tweetsfortoys from Refuge and Freestyle Interactive

tweetsfortoys from Refuge and Freestyle Interactive

An innovative campaign for Christmas has been created by the digital agency  Freestyle Interactive called #tweetsfortoys. The aim of the campaign is to give support to Refuge , the charity that is dedicated to providing shelter and support for women and children who have suffered from the devastating effects of domestic violence.

This campaign has come about as a result of the decision Freestyle made to replace their usual Secret Santa with something that was altogether more meaningful and worthy. The aim of  #tweetsfortoys is for presents to be donated to the children who are spending Christmas in the refuges in the Midlands and in Warwickshire.

To be involved, all you have to do is to tweet a message using the gift tag #tweetsfortoys. Every day until Christmas, Freestyle will pick the best 20 messages and donate a toy to Refuge on behalf of the tweeter.

Refuge Chief Executive Sandra Horley CBE says: “#tweetsfortoys and Freestyle’s campaign gives people a great way to support Refuge’s work whilst giving some of the country’s most vulnerable and isolated young people some joy at what can be a difficult time of year. Thank you to all those who show their support.”

She adds: “Domestic violence is a serious crime that takes place all year round and kills two women every week. Domestic violence has been happening for centuries, to all races, all classes and at all times of the year.

Thousands of women and children are living in daily fear and terror and Christmas is no exception. It is perhaps at Christmas that women experiencing domestic violence feel, most acutely, a sense of isolation and despair. Christmas is meant to be a time of joy, a time of generosity, a time of love. Yet many of the women and children in our refuges have given up everything as they face their first Christmas away from home. “

New Shopzilla poll says kids want electronic gifts this Christmas

A new poll from Shopzilla has revealed what those in the 6-12 age bracket want for Christmas. There are no austerity measures for Santa this year as these youngsters want their stockings to be bulging with high tech gifts as they want grown up items like laptops, digital cameras, smartphones and iPads.

If the Christmas lists from the Shopzilla poll are anything to go by the pile under trees this year will consist of all things that the parents have as also making the list of top wants are electronic pets, tablets and games consoles. Children are expecting their parents to spend an average of £167 on them, which the youngest don’t realise isn’t enough to cover some of the costlier toys.

More than half estimate that their gifts will cost less than £150 in total. The gap between the genders seems to start at an early age, according to this survey at least. While boys aged 6-12 expect an average of £183 to be spent on them by their parents, the girls of the same age are only expecting £155 to be spent, which is 18% less.An interesting part of the Shopzilla survey reveals that toys from the film Cars 2 are as popular with girls as they are with boys, and they came in at number 5 on both lists.

Kids want to be just like their parents with ‘grown-up’ items such as digital cameras, laptops, iPads and smart phones making the top ten. 14% of the children surveyed no longer play with or use last year’s top gift any more and 12% can’t remember the best gift they received last year.

Neil McCarthy, Sales and Marketing Director at Shopzilla said: “The sheer newness of a must-have item is what attracts many of these young shoppers. It’s not just about getting the right item, it often has to be a certain colour and a particular model. Retailers who anticipate these trends and are able to meet demand will be able to tap into the tech-savvy young market.”

Top 10 most-wanted GIRLS’ toys and gifts:

1. Laptop/tablet
2. Digital camera
3. Nintendo 3DS
4. Electronic Pet
5. Cars 2 Toy
6. A real pet (not a toy)
7. Mobile phone/smartphone
8. Games for a computer console
9. Lego
10. Games Console

Top 10 most-wanted BOYS’ toys and gifts:

1. Laptop/tablet
2. Electronic Pet
3. Nintendo 3DS
4. Digital camera
5. Cars 2 Toy
6. Games for a computer console
7. Lego
8. Mobile phone/smartphone
9. Games Console
10. Moshi Monsters

www.shopzillasolutions.co.uk

Lamaze offer Christmas fun

Lamaze offer Christmas fun

Lamaze, the experts in developmental play, have a great solution for every little one this coming Christmas. Toys that will delight and entertain, and will hold interest long past Christmas morning. They toys are designed to give your baby hours of sun whilst also stimulating, aiding and encouraging their development and will stay a firm favourite as baby grows.

Age 0 months plus:

High Contrast Foot Finders

Watch your baby’s little face light up when they see these contrasting foot rattles! The socks are black and white stripes and on one foot is a colourful ladybird rattle and on the other a butterfly. The gentlest of movements get the bugs rattling, and they are guaranteed to entertain baby as they kick around, as well as stimulating their visual development.

These foot rattles also encourage your baby to kick, reach and grab, which develops muscles and improves hand/eye coordination. These are suitable from birth and the retail price will be around £6.99.

.Age 6 months plus:

Mix & Match Activity Blocks

These soft and delightful Mix & Match Activity Blocks specially created by Lamaze are a new representation of a classic toy that is designed to spark your baby’s creativity with the numerous ways in which the colourful blocks can be built up. Baby will have great fun grabbing the brightly decorated soft blocks and mixing and matching the colours and the patterns. One block also includes a baby safe unbreakable mirror for extra stimulation.

The blocks are made from rich and textured fabrics of premium quality, and the various tactile surfaces, including a knit effect, will give baby plenty to explore. The Mix & Match Activity Blocks have also got a quick-release clip so that baby can enjoy fun on the go. Babies from 6 months upwards can enjoy these blocks and the retail guide price is £9.99

Age 9 months plus:

Farm Truck Pull Toy

This fun pull-along toy will delight little boys and girls alike. Made from bright, colourful fabrics, the little truck glides easily across the floor as baby pulls it along. A mixture of soft, textured plush and silky, crinkly surfaces stimulate baby’s tactile and auditory senses while bright, bold colours and patterns along with fun faces stimulate baby’s vision. The entertaining motion even helps advance gross motor skills. And baby will just love taking the cute little soft bean bag pig for a ride in the back of the truck. All aboard!

Guide retail price: £14.99. Age: From nine months.

Age 18 months plus:

Carly the Cowgirl – Learn to dress activity doll

Little girls will just adore the brand new Carly the Cowgirl! This fun soft, plush dolly looks just the part in her bold cowgirl outfit. Packed with developmental features this is a unique and adorable doll no little girl will want to be parted from!

Learning basic dressing skills and aiding future independence, little girls will enjoy buttoning Carly’s vest, tying her scarf, buckling her belt and zipping or fastening her fun cowgirl boots!

Perfect, not only for hours of imaginative play but also for developing dexterity and fine motor skill development. This interactive, activity doll also promotes hand-eye co-ordination and comes complete with colourful satin ribbons, bright patterns, and different textures for tactile fun.

Guide retail price: £14.99. Age: from 18 months.

Age 0 – 24 months

Play & Grow Rusty the Robot

The exciting Play & Grow Rusty the Robot is double-sided to offer two sides of play! Rusty’s ratcheting head allows little ones to mix and match his body. With crinkle effects, ribbons, clanking rings, busy beads, and a baby-safe discovery mirror, Rusty the Robot will keep little ones amused for hours. The ‘sci-fi’ character, with his bright, bold patterns and colours, will stimulate baby’s visual development while the various textures provide excellent tactile and auditory stimulation. A quick-release clip makes for easy attachment to cot sides and pushchairs for ‘on-the-go’ play.

Guide retail price: £9.99. Age: From birth.

Kids already have one eye on Christmas presents

Despite it being August, if you have young children in the house, they will already be looking ahead to Christmas, and all that comes with it. One of the big parts of Christmas is the many traditions that we all hold dear, whether they are new ones we have started ourselves or those that have been passed down through the generations. A great tradition to bring into your home this Christmas is the Elf on The Shelf.

Not only will your kids love the little fella sitting on the shelf, but you will more than likely find that they will be better behaved than usual in the run up to the big day as they will think that the Elf is reporting back to Santa! The story book that accompanies the Elf is a great bedtime story and will get everyone in the festive spirit.

As the theory is that Santa needs to know if children have been good or not, he sends the Elf to keep an eye on things.  To add credence to this, move the Elf around the house, as kids aren’t dumb, and will quickly work out that they can be naughty in rooms where the Elf can’t see them, and the story also goes that if the kids come down every morning and find him sitting in the same place he will forfeit his powers.

The children can also go online and register the Elf, and can give him a unique name too. The set consists of the Elf, the hard backed story book and also a keepsake box for the kids to keep special Christmas mementoes in. There is also an action book you can purchase separately as well as additional dolls such as girl and boy Elves, and these extras make sure that your kids get completely absorbed in the tale.