In April this year we let you know about these post and play sets from Let's Play Mail. They are now available in Australia from monkeytail & wellington for $55 plus postage.
A fun way to encourage young children about the delights of sending and receiving mail, self-expression and reading is through Lets Play Mail.
In
our high-tech world snail mail could easily become a thing of the past
– but who doesn’t love to get a personalised letter, postcard or parcel
in the post?
The US-designed set comes with a mailbox, a drawstring mail bag,
shipping box, three postcards, two envelopes, six stamps, six address
labels and six messages. Stamps and messages stick to mail envelops and
postcards with velcro. Soon the kids will be ready to send real mail!
There's also special delivery sets of letters To Santa, and another to
Grandma and Pa. as well as invitations to special parties, and
valentines for special friends. Recommended for ages three and up.
Lundby
architect-designed doll houses have been around since 1947 and the interiors have been repeatedly
redesigned over the years, in order to keep up with the very latest in interior design. I have lingered many times over the
Stockholm Dolls House, which is beautifully featured in a large clear case in my local toy shop.
Awareness of the design world is what sets Lundy products apart from
many others. Modern artwork, miniature versions of Taschen art books,
plasma televisions,
spa baths and tiny replica contemporary furniture brilliantly
complement the boxy architecture that echoes some of Australia's own
Harry
Seidler's work. This is just the kind of house my husband and I have
wanted for years, however, living in Sydney's Inner West has
put that wish firmly in pipe dream territory. For those of us
entrenched in Federation abodes, here's a way to introduce a little
'mid-century with a modern twist' into your home.
Designed exclusively in Sweden, the Stockholm house has been
created to be the ultimate leisure home with its mosaic
patterened pull-out pool, pet deck, hot tub on the party roof and many
lush furnishings for reading and play.
The house has floor-to-ceiling windows that retract conveniently
for play and there are even two working terrace lights to light
it up at night.
This space-age
Plasma Car
(click on this link for a video demonstration) is a surprising product. Not only does it cost a mere $47.50 plus post, it holds a load of up to 100kg, making it
suitable for practically anyone in the family who cares to take it for a low-riding spin!
I saw one of these in action at our local park and both my 3 year old
and I were amazed. Requiring no batteries, the car is propelled
using centrifugal force - put your feet up on the foot pads and wiggle
the steering wheel from left to right.
It's a safer option for a ride-on as it's so low to the ground. It's
also quiet and is manufactured using high quality ABS plastics, making
it hard-wearing no matter who rides it.
The Plasma Car is bound to please with its sleek aerodynamic
design, reminiscent of a futuristic racing car, and is available in a
variety of bright
colours - yellow, red, green, blue and purple. If there's going to be
squabbles, get the kids to choose a colour each - then the
racing can really begin!
Weighing just 3.6kgs, they're easily carried by an older child, but
able to be used from age 3. Great
for developing physical co-ordination and balance as well as just being
loads of fun. This is a toy that you buy
for the kids while really knowing it's for you as well. Of course keep to
smooth, flat surfaces such as those found at the park - ours would get
a good work out on rainy days going up
and down our tiled hallway.
Reading the translated instructions is almost as entertaining as
riding the
car. "With mystic power, wonderful appearance, and congregated by
environment protection, body building, as well as entertaining..."
I couldn't have summed it up any better!
There has been a big move towards better quality toys with the recent
concerns about certain paints and plastics around our children.
The value
of keeping the number of toys down, whilst ensuring the ones your
children have are multifunctional and open-ended can be seen
when they remain appealing over time, and last through several
offspring.
Boikido's beautiful handcrafted wooden toys take the natural and
more tactile approach to toymaking. Wooden toys sound different, feel different, and enable softer play experiences.
A friend of mine was given the Pyramid Stacking Cubes for her newborn
daughter, and they are just so sturdy and beautiful. At the moment,
the baby just eyes the pretty colours and patterns, but when she's
older, they can be used to teach about numbers, French words,
colours, animals and letters, as well as helping to develop those motor
skills in stacking and nesting. Both my children love to play a game
of knocking the stack of blocks over - many giggling sessions have been
started this way and it's a game that's achievable for both baby
and toddler alike.
Alex's Push Plane is a version of another favourite children's toy that features a removable magnetised Boikido character as the
driver. Those not yet walking can push the plane along the floor
listening to the click clack sounds. Later, an optional guiding
stick can be added for new walkers who are fascinated with pushing and
pulling.
The Magnetic Numbers and Letters Case is a neat little kit for
those crucial first steps into literacy and numeracy. It includes 52 numbers, 10 letters and a magnetic whiteboard with case.
What begins with simple tile play ends with piecing together
word and number combinations!
All Boikido toys are painted in non-toxic cheery paints. The company is
dedicated to child safety and their products conform to the
highest of safety standards You can even contact them about their
testing protocols!
Boikido toys are available locally from Urban Baby. Prices start at $19.95 for
the Push Plane, through to $56.95 for the stacking cubes.
If you love Happy Days, pony tails, poodle skirts and leather jackets, then you'll want to invite these delectable
Le Toy Van
toys to come live
with you. Done in quaint 1950s style, there are 6 fun sets to choose
from, including a breakfast set, baking set, oven and hob set,
international airshow, auto garage and New York vehicle set.
Each wooden toy is painstakingly hand painted and Le Toy Van have
even gone to the trouble of making some of them work. No, the toaster
doesn't actually toast, but it does pop up! Your child can rotate the
whisk in the food mixer and operate the lift in the auto garage.
It's this hands-on functionality that keeps kids coming back for more
and centering all kinds of creative play around the toy.
These old-fashioned toys have a modern twist with the velcro and
magnetic joins holding the fruit, cakes and vegies together. You can
teach the concepts of whole, halves and quarters, and graduating to
sixths using the pizza from the oven set.
Monkey Caboose
saves you the hassle of running around the shops with the kids with free shipping Australia-wide on orders over $50. These toys start at $39.95 and go up to $189.95. Select your
Le Toy Van toys from the comfort of home!
