APPen Review

APPen (RRP £14.99) is the first product in a brand new line of kids electronic accessories from GPTech, that allows children to enjoy learning, writing and colouring on most tablets or iPhones, simply by plugging the ergonomic pen into the headphone socket and using in conjunction with the free app (available for iOS and Android).  It doesn't require batteries so it's ready to use straight away.  With play options for children under 5 and for 5+ the APPen is suitable for children aged 3-7 with activities tailored to their ability.

Freddy was sent an APPen to try out, which he used with Daddy's iPhone.  The pen was perfectly sized for his hands and he intuitively knew what to do (as all kids seem to!)  The menu gives access to a series of games which help with learning letters, developing fine motor skills and understanding shapes. Children can write, draw and colour in using the Appen.  The pressure sensitive nib gives a realistic writing experience which aids learning to write with paper and pen.  Very useful for my little schoolboy.

When a learning skill has been completed, the child’s progress can be charted for parents to monitor and their creations can be uploaded onto social media for friends and family to see.

There are more games and activities in the pipeline so the APPen will provide entertainment for some time to come.  It is a much cheaper alternative to the dedicated kid's tablets on the market, priced at just £14.99, giving children a new way to enjoy tablets and iPhones.

Freddy enjoyed making pictures using the animated stickers featuring jungle animals.  He also liked practicing his letters, tracing over the screen with his APPen.  The only problem with it is that while Freddy is playing, Daddy's iPhone is tied up, leaving him phone-less!

You can find out more and register your details giving you the chance to win an iPad mini and an APPen at www.appennews.co.uk.

                       

It's Pinkie Cooper! The Girl with a Dog's Head!

It's rare when a toy comes along that is so unique that it creates squeals of disbelief and amazement from my children. Well, Pinkie Cooper, the dog headed fashion dolly has done just that!  Looking like the progeny of Barbie and an English Toy Spaniel, Pinkie Cooper is a glamorous, aspiring model and a student of W.O.O.F. (World of Original Fashion).  Along with her friends, Pepper and Ginger and their Jet Set Pets, she wants to make the world more stylish and dog friendly.  Pinkie has her own fashion blog called Pinkie Post where she un-leashes fashion! (Leash - get it?)

We were sent a Pinkie Cooper and her Jet Set Pet Li'l Pinkie from Flair.  The stylish packaging in chocolate and pink is really nice, and peeping out from the cellophane window is the enigma that is Pinkie Cooper.  The outer of the box slides off from the inner so you can keep it intact and store Pinkie and her accessories safely inside.  Whether this was intentional or not, I love that I can re-use the packaging in this way.

First impressions varied from "It's terrifying!" (Ella 17) to "Aww I love her!" (Freddy 4).  Pinkie is a strange one.  Her puppy dog head has really beautiful, big brown eyes with luscious lashes coupled with a dog's nose.  Weird?  Most definitely, but it somehow works. Her hair, (or are they ears?) spouts from the side of her otherwise bald head.  This hair is removable and can be swapped with other characters in the range or with hair accessories that are available separately.  Her hands/paws are a real canine/human hybrid with pretty pink claws/nails.  She stands 9" tall.

Pinkie's motto is "Dress to Express!" and she knows "Nothing looks better than friends together!" Not a bad message for young girls (or boys)  and not as vacuous as some of the other fashion doll mottos that I have come across.

Pinkie has a lovely raincoat style outfit with matching cap and actually looks quite cute in my opinion.  It is her London outfit (she also comes in versions dressed for Beverley Hills and Paris). The doll itself is very nicely articulated and the joints do not break apart, which is an issue we have seen on other dolls of this kind.   This is a very, well constructed doll with great poseability. 

She comes with a camera, hairbrush and pink brolly - perfect accessories for her jet set life in London!

Li'l Pinkie is a funny li'l thing with an almost smug look on her face.  The body is solid but her head turns.  Her elaborate ears are removable and can mix and match with other Jet Set Pets.  She has a matching jacket to Pinkie.  We also received a blinged up version who came with her own food bowl, lead, jazzy outfit and tiara.  Her glittery pink ears were quite spectacular! The pet figurines are also available as Saltine and Sprinkles who have different styles to Li'l Pinkie. They are very glam and glitzy.

Why Pinkie has a dog's head remains a mystery but the fact that she does, posed a whole lot of questions from my kids. Does she bark or speak English?  Does Pinkie Cooper need a lead when out in public places?  Does she have a licence? Is Lil' Pinkie related to Pinkie Cooper?  Cousins perhaps?  Fine dining or dog food? The debate could rage on and on!  I like a toy that gets people talking!

Personally, I quite like her!  It's something about her puppy dog eyes that reels me in. I like that she is very different to other fashion dolls on the market and I love the W.O.O.F. acronym.  I think it is a bold move to engineer a canine/human hybrid and make her an aspiring fashion model set to rock the runways of Paris. In a market dominated by human dolls, why not mix it up a bit!  Forget the unrealistic female form of  the market leader with her tiny waist and enormous and impossibly perky chest.  Forget the dolls with their promiscuous and revealing outfits and inappropriate tattoos.  Pinkie Cooper may have the head of a dog, but she is not conforming to any harmful gender stereotypes. In fact, this girl shows the world that even with a dog's head, she can still achieve her dreams!

Pinkie Cooper has her own website pinkiecooper.com.

Dolls are available at stockists such as Argos and Amazon.  The Deluxe Travel Collection doll and pet is £24.99 and the Jet Set Pet figurine is £14.99.

Today's A Tree Fu Tom Day!!

At last, after a long few weeks at school, the half term holidays are here.  Today we are celebrating with a day of Tree Fu Tom related fun here Inside the Wendy House.

To begin with and to get us into the mood, we are watching the new Tree Fu Tom DVD: Tree Fu Magic 6 Adventures in Treetopolis.

The action packed adventures encourage kids to get up and active as they help Tom create spectacular Big World Magic by performing Tree Fu moves to help save the day.  With his best friend Twigs, Tree Fu Tom encounters the naughty Mushas, a colony of hungry bees and takes part in an epic underground rolling race in the magical land of Treetopolis in these six exciting episodes.

The Tree Fu Tom : Tree Fu Magic DVD is available now for £9.99 RRP. (Certificate U).

Later on today our Tree Fu Tom day will continue with a Twitter Party between 4 and 6 pm where a posse of Tiny Testers will descend upon our home to test out the latest Tree Fu Tom toys and take part in some fun competitions.  Everyone can join in via Twitter by following @Tree-Fu-Go and #treefutomtoys and there are some great prizes to be won!

The Tree Fu Tom toys are brand new for Spring 2013 and are from Flair plc.  There are figures and playsets along with some great role play toys like the Super Holaplax and Magic Moves Rap Mat.  The foam Flying Squizzles are great for throwing in your own game of Treetopolis Squizzle.  Tree Fu Tom fans will love this range which brings their favourite show to life!

We are excited to be taking part in the Twitter party tonight along with other bloggers up and down the UK where we will be sharing news and photographs of our own parties.  But for now I have Twigs pizzas, Tree Fu Tom cupcakes and Ariela's veg and dips to prepare.  We have quizzes and colouring in activities to sort out and are ready for our own Tree-Fu-Fun!!