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Blog : Little Lilypad Co
The Little Lilypad is a lifestyle blog mostly written by a mum to two beautiful, cheeky and entertaining daughters. It is sometimes written by the Man on the Pad or by one of our baby bloggers. Occasionally we accept guest posts too. There is frequently talk of sustainable living, saving money, lifestyle and travel. It is hopefully helpful, sometimes funny and always honest.
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Category: News
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Fisher Price toys over the decades
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TweetYou know that we are fans of Fisher Price on the Lilypad and since being founded back in 1930, Fisher Price has been providing quality toys for children for nearly a century. Join us in taking a look at just part of the toy manufacturer’s rich history.
Fisher Price has always successfully combined education and enjoyment, ensuring that children have fun while they learn. In their early years, their toys were made with pine and heavy steel parts. They would resist splintering and hold up well to constant use. The first toy the company ever sold was Mr Doodle in 1931. It wasn’t long until they discovered that they could have better designs and brighter colours on toys by using plastic, with Buzzy Bee being their first toy to make full use of plastic. By the end of the 1950s, 39 Fisher Price toys were made that incorporated plastics.
One of Fisher Price’s oldest, but still much loved, products is the Rock-A-Stack. First introduced in 1960, the Rock-A-Stack is an interactive toy in which different coloured rings have to be placed onto a pole in order of size. It is ideal for helping children develop their hand eye coordination, as well as being a great way for them to learn about different colours.
Little People for little hands
Little People, Fisher Price’s most popular toy range, was brought in during the 1960s. Argos sell Fisher Price Little People, maintaining the high standards the company has always been recognised for. The Little People line includes figures of people and animals, and various play sets to interact with. The figures were originally wooden, but are now moulded from plastic, which allows for more detailed features.
By including electronics in the range, Little People toys can now talk and sing for the first time. This provides the most interactive and realistic collection Little People has ever had. You can even get poseable figures, making the Little People experience all the more fun. Since their creation over 50 years ago, Fisher Price’s Little People have entertained children all over the world. With the collection being as popular now as it ever was, you can expect Little People to stick around for a while yet.
Fun on wheels
In 1970 the Chatter Telephone was introduced, and it has been one of their best selling products. The toy is a phone with a smiley face set on four wheels. When pulled along it makes a fun chattering sound. The Chatter Telephone has always been popular amongst children, and when the company tried to replace the classic rotary dial with buttons and lights in 2000, consumers complained and the rotary device was returned the following year.
The Power Wheels range was established in the 1980s and is a set of battery powered ride-on toy cars for children aged between 1 and 7. The brand was purchased by Mattel in 1994 and immediately became a part of Fisher Price’s range.
In the late 1990s Fisher Price launched their Rescue Heroes range. The toys depict various recue personnel and the equipment they would use. The range was so popular that in 1999 an animated series was released. There have since been various Rescue Heroes cartoons on a number of channels, and in 2003 there was even a movie.
These days, consumers have access to a range of Fisher Price toys, from classic originals to new, modern creations. The Fisher Price collections available today are just as fun and educational as they have ever been. The high standards and quality that the company is recognised for are maintained in every product, and it is still a joy to watch children play with them.
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Eating out with children : The survival guide
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Last week we went out to dinner at a well known restaurant chain for lunch. When I say we, I dont mean a relaxing romantic dinner, I mean a family lunchtime "adventure" because going to lunch with children is never a relaxing affair. The food was great and we really enjoyed it but as far as the children were concerned, the eldest was more concerned with colouring in the picture she had been given, whilst the youngest decided to decorate the table with the majority of her meal.
We always sit to eat our meals at the table at home and I think its important for the children to get used to eating out at restaurants. I always remember friends of ours looking in horror at the throught of taking their children to a restaurant because they were unsure how well they would behave. I dont worry about my children's beaviour in a restaurant but I do sometimes worry about the money we are spending on meals that arent always eaten. I know what my children like and dislike, so I tailor meals at home to their preferences but you cant always do that in a restaurant so more often than not, part of the meal left over, meaning a waste of food and money.
Like any parent, wasting money isnt something I take kindly to, so when I was on the MyFamilyClub website last week, I was delighted to come across their new Dining Club. In their words "The Dining Club will save you money on eating out at 200 participating restaurants across the UK. We’ve bagged all sorts of brilliant deals, including great 2-for-1s, dinner-and-drink options, 25% off your bill – and best of all, at some restaurants kids eat free" I am always cautious of "voucher books" that you have to pay for up front as I think sometimes that they can get put to the back of a cupboard and you never get the use of them (trust me I am speaking from past experience) but I genuinely think I would use this as it is part of the MyFamilyClub Savings pack which includes reloadable gift cards, that save you money every time you reload them (thats a whole other blog post of discovery!)
We eat out with our children far more than I ever did with my own parents. Growing up, I remember having it drilled into us that we didnt waste money but now as an adult I have a slightly more relaxed attitude, such as "if I save money on this, I can spend it on a new pair of shoes", but you get the general idea. I am conscious now that as my children grow up and become more aware of the value of things, teaching them money saving ideas is a great foundation for later life.
The words "save money", "brilliant deals" and "kids eat free" are music to my mommy money saving ears and my shoe loving heart!
This blog has been featured on the Thrifty Families Blog!
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We can all stand up to cancer #su2c
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Cancer.
Its not a word that needs any explanation.
I had plans this evening to write a heartfelt blog post in support of the Stand Up to Cancer campaign but I cant. Cancer affects everyone in different ways and I am compelled to sit, watch and support the amazing people and families, rather than try and articulate an inspiring blog post.
If you can spare £5 or £10, text FIVE or TEN to 70404 or you can donate at the Stand Up to Cancer site here.
Good night, hold your families tight xx
