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Summer's Coming!

Despite a little rain here and there we are well on our way to summer - school gets out very soon and then it will be nothing but fun in the sun for the next three months! We got in all of our summer inventory early this year, when the first warm spell happened. One of our favorite items for summer fun is the sand and water tables. This year we have the new model from ELC, and it comes with tons of great accessories to help teach kids the basics about some fundamental physics like energy transfer and fluid dynamics (Its never too early to start!), as well as basic cause and effect, and the fine art of making sand castles (or mud pies for the little ones).

One of the most common questions we get from parents about the sand and water tables is where to get the sand, as it is not included in the box. We recommend that you go to any lawn and garden center as they usually carry bags of sterile sand for potting plants and decorative purposes. A small bag is all you need and they are very inexpensive. People also ask if it is okay to use just water or just sand in the table and it is fine. If you are looking for a way for kids to get as much out of the tables as possible but with a little less mud you can just use one or the other.

While the sand and water tables are great fun for the backyard or patio we also have lots of other sand toys in our stores for those who like to get down to the beach or sandbox as much as possible. Buckets, shovels, sand wheels, sieves, funnels, and more are all in stock now along with our usual assortment of great outdoor toys. Bubble buckets or machines, Foxtails, Frizbees, and Stomp Rockets are all great to keep the kids happy outdoors. Ask any store employee about these if you aren't familiar with them, you won't be disappointed!

Bargain Bazaar Sale!

Our Corte Madera store will be having a sale this weekend, starting at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and ending at closing on Sunday. They will have a table full of items that will be marked 50% off. Stop by and check it out!

Cupcakes Galore!

We have a new neighborhood bakery in the Marina near our San Francisco location! SusieCakes is located at 2109 Chestnut street and we are thrilled to have them near us because we always get people asking us where a good place is to get birthday cakes for their kids and now we have a place to send them. Their pre-made cakes and cupcakes are the old fashioned kind that everyone loves, but they can also do custom cakes to suit any birthday theme. They also have delicious cookies and can make any shape or theme you want for those as well. They even make mini cupcakes when you just need a little fix to quell your cupcake craving.

Their cakes are buttery and dense and their flavorful frostings are piled high and topped with delicious sprinkles. Want to try one? Then come into our San Francisco store to receive a voucher for a free treat of your choice, including cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, 7-layer bars, snickerdoodle cookies, or iced molasses cookies! They are good until the end of the month, one per person, while supplies last.

Speech Therapy 101

Exciting news at our San Francisco Store! One of our neighbors from not too far up on Union street is Kim Scott, M.S., CCC-SLP, a Certified Speech-Language Pathologist. She runs Speech Therapy 101, a business dedicated to not only the development of children's speech but to the education of parents on how to take their child's speech development into their own hands.

The thing we love the most about Kim and her business is that she focuses on prevention of speech disorders. Instead of waiting for the time when treatment is needed, she uses music, signing, books, and play therapy to make sure each child hits their developmental milestones on time. It is wonderful that she encourages parents to be as active as possible in their child's speech development, allowing them to come for a session or open workshop whether or not their children have speech disorders.

We are partnering with Kim, who often sends her clients down to our store to pick up a few special toys that she likes to use in her play therapy, to make it easier for parents to locate useful toys and understand how to use them to develop a child's speech responses. Keep an eye out on our shelves for informative placards authored by her to indicate these toys.

Even if you are not yet a client of Kim's, we are sure you will find these new little labels very helpful and informative. If you would like to get more active in your child's speech development, the cards flag the toys to use and give you exercises and key words to teach. And if you are interested in more instruction in the matter, be sure to contact Kim at Speech Therapy 101 for a free consultation.

Balloon Animal Fridays!

Every Friday at our San Francisco Location is now Balloon Animal Day! Come in any time during the day and get free balloon animals for the kids (and for you too)! We can make dogs (including French poodles and dachshunds), giraffes, mice, flying mice, dinosaurs, bunnies, flowers, and many more!

Calico Critter Day Raffle

Just a little update!

When you come in on Saturday May 8th for Calico Critter Day and spend at least $20 on Calico Critter items you will be entered in a raffle to win a Deluxe Townhome or a Deluxe Village House! See the previous post for more details!