Archive for the ‘Activities’ Category
Monday, May 17th, 2010
When I look at toys on our suppliers’ websites, their stands at toy fairs and their brochures, it’s always in the back of my mind, “Would my kids play with that?”. I have to stop myself just shopping for my children. I know that all kids are different and have different tastes, but I think that I cover a good selection amongst my four - the Quiet, Booky One; the Noisy, Physical One; the Inquisitive One; and the Nurturing, Caring One. The trouble is that any one of my kids could be all of these in one day!
With that thought, I want to share my selection of toys that any of my kids and their friends will play with. Bearing in mind that the weather has been so kind recently (just turn the temperature up a bit and we’ll be even happier), I thought I would look at outdoor toys. None of these toys is particularly expensive or sophisticated, but I challenge your kids not to enjoy them:
- Our fabulous Gunther Kite selection - just add wind (never in short supply in Ireland) and you’ll have rosy cheeked laughing kids in no time;
- Spring Ball set - once they get the hang of this, they’ll be twanging around the garden (great for the beach too);
- Disk Balance - it’s egg and spoon racing, but not as you know it;
- Super Torpedo with Whistle - well, it just makes throwing the ball at each other even more fun; and
- Our cool Gunther Wind up Planes - excellent competition potential!
All these toys are available in our Outdoor Toy category http://tinyurl.com/mimioutdoortoys
Have a look and let me know what you think www.mimitoys.ie
Tags: baby toys, construction toys, doll houses, dollhouse, early learning toys, outdoor toys, toy shop, toy store, wooden toys
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Monday, April 12th, 2010
We have been busy in the last few months looking at our already wide range of toys and furniture and wondering how we can build on it. Myles and I have visited toy fairs and talked to our existing suppliers to find exciting new toys to add to Mimitoys. If some of the toy fairs meant that we had to spend long weekends in hotels in interesting places then we were willing to make that sacrifice for our customers 
After much discussion, the odd argument and a lot of playing with new toys (our family and friends make for an interesting and very honest focus group), we have finally added loads of new toys to www.Mimitoys.ie
My blog is not about just promoting toys that we sell on our website, but when my kids really like a toy I think it’s good to pass on a recommendation. Clics has always been a favourite in our house. They are flexible construction pieces that click (no surprise there!) together to make up lots of different structures. My kids love them because the pieces aren’t too fiddly and are easy to put together, but don’t fall apart when you then play with your creation.
I love it because it has no commercial tie-ins with blockbuster Hollywood movies (ahem!) and the kits are completely open ended when it comes to designing your own toy. Many of them come with instructions, but they also encourage kids to make up their own design. It’s not just a question of following step by step instructions to build one model that is left to gather dust, get broken up and clog up the hoover…or maybe that just happens in our house?
Have a look at the Clics we offer and let me know what you think http://tinyurl.com/mimitoys-clics Or if your kids already have them, let me know if they share my enthusiasm!
Tags: baby toys, Clics, construction toys, doll houses, dollhouse, early learning toys, toy shop, toy store, wooden toys
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Monday, March 22nd, 2010
After a lovely weekend of long sunny, mild days I have been thinking about outdoor family activities. Obviously, the moment I started writing about them, the wind picked up and it started to hail, but I refuse to be put off! In my mind, spring has finally arrived and we’ll all feel much better for feeling the breeze in our hair, the sun on our faces…and probably the rain on our backs.
I have put together some ideas for having fun with the kids outside and you’ll find them at www.mimitoys.ie under the “Play Articles” tab. Below I set out a few of my favourites – with a nod to Myles for his prowess at welly throwing.
Nest building
Get the kids to build their own nest outside. You will have lots of materials in your garden you can use, like lengths of dry grass, twigs and lichen. Make your nests in the garden and place them on the ground or in a tree if you have one. Is it sturdy enough to hold some small stones (your ‘eggs’) and would your nest be able to survive a windy day (give your tree a shake!)?
Spring nature trail
Take a walk to your local beauty spot and look out for signs of spring on the ground, in the trees and in the water. Things to look out for include; frogspawn in streams and ponds; butterflies; caterpillars; catkins opening for spring…perhaps you can make a collage of all the wildlife you’ve seen when you get home?
Welly hurling
All you need is some open space and a welly boot. You’ll need to mark a throwing line and then record each competitor’s throw by marking the spot where their boot landed - perhaps use twigs to do this. The aim of the game is simply to throw the boot the furthest.
Bird watching
Spring is breeding time for many birds so it’s a good time to get outside and observe our feathered friends as they get geared up for the new season. You’ll hear lots more birdsong now the days are warmer and some birds will be showing off their plumage and engaging in elaborate courting rituals to attract a mate!
So, go on - dodge the hailstones, lean into the wind and ignore the rain. Summer’s coming!
Tags: baby toys, doll houses, dollhouse, early learning toys, toy shop, toy store, wooden toys
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Monday, 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
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Wednesday, 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
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Monday, 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 | 2 Comments »
Monday, 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 | 8 Comments »
Thursday, 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
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