Have your kids picked out what they want for Christmas already? I am sure you have started receiving the toy catalogs and promotions and they have eagerly gone through and marked what they want. They might even have their list to Santa already made up.
You had better get shopping! The Silly Goose Toy Store has all sorts of specials and deals going on right now. Check out sale prices on some of our most popular Children's Factory toys. Spend at least $20 and receive 10% off your order. Spend $50 and get 20% off your order. But, if you spend $100 or more you will enjoy free shipping!
I will keep you updated on stock levels as the news comes in!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The Power of Play Fact Sheet
*Information adapted from, kidsource.com
- A large majority of parents (75%) believe that play is important to children's development.
- This belief proved strong in rural areas (85%) followed by urban (74%) and then suburban (71%).
- Of those surveyed, 91 percent stated that play has a positive effect on children's overall well being
- Other key aspects of childhood development positively impacted by play include:
Imagination (90%)
Self-confidence/self-esteem (90%)
Creativity (89%)
Problem solving (89%)
Cooperation (89%)
- Top activities children age 2-12 participate in outside of school:
Watching television (93%)
Watching videos (90%)
At playground (85%)
Exploring/nature (82%)
Reading (79%)
Top activities parents say have replaced play:
Video games (43%)
Television (33%)
Movies (16%)
School/academic activities (10%)
Organized sports (8%)
Top six ranked activities considered play by parents:
With toys (85%)
At playground (82%)
With action figures and with friends (both at 81%)
At friends' homes (80%)
With stuffed animals/dolls (79%)
Bottom six ranked activities considered play by parents:
Reading (25%)
Using computer to access Internet (27%)
Organized musical activities (29%)
Watching television and participating in drama (both at 33%)
Organized arts and crafts (37%)
This survey was conducted by Applied Research & Consulting, a quantitative telephone survey was conducted with a randomly selected sample of 400 parents nationwide.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
A Baby is Born to Play
A baby will respond right from birth to brightly coloured toys, bright moving objects and sounds. Introducing baby toys to the nursery right from day one will help to stimulate your newborn baby and enable him to develop more quickly.Like children, babies learn fast, they rapidly develop new skills through listening, watching and touching. Toys stimulate a baby’s desire to learn, help them learn quickly through new experiences, help them develop an imagination and recognise different sounds.
In the first few months your baby will develop his basic senses of sight, sound and touch. Choose baby toys that will provide a range of experiences including colour, shape and texture. Have a brightly coloured mobile in the nursery where your baby can see it and study it while lying in his crib.
Very quickly your baby will be able to grab things and will be looking for a whole range of new touching experiences. Go for learning toys, baby toys that will inspire your baby’s imagination, toys that will enable your baby to associate touch with sound and shape.
Baby’s just love to explore and it won’t be very long before they are a
ble to move towards objects that interest them. You can use interesting toys to grab your baby’s attention, use baby toys to encourage your baby to learn to roll, learn to crawl and eventually learn to walk.
In the first few months your baby will develop his basic senses of sight, sound and touch. Choose baby toys that will provide a range of experiences including colour, shape and texture. Have a brightly coloured mobile in the nursery where your baby can see it and study it while lying in his crib.
Very quickly your baby will be able to grab things and will be looking for a whole range of new touching experiences. Go for learning toys, baby toys that will inspire your baby’s imagination, toys that will enable your baby to associate touch with sound and shape.
Baby’s just love to explore and it won’t be very long before they are a
ble to move towards objects that interest them. You can use interesting toys to grab your baby’s attention, use baby toys to encourage your baby to learn to roll, learn to crawl and eventually learn to walk.Baby toys can keep your little one occupied for hours toys generate interest, make your baby think and will help them to learn once they come of school age. You quite often hear people moaning about how lack of stimulation has meant that they no longer learn as quick. The same goes for your baby, if your baby lacks stimulation at an early age they will develop more slowly and maybe never catch up. Baby toys will help them learn and develop all the skills they need.
In these modern times there is a baby toy for nearly every learning experience. Baby toys have been developed to help your baby learn. Take full advantage of those that have gone before you and learned what your baby will like most and let your baby enjoy trying to understand their new world through the magic of baby toys.
In these modern times there is a baby toy for nearly every learning experience. Baby toys have been developed to help your baby learn. Take full advantage of those that have gone before you and learned what your baby will like most and let your baby enjoy trying to understand their new world through the magic of baby toys.
Monday, August 11, 2008
The Right To Play!
Below is copied directly from the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights, recognizing play as a right of every child.
Article 311.
States Parties recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.
2. States Parties shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity.
Play is so important to children's growth and development that it has been recognized as a basic human right. Unfortunately, that free unstructured play is dwindling for some children. We are so scheduled these days and the small amount of free time we do have with our kids is spent doing something "constructive." It is a shame to waste time.
I am so guilty of wanting everything to be scheduled and structured. As my husband and I were searching for a new daycare, we asked each one what kind of daily schedule they have for the kids. I even remember one lady saying that she didn't believe in schedules for kids. Inside I automatically ruled her daycare out. I needed to know that my son had a schedule of planned activities for the day so he wouldn't be bored.
Okay--so my son is 1 year old...the top of the milk jug entertains him. I don't know why I had such a strong need to know that he was going to be busy all day.
We have recently moved him from a large and very structured daycare facility to a rela
xed unstructured in-home daycare. I can't believe what a difference the change has made! He is much more relaxed and doesn't whine or fuss as much. He doesn't seem as exhausted when he gets home. When we are home he doesn't cling to me and look to me for entertainment all the time. He now easily plays and explores on his own. His overall attitude is just more easy going.
This weekend we stayed home and hung-out. We had no plans, just did whatever we felt like. It was fun to watch him play on his own and fun to play along with him. He loves books and singing. He also likes play catch and build with blocks. So, I don't feel like he is deprived or going to be less prepared for school than other kids. I know that he learns a great deal through his free play and doesn't feel as stressed out.
My mom was right when she said every experience can be a learning experience. Things don't have to be planned and structured to learn from them.
I hope you and your kids enjoy these last few weeks of summer before school starts back up again! Don't forget to have some free time!
Don't forget I am offering FREE SHIPPING in August!
Article 311.
States Parties recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.
2. States Parties shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity.
Play is so important to children's growth and development that it has been recognized as a basic human right. Unfortunately, that free unstructured play is dwindling for some children. We are so scheduled these days and the small amount of free time we do have with our kids is spent doing something "constructive." It is a shame to waste time.
I am so guilty of wanting everything to be scheduled and structured. As my husband and I were searching for a new daycare, we asked each one what kind of daily schedule they have for the kids. I even remember one lady saying that she didn't believe in schedules for kids. Inside I automatically ruled her daycare out. I needed to know that my son had a schedule of planned activities for the day so he wouldn't be bored.
Okay--so my son is 1 year old...the top of the milk jug entertains him. I don't know why I had such a strong need to know that he was going to be busy all day.
We have recently moved him from a large and very structured daycare facility to a rela
xed unstructured in-home daycare. I can't believe what a difference the change has made! He is much more relaxed and doesn't whine or fuss as much. He doesn't seem as exhausted when he gets home. When we are home he doesn't cling to me and look to me for entertainment all the time. He now easily plays and explores on his own. His overall attitude is just more easy going.This weekend we stayed home and hung-out. We had no plans, just did whatever we felt like. It was fun to watch him play on his own and fun to play along with him. He loves books and singing. He also likes play catch and build with blocks. So, I don't feel like he is deprived or going to be less prepared for school than other kids. I know that he learns a great deal through his free play and doesn't feel as stressed out.
My mom was right when she said every experience can be a learning experience. Things don't have to be planned and structured to learn from them.
I hope you and your kids enjoy these last few weeks of summer before school starts back up again! Don't forget to have some free time!
Don't forget I am offering FREE SHIPPING in August!
Monday, August 4, 2008
New to Walking
We have been waiting for this day to come, but now that it is here and our little baby son is walking, I don't know if I am ready for it. As I have stood by his side and watched him stand up and fall down and stand back up again I have started thinking a lot about myself as a parent.
In the beginning I jumped to pick him up every time he fell down. I jumped to save him from skinning that knee or stubbing that toe. But after all this happened nearly 20 times in the matter of 5 minutes, I had to ask myself, am I helping him by always picking him up? What will happen when he falls and I am not there? Will he get back up? Or, will he sit there until someone comes along to help him? Am I dooming him to a life of helplessness by constantly picking him up after he falls?
As I lay in bed that night...my back HURT! It was so sore from bending and stooping all day placing him back on his feet. It was then and there that I decided it was okay for him to fall, skin his knee, stub his toe, and struggle to get back up. It is all about learning to walk and steady yourself on your own two feet.
He is now really good at pushing toys around and doesn't need me as much anymore. I just stand back and cheer him on as he takes his 14th lap down the driveway.
Letting go.
In the beginning I jumped to pick him up every time he fell down. I jumped to save him from skinning that knee or stubbing that toe. But after all this happened nearly 20 times in the matter of 5 minutes, I had to ask myself, am I helping him by always picking him up? What will happen when he falls and I am not there? Will he get back up? Or, will he sit there until someone comes along to help him? Am I dooming him to a life of helplessness by constantly picking him up after he falls?
As I lay in bed that night...my back HURT! It was so sore from bending and stooping all day placing him back on his feet. It was then and there that I decided it was okay for him to fall, skin his knee, stub his toe, and struggle to get back up. It is all about learning to walk and steady yourself on your own two feet.
He is now really good at pushing toys around and doesn't need me as much anymore. I just stand back and cheer him on as he takes his 14th lap down the driveway.
Letting go.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Getting Ready for Back to School...already
The days of summer and kids out of school are ticking away. Around here some of the year round schools are getting ready to start next week. Like me you are all probably wondering, "where did the summer go?"
I found this funny poem by Ken Nesbitt about buying school supplies. Thought I would post it on the blog for all of you to reflect upon as you begin your back to school shopping.
School Supplies
Backpack.
Fruit snack.
Waterbottle too.
Calculator.
French Translator.
Pink eraser.
Glue.
Notebooks.
Workbooks.
Poster paper.
Pens.
Dictionary.
Stationery.
Presents for my friends.
Lunchbox.
Tube socks.
Watercolors.
Tape.
Yellow pencils.
Plastic stencils.
One for every shape.
Wristwatch.
Stopwatch.
Cell phone.
DVD.
New computer.
Motorscooter.
Giant screen T.V.
That's my
list of
all I need to buy.
I never knew
a shopping list
could make my mother cry.
--Kenn Nesbitt
I found this funny poem by Ken Nesbitt about buying school supplies. Thought I would post it on the blog for all of you to reflect upon as you begin your back to school shopping.
School Supplies
Backpack.
Fruit snack.
Waterbottle too.
Calculator.
French Translator.
Pink eraser.
Glue.
Notebooks.
Workbooks.
Poster paper.
Pens.
Dictionary.
Stationery.
Presents for my friends.
Lunchbox.
Tube socks.
Watercolors.
Tape.
Yellow pencils.
Plastic stencils.
One for every shape.
Wristwatch.
Stopwatch.
Cell phone.
DVD.
New computer.
Motorscooter.
Giant screen T.V.
That's my
list of
all I need to buy.
I never knew
a shopping list
could make my mother cry.
--Kenn Nesbitt
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
What are people saying about The Silly Goose Toy Store Website?
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