George Luck - So Many More Possibilities

Q: When is a puzzle not just a puzzle?

A: When it's a George Luck Puzzle.

At first glance these puzzles are unusual and fun but appear simple and perhaps with a limited interest factor.  Those whose noses elevate at this point and turn their back are missing out on one of the most collectable, fun and educational products we've come across – bye, your loss!

Those who are prepared to give it a second glance or even a test will open themselves to a multitude of fun opportunities.  For a start these puzzles are certainly not easy, the non-distinct shapes without edge or pattern to match makes it significantly harder to spot connecting pieces.  Those with layers add another level of depth to consider.

But we need to go way beyond the actual puzzle aspect if you're to understand the true potential of these.  The lazer cut technology makes each a work of art, no nasty thick lines between pieces they fit as snug as a bug in a rug.  The colouring is deep and vibrant and the level of detail considering their simplicity is admirable.

That's why they're collectable, but let's get educational now because that's where these lovely puzzles really come into their own.

Use them as a game by having two puzzles of a similar size or design.  Each player can do one of the following games (or mix them up for a real challenge!).

1)                  Put all pieces in a bag and mix well, each player alternates to take a piece out of the bag. Does it belong to your puzzle?  Yes.. well done you can place it in and take another turn. No.. sorry put it back, your turn is over.  First to finish their puzzle is the winner.

Variations:  Decide on a colour order then take a piece out of the bag, if it's the correct colour you can put it in your puzzle but watch out, if you get your opponents piece in the correct colour you must put it into their puzzle.

Use the boards with 6 animal or weather types or the "& friends" collection.  You must find them in order from top to bottom, left to right on your board (in the case of the friends they must be placed in order).  Use your senses to touch and feel the pieces.  Alternatively, touch the piece in the bag, if you guess right you can pop it into your puzzle – you can either use separate bags for each player or mix them up to make it harder.

2)                  Use a dice and number the colours on each players board.  You can use the medium size puzzles for this as long as they have a similar number of pieces, any extra are placed on the board as a starter.  Player a may have more blue than player b but it won't matter.  Roll the dice, if it matches a colour you still have left you may replace one piece into your puzzle.  If it doesn't then you miss your turn and it's the next player.  First to finish their puzzle is the winner.

3)                  Use the animal, weather or layered "friends" puzzles to draw around the pieces and construct a scene.  Introduce other objects to create a jungle/home etc scene.

4)                  Take a piece from the puzzle and draw around it on a white piece of paper, take the next piece and align it to reconstruct the puzzle.  Can you remember where all the pieces go? Colour in your new design with patterns or new colour schemes.

5)           Take turns timing each other to see who can put the puzzle back together in the quickest time.  You can level the field by giving a time penalty to those who are older.  We found this produced some rather surprising results with our 3 year old coming in 4th (of 7) and daddy dragging behind in a rather lowly 6th!  The animal A-Z is ideal for this game but any puzzle will do, remember don't choose one too challenging or you might just be there all day.

These puzzles are social, creative & will help with the logical thinking and puzzle solving.  They're beautiful & therapeutic too!

http://www.storkgifts.co.uk/georgeluck.php

Matching Pairs to French Tuition?

I confess I do get rather excited when I come across a toy that inspires me and sends my creative instinct exploding into action.  But why not...?  Creativity is rewarding in any form and when it comes to toys what’s better than testing out your ideas too!

This matching pairs set from Oskar & Ellen is so much more than the ‘sum of its parts’; so to speak.

Designed to allow you to decide which images to use and to change them as often as you desire.  Even in the simplest form it still allows you more freedom and creativity than a standard matching pairs game but the genius of it reveals itself only when you start to think more about the long term possibilities.

A simple concept most abandon as the initial interest dies down.  This fun game can have so much more to offer if you look at it from another perspective. Due to their flexible nature that's precisely what this set encourages.  Here are a few ideas we came up with in just 30 minutes...!

Let's start with matching 

Match the front and rear end of an animal.

Match the animal to what it produces (i.e sheep/wool)

Match the animal to the pattern/colour of its body

Be the first to put together a full body (2 x arms, 2 x legs etc), insect or animal...!

Separate them into animals/objects and put a texture into the other pocket to feel.  For example a picture of a sheep and a small piece of wool into the pocket or a picture of a tree and a leaf in the pocket and see who can match the most correct pairs.

Match a letter or number to the appropriate thing, for example.. D and a picture of a Duck or 2 and two ducks.

Use your schools guidance to pair up phonic sounds and objects to help children improve their reading

Moving on to other possibilities.

Put in simple words in another language and the corresponding picture, again if possible work with the school to emphasise current school curriculum.

Help with mathematics by doing sums and let them choose the correct answer or in reverse find the missing number to complete the sum.  You can also use it for showing visually how sums work for instance by moving the decimal place physically or substituting numbers.  This may help some children who struggle with concept and prefer a more visual approach to learning.

Teach younger children about range by helping them learn colours beyond the basic such as royal blue, navy blue, turquoise etc.  The same sort of thing can be applied to families of animals and any number of descriptive words that can be collectively grouped.

Encourage English skills but taking a nursery rhyme or well known story and mixing up the pictures.  Put them back in order while explaining the story.  Put together a collection of images and develop the story with each new selection to encourage on the spot creative thinking.   Or use images of events in daily life to explain about the world and help children understand their environment on a wider scale.

Collect family pictures and build a family tree, you can put in notes about who they all are/were and research more for a family project.  This is especially good for older children as they learn to research and take an interest in project development.

Where to now?

Anywhere, everywhere – that’s what makes this concept probably one of the best I’ve ever come across.  The only element that is required is your imagination, just think about what you want to teach, what you want to talk about, what you want them to develop and what they enjoy doing and make the most out of it with a game that is enjoyable and different every time.

Available at Stork Gifts http://www.storkgifts.co.uk/fabricpairsgame.htm

Top 5 Haba Family Games

Our Winner!! - Robin Hund

Simple game where players pit their memory, strategy & luck against one another to be the first to collect 10 bags of look or 5 treasure chests.  Chosen as our winner because it offers the perfect balance of skill & simply play to allow all ages to become equally engaged.  Lovely illustrations and the familiar story combined with a mixture of card and board game play ensure there is something for everyone to enjoy.


http://www.storkgifts.co.uk/robinhundboardgame.htm

2)  Turbo Team

What’s not to love about a game that involves pooping animals!  Players race to be the first to get all their animals over the finishing line but beware an untimely toilet break can stop you in your tracks.  A gambling game where the winner will be rewarded for a combination of luck & bravery balanced with just the right amount of well timed caution.  We get rather excitable and can end up with lots of chanting, clapping and laughing with this easy to play and even easier to like game.

http://www.storkgifts.co.uk/turboteamboardgame.htm

3)  Wild Vikings

A fun game where the winner ends up with the most treasure from the Viking raids.  A mixture of card & board where players can plot their way to victory but beware you don’t have your treasure sneakily stolen from your grasp.  Players roll the dice to determine which action to take or which boat will be given the next lot of treasure until it’s time to gamble your way to victory.  We love the tenseness of the game waiting to see if your planning will be rewarded with a little luck.

http://www.storkgifts.co.uk/wildvikings.htm

4)  Treasure Ready Go

You’ll need quick thinking and a steady hand in this game of mixed skills.  Race against the timer to collect as many cards as you can.  Each one has an action you must complete before you can move onto the next but beware, take your eye off the timer and it may just cost you the lot!  A fantastic family game with some beautiful work in design and game play and you can make it harder for more able players by hiding the timer or by making a minimum target on each round.

http://www.storkgifts.co.uk/readytreasurego.htm

5)  Catch Me

Simple can be better and in this game it is although Haba do introduce possibilities for variations to extend the learning nature of the game should you wish.  Choose a cat and everyone takes their mouse, ready, set, go!  The die decides who moves and when, then the cat must catch them with the cup.  One of our favourites as a family, surprisingly its most liked by our older children.  Get’s the adrenaline flowing as you wait with baited anticipation until it’s time to  battle! 

http://www.storkgifts.co.uk/catchmeboardgame.htm

Essential Play For Stronger Development

I’m passionate about raising my children in the best way possible, to give them a healthy balanced childhood full of fun & stimulating experiences but also full of discipline.  What I mean by discipline is not just about behaviour but also self discipline, the ability to control themselves and make decisions based on fact as well as emotion.  To understand what a desire is and to balance it with reason.

When we bring a new pet into our homes the majority of adults will buy at least one information book on how to look after them.  One of the first purchases we make upon finding out the happy news a baby is on the way is the “What to expect when you’re expecting” series or some other substitute.

We want to understand their needs so we set out to learn more on how to care and nurture.  A responsible and sensible approach rewarded by healthy pets and babies who we adore.

So why do we abandon this approach as soon as our babies become toddlers, suddenly we as parents know all there is to know and no longer need to learn and develop our skills as carers, our work is done and nature will take care of the rest.

Sadly our children are missing out on opportunities because we take our guidance from TV programmes, the latest news headline and a series of trends passed in waves from parent to parent on the social networks.  All of these are of course not “wrong” but in themselves only scratch the surface of what we need to learn in order to fully understand the needs of our children.  We can’t simply entrust their development to the education system if we want them to position themselves towards the best opportunities.  But neither do we need to take a degree, what our children need is our time, our passion and to be allowed - even encouraged - to be children.

One of my biggest frustrations is the growing trend which is seeing our children grow up faster and faster and abandon play as a “baby thing”.  We are beginning to see this on an alarming scale.  Just recently we have been informed that a 7 year old was too old for trains, a 6 year old was too old for craft & activity books and a 5 year old was too old now for puzzles.  Many people see even a 3 year old as too old for simple role play activities when this is the prime age.

So why is playing so important?

According to Bruce Duncan Perry, M.D., Ph.D...... “The child's cognitive capacity is enhanced in games by trial and error, problem solving, and practice discriminating between relevant and irrelevant information. Play requires the child to make choices and direct activities and often involves strategy, or planning, to reach a goal.

Interpersonal/social skills, ranging from communication to cooperation, develop in play. Children learn about teamwork when they huddle together and decide who plays each position in a pick-up soccer game. The child gains an understanding about those around him and may become more empathic and less egocentric. When playing with peers, children learn a system of social rules, including ways to control themselves and tolerate their frustrations in a social setting.”

Looking in the natural world we see a striking pattern of how animals learn and develop through play and the essential role it plays in their societies on both a social and survival level.  This same approach is equally as important in humans and through playing with our children we can not only pass on decades of experiences but also learn more about them.  Playing together helps development of social, emotional & language skills but can also illuminate difficulties and weaker areas that with some support from parents could develop into strengths.

One point raised by Family Facts.Org ... “Cognitive stimulation provided by the parents influences a child’s academic achievement. The amount of cognitive stimulation children receive from their parents was correlated with children’s IQ and academic achievement to nearly the same extent that the mother’s IQ was. After adjusting for mother’s IQ, a 10-point increase in the level of cognitive stimulation provided by parents was associated with a three-point increase in the child’s IQ and a two-point increase in math proficiency.5”

There is one final factor that’s not about development or responsibilities or studies.  And that’s that as parents we should enjoy every moment we can while are children are still young, worry free and full of laughter and mischief.  It’s gone so quickly that it’s such a shame to take a 5 year old and take away the enjoyment of just being young.  So whether you do it for their education or for your own pleasure, ditch the electronic gadgets, slow down their rush to adulthood and encourage them to enjoy themselves while you indulge in a little selfish playtime too.

References:

http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/bruceperry/pleasure.htm

http://www.familyfacts.org/briefs/2/parenting-matters

A Delicious Helping Of Fruit & Veg

A fantastic new mini collection for babies has arrived, designed and manufactured in the UK by renowned designer Jayne Liston.  Jayne has long held the belief that the time had come to follow her heart, in taking a traditional approach in the conceptualising and design of clothes, toys and books for children, with the specific aim of bringing fashion and education together.

However purely from a fashion perspective Busy Peas is an exciting, fresh new style.  Based on a colourful and vibrant collection of fruit and vegetable inspired designs what makes it truly delicious to the eye are the quaint touches and superb inspiring quality.  The bold prints are carefully balanced with a just enough crisp white and styled with the garments rather than splashed resulting in a clever fun look.

The matching pieces all display accents of reverse hem stitching ensuring it holds its own against any of the new trendy competitors.  We here at Stork are particularly fond of the rompers with their irresistible big pea green bum and knee patches perfect for accentuating those bottom shuffles and early crawling.

100% cotton with a choice of hat, bib, vest or romper suit.  These vests make a great value yet striking new gift with a price tag of only £15 but simply imagining a little rail with a series of these hanging is enough to make us broody!

Most surprising are the prices which considering the unique design and impressive quality are astonishingly low.  In particular the fact that the collection is manufactured in the UK is wonderfully unique in today’s world of fashion.

We guarantee you’ll be coming back for a second helping.

We're stocking the collection now - Busy Peas Clothing Collection

Decoding the new gift dilema

We’ve selected a few of the common problems we often find our customers presented with when choosing a gift for that special new arrival.  Each one can make it hard to ensure your gift is appreciated and enjoyed so bearing this in mind we’ve compiled a few suggestions for you.

Problem:  The parents already have other children, particularly if the age gap is small.

With the most common age gaps between siblings just 2-3 years most parents will already have most things they need.  Many customers worry that they’ll just be duplicating or that the gift will feel unoriginal.

Suggestions:  Personalisation is a nice way to make something truly special and particularly for the new baby.  If you’re worried about things they already have then you could opt for something useful like a blanket or bath towel where more is always helpful.  A ceiling mobile is another item that we find is particularly appreciated.  These can be used in any room and long after the baby phase has passed  they still make beautiful decorations.  Pay attention to any nursery theme that has been decided on to avoid clashing colours.

Problem:  The parents are particularly fussy or have very specific tastes.

We often find this is more common in first time parents who are very protective over the whole experience.  Sometimes new mums and dads have very specific ideas even down to the smallest of details and it can be daunting if not terrifying trying to think of something they will like.

Suggestions:  Try to find out what sort of thing the parents like and ask them to highlight anything they particularly do or don’t like.  It’s better to ask and buy prepared than to risk upsetting anyone, after all if you’re going to spend money and put in effort you really want to know it’s going to be loved.  If you’re really not sure then use what you know about the parents and opt for careful choice over a big statement.  While you want your pennies to stretch to as special a gift as possible sometimes making a compromise for something you know they will like is just safer.  A good tip is to look for something that matches the parents profession or interests i.e a doctor set for a physician or a cow themed gift for a farmer. If you’re really stuck pop in a receipt and nice letter and let them decide for themselves.

Problem:  Money is no object and they own the best of everything already.

The worry here is that you’re efforts will be totally disregarded and they probably already own a bigger and better one.

Suggestions:  Avoid clothing and practical things and opt for something original or unusual.  Hunt around until something really unique catches your eye, something you know mum or dad is fond of perhaps or something that reflects your personality.  There are plenty of fun and lesser know manufacturers making some great toys & giftware so there is bound to be lots they’ve never come across before.  Look at things for the future, something for when the baby is 6 or even 12 months old.

Problem:  Your budget is very small and you’re worried your gift will fall a little flat.

If you’ve only got a few pounds to spend or you’re looking for a token gift then it can feel a little overwhelming seeing the prices of some baby items.

Suggestions:  There are literally hundreds if not thousands of beautiful things you can get for under £10 and even under £5.  The key is to keep your expectations low and go for quality and originality than for the most you can get.  Rather than buy a whole outfit and competing with a whole wardrobe of cute new baby clothing select a truly spectacular vest, hat or bib that will have them reaching for it at every opportunity.  Rattles and other small toys are always appreciated but make sure that yours stands out as quaint, fun or a little bit different and always make sure they are safety tested.  You’ll be surprised what you can get for your money if you look carefully so it’s always worth asking the shop assistant for help because they will know where the little gems are hiding!

Open Up To The Possibilities Of Colour

Shhh, come a little closer and we’ll share a secret with you.

.

.

.

.

.

Here it is, are you ready?  Make sure you’re seated because we wouldn’t want to startle you too much.  It seems to be a little known fact that indeed boys can have pink things and girls can have blue and they will survive.  Yes it’s true, I’ve been a terrible mother and allowed my son to choose his own favourite colour and for the time being he’s opted for...... pink!!  But here’s the thing he’s still healthy, happy and playing with cars as much as he ever was.  He bashes things, fights with his siblings and rolls around in mud given the chance.  Must be later life that the damage will appear perhaps?  Or so I’m let to believe by the woman who scolded my colleague for daring to suggest that a colour is just a colour.

I have to ask - what is this new obsessive preoccupation with gender stereotyping through colour?

We try hard to help customers understand the potential of their own children but that’s hard to do when options and possibilities are eliminated from birth.  Of course this goes way beyond the issue of colour selection which is perhaps not the most important aspect merely the daftest and includes the type of toys girls or boys are “allowed” let alone encouraged to play with.  Why are we as a nation telling children they shouldn’t play with ANY toy be it because they’re a boy or girl, or because they’re “too old”, which is ironic considering how many adults I’ve seen playing with toys given the opportunity.

To see children as young as four being told they are too old now for puzzles, fancy dress and dolls shows how out of touch the UK parenting community is with the genuine needs of a child’s development.

Not only should we encourage children to love all colours and see all toys as potential fun but we should explore all kinds of role play and creative thinking within them.  Our wonderful kids are capable of learning incredible things and while they are young, interested and responsive it’s the time to be filling them with the opportunities the world holds not limiting them by narrowing their view.

No go forth and find something really different to enjoy together.