Forever gifts to spread the love
EVERYONE loves a gift, but there’s nothing more annoying than the noisy battery-operated ones favoured by toddlers.
Add moody teenagers to the mix and finding something special for everyone in your life turns festive into frustrating.
“We recognise that the holiday season is about bringing the family together and this has been one of the key focuses as we source our ranges,” said Catherine Jacoby, the marketing manager for Toys R Us.
She said parents were keen to buy toys that gave their children memories outside the digital world and that kids of all ages were most interested in quieter and comforting toys or stress-relieving toys that transcend age, such as Lego, doll houses and role-playing games.
Nostalgia appears to be at an all-time high – think Pokémon – and Toys R Us says it’s useful to take a look at relaunches, revamps, and twists on toys from the past.
“Moments in pop culture are shaping the trends, whether it’s Barbiemania, Disney’s 100th anniversary, the return of the ’90s with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers and Sonic the Hedgehog. Pop culture is translating to toys in a very engaging way,” said Jacoby.
Then there is kidulting, young adults trying to reconnect with their youth through toys from the past via collectible figurines, trading cards or blind bags from top brands like Pokémon, Mini Brands, Mini Verse and L.O.L Surprise.
“Kidulting is huge and keeps growing It’s for this reason we have the Toys R Us Fanvault and a lot of what is on the shelves this year are meant for parents and kids to enjoy together,” says Jacoby.
This year, Toys R Us have partnered with Reach for a Dream and the Disney Charity Tree, and customers are encouraged to add an extra R5 to their bill which will go towards making wishes come true.
If you’re in the market for a gift that lasts beyond the festive season, jewellery is the answer, says Nihal Shah, the multi-award winning jewellery designer and manufacturer from Vijay Shah Concepts.
He says it’s the only investment that you can wear and enjoy while it grows in value.
If it’s beads and healing crystals you’re after, then Black Betty (jewellers) and the Kolisi Foundation have a unique project to empower victims of gender-based violence. All their bracelets are made by GBV survivors and the proceeds help them earn a salary.
For those looking for gifts that keep on giving, the Centre for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife’s (Crow) yearly calendar is a beautiful addition to your desk.
Crow assists more than 3 000 orphaned, injured and displaced animals every year and its calendars make it possible to provide this service. The 2024 theme, “Dusk to Dawn”, covers the wildlife of Zimanga Private Game Reserve, a sanctuary for 80 mammal species and 400 bird varieties, and honours the remarkable experiences Zimanga offers to both nature enthusiasts and passionate photographers.