How is this branded as a kids toy store?! Disgusting…read moreproducts inside store, though I did pick up a few. Definitely 'Toy World' if I've ever seen it. They've got some huge 16 inchers though, I'll give them that.

Not just another toy shop for kids. These toys are toys you don't usually see in any other…read moreeducational toy shop. They have those ribbons that you clip onto dummies to keep them from dropping on the floor from Germany. They have little animals on them, what a cool idea! They have toys from around the world, cool little replica cars for your boys... I know my son couldn't put them down. The prices aren't too crazy expensive either. What kids toy shop would stop a wooden puzzle of a Japanese sushi bento box? This one does. If you're looking to buy a gift for a birthday, or a special toy for your children that you wouldn't be able to find anywhere else, this is most likely the store for you. It's not a huge store, but it is jam-packed with crazy ideas for toys as gifts, accessories for kids, cooking sets made of wood, trains, train table sets and all of the above. I found the owners very knowledgeable about toy origins and the purpose for creating specific toys as well. My kids really liked this shop and I would definetly come back if I wanted to get something original to gift to someone for a birthday or for kids when they get older. Not a lot of toys are for newborns or babies, but the range is vast and I'm sure there is something for all mums and dads out there. This is a cool shop.

I love Growing World. I don't even know that many kids but I love Growing World. It's so different…read moreto many other toy shops out there - it reminds me of my own childhood. You will not find a Barbie or a Lego man here. It's all old-school and traditional, which I absolutely adore. They have a fantastic range of Playmobil sets, which I used to love, wooden dolls' houses, dressing up clothes and also wooden Brio train sets which I remember from pre-school. They have a great range of picture books and puppets - among my favourites are the legitimate Fraggle Rock puppets and the storybook puppets. 'There was an old lady who swallowed a fly' features amongst them and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I saw the toy, it was absolutely hilarious! An old lady with a big mouth into which the fly, spider, cow and assorted friends can be stuffed as the rhyme goes on... Makes you reassess what lessons we get taught by nursery rhymes as children...! Husband and wife owners Maria and Peter are absolute toy enthusiasts who travel the world visiting toy fairs and bringing back delights from all corners of the globe. They bring a natural flair and passion to their business, and can also be found at the Eumundi Markets and Eagle St Markets on Sundays. If you're looking for something different for someone small, look no further than Growing World.

I used to hate Lego, I viewed it with utmost suspicion from…read morethe ages of 6+ (Why is it so small? why doesn't the yellow man have any eyebrows? more importantly why is it so painful when trod on?) But with the arrival of a baby brother I fell head over heels for those rascally odd shaped bricks. So you can imagine my delight when I found a fo-real Lego store in Southbank. It's such a shame it's not so well known because they have such a unique and fun store. LegoLand (as I like to call it) is run by Moore Educational and is a great place to take the kiddies, They provide reasonably priced Lego workshops and have a wide array of products for sale. so head on down and be sure to check out the novelty sized Lego ...If you need me I'll be in the brick pit.

I was so excited when the Lego Education Centre opened on Merivale Street four years ago. I was…read morestudying at Queensland College of Art at the time and imagined ducking down in my lunchbreaks to build my dream home. My hopes were dashed when it turned out this really is a legitimate education centre for children and not just a gimmicky retail shop to sell Lego. I distinctly remember the cold look the shop assistant gave me when I asked if I could play with the blocks. Fortunately, I now have a nephew who is almost old enough to take to their first programme. Over the summer holidays, Lego Education centre run workshops for a variety of ages. For four to seven year olds, there's the 'Little Robot' class. Children use Duplo blocks to create their own robot which they can control via remote control. For the older kids, there's 'Go Solar' which teaches kids how to build a Lego house exploring the use of solar power. Book your child for a morning or an afternoon session for $12. It includes morning or afternoon tea and three workshops. It saddens me that I'm deemed too old for this Lego Education Centre. Nevertheless, I'll be the one pressed up against the window, cheering 'Go Lego Go!'

I believe we have a major obsession with merchandise of science fiction, fantasy, anime and gaming…read more We have to be careful however because it seems Zing and Gametraders (a long time favourite too) will be up to each other's throats with epic specially chosen merch. I hope EB can withstand Zing for a long while. They're certainly making their mark, mountains worth of stock, spacious stores and kind helpful staff. They stock a lot from a sponsor named ThinkGeek, a big hit online, based in the US. Make your way here when you have the time or make the time to see some eye-catching products for all Geeks, nerds, family, friends and colleagues alike!

This place has a cracking selection of board games for grown ups. While the inside of the store…read moreisn't massive, they certainly have a wide selection to choose from without products stacked to the ceiling. The store is neat, clean and well organised. One concerning issue, although the store was extremely quiet the staff didn't want to acknowledged my existence. Despite me perusing the store for around 10 minutes. Retail standards: acknowledge the customer with three minutes. What I was taught and still uphold: acknowledge the customer within thirty seconds and assist within three minutes. You can certainly say that the manager and team members do an excellent job maintaining the store, just be ready to be treated like a ghost.

Puzzles and chess sets and gadgets and oh yes, every type of fiddly, logic-driven toy you could…read moreever imagine. These gadgets, gizmos, and games all call Mind Games home. If you love a little bit of intellectual stimulation, then Mind Games is somewhere you should definitely drop in. There are jigsaws, card games, board games, plus I'm pretty sure I saw a more sophisticated version of a coathanger game my great grandfather used to make for me. There are literally thousands of games in store to choose from whether you love spending your time piecing together a picture of the Eiffel Tower or you settle scores through a heated chess match. My Mum is an avid lover of jigsaw puzzles and this place is a perfect stop for her with every type of design from fuzzy kittens to cottages and scenic landmarks. The choice is endless and you can spend hours looking for an intellectual challenge here. This place is great for knick-knacks of the unique kind. It reminds me of a independent version of Australian Geographic and provides wonders for the eyes and for the mind. Really excellent if you want to give a gift with a smarter twist.

Presents of Mind is one of those little places that delights kids, puzzle-loving adults, and random…read morefact lovers like myself. There are plenty of board games and chess sets and puzzles for every person, and of course I darted over to the book section straight away. If you love random things like me, you'll love this place. One of the first books I saw was A Guide for Hypochondriacs, followed by informative books like 30-second Religion, 30-second Economics, 30-second Philosophy; you get the point. I went with a Pocket History book enlightening people about course-changing moments in history. But there's also a choice of scandals throughout history, bad girls throughout history, and more. For someone thirsty for irrelevant but stimulating knowledge, this is a great place. And the thing that I love about places like this is that they seem to have singular things and books that you just can't find anywhere else. That and a really lovely team of people willing to help you out. I'm a fan. Don't let its simple facade fool you; it's great for brain-power presents and a little bit of fun.

I love a shop name that's based on a pun, so I couldn't resist popping inside for a peek. Although,…read moreadmittedly, I was expecting it to be faux intellectual, a tad dull and mainly for "games geeks". But it was quirkier and more fun than I expected. Think traditional games like Uno and jigsaw puzzles; a noughties update of a Rubik's cube (you touch and swipe instead of twist and turn); to an AppCopter (that you control via an App on your iPhone). I really wanted to buy the solar powered Fairy Light for my little niece and invest in a book called "30 Second Psychology" (50 theories explained in half a minute). Which proves my own psychological theory about myself - I will find something I want to buy almost anywhere.