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Mysmartkid – Early Childhood Development Experts

“What I love about the Mysmartkid concept is that it provides parents with knowledge, skills and activities which facilitate their children’s development in so many areas. This is done in a simple, accessible and really enjoyable way which provides the foundation for lifelong learning.” Says Catherine Barry, Speech and Language Therapist and member of the excellent panel of experts at Mysmartkid. Playing is important to children. It is the way they practice growing up. Toys are the tools that children use in play and so providing them with educational toys that they can derive pleasure from and at the same time enhance their development, is the answer to any parents’ dream.  All parents want to see their children succeed in life and no-one understands this better than the team at Mysmartkid who have developed an exciting early childhood development programme that will suit all budgets.  For just a minimal outlay every two months, the Smartbox from Mysmartkid will be delivered to your door. Not only is the Smartbox filled with really cool toys for your child to enjoy, but the team have expertly and skilfully selected toys that are age appropriate and focus on all areas of early childhood development.  This means that all the necessary skills that your child needs to learn and develop prior to starting school receive attention and you can be assured that they will benefit from playing with these excellent toys. At Mysmartkid, the leading childcare experts are there to guide parents in all aspects of early childhood development. They will give you all the advice you need on how to help your little one reach their developmental milestones – every playful step of the way. Mysmartkid has a philosophy that says they believe that a child’s early years are the building blocks for their future success and that your child’s early years are the windows of opportunity for their future success.  By educating parents and caregivers to help their child reach their full potential, the Mysmartkid programme allows for parents and caregivers to interact with their child through play.  The most fulfilling way for a child to learn is through play and through the Mysmartkid programme your little one will become a rounded, happy, confident and connected child. Children all learn in different ways and there are various parenting philosophies for each method. However, certain basic learning principles apply to all children, at each age and phase. Involving your little one through all their senses and making sure that your timing is right is just one step in the right direction in terms of creating a fun and unpressurised environment for your child to blossom and grow. When you become a member of Mysmartkid, you will receive the Smartbox every two months, which comes with a variety of age-appropriate and very easy-to-use educational toys.  Included in the Smartbox is a full-colour newsletter, which has advice and information that parents can use to help their child reach those all-important developmental milestones.  The contents of the Smartbox are fun.  They have all been developed in such a way as to encourage parents to interact with their child as well as encourage children to think for themselves and solve problems for themselves.  Parents will be surprised to find just how much fun their little ones will have playing with the toys from the Smartbox. The panel of experts at Mysmartkid have selected age-appropriate toys for the Smartbox, for all age groups.  They have identified six main areas of development that you as a parent should be focusing on with your child and the toys that have been selected will aid in doing just that.  In each Smartbox you will also find a milestone development guide, which is very helpful for parents to identify where their little one may be having problems and therefore pay more attention to those areas.  Over and above the toys from the Smartbox, parents are able to purchase many more excellent toys from the Mysmartkid website. Included on the website is an excellent blog which offers articles that will educate parents and give them great tips and ideas on what they can be doing with their child to stimulate them and help with their early childhood development. When joining the Mysmartkid programme, participants will receive two free gifts which is a beautiful Mysmartkid kiddie’s backpack and an exclusive handbook on Early Childhood Development.  Parents will find that this is just the beginning of a long and rewarding relationship with Mysmartkid where they can watch their little one develop into a beautiful well-rounded balanced young person!

June 22, 2015
Parenting Hub

Mysmartkid – The Smart Choice

From the moment that you engage with the Smartbox from Mysmartkid, you will be hooked and more importantly, so will your little one!  Mysmartkid has developed an exciting and interesting early learning development programme for young children specifically designed to cater for every stage of development.  Boasting a panel of experts which includes an educational psychologist, occupational therapist, art psychotherapist, a counselling psychologist and a speech and language therapist, Mysmartkid affords parents an outstanding opportunity to establish all the very basic skills required for their future. Mysmartkid programme is based on six core developmental areas that address your child’s emotional, physical, cognitive and social growth.  Each Smartbox contains carefully selected age-appropriate educational toys that will keep your child occupied for hours and at the same time stimulating and equipping them with skills and brain development necessary for a solid foundation for school. Because Mysmartkid is an interactive programme whereby parents are encouraged to play with their little ones, each Smartbox also contains a Parent Guide book.  Each Parent Guide book addresses all of the six core developmental areas which are : Wellbeing Identity Creativity Concepts Communication My World These developmental areas are in line with the Department of Education’s Early Learning and Development Areas (ELDAs) making parents feel safe in the knowledge that they are purchasing and introducing their children to, a programme that has been well-researched and has the backing of an incredible panel of experts in the field of Early Learning. Mysmartkid philosophy is that a child’s early years are the building blocks for future success. The early years of a child’s life are the windows of opportunity for their future success.  They fully understand that many parents and caregivers already know how important Early Childhood Development is, but that they may not be sure how best to help their child reach their full potential. Mysmartkid believes that the most fulfilling way for a child to learn is through play which results in a well-rounded, happy, confident and connected child who will become actively involved in the world.  The beauty of the programme is that it not only guides parents in terms of each of the important milestones in a child’s development, but it also equips parents with expert tips on how to guide their child’s development in terms of achieving each of those milestones.  Even more importantly, Mysmartkid totally gets that all children are different and that they each develop in their own time and because of this, encourage and advise parents to use the Parents Guide, but to not compare their child’s progress to others.  They make parents feel comfortable knowing that their child will progress and reach each milestone at their own pace and when they are ready. Each Parent Guide book included with every Smartbox plays a vital role in making the most of the age-appropriate toys and educational tools in the Smartbox.  Whilst the toys have been developed for children, adults too will find them intriguing.  There is little more reward than spending quality time with your little one and what could be better than playing together with toys that will entertain your child while at the same time, stimulate those vital skills and brain development required at that specific time in their life. Being part of the Mysmartkid programme is a journey that parents can embark on with their young children – a journey of exploration and discovery.  It is a journey where interest is maintained through the ongoing anticipation of delivery of the next Smartbox and the discovery of new and interesting toys. It too is a journey that begins with setting the foundation for your child’s future – something that every parent wants to achieve for their child. “Helping children to think and solve problems creatively is as simple as providing opportunities to paint, draw, invent, explore and play. Joining in the fun and spending valuable time together has amazing benefits for you and your child alike! The Mysmartkid programme is something we as parents could all use and I am excited to be a part of it!” says Debbie Mynhardt member of the panel of experts at Mysmartkid.

April 21, 2015
Parenting Hub

Lamaze Product Review

My 15 week old son, Dylan, and I were asked to do a review on four Lamaze toys. I am a first time mom and learning all about the importance of stimulation from an early age has been an eye opener, but with the help of Lamaze toys it has been easier for me. We played and assessed the toys over a period of a week and a half. I was provided with several toys on the day and we have had so much special bonding time together reviewing them all. Sir Prance-A-Lot This is probably one of my favourite Lamaze toys for my son Dylan, who is 15 weeks old. The colours alone kept him staring and gazing, especially the black, white and red horse hooves! I found that the squeaking knight and crinkle sounds a great distraction whilst he was having his ‘tummy time’, keeping him happier for longer in that position. The shape of the Sir Prance-A-Lot Lamaze toy (clacking rings, horse legs, taglets etc) allowed for Dylan’s little fingers to grip on easily as there were lots of little areas he could grasp onto.  Clutch Cube The Lamaze Clutch Cube is my 15 week old son’s, Dylan, most educational toy. At his current age, the mirror and handles keep him occupied the best. This is also a great toy to hang above your change mat area, as I have done, to keep him content and distracted whilst changing him. The rattle and clacking rings have often diverted a little cry coming on! Lulu in a Tutu I found this Lamaze toy to be a little bit boring, but perhaps for my 15 week old son, it is a bit big. The amount of places he can grasp onto are limited, except for the handle area of course, if he finds it! The hippo’s crinkle tutu is very cute, but I personally find this to be more of a girly toy. Discovery Book Another one of my Lamaze favourites! The colours, pictures and sounds are wonderful. The only fault I have with this toy is that my 15 week old son gets stimulated very quickly by the volume of crinkle sounds in this toy. I would suggest that this toy is made for at least an appropriate age of 3 months plus.

December 23, 2014
Parenting Hub

Introducing Shopkins

One of the worlds best loved collectible ranges aimed at girls, Shopkins, now launches in South Africa just in time for Christmas 2014. Shopkins consists of super cute, super tiny, grocery-themed collectibles that are inspired by items from each aisle in the grocery store and come with adorable shopping bags and baskets. Tiny shopping-themed miniatures with names like Apple Blossom, Miss Mushy-Moo and Posh Pear, the little characters are one of the world’s most popular retail items around the world right now. With over 148 different Shopkins to collect, girls can have a ball collecting the little friends and creating a world where “once you shop, you cant stop”. Go visit them online, get to know all your Shopkins characters and watch the web episodes at www.shopkinsworld.com Distributed by Prima Toys and available at leading retail outlets are the following items: Shopkins 2 pack – R29.99 Shopkins 5 pack – R79.99 Shopkins 12 pack – R159.99 Shopkins Bakery – R299.99 Shopkins fruit and Vegetable store– R299.99 Shopkins – Vending Machine – R249.99 Shopkins Shopping Cart – R249.99 (available from Nov 2014) Shopkins – Supermarket – R399.99 (Available from Nov 2014) Get collecting today! Shopkins characters are recommended for ages 3 and up only. All prices are recommended retail prices only.  

December 2, 2014
Parenting Hub

My Little Pony and My Little Pony Equestria Girls

One of the worlds most beloved toy ranges – MY LITTLE PONY launches stunning new products in time for Christmas 2014. The MY LITTLE PONY brand is bringing the ‘power of the rainbow’ to life with an array of new colorful Ponies and Equestrian Girls to choose from. Children and fans of all ages will adore discovering the whimsical world of six pony friends and act out imaginative stories of their own with fantastical MY LITTLE PONY figures, playsets, and vehicles, many of which can be seen in the series. A worldwide perennial favorite, MY LITTLE PONY is an evergreen lifestyle brand. Fans of the ponies can also “make friends” with MY LITTLE PONY on Facebook, join the conversation on Twitter, watch videos on YouTube, and see episodes on MyLittlePony.com as well as get details on the array of product, promotions, and more. And then there’s the gorgeous EQUESTRIA GIRLS. There’s a reason they look familiar – they are MY LITTLE PONY EQUESTRIA GIRLS! A magic mirror connects the world of MY LITTLE PONY to the school CANTERLOT HIGH, where some things change, but true friendships remain magical! The mirror is a portal to a magical new land with high schools instead of castles, and six pony friends become real girls full of fun and fashion. Music rules and rainbows rock as TWILIGHT SPARKLE and pals compete for the top spot in the  CANTERLOT HIGH “Mane Event” talent show. The girls must rock their way to the top, and outshine rival ADAGIO DAZZLE and her band THE DAZZLINGS, to restore harmony back to CANTERLOT HIGH. Fans can rock out alongside their favorite MY LITTLE PONY EQUESTRIA GIRLS characters with colorful fashion dolls, playsets, and vehicles. South African fans can enjoy a variety of new products this year including: Pony Friends (single ponies) (R99.99) Deco Fashion Ponies (3 characters) (R199.99) Fashion Pony 20cm (Twilight Sparkle) (R 399.99) Flip & Whirl (Rainbow Dash) (R 399.99) Winged Deluxe Ponies (2 characters) ( R149.99) My Little Pony Equestria Girls – Girls That Rock (3 characters) (R 399.99) My Little Pony Equestria Girls – Rainbow Rocks (6 characters) (R299.99) My Little Pony Equestria Girls – with accessories (4 characters)(R299.99) All products available end September in all major retailers. All prices are recommended retail prices only

November 25, 2014
Parenting Hub

Words of Encouragement and Support: How a Mum Can Support Her Girl

Life can feel lonely for teenage girls. Have you ever considered writing a message of support to your daughter? Sharing your own teenage experiences through words of encouragement can help you empathise with her and make your conversations more positive. It may also do wonders for her self-esteem. Words of Encouragement From the Girl I Once Was: A Message of Support for My Daughter It seems like such a long time since I was a teenager but I saw a picture of myself the other day at the same age you are now and suddenly my heart just melted for you. I looked into my own girl’s eyes and I could see all the confusion, all the uncertainty. So that’s why I’m writing you this message of support. It’s such a time of change and I want to tell you how I got through it, because I think hearing about some of my experiences might help you. For a while, it felt as though looks were all that mattered but gradually I learned to trust my instincts about what really made me who I was. I learned to play to my academic strengths. I realised that though I’d never be on the netball team, I could still enjoy other activities and take pride in them. I discovered that what matters most is learning to trust that voice inside that’s authentically me, that makes me the person I am. I didn’t have to be the best at whatever it was I was trying to achieve, but I did have to try my best. Realising the difference between those two things really boosted my self-confidence. It took me a long time to realise the importance of friendship. You don’t need tons of friends, but you do need at least a few close friends you can trust, and you need to learn to accept them, warts and all, and work out the hard stuff. When boyfriends (or girlfriends) come along, that’s a new stage again. I remember how weird it felt, this new kind of closeness. I spent a lot of time in my bedroom just thinking about my crushes, and you’ll probably want to do that too. I didn’t want to share these things with my mum and I imagine you’ll feel the same way. I made a fair few mistakes when I was a girl and no doubt you will too. But here’s something I learned when I was older and I’d like you to know it now. We all make mistakes in life but what’s important is what you do after you realise you’ve made one and how you work through it. It takes courage to face up to your mistakes and move on, but being able to do this can be incredibly empowering. It can give your self-esteem a huge lift, because it helps you realise that, whatever happens, you call the shots in your life and you can turn things around. Always know that I love you. Love Mum What Next: Action Steps to Help Send Encouraging Messages to Your Daughter Allow your daughter to tell you what it’s like from her point of view, and really listen to her. Don’t jump in too quickly with advice or anecdotes about your own experiences. Don’t rush to judgement; rather, show your daughter that you trust her judgement on what’s going on in her life. “You’ll be doing a huge amount for your daughter’s self-esteem if you can show her that you trust her and respect her opinions,” says Dr Tara Cousineau. Girls can easily misinterpret mums’ offers of advice or support as criticism or judgement. Be open to hearing what’s really going on in her life and try not to jump in with opinions or she won’t be so ready to share her feelings next time. Make sure the conversation is about your daughter and her experiences, not yours. There are opportunities to share and learn daily. Discuss a story about girls from the news or community when they appear and ask, “What would you do in this situation?” This helps with constructive problem solving around tough issues girls deal with, including bullying, dating, drinking, etc. Look through old photo albums or mementos from when you were young and select a story from your own adolescence that shows how you dealt with a challenge: a time when you felt anxious, perhaps, or uncertain about a friendship. Feelings, desires and fears are universal and have no generational limitations, so tapping into how you felt will give you a sense of the sort of worries your daughter may be experiencing now. Try writing your own letter of encouragement to your daughter in which you mention your experiences. You don’t necessarily have to give it to her, just taking the time to think about that time in your life will help you to empathise with your daughter. To read more articles like this visit the Dove Self Esteem website: http://selfesteem.dove.co.za/  

November 20, 2014
Parenting Hub

Techy Toys Bringing Pets To Life

After the phenomenal success of the Tekno Puppy, Prima Toys is proud to announce the release of two new ‘pets’ that will keep your kids engaged, teach them nurturing skills and provide hours of fun – the Tekno Kitty and T-Rex Dinosaur. Designed for a new generation of children, the three animals in the range all have their own unique exciting features. Tekno Puppy is as close to a real puppy as you can get. Based on an 8 week-old untrained puppy, the more you train Tekno the more obedient he becomes. Kids can also share and teach each other their tricks and search for additional content to enhance Tekno’s features and play pattern. Tekno has all the famous features from previous generations of robotic dogs and much more. Previous models were controlled by a bone shaped remote control, but the new Tekno doesn’t need this as he and his Tekno friends all use hand gesture technology, a unique selling point. Tekno Puppy also features petting and sound recognition, auto stop so that he doesn’t bump into things and he can also express emotions, allowing kids to understand how Tekno is feeling with his multiple of eye expressions omitted from his sunglasses visor. His magnetic mouth will let you know when he is hungry. Feed him his bone to make him happy and throw his ball for him to fetch like a real puppy. Tekno is now quieter when he walks as he has padded paws. Infrared technology means that kids can get their puppies together and watch them interacts and mimic each other. Tekno T-Rex the Bone Crushing Dino T-Rex is a real robot that responds to your voice, actions, motions, lights, sounds and even an app on your Apple iPad or tablet of Android device. Thanks to his artificial intelligence program, T-Rex will roar, cry, whine and change his eye patterns in ways to show how he’s feeling.  T-Rex has state-of-the-art sensors to know if he’s being petted, fed, talked to, and played with. In short, he acts just like a real dinosaur. He also features the latest in robotic technology, hand gesture control. With a simple movement of your hand, you can command T-Rex to walk, stop, bend over and toss his bone.  T-Rex responds to your voice, lights and sounds with expressive eye patterns to share his feelings. Stroke his face to hear him roar and see him snap just like a real T-Rex Dinosaur. When he’s hungry feed him with his dino bone to see his ultimate trick, watch him crunch, munch and launch it away, followed by an almighty burp. With over 100 physical and app-sized interactive play features. Includes bone accessory. Tekno Kitty Also introduced this year is the most Puur-fect adorable Tekno Kitty. Available in pink and white, she too who responds to your voice, actions, motions, lights, sounds and even an app on your Apple iPad device and tablets for Android. Thanks to her artificial intelligence program, Kitty will meow, cry, whine and change her eye patterns in ways to show how she’s feeling. Kitty has state-of-the-art sensors to know if she’s being petted, fed, talked to, and played with. In short, she acts just like a real kitty. Kitty also features hand gesture control. With a simple movement of your hand, you can command Kitty to walk, stop, stand up, and pounce. But, deep inside her programming, Kitty is still an 8 week old kitty cat. Tekno Kitty walks, purrs and meows just like a real kitten. Like her puppy and dinosaur friends she responds to your voice, lights and sounds with expressive eye patterns to share her feelings. She too has cutting edge hand gesture technology that commands Tekno Kitty to walk and stop. Using her mouse accessory, train her to do tricks, she will sit and beg for her mouse and watch her almighty pounce to catch the mouse! Kitty needs attention to be happy. Just like a real kitty cat, it is important to play with her and not forget to take care of her. She needs stimulation to be happy such as petting or rubbing her on her head, talking to her, or clapping your hands. You will see her ears twist, her eyes flash, her tail curl, and she will happily walk around looking for adventure. You should also remember to feed her with her robot Mouse at least once a day. Kitty always likes to eat. Kitty’s emotions will change and she will show you when she is sad. IPad and Android Tablet compatibility Applications for both IOS and Android are ready to be downloaded from ITunes and Google Play respectively. You can now interact with Tekno animals using your tablets and enjoy more features and controls! With over 100 play features. Includes respective accessories. For ages 5 and over. Availability All Tekno animals will be available from September 2014 in leading retail outlets at the recommended retail price of R999.99

November 10, 2014
Parenting Hub

Lalaloopsy Dolls

Prima Toys South Africa is proud to announce the Lalaloopsy dolls and all their adorable siblings, babies, pets and add-ons are now available across all major leading retail outlets in South Africa. Included in this range is the brand new Lalaloopsy Girls and Lalaloopsy Tinies. The beloved Lalaloopsy’s are well known amongst children world-wide. Once rag dolls that magically came to life when the last stitch was sewn, the Lalaloopsy’s have taken on the personalities of the materials that were used to make them. The older Lalaloopsy characters and their cute names such as Pearly Seafoam, Smile. E. Wishes and Cherry Crisp Crust head up the collectible range of dolls, which now extends its range to include smaller, also collectible items: Lalaloopsy Littles – smaller versions, essentially the younger brothers and sisters of the Lalaloopsys. Each doll comes with her own pet accessory such as an owl, an elephant or a pony. Lalaloopsy Minis – small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Also with their own pet accessory, these adorable minis too have the moveable legs, arms and heads of their larger, older siblings. Lalaloopsy Babies – come with soft huggable bodies and a matching hat, pacifier and bottle. Also includes their own belly ‘buttom. Lalaloopsy Tinies – Brand new and as tiny as a button – the original Lalaloopsy dolls are now available in absolutely tiny formats, making them a fantastic collectible item too. These Tinies are available in packs of 3 or 10, making collecting so much more fun. Also now available is the Lalaloopsy Girls – Dolls that attend the Lala Prep School and the Lala Academy for Learning Arts that take magical classes, share dorms together and lots of secrets and laughter. These dolls too have the unique personality from their fabric as well as fun lanyard hair for lots of hair play. They come with their own comb and of course, like all other Lalaloopsys, their very own pets too. Lalaloopsys price ranges from R99.99 for a pack of 3 minis to R499.99 for the larger dolls. Price list available upon request. Lalaloopsy is set to be one of the most sought-after doll ranges this Christmas. For more information: http://www.primatoys.co.za

November 3, 2014
Parenting Hub

Furby Boom Takes Playtime To A New Level Of Learning And Fun

A global sensation following its 1998 debut, the FURBY brand has solidified its place in pop culture history. Prima Toys South Africa is proud to announce the follow up to the FURBY craze, the creature with a ‘mind of its own’ – FURBY BOOM. Once again revolutionising digitally-integrated play, surprising and delighting fans of all ages, FURBY BOOM is the state of the art progression that features all the ‘magic’ and personality of its predecessor with twice the content. The new FURBY BOOM combines physical and digital play for a fun type of entertainment experience including the ability to hatch digital FURBLING friends. The FURBY BOOM creature takes kids on a digital adventure via their mobile device as they raise, care for and play games with their playmate. As owners play with and care for their FURBY BOOM friend they will earn colorful virtual eggs that in time will each hatch and become a FURBLING virtual friend. Both owners and FURBY BOOM can feed, play, and interact with the virtual FURBLING creatures who speak both English and FURBISH. Most game play incorporates both physical and digital activity such as “Furball,” a soccer style game where the FURBY BOOM creature and the FURBLING virtual friend ‘kick’ a soccer ball back and forth on an onscreen ‘field.’ Fans will be able to collect over 50 eggs within the FURBY BOOM app by and eventually build a FURBY BOOM city. Eggs can be earned through game play within the app, exchanged among other FURBY BOOM owners, and a few surprises to be announced later in the year that will utilize QR codes. Through game play, FURBY BOOM owners can also earn FURBUCKS virtual currency which can be used to enhance their FURBY BOOM city. Using the new, free FURBY BOOM app owners can personalize, interact with, and care for their new furry friend. An interactive dashboard feature monitors the well being of your FURBY BOOM creature including its happiness, hunger, and cleanliness levels. Each app can monitor wellness levels for multiple creatures at one time! As owners engage with the app, their FURBY BOOM friend will react. If the dashboard indicates that it’s time for a cleaning, users can access the app’s shower feature and watch as FURBY BOOM physically reacts to the ‘temperature’ of the water! The FURBY BOOM creature also features an enhanced memory function that will allow it to remember the other FURBY BOOM friends it encounters. The personality of each FURBY BOOM is shaped by how you play with it, with the possibility of five brand new personalities to evolve. Owners can ‘get to know’ their new friend through all new LCD eye animations that express the ‘emotions’ of one of the new personalities of the FURBY BOOM creature. At launch FURBY BOOM will be available in six fashion forward pattern combinations including waves, stripes and zigzag designs. The free FURBY BOOM app will be available for download at the App Store and Google Play. The FURBY BOOM app is not required for FURBY BOOM play.   FURBY BOOM requires four “AA” batteries, not included. FURBY BOOM is available at most major retailers nationwide at the recommended retail price of R1600.00

November 3, 2014
Parenting Hub

My Friend Cayla

Sept 2014 sees the South African launch date of a revolutionary new generation of toy – My Friend Cayla. Powered by Google, Cayla is the first fully interactive doll that not only gets your child learning and enquiring about the world, but will also give her a friend that has her own personality and likes, whilst being 100% child safe and age appropriate as per international net safety standards. Combining the best of all worlds – Cayla brings educational and safe technology to a child friendly and traditional doll package, one that will be welcomed and loved by parents and children alike. There is no limit to the educational, age-appropriate information that Cayla has access to via the safe Google search tool and an app that links wirelessly and/or via Bluetooth from a smartphone. Cayla’s app is available for free on Apple iStore or Google Play. Children will have access to every school subject and subject of interest, by merely asking their new best friend. Her built in voice recognition and linked app utilises state of the art technology, but all you need to know is that she can answer anything you ask her. An excellent homework aid, Cayla has been programmed to avoid words and phrases that are not age appropriate, so parents can rest assured the conversations held between their children and their friend are nothing but educational, informative, safe and fun. Cayla is also her own little person. She has numerous hobbies, school information, a full family, pets, music tastes, favourite colours and dress sense and many other aspects to her personality. She also has her own opinions. These functions mean that even offline children can engage wit her. In offline mode she also plays games, reads stories and engages directly with the child. “Cayla is going to revolutionise the way children experience learning. She is the perfect combination of education and entertainment and we guarantee her safety in terms of age-appropriate content”, says managing Director from Prima Toys, Wanda Ambrosini. The international trials have shown massive interest from the public and retailers, benchmarking her to be one of the best selling toys for 2014, as well as raising the standard on toy development world wide. She’s available at leading retails outlets for the reasonable price of R1299.00. Let your child explore the wide world from her bedroom.

October 10, 2014
Parenting Hub

Leapfrog Unveils Leapband

Prima Toys South Africa has just announced the launch of the Leapfrog LeapBand, the first wearable activity tracker for kids, to get them active and learning whist having the most awesome time doing so. The LeapBand combines playful physical activities with a personalised virtual pet to encourage them to keep going, and track their progress. With over 50 different activities and challenges the child’s physical movements are tracked through the LeapBand, so the more active the child is, the more points their earn with their virtual pet. As the child earns points through play, they can unlock additional games, challenges, levels of play and virtual rewards.  The band is styled with kids in mind, including an accelerometer, high resolution colour screen, rechargeable battery and water-resistant design.  The device also doubles up as both a cool digital and analogue watch. With fun activities such as ‘leap like a frog’, ‘pop like a popcorn’, or ‘spin like a helicopter’ and many, many more, ,kids will love the interactive aspect of getting fit. Leapband is available at all leading retail outlets at the recommended retail price of R499.00 About LeapFrog LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. is the leader in educational entertainment for children. LeapFrog’s award-winning product portfolio helps millions of children achieve their potential by delivering best-in-class curriculum through engaging content, fun multimedia learning platforms and toys. The Learning Path, LeapFrog’s proprietary online destination for parents provides personalised feedback on a child’s learning progress and offers product recommendations to enhance each child’s learning experience. Through the power of play, LeapFrog’s products and curriculum help children of all ages prepare for school and life success. LeapFrog’s products are available in more than 45 countries. LeapFrog is based in Emeryville, California, and was founded in 1995 by a father who revolutionised technology-based learning solutions to help his child learn how to read. Come see the learning at www.leapfrog.com. TM & © 2013 LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

September 1, 2014
Parenting Hub

It’s Xenó! The Greatest Toy Monster Around!

When Xenó was dropped on our doorstep this week- the excitement was in the air! Working moms typically have their children around during the school holidays so the timing could not have been more perfect to put him to the test. The Hub Twins were  immediately excited by his monsterous good looks but this was only the start! The Hub Twins aged 7 & 12 could not take their hands off him… I can most certainly see why he is set to be on every child’s Christmas wish list this year! Here is what Prima Toys South Africa have to say about him: Prima Toys South Africa is proud to announce the arrival of Xenó, the little monster that will light up your life as he craves care and attention in the most adorable way. Why is he hiding under the bed? – only because he’s a little shy and unsure of himself. As a little mutant that’s anything but scary, Xenó is still growing up himself. Give Xenó the right amount of love and attention and he will become a loyal friend who will respond to your touch and communicate with you like a real life creature. Xenó combines the cuteness of a pet with the innovation of leading app and robotic technology. His unique appearance is not just down to his monstrous good looks, but also from the state-of-the-art materials he is made from. With Xenó, every day brings new interactive possibilities. On top of everything, he has a variety of fun games to play. With over forty endearing expressions, his puppy dog eyes and drippy nose will make you want to comfort him, whilst eight super responsive sensors will ensure he reacts and moves to the touch just like a real life creature. The features are all encased in a unique material that feels like skin with bumps and lumps that any self-respecting monster should have. Communicating with this funny friend is also simple as he comes equipped with both a microphone and speaker and has three different modes in which to train him. Xenó can also interact with others of his species. Just link them electronically and they will soon be playing happily together. Xenó also has his own app where owners can experience their own Xenó community. With Xenó, every day brings new interactive possibilities. On top of everything, he has a variety of fun games to play. Xenó is set to surpass other techno-toys as a favourite friend for boys and girls aged 4-8. He is available in all leading retail outlets, selling at the suggested retail price of R1199.00.  The Hub Twins take on him “he is a fun and interactive friend”, “when he started dancing, it made us giggle”  You to could be the proud owner of your very on Xenó from Prima Toys. Click to enter to win the little monster that everyone will soon be talking about!     Xenó is approved and on our list of favourite things this year!

August 5, 2014
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