Halloween is just around the corner! Pumpkins, costumes, treats and maybe a trick or two are on the minds of families everywhere.
So let’s talk about ‘tricks’ and ‘treats’ that aren’t loaded with sugar! The kids will say ‘boo’ and think we’re quite ‘batty’ but as parents we think you’ll appreciate some alternative thinking.
Kids love tricks as well as treats, especially the ‘hocus pocus’ magic kind. An inexpensive box of tricks, like those from Tactic, at $5 a set, will allow you and your kids to perform some amazing magic tricks in no time at all. You can entertain the little goblins and ghouls who come to your door with these (after all, it is ‘trick or treat’) or use these as a handout to some of those special kids in your neighbourhood.
Each Tactic Top Magic kit has three different magic tricks inside for kids 6+ and there are six sets in all to choose from. Together you and your kids can learn how to do some pretty fantastic card tricks and make objects disappear, both of which will add to the fun and excitement of Halloween. These kits are full of tricks, but your kids and their friends will consider them a real treat! And long after Halloween has passed they will still be engaged with these. 
You may also want to consider Playmobil’s new 'surprise' figures, for boys and girls, as another alternative to handing out sugary treats.
The Playmobil Figures are individually packaged in foil so they remain a ‘surprise’ until opened. A brand new product, these are fun to collect at $2.99 each. There are 12 for girls and 12 for boys. You assemble these yourself and all parts are interchangeable. Again, no sugar and ongoing fun once the ‘Hallowed Eve’ has passed.
Whatever choices you make, have a safe and ‘spook-tacular’ Halloween with your family and friends! And don't forget we will be celebrating Neighbourhood Store Day on Saturday, November 12. There will be all kinds of fun activities for the family. Plan to share the day with us! Click here for more details on Neighbourhood Toy Store Day and information on what will be taking place in your neighbourhood..jpg)
From the craziest and zaniest new toys to the retro and classic toys, we will help you find what you are looking for at The Rocking Horse in Owen Sound ON, a member of Neighbourhood Toy Stores of Canada (NETS).
There is one particular toy I gave to my son when he was just four, and now, at the age of seven (and 3/4s, he will be quick to add) it remains the centrepiece of every epic battle that plays out on his playroom floor. It is his Schleich Castle. This realistic castle is quite simply, one of the most impressive playthings in my son’s toy box.
Each section of the durable resin castle is separate, so endless castle configurations can be created. There are walls, towers, smaller walls with ledges (from which guards can keep watch) and a realistic weighted drawbridge.
But it doesn't end there! Additional castle elements can be added over time such as extra walls-both short and tall, towers, steps and ladders and more.
Each passing year, I am amazed at what pristine condition this castle remains in. It still looks brand new despite the countless times 'the giant comes along and smashes the castle to pieces!'
It is a magic castle that turns parents into kids. The Schleich Castle is so realistic and finely detailed, you won't be able to resist the urge to get down on the floor and play along with your child. A bonus feature is that the castle is scaled to the typical size of a small action figure so you are not limited to only Schleich figures for action!
If you don’t already know about Schleich, it is a fantastic company out of Germany that has been creating hand painted figures for over 75 years. Their philosophy is to create safe toys that are as realistic and naturalistic as possible, and boy, does Schleich deliver! The collection includes a myriad of animals from all corners of the globe, knights, fairies, cowboys, crusaders, Smurfs and much more.
It will be a sad day when my son decides he has outgrown staging medieval times with his castle, but rest assured, this is one toy that will never share a fate with any sorry broken-down toys on the garage sale tables. There are too many happy memories attached to it. I look forward to pulling the castle out for my future grandchildren to play knights and fairies and to seeing what magic the castle brings to them.
The Schleich Castle retails for approximately $169.99.
Mrs. Tiggy Winkle’s is a member of Neighbourhood Toy Stores of Canada. Since opening in 1977, Mrs. Tiggy Winkle’s has been providing quality toys for quality kids in the Ottawa area. It is a place with a 'sensory smorgasbord' for both the young and ‘young at heart’. The above recommendation comes from our Head Office Manager, and mother of two, Halima Anisman.
I have owned my own toy store for 25 years. During those years I have bought and sold thousands of wonderful toys. I was recently asked if I could name one toy manufacturer that has stood out as a step above the rest. My answer came quickly and without hesitation: PlanToys of Thailand.
Dedicated to the cornerstone of child development and imaginative play, PlanToys has developed an extensive line of toys for children for infants through pre-school. Rattles, musical instruments, blocks, dollhouses and train sets just to name a few. The toys are basic, made of wood with no licensed characters or gender specific colours and require no batteries.
PlanToys has been focused on producing eco-friendly toys for 30 years. They are an industry leader in ‘green toys’ which has not been a focus or concern for most toy manufacturers until recently. All of their toys are made from rubber tree wood, harvested when the trees have stopped producing latex and would otherwise be burned. Add to this, the use of water-based dyes, eco-friendly glue, and soy and water-based inks in all their printed materials and you can see how easy it is to love this company and their toys.
PlanToys are also manufactured in a green facility that uses solar energy and bio fuels to power the machinery. Packaging is also kept to a minimum to increase shipping efficiency and minimize waste.
So by now you may be thinking, "This sounds like a great toy company but do the kids really like their toys?" The answer is a resounding YES! Simple wood toys are appealing to children because they are tactile, open-ended with respect to play and ready to come to life with a spark of imagination.
You'll find PlanToys at your local Neighbourhood Toy Store and in my granddaughter's toy box.
Donna Klacza is the owner of Fun To Grow On in Mississauga, a member of Neighbourhood Toy Stores of Canada (NETS). Toys have been her life and now she is enjoying the opportunity of experiencing the joy of play with her, 19-month-old granddaughter Taelyn.
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