KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Angela

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Today I’d like to introduce you to a wonderful new store that I discovered recently: The Toy Bug – www.thetoybug.com.au.

As you might expect, The Toy Bug stocks toys. No just any toys though: Jo Debnam, proprietor of the The Toy Bug stocks one of the finest selections I have seen online in Australia, and the prices are quite amazing! I have already placed 2 orders at The Toy Bug – after the first one was so good I had to dive straight back on in – and I can tell you that the service is an absolute knockout. I cannot speak highly enough!

So you can feel the love at The Toy Bug as I have, Jo at The Toy Bug is giving all KidStyleFile readers 10% off store-wide until 31 July 2009. Enter the code ‘ksf10′ to redeem.

I must say that I have found it very challenging to write this post and narrow it down to a few picks for you: EVERYTHING at The Toy Bug is meritous. I suggest browsing all the brands and then checking out all the categories (Pretend Play - how adorable is Sandra’s Wardrobe??, Novelty Toys – I just purchased a stash of mini compasses, tape measure and stampers for party bags, and Lachie’s Favourites: Jo’s son, Lachie has Autism Spectrum Disorder, and these are his favourite toys) so you don’t miss anything.

Those of you who have been looking for an award-winning Gyro Car, jump now while the discount is there and nab yourself an super bargain!

Some my very favourite toys are in the superlative lineup at The Toy Bug. We have all of these at home. They have been truly tried and tested and have come up trumps: buy with confidence!

Active People Bilibo – this simple open-ended toy goes on and on, powered by your child’s imagination. Is it a spinner, a bed, a scoop, a hat, a hill or a shell? It’s all of these and more!

Quercetti Georello Gears Go Round – Italian made quality, and a delightful toy: build your creation, crank the handle and watch the gears spin. A great way to teach cause and effect.

Egg Shape Sorter – a wonderful flashback to my own childhood, and an essential motor skill development toy for every littlie.

Tap A Shape Corkboard-  Perfect hammer and nail fun for the over 4 set. Comes complete with board, wooden shapes, tacks and hammer.

Fat Brain Toys Dado Cube – A construction toy with a very pleasing aesthetic. Leave it on the coffee table for kids and adults alike to enjoy.

Magnetic Maze – A game for one or two players. Set your own rules for completion. Good for hand-eye co-ordination, logic development and as a science lesson to teach how and why magnets work.

Prices marked below in red are applicable with code ‘ksf10′ until 31 July 2009 only.

A. Egg Shape Sorter $8.50 less 10% = $7.65
B. Tap a Shape Corkboard $15.00 less 10% = $13.50
C. Quercetti Georello Gears Go Round $25.99 less 10% = $23.39
D. Hickory Dickory Clock $39.00 less 10% = $35.10
E. Gyro Car $100.00 less 10% = $90.00
F. Fat Brain Toys USA made Dado Cube Set $49.95 less 10% = $44.95
G. Sparkle T Pull-along Jaffa the Dog toy $19.95 less 10% = $17.95
H. Wanju My Treetop Hideaway $99.00 less 10% = $89.10
I. Wooden Insect Self-Stampers $2.00 less 10% = $1.80
J. Wooden Breakfast Food Board $15.95 less 10% = $14.35
K. Magnetic Maze $24.00 less 10% = $21.60
L. Sandra’s Wardrobe Wooden Doll with Fashion wardrobe  $22.00 less 10% = $19.80
M. Petit Jour Paris Elmer Soft Block Set $26.00 $20.00 less 10% = $18.00

The Toy Bug stock quality brands including Active People, Anamalz, Boyle, Crocodile Creek, Djeco, EDDU Toy, Fat Brain Toy Co, Fiesta Crafts, GUND, Le Toy Van, JELLYCAT, Mamas & Papas, Manhattan Toy Company, Melissa & Doug, Petit Jour Paris, Sparkle T, Spiegelburg, TOLO, Toys Pure, Voila, WANJU and Wonderworld.

The Toy Bug charge $9.90 flat Australia-wide (with 3 product exceptions) and send via Express or Registered Post. Read the full shipping and delivery information here. Internatinalorders are welcome. Layby is also available.

Today’s post written by Miki

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I think that MetroMum - www.metromum.com.au – just gets better every time I visit.  No, really – have a look and see what I mean.

For one thing, Tamara and Francine are constantly refreshing the range of products, meaning that both the eternally popular and the new and innovative are always in great supply.

For another, they always has great discounts happening about the place: have a look at the ‘What’s Hot’ box on the home page.  It always contains changing weekly specials so you need to check it frequently to make sure you take advantage of all the deals, and this week’s are especially great.

You can get the Bebedelice Multifunctional Food Processor (valued at $199.95) plus two FREE shirt bibs (valued at $23.95 each) for only $169.00! That’s a huge saving!

Also in ‘The Hot Box’, as I like to call it, is the Babymoov Car Seat Organiser which you’ll find invaluable for long or even short car trips.  There’s a place for everything your baby or toddler needs, and plenty to keep them interested and distracted.  Even better, it’s marked down from $68.00 to just $49.95!

Now for imaginative play you have to take a look at the toys from Active People.  The makers of the iconic Bilibo, these guys have some new toys out.  First of all I want to show you the Babal, which is an intriguing ‘ball that is actually two balls’, and is limited only by your kids’ imaginations.

Then there’s the new Bilibo Pixel, which is a million games in one little set, and 100 million games when you add the Mini Bilibo to the mix.  Hours and hours of fun to be had here!

For loads of other fantastic ideas for Christmas presents and stocking stuffers, do yourself a favour: make a cuppa, pop the baby in bed and send the kids into the yard to play and have a happy browse around at Metro Mum.  Bliss!

Want even more of an incentive to start adding things to your cart?  Well here’s two things you should know:

1. $5.00 store credit for FREE to everyone who joins the Metro Mum Club this month

2. A FREE gift exclusively for KSF readers who spend over $50.00 in one transaction.  Just enter KSF at checkout to claim you free pressie!

Offers ends 20 December 2008.

1. Compendium Interview Books – My Dad and My Mum, $14.95ea
2. OTi 2009 Organiser, $39.59
3. DadGear Messenger Camouflage Nappy Bag, $145.00
4. Ellie Bellie Kids Reversible Tutu – Pink/Lime, $60.00
5. Babymoov Hippo Plate, Lid & Spoon set, $28.00
6. Active People ‘Babal Toy’, $28.00
7. Organic Pregnancy Tea – New Mum, $13.00
8. Babytalk ‘I replaced the dog’ Growsuit, $14.95
9. Argan Organic Care Oil, $55.00
10. Babytalk ‘Just done 9 months inside’ Growsuit, $14.95
11. Leisure Learning Educational Bath Blocks, $19.00

The range of brands at Metro Mum includes Emotion & Kids, Babymoov, FLATOUTbears, Il Tutto, Bilibo, Britt, Lilbird, The Prego Planner, Isoki, Mokopuna, Storksak, Melobaby, Mia Bossi, PeeWee & PooToo, David Fussenegger, DadGear, Little Sprowtz, Language Littles, Little Beetle, Baufix, Little Swish, Kipiis, FunPod, Keptin-Jr, Paper Eskimo, Foogo by Thermos, Snack Trap, Nest, Kanoe, Qtees, Mothers Minder, Ocho, Little Kitchen, Compendium, Ellaroo, Boyle, Milk & Tickles, Annabel Trends, Wall Candy, Lupi Lu, Mishi Design, Scount Organic, Oeuf, Mishi Design, Penny Scallan, and Caden Lane and Trunki.

Metro Mum charge $7.95 postage to most areas (less if you’re in the Sydney Metro area) – check the Delivery page for full details. Orders over $200.00 are posted free of charge within Australia.

Today’s post written by Angela

Today I’m reviewing the Active People Bilibo for you. My verdict? This isn’t a game of chance, the Bilibo may be a ’subtle’ toy, but it is a sure-fire winner which lasts and lasts. Read on…

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The Bilibo, produced by Swiss company Active People, is an open-ended toy, which means it’s designed to encourage imaginative play.

The Bilibo has won numerous prestigious awards, and was included in the top 50 design ideas of the 21st century by the The Independent UK and out of hundreds and hundreds of toys, it featured in our very own KidStyleFile Reader Top 40 Best Toys for Children, 2008.

Variously described as a large bowl, and a glorified cardboard box, these descriptions are pretty close to the truth, and aren’t pejorative in the slightest! When you think about what occupies your child the longest, isn’t it always the simple things: the boxes, empty containers, and everyday objects?

My children each have a Bilibo (pink and orange), and they are still going strong after one year of use.

Over the past year I have observed my girls use their Bilibos for a plethora of purposes, including helmet, mask, turtle shell, boat, cradle, small hill on which to balance, scooper, tunnel for the train set to run through, and water and dry goods receptacle.

By far their favourite activity to use the Bilibo for is sitting in and spinning, using their arms and legs to propel them, and keep them balanced (something that takes practice, and which they have persisted with).

I also gifted a Bilibo (yellow!) to the Reggio Emila focused pre-school my kids attend – I was curious to find out how a bigger group of kids would approach it – and it has been used most creatively over the last 6 months, as kids ponder its uses and them implement it according to their own imaginations. It has also stood up to the rigours of children en masse -no mean feat!

Product Features

• Smooth moulded heavy duty plastic construction, the Bilibo is made from high-density shock resistant, non-toxic, recyclable polyethylene.
• The 3 finger hole grips allow for easy carrying, or you can purchase a product-specific carry bag.
• Available in green, blue, red, yellow, orange, and pink
• Developed by Swiss designer Alex Hochstrasser for Active People in collaboration with childhood development experts from University Children’s Hospital in Zurich.
• 39 x 39 x 22cm
• 800g weight

Pros

Encourages imagination. Can’t get much safer. Not battery operated. No moving parts. High quality, lasts well. Can be used indoors and out. If you have more than one, they stack, and you can store things inside them. Good range of colours. They look cool!

Cons

None.

Cost

$39.00

Where to Buy

The Active People Bilibo, and accessories, including Mini Bilibo, Bilibo Pixel, and Bilibo carry bags, can be purchased from Metro Mum – www.metromum.com.au for $39.00 + postage (see below for details).

Special Offers:

1. 1. Until 19 February 2009 you can get a 10% discount at Metro Mum with the code found inside the cover of the Summer 2008/9 My Child magazine. Terms and conditions apply.
   2. Also, for a limited time only, you will receive a FREE $5.00 store credit voucher when you sign-up to the Metro Mum Club. They have a great Loyalty Points system too, so it’s well worth it. See the Metro Mum homepage for details.

Today’s post written by Angela

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Bliss for me is spending a leisurely afternoon browsing a toy shop (online, or in the flesh), eyes wide, admiring the shapes, colours and contours, of the beautiful objects within, and imagining how my children would respond to them. For precious moments, too, I indulge the child that is still very much within me, visualising myself whizzing lightening fast down a hill, or lying on the floor, arms propped, while examining the complexity of a puzzle, or a replica insect.

It seems that I am in good company in this, as you, dear readers, too share a love of toys.

In September we ran the KidStyleFile inaugural Reader Survey, and asked you to pick your most favourite toys for children.

The response was most impressive: you nominated hundreds and hundreds of your most loved playthings, not all of which money can buy – a pet dog “Mr Bingley”, and “a banana with the skin peeled back” being two utterly heartwarming examples!

Here are the Top 40 Toys for children, as selected by 900 of you. I hope you see your favourites here, and smile, and that this list may also serve as inspiration for Christmas coming – enjoy, and play hard!

1. Musical (including drum kits)
2. Lego
3. Blocks
4. Balls
5. Puzzles
6. Thomas & Friends (especially wooden sets)
7. Bike/Trike/Scooter
8. Fisher Price Little People
9. Duplo
10. Art & Craft Supplies/Colouring Books
11. Play Doh (including home made)
12. Dolls
13. Kitchens, accessories & play food
14. Wheely Bug
15. Train sets (especially wooden)
16. Fisher Price toys
17. Outdoors (e.g. swing set, slides)
18. Cars/Trucks
19. Trampoline
20. Wooden toys
21. Tea Set
22. Dress Ups
23. Books
24. Soft Toys (soft dolls & teddy bears)
25. Mega Bloks
26. Doll House (including wooden)
27. Cubby House/Tent
28. Lamaze toys
29. Tonka
30. Tupperware Shape-O shape sorter
31. Doll Pram
32. Activity Centres/Mats/Tables
33. Alimrose Handsqueaker
34. Mamas & Papas toys
35. The Wiggles toys
36. Schleich model animals
37. Sandpit & accessories
38. Sporting Set (e.g. cricket, football, basketball)
39. Bilibo
40. Little Tikes Cosy Coupe Car

Oobi are always refreshing and fun with their products. They tread their own unique and joyful path in the world of kids, a quality I’m always on the lookout for.

KidStyleFile OobiWatch is pleased to report the following wonderful Oobi products found on crazy splendiforous sale at Rascals and Scallywags – www.rascalsandscallywags.com.au.

Rascals and Scallywags also carry other hot brands including Active People Bilibo, and the Bilibo Pixel, Smoby, Ouch and Moppit.

Enter code ‘HOT SALE’ to get 25% off everything on the site, and remember to let them know that KidStyleFile sent you!

First cab off the rank is the ultra-cool Oobi-marketed ‘Egglings‘ $12.95 just *****$9.71 with 25% discount****

The precious, little eggling looks and feels like an extra large egg, but crack its top and discover a garden ready to grow! Cultivation is easy — seeds are already sown into eggling’s fortified peat mixture, just crack it’s top (by tapping on it with a spoon), water and place in bright spot. Plants grow for up to five months in the eggling, after which it can be planted directly in soil.

Extremely popular in Japan where it is hand made of white porous ceramic, the eggling (54mm x 47.5mm) comes with a terra cotta tray and an extra seed pack to insure success. Ten egglings are available: three herbs (basil, mint and thyme), three flowers (chrysanthemum, phlox, petunia), and four special edition varieties (lavender, cactus, red pepper, and wild strawberry). In its handsome gift box, the eggling makes a clever and delightful gift for the chef, gardener or anyone who loves the cute and curious.

Irrepressible Timorous Beasties as below, all $21.95 $16.46 with 25% discount!!!!!!!! (Hey, too many exclamation marks is just not enough for this one!!–!!!)

Ruby Rabbit…far from Wonderland (We have two of these Bunns in our household, and I can commend them to you: very quiet, warm, friendly and always ready for a cuddle!)

Trashcan Ted the Terrier

Scrappy the Unfortunate Cat

Oobi Ruche Dress with lace hem in Strawberry Shortcake or Floral print (some sizes out of stock already!!) $24.95 $18.71 with 25% discount

Oobi Boys Nappy Covers 2 pack: 1 groovy Egg print and one cool Bat print $18.95 $14.21 with 25% discount

Oobi SmockDress in Fireworks or Blue Flower Print $29.95 $22.46 with 25% discount

Oobi Slogan Tees ‘Almost Famous‘, ‘Jellybaby‘, ‘Little Cutie‘ or ‘Rock Chick‘ all $14.95 $11.21 with 25% discount

Rascals and Scallywags postage charges are based on Australia Post weight charts, and are on average $6.00. Postage is calculated at checkout.

The dust has now settled on Christmas, but what about what Santa left behind?

I was on a mission to have my kids road test Active People’s ‘Bilibo’, an open-ended play discovery toy, with it’s only limitations for use being the child’s imagination. It has also famously been billed as one of the 50 great ideas for the 21st century. Is it really that good?, I wondered.

Regular RRP for the Bilibo is $39.95 (plus postage if you buy online). As I was buying two, I didn’t want to shell out that much, excuse the pun.

Extensive searching led me to Skill Builders (http://www.skillbuilders.com.au), a therapeutic and educational toy supplier, who stock the Bilibo for a fabulous $27.95 plus $8.25 for postage (as per a sliding scale for value of order) Australia-wide. That comes to $36.20 in total, a saving of almost 10%!!

I phoned them to place the order (1300 number), so I could specify the colours I wanted, as they don’t give the option to choose online (a small downside).

Once the order was placed it arrived well packed within a few days.

Christmas morning came and, although my kids were not quite sure what the Bilibo were for at first (“I love it!!!!….What is it, Mum?”), they have certainly been self-motivated to want to find out.

So far the Bilibos have been used as seats, turtle shells, snail shells, helmets, spinners, catchers and baby beds. Two thumbs up from my two testers!