My daughter loves playing with puzzles. Ever since she was about 3 years old, we noticed that she could sit there for an hour working on puzzle sets that are way beyond her age. A year and a half later, that hasn’t changed. But here’s the problem: She doesn’t like doing the same puzzles over and over, so over the years, we’ve collected almost 100 different sets of puzzles, and the collection just keeps growing.

Recently, I came across a seller on Taobao who seemed to offer the perfect solution – something that combined her love for puzzles with her other love for drawing. Our home is filled with her colorful masterpieces, and wouldn’t it be great if I could turn her favorite ones into puzzles?

Here’s how it works. The process was incredibly simple:

1. Choose the size and number of pieces you want for your puzzle. The seller I chose offers puzzles between nine pieces and 1,000 pieces. The price ranges from RMB 5.2 for the nine-piece puzzle to RMB 79.9 for the 1,000-piece.
2. Once you’ve placed your order on Taobao, send them a message through the app and upload your artwork. You can take a picture of the artwork with your phone, but use a scanned copy if you want better results.

They’ll usually send you confirmation within the hour, and in a few days, you’ll receive your custom puzzle in the mail.

When the puzzle arrived, I wasn’t that impressed by the quality. The wooden puzzle did have a few pieces that didn’t cut all the way through, but for how little I paid, I was happy with what I got. But the best part was seeing my daughter’s reaction when she realized the puzzle was her own artwork!

She immediately wanted to put it together, and it was so much fun watching her piece together her own creation. Now, every time she finishes a new drawing she loves, she asks, “Can we make this one into a puzzle too?”

If you’re looking for a heartfelt and fun gift, I highly recommend trying this Taobao service. It’s affordable, easy to order, and brings so much joy to my little artist. Now, we have a growing collection of one-of-a-kind puzzles – each one a beautiful memory of her imagination at work.

Alternatively, if getting them printed isn’t what you’re looking for, Pinduoduo also sells completely blank puzzles that kids can draw on directly.

These come as a pack of ten puzzles for just RMB 15.

If you want more toy recommendations, join our Toy Reviews and Recommendations WeChat group.

Images: Taobao, Mina Yan

You know what’s surprisingly difficult? Buying toys for other kids. No, really… You know your own kids’ hobbies and interests like the back of your hand, but even then you might come home with something that you think is the coolest thing in the world and watch them look at it with mild amusement. Then, when it comes to buying toys for their friends’ birthdays and the big holidays coming up, it gets more difficult.

But as with everything else in Beijing, to make your life easier and answer your questions, there’s a WeChat group for that. Get some real kid-tested and parent-approved toy reviews and recommendations by joining the WeChat group Toy Reviews and Recommendations.

Scan the QR code below to join or add admin Wilhelmina87 on WeChat to request to join.

Images: Mina Yan, Pexels

You know what’s surprisingly difficult? Buying toys for other kids. No, really… You know your own kids’ hobbies and interests like the back of your hand, but even then you might come home with something that you think is the coolest thing in the world and watch them look at it with mild amusement. Then, when it comes to buying toys for their friends’ birthdays and the big holidays coming up, it gets more difficult.

But as with everything else in Beijing, to make your life easier and answer your questions, there’s a WeChat group for that. Get some real kid-tested and parent-approved toy reviews and recommendations by joining the WeChat group Toy Reviews and Recommendations. Scan the QR code below to join or add admin Wilhelmina87 on WeChat to request to join.

Images: Mina Yan, Pexels

A few weeks ago I wrote about the worst baby “must-have” gadgets that I purchased and hated. Today, let’s take a look at the ones that I’ll forever be buying for all my soon-to-be-mom friends.

To purchase any of these products, scan the QR code in Taobao.

1. HengHengNiu 哼哼牛

We got one of these during my daughter’s first birthday, and she’s still obsessed with it almost a year later. Here’s why it’s amazing. 1: It’s a tough cow that can take a hit. Toddlers throw stuff, and after a year of throwing, our HengHengNiu still works perfectly. 2: It’s got so many features! This thing sings, reads stories, imitates, walks, farts, cries, and turns into a nightlight projector that plays calming music for naptimes. 3. It’s well designed. My daughter went through a few weeks where she needed to have Henghengniu with her when she slept. Despite being an electronic toy, this cow has no sharp edges.

Downside: Don’t lose the binky. If you lose the binky, HengHengNiu will cry and refuse to go into the nightlight projector mode. However, when we lost the binky for a few days, I substituted it with a makeup brush at night to calm it down. (Too bad that doesn’t work with real babies) Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

2. Bizzy Bear Bilingual Books

Anyone who’s met my daughter knows she loves to read. Since she was less than a year old, she’d sit and flip through books and bring her favorite ones over to me to read to her. What really ignited her love for books was Bizzy Bear. The Bizzy Bear series published by Nosy Crow has been translated into 23 languages. From the quality of the paper they use to the attention to detail in the illustrations, the Bizzy Bear books are like the crown jewels of baby books.

3. Baby swing

My husband loves working out, and there’s always been a pull-up bar in our apartment. This baby swing clips right onto any bar, and on days when we can’t go outside, it keeps my daughter happy for a long, long time. The swing is made with the same quality of rope and harnesses as rock climbing gear, and unlike the plastic types of swings, this swing doesn’t take up as much room to store, and is more eco-friendly.

4. Stroller tricycles

No joke, I looked into this for months before finally purchasing this model. There are just so many different kinds out there!

This particular one is a tricycle that doubles as a stroller, and it has a seatbelt for extra safety. When your child gets a bit older, the retractable control stick at the back can be removed and the whole thing can be rearranged into a tricycle that they can ride themselves.

5. Bouncy horse (or any animal)

I really wanted a wooden rocking horse for my daughter because they’re so beautiful! But I’m so glad that my friend gave me her daughter’s bouncy horse thing. Since the first day it arrived, my daughter has loved bouncing on her horsy, and now has even incorporated the “boin boin boin boin” sound affects. This is definitely one of those times where you trade Instagrammable looks for practicality.

Images: Taobao, Mina Yan

This year’s Chinese New Year doesn’t have to be just another school holiday where you’re busting your brain trying to keep the kids occupied within Beijing’s city limits. It could be a great opportunity for some family fun and learning as you put together a cool CNY-themed building set, play Chinese board games, or make your own lion dance costume for a little performance at home! 

LOZ Spring Festival building blocks

Don’t mistake these for LEGO! LOZ is a German company with a factory in Guangdong, the toy-production capital of the world. They are responsible for the Brickheadz Marvel Avengers collection as well as your favorite Disney and anime characters.

This CNY, they have several ancient Chinese-style building sets that depict CNY celebrations in traditional homes! There are three sets in total that come together to form a CNY festival scene complete with fireworks and spring blossom trees. Suitable for ages 8 and up, but younger kids should be fine handling the blocks under adult supervision. Prices start from RMB 49 to RMB 269 in the Mini-Program below.

Spring Festival gift boxes

A comprehensive way to introduce and celebrate CNY, these gift boxes typically contain puzzles, games, red envelopes, stickers, and some crafts like paper lanterns.

In this RMB 149 gift box developed by the Dunhuang Research Institute and Shanghai Art & Film Company, there are three boxes of puzzles, each suited to a different difficulty level so kids of all ages can get involved.

Much like the LOZ sets, all three come together to form one long Chinese scroll depicting a traditional story about the Lunar New Year. The paper lantern in this set is also another pretty piece, showing the sacred deer on one side and the Monkey King on the other as several layers are assembled together.

The gift box itself is cleverly designed to function as the board for the board games included in the set. There are rules and instructions but the games look relatively straightforward. Otherwise, get creative and come up with your own gameplay!

Scan the QR code below to purchase!

DIY Lion Dancing kit

Love it or hate it, lion dance is an inescapable part of CNY celebrations. But you don’t have to sit by as a mere spectator this year, you can actively take part by making your very own lion dance prop!

This kit from Taobao will let you create your own environmentally-friendly cardboard lion dance head with a few folds here, plus a nip and a tuck there… Then the kids can put on a lion dance show for the family in the living room – heck, fire up that FaceTime and get your friends and family from abroad involved – sans the ear-bursting drums which were always my least favorite part of the performance.

They also make super cute wall or ceiling decorations for this festive Chinese New Year season!

KEEP READING: Kids Camps for CNY Holiday Fun!

Images: Pexels, Courtesy of the vendors

Recently, a mom in a school group I lurk in asked, “If a toy my child loves starts to break, should I replace it or just let it break and encourage him to find a new favorite?” I think it’s a valuable question, especially in a society where we have so much and replacing an item is often an easy option. When is it appropriate to let a toy go and when should you consider replacing it? There are a few variables that are worth considering.

Is this a comfort item? If so, it’s probably got a lot of emotional value for the child and simply buying a new one won’t be the same. In fact, it could cause a worse meltdown than allowing the toy to fade away.

How much does it cost and how easy is it to procure? If it’s an expensive item and your child already has plenty of toys, it’s worth considering directing them to some of their other playthings. You’re not made of money and kids shouldn’t expect that they can always get another one. On the flip side, if it’s not expensive and easy to obtain, then there may not be any harm.

Does it provide value to you? Is this an item that keeps them engaged for a long period of time and offers you some peace and quiet? What price do you put on that? If it helps you retain your sanity and it makes them happy, click the buy now button!

Level up: Toys are always learning tools. Without fail, they teach or encourage a skill. Is your little one on the cusp of outgrowing or mastering the skill it teaches? If so, what is the next skill level? Maybe you should present a new challenge?

If It’s time to let the item go, it could be difficult for your child. While it doesn’t require a full-on funeral, this is still a loss, especially if they are emotionally invested in the item. This parting moment could feel intense for them. Here are a few suggestions that might make the transition easier for your little one.

Let them talk about their feelings: But don’t dwell on it. Sharing why they love something and how it makes them sad to say goodbye is normal and healthy. Encourage them to share their feelings and then help them redirect that energy into something new. This sets a good blueprint for future losses of a more significant nature.

Set a timeline: If they aren’t quite ready to let go of their stuffie even though it’s missing an eye, an arm, and half its fluff, give them a chance to adjust to the idea. Let them know that in one week it will be time to say goodbye. Remind them each night and if a visual aid is helpful, set a countdown calendar. Children, like most humans, just need to know what is going to happen. Having a plan will make the separation easier.

Set the goodbye and the hello: Goodbye to one thing means hello to something else, so schedule the goodbye for right before a fun event. “Tomorrow you will say goodbye to stuffie and then we will go to your friend’s birthday party!” This teaches them that things and feelings are transient and letting go of something old makes room for something new to enter your life.

KEEP READING: Beijing Kids Say the Darndest Things!

Photo: Unsplash

It’s perfectly normal for our staff to send each other photos of interesting finds we discover while out and about in Beijing. It’s our job to write about the city and people within it, so it makes sense that we’re encouraged to get out of the office and be there.

But not even the holiday season could prepare us for a series of poop photos appearing in the beijingkids group chat. A visit to FAO Schwartz prompted a discussion about why kids like poop toys and if they would really play with them. So I asked the experts, and the target market: Niki Nielsen (NN), 5, and my own kids, who wish to go by Maths Pirate (MP), 6, and First Maths Mate (FMM), 4.

furReal Poopalots Big Wags Interactive Pet Toy, Connectible Leash System

So the idea behind this toy is that you can walk it, feed it treats, and then…. yes, clean up its poop. My guess is that this is a lot more appealing when you haven’t spent the better part of the last five years cleaning human poop, because the kids loved it.

NN: “I poop (laughs)”
FMM: I like Poops a lot. I really want to buy it.”

Poopsie Cutie Tooties Surprise Collectible Slime & Mystery Character

The toy here is actually even weirder than the packaging. You snip or pop the package to reveal one of 30 kinds of slime of various textures. I’ve seen firsthand how engaging slime can be with kids and often hand it to them when I need to focus on something else. I’d personally rather just get the slime, but the kids were enthralled.

NN: “Sparkly poop!”
FMM: Cutie tooties, but it’s cutie tooty poop! I like the Poops a lot better because it had poops in its name.”

This one got the funniest reaction from Niki!

VE Kids Perfume Shape Case Fart Jacobs Display Case 2 in 1 Play and Display

We had a hard time figuring out what this one is. Even when I looked it up, all I could see is that it is a perfume shaped case for one of three possible surprises. You basically get an assortment of slime in cutesy unicorn horn shaped capsules. But besides laughing, the kids all had one reaction: “Maybe it’s for farting in it!”

Silliness aside, the only offensive thing about this toy is it costs RMB 405.

Little Live Pets Gotta Go Flamingo, Interactive Plush Toy That Eats, Sings, Wiggles, Poops, and Talks

I don’t even know where to start. Why a flamingo, for one? But at least it’s recyclable: you feed it the magic goo, it poops it out, and you can watch it turn right back into food in front of your eyes! What a gift! Oh, did I mention it talks to you too?

This flamingo, however, did get the biggest smile from the math pirates.

Flushin’ Frenzy looked pretty simple to Niki — it’s a “toilet with poop” — but here is where the Maths Pirate spoke up for the first time after giving each toy a series of thumbs-ups. He took a good look at the other elements in the photo and determined that it was a game. “I think that everybody tries to catch it when it flies up,” was his decision.

I looked it up and he is right. You roll the die, plunge the toilet the number of times it shows on the die, and then whoever catches the poop when it pops up wins two tokens!

I’ve played some ridiculous games with my children, games that I had no desire to play but knew they really wanted me to. I’ve painstakingly taught them how to play UNO in quarantine, allowed them to make their own game out of Ticket to Ride, and also caught swords that popped up out of a pirate’s barrel. And I’ve subsequently collapsed on the floor in laughter and absolute delight.

I went into this blog thinking I’d just make fun of the poop toys with my kids. But they gave all the toys the thumbs up — even if they couldn’t distract them from their ice cream — and I have to admit, the last game of catching poop might remind me too much of potty training, but it… could be fun. Especially after the year we’ve had.

As Niki said, “It’s the best toys ever!”

KEEP READING: Five Places to Book for Christmas Dinner With Less Than a Week to go

Photos: Cindy Marie Jenkins, Lily Nielsen, Michael Wester, and product websites

A teddy bear boutique is trying to steal Jing-A’s thunder. Just kidding, but it is a good spot to capture Adventure Zone guests. The new Steiff Boutique unceremoniously opened its doors on Wednesday, bringing a much-needed spot of joy and cuddly cuties to the upscale mall. 

It all started with a sewing machine and pincushion

It all started with Margarete Steiff, born in 1847, the third of four children in the Steiff family, who came down with childhood polio that left her paralyzed. She wouldn’t let that stop her education, however, and was helped to school every day in a wagon by her siblings. By 17 she had become a seamstress, and one day sewed a little elephant as a pincushion. Soon stuffed animals became more popular than her clothing, and a company was born.

When her artistic nephew joined the company in 1897, he designed moveable arms and legs for a new line of stuffed bears. That’s when they first started using mohair plush as well, and by 1904 added the emblematic “button in the ear” to designate each animal as a Steiff official rather than one of the many knockoffs they saw cropping up at toy fairs.

Familiar faces also grace their shelves, from the refined Paddington Bear to the ogre Shrek

It isn’t all elephants and bears, however. You can choose from an assortment of jungle animals, or even fantastical creatures like unicorns and dragons!

That elephant has a lot of furry friends

Too cute for words dragons

Who doesn’t like a punky, happy unicorn?

Before you get too excited, though, hold onto your WeChat wallet. This isn’t the place for impulse buys with the kids or any old birthday party. Prices went as high as RMB 2,020 for some of the more specialty items.

Joseph’s pretty cute and pretty pricey

If you’re stuck for a gift on your way to an Adventure Zone birthday party though, there are some just as sweet and smaller, cheaper choices. Plus their adorable selection of clothes will surely make an impression.

Some of the just-as-special but won’t break the bank items

Let them sport their love of teddies on their sweater

Nothing says you care like a funny little lion clown

These owls are pretty adorbs

If you do find yourself unable to stop splurging on such quality snugglies made from mohair, alpaca, and organic cotton, for a limited time (through Sep 30) they’ll throw in a branded canvas bag or elephant pendant for purchases between RMB 1,380-1,880. It’s totally worth a look, especially if you need a smile while lunching at one of the wonderful Kerry Centre eateries. I just wouldn’t bring a kid in there without willing to walk out with arms full of fur and your WeChat wallet a little lighter.

The beginning of March marks yet another month spent in possible quarantine. For the families who have decided to stay in Beijing, thinking of creative new ways to educate and entertain the kids is starting to become challenging.

I’m one for nostalgia. The games of my childhood always bring back fond memories of carefree afternoons spent outside with my cousins and friends. While in the US we grew up on games like Twister and Monopoly, the games of my childhood in China were much more different.

跳皮筋 (Tiào Pí Jīn) Chinese Jump Rope

The Chinese version is a bit different than the American version. First of all, the Chinese version uses a giant stretched out rubber band rather than a rope. The band is looped around two people (or two stationary objects).
Unlike Western jump rope, the object of this game is to hook your legs into the rope to form loops and patterns in a certain sequence. This is often accompanied by a rhyme or song. As each level is completed, the rope is moved higher, making the patterns more difficult to complete.

Here’s how to play.

毽子 (Jiàn Zi) Shuttlecock

While the term “shuttlecock” usually refers to the ball in badminton, here it refers to this feather-covered toy. The shuttlecock is essentially a weighted hacky sack that’s passed from foot to foot by kicking. The object of the game is to keep it from touching the ground. Besides being played in the schoolyard, it is also very popular among senior citizens as a way to stay active.

抓拐 (Zhuā GuǎI) Knucklebones

The first time I tried explaining this to a friend from the UK he was convinced I was making it up, but this game goes back far past my childhood. It’s a game that my parents remember playing when they were in diapers. This is a game very similar to “jacks” in Western culture. “拐” refers to a piece of bone, usually taken from the thigh joint of a sheep or pig, which were often saved from dinner tables.

Just like jacks, a ball or tiny beanbag is tossed up during play. The rules vary, but one of the main objectives is to “turn” all four bones right side up before you catch the beanbag.

Here’s how to play.

Source: tutorming.com, itsmichelleteacher.wordpress.com, teachhealthk-12.uthscsa.edu
Photos: itsmichelleteacher.wordpress.com, teachhealthk-12.uthscsa.edu, Unsplash, Fladybladeblog.files.wordpress.com