he Tomy Play to Learn Mr Colour Maker is an interactive toy for children aged 2 plus. It consists of a large paint pot with handle, three small primary colour pots and ‘brush’ to stir inside the pot to create the colours. It sings, it lights up and it speaks. On first glance it seemed like an excellent toy for enquiring young minds.

The Tomy Animal Magic Sounds Aquadoodle is the kind of toy you can whip out when the children want to be creative and be safe in the knowledge that they can’t go and re-decorate your living room walls. Ethan will quite happily spend half an hour or more drawing on the Aquadoodle canvas and watching as his images magically disappear. Elodie enjoyed using the pen’s special attachment to insert in the various nodules around the sides of the Aquadoodle to make animal sounds.

The Tomy Travel N Doodle Aquadoodle gets a big thumbs up from my children and I. It’s relatively inexpensive, and mess and fuss free. We’ll be keeping it in our car to help pass the time on long journeys.

Tomy’s Tomica range and our family are old friends. We have bought the odd Thomas the Tank Engine bits in the past and the Tomy trains. However, they appear to have revamped it and we were introduced to the Hypercity range that would surely gladden the heart of any transport-mad child. The Big City set contained a pick-up truck, train, person, as well as a garage, station, track and road.

What does a train mad four-year-old need? His own station that’s what but not just any old one. He needs a mega station that comes complete with a car ramp and two vehicles that let the train go past, flashing warning lights and sounds, and a dashboard that lets him be master of all he surveys which, thanks to the Tomy Hypercity Mega Station set, is quite a lot. It includes a large track layout, a shop, person and a train.

The Tomy Forget-Me-Not Photo Albulm is a well made toy with plenty for a baby to look at feel, feel and listen to.

It shoots balls out! What’s not to love about that? My boys think it might be one of the greatest toys ever for that alone. It is solidly made, looks like it will take some battering and they aren’t showing signs of getting bored with it yet. There’s no batteries or ghastly electronic noises. And it shoots balls out (did I mention that already?)

Baby B got this from her half sister for her first birthday. I knew she would be excited but I wasn’t prepared for how excited her older brother would be. Drawing with water on the go? Well that is the best present ever! I mean you can even take it in the car. Wow! It’s very compact and has a space for the pen.

It’s a simple classic. Flea thought this was really exciting, particularly because it’s a different sword and a different hole that causes the pirate to ‘pop’ each time. We played for an hour before dinner and then while I was cooking, Flea kept playing, and every so often would come charging into the kitchen, saying: “Guess which one was the secret sword this time? You’ll never guess.”

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.

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!