Eat Your Veggies Day

 Toys  No Responses »
Jun 192013
 
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Vegetables by Sara Anderson, available as a board book $8.95

Today is Eat Your Veggies Day!  What’s your favorite veggies?  Around here we love broccoli, tomatoes and radishes!  And, we love veggies as toys too!

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Garden Salad by Hape, Ages 3+ $24.99

Get your kids on a healthy kick with the help of this wood and felt salad.  Great quality and made to last through multiple kids.  Nom nom nom!

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Kids’ Watering Can Kit, Ages 5+ $19.99

If you’re going to grow your own veggies (it’s awesome, do it!) you’ll need some tools for your little helpers.  Includes watering can, gloves, spade, shovel and rake.  We have a wheelbarrow and full size racks and shovels too!

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Nature Scavenger Hunt via the taylor house

Or, if you would prefer to not have little helpers (we understand) Angry Chicken did a great post about an impromptu nature scavenger hunt she had for her kids while she worked in the garden.  Awesome idea!

Have a fit and healthful day!

-Child’s Play

P.S. Don’t forget to enter our raffle for 4 tickets to kids’ musician Cat Doorman at Mississippi Studios!  Enter here.

Go Fishing Day!

 Toys  No Responses »
Jun 182013
 
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Fishing Set by Battat, Ages 3+ $24.99

June is full of national holidays; Flag Day, Father’s Day, Eat Your Veggies Day (tomorrow!), and, of course, Go Fishing Day!  To celebrate today’s Go Fishing Day we’ve got a few ideas of what you need to pack for a day on the lake.

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Mad Libs $3.99

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Eni Puzzle, Ages 5+ $14.99

Trust us, no offense to fishing, but sometimes the waiting can be a bit dull.  So, pack some games!

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Survival Lantern, Ages 6+ $9.99

Pack a flashlight.  Just in case.

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Cookies from Two Tarts Bakery

And, you’ll get hungry, so after you pick up some toys for your trip, pick up some cookies next door at Two Tarts Bakery!  We would like to suggest the Caramel Brownie – it’s almost like fudge it’s so dense and delicious.

Have a swimmingly good day!

-Child’s Play

P.S. Don’t forget to enter our raffle for 4 tickets to kids’ musician Cat Doorman at Mississippi Studios!  Enter here.

Win Tickets to Sunday’s Kids’ Concert at Mississippi Studios!

 Toys  No Responses »
Jun 172013
 

NW Children's Theater presents an all-new adaptation of the classic story, Cinderella. Inspired by classic musicals, this lavish re-telling of the girl, the slipper and happily ever after, will keep your toes tapping and cheeks smiling. Geared for all ages, and most enjoyed by those 5 years and up. We are so excited to be giving away (5) Family Four Packs of Tickets! Hop over to our website to enter! Details to enter here. Ends Thursday, May 9 at 11:59 pm.

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Enter our giveaway, and you could win 4 tickets to see these two kid-friendly artists live at Mississippi Studios on Sunday afternoon!  Portland indie artist Julianna Bright (aka Cat Doorman) hosts an all ages matinee featuring her children’s music and media project.  Doors open at 2pm, show starts at 3pm.  There’s some seating in the balcony, but it’s mainly a standing show.  More details about the show on Mississippi Studio’s website .

To enter, click on the Specials tab at the top of the page!
Details to enter here.  Ends Thursday, June 20 at 11:59 pm.

To check out Cat’s music, visit her site here.  And to hear The Good Ms. Padgett, her site is here.

Want to make some music of your own?  Have you tried this?

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Singing Animal Keyboard, Ages 12mos.+ $34.99

Have a lovely day!

-Child’s Play

BFFs 4 Eva!

 Toys  No Responses »
Jun 132013
 

Got plans on Friday afternoon?  Want to hang out with your BFF and have an awesome time?  Well then, come by the store from 3pm – 5pm for BFFs 4 Eva!

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Here’s what we’ll be using to make the glitter tattoos!  Have you tried them out?  They’re really awesome and super fun!

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Ink-a-do Tattoo Pens, Ages 6+ $4.99

Have a hip, happenin’ day!

-Child’s Play

P.S. Here’s some cool links we found this week:

Kiddley shared this great video of Jim Henson talking about Making Muppets.  We heart the Muppets!

Do you read local blog Angry Chicken?  You should.  Amy and her family share amazing ideas, like these Packing Tape Postcards.

Barbecue season is upon us, and Cool Mom Picks shared these 11 Ways to Serve a Watermelon!

Urban Mamas and Popina Swimwear are hosting a Mom’s Night Out!  Indulge in a little wine, watch a fashion show and find that perfect suit for the summer!  Plus, get 25% off any suit purchased at the event!  The event is tonight at 7:30.  Check the Facebook Page for all the details!

 

What We’re Reading: Gilda Joyce Psychic Investigator

 Books  No Responses »
Jun 122013
 

We’re so excited about our BFFs 4 Eva event on Friday (check the events page for all the details!), that we thought we’d share one of our favorite tween books.

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Gilda Joyce: Psychic Investigator by Jennifer Allison

Gilda Joyce’s fearlessly independent character and Allison’s vivid storytelling will have any reader riveted to the pages!  Daring Gilda, who is aspiring to be a psychic investigator as one of several of her careers, invites herself to stay with her mother’s long lost cousin for the summer in his San Francisco mansion.  Gilda is surprised to find a girl of her own age living in the house, then taken aback by her defensively haughty manner.  When the two girls are the only ones to hear strange noises from the mansion’s forbidden tower, they decide to join forces to solve the mystery of the lonely ghost in the house!  Recommended for ages 9+

Have an exciting day!

-Child’s Play

Friends in the News: Amy Vining Photography

 Events, Local  No Responses »
Jun 102013
 
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The In-between Years featuring Amy Vining Photography

Our Friends at Amy Vining Photography are in the news!  Amy has been featured in Professional Photography magazine for her work with tweens!  View the full article here.  The article talks about how important it is to capture those years in between childhood and adulthood.  And, to help you capture those years (for free!) Amy will be here in the store on Friday from 3pm-5pm, manning the Child’s Play Toys Photo Booth!  Here’s the event details:

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And, for further enjoyment, Amy wrote an insightful article about Real Beauty for the website Parenting in Portland.  Amy talks about the importance of reminding our children about what really makes them beautiful, and offers some tips about how she does so in her studio and home.  The article can be found here (then look around Parenting in Portland’s site.  They’re a new group in town and have some great resources to check out!)

Have a terrific day!

-Child’s Play

Friday Faves: Summertime Toys and National Doughnut Day!

 Misc, Toys  No Responses »
Jun 072013
 

Sunshine!  Almost the end of the school year!  National Doughnut Day!  So much to be excited about!  So, for your summer fun and doughnut needs, here’s our top picks:

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4′ Tie Dye Kite by New Tech Kites $24.99

Headed to the beach?  Lucky you!  Well, don’t forget a kite.  The Oregon Coast is notoriously windy and you don’t want to miss out on all the blustery fun!  New Tech Kites are easy to assemble and easy to fly.  Check out our tie dye, butterfly and pig styles.  That’s right, you can make a pig (kite) fly!!

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Surge Streamer Water Gun, Ages 3+  $7.99

It’s going to be a bit toasty this weekend, and if you’re going to cool down, why not be a bit creative about it?  For only $7.99 per water gun you can stage your own epic battle!  Upgrade to the Double Barrel Surge Streamer for only $5 more!  And, don’t forget to supplement your reserves with water balloons – we’ve got those too!

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My Flower Press, Ages 5+ $17.99

Maybe something a bit slower-paced is your thing.  Make your own beautiful pressed flowers with Alex’s My Flower Press.  Go for an early morning walk, collect a handful of wildflowers, then press them under the shade of a big tree, maybe with a side of lemonade.  Can you think of anything more simple and splendid?

And, let’s not forget that today is a national holiday.  It’s National Doughnut Day!  Don’t the donuts above look awesome?!  And, they’re gluten and dairy free!  We pinned a bunch of doughnut (and donut) recipes to our Pinterest board.  Check them out here!

What are your plans for the weekend?

Have an epically AWESOME weekend!!

-Child’s Play

National Yo-Yo Day is Today!

 Misc, Toys  No Responses »
Jun 062013
 

Today is National Yo-Yo day!  Can you walk the dog?  Do the elevator?  What about the Darth Vader?  (yeah, that last one really is a trick!  Learn it here!)  We have both Duncan and Yomega yo-yos in stock!  Here’s a sampling:

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Duncan Butterfly Yoyo, Ages 6+ $4.99

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Brain Yoyo by Yomega, Ages 8+ $12.99

And, here’s a few links for you to enjoy:  Father’s Day Ideas, Popcorn for Breakfast and more!

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Four Generations in One Photo via Just Imagine

Looking for Father’s Day Gifts ideas?  This four generations in one photo idea is definitely at the top of our list.

How do minimalist parents handle summer?  from local blog Parent Hacks.

Popcorn Breakfast Cereal !  TinkerLab has a great idea for a history lesson, science experiment and adventure into trying new foods.

Why every mom should make sure she’s in photos with her kids.

10 Family Movie picks you can borrow from the library via Parent Hacks.

Have an AWESOME day!

-Child’s Play

What We’re Reading: 365 Things to Make and Do

 Books, Crafts, Events  No Responses »
Jun 052013
 

Firstly, make sure you come by to get a Silhouette Portrait!  Drop-ins are welcome or call ahead to reserve a spot!  Karl, the artist, will be here from 10am – 5pm.  The portraits make a great gift!

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And, now for what we’re reading:

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365 Things to Make and Do by Fiona Watt, designed and illustrated by Erica Harrison $24.99

This book is chock-full of, well… things to make and do!  Each double page features easy-to-follow instructions (with illustrations!), plus ideas for things made in a similar fashion.  For example, you can follow the instructions for drawing a basic castle.  But, then follow the idea plans for a princess castle, knight’s castle or a spooky castle.  You can also make paper animals, like these!

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Paper Animals via 365 Things to Make and Do

Have a craftily inspiring day!

-Child’s Play

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