EDUCATIONAL TOYS:A new Irish company has more than 500 toys in stock, and a paediatric occupational therapist to give advice, writes CATHERINE CLEARY
IF YOU’VE EVER longed for an expert to hold your hand when facing a towering wall of toys then a new Irish website might be for you.
Big Elf Toys has had 1,000 visits since it opened its virtual doors last month, selling everything under the learning toy umbrella from fridge magnet clock games, to jigsaws and wooden lollipop sets to help language and social skills. The toys are for all children, but especially useful for children with autism, dyspraxia or Asperger’s syndrome.
With more than 500 toys grouped into activities such as manual dexterity, hand-eye co-ordination, creativity and imagination, the idea is to guide you through the shop with a toy expert holding your hand. There’s a refreshing absence of branded television characters and the icky pink and blue worlds that dominate the superstore aisles.
Instead, the toy expert here is a senior paediatric occupational therapist who goes under the name Andy the Elf. Parents, grandparents and anyone buying for a child aged eight or under can get Andy’s help in choosing the best toy for the job.
Managing director Sara Moore says the company was set up with funding from a private healthcare company to give jobs to adults with high-functioning autism. The company currently employs three autistic adults.
“Andy the Elf does a monthly blog and a parent can get on the website and look for feedback or advice on activities to suit their child. We wanted to offer a little bit more than your average toy-shop online. The idea is that they can get advice from an occupational therapist about their child’s needs.”
Moore came from a PR and marketing background but also worked as a social-care worker. “We’re a unique company employing individuals with autism and we’re Irish owned. The hope is that the jobs will provide a stepping stone of six to eight months’ work experience for adults with autism and provide a transition into their first job.”
Big Elf Toys is also keen to get feedback from people who have bought toys to find out what works for their children.
The site is full of appealing wooden toys, jigsaws and stocking fillers. A few that caught the eye were a Little Baker’s Set of cookie cutters, rolling pin and tins (€18.99), a Penguin Clock Face Game (€5.99) that attaches magnetically to the fridge and comes with a separate game, a set of bean bags (€19.99) for teaching a child about colours with the name and colour printed on each one, a wooden lollipop set (€15.99) straight out of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang along with the great Orchard Toys games and jigsaws from €11.99.
The website has had a lot of interest from teachers and pre-schools and crèches, according to Moore. “If things continue to grow we’ll be able to expand and employ more people.”
The website has Monday (December 20th) as a cut-off date for Christmas orders. In a nice touch, the toys will come ready wrapped, a service that is included in delivery costs, which range from €5.50 to €10.50 depending on the size of the order. There’s free delivery offer on orders over €60.
bigelftoys.ie, tel: 01-4198777
