KidStyleFile

As part of our Christmas coverage this year we are sharing with you our own personal picks for our kids. I am pleased to introduce KSF writer Anna’s picks today.

View more KidStyleFile Christmas ideas here.

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Anna and her baby daughter, 6 months, and two sons, aged 5 and 4.

As published in our local newspaper, I was recenlty inspired by some thought written by Scott Pape The Barefoot Investor  – it was suggested that providing children with experiences rather than ‘things’ all the time can help fight against the growing tide of commercialism our kids face growing up today and provide steps towards a well rounded childhood. This, I thought to myself is a pearl of wisdom!

And so this is Christmas at the King House! This year my husband and I are endeavoring to put this idea into practice. and provide our little family with a whole new set of expereinces – in the form of a family adventure to Melbourne! woo hoo!  (If Hayley from Little Pinwheel can do it…so can we!!) This is our big present, and our children will all get their plane ticket on Chitmas morning, with the actual holiday taking place in January. Now I won’t give away all our secrets, but our #1 spot to visit will be the Melbourne Zoo.

One of my favourite things about Christmas is the sense of tradition.  So alongside our family adventure there will be some little presents to enjoy unwrapping on Christmas morning.

The #1 must have Christmas stocking item is… fresh cherries! It is simply not a King Christmas without cherries!

Our boyish boys (aged 5 and 4) are only 15 months apart (oh yes, there’s a story there!) and they are constant playmates, so we often buy items that can easily be shared and played with together.  So they will get a Crazy Forts Construction Kit for cubby making together. And to satisfy their never ending desire for wheels: the Zoobmobile Car Kit for designing and making Zoob cars.

Plus in each of their stockings will be, a little Oobi Matchstick Garden which  will enjoy planting and watching grow. A Balloon Helicopter for a bit of silly fun, and a Craft Schmaft Mini Owl Kit to enjoy making together.

It is my very first year of shopping for little girl – and boy oh boy could I happily go overboard!!  So to set her up for our travels,  this year, she will receive a limited edition ‘Harley’ the Lady Bug Trunki,  an Oobi dress to wear on Christmas day (and all summer long), and because she can’t yet have the edible variety, a deliciously sweet ‘Cherry Delight’ rattle by Ollie Rose.

1. Balloon Helicopter $3.96 at Toys and More
2. Oobi Baby – Matchstick garden $6.95 at Design Child
3. Melbourne Zoo Family Pass
4. Cherries – your local fruit market!
5. Trunki Limited Edition Harley the Lady Bug $89.95 at The Hip Infant
6. Oobi Retro ruched Dress – Green Dots $29.95 at Little Styles
7. Ollie Rose Giraffe Rattle – Cherry Delight $15.95 at Ollie Rose
8. Crazy Forts – Construction Toy $89.95 at Where Did You Get That?
9. Craft Schmaft Mini Owl Kit $33.00 at Little Pinwheel
10. Swivel Globe $29.90 at Parent Direct
11. Zoobmobile Car Designer Kit $44.95 Toys and More

Please check individual stores for postage and delivery details. Check the KidStyleFile All Current Offers section for current deals that may give you discounts on these prices.

Today’s post written by Leah

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“Where did you get that?” are five words that are sure to make our pride swell as we share the origins of our little ones newest outfit.

With that in mind, Toni and Melony of Where Did You Get That? – www.wheredidyougetthat.com.au - have developed their own little haven of select pieces and labels that are each sure to draw oohs and ahhs from your friends and strangers alike.

Always on the look out for a stylish addition to my daughter’s wardrobe, I have been dazzled by the Chic by Sha Pettiskirts which have just arrived at Where Did You Get That? and are suitable for babies right up to tweens! Vintage lace, soft chiffon and satin – oh my!

For a summer chill out by the beach or pool, check out the Girls 4 Sport swimwear range and the new ‘skort’ style swim bottoms (short skirt with built in briefs). The tested fabrics are rated at the maximum of SPF 50+ and block at least 98% of UVA/UVB rays and Chlorine resistant. Or, for cute little one-piece bathers, the new Stella Cove line up is delightful.

Finding canvas shoes for summer that are funky yet functional can be a real issue as summer approaches – enter the new season Morgan and Milo shoes which are now available in larger sizes (7.5-13).  The flame versions will ensure your poppet speeds along, or the Mary Janes is sure to make your daughter ‘sparkle’.

Are you looking at a Crazy Fort to add to the toy collection this Christmas? The  sturdy life sized construction set will entertain your kids for hours on end.  Teamed with the Crazy Fort Lights they can enclose it totally with a blanket and have their own little camp out! But be quick, stock is limited.

One of my best purchases this year has been my Foogo straw bottles, and recently the funtainers for their colorful patterns.  They keep the kidlets water cool right through the day, even when I’ve left them in the car for an hour or two! As well as stocking them, Where Did You Get That?, are now also stocking the replacement straws which guarantees ongoing use of your Foogo.

If you are interested in bargains check out the SALE section where you will find 50% off all winter and last summer fashion.  Where Did You Get That? have also added a new category: the “Grand 40% OFF SALE” where you will pick up bargains from Aden & Anais, Bella Tunno – including laminated aprons, binkers etc, some Djeco mobiles, and zid zid belts and bags.

A big attraction for me is the Super Swimwear Sale with up to 80% off last season’s styles while stocks last only!! Get your Floaties on and swim on over!

1. Crazy Forts – Construction Toy $89.95 & Crazy Fort Lights $39.95
2. Chic by Sha Pettiskirts – Black Satin $90.00
3. Chic by Sha Pettiskirts – Pink with Raspberry Ruffles $90.00
4. Morgan & Milo Boy’s Tornado Grey Slip-on $62.95
5. Morgan & Milo Boy’s Strong Blue Flame Oxford $62.95
6. Morgan & Milo Girls PINK Sparkle Mary Jane $59.95
7. Bella Tunno Pretty Paisley / Mosiac Sky WAS $59.00 40% OFF NOW $35.40
8. Stella Cove Girls Maillot LaBoheme $64.95
9. Girls 4 Sport Fairy Garden S/S rashie $39.95 & Girls 4 Sport Plum Swim Skort $38.95
10. Morgan & Milo Girls Hot Pink Flame Oxford $62.95
11. Foogo Leak Proof Straw Bottle 355mls $26.95

Where Did You Get That? stock a great range of products from the following brands: Aden + Anais , Allen & Unwin Publishers, Angel Flames, Bella Tunno, Belly Art, Candela, Claesen’s Evergreens, Coco Boheme, Coo Clocks, Crazy Forts, Daily Tea, Deglingos Djeco, Ellie Bellie Kids, Enchanted Faeries, Eric Carle, Folkmanis, Foogo By Thermos, Girls 4 Sport, Goorin Brothers, Le Toy Van, Lelli Kelly, Lovenest, Manhattan Toy Company, Morgan & Milo, Radio Flyer, Star & Rose, Tango Books, Tea Collection, Tommy Rocket, Two Belles, Wagonware, Woolbabe, and Zid Zid Kids.

Where Did You Get That? ships Australia wide. You can choose either standard shipping for $7.95 or Express Shipping for $14.95. See the Help page for full information.

Today’s post written by Miki

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Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way…

No, before you say it, I have not hit my head and forgotten what time of year it is. I know full well that we’re in the middle of July, but I also know that starting today is the indescribably fantastic ‘Christmas In July’ Toy Sale at Where Did You Get That? – www.wheredidyougetthat.com.au.

Toni and Melony have gone all festive (too much winter eggnog?) – so much so that they’ve decided to give us a code which takes 20% off everything in their Toys & Games, Outdoor Toys and Craft sections. The code is ‘STASH-TOYS’, and it expires at midnight, 21 July 2009, so you don’t have a huge amount of time for running amok at this sale – dash on over.

It makes sense to buy now to put away for the kids for Christmas, and also any birthdays in the latter half of the year. Prices like this on top quality toys – we’re talking Radio Flyer, Djeco, Crazy Forts, Bella Tunno, Deglingos, Le Toy Van and Folkmanis – don’t come around too often.

I’m willing to bet that you’ll never find a better price on the Radio Flyer Ranger Wagon than at WDYGT – with the 20% discount it’s gone from $249.95 way down to $176.00! The Radio Flyer Wagon is a brilliant toy for both inside (makes a gorgeous and portable toy storage unit) and outside, and the kids will get years and years of use out of it. I’m also a big fan of the Radio Flyer My First Scooter, as it’s one of the only scooters on the market – and easily the coolest! – designed for littlies from 2 years.

For active imaginative play you cannot beat Crazy Forts, a giant Tinker Toy set that is infinitely configurable and endless fun – just add a bedsheet to your creation for an instant cubby house, rocket, tunnel and much more!  

In the art and craft department WDYGT? stocks a huge range of Djeco sets, as well as roleplay toys and puzzles from this prestigious French brand.

I’ve just returned from Paris, the home of Djeco, and I made sure to go to one of Paris’ most famous toy shops to check out Djeco products on their home turf. I can safely say that WDYGT’s range rivals even what can be found in Paris – brilliant news for Australian families as it’s one of the best brands in the world for children’s indoors activities.

Whether you’re after roleplay toys, a puzzle, a stained glass art kit, a stamping kit, mosaics, stencils or just some basic art supplies, there are multiple Djeco items to choose from and even there I’m only scratching the surface. Toni & Melony’s prices are fantastic too, even before the 20% discount, and after -  well!!

Have a glance at my hot picks below to get an idea of the brilliant toys and activities on sale here, and then get shopping!  And a very merry midyear Christmas to you!

Prices quoted below are applicable until midnight 21 July 2009 with code ‘STASH-TOYS’.

1. Radio Flyer Ranger Wagon, $249.95 $220.00 $176.00
2. Ivy Leaguer Laminated Play Smock, $49.95 $39.95 $31.96
3. Djeco Hansel & Gretel Silhouette Puzzle, $28.60 $22.88
4. Deglingos ‘Nonos’ The Dog, $59.95 $47.96
5. Radio Flyer My First Scooter – Pink, $149.95 $119.96 (also available in red)
6. Djeco Knights Stamping Set, $24.95 $19.96
7. Ocean Discovery Puzzle, $38.50 $30.80
8. Crazy Forts Construction Toy, $89.95 $71.96
9. Djeco Watercolour Workshop, $39.60 $31.68

Where Did You Get That? stocks a huge range from the following designers: Aden + Anais, BabyMoov Bebedelice and Lovenest, Bella Tunno, Bod and Bod for Bubs hair and skin-care, Coco Boheme, Coo Clocks, Deglingos, Djeco, eco.kid,  Enchanted Faeries figurines, Girls 4 Sport swimwear, Goorin Borthers, Lelli Kelly, Moppit, Morgan & Milo, Opal London, Pink + Blue Yummy Mummy, Star & Rose, Tea Collection, Thermos, Tommy Rocket, Tooli, Two Belles, Zid Zid Kids, and Woolbabe sleeping bags.

Where Did You Get That? charge a flat rate of $7.95 for standard postage Australia-wide.

Today’s post written by Angela

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It’s no secret that I have a ‘thing’ for toys. Browsing through toy shops has always been a favourite past-time of mine, and now I have kids I have a good cover story!

It’s true that there a lot of toys to be had out there – hundreds of thousands, to millions – but not every toy fulfills the promise of its marketing, and meets the true purpose of it’s creation: to be played with and enjoyed by children again and again.

Intelliplay – www.intelliplay.com.au – sell and distribute only toys that have been tried, tested and loved by children. Their range of toys are selected because of their educational properties, affordability, long-life, and joyfulness!

Intelliplay is the Australia/New Zealand source of the ultra-cool Crazy Forts ($89.95), a package of 44 geometrically shaped sticks and 25 connecting balls which can be used to create castles, rockets, tunnels, igloos, free-form sculptures and whatever your imagination inspires. Just add a sheet to turn your creation into an instant cubby! This is a wonderful toy to encourage creativity in children, and is a great activity for the whole family.

Intelliplay also stock the ingenious The House of Flying Pigs Paper Craft Animation Kits (an outrageously cheap $9.95 each!!) – pop out the creature, glue, construct, crank the handle and watch your creation come to life! -  the cult status TIPP-KICK German Soccer Board Game ($39.95) – tap the head of your metal player to make his right leg lift up and kick the ball. You can also purchase star kickers ($14.95 each) from many soccer playing nations: a must for any soccer fan!

Intelliplay are have a wonderful 50% off sale on selected products, while stocks last, including Professor Puzzle Lab Test Puzzles (now $7.98-$9.98), visually appealing 3D brain teasers in a variety of difficulty levels, and Eitech Construction Toys (now just $7.48-$39.98), ranging from basic construction of planes right through to designing and building your own solar powered helicopter!

A heads up too, on Intelliplay’s own product, Ecoblox, an environmentally friendly range of Australian Made traditional wooden building blocks, available soon from the Intelliplay site. I’ll keep you informed as news comes to hand!

Intelliplay are a sponsor of the 2009 KidStyleFile Annual Reader Survey: complete the survey and go into the draw to win 1 of 12 Crazy Forts valued at $89.95 each.

Intelliplay charge $10.00 flat-fee delivery, Australia-wide.

Today’s post written by Angela

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An update for you today on a great product we reported on in July 2008, the fabulous Crazy Forts – www.crazyforts.com.

The good news is that Crazy Forts now have an Australia/New Zealand distributor – Intelliplay – www.intelliplay.com.au – (prospective stockists take note!), and will be available in Australia from the Intelliplay website for $79.95 from late February. (In the meantime, check out some of the other beautiful products on the Intelliplay website – seriously cool stuff!)

Jenny at LMNOP presented a lovely scene featuring the Crazy Fort in the latest issue of the LMNOP online magazine. Download it free here to see the Crazy Fort in action!

Crazy Forts will be available in Australia from late February 2009 from Intelliplay. Watch this space for more updates! Intelliplay charge $10.00 flat-fee delivery, Australia-wide.

Post written by Miki
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Here’s one for people who want an adventurous, imagination-fuelled, and battery-free life for their kids Crazy Forts – www.crazyforts.com.

I think this is brilliant. It’s a package of 44 geometrically shaped sticks and 29 connecting balls which can be used to create castles, rockets, tunnels, igloos, free-form sculptures and… well, pretty much anything your imagination can come up with! Once you’ve built your Crazy Forts structure, all you have to do is throw a bed sheet over it and – tada! – it’s a cubby!

As far as educational toys go, this must be one of the best around. It’s such a simple concept, and yet virtually unlimited in what can be done with it, not to mention fantastic for encouraging imaginative play in children. This is also the kind of toy that mums and dads (and grandparents and uncles and the whole family!) love to play with too.

Crazy Forts are going to be introducing a new product soon too – Crazy Forts lights, which clip into the connecting balls and create a light source inside the kids’ cubby. Too cool.

Here are some of the things that can be made with the Crazy Forts kit:

Crazy Forts aren’t available in Australia yet, but we’ve managed to source them for you from a Canadian site, chapters.indigo.ca.

These guys have the Crazy Forts for Can$34.95 (the Canadian dollar is pretty much equivalent to the AUD at the moment), with shipping to Australia for a remarkably low price of $14.90.

Chapters only offer surface mail on this item, which takes 4 – 8 weeks to arrive, but that’s not a problem if you’re ordering the Crazy Forts for Christmas…which sounds like a great idea to me!