The Pre-Grades Rewards Program

Our Great Grades Rewards Program has been a fantastic success for these past few months.  We have been having a great time watching students bring in their report cards and trade their "A's" for toy bucks.  But we didn't have a program for our youngest students; kids in Kindergarten and 1st grade, often did not get letter grades on their report cards - what could we do?


The Pre-Grades Rewards Program is here!!! If your child has just completed Kindergarten or 1st grade, you can come in and pick up packets for them to work on.  They can bring completed packets back to the store and earn $2 in Town Square Toy bucks.  The first packet is math worksheets. Your child has until June 18th to fill them out and earn their $2 in Town Square Toy bucks. New rewards can be earned every 2 weeks through the summer. Keep checking Facebook for details and please help us spread the word.

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!



Dripsticks: What a Great Idea!

If you have kids of any age, you know that when your kids eat ice cream cones and popsicles, a fair majority of the sugary sweetness will end up on the kid, rather than in the kid. We live in Texas and it is often quite entertaining in the summer months to see if the kids can eat their melting ice cream faster than it can drip all over creation. What a mess! If only their was a simple idea that could work towards solving this problem.

These things are awesome. They can hold either a popsicle or an ice cream cone. They are made of plastic, so you can use them over and over. They are even dishwasher safe. They come in six different, bright colors. They have a good solid feel to them; something you and your child can really grab onto - it is much easier to hold a Dripstick than a cone that is turning to mush or a small popsicle stick. I truly think that you will love this product and use it over and over.

Check out a more complete description here. Or, go to Town Square Toys and get some for yourself.