Neighborhood Toy Store Day – November 10, 2012 #toystoreday #localtoystore #shoplocal

Did you know that for every $100 spent in local, independently-owned stores, $68 is returned to the community in the form of taxes, salaries, charitable contributions and more? This is in contrast with only $43 when consumers spend their money at a national chain. In just a couple weeks, November 10th to be exact, the 3rd annual Neighborhood Toy Store Day will be celebrated. On this special day, participating toy stores will host in-store events and activities for the entire family in coordination with the non-profit organization the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA). Neighborhood Toy Store Day encourages families to the fun of shopping locally and celebrates each toy store’s commitment to the community.

Some benefits of shopping locally:

• Economic stability: Money spent there supports local economy
• Community development: Local businesses foster community well-being
• Recuced environmental impact: Local stores help sustain vibrant, compact and walkable town centers
• Diverse product selection: Each store selects their own products, guaranteeing a wider range of choices
• Better customer service: Small business owners are committed to keeping customers happy and loyal.

You can visit ASTRA’s new website www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org, which is packed with expert advice on toys and play for children of all ages. It is a great online resource for parents interested in learning more about the best toys on the market and where to find them. Their mission to help parents discover the “woohoo factor” – the excitement of finding and playing with today’s best toys. Parents can also read articles with expert advice on toys and playtime for children of all ages, local toy store locator, buying guides and more.

I received two toys from ASTRA’s “Best Toys for Kids 2012” list and my 15 month old was so excited to check them out!

Tobbles Neo

Build it, wobble it, tilt it and spin it with Tobbles Neo! Six uniquely weighted pieces balances, nest and spin, inviting toddlers to stack, topple and balance the mysterious blocks. For children 6 months+ Suggested retail price: $27.99

This has become Olivia (15 months) and Gavin’s (4) new favorite toy. It is a toy that is so unique compared to the other toys we have. They had a blast toppling these blocks in all different configurations.

I am missing some in the picture below that Olivia has hidden from me:

Roll & Play by ThinkFun

Roll & Play is the first game designed for toddlers! Designed for parent and child to play together, Roll & Play builds confidence while encouraging creativity, active play and gross motor skills. For children 18 months+ Suggested retail price: $19.99

This is a fun first game for toddlers. You just throw the big super-soft dice and whatever color it lands on it asks your toddler to do a certain activity. The activities are at different levels and while Olivia doesn’t understand them all yet they give her something to strive towards. The cards are broken down into categories such as Emotions, Body Parts, Animals, Counting, Colors and Actions. While I could do these activities with Olivia without the dice, ThinkFun Roll and Play is a perfect way to inspire new activities and get Olivia into understanding games.

VISIT: To find a local Neighborhood Toy Store Day event near you, visit www.yourneighborhoodtoystore.org