Go PLAY at Shananigans

On a great tip from a friend, Lila and I headed to Shananigans Toy Shop at Wyndhurst Station yesterday. We had heard they had a fabulous train table - - and the rumors were true. Lila loved running the Brio trains up and down the tracks, lost in waves of brightly colored toys towering around her.

It is floor to ceiling toys, toys, toys.

And the staff couldn't be friendlier.

With Lila's first birthday just around the corner, I asked which toy was their best seller for the 12-month crowd. Both sales associates agreed that the iPlay Funtime Tractor was their favorite for new toddlers. It teaches animal sound associations, helps with dexterity, and is easily toted. They couldn't even find one on the shelf (they're that popular) and had to run back into the stock room and retrieve it.

According to the associate we worked with, their best selling toy brand for the under-5 crowd is Playmobil. One entire wall of the store is a matrix of carefully stacked figures and miniature play worlds. Personally, I love this toy because it inspires creativity. The menagerie of pieces provided by Playmobil need only your child's imagination to weave together their story. Need a piece they don't have on stock? They're happy to order it for you. Fav Playmobil series of the Shananigan's crew? The Nautical Expedition and the truly creative Wedding Line. We were told that not only is this line time-tested, parent-approved (they've been around since 1876), the company is constantly coming up with fun and imaginative products.

Remember the floor to ceiling toys, toys, toys? It's best to leave your stroller in the courtyard. I did see a parent of two tikes get a double stroller through the door (with staff assistance), but I'm not quite sure where she was able to maneuver it once through the door... And although is 100% kid-friendly, it might be best to keep one hand on your child because there is just SO MUCH to look at and see. (Especially if your inquisitive tike has innocent kleptomaniac habits like mine right now...)

The store frequently holds in-store events (in fact, there was a recent Play Mobil Fun Day and trunk show with Playmobil!). You can find out about them on their website. They're open 10 AM - 6 PM, Monday through Saturday. And they're open late ('til 8!) on Thursdays. Be sure to friend them on Facebook, too!

Thanks for a fun visit, Shananigan's! We'll be back soon! (And we'll also let you know how the iPlay Funtime Tractor fares on the Lila scale... we're sure it will be a huge hit!)

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