Choo Choo! Come to Terra Toys on July 15, 2010, 1:00 to 3:00pm to paint your own train. Terra Toys provides materials and instruction, including a wooden boxcar or tanker that fits on any standard wooden railway (cars are made by the same company that makes Thomas the Train Wooden Railway). See you there!
This year’s Fairy Tea Party was a big success! Over the course of the two-hour event, more than 100 excited kids participated. Many arrived in delightful costumes with wings, glitter, capes. Children made the rounds to several tables, each station providing the next step in the fairy-making craft, and ending with tea and cookies. Kids also received tickets for free face-painting three doors down at our new children’s shoe store, kidOshoe.
In fact, the whole party was so cool that our Gretchen made the front page of today’s Austin American-Statesman’s Metro section.
Click here for more photos.
If you liked this event, check out next month’s event: Paint Your Own Train! July 15th, 1-3pm – more details soon…
Sketch Art LED, $50, ages 8+
Sketch Art LED is a cool new design toy. Like a lite brite for the new generation, it is made up of illuminated color pegs. But unlike the old model, this one has no pegboard – the entire surface is usable, so you’re not limited to a pixel-grid. Each peg has two short metal legs which, when pressed through the soft foam surface, connect to the current underneath and light up. There’s also a light cord that can be shaped and woven around the pegs to add extra flair, and set to be continuous or blinking for even more nighttime fun.
Though it can be used with just fingers, it comes with tools for more precise insertion and extraction. And because use is slightly more sophisticated (and possibly pokey) it’s recommended for ages 8+.
We have one set up and turned on – come by and give it a try.
Prices and availability may vary – call store for current info.
It’s time again for our most popular event of the year – the fairy tea party! Kids of ALL ages are invited to dress up as fairies or goblins, witches or warlocks, and come make a fairy craft. Cute and fun, and the cookies are always scrumptious. Thursday, June 17th, 1:00 to 3:00p.m. This is a free event.
Baby, baby, how I love to wiggle! Let’s throw on some cool clothes and head out to The Playroom. They’ll be playing some sweet tunes today, and we can rock around the clock.
Teaching Clock (the classic!) by Fisher Price, $16.50; Overall Jumper by Beary Basics, infant sizes 0-24 months, $34.00; Vintage Sunsuit by Dagmar Daly, infant sizes 0-24 months, $59.50; Beary Jane shoes by Bear Feet, infant sizes 1-4, $44.00
Prices and availability may vary – call store for current info.
Get your kids a marble run, so they can become engineers when they grow up. They might even create something like this someday!
(Skip ahead to 7:56 to see it in action)
The kit in the video is home-made, not sold in stores, but Terra Toys carries a few different marble run construction sets: Quercetti plastic sets from Italy; Haba wooden sets from Germany; Alex brand wooden zoo themed sets; and though it isn’t in stock right now, we anticipate the return of the popular Quadrilla wooden sets in late fall or winter 2010.
Another great game for kids as young as four years! Winner of several awards, What’s in Ned’s Head is a game that appeals to kids’ love for gross stuff while increasing sensory awareness.
Ned’s Head is a large plush head with openings in the mouth and ears. Each player draws a card indicating a weird object for which the player must feel around inside Ned’s Head. A nationwide contest resulted in inclusion of some kid-suggested objects like "Bird Poop With A Worm" and "Dirty Diaper". Included are a total of 15 silly objects with corresponding cards, and 10 extra blank cards so you can add your own wacky stuff!
What’s In Ned’s Head?, $35, 2-5 players, ages 4+
Prices and availability may vary – call store for current info.
Marshmallow Shooter, $25, ages 6+
It’s here! You asked for it, and we got it: the Marshmallow Shooter. It holds an amazing 25 mini marshmallows and is capable of firing them 30 feet. Its lightweight body and sleek look could easily pass for a typical foam pellet gun, but it has the added surprise of edible ammo. Being shot by this gun isn’t half bad – mini marshmallows (sold separately) will rain down upon your friends and foes. Also try the Camo Bow & Mallow archery set, $30.
"Yee Haw!" she hollers across the playground, before dashing away on her noble steed, Mr. Stickhorsey. Her Pa tries to run after her, but she’s just too fast. He sighs and smiles, thinking of how happy she will be when she receives a brand new copy of "Little House on the Prairie" at her birthday party tomorrow.
Cowgirl Dress by Walkup Wear, $38.50, sizes 12m-6; I-Walk Fringe Boots by Bobux, $48, available in tan and pink, sizes 2-8; Horse Shoe Western Sak with horse by Douglas, $15; Red Hair Bow by Party Bags Etc., $5
Prices and availability may vary – call store for current info.
Today is a rare day in Austin. Snow falls in beautiful, fluffy flakes. Hopefully, you and the kids can get bundled up and have a dance in the snow. On normal rainy days, however, you may wish you had a way to keep the energetic tikes entertained indoors. Here’s a sure way to let them run around while staying in one place. Behold, the Super Skipper.
Super Skipper, ages 3+, $33
Super Skipper is essentially a jumping toy. Push a button to choose a speed, or use the big button, which starts slow and builds up speed, so you can practice your way up to the fastest setting. The pole goes around while the machine plays music. Step or hop over the pole, and be careful not to knock into it, or you’ll hear the sad sound of "wah-wah-wah-waaah". But it’s okay! Push the button again to keep hopping. Or you could just chase it…
Super Skipper is a kid magnet! When we demo this toy, every child in the store crowds around waiting for a turn. Also, storage is especially convenient because the pole is collapsible (like a toy light saber) to fit back in the box. So, next time you’re trapped indoors with wild monkeys, clear a space in the living room and start this baby up.