Toy Box - Parenting Hub

All the latest fun for your little one

Toy to Screen and Back Again – Augmented reality encouraging real world play

It is every child’s dream to see a toy they love come to life before their very eyes. Although the Snap Ships line of construction toys already offer real world active play, Snap Ships goes even further with the Augmented Reality (AR) app available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. With the introduction of AR games, children now have access to advanced forms of technology. The virtual world develops rapidly, and gamified apps can act as an important catalyst to enhance play time and so improve children’s imagination while teaching vital digital skills at the same time. AR technology is a great way to bring digital learning lessons into a real-world situation, turning screen time into a sensory experience where what’s behind the screen is just as important as what’s on the screen. The Snap Ships Augmented Reality experience is not just a simple partner app to the physical product, but a world building experience immersing children into the Snap Ships universe and the heroic characters that exist within it. The Snap Ships app offers several amazing features including: AR – summon ships in Augmented Reality allowing the user to scan and test systems EXPLORE – Experience the Snap Ships universe and learn about the fleet BUILD – 3D instructions for core ships, plus endless custom and combination ships BATTLE – Choose your favourite ship and participate in quick combat flights against the Komplex JOIN – Users gets draw into the imaginative world by joining the Forge as a new recruit. Rank up and unlock awesome ships COLLECTION – Track your collection and discover new builds to create with your kits UNIQUE SHIPS – Check back daily for new unique ships builds, an always evolving supply of new building ideas for your toy fleet! AR creates a link between the real and digital world, offering children an added sense of wonder through the app, while ultimately still leading children back to the physical toy. Interacting with an app such as this also increases a child’s confidence and independence as they learn valuable digital skills while playing. In other words, children from an early age become more independent in handling tasks which also boosts their confidence levels. The advantage of AR is its openness. It offers the freedom to constantly change, update and create. Leading experts are also of the opinion that augmented reality would also assist to nurture a child’s inner creative. Additionally, it can be said that the learning experience of a child can be improved to significant levels. Motivation and concentration are two main components that further boost the creativity of a child. The AR games used by kids can holistically make sure that they learn new ways of interacting and dealing with technology. AR applications also improve cognitive skills and memory through the interactions between child and the app. With the use of AR technology in real world toys, children learn the value of utilising technology to enhance their lives but to not be a slave to the screen. In the case of the Snap Ships AR app. the rewards offered by the app is focused on the real-world Snap Ships toy in the form of imagination stimulating world building activities, additional creative ideas for custom Snap Ships toy builds and more.

September 22, 2021

SHARE THE MEMORIES WITH HASBRO’S CLASSIC GAMES COLLECTION

For so many of us Hasbro’s classic games collection are the building blocks of our childhood. They’ve taught us simple fundamental life lessons like sharing and teamwork while enjoying quality family time together, creating memories to last a lifetime. When the time comes to pass some of these memories down to the next generation, we realise there’s so much more to games night. Hasbro’s board games provide a great opportunity to get together as a family and share the fun – memories included! Especially now in an environment when we may not be able to spend time with all our loved ones. This Winter, what better way to remind us to reconnect and encourage positivity than by spreading the joy that time spent together with a classic Hasbro Game and a mug of hot chocolate brings. Hasbro, one of the world’s largest toy, game and entertainment experience companies, has you covered with a wide range of fun to play and fun to share board game options including: It’s the Twister game, the classic game that ties players up in knots! This action-packed group game is fun for parties or a game night with the family. See where the spinner lands and make a move. Left hand red, piece of cake! Right hand yellow, no problemo! Hilarity ensues as players twist, turn, tangle — and struggle to keep their hands and feet glued to the mat. Right foot blue … uh oh, this is getting tough! Who can do it? Once a player topples over, or their knee or elbow hits the mat, they’re out. The last player standing wins! Bounce ’em in for the win! The Connect 4 Shots game is fast-paced, rapid-fire fun in a race to get 4 shots in a row! Countdown to start 1-2-3…bounce! Two players bounce the lightweight, colourful balls into the grid at the same time. Remember, the balls must hit the table before going in. Keep bouncing balls, trying to fill the holes in the grid vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Once a player gets 4 in a row of their colour, they win the game! Then when the game is over, fold the grid into a handy storage case. Select a favourite Monopoly Classic token, place it on Go and roll the dice to own it all! This edition features classic Monopoly gameplay: it’s all about buying, selling, and trading properties to win. Chance or Community cards can be a game changer. Will they make a player richer — or send someone to Jail? The Monopoly game is a Family Game Night favourite, and it’s a fun indoor activity for kids. It’s the block-balancing, tower-tumbling classic Jenga game! How will you stack up against the laws of gravity? To begin, stack the genuine hardwood blocks into a sturdy tower, using the handy stacking sleeve. Then slide out the blocks one by one and place them on top of the stack. Is your hand steady enough to slide out the last block before the tower collapses? Quick and easy to set up, playing the Jenga game is a fun thing to do while staying at home. It’s also a favourite game for parties and game night. Play it solo, with friends, or in teams! How do you Jenga? Battleship is the classic game of naval combat that brings together competition, strategy, and excitement! In head-to-head battle, players search for the enemy’s fleet of ships and destroy them one by one. With convenient portable battle cases and realistic looking naval crafts, Battleship game puts players right in the middle of the action. Players command a powerful fleet that includes an aircraft carrier, a destroyer, a submarine, a patrol boat, and a battleship. Each player announces the coordinates of each strike and sees if it hits. Position ships strategically to survive opponent’s relentless strikes, and track hits and misses with red and white pegs on the ocean grid. No ship is safe in this game of stealth and suspense. CLUE, the classic murder mystery game. Six suspects. One murderer. One weapon. One location. And, of course, one winner. Play the game CLUE and use your super-sleuthing skills to detect whodunit, where, and with which weapon. Was it Mustard in the Library with the Rope? Play CLUE the board game and figure it out. *Hasbro Gaming and all related trademarks and logos are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc.

September 21, 2021

Play & Social Development

If you ask any 4-year-old what he does in preschool, he will probably say something close to, “I do my work and I play with my friends”. Of course, that 4-year-old’s ‘work’ includes painting, listening to stories, carrying out suggestions made by teachers – ‘play,’ in most of our vocabularies. But we all know what is meant by ‘play with my friends.’ It involves the interaction between and among children by which they learn how to get along with one another, to be helpful and share, and to understand the consequences of their own behaviour. In short, in their social play, they are full participants in the laboratory of life. Although cognitive development tends to be stressed in today’s world, many parents enroll their children in early childhood programs primarily because of the unparalleled opportunity it provides for social play. Just as is true for muscular advance and cognitive development, social play in young children goes through several stages. One classification that teachers find helpful is as follows: Onlooker The child remains at the edge of the group, possibly playing half-heartedly with a toy of her choosing, but merely watches the other children at their play. Solitary Play The child plays intently with available materials but remains totally alone. Parallel Play The child does the same things that a group of children is currently doing but does not interact with them to any extent. Cooperative Play The child truly plays ‘with’ other children—takes roles (‘You be the mummy and I’ll be the daddy’), gives instructions (‘No, that chair belongs in the corner’), offers and asks for help. During the early childhood years, the social play goal of parents and teachers is to help children move through these different levels until they become successful at cooperative play. This is not to suggest that the earlier levels are inappropriate, as children will switch from one level to another on the same day. But, in general, they move toward true interaction with one another, recognizing the needs and interests of all the children in the group. Although I am descoting social play as consisting mainly of interaction between children, much of it also involves interaction with adults. For example, it has been shown that if an adult occasionally joins in the play, the level of complexity and creativity can be sharply increased. Children often engage in repetitive activities in their play with one another—pouring coffee, putting bread in the toaster, putting hats on and taking them off. A participating adult (who should not take over as director of the play) can enrich the level of play by commenting, ‘Watch that coffee; it’s hot.’ Soon the ‘pouring’ child will be cautioning the other children not to burn themselves. Or, ‘I think you look better in the red hat’ can launch a search among the play hats requiring identification of the correct colour. And the parent or teacher can help establish an awareness of the excluded or ignored child. ‘I think Heather would like to join your group. Do you have a cup for her?’ In their social play, children develop an awareness of their own effectiveness with others and have an opportunity to try to improve it. The girl who is listened to as she assigns roles to the other children gets a boost as she strives to develop a positive self-concept. A child who refuses to sit in the circle next to a classroom bully can exert influence to help the bully learn more constructive ways of dealing with anger and frustration. Parents and teachers need that kind of ally. Our parenting advice is given as suggestions only. We recommend you also consult your healthcare provider, and urge you to contact them immediately if your question is urgent or about a medical condition. A perfect product to help a child develop like their social skills & play at the same time with their friends would be the Fisher-Price® Little People® Load Up ‘n Learn Construction Site™ available at retailers nation wide. Suitable for ages 3 and up! By Dr. Bettye M. Caldwell Ph.D. Professor of Pediatrics in Child Development and Education

September 16, 2021

The New Toy on the Block

What is Snap Ships? Snap Ships is an award-winning space themed construction toy line, making use of a unique core cube building system which combines to create multiple, posable, action play toys. This versatile building system will ensure hours of fun as children can build and rebuild as they choose with their imagination being the only limit. What’s in the box? Each building set of Snap Ships includes an instruction manual, core cubes, decorative pieces and a pilot figurine. Depending on the size of the model the instruction manual will contain up to three different models to build. Snap Ships feature a unique building system which is based on cubical blocks (core cubes), each with a stud which can connect with ports on the other five sides of the cube. The core cubes serve as the base for assembling a ship. These cubes can even connect at a 45 degree rotation from one another allowing for even more creativity and unique structures. Once the base has been built, then decorative pieces snap into the ports of the cubes. These pieces include wings, fins, engine intakes and exhausts, thrusts, and a variety of weapon systems. Each Snap Ship also includes a secret UJU tech system unique to that set. In fact, it is sealed separately in the packaging to add to the mystery. Sets includes a cockpit piece with an opening canopy into which the pilot can be placed. The box lid can be used as a stand for displaying your Snap Ships making the already unique packaging multi-purpose. Finally, each set comes with a tool for helping to separate parts during disassembly. When look at the cubes which form the base structure of the ships, they look unremarkable at first glance. However, they snap together easily and stay together. Snap Ships aren’t just built to look at, they are meant for kids to play with them. The blocks do not rotate once they are snapped together. However, you can rotate them before you snap them together so they connect with 45 degree rotational offset which allows for some unique designs. Once you have all the blocks forming the general shape of the ship you are building, it is time to add the decorations. Snap Ships as a construction toy is great for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) development as they teach kids to follow steps, they encourage free play when finished, and also allow their creative minds to develop when kids build their own creations. There are 10 Snap Ships sets at various price points, from stocking filler to large, special birthday gifts. The two factions in the Snap Ships world also offer to unique looking craft build styles while still being 100% interchangeable with one another to make for truly creative craft creation. There is also a corresponding Snap Ships app which allows users to generate ships in the real world through AR (augmented reality), explore the functions and various alternative build instructions for each ship, as well as allowing users to take a Snap Ship for a virtual flight. Each Snap Ships set contain its own cockpit, weapon system and UJU tech which is unique to that set. This makes the range highly collectible and with all parts being interchangeable there is no shortage of unique build opportunities and for your child’s imagination to take flight. After completing building the base ship you will find left over pieces which are needed for one of the other builds included in the set. This means that even the various builds inside of the same set is unique to one another. Snap Ships are available nationwide from Toy Kingdom, Hamleys and C.N.A. as well as online from Takealot and other fine retailers.

September 15, 2021

Yoto lands in South Africa Retailers

Yoto, an audio platform developed specifically for kids and the brand behind the critically acclaimed and award-winning Yoto Player, has landed in South Africa. The Yoto Player, a carefully connected screen-free, Bluetooth speaker box provides safe, educational entertainment for children and is now available across the country at selected Toys R Us stores, iStores and a branded store on Takealot, South Africa’s leading online store. Yoto Player is designed to safely give children full control over their listening experience, by entertaining and educating them while reducing screen-time. Yoto Player is controlled using physical cards that are inserted into the Player which plays audio content – helping to reduce excessive screen-time, giving children access to entertaining content without removing the joy of using technology for fun, learning and imaginative play. The Yoto smartphone app gives parents easy control of settings and content management. The free-to-download app also contains a selection of free content available to all and allows families to link the audio to Bluetooth speakers, including in the car for on-the-go entertainment. Additionally, Yoto’s content cards have the ability to play content through the app by simply tapping the card to the back of a smartphone. “We landed in the United States in June last year, and now our breakthrough into other regions and markets will further enable Yoto to globally service and inspire the next generation of creative, independent minds through audio,” said Ben Drury, CEO and co-founder of Yoto. “Every day we are inspired by children from all around the world, and with Yoto we are able to provide parents with peace of mind and children with access to a world of curated audio content.” Yoto Player is available for purchase at a recommended retail price of R2499. The Yoto smartphone app is available to download for free on iOS or Android. About Yoto Born in the U.K., Yoto is an audio platform that introduces children to a world of stories, music, educational activities, sound effects, podcasts and radio. Founders Ben Drury and Filip Denker were inspired by Montessori principles to create a screen-free audio device that kids could safely control themselves; they called it Yoto Player. And in a bid to offer audio that will inspire the next generation of independent creative minds, Yoto is investing in content that promotes mindfulness, meditation, and sleep among children. Since launching the new Yoto Player in early 2020, Yoto has experienced explosive growth, securing partnerships and content deals with trusted household names such as LEGO and Disney as well as licenses with Penguin Random House, Abbey Road Studios, Sony Music, HarperCollins, Hachette, Pan Macmillan and more. Yoto’s extensive and ever-expanding content library is packed with some of the world’s greatest children’s content including The Magic Far Away Tree (Trilogy), The Gruffalo, The Wishing Chair (Trilogy), with Frozen, Finding Nemo and many more household names to be released in the coming months. Now available worldwide, Yoto has been shortlisted for several awards including Design Week, ISDA IDEA, Core 77, Fast Co., D&AD, Dezeen, Junior Design, and Mother & Baby while being included in several Top Product lists. In November 2020, Yoto Player was named one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2020.

September 9, 2021

Revolutionary Construction Play

Welcome to the future…where humanity is under constant attack from a brutal alien threat. The Komplex spreads through the galaxy and growing stronger with each species they defeat and assimilate. To fight them, humanity relies on an elite team, the Forge, who pilots their own armada of spacecraft known as Snap Ships. Does your child have what it takes to become an ace pilot and join the Forge fleet in their stand against the Komplex? Now children can experience the heroic world of Snap Ships and prove their smarts with quick thinking custom builds to give their fighting force the advantage over the Komplex. Throw in some mysterious UJU tech to their Snaps Ships build and the day is as sure as won! Snap Ships is a versatile building system for creating multiple crafts with action play. With all sets and pieces being interchangeable, children have endless possibilities of the unique ships they can create. Snap Ships is a toy built for longevity with a broad universe with narrative-driven repeat builds. Snap Ships are fun and simple to put together with easy to follow, clear instructions. The interlocking core cubes snap together securely with each kit containing a separate tool to help take your builds apart in minutes, ready to build something new and exciting. Each Snap Ships set contains unique weaponry and other defining pieces. This, coupled with the pocket friendly price, makes this an amazing toy line that can grow as your child’s imagination and build ambition grows. Regardless of the collectability of the range, each set is a unique and amazing craft in its own right, making them ideal stocking fillers or gifts. In addition to being a sophisticated real world construction toy, the range comes paired with an amazing Augmented Reality (AR) mobile app. When you first enter the app you’re presented with a very easy to navigate user interface. The main attraction, augmented reality, is immersive and amazingly rendered. It’s really fun to just play around with and children are sure to love it. Overall Snap Ships is a great product and sure to be on top of every child’s wish list to Santa this festive season. Since all Snap Ships pieces from all 10 sets are interchangeable, it invites a lot of creativity for children to create their own ships. Take a closer look at what the range has to offer.

September 7, 2021

Early learning brand PlayShifu makes foray into South Africa

Tech toys loved by children, educators, and parents in over 35 countries will now be available in iStore, Takealot, and ToysRUs PlayShifu, an award-winning early learning brand, announced its launch in South Africa through the distributor Core Group. The brand’s innovative educational tech toys cover a wide range of essential skills, STEM, STEAM, and beyond, a solution that every parent of Gen Alpha child is looking for. Founded in 2016 by two doting fathers on a mission to turn around unhealthy screen time into meaningful time, PlayShifu currently sells in more than 35 markets across the world. PlayShifu toys have been designed to provide innovative, phygital interactions that combine hands-on physical play with fun and interactive digital games. The brand has 12 unique offerings on three product lines – Orboot, Plugo, and Tacto. Orboot by PlayShifu Orboot is a series of first-ever AR educational globes, Earth, Dinos and Mars, encourages children to learn through thousands of facts and hours of game-based exploration. Orboot Earth lets children travel through every nook and corner of our planet and learn scores of facts about wildlife, cultures, cuisines, monuments, maps, and much more. Orboot Dinos brings alive dinosaurs in 3D. Children can learn about evolutionary traits, explore habitats, and see what their favourite dinosaurs looked like up close. Orboot Mars inspires children to discover the Red Planet through the Mars missions that have brought in-depth knowledge of our neighbouring planet. Plugo by PlayShifu Plugo is a STEM gaming system powered by AR. It consists of one Gamepad and four interchangeable gaming kits that work with one companion app. Plugo makes learning fun and engaging for children, whether mathematics, vocabulary, problem-solving or logical reasoning. The Plugo universe comprises Letters (word building kit), Count (hands-on math kit), Link (building blocks kit), and Tunes (music learning kit). Each kit comes with multiple games with hundreds of levels in the app that adapt to the child’s grade. Tacto by PlayShifu Tacto is the first-ever phygital board game platform that uses tablets, innovative touch technology, and AI to reimagine board games. Tacto uses real figurines to drive the games on screen and adds immense richness, variety, and storytelling to the experience. Tacto has 6 different game sets – Classics, Chess, Coding, Laser, Electronics, and Dinos. The experience unlocks a world of foundational skills for early learners like strategic thinking, reasoning, analytical thinking and more. PlayShifu products start at R899 and can be purchased from, iStore, Takealot, and Toys’R’Us. Designed for ages 4 to 12, all the product platforms are supported by free to download apps that work with a range of devices on iOS and Android.

September 1, 2021

Welcome Snap Ships

Snap Ships are coming to Parenting Hub this September! Be sure to check back soon to learn more about this exciting toy on the market just in time for Christmas!

August 31, 2021

From Babbling to Talking

Parents are excited by every indication of developmental advance shown by their baby. ‘Look, he’s pushing his head up off the mattress!’ ‘Did you see her grab that rattle and hold on to it?’ These advances may not appear to be ‘great leaps forward,’ but they are. And the advances that perhaps produce the greatest delight in parents are those that offer proof the baby is becoming truly human—he or she is producing sounds that will eventually be shaped into words and used in communication. Nothing is more thrilling for parents, and in no activity are they more involved. Although the human infant is born with the capacity to become a talking—and reading and writing—organism, a great deal of loving care and nurture has to take place before this miracle is achieved. The earliest manifestation of this ability is the babbling that we hear babies doing from 2-3 months of age onward. When you go in to pick her up out of the crib, you hear ‘ahhh’ or ‘oooh.’ Chances are you will either repeat that sound or, in a higher pitch, say something like, ‘I think you’re ready to get up.’ With that response, she will kick and thrash about excitedly—and repeat her sounds. If you don’t say anything back to her when she babbles, or frown as you change her wet diaper, she won’t babble as frequently as she would if you had responded to her sounds. Thus, the first absolute necessity for parents who want to help their children move along the ‘Babbles to Books’ trail is responsivity. It’s so wonderful that, if we respond to our children as infants, they will respond to us. Language development moves along through that reciprocal process. Your talking offers much more than encouragement, of course. It also provides a model of the sounds that register in the baby’s world. Research conducted at different sites over the last 30 years has consistently shown that infants in about the first six months of life can discriminate among all the sounds produced in all languages. But they gradually lose this ability and become unable to distinguish between sounds they don’t hear regularly in their home environments. So modeling is a key function for parents in helping their babies learn to produce the sounds that will mean the most to them in their daily lives. The third key component is stimulation. All children babble, even those born deaf. But without responsivity to their efforts and good models to learn from, infants babble less and less. And, when they cease babbling, they are no longer practicing the complicated movements of the tongue and lips and other parts of our anatomical speech mechanism. Furthermore, their brains then have less opportunity to make the connections needed to relate sounds to other sensory information. But, no matter how much they babble, they still have ahead of them mastery of the technique of converting sounds into real words—real words that stand for real objects and real events. Here is where stimulation is so important. Parents need to label objects and experiences for their pre-verbal infants. ‘Would you like your MILK?’ asks mother, stressing the word ‘milk’ and holding out the bottle before offering it. ‘Look, here comes DADDY. Let’s WAVE to him,’ as she takes the baby’s hand and makes a waving movement. (In fact, a wondrously effective way to comfort a crying infant is to hold him close and walk about the house just ‘naming’ or labeling ordinary objects: ‘Feel the WALL; the WINDOW seems cold; the DRAPES are soft.’ Word games, such as ‘Pat-a-cake’ and ‘So Big’ are wonderful during this transition period (from babbles to words), as they allow the baby to do something physically as part of the language game. And don’t overlook reading to your baby as an important technique for providing stimulation. Some people think babies are too young to respond to books, but, if so, they’ve never read the right kind of book to an infant. Simple books, with plenty of pictures and few words to a page, are marvelous. Your local librarian will help you choose several excellent ones. Or, make up your own: snapshots from a family vacation put in plastic holders, with just a few words printed per page, work beautifully, as can clippings from magazines and catalogs. By the time children reach two years of age, a weekly trip to the library should be a must for all children whose parents are truly concerned with fostering language development. Toys are a big help along this trail. Precisely because young children love toys and engage in activities with them during much of their waking time, they are important words to verbalize and get into the system. And talking with toddlers about toys provides an opportunity to bring verbs—much harder to master than nouns—into the conversation. ‘BRING me your truck.’ ‘TAKE the dolly to her bed.’ ‘Do you want to RIDE your horse?’ Children need to have verbs labeled as much as they do nouns. The best-laid plans for guiding children will not be successful, however, unless they are delivered in an atmosphere of love and nurture. If you get upset when your 9-month-old still won’t imitate the gestures for Pat-a-cake after half a dozen sessions and say, ‘You’re going to get it this time—or else,’ forget it. He won’t do it. Sometimes, just about the only language children hear is either criticism or a command. And that kind of language world is not conducive to having a child want to talk. There is a story told about Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, in the early 18th Century. (The story may be apocryphal, but I’ve seen it in many child development texts over the years.) He wanted to know what language children would speak if they never heard language, his theory being that they would speak Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament. To test his theory, he established a foundling home for a number of abandoned children. The caregivers were ordered to

August 30, 2021

Fisher Price: Baby’s First Blocks & Rock-a-Stack™

Baby’s First Blocks Open a bucket of fun for your little one with Baby’s First Blocks. These chunky, colorful blocks help introduce colors and shapes as babies sort, stack and drop the blocks through the slots in the bucket lid.Open a bucket of fun for your little one with Baby’s First Blocks.… Open a bucket of fun for your little one with Baby’s First Blocks. These chunky, colorful blocks help introduce colors and shapes as babies sort, stack and drop the blocks through the slots in the bucket lid. 10 colorful blocks to sort, stack & drop All blocks fit inside bucket for storage Easy-carry handle for take-along play Introduces colors & shapes Rock-a-Stack The Fisher-Price® Rock-a-Stack® toy is classic, colorful fun for your little one! Younger babies will love grasping, holding, shaking and exploring the five colorful rings. The littlest ring has a shiny, reflective surface for baby to discover inside—with colorful… The Fisher-Price® Rock-a-Stack® toy is classic, colorful fun for your little one! Younger babies will love grasping, holding, shaking and exploring the five colorful rings. The littlest ring has a shiny, reflective surface for baby to discover inside—with colorful, swirling beads that make fun rattle sounds! When they’re ready to sit and stack, babies can place the rings on the post, then bat at the wobbly base to make it rock back and forth. Stacking helps them develop hand-eye coordination and introduces them to the concept of relative size as they learn to sort and stack from biggest to smallest! 5 colorful rings, perfect for grasping and stacking Bat-at rocker base Top ring has shiny surface with rattling beads inside Introduces babies to relative size and stacking Both are available to purchase from Takealot

June 16, 2021

Helping our Little People® have big adventures

Parents have had a rough year with families still being encouraged to stay at home as much as possible. This however does not assist in bringing real life experiences to your little one’s. With many parents battling to find ideas to keep their littles ones entertained whilst still stimulating and providing early childhood development, we felt that we would introduce your family to the Fisher-Price® Little People® Range. The Fisher-Price® Little People® Range not only provides time to play but time to learn and grow. The Fisher-Price® Little People® Characters Before getting to the fun, we have to point out that we loved the characters themselves. From school children to doctors and pilots these characters really provide a great start for you to begin introducing different jobs that people have. The Fisher-Price® Little People® Big Yellow School Bus Recommended Ages 1-5 years A bus ride of fun awaits. We really do enjoy toys that stimulate young little children whilst still delivering a way to open up conversations from a young age. With the 3 Smart Ages function your child will be able to imagine, discover and experience motor transport. With over 40 songs, sounds and phrases, you will be able to switch up the learning fun as and when they are ready. From learning about how many wheels there are, counting to 10, shapes, the alphabet and so much more, this really is a great purchase. The bus itself comes with 4 characters, however, one is able to purchase more separately and The Little People® Big Yellow School Bus can hold up to 12 characters. Our favourite was the little boy in the wheelchair. We found it incredibly thoughtful to consider children with disabilities so that they too had a character to relate to (he is standard in The Big Yellow School Bus). As parents we always try to encourage our children to not only learn about children with disabilities but to be considerate toward them as well. This is the perfect tool to start this small and yet powerful conversation off with your little one. The Fisher-Price® Little People® Travel Together Airplane Recommended Ages 1 -5 years Travel around the world and throw in an adventure for your child. Go on an imaginary trip with your child to your dream destination and make the experience even more fun with The Little People® Travel Together Airplane. You see anything can be fun when more Little People® join in. Songs, sounds and phrases will most certainly delight. The Fisher-Price® Little People® Range Encourages: Grasping and movement Strengthens dexterity and hand eye co-ordination Stimulates auditory and tactile senses Discovering cause and effect Some of our favourites out of the range included: Launch & Loop Raceway Caring for Animals Farm Sit with Me School Bus Cuddle & Play Nursery Share & Care Safari™ Playset Snack & Snooze Helpful Neighbor’s Garage Wash & Go Pirate Ship Big Helpers™ Home Noah’s Ark Travel Together Airplane Surprise & Sounds Home Farm Animal Friends

May 31, 2021

Tolo Baby Musical Activity TV and Tolo Baby Rainbow Stacker

Tolo Baby is a gorgeous new range of gifting and baby toys that will not only entertain your little one, but educate and assist with development during play. Perfect for baby showers, these beautiful, simple toys bring a touch of class into your little ones life. The Musical Activity TV is perfect from newborn and can be placed in your baby’s crib at eye level to see the bright moving gadgets. The squeaks, rattles, moving dials and abacus create a fantastic way to interact with your little one. As they grow they can touch and use their motor skills to engage with animals and sounds. As they develop they will be able to wind up dials and play music all by themselves. The Rainbow Stacker cups are great from 6 months upwards. Show your infant how to stack the cups and have fun building them and knocking them over. The cups also float in the bath and baby can play by scooping them up and pouring water out. When slightly older the child can start using the cups to understand colour differentiation and word association. Also great for sandcastles at the beach. Beautiful soft colour palettes make Tolo Baby toys suitable for all baby nursery décor and genders. Tolo Baby is available at selected Kids Emporium stores, Takealot, Babanino, Clicks Baby Club, Hamleys and The Kid Zone.

April 28, 2021

Tolo Baby Gripper Rattle, Tolo Baby Triangle Rattle and Tolo Baby Abacus Rattle

Tolo Baby is a gorgeous new range of gifting and baby toys that will not only entertain your little one, but educate and assist with development during play. Perfect for baby showers, these beautiful, simple toys bring a touch of class into your little ones life. Tolo Baby has a stunning selection of rattles to assist in early motor development. Gripper Rattle – Let baby watch the sherbet coloured beads cascade from one end of the rattle to the other – a colourful, easy-grasp rattle. Triangle Rattle – Let baby have great fun exploring this beautiful rattle. Easy-grasp from as young as 3 months. Lots of noisy fun. Abacus rattle – Encourage gripping and shaking and moving the abacus pieces side to side from as young as 3 months. Spin the pieces and get their motor skills working. Encourage lots of free play and noise with the simple, yet effective development of a rattle. Beautiful soft colour palettes make Tolo Baby toys suitable for all baby nursery décor and genders. Tolo Baby is available at selected Kids Emporium stores, Takealot, Babanino, Clicks Baby Club, Hamleys and The Kid Zone.

April 19, 2021

Tolo Baby Spinning Bunnies and Tolo Baby Bunnies Gift Set

Tolo Baby is a gorgeous new range of gifting and baby toys that will not only entertain your little one, but educate and assist with development during play. Perfect for baby showers, these beautiful, simple toys bring a touch of class into your little ones life. The Spinning Bunnies toy is perfect from 6 months upwards. Use the suction cup to attach to flat surfaces such as high chairs or tables and let your child explore and play during meal times by spinning, somersaulting and rattling the bunny characters. Suitable from 3 months upwards, attach the Spinning Bunnies toy across strollers, cribs or play areas and show baby how to spin, rattle and bounce the bunnies. As they grow older they can engage independently as they grasp and spin the toy. If the toys gravitates towards the mouth, no need to worry as it is designed for teething too. Beautiful soft colour palettes make Tolo Baby toys suitable for all baby nursery décor and genders. Tolo Baby is available at selected Kids Emporium stores, Takealot, Babanino, Clicks Baby Club, Hamleys and The Kid Zone.

April 12, 2021

IS PLASTIC SAFE FOR BABY?

Why you should be using eco-friendly baby products… Did you know that plastic is not only polluting our oceans, but scientific research has shown that it may even have detrimental effects on the health and development of our children? Exposure to phthalates, found in plastic, can impair brain development and has shown increased risks for child learning, attention and behavioural problems1. A recent global study of plastic toys has identified over 100 chemicals that may cause harm to children2. Millions of microplastic particles are also said to be released from polypropylene (plastic) baby bottles into baby formula during preparation 3. With so many negatives associated with plastic and more and more telling research published in the last decade, we really wonder why there is still SO MUCH plastic being sold and used by the little humans amongst us. Plastic bottles, plastic dummies, plastic teethers, plastic toys, plastic food storage containers and even plastic (synthetic) clothing… So what can we do? Although still a small community, parents are becoming increasingly aware of the plastic problem and wanting to make a change. They choose eco-friendly options because there are in fact many plastic alternatives available for baby and toddler: WOOD It’s as easy as going back to basics – before plastic, all our grandparents’ toys were made of wood. There are several wooden toy manufacturers in operation today and new companies are continually being established due to their recent increase in popularity. Wood is by far the most common eco-friendly choice for toys, games, puzzles, furniture and room decor. High quality woods are best, that are raw or untreated, or have a non-toxic finish like water-based stains or an organic coating like coconut oil. SILICONE The newest trend in the baby market is all things silicone: bowls, plates, spoons, storage containers, teethers and toys. This is because silicone is extremely durable and long-lasting; it’s also dishwasher, freezer, oven and microwave safe – making for easy parenting. The majority of silicone baby products are made of food-grade silicone that is BPA, BPS, PVC and phthalate free; in other words non-toxic and a great eco-friendly option. Some silicone baby bottles are however advertised as eco-friendly, but may be infused with polypropylene (plastic). BAMBOO Most commonly found in wash cloths, towels, swaddle blankets, bedding, cloth nappies, baby wipes and clothing. It is softer than cotton muslin, hypoallergenic, antibacterial and therefore the better choice for sensitive baby skin. You can also find bamboo items like baby drinking cups, plates, bowls, forks and spoons. Many of them however are not 100% organic because a plastic resin (although in small amounts) is sometimes needed to keep the bamboo fibres together to give it durability. COTTON The most familiar material used to make natural baby clothing, baby wipes, cloth nappies, swaddle blankets, bedding, towels, wash cloths and soft toys. Often advertised as 100% organic cotton or mixed with bamboo fibres – 70% bamboo, 30% cotton muslin. The benefits of using cotton fabric are similar to bamboo, making cotton ideal for sensitive baby skin. It is also more eco-friendly than synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, spandex, chiffon, fleece and satin; all of which contain plastic. Other eco-friendly alternatives for plastic include GLASS (baby bottles), WHEATSTRAW (dining sets and utensils), NATURAL RUBBER (baby bottle teats, dummies, teethers and toys) and RATTAN (the coolest new trend for natural baby furniture, decor and some toys). With so many eco-friendly options available for baby and toddler, parents can be reassured that they are able to raise their little ones in a non-toxic world, while building a plastic-free future. We hope you enjoyed our article. If you need help with natural parenting, visit our online shop at https://www.ecoella.co.za or follow us on social media (@ecoella.and.friends). References: Engel et al. (2020). Neurotoxicity of Ortho-Phthalates: Recommendations for Critical Policy Reforms to Protect Brain Development in Children. AJPH. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.306014 Aurisano et al. (2021). Chemicals of concern in plastic toys. Environment International. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106194 Li et al. (2020). Microplastic release from the degradation of polypropylene feeding bottles during infant formula preparation. Nature Food. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-020-00171-y

April 8, 2021

Tolo Baby Chime Ball and Tolo Baby Roly Poly Teddy Bear

April 6, 2021

Play has the power to help address kids’ anxiety

As restrictions around COVID-19 continue, parents continue to feel anxious – as do their children, who are facing yet another year of limited extra murals and social activities. Even though schools are open for the 2021 academic year, it’s under limiting conditions, which in turn is likely to increase anxiety among children. Anxiety manifests in various ways in children, including poor appetite, getting angry or irritable, worrying or having frequent negative thoughts, being fidgety, being clingy, or complaining of tummy aches or headaches. With the last year or so having thrust families into very different situations, with parents working from home and children kept distant from friends and teachers – whose facial expressions are hidden behind masks – anxiety is being seen in children as young as two years of age. This could be because they’re picking up on the stress their parents have experienced during the pandemic, or it could be that they’re accustomed to passive and isolated screen-bound activities, and they’re struggling to acclimatise to new interactions and activities on returning to school after a long break. “Children communicate and express themselves through play, which is a useful tool, both therapeutically and at home, to provide children with an arena in which to explore and express some of their emotions,” says Colleen Johnson, a Johannesburg child psychologist. “Playing with a child helps not only to connect with them on their level, but offers an opportunity to defuse power struggles, unearth some of their fears and insecurities, and to offer positive resolution through the medium of play. Playing with your child encourages secure attachment, connectedness and fun, which reduces feelings of anxiety.” Cape Town-based occupational therapist Anine van Schalkwyk suggests letting children play through scenarios that make them feel anxious. “Let them play through a situation after it’s happened, rather than asking them direct questions, like ‘how was your day’,” she suggests. “Give them the cues to build a situation, and let them allocate ‘roles’ to you and themselves. In creating the scenario, using their favourite toys, chances are that they’ll tell you the story of their day and what caused their anxiety – and you can help them talk through it.” Johnson adds that the type of play to help resolve anxiety depends on the child’s personality and specific needs at the time – children who are disorganised may benefit from structured play, such as building a LEGO® set together, following the visual instructions. Those that enjoy a less-structured type of play have the freedom to use LEGO® bricks to create builds that express their imaginations – or the issues that may be on their mind. “This helps reduce anxiety as the child feels safe by being able to follow specific guidelines towards a predictable outcome,” she explains. “However, allowing the child to engage in free play or fantasy play has tremendous benefits too, as the child feels in control of their environment, taking the lead and determining their own outcome.” The LEGO® Play Well Report, based of research conducted among children and families in multiple countries, including South Africa, found that parents believe that play develops a wide range of benefits, for their child, for themselves, and for the family unit as a whole. The research highlighted that 91% of respondents felt that play was important to help the family stay entertained, with 88% confirming that play helped them stay emotionally healthy. Van Schalkwyk emphasizes that parents should prioritise close contact play with their children – perhaps even more intensely than they would have before the pandemic, given that children are not getting the sensory and social input needed for appropriate development, because of rigorous social distancing in schools. “Hug your children tight, and often,” she says. “It’s a tough balancing act when you’re tired from working all day, but intense play is good for parents as well – it lowers adults’ anxiety too!”

March 9, 2021

Back to school fun with Play-Doh

The past year has challenged parents in many ways including finding endless at-home activities to keep kids entertained while ensuring they continue to learn and develop outside of a traditional classroom environment. Fostering creativity, being able to think out of the box, brainstorming, generating new ideas and improving on existing ones are important tools for young minds. Which is why Play-Doh continues to captivate the imaginations of children around the globe, providing them with the best in colourful, creatable, makeable adventures! High quality Play-Doh compound is non-toxic and is made up predominantly of simple ingredients including water, salt and flour. As children’s safety is always Hasbro’s top priority, Play-Doh compound undergoes vigorous testing to ensure it meets (and exceeds) all applicable global safety standards and regulations. This is why, after more than 64 years, Play-Doh remains a loved and trusted brand for parents, caregivers and teachers worldwide! A classroom favourite, Play-Doh combines the fun with essential development and learning benefits (listed below). Providing ideal opportunities to practice and nurture kids critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration and creativity skills while exploring a range of topics and skills including language, math, science, social studies, and the arts. Additionally engaging toddlers and young children (ages 2-6 years) with sensory, open-ended play activities can help them prepare for the big, elaborate world. Combine the fun with essential development and learning benefits: Play-Doh encourages creativity and imagination by providingyour child with unlimited moulding possibilities and the freedom to explore. Creating different shapes or mixing different Play-Doh colours together to discover a new colour, can assist children in growing their curiosity, develop cognitive exploration and enhance their mathematical thinking. All the squishing, rolling, flattening and shaping helps to enhance fine motor skills by developing and strengthening hand muscles, which encourages pre-writing and other motor skills such as cutting with scissors, using tweezers, holding a pencil etc. The tactile, hands-on nature of Play-Doh compound can also help encourage development of hand-eye coordination. Play-Doh offers kids a multi-sensory experience allowing them to learn about their world through touch, sight and smell. Sitting and squishing Play-Doh is also a very calming and soothing activity, which eases tension, releases extra energy as well as improves focus and concentration. Playing with Play-Doh in a small group and/or with adults presents opportunities for children to develop social skills such as collaborative problem solving, planning and playing as well as learning to effectively communicate ideas or discuss what they are making. Children can also learn to effectively engage in individual play sharpening their focus, patience and concentration skills. Nominate a teacher for the #CansOfKindnessAward! For many the past year has also renewed our appreciation for the incredible job that teachers do to keep kids inspired, motivated and encouraged while learning! This is why Play-Doh is calling on the kids to nominate their favourite Grade 0 or Grade 1 teacher for the #CansOfKindnessAward! Stand the chance to win an exciting Play-Doh hamper, while the winning teacher will receive a year’s supply of Play-Doh for the classroom. All you have to do is post a video to FB @PlayDohSouthAfrica of your kid telling us about their incredible teacher and use #CansOfKindnessAward. Entries close 26 February 2021. For more inspiration visit @PlayDohSouthAfrica on Facebook Play-Doh is available from Toy Kingdom, Toys R Us, ToyZone, Takealot.com and other major retailers. PARENT GUIDE Some fun activities designed to ensure kids have fun while learning At its core, Play-Doh is creativity – providing endless interactive play options. Guide your child to explore different shapes, forms and colours, which increases curiosity and knowledge while developing their fine motor skills and hand to eye coordination. Play-Doh allows children the flexibility to experiment and develop their own stories and leads to innovative, imaginative thinking and increased confidence down the line. Engaging in child-adult conversation, assists with communication and vocabulary growth – ask questions and allow your child to practice critical thinking and decision-making skills. Repetition can be a great way to reinforce the skills you’ve explored. Have fun doing the activities multiple times and in different ways! All Set for some Play-Doh fun! Get creative with Sticky the Octopus! Gather the materials you’ll need: 4 Play-Doh colours Red or pink A light colour i.e. white or yellow A darker colour i.e. blue Your favourite colour Toothpick/ fork/ beads Using your favourite colour roll out a round-shaped ball for the head Roll two small balls (in your lightest Play-Doh colour) for the eyes and place two smaller circles in a darker colour on top for the pupils. Add the eyes to head Curl eight ‘snake shapes’ in the same colour as your head for the tentacles Attach the tentacles to the bottom of the head Use your toothpick or fork to ‘scratch’ lines, circles or any pattern onto the tentacles as decoration Make 30 small balls in a contrasting colour and add them onto the tentacles and head If you’d like add beads as decoration – press these into the tentacles for added colour and texture (please note if adding beads to Octopus creation – the Play-Doh will not be able to be reused). Roll a short thin red/ pink piece of Play-Doh and complete your Octopus by adding a bright smile. If you are feeling extra creative shape a top hat or a bow tie for your Octopus to wear or create a beach ball for your Octopus to ‘play’ with. Skills match: fine motor skills, creativity, collaboration, sensory play (Task source Una van Staden, Pikanini) Play-Doh Faces Fun Making Play-Doh faces is so much fun and a great way for kids to learn about their bodies more specifically the face while developing fine motor skills. Before starting the activity discuss the different parts of the face and the shapes and size each aspect has in relation to each other i.e. eyes, ears, hair, nose, and mouth. Create a Face Mat – on a blank sheet of A4 paper draw a round circle for ahead with shoulders

February 2, 2021

Chicco Baby Senses Elliot Camping Lover and Baby Senses Roger Tennis Lover

The Baby Senses range from Chicco is the primary toy range that encourages babies from as young as 3 months old to use and develop their senses. As babies grow, they can enjoy the more advanced, electronic toys in the Baby Senses range that require batteries and make use of sonic and visual sensory engagement. Baby Senses Elliot Camping Lover is a lantern-shaped electronic toy that allows children to step into the shoes of an explorer. With electronic lights and sounds, Elliot Camping Lover helps develop and perfect those first motor skills with manual activities. Includes melodies and a rotating compass. Perfect for kids from 6 months old. Baby Senses Roger Tennis Lover is an electronic toy named after tennis legend Roger Federer, in the shape of a tennis racket. Lights and melodies and manual activities keep children engaged as they naturally develop motor skills. Suitable from 6 months old. Items available online at Takealot.com, Loot.co.za, Online Home Store, Baby Boom, Babanino.co.za and TheKidZone.co.za

November 23, 2020

Playing for the future

Meg Faure, best-selling author & co-founder of Play Sense We are living in a time when everything we’ve come to accept as normal is being turned upside down. The same is true for education – especially when we think about how to best equip our children for the future. We’ve all heard about artificial intelligence and machine learning and how computers are much better at processing and organizing information than we are. Automation and digitization have changed the way we live and work. To the point that many of the jobs available today will be fulfilled by machines in the (not-so-distant) future. Future-proofing your child So, how do we ready our little ones for the future? Their future. Over the last decade we’ve seen pockets of schools, teachers and parents break away from traditional education, to something that engages the whole child in learning. Whether that be through smaller groups of children, teacher-child ratios of less than ten, different teaching methodologies or any combination thereof. Research and experience have proven that enriched experiences are the architect of little one’s minds. When a child is using their imagination, they are developing soft skills like collaboration, creativity, problem solving and self-regulation. And contrary to what our education system would have us believe – these are the skills that contribute to your child’s lifelong success. Google it More than a decade ago now, Google conducted recruitment research called Project Oxygen. The goal was to define the top 8 criteria candidates needed to succeed at Google. Given that Google is a data and technology business, you would think that STEM skills would be top of the list. But guess what? STEM skills were at the bottom of the list of essential skills – the rest were all soft skills. Soft skills are those strengths that are intangible, hard to measure but also invaluable when it comes to achieving lifelong success and happiness. There is no better time to start fostering soft skills in children than when they are toddlers. Children are in their most exciting development phase between 2 and 4 years old and the best thing we as parents can offer them is the opportunity to learn essential skills through play, guided by a nurturing teacher, in small groups and within a home environment. Toddlers thrive when these factors combine and it’s the basis of our ethos at Play Sense. Child’s play At 2 years old, little ones are not ready for unfamiliar surroundings, big groups of children and an overt focus on rushing through fine motor and cognitive development. It’s only through play that little ones learn – and soft skills form the foundation for their education journey, well into adulthood. Play Sense’s research-based program has been created by early years experts to prioritise the development of soft skills (and the overlap with Google’s findings is incredible!). But what skills does your child need to flourish? Collaboration – the ability to understand one’s own mind, the mind of another and make connections with other human beings is critical in the workplace and beyond. For a two-year-old, this is best fostered in small group settings. When leaving home for the first time, your child should experience socialization in a protected and nurturing environment. This cements the foundation for a collaborative mindset. Creativity – the ability to create something out of nothing, to envisage a product and plan the steps to get there is the cornerstone of a creative mindset. We develop creativity in children through simple toys, free play, and imaginary play – allowing little ones to discover and refine their inherent creativity. Self-Regulation – the ability to manage strong emotions, create a balanced response to changes in the world and to moderate one’s own behaviour is a vital part of learning and success. The only way a young child learns self-regulation of strong feelings and overwhelming behaviours is in the context of loving, empathic relationships. As parents and teachers, we need to be co-regulators – facilitating the development of self-regulation. Executive function – the CEO of the brain – executive function plans the way to achieve something, weighing up all resources at one’s disposal. Executive function activates the plan, reassesses as one goes along, and changes direction should the need arise. This mental flexibility and ability to see the bigger picture as well as the finer details is a critical soft skill. It is wonderfully developed as little ones embark on free play and imaginary games. Super Senses – the motivation, will and drive to learn, be challenged and the spark to engage are what we call the Super Senses – unquantifiable soft skills that drive a child to master their world and develop a lifelong love for learning. Every education opportunity should nurture this magic quality. In the young child, play is the secret to igniting this fire. At Play Sense, we believe in the power of play to develop these and other core capacities. We witness the benefits of play every day along with hundreds of families around the world. And the resounding message is this – don’t overschedule your child with extramural activities, avoid the urge to be ‘busy’. Make play a priority in your home – it holds the key to a wealth of skills and abilities that your toddler needs to realise success and fulfillment in a world of the that most of us can hardly imagine.

November 18, 2020

Chicco Baby Senses Candy Cupcake and Baby Senses Ciro Pizza Lover

The Baby Senses range from Chicco is the primary toy range that encourages babies from as young as 3 months old to use and develop their senses. As babies grow, they can enjoy the more advanced, electronic toys in the Baby Senses range that require batteries and make use of sonic and visual sensory engagement. Baby Senses Candy Cupcake is a fun electronic toy to get baby engaging and using motor skills from about 6 months of age. Using lights and music, this pink, cupcake-shaped toy has small challenges and attractions to keep your little one entertained. Baby Senses Ciro Pizza Lover is a true Italian toy that is named after the pizza-capital of Napoletana. A fun pizza-cutter shaped toy that doubles up as a rattle, your baby can turn him on to active lights and music as they learn to engage with sound. Items available online at Takealot.com, Loot.co.za, Online Home Store, Baby Boom, Babanino.co.za and TheKidZone.co.za

November 16, 2020

Chicco Baby Senses Bath Toys selection

The Baby Senses range from Chicco is the primary toy range that encourages babies from as young as 3 months old to use and develop their senses. Baby Senses now introduce their new bath time range of toys to keep little ones engaged and having fun during the important bonding time of bathing. Baby Senses Swimming Frog and Baby Senses Swimming Penguin are two gorgeous bath time companions that work with a mechanical win-up system. Wind them up and watch them swim the length of the bath, creating much laughter and fun for your little one. Also from the range is the Baby Senses Sprinkler Whale. Again, a mechanic wind-up toy, the whale blows water the bath water from his spout as he bobs about in the bath, creating a fun atmosphere that will keep encouraging babies to look forward to bath time. Items available online at Takealot.com, Loot.co.za, Online Home Store, Baby Boom, Babanino.co.za and TheKidZone.co.za

November 9, 2020

Another Must-Have Card Game- UNO FLIP!™

Who doesn’t love UNO… well if you are a fan then certainly UNO FLIP!™will grab your attention and keep the whole family entertained! As some of you may already know, card games are a big thing in our house. We can spend hours as a family playing a variety of games together. Not only is this important bonding time for us but regularly playing card games creates an opportunity for us to all interact with each other and challenge each other’s skills. What I have found is that it encourages my younger children to focus better on their decision-making in terms of what hand to play, figure out how they can outwit the older children and which card will give them the better opportunity of winning. It also creates a space where we can all be competitive but within a safe environment where we all laugh with each other and does not feel like an educational opportunity at all! . UNO FLIP!™ is very much like the UNO that we all know and love – but with a twist! The cards are double-sided and this new and exciting deck includes a special FLIP card that gives classic gameplay a competitive edge. Players take turns matching a card in their hand with the current card shown on top of the deck either by colour or number. In a race to deplete their hands, players can play special cards to slow their opponents down, like Skips, Reverses and colour-changing Wild cards. UNO FLIP!™ also includes new Action cards that really shake things up, like Draw Five and Skip Everyone cards. Play the special FLIP card and all cards in your hand, the draw pile and draw deck are flipped over to reveal an entirely new set of numbers and colours on the opposite side! Talk about shaking things up! The holder of the FLIP card then determines whether or not you play on the “light” side or “dark” side of the deck and when you switch it back around. Strategise to rattle your competition and be the first to get rid of your cards to win. This is another educational opportunity for players, no matter what age, encouraging them to hone their planning skills. When you’re down to one card, don’t forget to shout “UNO! UNO FLIP!™ comes in a pack of 112 cards and includes detailed instructions. UNO FLIP!™ is perfect for families and players ages 7 and up. UNO FLIP!™ is available at your favourite toy store today!

October 29, 2020

Why we love the Laugh & Learn® Magic Colour Mixing Bowl from Fisher-Price®

We love any toy that can strengthen a young child’s developmental skills and the Laugh & Learn® Magic Colour Mixing Bowl from Fisher-Price® does exactly that! Once again Fisher-Price® have outdone themselves! Not only is the Laugh & Learn® Magic Colour Mixing Bowl super cute to look at but it is really fun too! Let’s dive straight into the features: The Laugh & Learn® Magic Colour Mixing Bowl knows when your little baker places the ingredients that comes with the set, into the bowl and rewards each movement of the child. This works both ways, either putting the ingredients into the bowl or taking them out. What a delightful feature! With six removable ‘ingredient’ play pieces, two buttons that activate more fun songs and sounds, and an adorable light-up face, this sweet baking toy is deliciously fun! Fisher-Price® Laugh & Learn® Magic Color Mixing Bowl introduces everyday items to your little one whilst encouraging interactive play, they are introduced to important educational concepts like shapes. Colours and numbers. With each action, colourful lights, music, sound and learning phases will keep your toddler really engaged. From new phrases being introduced, the alphabet and learning numbers, your toddler will be baking for hours with this new addition to the Fisher-Price® family. Strengthen your toddlers fine motor skills through grasping and moving pieces in and out of the mixing bowl whilst introducing them to fun cause and effect skills as they figure out how to activate the bowl and music. Where development comes into play™ Early Academics: Sung songs and phrases introduce your baby to the alphabet, colours, numbers, and more! Fine Motor Skills: Grasping and moving the play pieces in and out of the mixing bowl helps strengthen your baby’s dexterity and hand-eye coordination The Laugh & Learn® Magic Colour Mixing Bowl from Fisher-Price® comes with 6 removable play pieces, the items are BPA-free and suited for babies ages 6-36 months old. So does this get Emma’s Parents Approval… oh yes it does! Here is what mom had to say about it: Emma has reached the age where she loves trying to put things into containers and boxes, rather than just pulling things out. The Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Magic Color Mixing Bowl is perfect to keep her engaged with fun items and rewarding sounds. The toy plays the jazziest “ABC” song I’ve heard in a musical toy, I love watching my little dancer tap her feet to the beat! I did find that she had put her shoes, comb and oversized plush toy into the bowl as well, so I’m sure it’s sparking her creativity as she learns what fits!

October 28, 2020

Meet the ever so fun Linkimals!

Fisher-Price is synonymous with being an educational brand that many parents have trusted for years. With so much care and thought placed into each product it is no wonder that the new Linkimals are such a hit! As Emma is now 10 months old, it was the perfect time to introduce her to her very own Linkimals pal. This range is suitable for little ones from 9 months and up. Baby is able to engage with learning in a way that only Fisher Prices knows how to bring to children.. The Linkimals range introduces your baby to counting, colours, music, lights and phrases. With their easy design made totally with baby in mind, Emma was able to interact with…().. easily and with little to no assistance required from mom or dad. Of course Emma just loves pushing buttons so the Linkimals Smooth Moving Sloth was so engaging for her! Emma, and your little one, can easily develop Gross Motor and Fine Motor skills with the Linkimals collection. And when you get the entire gang together, a whole new world of learning is opened up. With 5 Linkimals in the collection and using the Linkimals amazing technology, they are all able to communicate with each other! e How cool is that? All the Linkimals friends want to play as well so when you synchronise them, the continuity between the range of Linkimals is fantastic. It most certainly seems like a bunch of toy friends are singing and encouraging each other all the way through. And their beautiful lights, dance and moving parts really helps to hold baby’s interest in the activity. Their songs are a little longer than would be considered normal for children of this age, but they all do have meaning and are not too long that baby gets bored. You’ll be surprised at the level of concentration your baby has! Having more than one toy from this collection is ideal. It allows children from a young age to experience support from another source, thus providing fun learning activities for your baby. Each unit in the collection teaches different things which is what makes the entire collection so special. The Linkimals collections includes: Linkimals Musical Moose The Linkimals Musical Moose is loaded with exciting interactive play that introduces your baby to counting, colours, and more with playful songs, lights, and phrases. Just press his belly to get the light-up learning party started! Plus, when Musical Moose recognizes other Linkimals friends, they create a synchronized music and light show! (Additional Linkimals toys sold separately.) Where development comes into play: Early Academics: Sung songs and phrases introduce your tiny dancer to colours and counting from 1 to 10! Sensory: The moose’s light-up belly, playful songs and sounds, and soft antlers engage your baby’s developing visual, auditory, and tactile senses. Curiosity & Wonder: Your baby can discover the fun of cause and effect as they press the belly button to activate music and lights or bat at the bobble head. Fisher-Price Linkimals Smooth Moves Sloth The Linkimals Smooth Moves Sloth gets your baby moving and learning with exciting lights, music, songs, and groovy dance moves. Press the buttons on the sloth’s feet to hear all about numbers, colours and more, as the sloth claps its hands and bobs its head. Plus, when Smooth Moves Sloth recognizes other Linkimals friends, they create a synchronized music and light show! (Additional Linkimals toys sold separately.) Where development comes into play: Early Academics: The sloth’s playful songs and phrases introduce your baby to counting, colours, opposites, and the alphabet. Gross Motor: Sung songs and music encourage your baby to move and groove, giving their gross motor skills a great workout. Sensory: Bright, colourful lights, fun music, and soft arms engage your baby’s visual, auditory, and tactile skills. Fisher-Price Linkimals Counting Koala Climbing up a palm tree with their koala friend, baby makes a startling discovery: this tree grows squares, triangles and circles. The Linkimals Counting Koala from Fisher-Price is a musical learning friend for babies with exciting lights, songs, and phrases that introduce numbers, counting and shapes. And when Counting Koala meets up with other Linkimals friends, they light-up, talk, sing and play together! (Additional Linkimals toys sold separately and subject to availability.) Hands-on play, including a bat-at roller ball, shape spinner, and push buttons help strengthen your baby’s fine motor skills, while the exciting interactive content helps introduce cause and effect. Fisher-Price Linkimals Happy Shapes Hedgehog The Linkimals Happy Shapes Hedgehog is packed with exciting play that grows along with your baby! Younger babies can spin, turn, toggle, and bat the activities on their buddy’s back, or press the light-up buttons to hear songs and phrases about colours, shapes, and numbers. Then older babies can push or pull the hedgehog along for more fun music and sounds. Plus, when Happy Shapes Hedgehog recognizes other Linkimals friends, they create a synchronized music and light show! (Additional Linkimals toys sold separately.) Where development comes into play : Early Academics: The hedgehog’s playful songs and phrases introduce your baby to shapes, numbers, and colours. Gross Motor: From sitting up to play, to crawling and pushing, to walking and pulling their pal along, this sweet hedgehog helps your baby’s gross motor skills keep going and growing! Fine Motor: Spinning the roller, turning the butterfly clicker, pressing the toggle, and batting the bead bar isn’t just super fun; these activities help strengthen your baby’s dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Fisher-Price Linkimals Lights & Colors Llama The Linkimals Lights & colours Llama takes classic stacking fun up a notch with colourful lights and exciting music, songs and phrases that introduce your baby to different colours. Just stack the rings on the llama’s neck or press down on the topper to get the party started! Plus, when Lights & colours Llama recognizes other Linkimals friends, they create a synchronized music and light show! (Additional Linkimals toys sold separately.) Where development comes into play: Fine Motor: Grasping and stacking the colourful rings helps strengthen

October 28, 2020

The benefits of block play & young children

In my opinion blocks are one of the most important toys any young child should have in their playroom. Blocks are a teacher’s best friend and every classroom should have an endless supply of blocks in every colour, shape and size. There are a host of possibilities and benefits to be gained from it! 1. Imagination – Through block play children are free to follow their own ideas as they embark on a voyage of discovery or share in the development of their friends’ creations. 2. Self-expression – Children can express themselves through their play, creations and discoveries, a form of communication that’s particularly valuable for bilingual or non-verbal children. 3. Problem-solving – Blocks offer a great platform to develop problem-solving and reasoning skills. This can be deliberate, with children consciously working to develop a solution, or as a natural consequence of play, as they learn first-hand what does and what does not work. 4. Mathematics – Due to the many shapes, sizes and colours on offer, blocks offer ample opportunity for children to practise important maths skills, covering measurement, number, symmetry, balance and estimation. By comparing shapes and sizes, creating patterns or providing measuring and weighing tools, we can can extend play and exploration. 5. Physical development – Block play promotes the development of spatial awareness and develops hand-eye coordination and mid-line crossing as children reach for, lift, move and build with blocks, strengthening their fingers, hands and arms. 6. Creativity – Blocks are loose parts, meaning children are free to combine and recombine them in countless ways. Parents or teachers can add alternative resources such as dough, small world characters or paint and pencils to further extend opportunities for creativity. 7. Science – Through the exploration of cause and effect and experimentation, children are able to develop their problem-solving skills, test hypotheses and practise scientific reasoning. Blocks help them to become familiar with balance, weight, spatial awareness and gravity. 8. Self-esteem – Children can take risks in their block play, helping them to discover that they have independent ideas. Children experience a sense of achievement as they ‘have a go’, creating and developing something new and unique. 9. Problem solving – Block play allows children to co-construct and negotiate. They take turns, share materials and cooperate with others, forging new friendships. It also encourages self-reliance, increases attention span and develops their sense of self. 10. Communication & literacy – As children encounter new experiences through block play, there are countless opportunities for discussion and the development of new vocabulary. Social interaction with adults and peers unlocks further benefits, while using blocks can support story creation and collaborative storytelling. So what does mom have to say? My inquisitive one year old is learning at such an incredible pace, it’s amazing to see how much she takes in every day. Building blocks are a classic tool that helps children work on spatial reasoning, motor skills, hand-eye coordination and creativity, so I really wanted her to be exposed to them as early as possible. Mega Bloks toys are always made with good quality materials, so these blocks have a lovely feel. The vibrant colours keep my daughter engaged. She’s a bit too young to put the pieces together by herself, but her dad enjoys helping her, and I love watching the dad-daughter bonding as they play together. Cleaning up is quick and easy, and Emma has great fun throwing the blocks into the storage bag that comes with the set. If you are looking for a gift for your young child, look no further than a set of Mega Bloks! They stand the test of time; they are durable and are easy to disinfect and sanitise. Mega Bloks are available to purchase from Takealot so don’t delay – add them to your cart or Christmas wishlist

October 28, 2020

We love the Disney/PIXAR Toy Story – Emperor Zurg

Emperor Zurg (also known as the Evil Emperor Zurg or simply Zurg); is the sworn enemy of the Galactic Alliance and the archenemy of Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story movies. He forms part of the gang that make up the “cool” must- have Toy Story toys. If your child loves Toys Story as much as my 4-year-old son, the Emperor, being one of the “bad guys” must be in their Toy Story collection. He is the perfect size for action storytelling play; recreating favourite movie scenes will not be the same without him. This figure’s head, arms, hands and elbows are able to bend and move and he is positioned on three wheels, making his movement across the floor look very realistic and intimidating to fellow toy story characters. Fantasy/make-believe play is something that comes naturally for young children when allowed and given the opportunity to set their imaginations free! When your child engages in pretend (or dramatic) play, he is actively experimenting with the social and emotional roles of life. … When your child pretends to be different characters, he has the experience of “walking in someone else’s shoes,” which helps teach the important moral development skill of empathy. One of the key reasons why children should play is to develop their imagination and cognitive strength and should always be encouraged by parents.

October 28, 2020

Imaginext GKG77 Mega bite shark

My 4-year-old and I were both super excited when we received a big box containing the Mega bite shark! I knew I was going to love what was inside just by looking at the beautiful sturdy packaging. His face lit up as soon as we opened the box. Inside, a mega shark with big teeth and a fierce expression! Included in the box is a shark cage and a diver with a detachable air tank and a harpoon. It was clear that this was not your ordinary shark toy! When the shark is rolled back and forth on the wheels underneath its body, the shark literally comes alive! The neck rocks from side to side, the mouth opens and close and the flippers move, mimicking a real shark’s movement! This feature is super cool and left my son and myself, absolutely mesmerised. He immediately started assembling the diver and attached the diver’s feet to the sharks back and rolled the “swimming” shark all over the house. Later he had the diver inside the shark’s mouth and had fun opening and closing its big teeth chomping away at the diver. He continued creating all sorts of action-packed scenarios and invented stories and ideas, later adding seashells and sand to create an underwater scene. The only disappointing thing is that the shark is not intended for water use. I am super excited about the thought that went into this toy as it inspires creativity, grows imagination and helps children to develop their storytelling skills. This set also encourages social interaction for older toddlers and children who begin playing with friends or siblings and sharing ideas. It provides an opportunity for children to practice and develop social skills simply by being with and talking to each other about their game. It boosts development of problem solving and self-regulation skills, learning to share and respect ideas of others. A really awesome gift idea for young toddlers and children! Product Available for purchase: https://www.toysrus.co.za/catalog/product/view/id/67127/s/webname/category/5498/

October 27, 2020

FISHER-PRICE INVITES YOU ON A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE WITH THE POP ART-NOSTALGIA-PACKED ‘FISHER-PRICE TOY MUSEUM’

Fisher-Price, the leading baby and infant pre-school brand across the world, is throwing open the virtual doors to its brand new Fisher-Price Toy Museum – the first-of-its-kind experience which digitally showcases classic Fisher-Pricetoys from the past nine decades in a colourful and fun exhibition especially created and curated for Instagram. In what is being dubbed the ultimate trip down memory lane for people of all ages, the grand opening of the Fisher-Price Toy Museum will be on 16October where visitors to the official Fisher-Price Instagram page will be able to rekindle their relationship with some of their favourite Fisher-Price toys through a colourful and interactive exhibition of images and videos. Today, the world-famous toy company has released 9 images to select press outlets to preview what visitors to the museum can expect to see when they log on. At the museum, the legacy of Fisher-Price toys will be on full display. In honour of the brand’s anniversary year, the museum will feature more than 90 different exhibits that will be organised by decade, enabling visitors to easily locate the vintage toys from their childhood. The launch collection will include a variety of classic products creatively designed by artist and designer Leila Fakouri, who focused on keeping the toys as the star of each environment while incorporating dimensions and textures to create an authentic museum feel. Specific exhibits include Snoopy Sniffer, which launched in 1938, and sits atop a fabricated slice of blueberry pie, the iconic Roller Skates, which were first introduced in 1983, and are showcased in a miniature roller skating rink complete with the wood paneled flooring and carpeted walls, and the Soothe & Glow Seahorse, which launched in 2008, and is displayed underwater in an aquarium setting. Artist and designer Leila Fakouri says: “These toys were designed and created in a variety of time periods spanning almost a century. Each decade has its own style, colours, vibe and nostalgic memories. I focused on bringing this to life by curating a beautiful and complex variety of installations that reflect the visual language of each time.” “The Fisher-Price Toy Museum was inspired by the idea that, whether you were born in the 1950s, 1980s or 2000s, everyone has a memory of their favorite childhood toy, and many of those are from Fisher-Price,” said Chuck Scothon, SVP and Global Head of Infant and Preschool, Mattel. “The intent of this museum is to take visitors back to their unique childhood experiences, and give them the opportunity to relive their youth, even if just for a few moments.” Fisher-Price are partnering with Time Out across Europe for the launch of the Virtual Toy Museum. Creative content will be produced for 7 markets including London, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Berlin, Istanbul, Athens encouraging parents to visit the Fisher-Price Toy Museum on Instagram and revisit the decade they grew up in. The content hosted on Time Out will include digital features and social campaigns. Celebrating a 90-year milestone since its early founding in June 1930. The pioneering US based company, which has been a staple in millions of happy childhoods and has a rich history of innovation, was the first to use and term the phrase ‘Preschool Toys’ (1934), the first to create licensed toys and one of the first companies to make coding available to preschool kids with the introduction of the award-winning Code-A-Pillar (2016). In 2020, during the global COVID pandemic, Fisher-Price released a special edition line of collectible action figures and Little People Community Champions called the #ThankYouHeroes where all net proceeds go to charities supporting COVID efforts. The company recently launched a new multi-year, 360-degree marketing campaign titled, “Let’s Be Kids,” that celebrates seeing the world as kids see it, with optimism and humour whilst also extending an open invitation to grown-ups to grow-down and rediscover the joy of playtime.

October 26, 2020

Introducing the Thomas & Friends™ Cassia Crane & Cargo Set

Did you know that Thomas & Friends™ is an exciting spin-off of Thomas the Tank Engine which was first published in 1945?! Who doesn’t love the Thomas & Friends™ TV show?! Fisher-Price just have that special knack for bringing fun learning activities to children of all ages. With their history of introducing fun learning activities to babies and children, you can’t go wrong with purchasing Fisher-Price toys for your kids. Their superior quality has seen many Fisher-Price toys being passed down through the generations. Now your preschooler will get the chance to relive some of their favourite moments from the Thomas & Friends™ TV show with this exciting train set from Fisher-Price. Thomas wants to be a Really Useful Engine and help deliver a load of avocados to the docks, but he needs help from his good friend, Cassia. Preschoolers can use the toy crane to grab and load the barrels onto the engine’s cargo car, then flip the switch to send Thomas racing around the railway tracks to make the delivery! This TrackMaster™ battery-powered motorised engine, toy crane, and track pieces are all compatible with other TrackMaster™ track sets for limitless adventures. What’s really cool is that you buy additional track sets which are sold separately and your little train-driver can expand his delivery route. Special Features of this set include : Cassia the crane gets to help Thomas load up and deliver his cargo with this Thomas & Friends™ play-set Crane spins 360 degrees with real-working claw for grabbing, lifting, and loading cargo Send the battery-powered train racing around the railway track to deliver the barrels of avocados to the docks (Motorised engine compatible with all TrackMaster™ and Wood tracks; additional tracks sold separately) Includes Cassia, Thomas motorised engine with cargo car, dock pieces, barrels, and 7 track pieces (Compatible with all TrackMaster™ tracks; additional tracks sold separately.) For preschool children ages 3 years and older

October 23, 2020

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