KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Angela

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If you’re on the lookout for some of the coolest toys out there, then I recommend taking a trip over to Send A Toy – www.sendatoy.com.au – who stock only the finest local and European brands.

Clap your eyes on Automoblox, BAJO Wooden Toys, Brio, Dabbawalla, Djeco, Eeboo, Green Toys, Haba, Heimess Baby Toys,Janod Wooden Toys, Kaloo, Kathe Kruse, Latitude Enfant, Le Toy Van, Mamas & Papas, Moulin Roty, NICI Soft Toys, Pintoy, Plan Toys, Quadrilla Marble Runs, Quercetti, Rosie Flo activity books, Sambellina, Seedling, SIGG Bottles, Svan, Syd & Me, Vilac, Voila Wooden Toys, Wheely Bug and rejoice!

I am particularly enamoured with the new Lunch Mail product, essential for all parents of all school-aged children, the Darling Clementine Marionette greeting cards, which would look wonderful framed en masse in a child’s room, the outstanding Orion Yacht, while really sails, and the rage of beautiful Janod magnetic toys.

Spend $99.00 or more at Send A Toy until 28 February 2010 and receive free delivery on your order Australia-wide. Stock your cart and head to checkout: the delivery charge will be removed from your order during processing. Go play now!

1 – Lunch Mail, $12.95
2 – Darling Clementine Marionette Greeting Cards, $5.95 each
3 – Wonderworld Toys Sound Blocks, $59.90
4 – Orion Yacht Sailing Boat, $39.90
5 – Plan Toys Child’s Wooden Tea Set, $44.95
6 – Janod Wooden Toys Magnetic Rocket Puzzle, $29.95
7 – Alex Toys Space Saving Wall Easel, $94.95
8 – Mamas & Papas Owl Cushion, $79.95
9 – Moulin Roty Magic Butterfly, $7.90
10 – Vilac Little Red Piano, $119.95

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 Angela

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Toys are part of the magic of childhood, and it’s always good to have a stash up for gifting purposes. Now’s the time to jump and save, as Send A Toy – www.sendatoy.com.au – are currently holding one of their rare-as sales, with a selection of quality toys reduced by up to 30%.

Sample the toy finery in-store at Send A Toy: brands stock include An Angel at my Table, Automoblox, Bajo, Brio, Cocoon Couture, Deglingos, Djeco, Dumpling Dynasty, Educo, EEBOO, Fiesta Crafts, Folkmanis, Green Toys, Haba, 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 and WonderWorld.

Please note that Send a Toy does not accept change of mind returns on sale items. Free gift wrapping is not available on some sale items, and discount vouchers, coupons or codes are not applicable on sale items.

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 Angela

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The best ideas are often the ones that are right under our noses, and Rolobox – www.rolobox.com.au – is one such innovation.

Leveraging the universal fact that kids love empty cardboard boxes just as much (and maybe more!) than ‘real’ toys, the Rolobox gives kids the tools to let them spec up their cardboard creations through countless iterations. Comprising a set of four resuable wheels and tow line, Rolobox converts cardboard boxes big and small into rolling masterpieces.

The Rolobox is such a simple, yet powerful idea, being an accessory to your childs own creativity rather than a dictactor to it. Rolobox is also friendly to the environment, reducing the demand for ‘new’ toys, and being fully reusable when it’s time for the cardboard creation to hit the recycling bin. I love it I love it I love it!

Rolobox is available from Send-a-Toy for $12.95

Click here to view Send-a-Toy’s postage and delivery information.

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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When Angela was in New York recently, she bought some toys home for those lucky daughters of hers.  Not just any toys though; Schylling – www.schylling.com- tin toys.

An American brand, Schylling both create the future with innovative new toys and – this is my favourite – revive the best bits of the past with retro tin toys.  And their tin toys are just the best! Beautiful quality with lovely detailing and timeless charm, these pieces will be adored by this generation and kept for the next one without a doubt.

If you’re in the US, you’re in luck: you can shop direct from the Schylling website.

Send A Toy and Cradle Rock both stock a small selection of Schylling toys in Australia (search for ‘tin toys’ and ‘jack in the box’ to locate products on the Send A Toy site).  It’s always worth asking a reputable store – these two are both brilliant – if they can order a specific item in for you.

Please check individual stores for postage and delifvery information

Today I’d like to introduce you to Edwina, the newest member of the KidStyleFile team. Edwina is mum to 3 gorgeous boys, and she’s also one crafty and clever chicken (see her blog Little Snoring to get to know here better). Edwina’ is currently our foreign correspondent – she’s hanging out in Los Angeles gathering all kinds of wonderful info to bring back home to us. Watch this space!

Take it away Edwina…

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The other night, looking for inspiration, I dipped back into the 90’s cooking classic How to Eat: Pleasures and Principles of Good Food by the queen of the Mix Master, Nigella Lawson. In it she has a great chapter about feeding children. I love her writing and am enamoured by her no nonsense approach to providing nourishment for her little ones.

I was both amazed and strangely liberated by a recipe she feed to her 9 month old son, Bruno. It was a recipe for chicken liver with apricots and milk soaked breadcrumbs. It would never occur to me to feed my babies chicken liver (I dare say it would hardly occur to me to eat it myself!) but it is very high in iron and the way she prepared it seemed entirely convincing.

Ok, so perhaps chopped liver isn’t your thing. And, frankly who can blame you? Personally I am a cup cake and pudding kinda gal, but I do feel it is important to share the joy of eating and the pleasure of preparing food with my kids.

That said, we all have days when the strength to clean up after the little sous-chef has disappeared, and for those days I offer the following fabulous low-mess, low-calorie solutions. Play food that looks good enough to eat!

1. Haba Petit Fours, $29.95 at Send-a-Toy
2. Le Toy Van Honeybake Baking Set, $94.95 at Little Possums Toys
3. Haba German Bratwurst Toy Sausages, $12.90 at Send-a-Toy
4. Voila Toys Roast Chicken, $28.95 at Send-a-Toy
5. Plan Toys Shopping Trolley. cool enough to help with the grown up shopping. $99.00 at Send-a-Toy
6. How to Eat: Pleasures and Principles of Good Food, by Nigella Lawson – highly recommended. $53.42 at Fishpond Bookstore. Ships free.
7. Lark Designs Doughnut Rattle $14.95 at Baby’s Got Style
8. Lark Designs Ice-cream Cone, $14.95 at Baby’s Got Style
9. Ravioli – Feeling Crafty? This is a very easy project to make yourself and a great way to add some pasta to the menu!

Please check individual sites for postage costs and delivery information.

Today’s post written by Nerida

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Ok, it’s officially time for me to seriously plan the Christmas festivities for our house. And what better place to start than with the kids!

Without further ado, here are the pressies that will be gracing our tree this year.

1. First up on my Top 10 is a dress for my girl to wear on Christmas Day. I have long been a fan of Scanlan and Theodore, and now channel this love to Fiona Scanlan’s beautiful BIG label, for kids. The Daisy and Little Print dress is top of my list – available from www.bucketsandspades.com.au.

2. Like most three year olds, my daughter loves role playing (which currently extends to her begging to help iron her clothes – hope that one continues!) and Le Toy Van make the most beautiful kitchens and accessories. I am sure she will love the Honeybake Breakfast set from Little Possums Toys – www.littlepossumtoys.com.au.

3. So far my 6 month old is quite happy for me to decorate his room so I am going to get him one of the delightful Shinzi Katoh prints from Kinder Gallery www.kindergallery.com.au.

4. Next up, another gift for my soon-to-be-mobile son. He should start walking in the next 6 months so I need to find something fun, attractive, and durable, to kep him busy. I love the Bajo Jumping Frogs Push Toy - available from Send A Toy – www.sendatoy.com.au

5. To help my boy look even cuter than normal on the day, the Munster Wild Things tee should do the trick. Available from Itty Bitty Yuppy – www.ittbittyyuppy.com.au.

6-8. Christmas just wouldn’t be complete without a swag of books to relax with on a hot summer’s day. We have long been fans of Janet and Allan Ahlberg and the book Burglar Bill will be perfect for my girl while Julia Donaldson’s latest, Stick Man, will be a nice one to read aloud to my son. I am also very happy to see Nigella Lawson has released a new book for the festive season on the festive season. I will be hoping to receive her book Nigella’s Christmas from someone this year (better start dropping hints!). All books available from  Fishpond – www.fishpond.com.au

9. We are in desperate need of a new stroller and I have my eye on the Silver Cross Dazzle. I love the range of colours – hopefully there will be enough Christmas cash leftover to get one! Available from Tiny People – www.tinypeople.com.au

10. And finally, some crafts for my daughter. The Djeco Princesses Stamp/Ink Pad will be a big hit. Available from Where Did You Get That? – www.wheredidyougetthat.com.au

1. Big by Fiona Scanlan Daisy and Little Print Dress $74.95
2. Le Toy Van Honeybake Breakfast Set  $94.95
3. Shinzi Katoh print  $70
4. Bajo Jumping Frogs Push Toy  $49.90
5. Munster Wild Things Tee $29.70
6. Burglar Bill by By Janet and Allan Ahlberg $13.32
7. Stick Man by Julia Donaldson $32.99
8. Nigella Christmas by Nigella Lawson $81.99
9. Silver Cross Dazzle $395
10. Djeco Princesses Stamp/Ink Pad $19.95

Please check individual stores for shipping costs.

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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