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.

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….

The Pink horse skipping rope is is a lovely skipping rope, that feels much more solid than the usual plastic sets I’ve seen in this price range. The price is very reasonable, at under £5 and it’s ethically made too.

This heatable duck from Farm Toys is so soft and cuddly, I couldn’t help giving it a cuddle the moment I opened it! And Rosemary was also very taken by its softness and cuddliness, but also noticed that it was very heavy (for a three-year-old). There were clear instructions on the tag, cook on full power for about 2 minutes and you’re set!

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!

The Disney Princess Role Play Tent is pretty and girlie, but at £29.99 I thought it was rather an expensive purchase for something that my daughter only ended up having a passing interest in, and which was so easy to damage. I was very disappointed in the fabric material and found the assembly awkward and frustrating.

The Little Tikes Get Out N Grill is a nicely made toy, and has lots of potential but could use more accessories to enable more role play. My two have already borrowed accessories from their kitchen set to add to the Get Out N Grill. The barbeque would also benefit from having some sound effects. Although the Get Out N Grill will last a long time, I’m now sure how long the children will play with it before being bored, which is a shame as it has potential to be so much more.

Like many households we’re collecting the Toy Story characters in toy form so Flea can re-enact her favourite parts of the films. Flea was really excited to be sent this set, which includes a Woody figure and a Bullseye horse – Woody can sit on the horse, which rears up when you push down on the tail. The toy is really quite straightforward, so I’ll admit the £27 RRP did make me shriek “HOW MUCH????” (Hunt around though, as John Lewis was selling this at under £20 when this review was published).

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.

Back in the day, learning to use a pogo stick was all about skinned knees and frustration, with days of practice before you managed half a dozen jumps. But kids these days have it so much easier. The bungee bouncer is much easier to use than a traditional pogo stick and did prove to be lots of fun for both my children. Plus it can be used (supervised) indoors – bonus! Maybe a tad on the expensive side for what it is, but if it gets your children outdoors and bouncing then it could be worth the investment. Just don’t expect too much of a challenge.

The Mini Micro bag is a really cute, kid-friendly accessory that I’d recommend if your child is a dedicated user of their Micro Scooter. It’s been designed with little hands in mind, and is practical and well made. Not essential, but a nice extra for summer outings.

The Royal Quoits set from Aspace is an engaging and educational (if you make the children keep score) game, whose appeal crossed all the age rages from 3 years to 66 years. Its simplicity is part of its appeal and it is totally engrossing. We keep coming back to this and have had great fun in the good weather with it. We are planning to take it camping with us. Thoroughly recommended.

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.

The Tomy Micropet is possibly the most annoying toy that has ever graced our house. Mia smuggled them in her suitcase to take on holiday with us and one started to ’sing’ at baggage check! The airport staff did not raise a smile. The children did love them, though, it has to be said.

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.

Rosemary loves the Didicar, even if she does get hurt a lot, and she’ll probably come round to using it properly. It seems very sturdy and I think will last a long time. It’s something she can share when a friend comes round, without arguments (except perhaps who gets to sit in front!). All in all, the Didicar is a good toy and good value for money, but older children may well be better at using it in the right way.

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.

A really nice set with lots of play potential and a cute, contemporary feel, but I do query the deisgn of the figures and the wisdom of showing stuff on the box that children won’t be able to mimic. I love the range of accessories, and I think it’s got lots of play potential to justify the pretty hefty price , but perhaps some of the dozens of small pieces (the cutlery in particular) are a bit too teeny and destined to be lost down the back of the sofa. Overall, the Mighty World base camp is a really nice play set for over 3s, but not amazing.

I’ve seen these scooters around in the smarter parts of London and I’ve definitely noticed the Yummy Mummy brigade at Flea’s school regularly pull them out of the back of their 4×4s. I always assumed they were just another scooter, until we got our hands on one of the new green Mini Micro Scooters.

The interactive play mode really is quite special for youngsters, but even better is that they can turn Buzz into a regular toy when they’ve had enough of the slightly surreal conversations he engages them in. And even better than that, you can turn off the sounds entirely and Buzz is silent. It’s an expensive toy and not an impulse purchase but for the dedicated Toy Story fan, the Buzz Lightyear toy is a tried and tested recommendation.

The wooden eco helicopter looks lovely – I just wish we had more sun! It was played with a couple of times and then ignored. I can’t help feeling it was a disappointment, considering the price tag, which is just under £20. At that price, it’s an expensive ornament which will spend it’s days on the windowsill waiting for sunshine … alone.

The Imajo Organic Classic Softie Rag Doll is a lovely and soft organic rag doll which has become a firm favourite with my daughter – but at £18.95, I think you could find a cheaper rag doll with similar features. However, if organic and ethically sourced toys are for you, the Imajo Organic Classic Softie Rag Doll is a great investment, and perfect for a first doll.

I do think this is needlessly expensive, but if your child is a Toy Story fan, then having the same packaging as is used in the film might be worth it. But I’ve been surprised by just how much my four year old loves these toy soldiers, and just how much use they’ve got, so even at £12, they are pretty good value.

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.

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.

Set in the wonderful seaside world of Sunnysands, where the sun always shines and characters abound, this gently amusing programme reaches parts no other children’s TV programme can quite reach. It’s unique charm is the way it manages to bring nostalgia up-to-date and dispense liberal quantities of feel-good factor.

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.

This wooden fire truck gets four stars for the simple reason that Kai adores it and it is a stunning set, but it loses points for me in that it doesn’t seem robust enough for serious play. Granted, it would look lovely sat safely on a nursery shelf but I’m not a big fan of toys designed to be seen and not played with. It’s already looking a little ‘well loved’, but it is loved which, I guess, is the main thing.

Little Croc’s Purse is a gorgeous little book that explores the issues of honesty and generosity in a fun, cute way. The illustrations are lovely, and Flea still regularly asks to read this story a couple of months after it first came into the house.

Even if you haven’t watched the Handy Manny show on TV, I think the Handy Manny soft tool box is a great unisex toy. It’s well made, and will help children learn the names and functions of different tools, and it’s also small enough for little ones to pick up and carry around with them. Although I will say I’m glad the tools are soft – as BG keeps trying to hit me with the hammer!

The Playmobil Family Camper is of my favourite sets of Playmobil because it encourages kids to role play within family situations, and it’s really flexible in how kids can play. Great value for money considering all the accessories included within it, and it has stood up to a month’s play without anything breaking off or looking worn. Thoroughly recommended. Just don’t pick it up from above.

I think the Playmobil Easter Egg is a fantastic alternative to chocolate eggs if you know children will be receiving their share of chocolate from other people. There are a good set of choices that should please all kids, and the plastic egg can be used as a moneybox afterwards, making the whole thing remarkably good value for money at £7.99

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!

Lovely quality and design, and lots of fun, these robots will help build fine motor skills and problem-solving. Flea has also enjoyed playing with them imaginatively and they’re sturdy enough to stand up to lots of energetic play, with no small pieces or sharp edges to bother the little ones. A lovely option for children of all ages.

I love the way this set brings the story to life. On more than one occasion I’ve seen Little S acting out the story on his own. He particularly enjoys saying, ‘chinny, chin, chin’ and acting out the part where the wolf goes down the chimney into the boiling water, although I’m not sure if that’s a good thing! My children have already had lots of enjoyment out of this toy. It would make a lovely gift for young
children but consider buying a proper book to go with it.

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.

“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.

My little boy has no complains about the Transformers Power Bot, he’s played with it non-stop since Christmas. I think it’s a really impressive product which has thoroughly entertained our little boy, and also has a lot of potential for future play. Well made, robust and excellent value for money, it’s one to snap up.

As a mum who is always on the look out for toys that are not branded and are ‘home made’ I was thrilled with the Creative Charlie jewellery making kit. I loved so many things: the ethos of the company and the fact that they have obviously taken time to source quality items being the two main ones. The beads were made by woman’s cooperative; the labels are biodegradable; the shipping packaging recycled. If you’re looking for a great ethical gift idea then look no further.

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.