Francisco Mengual’s Post

Yesterday, while at a supermarket, I overheard a conversation between two women who seemed to be sisters. One of them was looking to buy toys for her 6-year-old daughter for their upcoming Christmas party. She was contemplating buying a doll that sings and dances, but her sister was strongly against it. She said, “This toy will not benefit her. Why not buy something that can influence her intelligence and thinking ability, like puzzles or building blocks that can cause her to think while playing instead of just watching a dancing doll?” Ahhhh, I almost turned around and hugged her! But for some reason, she turned around and asked my opinion, and I couldn’t help but preach 😅. I see many parents make this same error, buying battery-powered toys that cost a lot of money but only serve to entertain. What if you could get more value for your money by investing in toys that can do so much more for your child? Research shows that the best toys for kids are those that enhance different aspects of their development while they play. The best toys are usually quiet and don’t move on their own, but they work wonders in your child’s brain. These toys don’t call for your attention most of the time. They do nothing unless your child interacts with them, which lights up their brain activity and other key aspects of development. Next time you go toy shopping, remember that the most powerful toys are often the simplest ones. Building blocks, puzzles, story books and art supplies are great examples. They might seem boring at first, but they encourage creativity, problem-solving, and learning. From today until Saturday, December 21st, 2024, at midnight, take advantage of the ParentingWithDrJen Online Store Promo Discount sale. Get our best educational resources and toys at up to 30% off. Click this link to visit our online store https://lnkd.in/ewH72PvF , send us inquiries about what discounts apply to any article of your choice. Let your child learn while they play. Let your child play with purpose. #drjenndiboti #parentingwithdrjen

To all my parent colleagues out there who still may be wondering what's all this about with Circa Systems and Unless Kids. Check out this awesome article on Family Focus Media (Main Line Parent, Philadelphia Family, & Bucks County Parent) about WHY we believe that there is a better way to buy toys and HOW we're making it happen! If you want a better way to buy toys for your kids that reduces clutter and waste while increasing joy this holiday season, check out this article and use the discount code to get started! https://lnkd.in/etQaHgxK

Adults bought more toys for themselves than for any other age group last quarter for the first time ever, surpassing toys for the historically-dominant preschooler market. Consumers 18 years of age and up spent $1.5 billion in toy-related purchases in the period from January through April, overtaking the three-to five-year-old demographic as the most important age group for the toy industry, according to a new report from market research firm Circana. Looking back over a longer period, the report said as many as 43% of adults purchased a toy for themselves in the past year, with the top reasons being for personal fun, socialization and for collecting. Read more: https://cnn.it/3VuhEPk

🎅Still Christmas shopping?🎄 Here is another list to check out with some great ideas!📝 The article includes tips on making gift-receiving fun for children with complex needs. Click below🔻

Thanks so much Motherly® for spotlighting this amazing company and mission. It really is the greener "TJ Maxx of the baby gear and parenting world"! "Think of it as the TJ Maxx of the parenting world—high-quality strollers, car seats, swings, and more, all at prices that won’t make you cry." Already by 2025, the company will have diverted over 1 million pounds of products from waste streams, while saving parents money on the most popular, high-quality items on the market. Shop Kidsy this holiday season. It's a win-win-win - reduce waste, get high-quality essentials and items for parents and kids, all at steep discounts. #sustainability #ecommerce #recommerce #startup #retail #holiday #shopping

Every parent knows it: there's nothing that captivates your children quite like another kid's toys 🎁 Marktplaats launched its new holiday campaign to inspire parents and grandparents to gift second-hand toys instead of new ones. The campaign shows the irresistible attraction of another child’s toys, capturing the fun of choosing pre-loved gifts. As Marktplaats CMO Valerie Heeremans-Niedersüß says, “With this campaign, we want to show that second-hand toys are therefore a very logical choice for the holidays. This way, we can reduce the environmental impact of the holidays together, without compromising on fun. It's nice to think that what is superfluous for one person can be a fantastic gift for another." Are you giving any second-hand gifts this year? 🧸🎮 #Marktplaats #ToysCampaign #CircularEconomy #PreLoved

Parenting throws many challenges our way, and as those of us with big and tall kids know, shopping for clothes is a prime contender. Traditional retailers tend to stock sizes that cluster around an average, leaving the edges—particularly big and tall sizes—perpetually short on variety. The resulting lack of options pushes parents to seek specialized retailers, often at a higher expense and with significantly fewer choices. Brands need to recognize the diverse sizing needs of children, ensuring those on either side of the growth spectrum are equally catered for. Let's discuss: What has been your most frustrating experience when shopping for big and tall kids? How did you resolve it? 🛍️

We just read the article "Toys Are a Scam" by Ellen McCarthy in The Washington Post and we had to share it. For our TLDR audience or those who are stuck behind the paywall, here are the little gold nugget quotes that stuck out to us and made us think, "We hear you Ellen, and that's what we made Unless Kids." If you want to read the full article, it's linked below the sections that spoke to us. We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. 💡 "Toys are a scam, at least the way we consume them in America today." 💡 "Our toy collections have grown so vast, we have to rotate what's on display! We're toy curators now. 💡 "Kids are now given toys to celebrate just about every happy occasion in their lives. Toys for birthdays, holidays, out-of-town visits, potty-training milestones. Sometimes just because they made it through an amusement park ride and were spit out at the gift shop." 💡 "I suppose part of our problem is that it’s hard to predict which toys will become beloved." 💡 "And it made me wonder why we can’t treat toys like library books — things that we share but don’t necessarily own, and that live in a place open to all." 💡 "It’s not that I think we should banish toys from our homes. I’m just suggesting we consider the possibility of consuming fewer." 💡 "We know kids need play. So maybe we focus on giving them that." https://lnkd.in/e-3qqufD

All children want to be heard, but young children may need more support to learn that their demands cannot always be met. So, how do parents and carers manage kids’ expectations, emotions and self-regulate? Parents in our social media community have suggested their ideas – add yours below. Our latest article talks about how parents and carers can set boundaries while shopping and has ideas for spending quality time together; read or share it now https://lnkd.in/ge5RCpz5 #Parenting #PositiveParenting #FamilySupport #Gratitude #Shopping #Regulation

#PositiveParenting #Lifelessons #Newparents #dailydose #Mothers You may ask your questions in the comment or Inbox me. Day#8 Question: My 10-year-old has no perspective on how much we are spending on him and he keeps asking for new toys Answer: Is it truly necessary for a 10-year-old to have a grasp of financial matters and spending? Childhood should be a time of joy and not burdened with concerns about money. Children are generally content unless we interfere with their happiness. Have you not witnessed toddlers happily playing with kitchen utensils? Kids are drawn to simple and enjoyable things, not necessarily expensive toys. Perhaps it's worth considering whether we've provided toys to our children just because other kids have expensive ones. A 10-year-old is old enough to comprehend the essence of toys. ********************************************************** Would you like to delve deeper into a specific issue or explore potential solutions? I can provide more tailored advice based on your child's age, your parenting style, and the specific challenges you're facing in a 1:1 session. **********************************************************