“Our Mission is to make a difference in children’s lives by providing the types of toys and games that can make a joyful and lasting impact.”

What you will find:

We love searching the world for the very best toys because we get to play with them. The Top Ten qualities that we are always looking for in our playful research:

1. Made with Safe Materials and is also Safe to Use
2. Absolutely FUN
3. Educational
4. Great Play Value
5. Open Ended Toys encouraging imaginative play in a variety of ways
6. Creative
7. Fairly priced
8. Unique
9. Award Winning
10. Details of Where and How is it made

Having this amazingly large selection of distinct toys in a very small space means that we have to weed through the hype and find the tried and true toys that will have genuine lasting play value. We are known not just for the products that we do carry, but for what we don’t carry as well.

 

What you Won’t find:

We don’t carry war toys so you won’t find realistic guns or army figures. There has long been a debate as to the merits of trying to keep toy weapons out of the hands of children and while some would argue that it is part of maturation and development to engage in such role playing we believe if they must play with guns, let them use their imaginations to create them.

Every year we work with local schools for a “Violent Toy Turn in Event” in the spring. Children receive a prize or coupon for bringing in their war toys and can exchange them for more peaceful playthings at our shop. If your school would like to learn more about our speaking engagements on this topic or to participate, please contact us. Learn more about what local teachers are doing to promote peace here.

 

However we do carry:

• Brightly coloured Water “Squirters”. Some are animal shapes as a fun but friendly alternative.
• Historical Pirates & Romans themes including some dress up.
• Hard to find classic Lego (note some of their newer themes are based around more “intense” story lines).
• Marshmallow shooters that encourage you to “play with your food”.
• If you are looking for ideas that promote peace check out our Co-Operative Games.

We also don’t carry dolls that promote the premature sexualisation of young girls. There are so many wonderful dolls that provide children an opportunity to role play and explore their emerging selves. With so many wholesome and still hip alternatives we don’t feel the need to carry those dolls in the marketplace currently taking the place of Barbie. They generally encourage stereotypes of young women (with past-times like shopping), provide unrealistic body images and promote “age-inappropriate” risqué dressing. Kirsten Anderson does speaking engagements on this topic (and others) for co-operative pre-schools.

 

Every child is unique and special with interests of their own and some influenced by their peers - and often advertising. We try to look beyond fads, beyond the hype and packaging to provide choices that you’ll appreciate and that, most importantly, excites and engages the child.

This is our philosophy. We hope you like it.

Thinking outside the Big Box.