Parent Club Calendar - Mastermind Toy Warehouse Sale

Mastermind Toys Warehouse Sale 2008

9325 Yonge St., at the corner of Yonge St. & 16th Ave. (Across from Richmond Hill store)

Dates and hours:

Wednesday May 21: 9am – 8pm
Thursday May 22: 9am – 8pm
Friday May 23: 9am – 8pm
Saturday May 24: 9am – 6pm
Sunday May 25: 12pm – 5pm
Monday May 26: 10am – 5pm
Tuesday May 27: 10am – 5pm
Wednesday May 28: 10am – 3pm**

**sale availability/hours may change on May 28th depending on inventory availability

- free parking
- Accepting Cash, Debit, Visa, Mastercard and Amex

PARENT CLUB tests - LEAPFROG

LeapFrog asked Parent Club to test some toys with our infants & toddlers. Of course, our panel jumped at the chance (see, didn't use that "leap" pun). As always, we invite older and younger siblings to play with the products -- to make the toy testing fair and fun.

Bilingual Counting Maracas
Ages: 6-36 months (6 months - 3 years)Suggested retail price: $19.99

These maracas introduce bilingual learning through counting numbers 1-10, colour names, and vocabulary. It features twinkling lights, silly sounds and music. There are 3 learning modes. Babies and toddlers will be singing, dancing and learning with fun. (Parent Club note: only one of the maracas has lights, counting, and music. The second maraca is a shaker only).

PARENT CLUB panel: "The maraca with the lights and sounds appeared very entertaining for my 19-month-old son. He played with both the English and French settings, having fun switching from one to the other.

I did notice that the kids were able to shake the maraca faster than it was able to count or recite colours.

Both my toddler and 4-year-old were not interested in the maraca that simply made a rattle sound when shook. “This one is no fun!” was the statement my 4-year-old made and a confused toddler asked for “Light on?”. When I explained that only one maraca had lights he promptly asked his big brother to “Switch please?”."

PARENT CLUB panel: "Fun, but my daughter was wondering why only one was lighting up and making music, so she ended up playing with only one.

What attracted her the most was the colour and to be able to repeat the name in french. She had no concept of shaking the maracas, but instead liked staring at the different light colour.

The 2 volume setting is nice but the loud setting is far too loud for their little ears and as they play with the button, it is hard to keep it at low…it can be a concern for a mother...

Far from being challenging for a 3 yrs old. And the language is too slow, she gave up waiting for the next word after a while."

This is the general feedback; one fun, twinkling, musical maraca and the second just not as much fun. Parents said these toys were very well made. The toys held the children's attention for short time spans.



Bilingual Animal Sounds Guitar
Age: 12-36 months (12 months - 3 years)
Suggested retail price: $24.99

This colourful guitar (with whammy bar and fret button)introduces numbers and animal sounds in English and French. It also encourages music and guitar sound effects. It has 3 learning modes; numbers, animals and music.

PARENT CLUB panel; "Fun at first, although, even at 3, my daughter doesn't really have the concept of playing guitar. Except for pushing the button to see the wheel spin, my daughter had very little interest. Of course for her age, we are past the animal sounds stage, but we are starting counting so that part of was fun.

There are a lot of buttons that are more of a decoration and they don't do anything and she was disappointed.

Not very challenging for a 3 year old.

As much as my daughter loved to boogie, dance or sing, it didn't really get her attention.

However it is a sturdy toy considering the amount of time it fell to the ground."

PARENT CLUB panel; "This toy was fun! My two kids (19-months and 4 years) already have fun playing with other electric toy guitars we happen to have, so the younger one was excited to see a little guitar that was more his size.

The number and animal settings were played with the most. The sound setting seemed limited and was rarely played with. My toddler appeared to enjoy both spinning the red knob in the centre of the guitar or pushing the whammy bar to turn the coloured number and animal wheel.

I liked to see learning of number order and animal sounds while building fine motor skills."

This toys seems to be a hit for the younger age range. The Parent Club panel loved the bilingual aspect of the toy.

We would like to, again, thank LeapFrog for bringing this challenge to Parent Club. We certainly throw our support behind toy manufacturers (like LeapFrog)that produce high quality, educational toys which engage children and promote fun.

PARENT CLUB tests - Leap Frog

Parent Club was called on to test some Leap Frog toys. Our panel of Parents & Kids (ranging from infant to tween, anglophone and bilingual) leaped at the chance (excuse the pun).

Leapster Learning Game System
Recommended age; 4-10 years
Suggested retail price: $79.99

The write-up for this toy states that; "Leapster offers learning opportunities and fun to kids at home or on the road". With activities that include; writing, drawing, painting and educational games -- this toy seems to have it all.

This toy came with a Leap Frog game (featuring our friend Tad).

We also tested the Scholastic Clifford the Big Red Dog Reading software (ages; 4-6, suggested retail price; $34.99)

As always, when the test panel takes a toy challenge we invite older and younger siblings to have a play.

PARENT CLUB panel; "Leapster was given 10/10 by my two kids, boys aged 8 and 12. They thought it was fun, light, and portable. However, thought that if they were aged 4 to 6 - it would be perfect and that they would have fun and learn.

The games were too young for both of them, however, they still played for quite some time."

PARENT CLUB panel; "My girls, 4 and 7 LOVED this toy. So much so, that we had to use a timer to respect turns. They enjoyed the drawing feature the best. Their favourite game was Clifford. This toy really caught their attention. As a mom, I loved the headphone jack. This would be a great toy for a long car ride."

We should also note that the toy comes with an attached plastic cover to protect the screen. Plus volume control! Durable product, easy-to-change batteries and fits in your Parent bag.

Summing up the general feedback - this toy is a huge hit.

Thank you Leap Frog - we enjoyed the challenge.

Coming later this week; Parent Club tests Leap Frog (Again). Our panel results for some bilingual infant/toddler toys.

Another Toy Recall - Aqua Dots

Toronto-based toy manufacturer - Spin Master is voluntarily recalling Aqua Dots. A similar product made by the same company was recalled in Australia earlier this week.

The problem with Aqua Dots, is that apparently, if a child eats the beads - a chemical (used to produce the beads) turns into gammy hydroxyl butyrate (GHB - The Date Rape drug) internally. The toxin can make a child comatose, obstruct airways and potentially cause death.

Though there are no reported injuries in Canada, three Australian children were sent to hospital suffering side effects such as drowsiness and seizures.

Should this toy be in your house, take it out of the playroom immediately and call/visit the website below.

Healthy Canadians - Government of Canada Toy Recalls

Parent Club Tests -- CRAYOLA

Our Parent Club test panel was called on recently to sample some new Crayola Beginnings products. Everyone loves Crayola of of course we said YES! The Beginnings line is a new line of art tools for children aged 18-36 months; created with the help of occupational therapists, experts on hand and grasp development for kids. Of course, Parent Club is completely inclusive and therefore our test panel not only included the target age group but also invited toddlers & school aged kids to give the products a try.


TadDoodles Washable First Marks --

Suggested Price: $6.99


These egg-shaped characters are balanced so they tip & tilt but don't topple. The ink delivery system allows the markers to dry out in between uses and then be reactivated by dabbing them on the next use. Washable too!


Parent Club Panel: "They are way too big for 18 month old hands especially if you want them to use them to colour or scribble or what ever. The wide grasp is too wide for them to hold and is too wide for them to have any sort of control over writing or drawing or scribbling. (Mom/Teacher; kids 18mths, 2yrs, 4 yrs) " That quote sums up the general feedback. Too big a grasp for the little ones. The toddlers and school aged children liked the shapes.



TaDoodles Washable All-In-One Paint --

Suggested Price: $6.99

Similar to the markers, these paints are palm grasp shaped helping develop gross to fine motor skills. The paints can dry out and then be reactivated by dabbing on the next use. No dipping, spilling or dripping. Washable.


Parent Club Panel: "My kids were frustrated by the blotchy flow of the paints. They resorted to banging the characters on the table to try to reactivate the flow -- banging the table is not what I call a quiet art activity (Mom; kids 4yrs & 7 yrs)." The entire panel threw back a big hands down to this product. It still made a mess as the younger testers didn't realize which end was down and held it any which way they could. Perhaps a shape of a car or truck would work better as the kids would be able to understand wheels down. Plus they could make roadways as the car moved. These egg-shaped characters appear too much like balls for little ones to comprehend how to move them across the page.



Crayola Beginnings Washable Triangular Crayons -- Suggested Price: $3.48

Guiding little fingers towards a writing grip this product helps children learn the tripod position for controlled drawing (and writing later on). For ages 24 mnths +. Washable.



Parent Club Panel: "We liked these crayons. The chunky sizes was easy to hold. I didn't know about a tripod position until my child's teacher discussed it on parent-night. I wish we had these years ago (Mom; kid 4yrs)". This product was enjoyed by all panelists. Bold colours created fun art work by the children. The testers recommended this product for fun and learning for toddlers and school aged kids.

According to the Crayola website; art enables kids to hone three very important skills;

" Think, Choose, Act". As they think about what they will draw, choose the colours and then create their art...they are problem solving. Whether your child grows up to be a scientist, an artist, a chef or a parent -- Think, Choose, Act will be essential skills in their lives. Encourage your child, through art, to develop these very important talents.

Our thanks to Veritas and Crayola for giving us this interesting challenge.

Warehouse Sale...Shopping Anyone?

Unilever Warehouse Sale-- Sept. 20 - Oct. 7

(Actually includes; Lipton, Knorr, Degree, Sunlight, Vim, Dove, Axe, Q-tips, Vaseline, Ponds)

Downsview Park

Tuscan Gate Entrance (off Sheppard Ave. W., Merchant Building, north entrance)

Mon-Fri 10am-9pm, Sat/Sun 10am-6pm

Visa, MC, Interac, Cash

Miko Toy Sale Sept. 17 to Dec. 24, W 10–4, Th–F 10–8, Sa 10–5, Su 11–5

60 East Beaver Creek Rd. (at Leslie) ,Richmond Hill

Service is no frills—instead of carts, you stuff your finds into enormous red bags but the savings in toy shopping is good.

Click here for Canadian Toy Recalls.

Snug As a Bug
91 Brandon Ave. (at Dufferin)
416-534-6881

CANADIAN COMPANY BASED IN ONTARIO

Parents of daycare-bound kids appreciate the sturdy construction and durable fabrics (polar fleece, twill and corduroy).

http://www.snugasabug.com/clearance_pj.php At the store location at; 91 Brandon Avenue, Toronto, (Off Dufferin Street, North of Dupont) Strollers are provided for your convenience along with movies and FREE treats for your kids, while you shop.

SNUGABYE FACTORY OUTLET

188 Bentworth Avenue, Toronto, (Caledonia Road & Bridgeland Avenue)
Open: Mon. to Sat. 10 am - 5 pm

You'll find sleepwear, playwear, rompers, underwear, crib bedding, socks and more. Expect to save from 40% to 70% off.