The VTech Kiddizoom VideoCam camcorder is a fantastic idea for families who aren’t happy handing a Flip camera to their kids – at £60 this is considerably cheaper than those cameras, and is designed for the odd bang and bump. The additional special effects and video games make this lots of fun for children.

We were excited to test out a really modern scooter, and so the arrival of our Maxi Micro Joystick scooter was a big event for the family. I’ve always thought scooters are great for both parents and children; they’re the easy option when your child wants to whizz, rather than walk, to school and you haven’t got time to find the key to the bike shed. Plus, they’re easy to store. Actually, there isn’t anything not to love so we were excited to test out a more modern version – the Maxi Micro joystick scooter has no handle bars!

The Totscar Mercedes SLK 09 electric car looks just like the one mum and dad would drive if we had the money! The boys have had a fantastic time driving up and down the pavement on it. You do need a pretty smooth service to get the best ride and at £299 it is a considerable purchase, but one that would be well used. A real treat for some lucky child.

What do you get for the car-mad toddler to keep his fleet of toy cars in? A toy-box made of recycled car tyres, that’s what! And this stylish, ethical and eco-friendly box can be used for more than merely tidying the playroom.

Flea begged for this Playmobil Hospital set for almost six months before we relented and bought it for her. And I don’t blame her for coveting it – it’s a proper hospital with operating theatres, wards, a reception, treatment rooms and even an on-site clown. What’s not to love, you’ll think? Then you’ll open the box.

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 Tippitoes Boost Trike is and excellent, robust, first trike that offers comfort, safety and best of all fun! The only real problem we had was getting Elodie off it when our trip to the park was over!

The fact that we were all very excited to see that you can also buy trailers and farm equipment for the Britain’s Big Farm radio control tractor probably speaks for itself. This study radio control tractor makes a wonderful first remote control vehicle for children aged three plus. It’s lots of fun, easy to use and the quality means it stands up to lots of indoor and outdoor play.

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.

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.

A lovely quality children’s play tent, with bags of retro charm, and brilliant if you have two or more children. If you’ve got a garden you’ll get bags of use out of the Cowboy Print Wigwam – but at this price, you’d want to.

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.

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.

The Vtech Animal Fun Bounce and Ride Giraffe is a popular toy with both our boys. It has been played with every day. It’s brilliant if you have no outdoor space, or for the winter when you don’t want to go outside!

A massive hit with my animal-obsessed daughter who, for the 3 weeks we’ve had him, has taken him everywhere with her. I do question the price tag though – when she moves on to something else in a couple of months time, it will have been like spending £100 on an ornament for her room. Or am I just being cynical?

The Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo is good fun for little tots with lots of variety for fun, stimulating play. But the novelty soon wore of for us, making it an expensive choice for such short term use.

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!

A fantastic play set with a bit more to explore than is sometimes the case – the hidden rooms and traps added a lot of fun to the toy, and I think Flea will play with it for a long time because of that element. We’ve already added a couple of robbers and camels to the set, and I can see us adding more over time.