Growing Tree Toys {$25 Gift Certificate Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to those who entered!}

There's a phrase that is tossed around a lot when it comes to what playthings we should or shouldn't give to our children: educational toys. But... what exactly does that mean? If Big Sister E picks up and tosses a rock, does that mean it is educational because she learned about gravity?

What it boils down to is this: an educational toy should educate. It should instruct while enhancing intellectual, social, emotional or physical development. Whether teaching about a certain subject or helping develop a particular skill, the important difference to classifying a plaything as an educational toy is its ability to help a child learn and develop during the interaction.

Hmm. That last paragraph sure makes educational toys sound boring, doesn't it?

What it's missing is that educational toys are also be lots and lots of fun, particularly if they are high quality, award-winning and sold on a knowledgeable website that provides superior service, such as GrowingTreeToys.com.

Growing Tree Toys is proud to be "more than just a toy website... offering customers the amazing service, wonderful toys and robust features they deserve while shopping online. Featuring a carefully chosen, well-rounded toy selection, unique product details and descriptions, great information on play, helpful suggestions for gift givers, the best gift finder available, and so much more. GrowingTreeToys.com is truly a specialty toy website with the health and happiness of children at heart."

Shopping truly is easy at Growing Tree Toys. Browse by age, department, brand, award-winning or eco-friendly... or, if you're not sure what the recipient might enjoy, check out the Gift Guide or Gift Finder for great suggestions. How many times have we gotten ready to purchase a present for a friend's birthday party and had no idea where to even begin?

I think the search options from Growing Tree Toys are really helpful, not to mention pretty accurate - I looked for a gift under $25 for a 12-24 month old girl and found an Animal Cottage Toy from Chicco Toys that we own. And they're right, Little Sister B does enjoy it!

When I browsed in the same price range for 3 and 4-year-old girls, I found a Butterfly Garden from Insect Lore that would provide hours of entertainment and educational fun for Big Sister E. Just send away for the caterpillars and food and you're all set to have your own personal butterfly exhibit - she would think that was so cool!

For a site with all of the brands you love at the prices you want that includes a promise to only sell good, quality toys that will be in stock, Growing Tree Toys is the one. You even have the ability to do easy returns and they offer a money back guarantee... the hardest part about shopping at there really is narrowing down all of the wonderful items they offer. Knowing that the lucky child who receives your purchase will have a great time playing while also slipping in some educational value? That's just icing on the cake.

And, thanks to the generosity of Growing Tree Toys, one person will get to do just that when they shop for fun new toys, because...

One lucky person will win a $25 gift certificate to Growing Tree Toys!

To enter to win: Visit GrowingTreeToys.com and tell me one of their many toys that you would like to purchase.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you follow Growing Tree Toys on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave this message on their wall: I love the great selection at Growing Tree Toys! I just entered to win a $25 gift certificate at Thanks, Mail Carrier! http://bit.ly/abUvSc
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

TOYS! WIN a Growing Tree Toys $25 gift card for fun shopping from @growingtreetoys! @thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/abUvSc #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me publicly with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Growing Tree Toys. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on July 29th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to Growing Tree Toys for providing a $25 gift certificate for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.