Saturday, August 25, 2007 Learning Toy Store By Janette Huang Teves Mom-about-town
SEARCHING for toys that can stimulate and at the same time entertain a child can be a challenging task. With the plethora of choices available in stores, parents sometimes get influenced with trends and end up buying the more popular and in-demand toys. Never mind if it does not have any educational value or is not age-appropriate.
This is one of the reasons why Architect Patrick and wife Mary Allyn "Lyn" (nee Buyco) Tan decided to open "The Oak & Acorn Learning Toy Shop" recently in the city.
Both are graduates of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila and have an adorable three and a half-year old son, Alec Sebastian. They are expecting their second baby soon.
"We came up with the idea of the store because we realized how many parents, like us, had to wait for opportunities to buy the educational toys their children needed but are only available outside Davao," reveals the full-time mom.
Lyn likewise hopes to share with more parents the importance of buying developmentally appropriate toys for their children, including even the babies.
"For our children, playing is exciting work. It is learning. Doctors have said that 'Playing is serious work for kids'. That's why toys are so essential, because good ones become the tools by which they learn and develop, especially during the formative years of 0-6 years", emphasizes Lyn who is also a registered pharmacist and Childbirth Educator.
She adds that toys help children discover and manipulate as well as develop problem-solving skills, early math skills and so much more. From this perspective, the choice and purchase of toys becomes an investment in their growth.
Learning toy store
The Oak & Acorn Learning Toy Shop is Davao's first and only educational toy store. Its atmosphere is family-friendly, warm and inviting. The store's homey interior is a labor of love by the creative duo, Patrick and Lyn. The latter took up Interior Design as a second course at the Philippine School of Interior Design.
Aside from learning toys, including those for children with special needs, the shop also carries mommy and baby basics like Baby Couture diaper bags; the Medela line of breast pumps; Baby Einstein CDs and books as well as Maxibear infant wear; Goldbug Baby Accessories; and Crocs Footwear. The couple is the exclusive distributor of this famous and durable footwear for Davao City and Southern Mindanao.
A gift registry is available for birthdays, baptisms, and showers. Gift cards may be purchased for perfect gift-giving.
Product criteria
"With the products, we're very particular, and we have set a criterion by which we gauge the brands before displaying them in The Oak & Acorn. These are as follows: a. award-winning, b. quality/safety and c. heart", divulges the 32-year old businesswoman.
Collectively, the brands the store carries have garnered over a hundred awards worldwide, including the prestigious Oppenheim Portfolio Platinum Awards and Dr. Toy Awards. They have been considered the best in their categories for years.
These top brands include Thomas and Friends, Bob the Builder, Sea Monkeys, Lego, Zoob, Plantoys, KidsII, Baby Einstein, 4Magination, Klutz, PlanToys, Learning Resources and North American Bear.
According to Lyn, quality is very crucial because one can find plenty of toys in the market that may have not undergone the recommended quality/safety tests at all before being sold. She assures that the companies whose products they sell routinely perform these self-tests, and, if necessary, perform voluntary recalls of their products immediately.
In addition, it is imperative for Lyn to know that the companies of the brands they carry are involved in causes that aid the community, especially the children. Examples are Medela of Switzerland that has been at the forefront of research on breastfeeding technology and has come up with products to assist infants with physical problems to be able to breastfeed.
On the other hand, Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc. provides livelihood for persons with physical disabilities.
Parents' support group
The Oak & Acorn Learning Toy Shop is also envisioned to be a resource place for families. The store will be providing a Parents' Directory/Activities Board to enable moms and dads to get in touch with groups such as the Autism Society of the Philippines and the Red Cross.
Moreover, Lyn aims to continuously provide an updated list of useful information such as the city's breastfeeding-friendly places, party organizers, art and cooking classes, pediatric dentists, therapists, among others. In line with their advocacy to promote awareness on the value of play for kids, a toy guide will also be posted.
Free breastfeeding classes will likewise be offered.
"Breastfeeding is something that's very close to my heart, and it has been my advocacy for the past 4 years", shares Lyn who was able to successfully breastfeed her eldest son for almost 3 years. Lyn actively speaks in behalf of breastfeeding and childbirth education in conferences, hospital events, on the radio, and during annual events such as "Buntis Days."
Several years ago, together with good friends and fellow moms, Alex Morris-Hao and Mimi Barretto-Ong, they formed MOMMYSENSE, a breastfeeding support group.
"I really hope we can once again actively meet. Due to our very busy mommy schedules, our meetings became quite difficult to coordinate. Mommysense sought to provide moral support and information to parents not only about breastfeeding but also about other issues that concern us parents", says the pregnant mom.
Oak and Acorn
"The oak tree is considered one of the mightiest trees of the forest, while its seed, the acorn, seems quite so small for such a mighty tree. The acorn has long been a symbol as a tiny seed of great possibilities. For us, the oak and acorn represent the parents/family, which provide the strength, the stability, the anchor, and haven and our children, our future, for whom, given the right nurturing and love, the possibilities are endless", explains Lyn.
She applies this same philosophy when selecting kids' toys.
"From birth, toys are what children learn from. Hence, it is in playing with these carefully chosen toys that kids can also inculcate the values parents wish to impart to them," Lyn adds.
For hands-on parents like Patrick and Lyn, choosing the right toy is a serious business.
The Oak & Acorn Learning Toy Shop is located at Door No. 5, Residencia del Marina, Jacinto Street, Davao City. Telephone number: 3006624.
(For your comments and suggestions, you may e-mail me at mom-about-town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit http://www.mom-about-town.blogspot.com)
