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Sorry it's been a while since I logged on – juggling a five year old and a 12-month old is very consuming! I have also been doing some research into what kind of toys to feature on my website, Little Gypsies, especially those that have a strong educational component.
You see, I tend to steer away from computer-based toys and instead opt for classic, old-school alternatives for my kids. Aside from the fact that they tend to last longer, I have also found that they stimulate the kind of foundation skills that develop into more complex learning skills.A friend of mine, Samantha Daley*, who just happens to be a Paediatric Occupational Therapist, believes that an overuse of technological-based toys like Game Boy and Nintendo, can delay a child’s developmental skills and even contribute to conditions such as ADD and ADHD.“Old-school toys like yoyos and lacing toys help integrate our sensory systems, refine motor skills, and develop eye-hand coordination,” Samantha explains. “These are really important tools that help kids with self-maintenance skills such as tying up their own shoelaces and doing the zippers on their jackets and jeans,” she says.
“For example, Little Gypsies’ lacing games not only help kids develop fine motor and hand-eye coordination skills but also help improve their sequencing skills. These are really important in pre-literacy and pre-numeracy tasks such as seeing patterns in words when learning to spell, copying from blackboards, and understanding the multiplication table.”In fact, none of the toys or educational games featured on Little Gypsies require batteries and they are all made to last so you can hand them down to younger brother, sisters and cousins. To see the full collection, check out the Play and Learn sections at www.littlegypsies.com
* For more information about Samantha Daley's work, visit www.spot4kids.com.au
My other little baby, Little Gypsies, actively supports organisations that have a public mission to help communities and their local environment. We’re particularly interested in grass-roots neighbourhood projects that help create a better life for underprivileged people in areas such as Vietnam, Laos and Australia.
The Green Gecko Project, a Cambodian-based orphanage that aims to improve the lives of street children living in Siem Reap, is one of the charitable organisations we are proud to work with. In fact, every time you purchase something from the Little Gypsies Shop, 3% goes straight to this inspiring project.
Launched in 2005 by an Australian woman with a big heart and a determined spirit, The Green Gecko Project started with a simple mission to feed malnourished, abandoned kids has now evolved into a thriving community scheme.
“What started as a token gesture to get the kids off the streets for an hour or two turned out to be more successful than ever imagined,” says co-founder Tania Palmer, who moved from her home in Byron Bay to dedicate her life to this cause.
Some of the initiatives that have been launched from donations from businesses like Little Gypsies include a huge assembly area, two open-air classrooms, solar panels to power the buildings, and much-needed medical care for the kids. (Check out www.greengeckoproject.org for more information if you like.)
Through the ongoing support of Little Gypsies, we are able to continue our work with this valued children’s program.
Casey Arnaud
www.littlegypsies.com
I think she inherited her wanderlust from me...
TOP TEN TRAVEL TIPS
To help educate my daughter, Sequoia, about different cultures and customs, I have taken her to locations like Laos, Vietnam and Bali – not an easy feat considering my partner was working thousands of miles away! So here are my top ten travel tips:
1. Travel DVD player with an assortment of movies and some kids music CD’s (such as Putamayo Kids Latin) for playtime in hotel rooms.
2. A special drawing book and a new pack of pens, pencils, stamps etc. Make it a kit that is special for the trip. The activity packs are good!
3. Their own little backpack for carrying water and their 'travel essentials' Sequoia's essential item in Laos was a baby doll and a pretend medical kit.
4. Health checks - Always good to do a little visit to your GP as son as a trip is booked to check on vaccinations required for that particular country, boosters needed in general, and that the little one is in tip top shape for travel. I always take a good quality multivitamin for kids and a child-friendly bifidus powder to help strengthen her stomach against foreign bugs.
5. A camera for them to use – I gave Sequoia an old digital camera to use on a trip that she loves; an old phone camera is also a cheap option.
6. A fully stocked medical kit containing pain relievers, antiseptic, anti-diarrhoea, thermometer, cough medicine and so on. I also like to have a few natural remedies such as homeopathic for fever, gastro and stress, such as rescue remedy. I tend to go a bit overboard on trips with this medical kit, but I figure if I have it all I will more than likely not need any of it – a theory that has worked so far!
7. Good assortment of clothes for all weather conditions and unforeseen accidents. Especially useful are the light muslin, kaftan style shirts that provide great sun protection and cover arms to deter mosquitoes. They take up virtually no space in a suitcase, and wash and dried easily in your hotel room.
8. Patience - Remember just as you may have jetlag and are tired, so are they. Try and get some early nights sleep in on the first few nights to give you the energy and patience needed for the days to come with your young one.
9. Make a wristband with your child’s name and all the hotel contact details on it. Alternatively, write in permanent marker your child’s name and the hotel’s number, just in case. It is always a great idea to put the hotel’s business card in their bag as a back up measure.
10. Passport and Visa check. Children's passports only last for five years, so ensure there is six months still to go before it expires and all relevant visas are obtained for your child prior to departure.
Happy travelling!
