FEATURE
GROSS & SPARKLES
Something for everyone Whether they love slime and revolting toys, or prefer glitter and sparkle, this category has something that should appeal to all your small customers! children as they are the best natural scientists. I know. Science is part of What do you stock in this category? their everyday life We stock Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty and several as they question different slimes and putties from H. Grossman everything, ponder and wholesalers. We stocked Pushpoppers [from their surroundings H Grossman under its HGL brand] in time for and naturally Carrie Ann half-term. I’ve heard them called all sorts! One explore whatever Booth, founder customer said: ‘Bubble wrap out of rubber!’ They is put in front of The Science are a pocket money line, and pocket money toys Booth of them.’’ sell very well for us. And when it Dan Lovett, The Toy Box, Beccles, Suffolk comes to gross stuff, another popular workshop Ravensburger eat their creations. Most children think is Carrie’s edible poo session. “Why is it this is hilarious, but many of the adults that every five-year-old is obsessed with find this difficult to stomach!’’ wee and poo? My little girl talks about Slime is proving to be quite an it, draws it and looks at it in the toilet’’ ross slime and glittery sparkly evergreen product, according to Julia The Science Booth offers a disgusting toys can appeal to a variety Loeser, science kit sales, marketing & PR digestion demonstration and an edible of senses - and a variety manager at Thames & Kosmos: “Slime poo workshop; both are full of of children. is one of those products that just keeps laughs and squeals. Carrie Ann Booth is founder of The coming back, again and again. “Children love getting Science Booth, a science edu-tainment “We’ve recently seen an increase in down and dirty with the provider based in Cumbria. She buying interest among end-users in our ‘intestines’ and modelling says: “Slime is one of my best-selling award-winning Ooze Labs series, which how our food begins to workshops and from a scientist’s point allows children from the age of six to have turn into wee and poo! of view I couldn’t be happier. Slime is slippery, goopy fun while conducting Once we’ve fully explored science - not only that, it is high-level awesome chemistry experiments. The the biological journey of chemistry in which we can start having two kits we currently offer in the range, making wee and poo, we some engaging conversations about Alien Slime Lab and Ooze Labs Chemistry have the exciting task of polymers and non-Newtonian fluids. I’ve station, can be combined to create the making edible poo. Most even been known to use slime making Thames & ultimate laboratory.’’ children are absolutely with GCSE students in order to nail their Kosmos And it’s going nowhere any time ecstatic at creating their very own poo understanding of scientific enquiry. soon, she adds: “Forecast figures and out of simple ingredients (digestive Beyond that, we also must remember conversations we’ve had with our retail biscuits, golden syrup and melted that we don’t need to teach (in the customers strongly indicate that the chocolate). The real psychological twist traditional sense) science to very young buying power in slime kits is definitely comes when the children are allowed to here to stay.’’ H. Grossman CEO David Mordecai agrees: “Gross will always be funny to children and we will continue to marry Georgina Durrant, author of 100 Ways Your Child Can Learn Through Play, explains how the latest trends to this concept to beneficial sensory toys such as putty and slime can be. “Sensory toys are simply toys make it topical. Glittery items will that stimulate a child’s senses. Slime, for example, is wonderful for stimulating a child’s always be around, mesh balls are sense of touch. Sensory toys can be brilliant for helping children relax and de-stress. really popular at the moment, and our Squishing, rolling, kneading and generally playing with tactile resources such as putty new range of unicorn mesh balls are can be a great activity for children to take part in after a busy day, helping them to looking good - again it’s about tapping forget their worries and focus on the feel of the material in their hands instead. Some into what fashion trends are around and parents find that they can be extremely useful as a resource to use before bedtime, giving it extra sparkle!’’ helping children to go to sleep more easily. Play-Doh and similar toys are also amazing Sensory toys are a big market for H. for developing fine motor skills and hand strength, which are really important for Grossman, with Pushpoppers being the learning to write. latest big thing. Every retailer we speak “For some children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) sensory toys can to tells TnP how popular they are, so be particularly useful. They can help children who are feeling overwhelmed or what’s next? ”If I told you that we would overstimulated to find calm, by enabling them to focus on one sense. For children be giving away the very best of our trade who are blind or have some degree of visual impairment, tactile sensory toys can be secrets!’’ says David “Watch this space…’’ wonderfully accessible toys.’’
Ask the retailer
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The benefits of sensory toys
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Sparkles & Action Vehicles Featurenm.indd 1
toysnplaythings.media 07/07/2021 10:29
