KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Angela

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If you’re in the market for some of the finest toys in the land, then I recommend taking a trip over to Send a Toy – www.sendatoy.com.au - who stock some of the coolest local and European brands out.

“Who?”, you ask, well try An Angel at my Table, Automoblox, Bajo, Brio, Cocoon Couture, Deglingos, Djeco, Dumpling Dynasty, Educo, EEBOO, Fiesta Crafts (my girls received this gorgeous puppet theatre/shopfront from Santa last Christmas), Folkmanis, Green Toys, Haba (don’t miss the Petit Fours), Heimess, Honeysticks, Janod, Kaloo Baby Gifts, Kathe Kruse, Lark, Le Toy Van, Mamas & Papas, Melissa & Doug, Moulin Roty, Nici, Pintoy, Plan Toys, Quadrilla, Rosie Flo activity books, Sevi, SIGG Bottles, Trudi Soft Toys, Vilac, Voila Toys, Wheely Bug (one of the best deals on the web for these iconic ride-ons), and WonderWorld!

To sweeten the Send a Toy experience, they are having a fab sale with selected items up to 50% off while stocks last. Check my hot picks below, and keep an eye out for new additions to the sale category – they are regularly popping new goodies in.

Send a Toy postage charges start at $9.90 for standard post (less for those in Adelaide, and for small single-item orders) and $11.90 for Express for orders up to 3kg, Australia-wide, excluding bulky items. Free gift-wrapping applies on most items. International orders are also welcome. Please see the Send a Toy Delivery Guide for full details.

Today’s post written by Miki

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I don’t know how Sanja at Gifts4Kidz – www.gifts4kidz.com.au – does it, but every time I visit her beautiful online children’s gift store her range seems to have tripled from what it was at the previous visit.  And it was already big to start with!

Not only is there a lot more to drool over – ahem, I mean look at – but every piece is fantastic.  There are loads of my favourite brands represented, such as Pintoy wooden toys, Books To Wear pyjamas, Rush and Wheelybug – and, believe me, that’s the barest sampling!

Sanja also has a knack for finding fantastic new brands and products. SunnyLIFE is one such example – I hadn’t seen their products ’til I browsed G4K – but now I’m a big fan of their beach-themed gifts for slightly older children, and Posh Pyjamas who do stunning sleepwear for teenage girls and adult women.

Sanja is also just about to introduce new lines of clothing including Minihaha, Bebe, Woof!, Marquise and Little Leona.  These will mainly be sold in sets to take all hassle out of buying clothes online – keep your eyes peeled!

The G4K homepage has also been updated with new features such as Show & Tell, featuring a new product each week, and What’s On 4 Kidz which will list up and coming events for kids and families throughout Australia.

What makes Gifts4Kidz so easy to use is that no matter what age the child you’re buying for, whether newborn or teenage or somewhere in between, there’s a whole category of thoughtfully selected presents to choose from.

This of course makes it super-easy to buy for other people’s children – I never do know what to buy for five year old girls! – but also for your own child. You don’t need to wade through a vast array of fluffy toys if you’re buying for a 12 year old boy, but you also don’t need to look at all the cricket sets and skateboards if you’re buying for a toddler girl.  See, easy!  You may *want* to look at everything though, as it’s all so cool!

Gifts4Kidz is offering KSF readers 15% off store-wide until the 10th of April 2009:  just enter ‘KSF09′ at checkout. Please note that this discount cannot be used with any other offer.

You can take 15% off all prices below with the code ‘KSF09′ until 10 April 2009.

1. Roller Surfer Pro, $199.95
2. SunnyLIFE Beach Paddles, $19.95
3. Books To Wear ‘My Fire Truck’ Pyjama, $34.95 $26.25
4. Read With Me Book Set, $32.95
5. Pintoy Teaching Clock, $45.00
6. Britt Black Poppy Mini Dress, $49.95
7. Marquise Romper Gift Set – Stone, $59.95
8. Posh Pyjamas Crest Knit Singlet & Long Pant Set, $99.95 $74.95
9. Passport To Australia Board Game, $59.95
10. Books To Wear ‘Hearts’ Pyjama, $39.95 $29.95
11. Assorted Serenella Tights, from $24.95
12. Pintoy Wooden Toys, from $39.95

Brands stocked at Gifts4Kidz include Automoblox, Britt, Bobble Art, Books To Wear, Chippie Bags & Accessories, Christopher Vine Design, Cudworth, Custard Pie, Jacques Farel, Kate Finn, Le Toy Van, Little Beetle, Little Swish, Lovely Chubblies, Tin Lid Designs, Melo Baby, Manhattan Toy Co, Marquise, Milestone Press, Creative Education, Alperstein Designs, Paper Eskimo, Posh!, Missi Missi, Tiger Tribe and Zoe Bonbon.

Gifts4Kidz charge a flat rate delivery of $9.95 Australia wide and provide FREE gift packaging.

Today’s post written by Angela

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Happy happy, joy joy – Happy Little Hippos – www.happylittlehippos.com.au – is having a great little sale, and KSF readers get extra benefits in the form of an EXTRA 20% discount off everything in the On Sale category – WOW!!

You’ll have to be super quick though, as this offer ends at midnight, Tuesday 10 March 2009. Enter ‘FebSale09’ at checkout to activate your extra 20% off and be smiling to the skies

Red-hot picks are the Fancy Girlies Dollhouse, Baufix Build-It Buggy, Uchi bags and accessories, and the stunning Isak Couting and ABC framed posters, which would make a very stylish statement in any child’s room – what a beautiful gift these would make for a newborn!

While you’re over at Happy Little Hippos don’t miss the fabulous range of goodies just arrived. I really love the new ‘Beautiful Day’ journals, and the Micki Reto Kitchen.

I also can’t say enough good things about the Wheely Bugs (how CUTE is the new Tiger design – ah: it’s love!), and I am a big fan of Italian brand Quercetti – we have the Georello Farm and it is such a hit: free-form configure the high quality plastic cogs on the baseboard, plug the animals in, crank the handle and watch your creation whirl and spin. This is a great toy for teaching about cause and effect and motion, and is heaps of fun that lasts and lasts.

Indulge in a fine range of toys, art and craft activities, books, nursery and decor products, and accessories, at Happy Little Hippos, with brands stocked including Bla Bla, Alimrose, Lundby, Brio, Anamalz, Wheely Bug, Quadrilla, Baufix, Quercetti, Dobbin and Drum, Tolo, K’s Kids, Mooo, Djeco, Mama & Papas, Wanju, Binthe, Automoblox, David Fussenegger, Pintoy, Plan Toys, Cuski, Live, Play, Create, Envirosax, Crocodile Creek, and more, as well as treats for Mums from Miss Uchi, Willow and Finch, and T2 Teas.

Clockwise from top left:

1. My Fancy Girlies Doll’s House (accessories included, postage charge $15.00 Australia-wide) – $199.95, $179.95 less 20% = $143.96
2. Large Wheely Bug Tiger - $110.00 (not on sale)
3. K’s Kids ‘Bobby’ Recordable Phone – $19.95, $14.95 less 20% = $11.96
4. Quercetti Georello Farm – $34.95 (not on sale)
5. Micki Red Retro Kitchen with Stove – $229.00 (not on sale)
6. Beautiful Day Journal – $16.95 (not on sale)
7. Pintoy Construction Front-end Loader – $59.95 (not on sale)
8. Baufix Build a Buggy – $29.94, $24.95 less 20% = $19.96
9. Uchi Drawstring Bag – $29.94, $24.95 less 20% = $19.96
10. Isak Counting Poster (framed) from Kindergallery – $160.00, $149.95 less 20% = $119.96

Happy Little Hippos charge $6.95 flat rate postage, Australia-wide. Conditions apply – see website for details.

Today’s post written by Angela

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I told you about My Wooden Toys – www.mywoodentoys.com.au – and their very fine sale a couple of weeks ago, and wanted to give you an update now I have received my order.

After purchasing two Tap-a-Pics, the 5 room dolls-house furniture, the Lacing Lion, and Lacing Cheese (thanks Aunties and Great-Aunties for the Christmas moolah that facilitated these buys!), as well as a sensory board for my new-nephew to be, I received immediate warm and friendly contact from Douglas, the owner of My Wooden Toys. My parcel arrived but a day later with each tiy neatly wrapped in purple tissue.

Each toy has been a big hit, the lacing toys satisfying my girls’ irrepressible desire to weave and thread, the Tap-a-Pics serving as an outlet to be both creative and to whack things with hammers, and the dollhouse furniture has been configured endless times (and is a HUGE bargain for what you get!!)

I wait with baited breath to see how the sensory board goes over. It’s all I can do to resist tearing off the paper and playing with it myself!!

Needless to say I am thrilled, and will definitely be heading over to My Wooden Toys for more goodies in the future.

Head on over to see the full range of fine wooden toys currently on Sale at My Wooden Toys for yourself.

My Wooden Toys sell wooden toys, and quality softies, from Kobba, Djeco, Le Toy Van, Pintoy, Hape, Kathe Kruse, and more.

Note that there are 2 pages of specials, so be sure to click through to the second page.

My Wooden Toys charge $8.40 per order Australia wide. MWT also ship some smaller items FREE: look for the clearly marked ‘Postage Free’ products. View full details here.

Today’s post written by Angela

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Oh, I do love wooden toys. Their natural, tactile form is soothing and stimulating all at once, and they just last and last.

A sale on wooden toys is always a cause for celebration, and the fact that Christmas has just come and gone is no deterrent to me: I pop things away for future gifting.

My Wooden Toys – www.mywoodentoys.com.au – sell a beautiful range of wooden toys (as well as quality softies) from Kobba, Djeco, Le Toy Van, Pintoy, Hape, Kathe Kruse, and more, that delight and inspire me.

Today, I have snaffled up a Tap-a-Pic – a cork board with tiles, tacks and tiny hammer for exercising creativity – and additional furniture for our doll’s house: a 5 room set for only $26.50 – an incredible bargain!

My other fave picks are pictured below, with sale prices quoted, while stocks last only.

Head on over to view the full range of fine wooden toys currently on Sale at My Wooden Toys.

Note that there are 2 pages of specials, so be sure to click through to the second page.

My Wooden Toys charge $8.40 per order Australia wide. MWT also ship some smaller items FREE: look for the clearly marked ‘Postage Free’ products. View full details here.

Today’s post written by Miki

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If you’re looking for gift ideas for the kids this Christmas, I strongly recommend paying a visit to the delightful Gifts4Kidz – www.gifts4kidz.com.au.

There’s an ENORMOUS range of gifts from all the top brands, and Sanja from G4K has helpfully divided it all into age- and gender-appropriate categories, making it easy to select the right gift for the right child.

Let’s look at some presents for the very newest members of the family.  Sanja has a wonderful range of gift packs for pregnant women and for newborns (unisex, girls and boys) which are packed full of luscious products.  Gorgeous Marquise cotton rompers, booties and puppet by Britt Design and organic toiletries from bubba can be found in them, along with a plethora of other thoughtfully selected products.  Have a look here to see the whole range.

I also love the range of books for the under-twos, in particular the ‘Read With Me’ sets.  They’re both educational and a great way for the child to spend quiet time with mum or dad (or the grandparents).  With Christmas fast approaching, consider the ‘Christmas Read With Me’ set – perfect for under the tree or to get a toddler excited about the big day!

There are loads of books for older kids too, and again they’re all divided into age appropriate categories making it easy to select the right ones.

A great gift idea for slightly older kids is a pair of funky PJs, and the Books To Wear range is one of the coolest around.  They’re all 100% cotton, which means your kids won’t wake up unpleasantly sweaty, and the designs are great! Modern and fun, and a good variety, something for every kid.

Incidentally, teenage girls also love new PJs and you’ll find some great options for them here.

Great gifts for – but not limited to – boys include the sunnyLIFE Beach Cricket Set (get them away from the gaming console and out into the fresh air) and likewise the sunnyLIFE Summertime Fun set which includes a luxury beach towel and a water- and sand-resistant AM/FM radio (it’s also iPod and MP3 compatible).  Make the most of the gorgeous summer weather!

For girls between 6 and 12, I love the Le Toy Van sets for imaginative play.  They’re so well crafted that they’ll last forever, and she’ll get many, many hours of quiet fun from playing with them.  There are kitchens, miniature cafes (including the whimsical Teapot Cafe set), and doll houses of which I love the Sweetheart Cottage set the best.

All orders made by KSF readers receive a 10% discount, with all orders over $150 receiving FREE shipping until 21 December 2008. Enter the code ‘KSF-DEC’ at checkout to redeem.

Here are some of my favourites for the day:

1. Pintoy Musical Instruments Set, $59.90
2. sunnyLIFE Summertime Fiesta, $95.00
3. chippie Black Butterflies Stanley Bag, $64.95
4. Vintage Military King Single Quilt Set, $335.00
5. Little Swish Dream Kit – Pink Star, $79.00
6. Schoenhut’s My First Piano, $145.00
7. Le Toy Van Honeybake Baking Set, $99.00
8. Le Toy Van Mike’s Auto Garage, $174.95
9. Just For Mums Gift Set – Red, $159.00
10. Britt Snuggles Teddy Puppet – Pink, $34.95

Brands stocked at Gifts4Kidz include Britt, Djeco, Le Toy Van, Kate Finn, Chippie, Little Beetle, sunnyLIFE, Tin Lid Designs, Melo Baby, Creative Education, Alperstein Designs, Missi Missi, Tiger Tribe, Little Swish, Jacques Farel and Zoe Bonbon.

Gifts4Kidz charge a flat rate delivery of $9.95 Australia wide.

Oh-ho-ho! You are going to *love* this one! This week, Miki showcases a fantastic range of toys for babies and kids from birth to 6 years up. Whether you’re looking for a gift, or for a rainy day activity, your problems are solved with this great selection. Enjoy!

Next week’s Weekend Special Feature: Decor and Accessories

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Starting off with the aptly named The Hip Infant www.thehipinfant.com.au, there was so much choice that I decided I had to focus just on baby toys if I was to do any of it justice. Don’t for a second think that this is all The Hip Infant have though!

All babies love rattles as soon as they learn to grasp and focus, and I can wholeheartedly recommend the Hip Stuff Mini Maracas in Green, $6.50, which are a big favourite in our household. So hardy too; ours should have broken long ago with the kind of treatment they get, but there isn’t even a chip in the paint!

There are also the exquisite Alimrose Handsqueeker Japanese Doll, $15.95 – so sweet!

Personally, I’m coveting the Heimess Pram String ‘Teddybears’, $39.95 – I love the teddy bears! – and what little surfer wouldn’t love to drift off gazing at the Tiger Tribe Mobile ‘Surf’, $29.95?

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Kids Gift List – www.kidsgiftlist.com.au - stock a great range of toys for all ages. I focussed on wooden toys for pre-schoolers this time but believe me, it was hard to tear myself away from everything else they have!

Now firstly I thought the KGL Russian Doll Set in Dark Blue, $12.90 for set of five was just gorgeous. There are a number of different colour and design options, and KGL advertises them as the perfect present for a little girl which I absolutely agree with. Very affordable too!

I giggled at the Bowl Me Over Penguin Set, $19.95; what a great ‘rainy day’ indoors activity!

But my jaw dropped when I found the Exciting Zoo, $124.95. Have a close look I’m sure you’ll see why. What an amazing toy set!

Finally, Angela will never forgive me if I don’t mention her favourite, the KGL Combi in Peace Red, $9.95 (available in a multitude of colours). She claims that her daughters play with the Combi, but I think she secretly keeps it for herself…

You can take 15% off these prices using the discount code in this month’s My Child magazine – for more info click here.

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If, like many parents, you wish your school-aged kids would spend less time playing video games and more time doing something creative, then head straight over to ShopHouse – www.shophouse.com.au.

Now, I must mention the Little Kitchen sets first. ShopHouse are offering 20% off the entire range, and I can’t think of a better range of products to get kids interested in cooking. After all, the love of cooking can be instilled at a young age and if you play your cards right, you could have the kids cooking gourmet dinners before too long! (Well, I can dream…) Little Kitchen Boy’s Apron and Utensil Set, $49.95 $29.97.

For the budding artistes there are the ‘Build-It’ and ‘Create-It’ kits: boys and girls alike will love the range of designs here, and imagine how proud they’ll be to take their creations along to Show & Tell!

Don’t forget the extra 15% discount you can apply with the My Child discount code!

Create-It Picture Frame Kit, $16.95; Build-It Rocket Kit, $16.95; Create-It Prima Ballerina Kit, $16.95;

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Finally, Send-A-Toy – www.sendatoy.com.au- famous for their great deals on Wheely Bugs.

As a specialist online toy store they have an immense range, and I found it nigh on impossible to narrow it down enough to find products to feature in here.

That said, I did think the PINTOY Wooden Toys ‘My Little House’ ($164.00) was a stand-out. Feminine but funky and with a clever open-sided layout that allows more than one child at a time to play with it, it comes complete with furniture and two dolls; excellent value.

The Djeco Creanimaux Farm Stacking Blocks ($49.90) are also a great concept – create six ‘normal’ animals or mix-and-match to invent your own critters! Cool!

Crocodile Creek do beautifully made, resilient toys, of which a prime example are the Crocodile Creek Colorama Balls ($16.90 each). Once you’ve had one you’ll realise that no playground or back yard is complete without it.

And last but certainly not least, may I present to you the totally fab, retro-rockin’ Radio Flyer Retro Dual Dual Deck Tricycle ($159.90) just perfect for encouraging toddler independence!

Please check individual sites for shipping details.

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