Checking Our List #2: HearthSong {The Learning Tower Review & $50 Gift Certificate Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Annie1!}

If I haven't made it abundantly clear already by my rave reviews of HearthSong's Great Big Outdoor Playball, Cosmic Slide and Super Water Slide, we're big, BIG fans. From the top-of-the-line quality products to their incredible customer service and lifetime satisfaction guarantee, we have always had an all-around amazing experience (and a heck of a lot of fun) with them.

But as much as HearthSong is one of THE places to shop for toys this holiday season (they even have some awesome new holiday toys!) they also have items that are more than just entertaining and fun. They sell products for kids that build confidence, increase self-esteem and allow exploration of the world around them simply and easily.

One such item? The unique and innovative (and colorful) Learning Tower.

The Learning Tower, an adjustable height platform, is a one-of-a-kind step stool designed for ages 18 months to 5 or 6 years... or whenever they get tall enough to no longer need it. As the base can be set for a variety of distances, children can always remain at counter height, perfect for helping out in the kitchen, while the enclosed structure keeps them safe and secure.

Big Sister E and Little Sister B both want to be a part of anything and everything that goes on in our kitchen and let's just say that our previous methods of pulling in a chair or having them sit on the counter weren't working very well. Even our efforts to wash their hands in the kitchen always ended up looking something like this:

The sound effects that go along with these pictures are, "Help me, I need helllllp!" and "Up! Uuuupp!"

Therefore, I couldn't wait to see if The Learning Tower would be the solution to many of our too-short-to-reach problems. When the long, thin, heavy box arrived, I pulled it right in and took a look at the pieces inside.

I was impressed with not only how the parts as a whole were wrapped up well, but that each individual component had its own layer of protection to keep them from any nicks, dents or scratches. Laying everything out, the instructional manual was clear and concise, and it was only a matter of minutes before this:

Turned into this:

Sliding The Learning Tower into the kitchen, Big Sister E had no problem figuring out how to get in and out of it easily and on her own - the latter making her extremely proud of herself. Right away I could see the sturdy, non-tip construction behind this and the way that the four-sided railings provide support while also preventing anyone from accidentally falling out.

From that day forward, I'm pretty sure I've never seen kids more excited to wash their own hands before.

Everything about The Learning Tower is well thought-out and designed with a purpose. The 15" x 18" size of the platform allows for plenty of movement without worry of slipping off, adjusting the height is quick and easy, the non-toxic, high gloss finish wipes off without a problem (cooking with kids can be a tad messy sometimes) and the way that the entire structure fits flush against the counter means that kids can be in close enough to the action to help.

Whether baking cookies or washing dishes, Big Sister E is strong enough to slide The Learning Tower out of the nook in our kitchen in which it resides, push it across to the necessary spot and climb right in. There is even room for both her and Little Sister B to squeeze in together so that everyone can get a good look

Or take a nice rest.

But The Learning Tower isn't all business, it's also a fun place to play. With a little imagination, it becomes a puppet theater, a playhouse, a fort or (Little Sister B's favorite) a dance studio. It even comes with a large starry cloth to get little imaginations started or there is an adorable Playhouse Kit that can be purchased separately with a roof, curtains and changeable signs!

With HearthSong's slogan of Toys You'll Feel Good About Giving, The Learning Tower fits right in. It offers quality, safety, flexibility, versatility and fosters independence all while allowing children of a wide range of ages to explore, discover and experience the world at counter height.

Available in 6 great colors and retailing for $199.98, this is a gift that is also an investment. Kids can enjoy helping or playing and, as The Learning Tower has been tested to hold up to 500 pounds, parents might just find it comes in handy for reaching high places as well. This is an award-winning product that has remained a staple in homes around the world for years!

Plus, thanks to the generosity of HearthSong, one person will be well on their way to purchasing The Learning Tower or any of their amazing and entertaining products, because...

One lucky person will win a $50 gift certificate to HearthSong!

To enter to win: Visit HearthSong and tell me another of their amazing items (not mentioned above) you would love to own.

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 head over to A Mom's Balancing Act and enter to win a Magneatos 72-piece set from HearthSong!
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you request a HearthSong catalog, subscribe to their emailed newsletter (if you enter your email address when requesting a catalog, that will subscribe you to their newsletter, so you get both entries) and/or Like them on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave the following message on their wall: HearthSong has amazing and unique toys! I just entered to win a $50 gift certificate at Thanks, Mail Carrier! http://bit.ly/cbwgw2
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the Holiday Gift Guide giveaways (Checking Our List giveaways ONLY) 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!

Checking Our List 2: WIN a $50 gift certificate to HearthSong for endless fun! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/cbwgw2 #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me 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 have our Checking Our List {Holiday Gift Guide 2010} 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 HearthSong. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on November 26th 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 residents of the U.S. and Canada only.

A big thank you to HearthSong for providing a Learning Tower for me to review as well as a $50 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.