CBeebies Land at Alton Towers - our review

If you are looking for a fantastic day out for all the family, Alton Towers is definitely worth considering.  Ever since the opening of CBeebies Land, which caters to pre-schoolers, Alton Towers has become the best venue for keeping everyone in our family happy.  So now while the older kids head off to the rollercoasters, there is a whole day's worth of fun in CBeebies Land for Freddy to enjoy.

From the colourful entrance to the themed rides and attractions to the amazing Big Fun Showtime area, the attention to detail is fantastic!  With character meet and greets, live shows, playground equipment, an assortment of kid friendly rides and hands-on interactive exhibits, Alton Towers have got it so right!

As Merlin annual pass holders, we go a few times a year to our favourite theme park, which is an hour's drive from home.  Having the annual pass means we can beat the queues and get into the park an hour early with access to CBeebies Land before everyone else arrives.  This was great because we were able to experience the In the Night Garden Magical Boat Ride, the Numtums Number Go Round, Charlie and Lola's Moonsquirters and Greendrops, Mr Bloom's Allotments and Justin's Pie-o-matic Factory while they weren't at all busy.  We then enjoyed a nice time at the Tree Fu Tom Training Camp and Nina's Science Lab before relaxing on the sun chairs to watch the Zingzilla's show and play in the Mike the Knight knights in training camp at the Big Fun Showtime area.  Freddy met Tree Fu Tom and Iggle Piggle, which was quite exciting!!

We loved a gentle wander in Mr Tumble's Sensory Garden and Freddy loved putting his hands into the imprints in the CBeebies stars walk of fame.  Everything is brilliantly branded and themed for maximum child appeal with instantly recognisable imagery and music.  We queued for one ride, which was the Get Set Go Tree Top Adventure, which was a twenty five minute wait, but there are things to see and do in the queue keeping kids entertained.  At peak time, the queues for some of the rides exceeded an hour.  I wouldn't fancy waiting that long with little ones, which is why I was glad to do them all early.

As regulars of Alton Towers we recognised all the rides as being revamped versions of the old rides they had there when it was Old MacDonald's Farm.  It is a stroke of genius transforming an old tired, underused area of the park into something so popular.  For example they have converted the old tractor ride into Postman Pat's Parcel Post and the Eye Spy Riverboat Ride is now home to Upsy Daisy, Iggle Piggle et al!  A lick of paint, a spruce up and the introduction of some CBeebies characters has really given this area an incredible face lift.  Hot on the heels of Peppa Pig World and Thomas Land, CBeebies Land is bang on trend when it comes to keeping little ones happy at theme parks.

I loved how there are now lots of hands on exhibits like Nina's Science lab where kids can explore their senses and the Charlie and Lola fun house, which is just stunning and immerses kids in the vision of Lauren Child.  New facilities and some amazing design features have lifted the area, making it quite literally magical. The live shows and the interactive Mr Bloom attraction make kids feel a part of their favourite CBeebies programmes. It's like stepping into the TV!

I loved our day at Alton Towers.  As well as CBeebies Land, Freddy enjoyed the carousel, the indoor soft play area, the River Rapids and the driving school, which are other kid friendly attractions that he enjoys. Add to that the beautiful landscaped gardens and the SeaLife Centre, and he enjoyed a full and varied day out.

Freddy's verdict - "Awesome!!"

Help Your Kids Engage with Nature this Spring

Do you know your Ash from your Elm?  Or your Sparrow from your Starling?  If the answer is no, then you are not alone.  According to a survey conducted by CBeebies show Tree Fu Tom many parents are stumped when their little ones ask them questions about nature.  When they see a flower in bloom or hear a bird singing in the tree, many parents are unable to identify what they are.

Help is at hand!  We can all brush up our knowledge ready to tell our children about the wonder and excitement of nature, as we explore the plants and wildlife in our parks, gardens or woodland.

Join in with a live WebTV show here tomorrow (Thursday 20th March) at 2pm, where Zoologist and nature writer Jules Howard will reveal some interesting facts about nature in Britain and guide us through what to look out for this spring when we are in the great outdoors.  Polishing up our own knowledge can help us to open our children's eyes to the wonders of nature this springtime.

Show date:  Thursday 20th March
Show time:   2pm

Tree Fu Tom Adventure Castle Play Set Review

The Tree Fu Tom Adventure Castle Playset is a great toy for little fans of CBeebies' Tree Fu Tom.  The Treetop Adventure Castle is an interactive playset with plenty of features that will keep children happily entertained, playing imaginative games featuring their favourite Tree Fu Tom characters.

The play set needs some minimal adult assembly which I managed without too much trouble (OK I put one bit on upside down, but Ian fixed it for me!)  The set includes one Tree Fu Tom figure and a leaf board so you can play straight away (well done Flair!) Plus the  light up seeking crystal comes with batteries included (well done again to Flair!) Two things that make a huge difference to me as a parent when buying toys for my children.

The castle comes with lots of play features:

Removable light up seeking crystal - use the switch to light up the crystal to find hidden sap splats (or ladybird poo as Freddy calls them!) or turn the crystal on by standing Tom on the button while the crystal is in position.

Secret trapdoor - turn the page of the spell book to open the trap door and drop Tom through the floor.

Wind-up Super Lifto lift - Wind up the lift to raise Tom and his leafboard to the upper floor of the castle.

Flying Tree Fu fun - Tom's feet push into the flyer and he spins round as you twist the top of the castle.

Leaf board ramp - Tom can whoosh down the ramp on his leaf board!

Freddy was very excited about playing with his new toy.  As he already had a few other Tree Fu Tom characters he was able to set up an elaborate game featuring Ariela, Squirmtum and Zigzoo.  He loved using the trapdoor, causing the 'baddies' to fall through the hole.  The crystal proved to be a lot of fun too as Freddy used it to find the splats.  The lift was easy for him to use and he had it going up and down to carry characters around the castle. Freddy had many exciting woodland adventures, practicing big world magic and battling the Mushas!

The castle feels sturdy and robust and fits together well.  The features all add to the play value and there is plenty of room for children to position their characters, move them around and enjoy a great Treetopolis based game. The toy will fuel their imaginations, while the features add a touch of magic!

The toy is recommended for children aged 3 and up and has an RRP of £29.99.  Find out more on the Flair website:  http://www.flairplc.co.uk/Product/80270-Tree-Fu-Tom-Adventure-Castle-Playset/

Tree Fu Tom - The Ultimate Tom Toy

He has pop out wings, his Sapstone Belt and Holopax light up,  he says over 30 phrases, has articulated poseable limbs and plays music from the hit TV show - no wonder this is the Ultimate Tom toy! 

Freddy who is a big fan of the CBeebies show and can often be found doing his own form of Tree Fu Magic in the middle of the living room, was one very happy little boy when he saw the Ultimate Tom toy.  He immediately began pressing the buttons through the packaging to hear one of the thirty phrases that Tom says.  I managed to get the toy away long enough to liberate Tom from his cardboard and plastic prison, ready to begin his first adventure with Freddy!

Tom looks very much like his TV counterpart and is instantly recognisable.  He has two buttons on his Sapstone belt and one on his Holopax which when pressed  make Tom speak. The belt and Holopax also light up.  A button on his chest makes his wings pop out, and if you tilt Tom into flying position he plays the theme tune.

I was very impressed by the number and quality of the phrases that Tom spoke and they really add to the play value of this toy.  The phrases are very interactive and Freddy was soon discussing shrinking spells, directions to the castle and the virtues of Tree Fu magic with his new toy.  They act as prompts to some very imaginative play as Freddy and Tom embark on exciting adventures together.

The toy stands up very well and is stable and solid. No part of it feels flimsy which is nice to see in a toy of this kind.  The joints are articulated and Tom can be posed into some Tree Fu magic moves.  I like the way that children are encouraged to join in, strike poses and get active, in the same way as when watching the TV show.  It brings the magic of Treetopolis straight into the toybox!

Our Ultimate Tom toy has been dropped onto a tiled floor causing his wings to fall off, but thankfully they were easy to click back on and no permanent damage was caused. It shows no signs of wear and tear even after some vigorous play.  It's nice to see just how robust this toy is!

Any fans of Tree Fu Tom would enjoy playing with the Ultimate Tom toy.  It is a lot of fun to interact with Tom and fly him around the room as the theme tune plays.  Freddy is so taken with it, he has taken it to bed with him a few times.  Just be aware though that after it has gone untouched for a while he says good-bye until your next adventure - this can be a problem if your child has just dropped off to sleep.  Oops!

The Ultimate Tom toy from Flair has an rrp of £24.99 and is available from Amazon.

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!

Tree Fu Tom Toys

We were lucky enough to take part in a Tree Fu Tom Twitter party yesterday.  The toys we received, to be tried and tested by a team of party goers, deserve to be reviewed in their own right because they really are quite excellent.  They inspired some very imaginative role play and got the kids up and moving.  Sometimes, toys that are based on a TV show can be a disappointment in terms of play value and quality, but these toys from Flair really hit the mark.

The Tree Fu Tom Rap Mat RRP £24.99 is a colourful, electronic dance mat.  It has coloured sections that correspond to a light up panel.  As the coloured lights come on, players have to put their feet on the corresponding section of the mat.  At the same time, Tom's voice gives vocal commands to add to the magic moves.  Little ones get up and active to the Tree-Fu fun.  Listening skills and gross motor skills are developed, as children follow the commands.

The Holopax is Tom's wrist worn gadget that gives children the chance to dress up like their favourite Tree Fu hero.  The Holopax uses lights and sounds and includes 25 phrases from the characters in the show.  It is a sturdy toy with an adjustable strap.  It has an RRP of £16.99.  Although it is a cute, novelty gadget, it is really just a toy for dressing up and for role play.  It doesn't give commands like the Rap Mat and so the play value is restricted to the child's imagination.  For this reason, this is my least favourite of the range, although Freddy loves wearing it and pressing the button which triggers the flashing lights and sounds.  He thinks it is great!

The Flying Squizzles are a new take on the frisbee.  Priced at £3.99 they are a great toy for active play.  They are made of foam, making them safe, and can be thrown in a game of Treetopolis's favourite sport where scoring a Mega Triple Wing scores you extra points.  They fly very well through the air and although they are safe, I would recommend them for outdoor use if you have a kid with a right arm like my son!  He has got a real throw on him and I had a donk on the head at the hands of him armed with a Squizzle.

The Tree Fu Tom figures are probably my favourite toy in the range.  Priced at £4.99 each  there are five to collect: Tom, Twigs, Ariela, Squirmtum and Zigzoo.  They each come with a removable base and an accessory in their blister pack.  I was very impressed with the quality and the beautiful detail of these figures.  They are really lovely and will inspire hours of imaginative play based on Tree Fu Tom's adventures.

For £7.99 you can get a deluxe version that includes a bigger accessory such as Tom's leaf skateboard,  Twigs's opening acorn or Ariela's ladybird and lasso, plus some free-standing foliage that makes scenery for games to take place around.

For £12.99 there are playsets available such as ZigZoo with his vehicle.  These give extra play value with extra, larger accessories for the figures to interact with.  All the figures and accessories within the range are compatible so children can build a collection of  their Tree Fu Tom favourites.  Fans of the show will be delighted with them.

The Tree Fu Tom range of merchandise also includes a set of books including sticker books, 3D colouring books and story books.  There are also two DVD's Volume 1 Tree Fu Go & 2 Tree Fu Magic so children can watch Tree Fu Tom whenever they want!

For a TV tie-in, these toys are very well made, well conceived and fit well with the ethos of the TV show which inspires youngsters to get up and get active and join in with their favourite characters as they make Big World Magic to save the day.  Find out more about these Tree Fu Tom toys at Flair's website.

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!!

What February May Bring

Hello February!  Who can believe that we are now in the second month of 2013!?  Certainly not me.  It seems like yesterday that I packed the Christmas baubles back into their plastic box, and I'm still finding the odd rogue pine needle hiding itself against the skirting boards. But here we are.  One twelfth of 2013 is now behind us.

This month is going to be a strange one for us.  Ian's operation is fast approaching.  There is just a bit of organisation left to do, negotiations between the surgeon, hospital and private health insurance to make sure that all the t's are crossed and the i's dotted.  Ian has been put under the care of a surgeon who is the UK's top specialist in his field.  In fact he has been on Embarrassing Bodies being filmed doing operations, so I'm guessing Ian will be in extremely good hands. Hopefully this time we will get a cure rather than just a 12 month hiatus which his last operation gave him. Ian's symptoms are getting worse and we do live in fear of his kidneys suffering some damage.  Everytime he gets a twinge in his back he starts worrying.  So I hope the red tape gets waded through quickly and Ian can go under the knife that is held in the capable hands of the TV doc!

Of course, following his operation I will have to look after Ian.  I am not the most sympathetic nurse in the world when it comes to caring for my poorly husband.  But he assures me that it is my tough love that gets him back on his feet.  The post-surgery fortnight sounds quite grim and will involve me having to get hands on with some procedures.  I will have to harness my inner Florence Nightingale and rise to the challenge.  Although I am tough, I do it with all the love in my heart and Ian knows that.  It's only because I want him better and can't bear to see my man suffer.

Before the op, we are taking a trip to London as Kizzy has won a competition with Girl Talk magazine to spend a day in the offices.  The competition was to write a topical gossip story in 50 words and she amazed me by writing a really punchy, snappy piece about One Direction.  She really wanted to win but I told her as I always do, not to get her hopes up as hundreds of people enter and the judges have an idea what they are looking for and if you don't fit their criteria you won't win however good your entry was.  I told her that the enjoyment of writing the piece is reward enough and anything else is a bonus.  She was happy with that and pretty much forgot about it until the phone call telling her she had won!!  She can't wait to play at being a magazine editor for a day.  She loves her girlie mags, make-up, fashion and celebrities, so she will be in her element.

Kizzy At Work

We will be hosting a Tree Fu Tom party in half term along with other bloggers across the country.  We'll be inviting round some little people to try out the latest Tree Fu Tom toys and enjoying some themed party games and food.    Freddy loves the CBeebies' show starring Tom, the young boy who does his magical Tree-Fu moves to save the day.  So he will love this!

You can join us between 4 and 6 pm live on Twitter where there will be some great prizes to be won.  Just look out for the #treefutomtoys hashtag and join in the fun!!

Tomorrow I'm off to see my grandson Ted!  Last night we spent half an hour on Facetime with Joe, Jade and Ted (after Joe read my post).  At times like this I LOVE technology even more than usual.  I got to see my chubby, chinned little grandson cooing and gurgling and giving little smiles as his mum and dad played with him.  It was wonderful!!  I can't wait to give him a cuddle for real tomorrow.  It will be my first visit of 2013 as this is our first free weekend,  and I am going to savour every second with my son and his family. (Just wish that Megan could be there too...nothing beats having all my kids together!)

So February here we come.  I hope it brings all good things for you too!

Tree Fu Tom Coming To DVD

Travel with Tom to Treetoplis for Seven Magical Adventures

Pre-schoolers can take a trip into an enchanted world of Treetopolis where movement creates magic as the very first Tree Fu Tom DVD is released on October 22nd 2012.  Join Tom and his trusty sidekick Twigs, who is an acorn sprite, as they embark on adventures and overcome epic challenges harnessing the spectacular power of Tree Fu.

Tom is an ordinary boy until he puts on his magic belt and transforms himself into a magical superhero.  Children are encouraged to join in with the Tree Fu moves to help Tom use Big World Magic to avert disasters and save his friends.

The moves are developed from therapeutic techniques that are used to help children with movement disorders, but are also designed to assist and enhance the development of all children at a crucial time in their growth.  But best of all, they are a lot of fun which makes children love joining in with them.

Freddy has been a Tree Fu Tom fan ever since he first saw it on CBeebies.  He is a very active child and loves to jump up to do the Tree Fu moves and interact with the TV show.  So having a 154 minute DVD featuring seven exciting episodes is just perfect for him if he ever wants to embark on a bit of Tree Fu!

Tree Fu Tom: Tree Fu Go features the vocal talents of David Tennant and Sophie Aldred.  The mix of live action and animation makes the show really magical to its young audience.  We have had a sneaky peek of the DVD and I love that we can just dip in and play an episode and get Freddy his Tree Fu fix at anytime.  It's such a fun show with great characters and lots of energy, keeping little ones entertained and active.  I love watching Freddy doing his Tree Fu!

The Episodes on the DVD are:

MAY THE BEST BERRY WIN

SQUIZZLE QUEST

ZIGZOO THE ZERO

SO LONG GREENHORNS

HIDE & SQUEAK

WISHFUL THINKING

ZIGZOO'S ROBOT

RRP: £9.99 or £12.99 with a Tom figurine in a special limited edition version.