National Stationery Week: Back to school supplies

National Stationery Week: Back to school supplies

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We all remember our stationery from school: the smelly gel pens, the rattly tin pencil cases, the novelty rubbers and bendy rulers, notebooks covered with wrapping paper and novelty pencil toppers. Stationery may be a source of nostalgia for some, but for young children, bright and engaging stationery is actually of great importance. Just as a child chooses their favourite toys and sets, they’re more likely to engage with something if it’s in their favourite colour or personalised for them….

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Geography Resources & Useful Websites

Geography Resources & Useful Websites

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Drum roll please…… our World Map Jigsaw – one of our range of education toys has been singled out for being a great Geography resource by Tutorful in their latest blog! After a tough selection process and after whittling down from hundreds of recommended resources, our jigsaw has been chosen to feature in Tutorful’s editorial – Geography Learners: Useful Websites and Resources That Will Rock Your World! Their article recommends some incredible geographical websites, apps and resources to bring our…

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Mulberry Bush Parental Control Campaign

Mulberry Bush Parental Control Campaign

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In a digital world, online child safety is more important than ever. The rise in technology has seen a new generation of children grow up staring at tech toys, and gadgets – not to mention looking at smartphones from a young age. While these children may have more knowledge of technology than previous generations, they are still vulnerable to online dangers and should be monitored. Here at Mulberry Bush, we prioritise online safety for children. Our toys and games are…

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Turn off the TV and get outside!

Turn off the TV and get outside!

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A news article in The Times shows a worrying trend that children under 12 spend less than 2 hours a day outside – even in summer – and cannot recognise conkers or insects! Many children prefer to stay inside watching TV and playing computer games which does not bode well for a healthy lifestyle or future development. Our advice? Switch off the TV and computers and take them out to play in the fresh air in the garden or park….

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Bloggers wanted

Bloggers wanted

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Having recently taken over the Letterbox brand we are looking at all of our promotional activities to further raise our profile and spread the news about our thriving company. We are a British independent family run company and our guiding principle is to select the type of toy and gift that parents remember with fondness from their own childhood or that Grandparents will want to buy for their grandchildren. You can read more about us here. We currently do everything…

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Are your toys made in Britain?

Are your toys made in Britain?

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Some months ago we saw a couple from Kent, the Bradshaws, interviewed on TV as they had determined to buy only British made products.  We were reminded of the “I’m Backing Britain” campaign of the late 1960s (which shows our age) and wished them luck with their quest. We sent them a message to this effect but did warn them that finding British made toys might prove difficult.  Our only suppliers that produce everything in the UK are Orchard Toys,…

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Letterbox joins Mulberry Bush

Letterbox joins Mulberry Bush

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We are delighted to announce that we have acquired the Letterbox brand and website www.letterbox.co.uk from the Tobar Group, with effect from 31st October 2013, and will be incorporating Letterbox into Mulberry Bush.  Letterbox was founded 25 years ago in Cornwall and offered a range of traditional toys and childrens’ toys and gifts very similar to our own, with a specialisation in personalised children’s gifts. Mulberry Bush already includes many of the Letterbox favourites in our own range and, whilst…

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Can your child swim a length?

Can your child swim a length?

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Interesting news today from the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) warning, according to the BBC, that more children may drown if they are don’t have the recommended annual number of hours of swimming lessons at school. This is the sort of news that Breakfast TV like to report on, showing children – who must have got up at an unearthly hour to have their moment on TV – practising swimming, jumping in and diving. In the report they did make the very…

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Toys Made in Britain?

Toys Made in Britain?

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The BBC Breakfast programme is featuring a family who are trying to buy only British made goods.  How good to see that idea back I thought as I watched, reminded of the We’re Backing Britain campaign of the late 60s. Then I choked on my cornflakes when I reflected that, if they were looking to buy toys for the couple’s young children they might be hard-pressed, remembering what we sell ourselves that is made in the UK which, I’m sorry to…

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Childhood ends at 12 ?

Childhood ends at 12 ?

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As reported in the press, a recent Mumsnet survey has emphasized the belief amongst parents that children are growing up faster – or getting older younger as it’s sometimes described – something the toy industry has recognised for years.  It seems this latest survey suggests that the majority of parents believe childhood is over by the age of 12. That’s a sad state of affairs in anyone’s book but, given that at the same time we’re all expected to live…

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