Mr Tumble's Christmas Party album out on November 4th

This festive season will be made even more magical as little ones will be able to listen to Mr Tumble's first ever album, Mr Tumble's Christmas Party. Featuring twenty much loved Christmas classics, children will be able to sing along to favourites such as Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Frozen's Do You Want To Build a Snowman. Each track has a Mr Tumble twist, keeping little fans enthralled and entertained. Each track has been newly recorded and sung by Mr Tumble and his popular friends, Justin, Lord Tumble, Aunt Polly and Grandad Tumble!

Justin Fletcher, the man behind the CBeebies character Mr Tumble, has previously enjoyed chart success and already has a gold selling album to his name! I'm sure Mr Tumble's Christmas Party will be equally well received by pre-schoolers, and will make a brilliant stocking filler.

Justin's distinctive voice and child-friendly delivery is instantly recognisable on the tracks. Little ones will really enjoy spending Christmas listening to these familiar and much loved characters and will know a fair few of the songs too. It'll be perfect for Christmas parties, get togethers or for listening to on car journeys, building the excitement of the season. It is an album designed with the youngest audience in mind and they will love it.

Mr Tumble's Christmas Party album is released on November 4th and is available on Amazon for pre-order priced at £9.99 for the CD (correct at time of writing). It's also available to download. So get into the festive spirit, sing along and have a Something Special Christmas Party with the family!

Tracklist:

1             Here Comes Santa Claus

2             Do You Wanna Build a Snowman

3             Santa Claus is Coming to Town

4             Winter Wonderland

5             Frosty the Snowman

6             It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

7             A Sleigh Ride Together with You

8             White Christmas

9             I Can't Wait for Christmas

10          Silent Night

11          Let it Snow

12          Jingle Bells

13          All I want for Christmas is My 2 Front Teeth

14          Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

15          Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

16          12 Days of Christmas

17          Little Drummer Boy

18          The Xmas Song

19          Have Yourself a Merry Little Xmas Time

20          We Wish You a Merry Xmas

CBeebies Kazoops songs released on new album Just Imagine Volume 1

Little fans of the CBeebies show Kazoops, which launched earlier this year, have now got another way to enjoy their favourite show. The music from the top rated animated  TV series, has just been released for the first time on album by children’s TV producer, Cheeky Little Media. ‘Just Imagine – Volume 1’ contains a total of 20 original songs from the popular Kazoops series. It's available from digital service providers including iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora and Youtube. Fans of the pre-school TV series will be able to either buy the whole album for £7.99 or choose individual songs to download. 

Kazoops stars six year old Monty, who challenges life’s questions both big and small with the help of his limitless imagination and his best friend, Jimmy Jones, the family's pet pig. In each episode, the duo enters make-believe worlds to challenge everyday preconceptions, finding the answers to questions such as 'do all games need rules?' Each episode includes an original song, written and performed by Scott Langley, which inspires children by highlighting the magic and power of their imaginations. With clever, funny lyrics and combining a number of musical instruments and genres, they complement the show but also make lovely standalone songs for pre-schoolers to enjoy.

With titles such as 'Matching Socks', 'Rain Song', 'Space Games' and 'Celebrate', the songs feature ideas and concepts that kids will relate to. The songs don't patronise the young listeners, concentrating on quality rather than gimmicks. They have educational content and explore things in an interesting child friendly way. Even grown-ups can enjoy the songs and might find themselves singing along!

You can watch a YouTube video of one of the songs 'Dino Saurus Games' by clicking the button below. We love the quirky animation, cute characters, funny lyrics and the catchy tune. If you haven't discovered Kazoops already, give it a go!

The album has launched in English but will be followed by a subsequent global music release in 2017 in 18 other languages. You can find Kazoops Just Imagine Volume 1 on Amazon now.

JUSTIN FLETCHER ANNOUNCED AS HEADLINE ACT FOR GERONIMO FESTIVAL

Geronimo, the largest children’s festival in the North West has announced its most exciting line-up to date, with headliner CBeebies Superstar Justin Fletcher! Known for CBeebies shows Something Special, Justin’s House and Gigglebiz, Justin Fletcher will be performing his signature act on the festival’s main stage for one day only at each festival, on Sunday 29th May at Tatton Park and 1st May at Harewood House.

   

With more acts and activities still to be announced, Geronimo Festival 2016 is a fantastic day out for the whole family, promising an exciting programme of acts, amazing experiences and wonderful adventures.

 

Further acts announced:

BOOMCHIKKABOOM!  Supported by Mothercare UK, enjoy bubble and snow machines, giant parachutes, face painting, soft play, crafts, pom poms and live music – to get the whole family raving together with timetabled "rave sessions".

 

VIP Puppets creates larger than life puppets that interact with their audience. With walkabouts featuring an adorable giraffe called Dolly and her baby Juno, guests can pet or feed the towering puppets who are always happy to lower their heads to meet their biggest (smallest) fans. Dolly's team of attentive zookeepers is always on hand to train new recruits in feeding, and cleaning up her poo!

 

For all mini music lovers, Saul’s Junk orchestra’s amazing pop up musical installations will amaze and inspire. Find them in the woods and the main festival field, or join in one of their workshops.

 

Panning for gold has been around for hundreds of years, and you can try your hand at it with The Highland Valley gold & gem panning activity, bringing the gold rush to Geronimo!

 

Early bird tickets available until 31st Jan priced at £18.50 so be quick!

Tickets priced at £25.00pp from 1st Feb. 

Visit www.geronimofest.com for more information

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeronimoFestival/

Twitter: @geronimofest_uk

It's a Bing Thing! - New Bing DVD now available

For the first time, much to the delight of my son Freddy, Bing is available on DVD.  Bing is a cute little black rabbit, who has adventures with his carer Flop and his friends Coco, Charlie, Pando and Sula.  Based on the books by Ted Dewan, Bing celebrates the noisy, joyful messy reality of being a small child.

Freddy watches a Bing on BBC iPlayer every night before bed.  He loves the storytelling and each episode comes with an important message, teaching children social skills about friendship, sharing and taking turns. Each story ends with the reassuring "It's a Bing thing!" message.

BING will be available on DVD for the very first time on March 30th, and fans can enjoy the following episodes:

Swing, Bye Bye, Ducks, Growing, Hide & Seek, Lost, Frog, Bake, Atchoo! and VooVoo.

Filled with gentle humour, energy, wonder and everyday dramas, that little ones and their parents will recognise, the stories are told from Bing's perspective.

The DVD also contains a ‘Grow With Bing’ height chart – a perfect addition to the play room so you can see how your little one grows!

Cert. U 

RRP: £9.99

The Furchester Hotel - Open for Business

Coming to CBeebies at the end of this month is the exciting new series for children aged 3-6 years, The Furchester Hotel.  Starring Elmo and the Cookie Monster along with the Furchester family and a host of other lovable characters, the series is made in partnership with Sesame Workshop.

Back in May, we visited CBeebies Studios in Salford to find out about more about the show and to watch the filming of an episode of The Furchester Hotel.  

The show is set in The Furchester Hotel where a family of close-knit, chaotic monsters welcome their guests and bend over backwards to meet their every need.  Mum Funella, dad Fergus and their daughter Phoebe work alongside cousin Elmo, waiter and room service guy the Cookie Monster and the furry bell monster, Isabelle to ensure everything runs smoothly.  

But they do run into problems!  For example how do you disguise a pony who checks in for a quiet break? Where is the perfect place to put a very fussy plant? What happens when Super Rock appears and needs a new super hero cape? How can they stop Cookie Monster from eating the giant cookie guest Mr. Crumb? 

The Furchester family approach every problem with determination and resolve in order to keep their guests happy and devise a solution for every situation. Even when they think they have exhausted all the possibilities, their perseverance prevails because their family motto is, “A Furchester never gives up!”

We were able to watch an unfinished episode that featured some singing vegetables!  Freddy loved it and thought the characters were adorable and fun.  Then we went to see the show being filmed.  Seeing the puppeteers in action in the beautifully crafted sets was really incredible.

The very best part of the day was when the children got to meet the characters!  They swept in to the room and chatted, hugged and played with us all.  It was magical!

The puppeteers are real artistes who breathe life into the array of fantastic puppets, giving them all a personality and a voice.  Hearing the familiar sound of the Cookie Monster and Elmo as they chatted to Kizzy and Freddy left me a little starstruck!!

We had a great day at the CBeebies studios and got a real insight into The Furchester Hotel.  I love the message of inclusivity and optimism, the uplifting use of fun-filled music and the colourful characters and elaborate sets. We will definitely be looking out for it when it appears on our screens on September 26th at 5pm.

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!!"

Some Great Kids' Books on Review

Mungo Monkey has a Birthday Party

This is an incredibly cute, colourful storybook from illustrator Lydia Monks, made even better by the addition of lots of fun flaps inside.  It tells the story of Mungo as he prepares for his birthday party.

There is so much to do and little ones can join in with the fun and see what is happening by lifting the flaps!

We loved the colourful illustrations and the cute characters.  The story is simple and sweet and little ones will relate to the tale of Mungo as he bakes a cake, blows up party balloons and chooses a costume to wear.

Egmont 

RRP £7.99 

Publishing March 2014

CBeebies Woolly and Tig 

Fans of Woolly and Tig will enjoy the range of activity books, story books and sticker books featuring their favourite cuddly toy spider.  The Wipe Clean Activity Book lets little ones practice their writing.  Freddy really enjoyed writing his letters, rubbing them off and writing them all over again!

There are lots of things to do and learn, with everyday subjects at the heart of the content.  For example Woolly looks at dinner times and eating in restaurants to teach some early counting and maths skills.

Pre-schoolers can learn vocabulary, trace words and match stickers along with Woolly and Tig.

The colourful sticker sheets are always a hit with children and they allow even the youngest kids to interact with the activities.

The story books reinforce the messages of Woolly and Tig, helping little people share their worries and cope with new situations and experiences.

The Woolly and Tig Books are available now from:

I Love Mummy £5.99 RRP

Let's Play Sticker Book  £3.99 RRP

Out and About Sticker Book £3.99 RRP

Night Night Woolly £5.99 RRP

My Wipe Clean Activity Book (with pen) £3.99

Have Fun with Woolly and Tig £3.99

Show Me, Show Me...An Ageless Chris!

Back in 1993, my son Joseph, then aged 5, made some sausage and bean Dino Pasty-Saurus pasties and won a Flinstone's cookery competition that saw us fly out to Los Angeles to celebrate the opening of the Flinstone's movie and attraction at Universal Studios.  Yabba-dabba-doo!!

At the photoshoot, we were joined by an up and coming TV presenter, Chris Jarvis.  He was charming and handsome and we just knew he'd go on to have a great career!

Fast forward to 20 years later, and I was invited to have a top secret, sneaky peek of the set of the new series of CBeebies' Show Me Show Me with my three youngest children. We got to meet the stars of the show,  Pui and her lovely co-host Chris Jarvis!  He really hasn't changed at all...still charming and handsome!

We watched the filming of a new on-location episode of Show Me Show Me which featured Miss Mouse as a bride and Chris and Pui throwing confetti.  It really was amazing watching what goes into the filming and the behind the scenes activity involved.  The set is superb and colourful.  Chris and Pui are so professional, having perfected the CBeebies, kid-friendly presenting that we all love. It was very impressive and they were both absolutely lovely people.

Whatever it is that Chris has that keeps him looking so young and so full of energy should be bottled...I'd buy some of his bottled joie de vivre, that's for sure!

The new series of Show Me Show Me, starts Monday 28th October at 10.05am on CBeebies

"Come out and play with Chris, Pui and all the toys as they explore their brand-new playground outside. Bursting with colour, it’s the perfect space to inspire young imaginations.  There’s a giant birdhouse, a bandstand, a big slide, magical woods and hills to clamber up.

In every episode, Chris and Pui explore two themes, from bread to blackbirds, robots to colanders and confetti to roadsweepers - anything can become the start of an adventure outdoors."

We've Seen Andy and Mike's Tick Tock Time Machine

Today we headed to Oakengate's Theatre in Telford to see Andy & Mike's Tick Tock Time Machine.  Freddy was very excited about meeting yet another CBeebies presenter and watching the show.  It was his first visit to a proper theatre and he excitedly took his seat in the second row with a great view of the stage.  We bought him a light up wand to wave during the performance!

The show started with instant high energy action that set the scene for the next 90 minutes.  The comedy pairing of Andy and Mike had everyone from the tiniest tots to the mums and dads laughing out loud and joining in with some interactive fun and games.

The story is based around Andy and Mike discovering a time machine invented by Andy's great great great grandfather Wally Bum *cue sniggers* which uses the power of a "flush" capacitor to transport them back and forward through time.  The kid-friendly toilet humour comes in bucketloads!

Their adventure takes them back to the Wild West and to Medieval Times and then forward to the 23rd century. They have to find some important objects and deliver them to the future in a bid to help save Future Mike from a rather odd fate involving Babybel Cheese!

The two man show adopts imaginative use of a shrinking box to turn one of them into a Mini version of themselves (subsequently played by a Ken doll) freeing up the other one to play one of the other roles - such as a hapless sheriff, a posing knight and a futuristic robot.  Audience participation provided another character who appeared repeatedly throughout the show.  It was a well devised idea to keep the action going and maximize the talents of Andy and Mike!  The scenery was minimal, but by rearranging it and turning it round, it transformed the stage into a castle, a jail, Wally Bum's workshop or the future world.

The show contains lots of songs and silly dances which has everyone clapping their hands and stamping their feet.  It also provided us with a very novel way of winning Rock, Paper, Scissors courtesy of Mike!

The banter between the pair added to the entertainment value, with a few gags that made the grown-ups snigger. Andy's ad libbing regarding Mike's sweating was a running gag (literally).  Mike ribbing Andy about his CBeebies presenting and in particular the Number Wrap that he performs with Sid was also very amusing.

The show was a big hit and I think it would translate brilliantly into a CBeebies show seeing the pair travelling through time introducing pre-schoolers to periods from history.  Great fun!  All the kids in the theatre were joining in with the audience participation and laughing at Mike and Andy's antics.  They really know how to entertain children.

After the show we got to meet Andy and Mike in the foyer where the kids got a sticker and a signed photo.  They had so much time for the families who queued up to say hello and it really made the experience special for little CBeebies fans (and those with a 'mummy crush' on Andy!!)

 A collection for the Lullaby Trust was also held as Andy and Mike are supporting this fantastic charity, in memory of Matilda Mae, during their Autumn/Winter tour.  Putting in your small change can really help make a big change, giving support to families affected by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and providing funding for research into the prevention of SIDS.

Here is a list of upcoming tour dates.  If they are coming to a venue near you, it is well worth a watch if your kids love:  Andy Day/ silly mad-cap adventures / all-singing, all-dancing shows / having fun at the theatre.  It is great entertainment for little ones aged 3 and up.

Autumn/Winter 2013

Sat 26th October Frome, Memorial Theatre 01373 462795

Sun 27th October Malvern, Festival Theatre 01684 892 277

Mon 28th October St. Albans, The Arena 01727 844488

Tues 29th October Worthing, Connaught Theatre 01903 206 206

Wed 30th October Dartford, The Orchard 01322 220000

Thurs 31st October Yeovil, Octagon Theatre 01935 422884

Fri 1st November Porthcawl, The Grand Pavilion 01656 815995

Sun 3rd November Bournemouth, Pavilion Theatre 01202 456400

Spring 2014

Sat 15th February Leeds, City Varieties 0113 243 0808

Sun 16th February Lincoln, Theatre Royal 01522 519999

Tues 18th February Redditch, Palace 01527 65203

Wed 19th February Barking, Broadway 020 8507 5607

Thurs 20th February Dorking Halls 01306 881717

Fri 20th February Radlett Centre 01923 859291

Sun 23rd February Dunstable, Grove 01582 60 20 80

Sat 8th March Burnley Mechanics 01282 664400

Sun 9th March Bolton Albert Halls 01204 334400

They are also running a competition in conjunction with Duplo which you can enter by posting a pic on their Facebook page. www.facebook.com/andyandmikes

Find out more at andyandmike.com

We received free tickets to enjoy the show but the opinions are all ours!

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.

Our Something Special Party

Yesterday we hosted our Mr Tumble's Something Special Party in conjunction with UKMums.tv.  I spent the whole day while Freddy was at school baking and decorating cakes and biscuits, making spotty jelly, knocking up pizzas and preparing snacks, all with a spotty theme.  I laid the table, prepared the games, put the Something Special CD on, hung my Justin poster up and readied myself for the arrival of my guests.  We had six extra little ones to feed and entertain.

They loved looking at the toys when they arrived.  The spotty bag was a real favourite as it is so recognisable from the show.  The colourful, textured spots make it really tactile for little ones, while the older ones liked slinging it over their shoulder and pretending to be Justin.  The interactive soft toys are a lot of fun.  The kids liked to press the big one's hand and the little one's belly to hear the funny phrases.  We had them having a conversation at one point! The light up nose proved to be a popular feature too.  The felt Stick Ons were enjoyed by the older ones who loved dressing Mr Tumble.  The choice of clothes is varied and the addition of underwear is always well received by kids who think spotty pants are hilarious!

We had some great activities to enjoy.  The Pass the Parcel was absolutely brilliant.  Everyone was so pleased with their gifts and the Mr Tumble CD provided perfect music for it. Stick the Nose on Mr Tumble was an easy game that got everyone involved.  Dancing and singing along to the CD, playing with the Interactive Mr.Tumble toys, dressing the felt Justin in his spotty pants and colouring in the bow ties and Mr Tumble printouts kept the children occupied.

The children enjoyed their tea party and went through the pizzas, crudites, cheesey rolls, cup cakes, biscuits and potato rings at a fair rate.  I had made the pizzas spotty by using a small circle cutter to cut out spots of Quorn ham and processed cheese slices and popping them on top.  I also sliced up some vegetarian hot dogs to make smaller spots.  It was very effective!

I made spotty jelly by adding Jelly Tots to the jelly before it had set.  Freddy ate two bowlfuls!  I was really pleased with my named biscuits.  I made a basic vanilla cookie dough and cut in into rounds.  Once baked and cooled, I used writing icing to write names and draw on spots.  The cupcakes were decorated with small circles of fondant icing on top of frosting or with dotty sprinkles to keep with the spotty theme.

We live tweeted during the party, but it was multi-tasking at its best trying to keep the kids happy, entertained and fed while tweeting!

My youngest guest was so delighted when I gave her the Mr Tumble Interactive toy to take home.  She hugged him and quickly worked out how to make him talk by pressing his hand.  It really made me smile!  These toys are perfect for little fans, bringing Mr.Tumble into their toyboxes.

After the kids left, clutching their fabulous Something Special Goodie bags and prizes they had won from the games, I tidied up the mess before collapsing on the sofa exhausted but so happy to have thrown such a lovely party for the little ones and their friends!

Andy and Mike's Tick Tock Time Machine

Andy Day, star of Andy’s Wild Adventures (CBeebies) and BAFTA nominated BBC presenter, stars alongside comedy partner, Mike James in a brilliant adventure coming to a stage near you! Their trademark infectious energy and their irrepressible sense of fun, promises to make their show a treat for the whole family.

Whilst playing in the garden of their ‘fun pad’ – they discover a door that was locked many years ago by their great, great, great grandfather Wally Bum. Inside they find many inventions and a mysterious Time Machine. The Time Machine sends them on a quest to collect the things they need from the past and the future. Will they make it back to the here and now or be trapped in the mists of a time forever? One thing’s for sure; they haven’t a chance without your help!

Andy and Mike hope you’ll think their show is so good, you will want to travel back in time as soon as you’ve seen it to and see it all over again.

the show is 60 minutes long.

Suitable for anyone aged 3 and up and their families.

Find out more at andyandmike.com

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!

We Met Alex Winters at The Lowry

We love Manchester.  It's where my eldest daughter lives.  It's where Ella plans to go to university.  It's a home from home for us.  There is always so much going on and so much to do. 

The Lowry is a great spot to visit.  It boasts an art gallery, three theatres, a cafe, gift shop, exhibition spaces, activity workshops and as from today a brand new family activity space known as The Lookout. I was invited to the official opening today along with Ella, Kizzy and Freddy.

It's free to enter the building and families get a warm welcome with a focus on fun and learning for all ages.  The Lookout is a lovely, light and airy space where children can play, curl up with a book or practice their drawing skills.  It overlooks the Quays with excellent views to inspire budding artists. The Lookout is sponsored by Derwent who supply art supplies for kids to use.

The space is open everyday 11am to 5pm except on Saturday when it is open from 10am to 5pm, and is free to use.  It is a great place to enjoy whatever the weather, adding another reason to visit The Lowry.  There is a great play area for the under 5's with puzzles and story books.

The Lookout has a programme of family friendly activities.  Freddy enjoyed taking part in a puppet making workshop. The activity was demonstrated and then the children were able to create their own.

He made a great horse puppet using a paper plate and some arty bits and bobs, based on War Horse, a theatre production of which is coming to the theatre soon.  He called his horse Ben and was very proud of it!

CBeebies favourite Alex Winters came to the launch event and was on hand to entertain the little ones.  Freddy was very proud to show him his horse puppet!  Alex liked his golden tail.

Alex entertained the children with a fabulous interactive story telling session.  Freddy was really excited to join in with Alex's version of We're Going On A Bear Hunt, which he knows from nursery.  It was lovely meeting Alex and he was so good with the children!

Photo by Andrew Robinson

We had a brilliant time in The Lookout.  We were treated to lunch and were really impressed by the latest family friendly facility available at The Lowry, especially as it is free to use.  It was great to catch up with some of my blogging buddies and to meet Alex too!

For more information visit www.thelowry.com

Be A Knight, Do It Right DVD Review

MIKE THE KNIGHT™ SET FOR MORE AMAZING ADVENTURES IN

BRAND NEW DVD ‘MIKE THE KNIGHT™: BE A KNIGHT, DO IT RIGHT!’

"Saddle-up and explore the enchanted realm of Glendragon with CBeebies favourite Mike the Knight! Join his companions Sparkie and Squirt and trusty steed Galahad, as the young knight-in-training embarks on more marvellous missions. Available from Monday 29^th July with an RRP of £12.99, Mike the Knight: Be a Knight, Do it Right! includes seven exciting episodes from the popular pre-school series."

We were very excited to review this DVD as we have recently enjoyed meeting Mike the Knight at Warwick Castle, and my own little knight in training Freddy is a big fan!

In this brand-new DVD, Mike sets out to be the best knight he can be.  In one episode,The Triple Trophy Triumph,  Mike discovers that winning isn't everything when he attempts to win three trophies in one day.  Other episodes include The New Castle, The Big Parade, The Knightly Welcome, The Wild Boar, The Great Rescue and Peace and Quiet.  Plenty of fun for little Mike the Knight fans this summer.

I really do like the life lessons that little ones learn as they watch Mike the Knight.  They learn all about things such as fairness, helpfulness, friendship and kindness through watching Mike doing his best to do it right. 

Little ones can learn to do it right, just like Mike, with a host of chivalrous DVD extras. This includes a modern-day version of the chivalrous code, a reward chart and a host of other downloadable activities. For more information on Mike the Knight visit www.miketheknight.com or connect with Mike online through Facebook and Twitter:

https://www.facebook.com/miketheknightofficial

 

https://twitter.com/MiketheKnightUK

                  Mike the Knight™: Be a Knight, Do it Right!

     Release Date:                        29 July 2013

     RRP:                                     £12.99

     Running Time:                        84 minutes (approx)

               

     Format:                                  DVD

                 Certificate:                             U

     Available from:                      All good retailers and www.amazon.co.uk

                

We Met Mike the Knight at Warwick Castle

Yesterday we were lucky enough to be invited to the first of the Mike the Knight weekends at Warwick Castle.  We were blessed with glorious sunshine, and it was the perfect day for Freddy, my own little knight in training, to learn all about Mike the Knight's chivalrous code with the motto "Be a Knight, Do it Right!"

The setting for the event is just perfect.  Warwick Castle is a fabulous Merlin attraction which is easily accessible from junction 15 of the M40.  It is a great family day out with lots to see and do including live combat shows featuring the Warwick Warriors, the Flight of the Eagles show, the Kingmaker exhibition and actor led tours of the State Rooms and Great Hall.  Families can have fun in the Castle Courtyard and explore the ancient Towers and Ramparts or enjoy wandering around the beautiful grounds beside the river.

During the special Mike the Knight weekends there are also a range of medieval missions for pre-schoolers to embark on.  (These activities are all free of charge and included in the Warwick Castle entry price.) They can practice their archery skills with Mike's Target Test.  Jump on a trusty steed and race in Gallahad's Gallop. Go on a voyage of discovery with Sparkie and Squirt in the Dragon Egg Hunt.  Build a wall for the Glendragon Castle. Make a Mr Cuddles in the Colour and Craft Tent. Cast a magical spell at Evie's Workshop and even get their faces painted with a special Medieval Mike the Knight design.  Each task is rewarded with a sticker and when the missions are completed, the little knights receive a small gift for their hard work.  Little ones will learn a whole host of chivalrous lessons such as listening skills, good manners and helpfulness along the way.

Freddy had an excellent time taking part in all the activities, helped by his big sisters.  They met up with their cousins, Addy and Dyl, who were also attending the event with their family.  Together they embarked on  the quest to find the dragon eggs which lead us around the grounds of the castle.  They loved it!  We visited the Mill, the Peacock Gardens and the Birds of Prey before ending our adventure at the top of the Mound.  It was a great way to explore and discover new things.  Freddy was slightly disappointed not to see a real live dragon hatching from the final egg, but we explained to him that it had flown away!

In front of the castle is a brilliant sand sculpture depicting Warwick Castle, Glendragon and Buckingham Palace.  The 5m x 6m structure weighs in at over 30 tonnes and brings a taste of the seaside to Warwick.  There is also a sandpit for children to try to create their own sandcastle and enter a competition to create Britain's Ultimate Sandcastle.  Kids can also get to meet and greet Mike the Knight himself and have their photo taken with the CBeebies favourite.  The queues to see Mike can get quite long, but at the end of the day we didn't have to wait too long at all.

We really had a wonderful day.  There was so much for us all to do, and it was lovely to see Freddy join in with all the fun activities on offer. He is so much more confident these days and loves seizing every opportunity to have fun!

The next Mike the Knight weekend is the 6th and 7th July.  

A new series of Mike the Knight is due to air this summer on CBeebies.

Find out more about Warwick Castle at www.warwick-castle.com

Keep up to date with Glendragon news on Mike the Knight's Facebook page or visit the website at www.miketheknight.com or follow Mike the Knight on Twitter @MiketheKnightUK