KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Edwina

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Christmas time at our place is all about the boys. We have 3 gorgeous sons aged 8, 6 and nearly 3, so I am always on the look out for stimulating and fun toys that they will love and I will enjoy looking at.

In an effort to get organised I have been cruising the net looking for cool things to cross off the list.

My ‘nearly 3′ seems to be getting more and more active every day so first thing on my list for him is the truly unique Bilibo. Requiring no batteries and no instructions this is an open-ended toy designed to stimulate the imagination and improve motor skills (read Angela’s review of the Bilibo here).

Also on the list is the Oobi Hopper, perfect for bouncing out all the excess energy after lunch, some Pirates for the bath tub, and because he is currently in love with Spot the Dog, a few new Spot books for bedtime.

Mister 6 seems to be easiest to buy for this time, he loves indoor games and is a natural at making his own imaginary games with toys and Lego. This year I have a theme going on and it is all about Knights, Castles, Legends and Chivalry. Hopefully he will enjoy playing in these worlds and maybe one day he will grow up to be a knight in shining armour himself! My favourite finds are this castle these dragon stencils and knights stickers, and these Schleich knight figurines.

My 8 year old is definitely an outdoor kid – he loves sports – and is very into science: he is currently planning to be an ‘insect scientist’ and have his own ‘insect room’ in his future imaginary mansion.

I was recently chatting to a friend who is a Steiner teacher and she was telling me that at around age 8 they start to teach children construction and building things, which helps them gain confidence in their ability to become more independent. With this in mind I am heading off to the hardware store to pick up a tool box with some real tools and everything he needs to build a billy-cart or a box.

Also for my eldest son is this cute Dumpling Dynasty Explorer Kit, and “Blast Lab” Why Don’t Insects Get Fat?‘ – sure to be a winner based on the title alone -  a fact-book-with-insects written by Richard ‘Hamster’ Hammond from Top Gear Fame.

For my gratification our tree will this year be adorned with some new handmade and fair trade Christmas decorations from Lark, and under it will sit some cool vintage inspired Santa Sack from Cocoon Couture to hold all the loot. And because I’m a kid at heart, I’ve selected Eloise: the Ultimate Edition book just for me. Can’t wait to tear it open on the big day…

1. Oobi Hopper, Paperartzi Boutique – $29.95 $28.95
2. Alex Toys’ Pirates in the Tub, Ten Little Indians – $28.95
3. Spot Bakes a Cake, Fishpond Books – $14.99 $13.95
4. Active People Bilibo, Metro Mum – $39.00
5. Djeco Knights Stickers, Where Did You Get That? – $4.95
6. Le Toy Van, My First Castle, Growing Brains Educational Toys – POA
7. Djeco Dragon Stencils, Where Did You Get That? – $12.95 $10.95
8. “Blast Lab” Why Don’t Insects Get Fat?, Fishpond Books – $17.95 $14.95
9. Dumpling Dynasty Explorer Kit, ShopHouse – $29.95
10. Tools and tool box – your local hardware store
11. Cocoon Couture Santa Sack, Little Pinwheel – $54.95
12. Eloise: the Ultimate Edition, Fishpond Books – $49.99 $39.97
13. Lark Gingerbread Decoration, Little Styles – $9.95
14. Lark Rudolph Decoration, Little Styles – $9.95

Please check individual stores for postage and delivery information, and don’t forget to swing by the KSF All Current Deals page to scope out deals that may get you discounts on these products.

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