child playtime – That Madras Mom

December 4, 2025

Kid-Friendly Christmas Activities That Adults Will Love Too

The holiday season is all about togetherness, joy, and creating memories that last a lifetime. While Christmas often centers around children’s excitement, the best activities are those that bring the whole family together.

Here are some kid-friendly Christmas activities that adults will enjoy just as much:

🎨 Creative Crafts & DIY Fun

Ornament Making: Kids can decorate baubles with glitter, paint, or stickers, while adults can try more intricate designs like wood-burning or hand-painted ornaments.

DIY Christmas Cards: A fun way to let kids unleash their creativity with crayons and stickers, while adults can experiment with calligraphy or watercolor designs.

Gingerbread House Decorating: Children love piling on candy, while adults can challenge themselves with architectural designs or themed houses.

🍪 Holiday Baking Together

Cookie Decorating Party: Kids can go wild with sprinkles and icing, while adults can try gourmet recipes like spiced shortbread or peppermint bark.

Family Bake-Off: Turn baking into a friendly competition—kids vs. adults, or teams mixing generations.

🎶 Music, Movies & Storytime

Christmas Karaoke: Kids belt out “Jingle Bells,” while adults can join in with classics or even host a carol contest.

Holiday Movie Marathon: From Home Alone for the kids to It’s a Wonderful Life for adults, everyone gets their favorite.

Storytelling Night: Children can read picture books, while adults share nostalgic holiday stories or even write short festive tales together.

🎁 Acts of Kindness & Giving

Toy Donation Drive: Kids learn the joy of giving by donating old toys, while adults can contribute clothes or food.

Family Volunteering: Visit a local shelter or community kitchen—kids can help with simple tasks, and adults can take on more responsibility.

🌟 Outdoor & Active Fun

Christmas Light Walk: Bundle up and stroll through neighborhoods to admire decorations. Kids love the magic, adults enjoy the nostalgia.

Snow Play (or Substitutes): If you’re in a snowy region, build snowmen or have a snowball fight. In warmer climates, swap with sandcastles or festive chalk art.

Family Game Night: Board games, charades, or Christmas trivia—kids laugh at silly rounds, adults enjoy the strategy.

🎄 Festive Traditions to Start

Advent Calendar Activities: Instead of just chocolates, fill each day with small family tasks—like baking, crafting, or storytelling.

Christmas Eve Box: A shared box with pajamas, hot cocoa, and a movie for both kids and adults.

Memory Jar: Each family member writes down their favorite holiday moment, to be read together on New Year’s Eve.

Final Thoughts

Christmas magic isn’t just for kids, it’s for everyone. The best activities are those that spark joy across generations, blending playfulness with meaningful traditions. Whether it’s baking cookies, crafting ornaments, or volunteering together, these moments create bonds that last far beyond the holiday season.

This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.

December 18, 2024December 18, 2024

Discover the World of Fun with Snooplay: Your Ultimate Online Toy Shop

If you are on the lookout for the perfect toy or a game for your kid or even something for yourself? Then you should look no further than India’s largest online toy shop, Snooplay. It’s a one stop shop for all your needs that screams fun and excitement. They cater to a large selection of toys, games and collectibles for all ages. You name it, they have it.

What Makes Snooplay Special?

Wide Range of Products

Snooplay offers a wide-ranging collection of toys and games, from toy cars and trains to puzzles and board games. Whether you’re shopping for infants, toddlers, or older kids, there’s something for everyone. They even have a special section for grown-ups, featuring unique games and collectibles.

Age-Specific Curation

One of the outstanding features of Snooplay is their curated sections based on age groups. Whether it’s for a newborn, a preschooler, or a teenager, you’ll find toys and games that are age-appropriate and designed to aid in development and learning.

Educational and Developmental Toys

Snooplay believes in the power of play to help children learn and grow. Their collection includes educational toys that encourage language development, sensory exploration, and critical thinking skills. From building blocks and construction sets to art and craft kits, there’s something to stimulate every child’s imagination. I was totally in awe, looking at the collection not knowing what to pick and what to leave out.

Licensed and Authentic Products

All products on Snooplay are 100% original, licensed, and authentic. You can trust that the toys and games you purchase are of high quality and meet safety standards. This ensures that your child can play safely and enjoy their toys for years to come. Complying to safety standards is yet another good responsibility from the brand.

Customer Support and Satisfaction

Snooplay prides itself on excellent customer service. Their support team is excellent and ready to assist with suggestions, order inquiries, and any other questions you might have. Many customers have praised the helpfulness and responsiveness of the Snooplay team, making their shopping experience smooth and enjoyable. My experience of ordering and then getting it delivered was no less than exceeding expectations. I was informed when it was packed, shipped and out for delivery.

Why Choose Snooplay?

Variety and Quality

With a wide range of products and a commitment to quality, Snooplay ensures that you’ll find the perfect toy or game for any occasion. Whether it’s a birthday gift, a holiday present, or just a fun addition to your child’s toy collection, Snooplay has you covered.

Convenience

Shopping online with Snooplay is convenient and hassle-free. You can browse their wide-ranging catalog from the comfort of your home, compare products, read reviews, and make purchases with just a few clicks. Plus, they offer free delivery on many items, making it even easier to get the toys you love. I even gifted myself some stuff as my year-end reward when I ordered stuff for my kids.

Special Offers and Discounts

Snooplay frequently offers sales and discounts on their products, so you can enjoy great deals on your favorite toys and games. Keep an eye out for promotions and special offers to make your shopping experience even more rewarding.

I got their low-floor bus for my son who loves to collect vehicle models. The design was classy and sturdy. My daughter who loves mythology was surprised when I got her the bobblehead Krishna and Laxmi which happened to be cute and divine. And for me since I joined fitness classes, I bought myself a pair of dumbbells for strength training.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a parent looking for the perfect toy for your child, a collector searching for unique items, or someone who simply loves fun and games, Snooplay has something for everyone. With their wide selection, age-specific curation, and commitment to quality, Snooplay is your ultimate online toy shop. Explore their catalog today and discover the joy of play with Snooplay!

December 5, 2024December 5, 2024

Discover the World of Skillmatics: Engaging Games and Educational Toys for Kids

With a mission to make learning fun and engaging for children of all ages, the brand Skillmatics has been making waves in the educational toys and games sector. Skillmatics offers something for every young mind, with a wide range of products that are designed to stimulate creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Why Should You Choose Skillmatics?

With the developmental needs of children in mind, Skillmatics designs toys and games that focus on key areas such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), arts and crafts, and early learning.

Here are some reasons why Skillmatics stands out:

Educational Value: Whether it is learning new concepts, enhancing fine motor skills, or encouraging imaginative play every product is crafted with care to provide educational benefits.

Quality Materials: Skillmatics toys are made from high-quality, durable materials that ensure longevity and safety.

Variety of Options: Skillmatics has a wide range of options to choose from interactive flashcards to craft kits and pretend play sets which cater to different age groups and interests.

Fun and Engaging: The products are designed to be fun and engaging, making learning an enjoyable experience for children.

Popular Skillmatics Products

Magnetopia – Design Your City: This interactive pretend play set allows kids to create their own dream city using over 60 magnetic pieces. It’s perfect for children aged 3-7 and encourages creativity and spatial awareness. A good choice for your budding architect.

Science Snippets Kits: These kits come with colorful, double-sided cards that answer questions about various topics like the human body, space, and animals. They’re great for hands-on STEM learning for kids aged 7 and up. A good choice for your budding scientist.

Snip Snip! Art & Craft Activity Kit: This kit helps children practice scissor skills with 25 fun and creative activities. It’s ideal for kids aged 3-7 and provides a mess-free art experience. If your child is an art-lover then this kit is a must-have.

I Can Write – Disney Junior Mickey Mouse: These reusable activity mats offer 12 repeatable writing activities that advance in difficulty. They’re perfect for children aged 3-6 and make learning to write fun and engaging. This is a good choice for any preschooler.

Peek-A-Boo: Jungle Theme Cloth Book: This soft interactive cloth book features colorful jungle animals hidden behind flaps, perfect for infants aged 6 months and up. It helps develop visual and motor skills. This makes an excellent gift to new moms.

What did I buy?

Guess in 10 Junior: World of Animals
Guess in 10: Inspiring professions
Guess in 10: All around the town
Jungle Party: card game of Strategy and luck
Found it home edition: Smart scavenger hunt
Train of thoughts: Conversation starters
I bought this keeping in mind the age of my kids 7 and 4. It’s a mix of games that would make them think and learn.

Conclusion

Skillmatics offers a fantastic range of educational toys and games that make learning enjoyable and effective. Whether you’re looking for something to enhance your child’s STEM skills, fine motor skills, or creativity, Skillmatics has you covered. Check out their collection and give your child the gift of fun and learning!

This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla
and supported by Ivorystation, a new-age luxury website.

October 17, 2024October 21, 2024

The Magic of Shumee Toys: Where Play Meets Purpose

Flashing lights and screens are what the current world is filled with, but that is where Shumee toys stand out, bringing out the beauty of simple, open-ended play. Letting kids be kids is their essential philosophy which is so refreshing. Let’s dive in to see what makes Shumee toys so special.

Rooted in Sustainability

Shumee toys are safe for children as they are crafted from materials like wood and painted with non-toxic and lead-free paints that are not only sustainable practices but are also kind to our planet. This is proof of their commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly practices. This is the dedication from the brand towards sustainability which ensure that every product from Shumee toys is a step towards a greener future.

Encouraging Imagination

We live in an era, where many toys do the playing for you, where the child is left to be only a spectator. But here is where Shumee Toys brings a revolution where they invite the child to take the lead. Designed to spark creativity and imagination, they have a wide range of toys, which would enable kids to build, role-play, and find endless ways to explore their world. Be it building blocks, pretend play sets, or stacking rings Shumee toys enable children with tools to create their adventures.

Quality and Safety

Every product from Shumee Toys undergoes rigorous testing to meet international safety standards. Since safety is a paramount concern for parents when kids play with toys, Shumee understands the concern and has employed testing procedures which will make the Parents rest easy knowing that every toy here is designed keeping in mind, the child’s well-being.

Fostering Development

The toys enhance motor skills, cognitive abilities, and social interactions which are designed to support the child’s development in various stages. So Shumee Toys are not just fun but educational too. A perfect blend for early childhood growth because children learn while having fun with Shumee Toys.

Celebrating Indian Craftsmanship
From Shumee Toys, each toy reflects the rich tradition of Indian Craftsmanship as they blend modern designs with traditional techniques. In this way, Shumee takes pride in its Indian roots. With this way of approach, Shumee Toys not only supports local artisans but also introduces children to the cultural heritage of India through play.

I purchased a couple of memory card sets, and a bowling set miniature. These games enhance the memory power and also enable expansion of cognitive thinking. The quality was good and worth investing in.

Toys are tools for learning, imagination, and sustainable living, so with Shumee toys are more than just things to play with. Shumee stands as a beacon of design and purpose with thoughtfulness to the parents who seek out meaningful and high-quality toys for their kids. If you are on the lookout for toys which go beyond the ordinary, remember Shumee- where play meets purpose.

Some of the new launches of Shumee toys are below.