Page 30 – Toy Street

Going Back to School

For some of us, it has been months since our little ones were sat in the classroom with their books, teachers, and best friends. However, the return is soon approaching, and it is understandable that some of us feel more ready than others. In this week\’s blog, we are going to cover the Back to School period and how you can prepare.

Travelling to School

The advice to those making shorter journeys is to walk or cycle where possible. If this is not possible, public transport will be running. Capacity may be reduced but services are gradually being increased where possible in the run-up to the September return to school. We advise that you plan ahead by checking timetables and leaving more time for your journey as this may be necessary. Remember that children over the age of 11 will be asked to wear a face-covering. It’s also recommended to use card or app payments whenever possible.

What Precautions Will Schools Be Taking?

Schools across the country will be taking steps to make sure that returning to the classroom is as safe as possible, for everyone. Staggering the drop off and pick up times for each year group is one of the biggest precautions being taken. Schools are also using one-way systems as well as specific locations to avoid group gatherings during school runs. Schools will also keep kids in their own ‘bubbles’ and make sure that everyone is being socially distant where possible! Most importantly though, everyone will be making sure that hands are washed often throughout the day!

What Can You Do?

The most important thing you can do when getting ready to send your little one off to school is to prepare. This applies to all areas of school, from looking ahead to drop off plans to what to pack for their return to the classroom. Many schools are issuing their own list of what to pack. Some are avoiding rucksacks and giving children a small list of what to bring such as a water bottle, lunch and a reading book. Most schools will be regularly releasing newsletters to keep you up to date with everything that is going on. If you or your little one is feeling anxious, there are lots of services to put you at ease and educate your child on what precautions to take, sites include BBC Newsround and Childline.

Ready for the Classroom?

Lockdown introduced us all to home-schooling, from Google Classroom to printed off activity sheets. Then the summer holidays hit, and we all began to enjoy the little things (and the sun) as restrictions began to lift. If you’re worried about how your little one will concentrate in the classroom again, why not try a few educational toys and activities? These little games and activities will help them concentrate and remind them how fun learning can be. Here are some of our suggestions here at Toy Street:

Wildlife Safari will help with those geography skills and challenges you to collect the most valuable animals!
Owl Grasshead is a great science experiment as you watch the grass grow over a few days.
Dobble is perfect to get kids concentrating as they match images between cards as quickly as possible.

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An Introduction To – Mystery Boxes

Recently, we launched our new and exciting one-off Mystery Boxes! But, there have been lots of people wanting to know more about the goodies they can get inside. As much of a surprise we want to keep it, we thought we would give you a little insight into what your Mystery Box could contain! Beginning by breaking down the categories and types of box, and then maybe some clues to the content, if we are feeling generous!

How To Order:

1 – Gender and Age…

We understand that you want to get the perfect toys, games, and goodies for your little ones so the first step is to identify who we are shopping for. By selecting an age category, we can ensure that the contents are safe and appropriate for you. In addition, by selecting a gender we can promise to tailor the box especially to the desired style and types of toys we know you’ll love.

2 – Pick Your Colour…

Once you have entered your desired age and gender, next you get to decide how many toys and games you would like! We have a Green Mystery Box and an Orange Mystery Box, but what is the difference? Let’s break it down:

Our Green Box costs £29.99, with an RRP value of £40.00. So, the contents of your Green Box will always be more than £29.99 if you were to buy these individually from our Toy Street. In addition, the RRP value of your new toys and goodies will be worth over £40.00.

With our Orange Box, you will see a slight increase in value. By paying £49.99, you will receive a bundle worth over £49.99 if you were to buy these individually. On top of this, the RRP value of these toys and games will be over £60.00!

Why You’ll Love Yours…

What we love about these new boxes of goodies is that they have many perks! If you are looking to grow your little one’s toy collection but are unsure of where to start, our Mystery Boxes are the perfect solution. You will receive lots of new and exciting games and toys, without the hassle of shopping around to find exactly what you are looking for – we have it covered! In addition, as these boxes are different every time, you can buy a Mystery Box time and time again and never have to worry about getting something twice. Yes, that’s right, you could get your child a Mystery Box for their birthday and Christmas, and they would be in love with their new and different toys every time.

Another perk we love about these Mystery Boxes is the opportunity to try new things. We understand that it can be hard to know whether your little one will like the new toys you have seen in the shop, but with our filtered options, we know how to cater to the contents to be perfect for you. From toys, books, teddies, to board games and accessories, we will always include a range of goodies too.

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New In At Toy Street – GraviTrax

We are back with very exciting news to share with you! We have had lots of awesome toys arrive at the Toy Street HQ that we are so excited to share with you. This week, we are here to tell you about our new GraviTrax range, which is perfect for those who want to build and use their imaginations. From Scooby-Doo to Barbie and Hot Wheels, we have so more much to come, all at affordable prices.

So, what is GraviTrax?

GraviTrax is the all-new STEM track system from Ravensburger! Each set allows you to design and build your own marble runs and experiment with gravity, magnetism, and kinetics. Use your imagination to build superb tracks and set the Gravity Spheres rolling! You can freestyle with your own track design or use the tasks and blueprints provided to get started in the world of Gravitrax! What is great about GraviTrax, is that you can extend your tracks with new sets so the excitement never ends. And, you don’t need to dismantle your previous creations! With a variety of tiles, levels, tracks, and elements in each set, you can have so much creative fun.

GraviTrax Starter Set

Our first pick of the GraviTrax collection is, of course, the starter set. This is the perfect choice for a girl or boy wanting to build their own marble run, but not sure where to begin. With over 100 components, it offers everything you need to get started right away. The GraviTrax Starter Set also comes with clear instructions so that you can start construction and play within minutes. The suggested age is for 8 years and above, and for 1 or more players.

GraviTrax Bridges

Our next favourite is an awesome expansion for those who have already begun building with the starter set. With the Bridges expansion set, you can connect different sections in new ways. In addition, you can combine these with the bridges from your starter set for even more variety. We believe that interlinking your sections reveals really spectacular results. Like all GraviTrax products, this is for players aged 8 and above.

GraviTrax Zipline

Similar to GraviTrax Bridges, this is a great expansion for anyone looking to build upon their starter set. At only £10.49, this is both affordable and exciting for any GraviTrax fan. Allow your magnetic balls to move across the tracks in a dynamic and exciting new way. If you love zip lines at parks and activity centres, this will be perfect for you. This set includes 1x Zipline set, 1x Long Rail, 2x Medium Rails, 3x Short Rails & instructions.

GraviTrax Add On Trampoline

Following on from the series of exciting new expansions to build upon your GraviTrax set, we have the add on trampoline. If you are beginning a GraviTrax collection rather than expanding, we would highly recommend this with Starter Set available. Kick-off your new hobby with the coolest addition, a trampoline!

GraviTrax Add On Tunnel Pack

Our final pick from our brand new GraviTrax collection is the Add On Tunnel Pack. Combine the elements of surprise, gravity and imagination with this pack. You can use the tunnels to conceal your spheres as they roll down your track, and then re-emerge! We love that this expansion brings extra excitement to your GraviTrax set up and offers your spheres a new way to travel.

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Trolls: World Tour – What You Need!

Trolls: World Tour is a sequel to the 2016 DreamWorks original, based on the toy line popularised in the 1960s. In the movie, we get to follow the adventures of Poppy and Branch, two trolls from the Pop music tribe who discover that there are other troll races — Funk, Classical, Techno, Country, and Rock — living in their world. Their world is about to get a lot bigger and a whole lot louder! Featuring stars such as Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick, Ozzy Ozborne, and Anderson .Paak, it’s a must-see movie!

Trolls: World Tour is available to rent and stream on:

Amazon Prime Video
Youtube
Google Play
Sky Store

To celebrate the movie being available to watch from home, we have put together a list of our favorite toys to go with!

Our Top 5 Trolls: Word Tour Toys…

Top Trumps Match: Trolls 2

Our first pick is Top Trumps Match: Trolls 2, an awesome matching game for players aged 3 and up. This set includes 25 unique character cubes with old and new favourites like twins Satin and Chenille, Trollzart, Cooper and Cloud Guy. Also containing 15-character cards with official artwork from the franchise, and a sturdy plastic game grid that folds up and doubles as a carry-case.

To play, take turns in pushing out cubes and replacing them with your own. Complete a row of five and you win! But watch out, your opponent may knock one of yours out!

Play-Doh Trolls 2 Poppy

For the younger fans, we have picked the best playdough edition around. Poppy needs some Play-Doh hair, so let’s get growing and styling! Grow Play-Doh hair for Poppy in 3 different ways with the interchangeable hair styling attachments. Turn the crank and watch it grow! Get wild and colourful with custom accessories like flowers, musical notes, and lightning bolts.

Trolls 2 World Tour Xxl 100 Piece Puzzle

Next, this has to be one of the most vibrant designed puzzles we have laid our eyes on. This is a great gift for those spending lots of time at home. Or, a fan of the movie of course. Embark on a journey with Poppy and Branch to save the world of music in the fun-packed, bright, and colourful puzzle.

Once you have completed the Trolls 2 World Tour Xxl 100 Piece Puzzle, why not try the Trolls 2 World Tour Xxl 150 Piece Puzzle!

Trolls 2 Teepee

Our third favourite toy from the Trolls: World Tour collection is the colourful teepee. This is the perfect place for your little ones to play, imagine, or hang out and stay safe in the sun. Made from durable polyester, it can be used both indoors and outdoors, is water and UV resistant, and is easy to assemble.

Trolls 2 Folding In-line Scooter

Last but not least, is the coolest scooter your kids could dream of! Get ready to reunite with your friends at school this September in style. Take a trip around the block with all your favoruite characters. The options are endless, you just need the Trolls 2 Folding In-line Scooter!

Our Childhood Best Friends And Memories

Welcome back to Toy Street’s blog! This week we have returned to our wonderful ‘Our Childhood Best Friends And Memories’ collection. Sadly, this will be the last of the series! However, we have thoroughly enjoyed writing these pieces and hope that you have loved reading them. To finish, we have a few stories from Aimée and her best friend Rosie.

Names:

Aimée and Rosie.

First Play Date:

Early June 1990s.

A little bit about your best friend…

Rosie was the prettiest teddy bear I had ever laid my eyes on. She was a light brown bear, with a super cute denim pinafore and a pink floral bow in her hair. Maybe 9 or 10 inches tall. I had her from a very young age, and she was always my best friend throughout my younger childhood. I would take her to ‘show and tell’ days at school, to days at the park and play with my friends. Everywhere.

From starting school to moving house, Rosie was there with me through all kinds of changes and milestones. I remember when I moved house, I had one special request when decorating – Shelves made especially for my teddy bears to live on. I can picture it perfectly to this day. There were at least two rows of shelves running from one side of my room to the other. And, they were covered in all kinds of bears – I had always loved teddies!

One memory I have is when I was out shopping with my parents in my home town. I was at the age that I had started to leave Rosie at home more often, but she still held a huge place in my heart. We walked into a department store, and of course, I dragged my Mum straight to the floor with all the exciting toys on. And what did I see? Another Rosie! I could not believe my eyes. (Yes, I fell in love with a bear that I already had at home). For the whole time we shopped, I carried Rosie 2 around with me. Even in that short time I became attached and resisted saying goodbye!

Top 5 Bears For Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is a day of romance… Celebrated in many ways across the world with the origins and values remaining. Falling on February 14th each year, it is the perfect time to show feelings of love, affection, and friendship.

In aid of the special day, we have put together a list of teddy bears that we think are perfect for Valentine’s Day! It could be a gift for a friend, a crush, partner or anyone you would like to celebrate with. Take a look at what you could give to your loved one – a best friend they will never stop loving. If you are quick, you could catch a next-day delivered purchase to keep the celebrations going all weekend.

Our Valentine’s Day Picks…

Fabian Love Messenger White Teddy

Meet Fabian… Our first choice in beautiful teddy bears perfect for celebrating Valentine’s Day. Coming from our Steiff’s Classic collection, this bear is made using the finest white mohair with a striking embroidered red nose and mouth. In addition, Fabian holds a lovely red felt heart with ‘I love you’ embroidered on it – so your message will remain forever. Not forgetting, Fabian has the famous Steiff – Button in ear – with a yellow label.

Smootches Dog Buddy

Next, we have Smootches, a super cute dog from our TY Beanie Boos collection. Smootches is a brown and white puppy with a heart in it’s mouth; almost too cute to handle. If you have not yet seen ‘puppy eyes’, this little one will show you how!

We think Smootches is a great gift for a little one who wants to be involved in the celebrations or is celebrating their first romance!

Sweetheart Teddy Bear In Heart Box, Cream

This adorable bear is made of a cuddly soft cream coloured plush with a polyester filling. Wearing a red satin ribbon to match her suitcase, she is cute and well co-ordinated for Valentine’s Day. Indeed, Sweetheart is packed and ready perfect for your weekend away. Or, a holiday or work trip!

Pink & White T-Rex (Large)

Following a Steiff Classic, what could be next? Well, this T-Rex is too fun to leave out! Pink is a colour meaning cute, romantic and sweet. Pink is also the colour symbolising universal love of oneself and others… All of which are perfect for Valentines Day. We also have a regular-sized Dino, if you are looking for a little gift.

Tim With Flower – Ltd Edition

Our final favourite this Valentine’s Day is a Limited Edition Steiff bear called ‘Tim’. Yes, another Steiff teddy! They are all so beautifully made and we cannot get enough of them today.

Besides, giving flowers is a classic, so why not give a bear that comes with tulips! These will live forever, too. What makes Tim so beautiful? On the tulip and on Tim’s nose, a Swarovski Elements crystal looks like a little drop of dew!

Rememember, at My Bear Shop, all Steiff orders over £50 come with a free gift box. It is meant to be!

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Our Childhood Best Friends and Memories

This month, the wonderful blogs filled with warm memories of our childhood teddies have returned! This series has to be one of our favourites – It is so fun to hear each other’s stories and take a look back on our memories together. It can be tough, narrowing down to one favourite teddy bear. And even harder, picking only a few stories to tell! Some of us have been through decades with our bears, been to university together, seen different countries with our bears and much more. This week, Sian has got a story or two to tell about her beloved Mr. Monk… Take a ready to hear about where the two went together and what the pair are up to now.

Names:

Sian and Monkey (Or ‘Mr. Monk’ if we were feeling fancy).

First Play Date:

20th April 1999 – my 6th birthday when my grandad took me to the zoo to see the monkeys.

A little bit about your best friend…

Growing up, I was obsessed with animals. Every year, I would ask for a new one and would spend hours creating them a new home. All in my room there was an arctic section, a safari section, a rainforest, and a slightly out of place lava-filled volcano as I wasn’t entirely sure what a dragon’s native habitat was.

When I turned 6, my grandparents took me to Longleat Safari Park to see the real animals. At the park, you can actually drive through the monkey enclosure, and watch as they leap over the car and slide down the windscreens. I was reportedly wary at first, unsure of whether we were actually in danger. However, I cheered up pretty quickly when one of the younger monkeys sat happily on the car bonnet. AND hitched a ride around the enclosure with us.

After we’d been around the entire park, I was allowed one birthday gift from the shop… Of course, I headed straight to the section with the monkeys. I had my eyes set upon the ones with the sticky paws that hang off things. After picking up Monkey, I unstuck his paws, before placing them around my neck like a necklace, and that was that: he came home with us.

Whilst I loved all the toys in my room, the monkey took pride of place. He would hang off the lampshade, and even mysteriously found himself tangled round my backpack strap when I went back to school. He stuck with me even as my room was transformed into a Harry Potter-themed room as I got a bit older. Where Monkey transitioned from his rainforest home to the protector of the castle.

As we grew older…

Rather than being donated to family members or charity with some of the other beloved toys, he stuck by my side. Monkey came to University with me (though my housemates didn’t need to know that!). And, eventually moved out of my parent’s home with me. He is still in my room to this day; a little worn and missing a few patches of fur these days, but still very much a welcomed sense of nostalgia… And a cherished memory of a perfect day with my grandparents.

To read about Roshan and Snowie in their travels to Panama, click here. Or to read about Katie and Eeyore’s family fun and adventures, click here.

5 Benefits Of Teddy Bears

Did you know that we have been making lovable teddy bears since 1902? For years now, we have had soft and plush companions in all different stages of our lives. From a gift to a newborn, or a child’s favourite toy in the store to a nostalgic sentiment from our childhood – bears are always around! No matter how young or old. Cuddly friends hold so many memories and can give us security and hope. So, we got thinking… What other benefits can we notice from having a teddy?

Putting Life Skills Into Practice

When our children play with teddy bears and other stuffed animal friends, they can be learning and practicing a huge range of skills very valuable in life. They are constantly learning and teaching one another as they play. Roleplay with teddies is a great example of this. Soon a little one can learn about daily routines such as brushing their teeth, getting ready for school and more with the help of a teddy bear by their side…

An Early Form Of Socialisation

Teddy bears also provide an element of socialisation for children. With a range of ways to play with a teddy bear come awesome opportunities to learn good behaviour. Whether your child is having a tea party with their favourite stuffed animals or is sat in class next to a fluffy bear – the potential is endless. Teach children important issues such as taking turns, sharing and emphasising with others. Most importantly, a teddy bear can help with making new friends. Bringing a bear to playdates can give your child a conversation or game starter, a confidence boost and reassurance as their best friend is with them.

Helping With Anxiety Of Dentists & Doctors

This benefit actually extends beyond doctor and dentist visits. As adults and children, we face a lot of new and scary situations that can bring the feeling of fear or nerves in all of us (the dentist being a great example for children AND adults). The waiting rooms can feel tense and ominous. However, it is important that your child does not grow up with these fears. As previously mentioned, having a cuddly friend with you can build a feeling of comfort and trust – which is great practice for these kinds of situations. These anxieties of new people and environments can be felt on the first day of school or when moving house, meeting new people and so on.

Bringing Comfort To Adults

It is not just children who can benefit from the positive effects of comfort objects. According to a study in Amsterdam, touching something comforting (e.g. a teddy bear) can help people with low self-esteem or existential worries. Lead researcher Sander Koole said, ‘Our findings show that even touching an inanimate object — such as a teddy bear — can soothe existential fears.’ For adults and children alike, comfort objects can remind us of home and make us feel safe.

Emotional Comfort And A Great Nights Sleep

As a child or adult, having a cuddly toy to snuggle with is a natural part of many night-time routines. This is extremely common in the UK with 60-70% of children taking a cuddly friend to bed. Is there a link between emotional comfort and feeling well-rested? Teddy bears are just one example of how people seek out emotional comfort and calmness when going to sleep. Other examples include ASMR, meditation and reading. As shown in endless research, sleep and stress do not mix well. So, maybe it is time to bring out a bear once in a while when you are struggling to snooze!

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Walt Disney: 10 Fun Facts

Established in 1923, we have been fans of the likes of Mickey and Minnie Mouse created by Walt Disney for almost a century. Disney has been a favourite of families all over the world for years and years… With animations, performances, shops, parks… We just can’t get enough! It is true to say that Disney is one of the best-known family entertainment corporations to this day. And, that Disney still lives up to our special childhood expectations and memories of wonderful magic and fun.

At Toy Street, our passion is toys of all kinds. From puzzles to card games, teddies and toys – We love them all. What we love about Walt Disney is the huge range of characters that have been created over time. And with characters, comes TOYS! Take a look at our Disney section to find the perfect gift for your own little prince or princess at home.

The Origins Of Disney…

Born in Chicago, 1901, Walt Disney was a man of many talents. An American motion-picture and television producer, a showman, a pioneer of animated cartoon films and much much more. In 1922, Disney and Iwerks started a small studio of their own. Using a secondhand movie camera, they made one and two-minute animated advertising films for distribution to local movie theatres. Sadly this studio did not work out, but this did not stop Walt. Nevertheless, Walt started again and resumed the combination of live-action and animation with his brother Roy. Soon Iwerk and Disney began drawing again and the world first saw Mickey in 1927… —a cheerful, energetic, and mischievous mouse.

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them” – Walt Disney

10 Fun Facts About Walt Disney…

Disney’s family name was originally D’Isigny – Before being Anglicized to Disney.

Walt Disney voiced Mickey Mouse himself– From 1928 to 1947, Walt was the voice behind the beloved Mickey. After 1947, Walt then continued to do Mickey’s voice for shorts on The Mickey Mouse Club.

Walt Disney had a secret apartment at Disneyland – located above the fire station, Walt’s private apartment remains virtually unchanged. The lamp in the window is always kept on to signify Walt is always in the park.

Walt Disney had a housekeeper called Thelma – as a result of her annual Christmas gift from the Disney’s (of company shares) Thelma left nearly $4.5 million to poor and disabled children in 1994.

Disney once played the role of Peter Pan – as a schoolboy living in Chicago. Finally, in 1953, Disney turned the story into a hit movie.

His favourite song was “Feed The Birds” – the song about the pigeon lady in Mary Poppins. And, he also loved the Sherman brothers to perform the song.

The first studio Walt set up was called Laugh-O-Gram – however, this struggled financially and was closed. As a result, Walt opened Disney Brothers Studio and later came ‘Mortimer Mouse’ (who we now call ‘Mickey’).

Walt Disney began developing his skills as a cartoonist as a young kid – taking drawing classes, drawing pictures of his neighbours farm animals and contributing to the school paper.

There is a minor planet named after Disney – 4017 Disneya, discovered by Soviet astronomer Lyudmila Karachkina in 1980.

At Disney World, there was a ‘Hot Dog Standard’ – trash cans placed 25 steps away from hot dog stands. Why? This is how long it would take Disney to eat a hotdog.

Click here to shop our wide range of Disney toys.

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