Toy Review - Grocery Store and Lemonade Stand Play Center by Melissa and Doug

This toy review is also a bit of a construction review for the Grocery Store and Lemonade Stand Play Center by Melissa and Doug.  You see, toys don't just make themselves.  Every once in a while, I get the Elf like task of building toys at Town Square Toys.  Don't get me wrong, I love it; especially since I don't have Ming Ming asking me how many Etch A Sketches I made.  So, since I have this inside scoop, I thought I would share it with you.

Building the Grocery Store and Lemonade Stand Play Center is fairly easy and not terribly time consuming.  I was able to complete construction in under an hour, easily.  I didn't try to rush.  The bolts that you need are all included in a sealed plastic container and clearly labeled.  The only tool you really need is a small hex wrench that is also included.  Instructions are clear and easy to follow.  Melissa and Doug includes extra nuts and bolts just in case you lose some. 

The Play Center is held together with the type of hidden nuts that fit into pre drilled holes.  The bolts connect themselves through other predrilled holes.  I found that the holes and nuts and bolts all lined up very well.  I have built a fair amount of Melissa and Doug toys and find that they do a great job of having parts pre drilled accurately.  The only part of construction that really slowed me down was sinking the nuts in the holes that are pre drilled into the dowels, which serve as the bucket holders and the primary support of the Play Center.  The nuts have to be pushed deep into the holes and it takes a little bit of extra effort.  Once sunk in to the correct depth, they hold just fine.

The Play Center itself is very nice and sturdy once it is all put together.  The surfaces are nice and smooth and the joints are tight.  I would recommend waiting until the whole thing is put together before snugging all the bolts down.  The awning is reversable by the way; the picture shows the Grocery Store side, but the Lemonade Stand sign is on the other side.  The bins are bright and fit well in the Play Center.  You can fit all kinds of stuff in those bins.  One slick idea, I think, is the addition of small, chalkboard signs that fit on little hooks that are built into each bin.  You can change and rearrange them however you want.  Kids can totally customize their stand.

Overall the stand is a great addition to the line of Melissa and Doug pretend play toys.  I enjoyed putting it together.  You may too.  If you have no desire whatsoever to build one of these, but think your little one would thoroughly enjoy having one, come by Town Square Toys and get this one, or let me know and I will build you one.  See you soon!



Whimsy

What is whimsy?  The dictionary defines it as capricious humor or disposition; extravagant, fanciful, or excessively playful expression.  Here at Town Square Toys we hope that you always feel a bit of whimsy when you come to visit.  Why are there clouds painted on the walls?  Why are there tiny Army men on patrol throughout the store?  Why does a pig have fairy wings?  Why does our stuffed cheetah (I have named Walter) sometimes wear a crown made of Zoobs?  The answer to these questions is whimsy.


When kids come to our store, we want them to play and explore.  See how high that ball bounces.  Shoot those foam darts.  Try out that flashlight.  Play on our Thomas the Tank Engine train table.  Play house on our Calico Critters table.  Read a book to a giant stuffed Panda.  Try on a tiara.  Have fun!  Be whimsical!  Kids are only kids once.  Bring them by our store for a whimsical day sometime.

Knights and Dragons Figure Toob by Safari Ltd

Okay, earlier I was talking about the Safari LTD Toobs and how cool they were. I thought that I would just get a little more specific about the Knights and Dragons Figure Toob. I know we have talked about knights and such here before; this little tube of fun is just a miniature battle waiting to happen. What you have in this Toob are eight knights, two horses, one catapult and a dragon. Four knights are obviously on one side and four are wearing opposing colors. Most of the knights are bowlegged so that they can take turns riding the horses. That is cool. The plastic that they are made of is pliable enough that they fit well and stay put. The dragon is cute. The catapult arm is flexible so that you can pretend to fling stones in battle. I guess you could put a pea or a rice grain on it and actually flick something, but we haven't yet. I really like the portability and packaging of the Toobs in general and I think they did an excellent job on the characters in this one. Long live the King!

Toobs are Too Cool! Safari LTD is awesome!

Okay, some Safari Toobs came home with us the other day and I just have to say that they are the coolest! I already dig Safari and their line of figures. The Toobs are just really neat. You see it's a tube of little animals or people that you, or your kids, can play with. The Toob is a clear, square shaped, tube with a string handle and a cap that features a spinning globe. Actually my niece and nephew liked the lid almost as much as they liked the little creatures from the Toob. There is just a coolness and a cuteness about these Toobs of little guys that your family will love. Come and check them out! - Brian

Toymaker Spotlight: Corolle

When we decided to pick up the Corolle line of dolls, I was not particularly excited. This was not because I didn't like the brand, but because I am a guy and don't get excited about dolls. But as a father of a little girl, I get to meet a lot of dolls and other little friends. As I spent some time checking out the Corolle catalogue and actually seeing the dolls in person (that sounds weird), I was able to see how amazingly well crafted they are. If you have a little girl, she will find an excellent toy and friend in a Corolle doll.

-Brian

Here is a little bit more about Corolle from their website:

Corolle is located in the Loire Valley , the storybook region of France that is famous for its scenic beauty and magnificent chateaux.

The Corolle design team aims to create dolls that look and feel as real as possible with faces that are often inspired by real children.And just as you would find in a haute couture fashion house, Corolle’s design studio is where a staff of professionals works to develop the Corolle look, sketching their designs and choosing the fabrics that will make them come to life.

Since its founding in 1979, Corolle has won more than 30 international awards for design and play excellence, including two DOTY awards (Doll of the Year) as well as awards from the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Dr. Toy and National Parenting Publications (NAPPA), among others.

Today, Corolle dolls are sold in more than 29 countries around the world.

Playing Doctor...

If your child aspires to be a doctor, nurse or veterinarian - why not get them a real working stethoscope by Aeromax Toys? Aeromax makes amazingly accurate costumes, like astronauts, train engineers and race car drivers. They also have a great working stethoscope! Most little doctors start out with the plastic doctor set, which is great, but often need some extra additions to the set. If they want to "listen to your heart", wouldn't it be cooler if they actually could? This perfect little stethoscope takes their pretend play to the next level. It comes in black and pink.

- Steph

Let the chores begin!!!

I hate to clean house. I don't like to use the word hate often but when it comes to cleaning house, I can honestly say I hate it. However, my children have not developed such a hate. I think the difference is I require some daily chores and my mom never did. Had I been taught to do a little everyday, maybe it wouldn't be such a drag now. If you have ever seen a 3 year old try to use an adult sized broom, then you know - having the right tools makes all the difference. There are many good child sized cleaning items on the market, but I think Schylling makes some of the best. They are good quality and have great prices. For under $20, your child could be sweeping, mopping and dusting. For an additional $23, they can also iron on a child's sized ironing board with a metal iron. (Don't worry, the iron doesn't really heat up.) The price is great and they really can work with these tools. Why not start them early and instill a love for cleanliness while they are young and eager to learn?

-Steph

A Dragon You Do Not Have To Slay

Put away your sword and lance, oh mighty knight! This legendary beast need not be slain. That is right; without an arrow being fired, you can bring home this wonderful, mythical beast. Folkmanis has created an amazing and colorful creature that your little one can control as his or her very own dragon! It is the magnificent Earth Dragon! This beast is over 19 inches tall and has a workable mouth. I am not sure which Folkmanis puppet is my favorite, but this one definitely makes the top 10. (Probably because I am a sucker for a cool dragon.)

I feel obliged to mention that although the Earth Dragon in pictured with all manner of gemstones surrounding it, we don't really keep jewels around the toy store. Sorry.

If you feel that this benevolent beast is a bit too big and brash, you might want to check out our smaller Blue Dragon. Or, if you are just going for all around cuteness, try the mini Red Dragon. It is a finger puppet!

-Brian

Style Me Pretty Baby Doll by Madame Alexander

My little girl is SO into doing hair. I love the Style Me Pretty dolls by Madame Alexander. This baby doll allows her to do hair anytime, without risking her own hair in the process. Even though my girl is a blonde, she prefers the brunette doll. There are alot of brunnettes in the family, so maybe that's why. This doll comes with georgeous brown eyes that open and close, beautiful long brown hair and many accessories. There is a comb, a brush, a bow, a clip and several pony tail holders. She also has on a cute pink outfit with a pink kitty complete with a crown. This baby doll is durable and has a soft body. She has pretty pink bows in her pig tails (also a favorite style for my daughter). My little girl connects with the doll because she has the same hairstyle, same eye color and same accessories as she does. This is a great doll for a little girl who has outgrown her baby dolls but isn't quite old enough for Barbies or Only Hearts Club dolls. She is perfect for pretend play which is so popular around age 4-5 years. She is also small enough to be carried around everywhere if your little one gets REALLY attached. Madame Alexander has been making incredible collectible dolls for years and years and their branch out into play dolls has been very successful. They are proving to be a versatile manufacturer who really gets dolls. There is a big difference between a collectible doll and a play doll and some manufacturers would have trouble making the switch. Madame has done it well. I hope the Sweet Baby Nursery line grows, we love them!!!