Tag Archives: pretend play

Dyles play bags – a whole bag of fun!

Dyles play bags – a whole bag of fun!

Old-style games will never go out of fashion – doctors and nurses, cowboys and Indians, tea parties, playing house and pretend fishing expeditions. They all captivate children with the thrill of grown-up role play while transporting them to an imaginary world that frees their creativity.

Feelgood Designs – play structures to harness imagination

Feelgood Designs – play structures to harness imagination

Modern play structures are things to behold where I live. Only 8kms from Sydney’s CBD, there isn’t a whole lot of running room for our kids. Lucky for us, park culture thrives and our local council recognises the importance of play areas for children.

The kingdom of wooden toys

The kingdom of wooden toys

Wooden toys and games have made their mark upon the toy world and the diversity of wooden play items on offer keeps getting better and better. Australian company Merrigold Collections has added immensely to our choices by importing and distributing a massive array of high quality and imaginative wooden toys.

Silver Cross Junior Collection – only the best toy pram will do!

Silver Cross Junior Collection – only the best toy pram will do!

Pretty soon, there’ll be as big a range of toy prams for toddlers to choose from as there are real prams for parents! Renowned quality pram maker Silver Cross has brought its Junior Collection to Australia, which includes wee versions of the Dazzle (look at the full-sized version next to the Junior version!), Ranger, 3D, … [Read more.]

Good Enough to Eat – Urchin Play Biscuits

Good Enough to Eat – Urchin Play Biscuits

When I was little, I remember hosting tea parties for my toys where I would serve sausage rolls made from mud (as in dirt, not chocolate!). No wonder my mum always declined a taste! Thankfully, there are much cuter (and less messy) options around today, such as the deliciously cute range of play bickies from … [Read more.]

Citiblocs – wooden blocks that are all the same

Citiblocs – wooden blocks that are all the same

Just when I think I’ve seen every kind of building block possible, along comes something new. But exactly how ‘new’ can a wooden building block be?

ABC Kids Expo – Bamboo Sunshine Dollshouse

ABC Kids Expo – Bamboo Sunshine Dollshouse

Being the dollhouse fanatic that I am, I couldn’t go past this new Bamboo Sunshine dollshouse from Hape. We mentioned it just in August 2009 on Babyology and I was able to take a closer look and play with it for a while (longer than I think I was welcome at the stand!)

95 percent … [Read more.]

ABC Kids Expo – Eco-kids

ABC Kids Expo – Eco-kids

We met the owners of Eco-kids at the ABC Kids Expo a few weeks ago and I wanted to share their products with you.

Eco-kids is an all natural range of art supplies made from  from plant, fruit and vegetable extracts. I know I always worry that my toddler is eating more play-doh that she … [Read more.]

ABC Kids Expo – Maclaren

ABC Kids Expo – Maclaren

The Maclaren stand was very impressive and had lots of new strollers and prams launching at the show. I was most impressed by the new Netto Collection pictured below. This range of furniture is stunning and would be a good addition to any nursery.

Apart from all the new prams launched by Maclaren at the … [Read more.]

The funkiest retro play kitchens to hit Australia

The funkiest retro play kitchens to hit Australia

I’ve lamented before that it’s hard to come by play kitchens featuring clean lines, a contemporary aesthetic and quality materials unless purchasing from overseas or shelling out big bucks. Most are either low quality plastic plastered with licensed characters or have a country cottage style, neither being my personal cup of tea.

Now an option has hit … [Read more.]

Community Playthings for dress-ups without the drama

Community Playthings for dress-ups without the drama

 

My kids have hit the age where they love dressing up. Fairies, princesses, kings, brave knights, scary skeletons, wicked witches, race car drivers, doctors, nurses, chefs and even a Stormtrooper – we’ve built up quite a collection of costumes, silly hats and other accessories already. The only real drama is our overflowing dress-up box. It’s … [Read more.]

Get stuck into stickers

Get stuck into stickers

 

My stationery addiction started young. I vividly remember saving my pocket money for a trip to ‘Granny May’s Paper Shoppe’ which sold a huge range of scented erasers, pastel coloured felt-tip pens and, my favourite, stickers. The stickers were sold individually from big rolls and you would have thought we were buying a car it … [Read more.]