The Mixed-Age Activity Box is designed for daycare providers with a group of children from 18 months to 5 years old (including infants). Therefore, in a home daycare setting, younger children can easily do a large portion of the activities, following the older children’s lead.
The Tot Box is designed for providers with a group consisting mostly of younger children (between 18 months and 3 years old). This happens often when a few older children enter Pre-K or Kindergarten at the same time and the new group is made up mostly of toddlers… to enjoy! You can use the Tot Box for a certain amount of time (maybe 3-6 months until the children grow-up a bit) and then continue with the Mixed-Age Activity Box. The Tot Box themes are much simpler and offers a schedule of 15 days per month.
Here is a comparative table showing the main differences between the Mixed-Age Activity Box and the Tot Box:
| Mixed-Age Boxes | Tot Boxes |
|---|---|
| Two or three themes per month | One theme per month |
| 20 days of activities: 3 or 4 simple activities are offered every day | 15 days of activities: a light schedule leaving lots of time for free play and routine activities |
| Each day usually starts with Circle Time presenting the topic of the day, then a group activity to move around and have fun, as well as a few Learning Centres to choose from | Each day, there are simple activities that cater to the toddlers’ needs to move, touch, explore and speak |
| An illustrated story | An illustrated story presented on 8 panels, starring a family with 3 children: Clementine, 3 years old, Zoom, 2 years old, and baby Jujube, 1 year old. |
| “Look and Find” poster | “Look & Learn” poster |
| Two colour games | Three colourful games : a board game, a manipulative game and a “Tot Talk” memory card game (also used to learn new words) |
| Suggestions to adapt the Group Activities and the Learning Centres to different age groups (to enrich them for older children and simplify them for tots) | Some suggestions to enrich the activities for older children |
| A few infant activities are proposed | |
| A stick puppet incorporated in the month’s activities | |
| Letters, number, shape and colour of the month | A “Colour Splash!” game presenting a new colour each month |
| A Discovery Workbook for each child linked with one of the themes (including 4 preschool activity sheets, thematic worksheets and colouring pages) as well as 4 activity sheets linked to the other theme; sheets for the number, letters and shape of the month | 3 Little Hands Worksheets |
| Interactive online games linked with the month’s themes | Interactive online games |
In the “Hipporay Club” section:
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In the “Hipporay Club” section:
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Of course, it would be our pleasure to advise you! Simply let us know the ages of the children in your group as well as your requirements. You can send us an email at information@hipporay.com or call us toll-free at 1-844-442-1242.
We prefer to offer you a large range of activities. That way, you can choose among the activities presented in the guide. It’s up to you to decide which activities you want to incorporate into your program according to your mood, your likings and the children’s ages.
Yes, we identify every activity that lends itself to operating as a Learning Centre. In general, two Learning Centres are suggested each day in the Mixed-Age Activity Box (one if it’s an Arts & Crafts Centre). The teacher arranges the supplies in different areas of the daycare in order to awaken the children’s interests. They can then make their own choices.
Of course. Your subscription can start at any time and continue until the following year without any problem.
Yes, we can make any adjustment (increase or reduce the number of children you order for). Simply make the request in writing at least two weeks before the shipment of your next Activity Box (you can email us at information@hipporay.com).
A subscription to one of our products (the Mixed-Age Activity Box or the Tot Box) is transferable to the other (you can finish your subscription to our Tot Boxes with Mixed-Age Activity Boxes, and vice-versa).
Yes. If you decide to cancel your subscription, you just need to let us know in writing at least two weeks before the shipment of your next Activity Box. However, since you committed to buying 10 Activity Boxes, the difference between the amount of an individual Activity Box purchase price and a subscription price will be billed to you for each Activity Box received.
No. You can buy the Activity Boxes individually or subscribe for 10 months.
Not at all, we offer different themes for at least 4 years. Thereafter, certain themes will be used again. However, each theme will be redone, each Activity Guide will be rewritten and illustrated, each poster, each story and each game will be new and different in order to offer you a new and improved Activity Box. We want to continue to offer you the best there is.
When we started the Tot Box in 2007, the idea was to design a transition box for our customers whose group was comprised mainly of toddlers. In theory, the following year, the children are old enough to be able to enjoy the Mixed-Age Activity Box. We currently have two series of Tot Boxes. During the 2014-2015 year, we will offer “Series 1”.
Certainly. All of our Activity Boxes are offered until they run out of stock. These boxes are shipped quickly.
Each new Mixed-Age Activity Box is ready and shipped around the 5th day of the previous month. For example, if you order on April 15th, you will receive your May Activity Box quickly. On the other hand, if you order before April 5th, you will have to wait a little bit. For subscribers, the packages are shipped between the 5th and the 10th day of the month prior to the Activity Box’s month, leaving you ample time to acquaint yourself with the product.
The Tot Box is ready and shipped around the 10th day of the previous month.
Over the last few years, we have tried hard to reduce the use of plastic bags in our Activity Boxes. Just like you, we are aware of the impact of our behaviour on the environment. Since May 2009, the Arts & Crafts supplies have been grouped into 2 thematic bags (one bag for the Tot Box). Everything is put into place to make it easier to use. In each bag, you will find the list of necessary supplies for each of the activities as well as an illustration of the craft. This way of operation reduces the numbers of bags used by at least 200,000 per year!
Each subscriber will have complete access to the “Hipporay VIP Club” section:
Customers who buy Activity Boxes individually will still have access to the bonus documents related to the Activity Box of that month.
When purchasing Mixed-Age Activity Boxes, Tot Boxes or Daily Journals, you will create an account with your email address and will be asked to create a password. Then, on the 20th day of the month before using your Mixed-Age Activity Box (or the 25th day of the month before using your Tot Box), the free extras will be added to your account!
The type of purchase you make will determine the tools that you will be able to access (the Hipporay VIP Club for subscribers, the monthly bonus Hipporay Club for an individual Box purchase, or the Journal’s Corner). The documents will remain in your account for a period of 60 days following an individual purchase or for the duration of your subscription.
We have extraordinary customer service! Purchases are processed and products are shipped within 24 to 48 hours. Often, the product is shipped the same day that we receive the order. We can’t be any faster than that! Naturally, our offices are closed on weekends and the ordered product must be available (for example, December’s Activity Box won’t be available until November 5th).
Unless otherwise specified, all products are shipped through Canada Post’s “Expedited Parcel” service, which means that the delivery of your product takes around 2 to 4 days (in Quebec). For delivery outside of Quebec, the period is slightly longer, but doesn’t generally take more than 4 to 7 days. You will receive an email notification with your tracking number and the details of your delivery when you order is shipped.
Our main goal is customer satisfaction! If, upon opening your box, the product doesn’t meet your expectations, return it intact and we will refund you, guaranteed! However, you will have to pay the shipping fees (in both directions). Please note that the Activity Worksheet and Colouring Page sets are not refundable.