The Toy Emporium Announces Weekly Reading Event for Preschoolers

Sandy Springs, GA, July 10, 2015 - Every child deserves the chance to learn and thrive in an environment that is enriched by the latest technology. This year The Toy Emporium has planned a wide variety of educational, entertaining and fun programs to help children fill their days.

“Bring your 3-6 year old child every Thursday morning from 10:45-11:30am and listen as Miss Linda or Miss Sandra spin tales from around the world, incorporating subtle critical thinking exercises that challenge their young minds,” says Denise Gary, VP of  The Toy Emporium. 

Despite research that indicates the importance of summer reading in preventing children from losing literacy skills, only 17 percent of parents say reading is a top summer priority, according to a survey conducted. It also shows that children spend nearly three times as many hours weekly watching TV or playing video games as they do reading in the summer.

“Reading is the best vacation. It takes you places you never dreamed you would visit, and summer, especially is a time when kids can immerse themselves in the topics they like best,” said Denise Gary. “Thanks to our weekly reading event, we are bringing more books to children who need them most and starting them on a journey to a lifelong love of reading.”

At the reading event, there may be singing, dancing or silliness – and FREE organic popcorn.  A new “Tales from Around the World” story will take place every Thursday morning in the store! Story time is free and is especially perfect for 3-6 year olds. Doors open at 10:35--Hope to see you there! 

The details for the event is as follows:

Where:              The Toy Emporium

                         8610 Roswell Road, Suite 120

                         Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30350

When:              10:45 AM - 11:30 PM Every Thursday

Who:                Ages 3-6

How:                Just Show Up

Cost:                FREE

Contact:           info@thetoyemporium.net

Denise Gary says, “We use the FlexTIM Critical Thinking Method, which teaches all children to recognize “what it says”, “what it means,” and “why it matters” when reading.”

The ultimate purpose of these events are to encourage kids to read by showing them that "everybody does it." After all, peer pressure can be used to achieve positive goals!

About The Toy Emporium

TheToy Emporium is a very special children's place with unique toys and books that teach, encourage imagination, and celebrate diversity. This is the official “The Toy Emporium” calendar, which includes all events, including parenting workshops, formal events and special children’s programs.

Media Contact

Constance Farris 

The Toy Emporium

8610 Roswell Rd, Ste 120 

Sandy Springs, GA 30350-1823

PH 770-680-2222

info@thetoyemporium.net

http://thetoyemporium.net

AWARDWINNING ONLINE TOY STORE LAUNCHES A BRICK AND MORTAR SHOWROOM IN SANDY SPRINGS, GA

The Toy Emporium Opens Sandy Springs, GA Showroom

New Toy Store Also Aims to Reach Children with Special Needs

ATLANTA, GA (PRWEB) May 7, 2015 – The Toy Emporium has opened a new 1800-square-foot showroom that features more than 1,500 products from over 300 manufacturers. The Toy Emporium (formerly Dolls Like Me) today unveiled a new toy showroom, featuring unique toys, a S.T.E.M. Science Center, Special Needs toys, dozens of dolls that reflect all cultures and nationalities, puppets, children’s books from around the world, and custom children’s stationery.

“Even in large urban areas where the African American, Latino and Asian populations are often the majority and the population of biracial children is fast-growing, retailers never seem to stock an adequate selection of quality dolls and toys for children of color. Parents seeking quality toys for children with special needs have an even harder time,” said Gary, head buyer and vice president of The Toy Emporium. “We are changing that by making it easy for parents to find items that reflect their unique culture and that their children can easily identify with. Adding toys for children with special needs was an easy extension.”

The company’s mission is supported by a new poll, which found that 87% of African American parents, 65% of Latino parents, and 47% of Asian parents felt “It is important for all children have dolls that look like them.” In the same poll, 31% of the parents admit to have at least one child with special needs.

The Toy Emporium focuses on providing quality playthings, baby gifts, STEM science products, books from independent presses, and specialty games. Our showroom is more than just an exceptional retail concept – it is the first truly multicultural toy store in the country

According to the US Census Bureau, currently 38% of America’s children are children of color, or non-white. That number will increase by 50% by the year 2020, "Demonstrating the need for a retailer that provides easy access to toys that resemble America’s growing multicultural population,” concluded Wanda Pendleton, president, UB Today.

On TheToyEmporium.net website, customers will find a blog forum and a Parent Resource Center (featuring information on transracial adoption and building self-esteem in all children). We also have lively Twitter and Facebook social media pages.

The Showroom accepts all major credit cards and has a special discount program for schools and non-profit organizations.

About Toy Emporium

On July 1, 2014, the Toy Emporium & Party World acquired Dolls Like Me, LLC. Founded in 2005, Dolls Like Me has been the recipient of numerous awards including the 2007 Wonder Women of Toys Award from the Women In Toys organization. The company has also been featured on several radio programs, in more than 70 newspapers, and on the Telemundo and ABC Television networks. Dolls Like Me was named a ‘company to watch’ in the December 2006 issue of Entrepreneur Magazine.

###

For additional information, please contact:

Wanda Pendelton | Telephone: (201) 901-8086 | Email: wpendelton(at)ubtoday(dot)com

To photograph the store, please contact: Khalil Gary Robinson | Telephone: (770) 680-2222 | Email: khalil(at)thetoyemporium(dot)net

Curlilocks and the Three Pink Pandas

I have had the most wonderful time reading Curlilocks and the Three Pink Pandas. Without telling the whole story, I will share that the story starts when Curlilocks goes out to find blueberries for her pancakes. She gets lost and finds a cottage belonging to three pink Pandas... She eats their food, breaks Pumpkin’s comb and snores in their bed. Will she remember her manners? Author Yolanda King weaves a wondrous rendition of Goldilocks and the Three Bears and the vivid color illustrations by Fanny Liem are superb. This is a keeper! A must for every young child's library; and the perfect bedtime story. I have just ordered oodles of copies of Curlilocks and the Three Pink Pandas; they should be in stock by the time this blog is distributed. Happy Reading! 

FREE Nelson Mandela Poster

Get your free Nelson Mandela portrait poster, while supplies last. This new, full-color, 11 x 17 Nelson Mandela portrait poster features a smiling, confident, humble Nelson "Mandiba" Mandela shortly after his historical presidential win. Our Mandela wall poster is printed on heavy-weight photo stock and shipped flat. Arrives with a FREE oversized Africa Coloring Sheet. Checkout Code: nelson

This regal poster should be in every child's bedroom and in every classroom - as a source of inspiration. A larger 18" x 24" Nelson Mandela portrait poster is also available. 

NOTE: Due to anticipated demand, please allow 2-4 weeks for poster. Checkout code: nelson

Caring for Your Black or Biracial Child's Hair In 5 Easy Steps

For most of us, our hair is an expression of ourselves, our personalities, and our culture.  For many of us, however, our choice of hairstyle is shaped by societal “norms,” which are usually influenced by mainstream culture.  These “norms” leave little room for acceptance and appreciation of a beautiful, culturally diverse world.  Because of this, your child of color is in great need of increased affirmation and intentional reminders of her hair’s beauty. Below are five tips on to help you bond with your child through understanding, appreciating and helping her to appreciate her unique hair texture, as well as ways you can boost her self-esteem through hair care.  For newborn and softer curls, we recommend our own Coconut Cream Oil (at 4KidsLikeMe.com). Download a free African American and Biracial Children’s Hairand Skin Care Guide, courtesy of the Pennsylvania Department of Child Welfare.

1. Focus on Cleansing the Scalp When Shampooing Your Child’s Hair

Because curly or tightly coiled hair is easily tangled and very fragile, special care should be taken when shampooing.  When shampooing, seek to cleanse your child’s scalp and clean hair will follow. This way, you avoid knotting the hair.  You should also massage your child’s scalp while shampooing to assist in sebum (oil) production.

2. Comb Hair in Sections (Preferably While Wet)

After shampooing your child’s hair, part the hair in four sections.  Braid each section into one big braid resulting in four braids (braiding the sections while wet will help retain the moisture in your child’s hair making it easier to comb). Next, take one braid out at a time and, using a widely spaced brush with plastic bristles or a wig brush, detangle your child’s hair from end to root (refrain from using a brush,  as detangling can be painful and can cause breakage if not done with care). You may also spray the hair with a mixture of lavender (a natural hair softener) and water to make the detangling process easier.

3. Moisturize Your Child’s Hair

Tightly coiled hair is prone to dryness because the oil (sebum) produced by the scalp does not easily travel down the hair shaft to (due to the hair’s textured pattern).  Therefore, it is very important that the care be taken to moisturize your child’s strands.  Products like Shea Terra Organics Coconut Cream Oil, or other oils which use a variety of natural moisturizers like castor oil, almond oil and shea butter, can be used to help penetrate the hair shaft and moisturize your child’s scalp.

4. Keep It Simple

When styling your child’s hair, a general rule of thumb should be followed – keep it simple.  Elaborate hair styles that include many very small braids and possible tension causing styles should be avoided.  Most children do not have the patience to sit for such elaborate hairstyles. Too much tension is not good for any head of hair.  Suggested styles for children with curly hair are large two-strand twists or pigtails, large cornrows (at least the size of your middle finger) or large single braids.  Lastly, after styling your child’s hair remember …

5. Cover Your Child’s Curly Hair at Night

Use a satin or silk scarf to cover your child’s hair at night to help prevent breakage caused by cotton pillowcases.

Remember when following the above tips that your child's hair is special and unique to her. Taking an active role in her hair care will not only boost her self esteem, but create an everlasting bond between you and your curly-haired child.

Meet Our Expert

Nyema "Nye" Taylor is our expert on hair care for African American and biracial “curly-haired” children. Nye founded HairLift HairCare in a cozy Philadelphia apartment in September 2002. A native New Yorker, Nye has been a hair professional in and around the Philadelphia, Atlanta and New York metro areas for 20 years. She has also styled heads in London. Nye has received extensive training from some of the nation’s top salons, is a graduate of Philadelphia's Berean Institute, and is a past winner of a cosmetology scholarship from the Aveda Institute in Soho.  She has parlayed her training and her love of hair styling into a career creating cutting edge styles for progressive women and entertainers. Nye is also president of HairLift HairCare Products – all natural haircare products for adults and children. Additional information and HairLift products are available at www.hairliftonline.com.  The HairLift HairCare Salon is located in Newark, NJ. For appointments or consultation, call Nye at 862-224-2647.

Melissa Harris-Perry on Biracial Parenting and Racial Literacy (8/11/13)

On Sunday’s episode of Melissa Harris Perry, a panel of mothers joined the show to talk about their experiences with parenting across racial lines. As difficult as it is to raise children in America and to ensure that they have access to what they need to grow into healthy, successful adults, when your child is of a different race, extra challenges cannot be avoided.

As Harris-Perry and Rachel Garlinghouse, a mother of three African-American children, discussed, simply caring for and styling your child’s hair starts out foreign and difficult. And, as Garlinghouse described, strangers feel perfectly at ease walking up to and touching her children out of curiosity.

The full panel, Garlinghouse, Tracy Robinson-Wood, Rachel Noerdlinger, and Shanna Smith, tried to answer the question: How do you adequately support your child to stand up against such inappropriate treatment when you don’t have those experiences? Recognizing your limitations and being open to communication are both essential to developing, and teaching, what Tracy Robinson-Wood, a professor at Northeastern University called “racial literacy.” See full episode here.

Rachel Garlinghouse' new book, Come Rain or Come Shine: A White Parent's Guide to Adopting and Parenting Black Children, a transracial adoption primer for White parents of Black children, is available at 4kidslikeme.com.

Grandma's Girl (Lullaby Lettie) Joins the 4 Kids Like Me Family

Lullaby Lettie, also called Grandma’s Girl is an educational doll that stands 15 inches tall.  She is the perfect doll for any child to have as a best friend.  She is a cushiony, plush doll that makes a great addition to any doll collection. 

Grandma’sGirl has a fabulous Afro puffs hairstyle and her facial features are all carefully embroided.  This talking doll can teach your child so many different things. She is great at quoting all those wonderful things that Grandma says.  In addition, she can teach your child manners, numbers and how to sing songs. 

This talking black doll is perfect for infants to preschool aged children.  All your child needs to do to get Lettie to talk and teach is to press her hands or her feet.  It is that simple. Your child will be entertained for hours. She also makes the best nighttime companion. This beautiful talking African American doll says over 20 different sayings.

The LullabyLettie Grandma’s Girl doll is the perfect learning doll and gift to bring home to your little one.  You will not be disappointed and neither will your little loved one. Check them out today, so you don’t miss out on this great learning tool and new friend for your preschooler. The parent review board at 4 Kids Like Me gave Lullaby Lettie Grandma’s Girl Doll 4 out of 5 stars.

 www.Hypersmash.com