Recommended Toys

[Oppsgal]

Thanks tamarind for the suggestion. Husband finds it a little troublesome to sell old toys off for just a few dollars…Have to do meeting up and waste some of the time waiting here and there.


My husband says to donate to childcare centre. Not very sure they will take old toys. From now the toys I will only buy for my child will be less than S$25, unless is for educational toys that can make my child learn more then I don’t mind spending a little more.

[SAHM_TAN]

tamarind:

I also recommend the ZOOB toys for ages 6+. My boy started playing with them at about 5 years old.


http://www.infinitoy.com/

How To ZOOB
ZOOB has 5 pieces that snap together 20 ways, so you won’t need any special pieces to build anything that you want to build. Because it’s so easy to use and so versatile, we think it’s the best open-ended building system on the market (of course we do!).

Where Does ZOOB Come From?
ZOOB’s shape is inspired by the nucleotides (the basic structural units of nucleic acids) that make up DNA. Based on the way things connect, move and transform in nature, ZOOB captures dynamic movement, unlike traditional “stacking” or “hub & spoke” construction sets.

Zoob has a truly scientific basis & offers open-ended play for all ages. Zoob mobility mirrors the natural movement of people, animals, and machines. Five basic shapes fit together in 20 different ways (designed from the 5 nucleic acids; the building blocks of life.) Children & adults can build anything they want to build. ZOOB pieces are intuitive enough for 6 year-olds to play with & academically robust enough that college professors use them to model items such as DNA double helixes, anatomic parts, architectural & mechanical designs.

We have tons of Lego, but my boy likes ZOOB and KNEX far better than Lego. ZOOB used to be sold at Robinsons, but I heard it is sold out locally.

I bought my set from this USA website :
http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/infinitoy_inc/zoob_250.cfm

I also bought this remote control set from amazon :
http://www.amazon.com/Zoob-12060-ZoobMover-Power-Building/dp/B0010EBS56

Shipping is expensive, I think I paid about SGD50 for shipping alone. Total cost including shipping is about SGD120, it is fine for me since I used to pay SGD150 for a set of Lego toys. It is definitely far more educational and interesting compared to Lego.

Note: I simply leave the KNEX and ZOOB toys to my boy and he figured out how to assemble them on their own. He knows that I am very busy and he has to wait for a very long time before I have time to help him, so he might as well figure it out himself. Other kids may require much more help from parents.

Hi,

This site sells ZOOB but the selection might be limited http://www.weketoys.com

I also don't like PSP, prefer to buy such toys. What do you think of LAX?

[SAHM_TAN]

tamarind:

insider,

You are welcome

I have been looking at this set for a long time :

http://www.amazon.com/Elenco-SC-300-Snap-Circuits/dp/B0000683A4/ref=pd_sim__5

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61LKqHQHTYL._SL500_AA300_.jpg\">

It is very educational and has over 300+ 5-star reviews. I will buy this when my son is tired of playing with his KNEX.

So coincidental, I was interested with this too when I was searching for good toys for my kids. Though interested in this but kids too young, I saw it here http://www.weketoys.com/shop.html?page=shop.browse&category_id=6

[SAHM_TAN]

Now I think there are new toy shops (independent ones, meaning not from big departmental shop) bringing in more interesting toys. But the price so ex, why must good toys be so costly???

[tamarind]

SAHM_TAN:

Hi,


This site sells ZOOB but the selection might be limited http://www.weketoys.com

I also don't like PSP, prefer to buy such toys. What do you think of LAX?

Hi SAHM_TAN,
Thanks for sharing the website ! I will most likely get Snap Circuits from them.

What is LAX ?

[tamarind]

SAHM_TAN:

Now I think there are new toy shops (independent ones, meaning not from big departmental shop) bringing in more interesting toys. But the price so ex, why must good toys be so costly????

I know the Better Toy Store at Ngee Ann City also sells interesting toys for young kids. However, my kids are older now and they don't sell the ones that I need.

I have seen primary school kids carrying ipads around. Looks like parents prefer to spend money buying ipads then to buy good toys.

Toys like KNEX and ZOOB are excellent for developing fine motor skills. In fact, I never have to scream at my boy to practice writing, he plays with these toys most of the time since about 5 years old and now at P1, his handwriting is very neat.

[SAHM_TAN]

tamarind:

SAHM_TAN:

Hi,


This site sells ZOOB but the selection might be limited http://www.weketoys.com

I also don't like PSP, prefer to buy such toys. What do you think of LAX?

Hi SAHM_TAN,
Thanks for sharing the website ! I will most likely get Snap Circuits from them.

What is LAX ?

Oops I spelt wrongly, should be LaQ, it's from Jap, here's some infor from a site that sells the toy. It's also sold locally. http://www.timberdoodle.com/LaQ_Construction_p/277-laq.htm

I've been eyeing them for some time but pieces a bit small and also not cheap for the bigger sets. I'm deciding between this and Zoob.

[tamarind]

SAHM_TAN,

LaQ looks interesting, thanks for sharing. Where is it sold locally ?

[SAHM_TAN]

tamarind:

SAHM_TAN,

LaQ looks interesting, thanks for sharing. Where is it sold locally ?

There might be other places selling it but I saw it at Growing Fun. The small set still ok prices, it's when it comes to the bigger set that it get ex. But I do love such toys.

I sometimes think I buy toys because I want to play with them . I saw a rather real stethoscope and not ex. I bought a pop-up about body stuff book and thought it would be rather cool to get the stethoscope. As they \"examine\" the heart, they could use it to listen to their hearts, the baby's, my FIL and mine to observe if there's any difference. So tempted to buy because not ex......but the kids will use it for other purposes too.......I dread to think what they will use it for...... :lol:

[tamarind]

SAHM_TAN,

Thanks for the information. I am quite keen, will buy a set of LaQ if I have time to visit the Growing Fun shop. I will post my review here.

Like you, I buy toys because I want to play with them I never have such toys when I was a child, so I tell myself that I am indulging myself with these toys now However, after I bought the toys, I just leave them around, no time to play at all. My kids have to figure out how to play on their own by looking at the instructions.

My hubby also bought a stethoscope for the kids