STEP2 Toys - Who are they?

July 3rd, 2012

STEP 2 Neat and Tidy Cottage Bright

STEP 2 Neat and Tidy Cottage Bright

All companies are run by people, and a few companies have people with capability, vision and respect . For me as a toy shop owner, STEP2 are within that small group of companies that have a real story.

STEP2 are the market leading manufacturer of “rotational” plastic toys.  Rotational plastics is the process of manufacturing hollow plastic products such as this Step 2 Neat and Tidy Cottage.

STEP2 was founded by Tom Murdough in 1991. But the real interesting aspect is that Murdough previously founded Little Tikes which he sold to a company that is now owned by MGA Entertainment of Bratz and Moxie Girlz fame.
After 5 years managing Little Tikes, he then left and 2 years later set up STEP 2 with five employees. It has now grown to its present 800-plus full-time employees.

Now if you look at the range of both companies, they are selling the same products to the same people through fairly much the same shops. However this didn’t get in the way of a good party as when Little Tikes held a 40th anniversary party, they had the generosity to invite the founder and former chairman, he had the generosity to accept.
Can you imagine the awkwardness during that party “So tell me Tom what did you do with all that money from selling Little Tikes!!!”.

There are two unique factors when considering a purchase of  STEP 2.

Firstly their plastics use a high content of UV stabilisers allowing the colours to remain clear and bright year after year.

Secondly as a result of manufacturing nearly everything in The US, they can innovate very quickly and test market new lines of toys without considerable expense and without huge time lags.

The feedback we in Mimitoys get from our Parent customers is twofold.  Firstly the excellent attention to detail that stimulates play and secondly the robustness of the toys – they last generations.  A Step2 purchase will be used by your children’s children. Just wipe off the mold and moss and it will still work.

These factors means I believe that it is a value for money toy.

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What is Safe Play

May 30th, 2012

Can Playgrounds Elinate This?

Can Playgrounds Eliminate This?

The childcare sector is awaiting the deliberations of the Irish Goverment body “Pobal” on a grant scheme called the NCIP Grant. So in advance I got to doing some research on preschool insurance risks for outdoor play.

I spoke with Richard Webb of www.playsafety.ie - he inspects public play parks throughout the country and is also an active member of www.playireland.ie -an Irish charity that promotes outdoor play specifically with children that have various challenges.

Richard kindly pointed me in the direction of an excellent article on the risks and benefits specifically of playground play, but in fact the contents apply to all outdoor play. Full Article here.

In summary there is growing concern about how safe are public playgrounds. However the UK evidence details that of the two million or so childhood accident cases treated by UK hospitals each year, less than 2 per cent involve playground equipment.

In fact participation in sports like soccer, widely acknowledged as ‘good’ for a child’s development, involves a far greater risk of injury than that of playground play.

So how do you evaluate play ground risk ? You can’t eliminate it. The article poses a truth that if we as children didn’t take any risks none of us adults would have ever learned to ride a bike.  Playgrounds (both public & home based) aim to manage risk, not eliminate it.

So what are acceptable and unacceptable risks? Three factors are central to determining whether or not the level of risk is acceptable or tolerable:

1.    the likelihood of the child coming to harm;
2.    the severity of that harm on the child;
3.    the benefits, rewards or outcomes of the activity.

Judgements about the risk of a child-centred robust physical activity are not formulaic. Reasonable human judgement is a requirement. Specifically we need to make judgements about acceptability based on an understanding of the balance between risks and benefits.

For example a child hanging upside down by the legs from monkey bars

1 The likelihood of the child coming to harm in my opinion is reasonably high for a toddler

2 The harm incurred if they fell is also quite high - broken arm concussion etc

3 The benefits are greater co-ordination and leg strength

To me as a parent I would stop my toddler engaging in this activity. However lets look at a toddler paddling on the water edge at the beech under parent supervision.

1 Likelihood of harm is low but the parent may become distracted with another child so a possibility exists

2 The harm incurred is a possible drowning.

3 The benefits are sensory development - self expression etc

In this case although the risk is death, as a parent I am willing for the child to continue as the likelihood is so low.

Outdoor Climbing Frame

Outdoor Climbing Frame

We perhaps also need to add a cultural dimension or to put it more simply, you need to add in the child / attending adult’s perception of that risk. For example walking along the hedge of a field populated by cows can be interpreted by child and adult alike in two ways.

  • country children / adults could see it as a very low risk activity - they are familiar.
  • city children / adults could see it as a very high risk activity ie they are not cows – they see them as bulls ie they are unfamiliar and are therefore terrified.

So we are summarising that play should be evaluated on the severity of impact if the risk should take place, the likelihood of that risk taking place and the developmental benefits of that outdoor play.

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Radio Flyer - Some History

May 11th, 2012

As a Toy Shop owner and as a parent there are few toy concepts that are massively successful in the US but don’t gather the same fervor in Ireland.

Radio Flyer ATW

Radio Flyer ATW

However the Radio Flyer Pull Along Carts are one. Massively popular in the US but haven’t really caught on here or in The UK.

The concept is a metal wagon that is pulled by child or parent, big enough for two children to fit in.

US blogs suggest that on the Eastern seaboard of the US, the Radio Flyer Wagons are a parenting badge of honor. Where the more battered and customised the cart, the more street kudos is earned.

The lesson to learn as a consumer is that these carts last a long time and families love them.

The Radio Flyer Wagons have been around for decades. Easily identified by their iconic bright red colour and matt black wheels. Their long life is due to the quality of metal materials and production. In fact they are so long lasting that once children get too big for the wagon, the wagons make a great gardening wheelbarrow for parents.

The company has been manufacturing ride on carts for nearly a century. The story of Antonio Pasin, the inspiring guy who started the company, is simply touching. A cabinetmaker from Venice in Italy, he emigrated to Chicago in 1917 at the tender age of 16. Too young to get a mainstream job, he firstly got a job making piano carcasses.

Then with little English he started out constructing wooden carts in a one room shed. Demand outstripped supply while at the same time he was fascinated by the new Ford Motor Company metal fabrication techniques. These two factors resulted in moving to a larger factory in 1927 but using modern sheet metal techniques. It really hasn’t changed much since.
A few minor changes have occurred in the last 90 years, mostly for added safety…

  • Side walls have increased in height,
  • Extra-long handle was added for easier pulling,
  • The size of the shell has been increased to accommodate more than 1 child,
  • Controlled turning to prevent tipping.

    Radio Flyer Safe Turning Mechanism

    Radio Flyer Safe Turning Mechanism

Keep an eye out for Radio Flyers in family centric US movies. I can think of “The Parent Trap”, “Lean on Me”, nearly every version of “Little Rascals”and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. Can you think of others ?

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Swings And Slides - safety considerations before Purchase

May 2nd, 2012

Starting with the less obvious issues

  • Don’t allow children play on swings and slides where the grass underneath has had weedkiller applied , the chemicals that poison the weeds will likely do the same to your children.
  • Soil cushions falls, soil with grass cushions even better. So site swings and slides on grassed soil or consider EN 71 artificial safety grass mats and place them under high fall points such as climbing wall.

    Swing with Grass Underneath

    TP Swing with Grass Underneath from Mimitoys

  • Leave space between the play equipment and soft / hard garden features – and that includes thorny rose bushes - 1 - 2 meters approximately.
  • Install the equipment with safety in mind. Obviously this means no short cuts in assembly but also and critically make sure the legs are steel bolt anchored into 4 concrete filled holes (18 inches diameter approx 24 inches deep). These concrete cylinders sit under the  4 extreme corners of the swing section under the soil level.  Lastly ensure that that there is no visible concrete that a head could knock against. If there is cover the exposed concrete with padding.
  • Associated with the above point is to ensure that the swing and slide set is not placed over a hard surface such tarmacadam, concrete or timber decking.
  • Install it near your viewing window in the house, so that you can have a look at the child or children. Allowing you to react to falls or rough play.
  • Never situate any garden play equipment under a tree with lower hanging branches. Children will reach for the branch, grab it, suspend from it and then fall from it. Honestly it’s a broken arm waiting to happen.
  • Big children should never play on outdoor toys for small children, eg small plastic slide – heavily bumped heads are a likely outcome. Similarly small children should never play on outdoor toys for big children as per the above reason.

Climbing Outdoor Toy with Pirate Theme - Mimitoys

Climbing Outdoor Toy with Pirate Theme - Mimitoys

The Mimitoys recommendation depends on the age of your children. If all under 5 then firstly concentrate on a good outdoor climbing toy eg this Pirate Ship. These options are more social than pure swings and slides and don’t require an adult in constant attendance to push the swing.
If some children are over 5 then go for the full swing and slide, with as many features as your budget can stretch.

Suricate Swing & Slide Set - Mimitoys

I particularly like the Suricate Wooden Play Centre, as you are getting a lot of features for the spend (€769.99 at time of writing incl delivery). Click here for details.

Conclusion. Swings & slides & children during summer sunny days are images that remain enshrined in the memory of parents. Pay a bit of attention to type of swing & slide, its quality and positioning and make sure those memories are not interrupted by trip(s) to the Accident & Emergency of your local hospital.

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Trampoline Safety Info

June 8th, 2011

12ft-genius TP TrampolineMimitoys recently got a query on whether it is safer to sink trampolines into a hole in the ground than have them at normal height. On the face of it, it seems to make sense that the lower the trampoline, the lower the risk of injury from falling. When we put the question to TP Toys, however, we got a surprising response - sinking a trampoline so that the bounce mat is at ground level can be MORE dangerous than leaving it at normal height. Myles explains why:

Without a surround, injuries can be greater when the trampoline is sunk into the ground. Counterintuitive I know, but apparently when bouncing from ground level you become more reckless because you perceive the risk to be less - after all you are closer to the ground. This perception leads to more reckless bouncing, which means more landing off the bounce mat leading to a greater possibility of injury. Without a surround this can mean broken bones, whilst with a surround it can mean more ligament and tendon injuries than you would have with a normal elevated trampoline.

Mind the gap! Trampoline legs are wider at the base than at the frame - they splay out to give greater stability. Therefore there will be roughly a 12 inch gap between the edge of the hole and the outside edge of the bounce frame. That gap, if uncovered, is a hazard for adult and children’s legs.

Specific to our TP Trampolines, TP has stated that it assumes that any hole will not be drained and therefore will fill with water during wet periods, increasing the risk of rust damage to the trampoline. If the trampoline is sunk into the ground, the 10 year TP metal warranty (and all other warranties) becomes invalid.

Another safety issue that has been raised during discussions is the danger of children playing underneath the trampoline whilst someone is bouncing on it. I know it makes a great den, but please keep little ones out from underneath!

So, there you have it. TP’s advice seems to be - enjoy your trampoline but put the spades away unless you’re digging a new home for the goldfish!

For more trampoline safety tips, see the advice page on our website. We’d love to hear your opinions and tips to add to our info.

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Sand and Water Play

May 25th, 2011

Let’s be optimistic about the summer. Let’s pretend that April and May just swapped places to confuse us. In advance of the lovely summer we ARE going to have, Mimitoys has got together a range of Sand and Water Toys to get you thinking of recreating a bit of beach fun in the garden.

Green Watering CanWater Fun - the most obvious place to play with water is in the bath and everyone always has great fun splashing in the tub and playing with their favourite bath toys. But what about changing the venue to somewhere where it doesn’t matter how much splashing goes on? In the garden they can still play with bath toys but they can add bigger toys or whatever they see around them. (Hide the cat.) They’ll have great fun discovering what floats or sinks, bathing their favourite dolls, sailing their boats, washing up their play teasets and, best fun of all, squirting anyone in range with squirty bath toys or empty shampoo/washing up bottles. 

Making bubbles is also great fun outdoors where you don’t have to worry about slippery floors. Save yourself having to bathe them that evening by adding bath bubbles to a paddling pool and handing them a whisk!  A paddling pool like our TP Boat Sandpit is ideal for outdoor water play but great fun can also be had with only a washing up bowl on the grass!

Oh, and I know I don’t need to say this but I will anyway. Never leave your toddler on their own when playing with water.

Green BucketSand Fun -  We stock a variety of sandpits at Mimitoys and a lovely range of Sand Toys, but it’s important to use your imagination and look at the everyday things around you that can add to the fun. It really is worth getting sterilised play sand for your sandpit if you want your child to stay clean.

Sand play differs greatly depending on whether the sand is dry or wet. Think about what you can do with wet sand - build sand castles, write words and make patterns, draw pictures and decorate them with shells, leaves, etc. My kids love making sand landscapes with mountains, twig trees and roads and then adding trucks and little figures for great adventures.

Dry sand is less versatile, but very tactile as it runs through your fingers. Funnels and sand mills are great for younger kids. Give them containers of all shapes and sizes with a range of scoops and spoons for measuring games. Miniature treasure hunts are also popular - hide some favourite household items or toys in the sand for your toddler to find.

I should also add that outdoor sand and water playtime can be very relaxing for adults too -  little or nothing to clean up afterwards, and that therapeutic feeling of water and sand running through fingers isn’t just confined to children!

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Outdoor Toys

April 13th, 2011

Now that Mimitoys has extended its range of outdoor toys in time for a glorious (?) summer ahead, I have had lots of queries about which toys I would recommend most for family outdoor fun. Of course I think that all our range is fabulous - that’s why I picked it! - but I have a few favourites that I’ll share with you here.

From the deservedly popular TP Toys, I have to finally admit that I have caved in and am thinking of getting a TP Star Trampoline with Surround for my 3 older kids. I have held out for years, arguing safety, cost and size concerns, but the health, fitness and fun advantages have finally outweighed any issues I had. The new breed of trampolines like those from TP have sturdy, high surrounds and clever safety features that keep feet safe from springs. Of course, these are only of full benefit when adult supervision is applied liberally and only one person bounces at a time, but that’s not unreasonable! I also have high hopes of a new toned me when I start my own bounce routine…

Of course you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get the kids outside. One of my family’s favourite toys is the Hand Catcherball. At €6.95, it’s probably not going to break the bank  but I promise you little kids love it! The TP Garden Games range also offers a nice selection of activities from seesaws to badminton/high jump sets, not to mention the ever popular Football Goal sets.

We have just started stocking one of my favourite outdoor toys: Swingball. I’m sure that it’s not just me who has fond memories of thwacking a tennis ball for hours on end in a sunny corner of the garden. Swingball also manufactures a useful range of junior basketball hoops that are compact and portable. Both swingball and basketball are obviously ideal for the garden, but are equally good for daytrips or holidays by car.

What we really need to have fun outside is, however, some good weather. We haven’t yet managed to find a reliable supplier for that, but when we do, you’ll find it first at Mimitoys!

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Playmobil has arrived

March 24th, 2011

We are delighted to reveal that Mimitoys now stocks the widest range of Playmobil toys available online in Ireland.

Our children have always loved playing with Playmobil toys and we have wanted to offer them for a long time but felt it wasn’t worth doing unless we could stock a substantial range, so here we are!

Even though our family has enjoyed Playmobil for so long, I had no idea of the variety of themes offered and of how dedicated some of its collectors are. There’s a whole world of Playmobil obsession out there! I hope that we have a wide enough range to keep everyone happy.

Some of the newer products we stock were completely unknown to me and I have had great fun introducing them to my younger children (and my older ones had a play too, when they thought no one was looking). Amongst my new favourites are the Clip Ons, like this Hot Rod Pick Up and Power Boat - great fun for young enthusiasts on the go.

I still love the Playmobil farm and forest range - we have had years of play out of these sets. The level of detail and imagination really pulls children in. I will be doing my best to persuade my younger daughter that she would like the Playmobil Childrens Zoo for her next birthday as I think it would combine perfectly with the farm toys (Playmobil and others) that we already have.

I also like the Playmobil character sets, like the Fire Rescue Squad and Prince and Princess. They are good value impromptu presents or treats, and much better quality than most other toys in this price bracket.

I hope you enjoy browsing our Playmobil range. I’d love you to share your Playmobil stories and hear your comments on the choices we offer.

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Educational toys

January 21st, 2011

I just had a request via Twitter (follow me @Mimistores) about small toys for pre-school fun and learning about abcs and numbers. I though that it would be a good opportunity to share some ideas with everyone and ask for other suggestions. Besides, I don’t like to restrict myself to 140 characters!

My favourite fun and educational pre-school toys are:

  • Doowell Alphabet Animals - Magnetic animal shapes with corresponding letters
  • Shapes and Numbers - A very simple wooden puzzle that will get little ones working things out
  • Sorting and Teaching Clock from John Crane - A big, bright wooden clock
  • Triangular Activity Centre from Big Jigs - With spinning blocks and an abacus, this toy is suitable right up to school age
  • Fishies - A very simple linking game for the younger child to encourage colour recognition and counting
  • Magnetic Blocks - Easy construction set for little ones
  • Alphabet and Number Blocks - No home should be without them!
  • Fantacolor Daisy - A chunky peg board and one of my favourite toys
  • Djeco Wooden Puzzle - Shapes or Colours
  • Magnetic Numbers and Letters
  • 100 Wooden Blocks - So many ways to play and learn with these

These are just a few of my favourites. We have carefully thought about and picked all the toys stocked on www.Mimitoys.ie so it’s hard not to list every toy we have! If I have left off one of your favourites, or one you would recommend to other customers, please leave a comment.

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Top Up Toys

November 30th, 2010

These are a selection of my favourite Top up Toys - ideal for presents for nieces or nephews, or as extra-special Santa treats. All are available from www.Mimitoys.ie where you’ll also find photos and more detailed descriptions.

For smaller stocking fillers, have a look at the ideas on http://tinyurl.com/Mimisstockings

You can also see photos on our Facebook page http://tinyurl.com/MimisFacebook

Daisy’s wardrobe - Daisy has such a cute pink wardrobe and loads of fashionable clothes, bags and hats….Sigh…we wish we were Daisy! Try on loads of different outfits and then tidy them all away into the pretty pink wardrobe. Make sure you hang the clothes up properly on the hangers! This toy combines three games that children love: dressing up, role play and playing with dolls. €12.95

Dragon hand puppet - A　good choice for boys’ tales of derring do and girls’ tales of princesses in peril.　Stories can be made up, told and retold using this soft to the touch hand puppet, keeping lively minds enthralled for hours. A beautiful hand puppet with vibrant colours. €16.95

Fairy hand puppet - Who can conjure up a fairy wonderland and make up a tale of magic and wishes? 　An original and fun way for children to develop their communication and language skills whilst putting on their own puppet show…or an engaging way for adults to tell stories to children. The Fiesta Crafts Fairy hand puppet has expressive embroidered features, pretty clothes, wool hair and a magic fairy wand for banishing evil witches. €16.95

Pirate hand puppet - Who can make up a tale of swashbuckling pirates? 　An original and fun way for children to develop their communication and language skills whilst putting on their own puppet show…or an engaging way for adults to tell the stories to children. The Fiesta Crafts Pirate hand puppet has expressive embroidered features, wool hair, fur beard and a fearsome looking detachable sword for running brigands through. €16.95

Frog Skittles - Line ‘em up and knock ‘em down. How can something so straightforward be so much fun? Small and lightweight, these little frogs are ideal for indoor play when the weather isn’t being kind, but can also be set up outside when it’s nice. Just remember to bring them back inside when you’ve finished. Contains 6 skittles and 4 differently coloured wooden balls.　€12.95

Large family calendar - Want to know what’s happening this week? Go check the calendar. For a family on the go, what better way to plan the week than a family calendar? With all the pieces you need to plan the week ahead, it’s ideal for keeping track of everybody’s busy lives. This is a great visual way to involve the children in planning the family’s week and there should be fewer arguments　about less popular tasks when they have been agreed in advance. €19.95

Shape sorter castle - An appealing wooden shape sorter with 9 coloured blocks. There is a sliding board on top which gives the younger ones a better chance to check if they have the right match without the pieces falling through too quickly. Because of the shape of this sorting toy I’m sure that it will used as a castle, garage and house for other toys as often as it is used as a sorter! €16.95

Magnetic Theatre - Children will love to act out their favourite stories with the help of the 15 adorable wooden characters in this beautiful magnetic theatre. They have everything they need to tell the tales of Cinderella, Pinocchio, Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Pigs, even the words! The wooden characters can be moved from under the stage using the magnetic wands and the backdrops for each of the 4 tales are included. €17.95

Mama K Aromatic Play Clay - This play clay combines aromatherapy and creativity. It feels great to play with, smells divine, and the fabulous colours are not day-glo! 100% natural, certified Gluten Free flours are used, as well as all natural dyes, but like all play clays - please don’t eat it! The tube of 5 individual 4oz pots have the following incredibly soothing scents: lavender (relaxing), sweet orange (uplifting), bergamot (ease anxiety), lemongrass (inspiring), geranium (balance). €29.95

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