My Toy Garden Makes Grown Woman Cry

"Have You Ever Had a Grown Woman Cry in your Store?" she asked.

Ellie continued, "I am freaking out in your store!" She had come by My Toy Garden one day last week to talk to me about her line of reusable ties, EvREwares, that I am bringing into the store. While waiting for me to be available, she wandered the store and found much more than she imagined. She exclaimed, "Have you ever had a grown woman cry in your store?" She went on to explain that her son was on the autism spectrum and how she had looked and looked for tools for him to use with little luck. The store she said was packed with things for special needs families AND at affordable prices.

It was definitely one of my most proud moments so far in the store! You see, I was a classroom teacher for 17 years working with children of all ages. Working with special needs families has been a passion of mine for a very long time. As I poured over catalogs over the summer shopping for just the right things, I looked for items that, on the surface, would just look like fun but to the eyes of a parent or teacher of special needs children, they'd see so much more. If these families can find items, they usually are very expensive. I knew I could help! Ellie saw this hidden layer....completely and fell in love with My Toy Garden! You will too!

She later posted this on our Facebook Fan page. " My son and I played with Zeebeez all night! This is THE best thing ever!!! It is perfect for the hidden purpose of strengthening his muscles. His hands are so sore today! Thanks for showing me this. It's AMAZING.

The Zeebeez have been a huge hit. Not only fun but great for building hand strength giving fine motor skills a huge boost! Know who loves it even more than the kids do? Grandparents! Arthritis begins to set in and Zeebeez is just the thing to help keep those hand muscles moving! You'll find Zeebeez in our Active Play Pathway of Wonder. One of seven areas at My Toy Garden to explore, be inspired by and make a difference for your family!

Playfully,

Toylady Janet Pillsbury

My Toy Garden Breaks Up Families

From our first newsletter that came out last week.....for the full scoop, be sure to be added to our customer database and become a Facebook fan!

Does your family look like everyone elses?

"Let's break up the families!" I told my staff member Eileen. "I want you to take these doll house sets of familes we have and set them free." I had been looking at our shelf of dollhouse familes and thinking whose family really looks like these? Are all families all of the same color? Do they all have a mom, dad, boy and girl? I know I have many friends with all sorts of families and I suspect you do to. I want My Toy Garden to represent and welcome families of all types so we broke up the families. We opened up the boxes and introduced them to each other. On your next visit, please look for the teacup of families and enjoy choosing a family that looks just like yours whatever that may be!

Pretend play is so important for both boys and girls! Playing with people figurines allows them to mimic what they see and hear fostering problem solving and healthy expression of emotions. If your child is struggling with something, break out the figurines or stuffed animals and through play invite conversations to happen that might not happen otherwise. My counselor friends will tell you this is one of their best tools!

How culturally diverse are your child's toys? To broaden their understanding of the world, introduce them to various cultures through books and otther toys like our teapot family members. You'll find figurines and stuffed animals in our Creative Expression Pathway of Wonder. One of seven areas at My Toy Garden to explore, be inspired by and make a difference for your family!

Playfully,

Toylady Janet Pillsbury