THE YEAR 12 home economics students of St Ursula's College put their design skills to the test last week when they had to create a toy for a toddler.

The students designed and produced an educational soft toy for a child ranging from four months old to five years.

Students then tested their designs and the construction of their textile toy while playing with the kids during a visit to Coastal Kids Child Care Emu Park.

A range of constraints including childhood development and milestones, fabric properties and safety and aiming to promote learning through play to design a successful soft toy needed to be considered by the students in the designing of their toys.

It was difficult to tell who had the bigger smiles at the child care centre - the children or the Year 12 students.

The College is grateful to Kerry Corrigan, owner and director of Coastal Kids Child Care, and her staff, for giving the St Ursula's College Year 12 Home Economics students the opportunity to play and learn with the wonderful children at the centre.