My working career started in merchandising, first for a well known ladies fashion company Alexon then at Berketex Bridal Wear. Following the closure of Berketex in Milton Keynes I set up my own clothing business manufacturing children’s leisurewear selling through party-plan visits at customer’s homes. This is when my ability to research and source materials and products really blossomed into a love affair – and this was before the Internet boom and the ability to Google!

 

Now settled in Berkshire with my husband Graeme and two children Liam and Natasha, who are now in secondary school, I have spent many hours at home with my children thinking about new ideas that would maintain my interests and prove to be flexible so that I can provide for my family whilst being there for them when needed. 

 

 

Through play children develop social and thinking skills are able to mature emotionally and gain the self-confidence to try new experiences and environments. Children learn a set of skills such as social skills, creativity, hand-to-eye coordination, problem solving, and imagination. But, learning through play is not a new theory; it has been the research of psychologists for over 100 years.

 

Karl Groos, zoologist, born in 1861. He studied play first in animals, then in humans. He explained that play was a way of preparing for survival in the adult world. Maria Montessori, born in 1870, elaborated on this theory. She proposed that children would be better off if they spent their play learning, or imagining, useful things. These two theorists feel that play is the child's work.

 

I do not claim to be a psychologist, but as a Mum of two children I have used many toys and games as fun educational aids to stimulate learning as they have progressed through Primary School and onto Secondary education. We are now in the age of computer, console and Internet games that children use more to kill time rather than providing a platform for developing positive social behaviour or encouraging discovery and creativity. The games and toys that I purchased not so long ago are becoming more difficult to find with many local toy shops closing and traditional games and puzzles giving way to the computerised age of play. While researching and buying these products as gifts for my nephews and nieces, I came up with the idea of sharing my finds with others. It was then that Pilola was born.

 

At Pilola we pride ourselves in providing customers with the very best educational toys for children from 2-10 years at great prices. Our toys don't just enhance children's learning skills they will keep the whole family interested and entertained.