Festive season wishes at Toy Kingdom do come true!

Toy Kingdom Festive Season wishlist
Kalvin Kodzwa, Little Miss with Zoomer Kitty and Dad

                                                                                                                     #SPONSORED

Little Miss has been wishing for Zoomer Kitty since last Christmas. Every time we went to Toy Kingdom, we had to search for it on the shelve. It was unavailable for quite a while. We also had to ask each time at the counter on her request about Zoomer Kitty and ask them to order it!

When we got the opportunity two weeks back to select toys from Toy Kingdom's Festive Wishlist, it was super easy! The Hasbro Furby, as well as Zoomer Meowzies and Zoomer Chimp from Just Fun Toys are on the list, but Little Miss still wanted the Zoomer Kitty. Luckily Zoomer Kitty is in stock again!

We checked out some of the toys on the list. (The list is included below).  Kalvin Kodzwa at Toy Kingdom Sandton was super helpful. The choices are stunning!

Furby Connect #TKFestiveWishlist

Choices! Choices!

Hot Wheels Lego

Monopoly

Build a Bear
(Marked for next time!)

Fascination!

She stayed with her first choice and Little Miss got her Zoomer Kitty! The whole MomAgain@40 clan is allergic to cats, and this is the nearest we will be with having a cat in the house!

I am super impressed with some of the things Zoomer Kitty does, and has caught myself speaking to it! But unfortunately it does not recognise voice commands! (*Stupid blush*) It feels like we have an extra being in the house!

Part of the fun - opening a toy

Thanks Toy Kingdom!



If you are stuck with all the amazing choices of toys this festive season, Toy Kingdom has made a Festive Season gift guide (see below) available in store OR even better yet; Get a Toy Kingdom gift card!

Wordless Wednesday #310 - Zoob creations

 

OT Toys worth playing with and another give-away from Toy Kingdom

Little Miss has been playing with three OT Toys from the Toy Kingdom OT campaign.
Toy Kingdom have identified a few guidelines on choosing OT toys, and also have compiled a list of OT toys that's available in their stores across South Africa. I have shared previously about how I have changed my mind completely about occupational therapy, and that I think it has worth for all children. Especially when they start with school!

It makes a lot of sense to have creative toys in the home. Dana Katz, a registered occupational therapist, believes that moderation and responsible use is key when talking about too much screen time for children. To counter excessive screen time children of all ages should be playing with traditional toys and play actively and independently inside and outside.

Little Miss chose the following from the OT toys available at Toy Kingdom. We based our selection on her age, and what she can use for a couple of years!

ZOOB

Zoob building set

The building set pieces are able to move after the kids have put them together. Children are able to play and manipulate their creations!

Little Miss was so excited when we got this, because she knows it already from school. She said she wanted to kiss it five times! (Definitely worth buying it!)

Anti-Virus from Smart Games

This IQ building set develops logical thinking skills, encourages strategic planning. It also develops visual and spatial perception. The game has 60 challenges on 5 levels.

Little Miss enjoys it and I know we are going to use for quite a while!

Grammar Wise from Chalk & Chuckles

We selected Grammar Wise from the Chalk and Chuckles series. It claims to exercise your colour and language muscles at the same time.

As Little Miss's home language is not English, this is still a bit advanced for her. But she is beginning to read English at school, and we are definitely going to use this in future!

She made a few good choices!

Give-away

There is another R750 gift voucher up for grabs for one reader of this blog. 

It is unfortunately only open to South African readers.

The Rafflecopter starts on 26 April, and ends on 3 May at 12 am.
(The list of OT Toys from Toy Kingdom is saved in Google Drive.)

You are welcome to submit all the  Rafflecopter prompts for more entries, but one prompt will also give you an entry. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post.

We got R1500 to spend on OT toys at Toy Kingdom. 

Invite to an OT Workshop at Toy Kingdom

The first give-away for the OT Toy give voucher at Toy Kingdom ends tonight at midnight on the blog! Make sure you get your vote in!

Toy Kingdom is running an OT Campaign, and as part of the campaign they are launching OT Workshops in some of their shops. Check out Toys that Teach Workshop in Sandton City on Thursday 12H00-14H00 and RSVP as soon as possible as space is limited!!

Parents of children who are identified with development issues, do not always know what they can do to help. It is my view that all children need some help in one area or another of development, and it does not hurt to have toys that help children to participate successfully in their environment.

The workshop, which will be hosted by OT therapist, Stefanie Kruger, will focus on the following:

• Definition of OT and when or if to take your child for an assessment?
• Why is there an increased need for OT today? (Electronics, schooling, etc?)
• Which skills need to be mastered in early development, and what are the consequences later in life if the development did not take place?
• How to choose educational and traditional toys that help in assisting with development?
• How to balance between screen time and traditional play and when it interferes with development?

Guidelines on choosing OT Toys and a give-away from Toy Kingdom

I don't know why I was so apprehensive about occupational therapy earlier? We did the school readiness assessments that highlighted some issues that needed to be addressed. I was questioning "How much therapy is needed when there was no need in the first place?" (Ha! Laughing at myself now!) But we did the sessions with Little Miss, until the final OT therapy, and I know we definitely did the right thing! Little Miss is doing very well at school!

Our kids do not get to play as much as they should any more, and they spend far too much time with electronic devices and watching television. A recent research publication in Britain identified that 25% of children aged 2-5 years have smartphones, while 56% are aged 10-13 years. More scary results of studies in the US revealed that over a third of children under the age of 1 year are using smart devices.

I would not mind taking my child for more OT therapy sessions. The OT therapist never used the same OT toy or technique with each session. I was amazed with the variety of toys she had available.

I am extremely pleased to hear that Toy Kingdom places strong importance on using educational toys to help children develop the skills needed to participate in their environment.
Grant Webster, COO of Toy Kingdom, says “Keeping traditional educational toys in the home for playtime is becoming increasingly important in this day and age of electronic devices, so that children can still spend time developing the basic skills associated with play.”

There are different types of toys that can assist in a child’s development at home.


Guidelines of what sorts of toys are suitable to assist in building skills:


Toys that encourage problem solving

Children’s motor and problem solving skills should be encouraged, as it gives them a chance to try and figure things out for themselves.
Examples: Lego and building blocks
Toys that will help build strength in children’s hands. (Prerequisite for writing)
Example play dough scissors.

A ZOOB creation by Little Miss

Smart Logic Game - Anti-Virus

Things that feel ‘weird’
Toys with sticky or slimy surfaces help children to experiment with texture.


Toys that require the use of both hands
Using both hands well can help with colouring, cutting and writing.
Examples: Winds up toys; simply tossing and catching a ball.


Toys that encourage pretend play
Fantasy and play stimulate creativity as well as social skills in children.
Example: Toy Kingdom’s Shopkins range is a perfect set-up for children to play with pretend food and enjoy make-believe scenarios.

Because toys are so expensive, it is definitely a bonus if it addresses developmental needs as well. Even more so when we can strike a balance between screen time and play time with challenging toys!

Play area at Toy Kingdom

One reader can win a Toy Kingdom voucher of R750 to spend on OT toys available at Toy Kingdom in South Africa. There are 12 stores in South Africa already!

I have saved a list of the OT Toys from Ideal Cycle Toys at Toy Kingdom on Google Drive.
It is only a small selection of the OT toys that are available at Toy Kingdom.
Unfortunately this give-away is only open to South African readers.
The Rafflecopter will close at 12 am on 20 April.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post.

We got R1500 to spend on OT toys. A lovely lady Siza helped us at Toy Kingdom Cresta to select. We selected The Smart Logic Game - Anti-Virus, Zoob building pieces and Grammar Wise. I will do a follow-up with these specific toys, with another give-away next week.

Good luck!

A magical Christmas at Toy Kingdom! #giveaway

Sylvanian families

Disclaimer: A Toy Kingdom R 1500.00 gift card to spend, and the choice also available to a lucky winner through Rafflecopter!

Little Miss wrote her list to Father Christmas two weeks back, and based on that we could guide her through the difficult task of picking a Christmas present at Toy Kingdom. 

The variety is overwhelming! Even as a parent I am lost when confronted with all the options.

Luckily Little Miss has a doll's house (point 4) on her list.

Star Wars is launching on 16 December and it's exciting (to the parents, not the child - it seems ;-)) to see all the Star Wars goodies in store. We showed her the Star Wars goodies, as well as all the LEGO building sets, but Sylvanian Families won easily!

Star Wars treats!

The Sylvanian Families that got chosen:

Sylvanian Families Country Tree School R899.95
with the Chocolate Rabbit Family and the Chocolate Rabbit Baby R89.95

Plus the Rabbit Baby with Crib.

Little Miss can't wait to start playing with it! 

One reader of this blog can also win the same Sylvanian Families listed above OR the LEGO Star Wars Imperial Shuttle Tydirium (R 1 399.00).

Enter through Rafflecopter. The winner will be announced on 4 January! (Unfortunately not in time for Christmas, but great for a New year present! Now it's a thing!)

Only open to South African readers.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Little Prince movie - an all-times classic must see!

We were invited to the Premiere of The Little Prince movie.

It is a blend of the classic tale Le Petit Prince by by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, with an add-on story about a young girl who befriends her neighbour and also the elderly aviator of Le Petit Prince. The Avaitor is the narrator of the original story as the young girl tries to deal with her overbearing mother!

We really enjoyed the movie, the characters and the story line! They have done a stunning job with a classic tale, adapting it into a new classic tale that will be cherished by many!
Of course I shed a few tears as well.
Little Miss was enthralled, and even most of the younger kids stayed glued to their seats for the entire movie!

We read the Afrikaans version of the book, Die Klein Prinsie, to Little Miss last week. She knew part of the story, but she confidently told me in the car that the book is never the same as the movie! (It was not, but it kept to the original tale that was narrated by the Aviator.)

I give this movie a 10! 
(You can confidently put this movie on your list of holiday activities to do this December.)

A kitty balloon creation at the Premiere

*Toy Kingdom SA characters were there as well.

* I received the invite from Toy Kingdom SA

Toy Kingdom launches two new stores in South Africa

Little Miss had a blast on Friday afternoon when we attended the Toy Kingdom launch in Sandton City.

There was much excitement as the pressure was building after the store was opened only an half hour later than the 4 pm time stipulated. The children were peeking through the windows where the papers were being torn down... (It must have been on purpose?? ;-)

Luckily there was lots of characters and a magician to keep the kids entertained and excited.

A photo op with Barbie

The Toad from Toy Kingdom 

The magician "thinking"

Little Miss hiding her chosen colour, but he guessed it right!

Once inside, it was very difficult to focus for a Little Miss, but we finally agreed on a water gun and a special Lights Lego set. I also bought one for a friend's birthday. And some of those magic balloons that fascinates all the children!

A second photo op with Barbie,
 because how many times do you get to meet Barbie in person?

The Cresta Toy Kingdom Store also launched on Saturday.

It's a great place to do birthdays and Christmas shopping, especially since they have many specials going at the moment!

All Toy Kingdom stores nationally, offer toy ranges that are not stocked by other main stream toy retailers, such as HAPE, SYMA, JD Bug, Maui & Sons, Ballipo and Squigz  and of course the firm favourites such as LEGO, Barbie, Hot Wheels and Star Wars figurines are streamlined across the shelves. The Magic Tree is also a much loved meeting point and can be found in most of the stores together with a stack of soft toys and activities close by.  

“What sets us apart from other toys stores is our unrivaled offering of quality toys, beautifully laid out stores designed around the concept of play and friendly and knowledgeable staff,” says David Tredinnick, CEO of Toy Kingdom. “We are extremely excited to now have a footprint in Johannesburg and to be able to bring the unique Toy Kingdom experience to children and families there.” 

Disclaimer: We got a gift bag (see above) with a R200 gift voucher to spend on Friday.