I love a toy that can introduce a child to something that is really important in the real world. That can open their eyes to a serious issue through the medium of play. That teaches them about something that can make a big difference to the world that we live in. Something like recycling. Hats off to Bigjigs for doing just that with their Dockside Recycling Centre. Fully compatible with other leading wooden rail systems, children can add an environmentally friendly activity into their playtime, teaching them about the importance of recycling and helping them to learn more about the process in a fun way.
Freddy, my little Bigjigs Play Patrol Agent, was very intrigued by his new toy. The recycling centre comes with a colourful sign, a barrier gate, two working cranes with magnetic ends, a barge, a recycling truck, a train carriage, two recycling skips and two container loads of recycling. As the recycling arrives by road, rail or sea it needs to be picked up by the cranes using the pulley system, swivelled into position and deposited into the skips.
The play value of this toy is great. It leads the way to imaginative games where your child becomes the harbourmaster, deciding where the recycling is going and by what mode of transport it will travel by. Little fingers show great dexterity as they wind up the pulleys on the crane to pick up the recycling with the magnetic end. All the while they are learning about recycling and this opens up an opportunity to discuss this issue in a fun and engaging way, asking what they think can be recycled, getting clues from the colourful pictures on the sign and the containers.
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| Learning through Play |
Freddy loved the magnet and quickly realised that it could pick up more than just his toy recycling containers. He raided our real life recycling bin to find a sweetcorn can and experimented with how best the magnet would stick to it. He discovered that concentrating the magnetic force on the edge of the rim, created the best hold to pick up the can. He wielded it about like a fisherman with a prize catch on the end of his rod! Freddy tried the magnet against lots of materials to see which ones would stick. This opportunity for scientific discovery is another great aspect of this toy, enabling little ones to learn through play - exactly how it should be done!
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| Our Play Patrol Mission Captioned Photo!! |
As the set is fully compatible with Bigjigs Roads and Rail toys (and other leading wooden rail systems) it can be incorporated into a world of your child's creation. I love toys that can grow with your child and which can be added to on birthdays and Christmases. Each new addition brings a new lease of life to the play experience, adding its own touch of excitement and enjoyment.
The Bigjigs Dockside Recycling Centre is priced at £20.79 over on the Bigjigs website. Take a look at the huge range of wonderful wooden toys they have on offer. I could browse for hours!
Freddy won the opportunity to be a Play Patrol agent for Bigjigs and received this toy to complete his latest mission!