The Many Ways You Can Use Shelcore Stacking Cups

Not to be confused with the bulky, musical version, Shelcore Stacking Cups are a set of 8 multi-colored cups. My daughter had this since she was 1 year old and it's one of her most-used and most versatile toy. Here are the many ways you can use the cups, which are sold at less than P300 at the local toy stores (if you buy it separately from the blocks, that is):

 (1) Have your baby stack them into a tower - they need to be stacked in the proper order, from largest to smallest, in order to successfully build a tower. Great for building hand-eye coordination and as a logic puzzle for babies.

(2) The reverse of (1), have your baby fit all the cups inside each other. Again, the proper order is required - from largest to smallest - to get all the cups to fit.

(3) Toss it in the bath and use it as spill cups. The different types of holes at the bottom (used to portray a variety sea creatures) creates various "waterfalls". This kept our baby occupied in the bathtub as she'd scoop up the water, raise the cup, and watch the water drain away.

(4) This is one more for bath time that is sure to delight your baby - stick a plastic ball on top (the really light, multi-colored ones used to fill up those kiddie tents, pools, etc.) and dunk it in the water. The water will go through the holes at the bottom and cause the ball to fly up in the air with a slight popping sound.

(5) Use the cups to teach your baby about the different colors. It also helped my toddler learn to differentiate between light and dark colors.

(6) Bring it to the beach - great for molding sand!

Shops in Makati with Play Areas

More and more shops in Makati are setting up designated play areas for kids! This adds greatly to the shopping convenience of mommies and daddies who would like the freedom to browse without having to worry about keeping their kids sufficiently entertained. Here's a list of stores that have set up play areas:

(1) Toys R Us, Greenbelt 5 - Little Tykes swing and slide set, cars/scooters, and writing board set up in a corner next to White Hat. Parents can sit and eat (or shop!) while the kids play. THIS IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

(2) Hobbes, Greenbelt 5 - long table with chairs at the back of the shop serves as a puzzle area. Kids can play with a large version of the Rush Hour Traffic Jam game, put together something with the Zoob! building set, or - if you're willing to shell out some cash - paint ceramics.

(3) Powerbooks, Greenbelt 2 (walkway) - this bookstore has recently added a small toy section next to the children's books area in the 2nd floor. There is a large Thomas the Tank Engine set on display, which kids can tinker around with.

(4) Rustan's Ayala - the children's section has a semi-enclosed play area with chairs, tables, blocks, and toys. There is also almost always playground sets on display somewhere within the floor, which kids are free to try out.

(5) Toy Kingdom, SM - nearly every section in this huge toy store has toys kids can play with. I just let my daughter run loose and try everything from the Little Tykes sets to the kiddie laptops to the kitchen playsets...and so on :)

(6) Build City, Greenbelt 5 - at the back of the shop, there is a long table where kids can play with LEGO blocks.

ZipBins? - Genius!

I adore the ZipBin product line - bags that double as playsets! Convenient to haul around and keeps my toddler entertained for hours when we travel. It's especially great for those long waits at the restaurant. Her godmother got her the dollhouse playpack last Christmas. It's doubles as a castle and comes with a little princess doll. My daughter chucked out the doll and stuffed it with her fave Disney miniatures of Mickey Mouse and Pooh Bear. Since the bag is lightweight, she can carry it around herself. The interior of the bag is spacious - thus far, we've had it fit all the Mickey Mouse and Pooh Bear characters, a couple of toy cars, and some small books.

ZipBin products are available locally at Toy Kingdom and Rustans Department Stores.