playing

articles

• A survival guide for parents on the go
• Nikki’s favourite kids toys on TV3′s Lunchbox

by Memre Griffin, mother of 2 boys aged 3 & 5, owner of Goodie Two Shoes, passionate about effortless travel, good service and happy fulfilled children all around the globe.

Travelling with children requires a lot of preparation, no matter whether it is a picnic in in the park (if only!) or flying off to some exotic destination. Be prepared, take it slow and restock the necessities along the way.

Wouldn’t it be great to just jump in the car and away we go but if you have ever tried it before you will definitely know it just does not work. Check the weather, pack some extras, and make sure that a lot of tolerance has been put in reserve.  Here are a few tips, that I should actually follow myself to make it all so much less stressful!

Timing is everything. A breakfast or early lunch is better for the younger ones as a few extra ‘vinos’ and long lazy lunches can creep into naptimes ensuring a grizzly little monster when you are just starting to relax. If you have a long car journey consider driving when they might drop off into a nap.

Have bag, will travel. Packing everything into a sensible bag will help tremendously. For younger children a nappy bag is essential for all their bits and bobs. Older children can have their own small backpack, but be prepared…..you generally end up carrying these as well! For long haul travel, invest in a ‘Trunki’ suitcase, it not only serves as a case but also a ride-on and a much needed seat for little ones in queues.

Tried and tested. When all else fails, the familiar softness of a cuddly toy or a favourite blanket seems to save the day. Sleeping in a new bed can be daunting but a soft toy or a pillow that smells of home can provide tremendous comfort. My son’s little stuffed monkey has seen just about the whole continent and is still the favourite companion when we travel anywhere.

Spares & something warm. I always forget to pack an extra set of clothes for accidents and incidents and generally end up with a naked child on the way home! You just never know when a milkshake might go flying or whether a mountain stream might just be too big a temptation. South African weather can give us 4 seasons in one day, so always be prepared for the extreme.

Lost property. In a split second children can missapear (my 3 ½ year old’s new word, a combination of missing and disappear). Unfortunately they do not come with a tracker system, so make sure that they always carry some info in case of an emergency. I generally take a waterproof marker and write my cell phone number on their hands or invest in some id bracelets from Kindersafe. This is just in case their adventure takes them that little too far and they notice you are not within eyesight. 

Distractions. Getting there should be half the fun. Banish boredom by keeping them amused with a combination of sight seeing, playtime and snack breaks.

Goodies: having some new toys to pull out along the way, is a great way of shortening a journey or meal out…..a goodie box™ made by Goodie Two Shoes does the trick – particularly when parents need it the most! It is jammed packed with educational and fun toys as well as art activities and stickers and it is inexpensive as a bonus too. You can buy different themed boxes for both of the two age groups, each containing age-appropriate toys ensuring a bubbly busy bee and a relaxed parent too. Think playtime in a box.

Snack attack. Sugar and confinement is not a good combination with children. Stock up on nibbles such as fresh and dried fruit, nuts, bite-size cheese, crackers, popcorn, baby carrots and cucumber sticks and small boxes of juice to keep the hunger and thirst at bay. There is nothing worse than the tantrum of an over-tired, hungry child.

Toiletries. It is normally halfway across the Karoo that you end up with tiny sticky hands and nothing to clean the mess. Wet wipes is a definite must for any outing. While you are at it, pack a few plasters, sunscreen, a plastic bag for rubbish and some trusted medicine. I ended up asking every parent with a child whether they had Calpol onboard a flight at a stop-over as my child had severe ear ache and I knew we were going through the same experience in an hour’s time again!

Location, location, location. If you are taking your children into a very formal environment you will end up being extra cautious about everything your child does. Rather plan more child-friendly outings than putting enormous pressure, not only on yourself but also on your darling little one. You will be surprised at how many great restaurants there are that not only you will enjoy but also have a child-friendly atmosphere. Some restaurants even offer a piece of pizza dough; provide kiddies entertainment or best of all sell Goodie Two Shoes boxes.

Just keep on smiling. When you have run out of all ideas (and patience) take a leaf out of Barney’s book and go on an adventure. You never know where it might take you!

Go make a memory.

On 10 December Nikki  Bush from the Bright Idea Outfit was interviewed on TV3’s lunchtime magazine programme, Lunchbox.  She was asked about the importance of toys in a child’s development and reviewed a number of her current favourites.  Here are the details of the reviews and where you can find them:

THOMAS’ SHAPE STATION GAME

This first shape and colour boardgame suitable for 3 – 5 year olds was developed by Nikki Bush & Justine Heydra for Thomas.  For up to four players, this fun board game stimulates the pre-reading and writing skills of visual discrimination and matching, as well as teaching young children to take turns, to win and to lose.  Spend some quality time with your child this holidays with this fabulous game which also made an appearance in this year’s Toy of the Year Awards.  The superb artwork will thrill any Thomas fan!

AVAILABLE WHERE?  Toys R Us, Toyzone, other stockists of Thomas products.

FUN ON THE RUN BOXES

This popular parenting tool consists of a little box of tricks for when you are out and about, waiting for appointments, for meals in restaurants, travelling or just sitting in the carwash.  It contains 25 educationally sound activities for you to do with your child when you are parenting on the run.  It comes in two editions, one for 3 – 6 year olds and another for 6 – 12 year olds, together with an instruction leaflet.

AVAILABLE WHERE? Ladder of Learning (Fourways Mall), The Toy Exchange (Blairgowrie) and at Nikki’s Parenting on the Run Workshops around the country.

FILO

Filo is one of my favourites at the moment for children from 5 – 12 years of age.  I left it in my car for a week and every child in the age group was fascinated and wanted turn after turn including both boys and girls.  This fun and creative product will provide hours of creative pleasure while at the same time stimulating the perceptual skills of eye-hand co-ordination, fine motor control and proprioception, all so necessary for reading and writing.  It is sort of like colouring in and playing with a pegboard all at the same time on a very sensory rubbery surface.  Using a BIC pen-type threader, you push the pen into the rubbery board and the threading lace gets ‘hooked’ into the holes.  Inside the box you will fnd Filo beautifully and practically packed suitcase-style – great for travelling – containing all the threaders, threading laces, pattern cards and 18 additional pictures to create inside the instruction leaflet.

AVAILABLE WHERE?  All Think Toys shops (they are the importers), Ladder of Learning (Fourways Mall), Kidzone (Randpark Ridge – behind Trinity House School and opposite the Top Crop Centre where they used to be), Toy Exchange (Blairgowrie).

REFLEX SOCCER

Children will be able to kick a ball to their hearts’ contents with this innovative toy.  The soccer ball is attached to a stretchy elastic which in turn is attached to a plastic base which must be filled with water to weight it down.  This allows the ball to rebound when  kicked.  Hours of fun to be enjoyed by a child on his/her own or in pairs. I recommend this product would be suitable for children from 4 – 7 years of age.  Older/bigger children kick the ball too hard for the weight of the base.  Best played on grass.

AVAILABLE WHERE:? Toys R Us and large chain stores such as Game, Makro etc.

SCRUNCH BUCKET

Gone are the days of having to buy a new bucket in every holiday location.  Now there’s a flexible silcone bucket – a wonderful invention – which can literally be scrunched up and packed in any corner of your suitcase or beach bag without taking up lots of room. Availabe in a variety of lovely colours.  I am currently at the beach with my nieces and nephews and uninitiated parents are oohing and aahing over these fabulous buckets!

AVAILABLE WHERE?  Independent toy stores such as Ladder of Learning, Toy Exchange, Kidzone

PEEK-A-BOO BALL

This wonderful wooden fascination toy is suitable from 9 months of age to 2.5 years.  Super for use in the car, the little faces pop out of holes as you turn/roll the ball.

AVAILABLE WHERE?  Independent toys stores, craft markets (such as the The Village Craft Market in Douglasdale, or visit Time Out Toys and ask for a list of stockists.

CROCOSMILE

This colourful baby and toddler toy is a good combination of a soft toy with educational value.  Each piece of the crocodile is stuck together with velcro so that your little one can pull it apart (proprioception) and stick it back together again.  It has different colours, textures and patterns which you toddler can match together around age 2 – 3.  It also contains a rattle in the tail and the face can be used as a hand puppet.  When you squeeze the mouth together it squeaks. So much in one toy – great educational as well as cuddle value.

AVAILABLE WHERE:  Independent toy stores, craft markets (such as the Village Craft Market in Douglasdale, or visit Time Out Toys and ask for a list of stockists.

NO SPILL BUBBLES

Just one of the best inventions for children – bubbles that can’t be spilt!  Now your child can play with bubbles at home, in the car, in the supermarket trolley and they can’t make a mess.  This unique container comes with a bottle of bubbles. Once finished, keep the container but refill with any cheap bubble mixture you can find.

AVAILABLE WHERE:  Independent toys stores.

SMART MOUTH

This is a quick, fun word building game for players from 7 years to adult.  The unique ‘letter getter’ spews out two letters.  Players must make up words using the letter on the left as the first letter and the letter on the right as the last letter of their word.  The first player to call out a correct word keeps the letters. The player with the most letters at the end of the game is the winner.  7/8 year olds make up three letter words.  Older children and adults can be challenged to make up longer words.

AVAILABLE WHERE? Independent toy stores, Toys R Us, ToyZone

SKETCH-A-STORY

Launched this year, this game was developed by Nikki Bush & Justine Heydra and also made a debut at the Toy of the Year Awards.  Suitable for 8 year olds to adult, the slogan on the game is ‘think, draw, tell, laugh like hell’.  It is a boardgame played in teams.  The drawer takes four cards from the box and has to draw those four pictures, in no particular order.  The storyteller does not call out as each picture is being drawn.  He/she waits until all four pictures are completed (60 seconds allowed to the drawer) and then has 30 seconds to weave what he thinks the drawer has drawn into a short tale – the funnier and more bizarre the better!  This game encourages spontaneous fun with word associations and requires players to use their imagination and creativity – very important X-factors for success for children entering the world of work in 2020 and beyond. Read my book Future-proof Your Child (Penguin 2008) for more details.

AVAILABLE WHERE? Toys R Us, ToyZone, C.N.A, Checkers Hyper, Ladder of Learning, The Toy Exchange

INDAHOO

This addictive game, launched this year, and developed by Nikki Bush & Justine Heydra also appeared at the Toy of the Year Awards. Indahoo is an hilarious game for 10 year olds to adult and is ideal for when you have a large group of people. Can be played with 6 – 20+ people – we played with 24 the other evening.  A word game uisng word categories (general knowlegde, celebrities, sports trivia etc) played in three rounds (the same cards, 5 per player, go into each round) - the first round you may use as many words as you like to describe to your team the word on your card, the second round, players may only use 2 words and the third round – no words – just actions.  So this is really about listening, general knowledge and creativity.

AVAILABLE WHERE?  Toys R Us, ToyZone, Checkers Hyper, C.N.A, Ladder of Learning, The Toy Exchange