I can’t fault the staff at our local Build a Bear store, they were exceptional and made the morning a really fun experience for Flea. She loves her soft toy and so does her cousin. But at £50 apiece, I don’t think she loves it enough to make this value for money. Other experienced parents have told me the way to make Build a Bear Work is to give kids a price limit before you go into the store, and then let them spend it how they choose – so it’s possible to get a bear for £9.99 and an outfit for another £10 or so. And it helps if you buy something at Build a Bear with 2 feet, rather than 4!
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Ethan loved it! The adjustable neckstrap meant he could have the drum at just the right height as he marched around rat-a-tat-tatting.
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Price: £9.99
Initial thoughts: Suitable from age 3+ the drum looks like a traditional old fashioned toy. The kind of thing you imagine would’ve been found under the Christmas tree in years gone by. The drum is made from metal/tin and is very lightweight but also felt a little flimsier than I expected. Ethan couldn’t wait to open the box and start playing.
We liked: Ethan loved it! The adjustable neckstrap meant he could have the drum at just the right height as he marched around rat-a-tat-tatting. The drum is light and the small drumsticks perfect for tiny hands. It’s bright red colour is appealing to look at. From Ethan’s point of view it is the perfect noisy toy to bash all day.
We weren’t keen on: From an adult point of view the drum doesn’t feel as sturdy as I would like. The paint is chipping after one day’s play and the surface of the drum is scratched. I don’t think it will stand up very well to the bashing of an over exuberant pre-schooler! My husband didn’t like the three brace springs that hold the drum together and was worried that Ethan could trap his fingers in them.
Overall: A good looking traditional toy drum which is fun to play with but would probably benefit from being a little sturdier. We will only use it for occasional play.
[Eleanor - Insomniac Mummy]
Another soft toy (sigh) I’ll add that to the toy mountain. This one will be easy to spot as its bright orange. The toddler sees it: cue ‘Big & Small’ shrieks of delight….
Everything you need to play is included in the Tailball Lite box – pole, ball, bats and instructions – but to be honest I just thought oh no not another bat and ball game! The idea of tailball is that it’s like tennis, but easier for young children – the lightweight foam ball is slower and easier to hit, especially thanks to the trailing streamers attached to the ball. To play tailball, children hit the ball to each other, and score a point each time the ball hits the ground.
The Mighty World Complete Emergency Response set is a cute, contemporary play set that’s probably ideal for children who are just starting to play with this sort of toy – I can imagine most kids of 4 upwards already have a police car and fire engine – I know it’s really an ambulance but it’s red, so Flea insists it has to be a fire engine. At almost £50, it’s not cheap, but it is nicely made, and should provide many hours of happy play.
Once it’s together this is a great play set with lots to keep children interested, and we liked that this comes with everything kids need to play pirates – lots of figures, plenty of accessories and some really nice details – apparently it’s one of Playmobil’s best sellers over the years, and we can certainly see why. But do set aside an evening to assemble the large Playmobil pirate ship – and don’t forget the screwdriver!
The Lego minifigures are great quality and very affordable, but even so, I can see this range becoming VERY expensive very quickly if you keep getting duplicates – there are websites available that tell you the bar codes of the different figures if you want to cheat but even having looked at those I know the odds of me remembering what we’re looking for when I’m at the checkout in Tesco are pretty remote. A bit disappointing, for us, despite the quality of the toy itself, which is fine.
The Pure Love Bunny Hug Pillow is another lovely product from Natures Purest and encouraged us to check out their site – next on our wish list is definitely the bunting collection, which is just gorgeous! This product is amazing quality, from an environmentally friendly and ethical supplier. We couldn’t have asked for anything we – or our baby – would love more.
The Happy Bugs Stacker is certainly a hit with Elodie. She tends to play with the bugs individually rather than with the stacker but I’m sure as she gets older and her skill level increases she will learn to play with the toy in the manner it was intended.
A real mixed bag. It’s ideal for the bottom of the age range if you can justify to yourself that playing video games is okay for the under-threes. However, it doesn’t really have enough to keep an active 3 year old interested.
The Playmobil Noah’s Ark is a great set and has some nice touches if you recognise what they are (we didn’t) – a working crane, for example. It’s around 50cm long, so not too big, which is great when it comes to storage. There aren’t as many accessories as you’ll find with some Playmobil sets but how much do animals need? All the basics are provided – hay for beds, food to eat, boxes to put things in. The Playmobil Noah’s Ark is, I’d say, a good quality take on a classic toy.
It’s a nice set as a starter for 4 year olds, but it’s a bit limited so I’d buy two – and a base board.
It’s a simple yet engaging educational toy which unlike others has proven to be consistently popular. It can be used for under two year olds although they will need help with the stacking activity. Two year olds will enjoy using it as a stacking toy or exploring the handy shapes and colours. It’s sturdy and will last for more than just one child’s use.
Although fun, I didn’t think this was mentally stimulating for the children – and I don’t think it would keep their interest for long, or that it’s something they’d choose to play over and over again. I fear Pig goes Pop may end up at the back of the games cupboard.
The ELC Twistasaurus would make a great gift for an under three. This dinosaur stacking toy kept Toddler Boy (2.5 years) amused for a fairly long time and even attracted baby Fifi (9 months). It seems a reasonable price for what it is, and I would definitely buy it for others.
As a toy, we have very few complaints about the Playmobil Vet’s Car, but this would be better described as a 4×4 vehicle rather than a “vet’s” car. We were expecting animals, so we were disappointed!
I’m not sure what to make of this. I really want to like it, I think it’s a brilliant idea, I really do, and the material is really cool. But for my child, it was too much effort for too little reward. I wonder if the smaller cars in the range might be easier to use, because they presumably require less power to work – but I wasn’t sold on the Discover Rig. Sorry.
This Castle has provided me with some unexpected “alone” time and has kept my girls’ imaginations running wild for hours at a time. It is terrific for both individual and group play and has everything your little ones need to rule their very own playroom. Although a little pricey it is very well made and I feel it will stand the test of time, unlike many plastic versions that are currently on the market.
Of all the Playmobil sets that have passed through our house, this was the one that Flea played with least. This surprised me at first, because Flea is quite a big fan of dinosaurs, as a rule. I think, though, that the dinosaurs don’t naturally mix with the other Playmobil sets, and if Flea is playing dinosaurs she has a whole set of plastic dinosaurs that look a lot more realistic than the Playmobil Spinosaurus. Having said that, if you’re looking for a toy for a hardcore dinosaur fan, this range is solidly made and very good quality and value.
The Diva Dice game is a great learning tool, which provides fun and family entertainment at a great price. We had loads of fun and I think the fact this is portable means it’s the sort of game we’d take on holiday or to relatives’ houses – it even comes in its own bag.
When I was asked to review a book entitled “Toilet Trivia” with my children, I was a little apprehensive about what this would be like! However from the moment I opened it we were in stitches and amazement. For example – did you know that in Australia you can’t wear hot-pink trousers past 4 o’clock on a Sunday or that in France it’s against the law to die unless you’ve already purchased a cemetery plot?! (Like what are they going to do – sue you?! Haha)
This bright and colourful imaginative toy is a great way to help children with their hand eye coordination while also having fun and being creative. It’s just what I’m looking for when buying stocking fillers – not too expensive, no batteries or small parts. This sort of thing is a win win for me and we thoroughly enjoyed it!
These handkerchiefs from the Nappy Laundry are really bright and funky and feature numbers (sums) or the alphabet. They are ‘child’ sized and made from a nice robust cotton. A really nice idea and environmentally friendly (how many packets of tissues do we get through in a week?)
The Playmobil Take Along Pirate Island is a great value pirate toy that stores away easily, and can be taken with you easily to friends’ houses. Just bear in mind that there are a lot of small pieces, so it’s not for kids who still like to put small things in places where they might cause injuries.
A great gift for under 2s, the Fisher Price Little People Farm Set is great quality, durable and lots of fun.
I liked the way you could make so many bubbles at once and the the small dish that you fill with bubble mix in was really easy to use. You dip the front of the gun in the dish and then point it and press the trigger. Loads of bubbles come out. I was so impressed with this. We were amazed that something that just blows out bubbles can be so much fun. We had a great time with it all afternoon.
“Not another doll?” was my husband’s first response when Melanie the rag doll arrived in our house, but i was actually quite pleased as she was a welcome relief to the mountain of crying plastic dolls strewn across the play room. Melanie comes complete with pretty blond plaited pig tails, pink gingham pyjamas and a giant smile, she’s soft and very cuddly.
We do absolutely love these new Chan Pie Gnon teethers from Vulli as toys and people have commented on how cool they are. They are definitely worth having, but as teethers we prefer Sophie the Giraffe, mainly as its legs and head are a lot easier for her to get in her mouth
A classic game that is hard to beat, if all players are in the right mood (and no one’s had a curry the night before). Adults and teenagers seem to tire of it more quickly than younger children, at least in this house. It’s longevity probably means it’s a game most toy cupboards shouldn’t be without.
The My First Lacing Tools set is a lovely present for a young child, and one that gives you a lot of toy for your money. It’s going to get lots of play, and is robust enough to still be around for the next child.
Bambini beads make a lovely gift for children aged 3 and above, and I’d buy them for boys or girls, which is a refreshing change. It’s an educational toy, but so much fun to play with, too! Great value for money and it’s so popular in our house.
A good looking traditional toy drum which is fun to play with but would probably benefit from being a little sturdier. We will only use it for occasional play.
Mr Potato Head is a lovely, simple toy at a great price that keeps pre-schoolers entertained for a long time, and I’m sure it encourages motor skills and helps them learn the words for various body parts, if you worry about that sort of thing.
There are 43 quintillion (that’s 18 zeros) moves possible with a Rubik’s cube, so this isn’t something kids will solve in an afternoon and then leave aside. That makes it great value, and if it keeps the kids occupied while you’re busy making Christmas lunch, so much the better!
I can’t recommend this little bucket of Play-Doh enough, the price is fantastic and it is guaranteed to keep your little ones occupied, really encouraging them to use their imagination. Love it.
These two toys are a great little taster from a company I’m sure I’ll be doing business with in future. Specialist retailers like Farm Toys Online make shopping so much easier; the range of toys is larger and the choices greater. At £6.99 for the dump-truck and £9.99 for the tractor set, prices are competitive as well. I’ll just have to make sure Charlie’s nowhere near the lap-top when I’m browsing.
A fantastic game that’s suitable for even young children, with a little adult support. We also loved that the kids started to make up their own rules and versions of the game after a while – suggesting this is one that will be pulled out of the games cupboard for many years to come.
The marble run might be great, but the instructions that come with this toy are truly AWFUL. There’s little detail on precisely how key parts fit together – for example, the yellow pole that holds the elevator is made of eight pieces but in the instructions there’s no indication of which pieces, or in which order. Also, the angle of the illustrations makes it impossible to even see which pieces are used in some instances. This means there’s a lot of trial and error and if, like me, you’re not blessed with a good abstract spatial awareness, you’re screwed, basically.
Fantastic! My three daughters (ages 4, 5 and 7) love pretending to be mum to their very own baby girl. But unlike like a real baby, you can turn her off when the crying gets to be a bit much.
The Silver Cross Rufus Rabbit shape sorter is a lovely toy: it looks funky and definitely keeps BG’s attention. A great toy to grow with, and a perfect gift for new babies and toddlers.
Dragonology is an excellent choice for a child with a good imagination and long attention span. It is well made, interesting to play and great fun. A refreshing change from your average TV character themed toy and beautifully made to boot!
It’s a big thumbs up for ELC Extreme Marble Madness from us. Great for little imaginations and learning basic engineering skills. Ethan loved it so much he played with it for a full hour and a half non-stop. I’m sure it’ll be a favourite in this household for a long while.
The Chica Bead Bazaar jewellery kit is the perfect present to keep little girls entertained on all those wet and cold winter evenings, but do expect to help 5 and 6 year olds. The price is reasonable considering the enormous variety of beads included in the set, and the fantastic quality – my girls are wearing their bracelets with pride!
This is a great bike and ideal for teaching your child to balance in preparation for a pedal bike. It’s the perfect size for small children. S has started to balance whilst using it but I can see it taking a while for him to learn what to do. Given time I think he would get the hang of balancing and be well on the way to riding a big boy’s bike all by himself.
You might think this is just another Bratz knock-off, but this is a well-made doll with great clothing and a nice ethos – and the added bonus of not the weird, scary big eyes.
A brilliant idea with some great tricks in, but let down by a couple of items which are a bit rubbish really. My son does keep it stashed away under his bed now though as his secret hoard!
Being a big kid myself, I would have loved a lot more parts to play with, however for the age range this set is suitable for, the amount is just about right. The different sounds make the set all that more appealing and interesting. Despite the set’s minor flaws, coupled with the fact that it’s normally a bit out of our price range, we loved it and are keen to add more of the HappyLand range.
Ella is thrilled with My Pal Violet and with the exception of the music options, I am very pleased with this product. My Pal Violet and My Pal Scout (the green version) are very popular and I would recommend My Pal Violet to any family and considering the cost (£15.99), it’s well worth it.
For a jigsaw this is excellent. It has large pieces that little hands can manage and is a nice way to teach your child about woodland animals while encouraging dexterity. If I could get over my loathing of jigsaws I am sure this would get a much higher mark.
great toy to use for a short time. If like me, you have a child that doesn’t like tummy time very much this will isn’t quite a miracle but in our house it was enough to keep a lively baby entertained for more minutes than usual, encouraging him to play on their tummy, and (hopefully) help him to strengthen those muscles!
Nappy Duck and Potty Pig is a nice simple book, which shows characters using the potty without pushing the agenda too hard. It seems to have worked for us, as well as being a favourite book to look at (over and over again) Ben is now potty training.
The Baby Whoozit seems to be a perfect toy for a small baby, and one that will probably keep being of interest for a good few months, perhaps even past the crawling stage. There’s lots to explore, it’s beautifully made and a fantastic price. We love it!
The Tomy Guitar Rockstar is loud, unashamed fun. If you have a budding rock star in the family then this is a must. And it’s hard to believe it costs just £5. Amazing!
“Playmobil Pirates is a great, absorbing game for little swashbucklers, with some nice in-game features and extras to discover.”
The Toy Story radio-controlled car is a fun toy, and kids will have lots of fun with the car and figures. For parents, I’d say be prepared to help little ones get the hang of the controls and use rechargeable batteries! And I’m not convinced of the quality – it seems fragile and prone to breaking.
The Naturally Playful Storybook Cottage Playhouse is a dream playhouse for any child, full of fantastic features and sturdy and big enough to last a long time. However, you might need to smile sweetly at the Grandparents to afford the hefty price tag!
