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| Cosmo UK |
As always, I’ve somehow managed to gift myself something rather early in the piece. The Body Shop’s Advent Calendars ($139 or $159) are in stock on their Australian website right now. It’s a bit of a gamble at the moment with one or the other being out of stock at any one time. Hopefully, stock levels will be more consistent come December.
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| www.wonderlandmodels.com |
This year, Preschooler SSG will be opening the windows of this Schleich Dinosaur Advent Calendar ($74.95). It contains a collection of calendar exclusive dinosaur models in addition to other bits and pieces. It is a bit pricy but I thought it would be a nice change to chocolate, cars, trains or flimsy bits and pieces that rapidly find their way to the recycling bin without being properly played with.
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| www.1001blocks.com |
We’re loving German toy brands at SSG Manor 2.0 right now. I managed to find some special edition Brio wooden trains for the nephews. This is the Brio Shinkansen ($29.95) and
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| www.woodentoystore.co.uk |
the Brio farm train ($34.95). I’m hoping that they’ll fit standard issue Ikea wooden train tracks because Preschooler SSG also has a Brio from Santa too.
More child-centric stuff up next. But it’s free and something parents will enjoy as much as (if not more than) their offspring.
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| www.alphabetstreet.com.au |
Parents, have you heard of Kinderling? It’s a 24 hour radio station whose programming is 100% child and parent friendly. You can access the station through digital radio as well as via apps for both Apple and Android devices.
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| www.alphabetstreet.com.au |
It’s rather light on the chat (bonus) and the music runs from the usual suspects as well as to surprises like lounge arrangements of Metallicus, Cyndi Lauper reimagined for the xylophone and old school show tunes. There’s also poetry, short stories as well as dedicated blocks of time for parent level broadcasts about various issues. Our favourite is Settle Petal which starts at 5pm. It’s the perfect soundtrack for easing into the home, shower, dinner, wind down and then sleep (eventually) routine. Especially on those long week days.
Podcasts are available through the app for free and include a sleepy time soundtrack and lots of audio books. It’s well worth giving a try at your place sometime soon. Let me know if it works for you!