March 1st, 2010
As the days get longer and the weather (maybe, perhaps, fingers crossed) starts to get kinder, I start thinking of outdoor activities for the kids. One of the favourites is horse riding, particularly with my eldest daughter. We haven’t the time or the housing for her own pony so she goes to a local riding stable where she has riding lessons and instruction on stable management. She loves it and I think it’s a great, healthy hobby and one that can be carried on throughout her life.
It got me thinking that it might be useful for other parents to find out about riding school recommendations and regulations, about what equipment the novice rider needs and about the benefits of riding as a sport for children. I contacted a friend, Lucy Dillon, who is a qualified riding instructor and she gave me lots of interesting information. The full article can be found in the Mimitoys PlayArticles section (www.mimitoys.ie/playarticles) but the main points can be summarised as:
- minimum age is around 7 years, when children are able to follow instructions, concentrate on what they are doing and are physically strong enough;
- The Association of Irish Riding Establishments (AIRE) is the body responsible for monitoring riding stables and its website (www.aire.ie) lists all its accredited stables;
- you don’t need any kit to start as most stables will provide the essentials to new riders; and
- riding is a great way of getting fit, improving coordination and attention.
I think it’s interesting that even children who may not be particularly sporty can be good at riding and this can be a great confidence booster. As Lucy says “Everyone can ride a horse - the only thing holding you back is fear”.
Tags: baby toys, children horse riding, doll houses, dollhouse, early learning toys, riding schools, toy shop, toy store, wooden toys
Posted in Activities, Uncategorized | No Comments »
February 24th, 2010
We recently spent a great weekend at the Nuremberg Toy Fair, having already been to the London Toy Fair last month - our heads are buzzing and we have great ideas for new additions to www.Mimitoys.ie. It’s inspiring to meet so many people so enthusiastic about their products (and, yes, I know most of them are sales professionals!). We met our fair share of eccentric inventors, Gepetto-type toymakers and entrepreneurs on the look-out for the next big thing.
The array of toys at Nuremberg was vast, but we went armed with very specific criteria (quality, ethical production and innovation being the most important) and with an exciting brief to find something to appeal to the older child (7+).
This is a difficult age group to cater for, as I have found with my older children. Once they’ve been in school a few years, children really pay heed to what their peers play with and it can be difficult to prise them away from their computer games. I was particularly keen on finding good quality construction toys that would be intricate enough to keep them busy, but accessible enough to give them a sense of achievement. You can guess that Meccano ticks all the right boxes, but is targeted mainly at boys. Finding something similar for girls is more challenging.
I also think it’s important to keep them active as they get older, as well as doing my fair share of ferrying the older kids around to football, camogie and swimming I also keep plenty of outdoor toys at the house to make sure they are outside, running or pedalling around as much as possible. I was therefore also on the lookout for go-karts and other outdoor toys robust enough to cope with sturdy 8-12 year olds.
I am currently working on this new range and hope to include it on our website in the next few weeks. In the meantime, if you have any ideas for toys for this age group, please get in touch and you might find your recommendations on www.mimitoys.ie
Tags: baby toys, doll houses, dollhouse, early learning toys, toy shop, toy store, wooden toys
Posted in Activities, Parenting, Play Ideas, Uncategorized | No Comments »
January 12th, 2010
Finally the children are back to school, we are back to work and the world seems almost to be back to normal, but what an interesting few weeks! I don’t know what impact the arctic weather had on your family but it brought us a mixed bag of revelations and inconvenience.
Firstly, it’s hard not to have fun when the world outside is white and no one has to go to work or school. The timing of the big freeze couldn’t have been better and we had fabulous fun perfecting our snowmen and practising our snowball aim. It is so relaxing not being able to go anywhere or do anything constructive outdoors. Once the urge to spring clean the house had passed (it lasted a nanosecond), we all relaxed into relative peace, playing games, reading or watching dvds. It was bliss!
Then came the night of the big, big freeze when our water (like so many other people’s) just didn’t arrive at the taps. The first day was fine, even a novelty, but by day 2 we were all a little peeved at having to use unfrozen rain water from the butts to fill the cistern. By day 3 we were frankly starting to smell a bit so we all trekked to a friend’s house for showers. Day 4 and washing clothes had become an issue, dishes were piling up and we were all fantasising about moving to a warmer country where we would live a less Dickensian existence.
As I write, we have finally thawed enough to have water dribbling from the kitchen tap so civilised living may soon return. If, however, you meet us on the street in the next couple of days, I would advise crossing the road. I promise I won’t be offended. www.mimitoys.ie
Tags: baby toys, doll houses, dollhouse, early learning toys, toy shop, toy store, wooden toys
Posted in Family Times, Uncategorized | No Comments »
January 5th, 2010
Well, it’s almost the end of the school holidays and we have had a great break at home with the kids- helped by this amazing snowy weather. I have really enjoyed the time off but am looking forward to a new year of planning where to take my business next. January is always an exciting time for us when we actually have time to lift our heads and look around us!
We had a very busy run up to Christmas which of course is great news for us, but also demonstrated how people react in times of recession. We certainly saw no drop in demand for our more expensive toys like the fabulous PinToy dolls houses and Radio Flyer wagons, which only goes to prove that people appreciate that it is better to buy one good quality toy than two cheap items.
It seemed to me that parents were also cutting back on the “stocking fillers” rather than the main present. I think this is a great idea as children quickly get overwhelmed by the huge amount of little presents Santa sometimes delivers. Not to mention the pesky bits of plastic strewn over the house for the next month!
It’s an well worn saying that you get what you pay for, but a true one that is more relevant today than it has been in recent years. I don’t think we can afford to buy cheap goods from an economic, ecological or ethical viewpoint.
I would like to wish you a very happy, healthy and bright 2010 and thank you all very much for your custom and interest. www.mimitoys.ie
Tags: baby toys, doll houses, dollhouse, early learning toys, toy shop, toy store, wooden toys
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
December 14th, 2009
Keeping pets can be a great way of giving kids responsibility, as well as offering new opportunities for play, interaction and learning, but it’s important to choose wisely.
Take advantage of any information sources you can find. Talk to friends with animals about their experiences and have a look online or in the library for information on the pet you are considering.
You also have to ask yourself is my child ready for a pet? Having a pet requires a lot of commitment. It’s not just about having something to cuddle; there is also the responsibility of feeding, cleaning and, in some cases, exercising another living thing. When considering a pet, take into account that a lot of the looking after will be done by the adults, no matter how determined the children. Try not to get tempted by the idea of a pet without realising that most of the practical stuff - cleaning out cages, taking dogs for walks, etc - will be done by you!
That said, having to look after a pet even a little is good life training - it teaches children about responsibility and the importance of good nutrition and cleanliness. If you are sure your child will be willing to play some active role in looking after their new pet in the long term then you may find they pick up some good experience along the way.
If you want to read more on children and pets, and the other things to think about before you commit, then see the article I have posted on www.mimitoys.ie/playarticles
Tags: baby toys, doll houses, dollhouse, early learning toys, toy shop, toy store, toys, wooden toys
Posted in Activities, Family Times, Parenting | 1 Comment »
December 7th, 2009
We all think that every other family has happy relaxed meal times with everyone chatting and laughing and tucking into their food. But the reality is that many of us have a fussy eater in the family - meal times can be stressful and the tea table quickly becomes something to dread rather than enjoy.
I think that the most important thing to do is to relax. Of course we all want our children to thrive and it’s hard to see how this can happen if they will only eat a tiny amount of a few foods. But keep reminding yourself that, in general, if your children are not underweight and seem healthy, and they are eating something from each of the food groups, then you shouldn’t worry too much. If they see you getting frazzled, or if you try to force them to eat, this could well make the situation worse.
I believe that it is really important to give your child the idea that meal times and good food are to be enjoyed. Help them develop a love of real food and home cooking by getting them involved in simple food preparation, or choosing what’s for tea.
Let them discover the pleasure in sitting with their family to enjoy a meal and a good chat, even if it means a few times ignoring the fact that they haven’t finished their food. Once the pressure is off you might find they’ll eat more.
If you want to read more on fussy eaters, then see the article I have posted on www.mimitoys.ie/playarticles
Tags: baby toys, doll houses, dollhouse, early learning toys, toy shop, toy store, toys, wooden toys
Posted in Parenting | 1 Comment »
November 30th, 2009
I think that cooking is a great activity to do with your children: they can learn and practice a variety of skills and it gives them an understanding of food and where it all comes from. It also encourages them to try new foods that they might otherwise turn their noses up at.
Shopping for the ingredients can also be part of the activity – anything to make the supermarket trip less fraught!
With my younger children, I have found that they love getting involved with simple quick recipes that they can follow from beginning to end. Assembling a fresh fruit salad, for example, or creating a fruit juice “cocktail”.
You can be a bit more adventurous with older kids. Once my children were old enough to open the fridge and cupboards and hold a knife safely, I encouraged them to start preparing food for themselves.
A five year old could be given sliced bread, a flat knife, a choice of spreads or toppings to make a sandwich. It’s important to be patient and, as far as possible, ignore the mess as they try out simple no-cook recipes.
I encouraged my kids to help in making their packed lunches for school. By getting them to help and asking them what they wanted, I found that they were more likely to eat up their lunches. They also came up with some interesting sandwich combinations!
For more ideas on cooking with kids, have a look at the article I have posted on www.mimitoys.ie/playarticles
Tags: baby toys, doll houses, dollhouse, early learning toys, toy shop, toy store, toys, wooden toys
Posted in Activities, Play Ideas | 3 Comments »
November 19th, 2009
I love this time of year – before it gets really cold and when the countryside is looking so colourful. I also think that it’s a great time for kids to play outside as there are plenty of interesting things to see and easy activities to do.
I think that a treasure hunt is a lovely way for children to have fun and get a healthy dose of fresh air. I have been known to sit at the kitchen table and award sticker prizes for the child who brings in the reddest leaf in the garden, or the mossiest twig!
If you want to be less lazy about it, set a proper treasure hunt out in the garden (or your favourite park) with little clues at each stop. I like to give clues that will get them thinking about nature or set mini tasks such as collecting twigs, coloured stones or different shaped leaves. Don’t forget the sticker prizes.
I also have great fun with my kids by getting them to collect any interesting leaves, conkers, bark or twigs. Once we have a healthy collection, we set out some paper, glue and craft materials and make a great big collage. This could be one big random scattering or I draw the outline of tree, squirrel or bird and we decorate it.
Autumn is a great time to teach kids about nature. Use local walks to explore the natural environment, look at birds, plants and trees and ask your little ones to make note of anything they see that interests them. You can always look it up when you get home!
Tags: baby toys, doll houses, dollhouse, early learning toys, toy shop, toy store, toys, wooden toys
Posted in Activities, Play Ideas | No Comments »
November 11th, 2009
Hi, I’m Mimi and I have my own toy business called Mimitoys that I founded in 2004.
I always wanted to run my own business and 5 years down the road I am exactly where I hoped to be - communicating my values and opinions through the products I select and offer.
At the core of our business is my conviction that toys should be stimulating, motivating, but above all, fun. Mimitoys is all about offering toys and furniture that I believe can promote constructive play. Our range inspires and entertains children from birth to 12 years old.
We originally started as a web company with an annual catalogue and, since 2008, we also have 2 shops – one in Trim, Co Meath, and another in Clane, Co Kildare.
Mimitoys is a great partnership with my husband Myles. This job allows us to manage our time around our 4 children. We have 2 toddlers aged 20 months and 3.5 years, an 8 year old and a 9 year old.
Play is undeniably important in our house and each child demands a different level of attention and play, making it a challenge to balance each one’s needs. This all conspires to make our home the ultimate testing ground for our wonderful toys.
I want to use this weekly blog to share my thoughts and ideas on play and general parenting issues. If you’d like to see a particular topic discussed in here, let me know. I welcome any feedback and look forward to some lively discussion.
Tags: baby toys, doll houses, dollhouse, early learning toys, toy shop, toy store, toys, wooden toys
Posted in Introduction | No Comments »