The antithesis of the above connection opportunity with your child would be placing your baby in front of TV and expecting their intelligence to grow exponentially. A few years ago I wrote about the launch of America’s first Baby TV Channel and the fact that Baby Einstein videos were not the way to go to improve the Rintelligence of your child (read article here). Well, the Campaign for a Commercial-free Childhood has done some incredible lobbying in the US and the upshot is that Disney is offering to refund anyone who has purchased a Baby Einstein video/DVD (initial refunds just refer to consumers in the US but this could change). The headline in the New York Times yesterday was entitled “No genius in your crib? Get a refund!”For more details, click here.

There are lots of great toys and games on the market at the moment, you just need to know what to look for and where to find them. That’s what Toy Talk is all about! 

Don’t waste money this gifting season, make wise purchases after you have had a “see, touch, feel” of what I am recommendng at Toy Talk™.  As a professional toy judge and and educational game designer msyelf, I look at toys very differently to a retailer. Toy Talk is a fun and informative experience.  You’ll also be able to do some of your Christmas shopping  too. Credit card facilities available.

SUMMARY OF TOY TALK

They’re everywhere from cheap Chinese junk, to expensive brands such as Fisher Price, Barney, Ben 10 and Bratz. From Lego and Meccano to battery-operated, winking, blinking, noisy toys, Playstation, Wii and computer games.

 Is there still value in jungle gyms, pot, pans, wooden spoons and the Tupperware cupboard? Do children need toys? What categories of toys are there? How do children learn? Why is play so important? What are the classic toys every child needs? What’s new on the market? Where do electronic toys fit in? How to select a toy, and more. Armed with a little bit of knowledge about toys and how children learn, this fun, interactive workshop will enable you to make better choices for your child and will make shopping for games and toys a piece of cake.

Toy Talk is a presented by Nikki Bush and Justine Heydra who are both toy judges on the professional panel of the SA Toy of the Year Awards, as well as being educational game designers. They are absolutely passionate about play not only because it is fun, but because it is such an effective way of connecting with your child. Nikki is well-known for her recommendations on appropriate toys and games to buy for your children. If you want to know what’s on her list – both the classics for each age group as well as what’s hot right now, then join us for Toy Talk 2009. Suitable for parents from birth to age 12.

DATES OF WORKSHOPS: 

• Friday, 23 October 2009, 9.00am – 12pm
• Saturday, 24 October 2009, 9am – 12pm
• Saturday, 7 November 2009, 9am – 12pm
• Monday, 9 November 2009, 9am – 12pm
• Tuesday, 10 November 2009, 9am – 12pm

All above dates at the Miele Gallery of Fine Living, Peter Place, Bryanston, GAUTENG

COST: R175.00 per head

Bookings:

nikki@brightideasoutfit.co.za

It’s a sell out! My colour & shape matching boardgame, Collect-a-Shape with Barney, designed together with Justine Heydra and distributed by Just Fun Toys, has been so popular it has sold out. There is not another unit in the warehouse and I have no stock left. So, if you still want the game for your children this year, visit Toys R Us, ToyZone, Pick ‘n Pay or Lilliputs to pick up the last of the games on the shelves. I am now out of stock too! We only expect another production run next year.

However, you can still get the Thomas version of the same game, Thomas’ Shape Station Game from me or in any of the stores mentioned above. Once again, stock is limited. Both games retail at R199.00.

My publisher, Metz Press, has confirmed that 4 000 copies of my new book, Easy Answers to Awkward Questions (co-authored with Ilze van der Merwe) have been sold in just 3 months! I am thrilled with this figure which includes both English and Afrikaans versions. Wilsia Metz is taking the book to the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany in this month, so hold thumbs!

If you would like to place an order for any of the following, please click here nikki@brightideasoutfit.co.za  now:

• Future-proof Your Child (R140.00)
• Easy Answers to Awkward Questions (R125.00)
• Maklike Antwoorde vir Ongemaklike Vrae (R125.00)
• Thomas’ Shape Station Game (R199.00)
• Indahoo (R150.00)
• Sketch-a-Story (R199.00)
• Fun on the Run Box™ 3 – 6 years (R160.00)
• Fun on the Run Box™ 6 – 12 years R160.00)

** Please note, for out of town deliveries additional postage/delivery charges apply.

From last month’s newsletter you know that I went gardening with great mission and purpose, to fill my own emotional cup. Many of you have asked how the garden is faring – well, it’s blooming! We had an incredible hail storm the other night and my new little plants weathered it well. We are already picking and eating the herbs, and the veggies are looking good.

While gardening, I received a little lesson in focusing, and being ‘present’, something I talk about often in my workshops. The universe decided to play a practical joke on me on one of my gardening days – my email went down – not for a few minutes, not for an hour, but for the entire day! There was no such thing as taking a quick peek at emails in between pruning, planting, splitting and dividing my plants, trees and shrubs. To begin with, it stressed me out, and then I reminded myself why I was gardening in the first place – for ME, to give myself time out, to slow down and play.  It really has been fun and incredibly therapeutic, and my garden is positively glowing.

So, the lesson for the month is that whatever you really focus on and pay positive attention to, will flourish and grow. When we do this to our children it’s like pouring fertilizer and water all over them! And, just like gardens, we need to constantly prune and shape our children as they grow.

NIKKI BUSH

Creative parenting expert, inspirational speaker and author

nikki@brightideasoutfit.co.za

Zingo would have been my overall winner at the 2009 South African Toy of the Year Awards.  Priced at R140.00 this highly affordable game is both entertaining and educational at the same time, providing play value for the whole family.  A quick family game and children learn how to play it without adult supervision in a trice. They are fascinated by the zip-zap ’machine’ that dispenses the pictures. 

Zingo is essentially a Bingo/Lotto-type game which requires observation and matching skills.  The more proficient your child gets in spotting what he/she needs to cover his / her board, the more competitive the game becomes.

Perfect for 4 – 6 year olds.  Seven and eight year olds continue to enjoy the game with their younger siblings.  Up to 6 players can play at a time.