing is really cute!
I’ve always loved Play Silks. They just make me smile.
I would probably buy every single color, given the budget. But I must say, I am intrigued with this Hop Ball! Is it related to the Hippity-Hop? Love that as a kid.