Pointless - the board game

Here Inside the Wendy House, the TV game show Pointless is our biggest guilty pleasure. We record it on series link, and every night after dinner we sit down together to play the game searching for those elusive pointless answers. I even admit to having a massive crush on Richard, I love his dry wit and intelligence. 

So when University Games offered me the chance to have a go at playing their Pointless board game I jumped at the chance. We've owned a fair few board games based on TV game shows, but all too often have found that the format does not translate very well to playing at home. You miss out on some of the things that make the show great such as the music, the scoreboards and the tension. However, the Pointless game comes with a free downloadable app which allows you to enjoy the excitement of finding out your score using the same answer board as you see on the show complete with sound. This immediately made it feel more interactive than a simple question and answer game.

The game comes with question cards for each of the different rounds, the head to head and the final. These slot into little cases so no one can peek at the answers. Answer sheets and pencils allow you to keep tabs on your points and your answers. The game comes with a playing board and tokens, but if you use the app you don't need these. The app keeps score, tells you what round it is and whose turn it is and keeps a leader board of winners. It worked really well to keep up the pace of the game and keep us on track. The app does not work on its own as it has no built in questions, but it complements the board game really nicely.

Unlike the TV game, the first rounds give several possible answers to the questions and the aim is to pick which one you think is correct and that will score you the lowest points by being the most obscure. So even if your knowledge on a subject is lacking you can have a guess. This levels the playing field when playing with a mix of ages and abilities. Further rounds require more subject knowledge, but with such a varied array of questions, there are categories for everyone from nature to history to pop music to TV shows, so you never know who is going to get an all important pointless answer.

Having a quiz master makes the game run more smoothly as they can organise the question cards and programme the scores into the app to let the players know how good their answer was. We let Freddy manage the app with a little help so we could all play while he felt super important to the game. He was our own mini Alexander and did a great job.

We've had a few games of Pointless and have really enjoyed them. 20 year old Ella is the reigning champion after a pointless answer on invertebrate marine life and a great round on top 40 hits by The Killers. It has been such good fun taxing our brains trying to think of all the chemical elements with five letters in their name or working out which South Park character would be a pointless answer.

There are plenty of question cards so there are many hours of game play to be had before they start repeating.

Board games are a great way to bring the family together. I like games that make you think and expand your general knowledge, so really like this game. The app really adds enjoyment to the game and we have literally 'oohed' and 'ahhed' as we watch the score go down. It definitely helps build the excitement and is a lot of fun. It also makes the game easier to follow as it prompts you as to who is next and what round you are on. You can even share your results on social media straight from your iPad or smartphone. Great for bragging purposes!

Pointless is for  2-4  players aged 12+. 

It is available at Tesco, John  Lewis, Waterstones, Amazon, Argos, WH Smith, Toys R Us, Debenhams  and Hamley’s,  RRP £19.99.

BBC launches CBeebies Playtime app

The BBC today launched CBeebies Playtime, a mobile app for the BBC’s youngest audience and their parents, available for free on Android, iOS and Kindle Fire devices in the UK. The app features four fun games based on some of the most-loved CBeebies shows, all designed to aid child development in a safe and secure offline environment.

Yesterday, we were lucky enough to visit the CBeebies HQ at Media City in Salford, to be among the first people to have a go at using the new app!   CBeebies presenter Cat joined the kids as they played with the app on various devices.  My Tiny Tester Freddy loved the new app instantly and was able to play straight away, setting up his profile and playing on all the games.  The app is very user friendly for little people and bags of fun!

CBeebies Playtime is the perfect companion for young children, allowing them to play along with favourite characters whenever and wherever they want, including the Alphablocks, Octonauts, Tree Fu Tom and Something Special’s Mr Tumble. Parents can also join in the fun through the dedicated ‘Grown-ups’ area. Here they can record special messages for their little ones, find out about each game’s learning benefits, and access useful tips to help their children get the most from the app.

Profiles can be created for up to four children, allowing them to collect CBeebies bugs as rewards for their progress, and listen to messages left by their parents. Each profile features a hot air balloon that children can personalise, which transports them into the CBeebies Playtime world where they can choose to play one of four games.  The balloon can be made into a variety of shapes and decorated in a variety of patterns.  You can even take a 'selfie' and use the photograph to decorate the balloon!

Alphablocks Word Magic

Alphablocks Word Magic helps young children develop confidence in reading and writing by learning how to spell a range of words. They simply tap on a picture of an everyday object and spell it out by choosing the right Alphablocks, in the correct order. The words get progressively more difficult as the game goes on.  It is a great game for early readers and writers and will be perfect to help Freddy as he starts school in September.

  

Octonauts Cadet Training

Little ones get to help the Octonauts in a variety of missions to rescue sea creatures who have gotten themselves into trouble. Shaking the device to remove rubble and calling out to lost Orcas are just some of the ways children can help them out. It develops listening skills and teamwork, as the Octonauts guide players through a series of underwater adventures, as well as finding out more about the world around them. It also gives kids a host of fun facts about the underwater animals they help which is a nice feature.

Something Special Paint Pop

Play along with Mr Tumble and his friends, who need some help decorating their clothes and accessories. Children can colour them in by tapping the screen to pop paint bubbles as they pass over the items. This game is suitable for all children, including those with special needs, allowing them to have fun and develop confidence.  Freddy had some fun with this game and enjoyed decorating bow ties and welly boots with the paint bubbles!

Tree Fu Tom Chuckleberry Chase

It's harvest festival day after the Mushas have stolen all of the chuckleberries. Children can cast the super speed spell with Tree Fu Tom and help him race through Treetopolis to catch the Mushas and save the day. The game allows children to practice fine motor skills as they tilt the device to catch the berries and avoid obstacles in their path.  It is a quick paced, action packed game for little Tree Fu Tom fans.

Freddy loved the app.  It had the right balance of educational content and fun gaming action to keep him enthralled and entertained.  The app has the same quality and visual appeal of the TV shows that little ones love and even the youngest CBeebies fan will recognise the characters.

I love that the app doesn't need the internet to play it, which means it will be brilliant on car journeys or when out shopping.  I know it is completely safe and as it is absolutely free we can put it onto all our devices without the fear of running up any unexpected bills.

I think this app is a brilliant new addition to the CBeebies brand joining the TV shows, the radio station and the website to entertain our little ones!

A Day Out in Salford Quays

Last week we were invited to visit Salford Quays in Manchester to explore some of the attractions that make this such a great venue for a family day out.  We had a very hectic schedule with visits to Ordsall Hall, the BBC, The Lowry and Old Trafford.  In typical Manchester style, the weather was miserable, wet and windy, but it didn't spoil our enthusiasm for a fabulous day out.

Ordshall Hall

Hidden in the heart of Manchester stands this Elizabethan manor house which is beautifully preserved and lovingly restored to showcase its former glory.  We were given a private tour where we got to see the bedrooms, the kitchen, the servant's quarters and many original features, some dating back to the 1600's.  There was a lot of interactive elements to the tour.  We got to try on some old armour and experience some of the techniques that would have been used in an Elizabethan kitchen.  We even learned about the ghosts that are said to haunt the manor.  A room full of interactive games and activities was a big hit with the children who enjoyed getting hands on with history.  Freddy was really excited walking around the building and trying out things such as turning a spit roast and grinding spices.  He was enjoying being a little historian and discovering the story of Ordsall Hall.  Ordsall Hall has a lovely little coffee shop where we enjoyed a coffee and a cake!

http://www.salford.gov.uk/ordsallhall.htm

BBC Studio Tours

The BBC have relocated many of their operations to Media City in Salford Quays. The BBC offer tours where you can get to take a peek behind the scenes and even have a go at presenting!  Kizzy and I went on an Interactive CBBC Tour for kids aged 6 and over.  We had a guided tour across the buildings where we saw the Blue Peter studio, a radio drama sound stage and various props from BBC programmes.  Kizzy had a go at presenting Newsround, reading the weather and being a CBBC presenter.  She also got to take part in a diddy Dick and Dom play.  She loved seeing herself on a TV screen and using the autocue machines.  It was really interesting to go behind the scenes and we were able to take a look into the BBC Sports studio where everyone was hard at work.  It is a fascinating place and we loved the hands on experience.  Kizzy really enjoyed feeling like a TV presenter and was fascinated by the technology used such as the green screens.  She was also very interested to find out about the use of widescreen cameras to make the tiny Blue Peter studio look really impressive onscreen!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/tours/salford_cbbc.shtml

The Lowry

The Lowry is an arts and entertainment complex set in a stunning waterside location.  There is a lot for families to do including theatre shows, activities and art galleries.  There are also plenty of temporary exhibits to enjoy such as the National Portrait Gallery Comedians exhibition.  We stopped there for lunch followed by a guided tour of the Lowry Collection.  Kizzy was enthralled by the 'What's in a Picture?' session where she was guided through the process of 'reading' one of Lowry's works.  The insight into his life, his work and  his personality was really interesting.  Unfortunately we were really pushed for time and had to dash off, but the Lowry is definitely somewhere I want to explore at my leisure.  It is free to enter and many talks and activities are available which help bring the collection to life.  There are also creative workshops for young children to enjoy.  Kids can borrow a rucksack filled with games, puzzles and activities designed to take them on an adventure as they explore the art on display in the magnificent building.  It is a really family friendly venue with easy access, changing facilities and with kids well catered for in the cafe.  There are some really good shows coming to the theatre next year including Horrible Histories and Sleeping Beauty On Ice.

http://www.thelowry.com/

Old Trafford Museum and Tour

Across the water from the Lowry stands the football stadium of Manchester United.  We had a 15 minute walk through torrential rain to get there but we soon warmed up when inside.  The stadium has a museum and holds guided tours.  We had a walk around the three floors of the museums looking at memorabilia, trophies, paper cuttings and football shirts from Man Utd's history.  Freddy loved looking at and handling the exhibits that included an old leather stitched ball and steel toe-capped football boot.  There was a really moving tribute to the Busby Babes who were involved in a plane crash in Munich which killed some of the team's most promising players.  The tour lasts an hour and takes you around the stadium, the changing rooms, the player's lounge, the tunnel and the stands.  Unfortunately, Freddy needed a wee half way round and we had to cut the tour short to find the toilets!  We made our way back to the Mega Store which sold loads of Man Utd merchandise.  Fans will love this experience.  It was very interesting, especially seeing the pitch in all its glory, but it is probably more suited for older children.

http://www.manutd.com/en/Visit-Old-Trafford.aspx


We finished our trip with a visit to the Lowry Outlet which is a shopping mall on Salford Quays.  It has loads of shops and restaurants and we enjoyed a hot chocolate at Costa before heading back home, exhausted after our family day out at Salford Quays.

CBeebies - The Album Review

Fans of CBeebies are in for a treat following the release of the brand new 50 track, 2 CD collection of all their favourite CBeebies theme tunes, songs from the shows and from the CBeebies presenters themselves.  We were sent a copy so we could have a listen!

CBeebies - The Album is perfect for entertaining little ones and brilliant for car journeys.  The familiar songs are instantly recognisable and had Freddy dancing and singing along.  Tree Fu Tom, Mike the Knight and the Tweenies theme tunes are his favourites and the presenter's songs are a great addition to the tracklist.  They are so catchy, you can't help but join in with your pre-schooler!

The album features all the big names in CBeebies including Justin, Rastamouse, Baby Jake and The Zingzillas.  The mix of the newest hits alongside some older favourites like the Tweenies and Balamory theme tunes will keep everyone happy.  You just can't go wrong with this album if you have little ones who love CBeebies.

Tracklisting:

Disc 1
1. Justin's House Theme Tune
2. Baby Jake The Yacki Song
3. Iconicles Theme Tune
4. Rastamouse Theme Tune (Give It Up For Da Easy Crew) 
5. Abadas My Name Is... 
6. Mike The Knight Theme Tune
7. Mr Bloom s Nursery Meet The Veggies
8. Gigglebiz Theme Tune
9. In the Night Garden... Theme Tune
10. Big & Small Theme Tune 
11. Timmy Time - Theme Tune
12. Everything's Rosie - Theme Tune 
13. Woolly & Tig Theme Tune (I Love Woolly) 
14. Andy's Wild Adventures Theme Tune
15. Grandpa In My Pocket Boom A Boom Whoop Zing Zoo
16. Tweenies Theme Tune (Hey Hey Are You Ready To Play?)
17. Alphablocks Theme Tune
18. Cloud Babies Theme Tune 
19. Tree Fu Tom Theme Tune
20. Something Special Theme Tune (Hello Song) (2012 Version)
21. Cbeebies Presenters Summer Song 
22. Cbeebies Presenters Goodbye Sun, Hello Moon
23. Cbeebies Presenters Winter Song 
24. Cbeebies Presenters The Big Fun Time Song
25. Cbeebies Presenters Christmas Song

Disc 2
1. Rastamouse Hot Hot Hot
2. Abadas Medley (Abadas Song / Let s Play / I Found The Word / Goodbye Song)
3. The Lingo Show Theme Tune
4. Show Me Show Me Momo s Song
5. Mike The Knight Huzzah For Glendragon 
6. Raa Raa The Noisy Lion Theme Tune 
7. 64 Zoo Lane Theme Tune
8. Charlie and Lola Bestest In The Barn 
9. Postman Pat Special Delivery Service Theme 
10. Num Tums Theme Tune
11. Zingzillas Do You Didgeridoo
12. Guess With Jess Theme Tune
13. Tinga Tinga Tales Theme Tune 
14. Balamory Theme Tune
15. Mr Bloom's Nursery The Finale Song
16. Big Barn Farm Theme Tune
17. Mister Maker I m A Shape
18. Waybuloo Time For Yogo
19. 3rd & Bird Theme Tune
20. Nina and the Neurons - Go Engineering Song
21. CBeebies Presenters It s The Weekend 
22. CBeebies Presenters The Discovery Song 
23. CBeebies Presenters Lunchtime Song 
24. CBeebies Presenters The Birthday Song 
25. CBeebies Presenters The Time Has Come to Say Goodnight (2012 Version)

CBeebies-The Album is available nationwide now from stockists instore and online.  It will be a brilliant Christmas gift for little ones!

Welcome to The Jungle With Raa Raa The Noisy Lion

"Welcome to the Jingly Jangly Jungle" is the name of the brand new BBC DVD starring CBeebies favourite Raa Raa the Noisy Lion.  It is released today...March 26th.

Welcome To The Jingle Jangle Jungle

The DVD comes complete with a Raa Raa figure that Freddy could not wait to get his hands on!  I love Raa Raa's afro-esque mane and shiny black nose!

Raa Raa's debut DVD is bursting with lots of noisy adventures and helps little ones learn all about language and communication skills.

 Each episode follows Raa Raa and his wonderful gang of friends: Topsy the giraffe, Huffty the elephant,   Crocky the crocodile, Zebby the zebra and Ooo Ooo, the cheeky little monkey, in eight fantastic episodes. 

·         Topsy’s Musical Stones

·         Ooo Ooo Slips Up

·         The Right Sound

·         Zebby’s Snack Time

·         Raa Raa’s Big Roar

·         Raa Raa’s Favourite Things

·         Two’s Company

·         No Sleep Till Bedtime

Raa Raa

Sounds, gestures, facial expressions and words are used to solve problems and add fun to their adventures. The episodes are loud and full of fun.  Lorraine Kelly narrates the stories which are really appealing to pre-schoolers.  Freddy loves Raa Raa, he laughs along to the episodes (especially when Raa Raa tries to find 'the right sound' and blows a raspberry noise through a hollow stick!)  and sings along to the catchy theme tune.  I love the animation which is very friendly, cute and colourful.  The Jungle is a lovely setting and the giggly jungle pals really make a feel good show.

Visit raaraathenoisylion.com for games, activities, music, clips, downloads and more.