Miniland Educational Toys Review

Freddy and Kizzy were very happy to receive some Miniland Educational toys to try out from DKL.  Freddy received a Pair Game and Kizzy got a Crystal making set in a tin.

Miniland Educational is a range of high quality toys including first constructions, sand and water toys, large vehicles, aptitude games, science kits in tins and anatomically correct dolls. Brand new to the UK retail market, Miniland offers added value with educational booklets and activity cards, as well as fun toys that children will enjoy playing with.

The Crystal set contains goggles, tweezers, magnifying glass, crystal solution, tub and a booklet.  Budding scientists aged 10 and over can make the chemical solution and grow their own crystals.  The sets come in a variety of colours so you can create crystals in green, red, yellow or blue.  Kizzy is really interested in science and this set is a great introduction to the scientific process of crystalization.  It would make a lovely stocking filler to inspire young scientists.

The Pair Game consists of a plastic board with a lift up top containing 16 apertures, each with it's own pull out lid.  There are 24 different worksheets that can be placed into the board, each one with 16 images corresponding with the holes in the top.  Children have to lift up the lids to find pairs ... either matching or corresponding images.

The selection of worksheets is quite inspired featuring images from the human body, animals, upper and lower case letters, numbers, counting, Chinese letters, artwork, optical illusions and facial expressions. Children will enjoy matching up the images and working out which pairs go together.  The images acted as prompts for conversations as children get to really think outside of the box to solve the puzzles.

It  develops memory, turn taking, observation skills, language, counting, letter recognition and hand eye co-ordination.  I was very impressed with the range of images and the simple but effective design which takes the game of pairs to a whole new level.

It's a great educational toy for children aged 3 and 6 and can be played on their own or against a friend.

Both these toys plus other Miniland Educational products and quality, educational toys from other brands can be found at www.dkl.co.uk.

Meet Fudgy Bear!

Meet Fudgy Bear!  He is the latest addition to Freddy's family of cuddly friends.  He is soft, cuddly and very lovable.  Fudgy first came to life when his creator Sarah wrote a book for her little boy about a teddy bear and his trip to a farm. From here the idea grew and a whole series of Fudgy Bear books were written and Fudgy Bear himself was created.  He was made with love, care and attention and it shows.

Fudgy is made of the finest plush, with soft shaggy fur.  He really is cuddly and snuggly, you just have to give him a hug.  He is 32cm tall and made with real attention to detail.  His bright stud eyes and hand embroidered features give him the friendliest face.  His printed bow makes him look super smart!

His claws on his paws are hand stitched  into the softest of pads.  He has his name embroidered on his right foot.  He is a unique teddy!

Freddy loves his Fudgy Bear.  He is a great companion  to sit down ans watch TV with.

He is also lovely to cuddle when you want a big hug.   Both Freddy and Kizzy enjoyed  snuggling with Fudgy Bear.  He really is the softest teddy I've ever squeezed!

Fudgy isn't just a lovable, huggable teddy.  He is also supports learning with his series of books that your child will love.  The books that Sarah wrote featuring Fudgy's adventures are unique and fun and teach your child about animals, animal noises, colours, shapes and numbers. Lovely, colourful photographs introduce pre-schoolers to the zoo, the farm and the seaside.  

The glossy paperback books bring Fudgy Bear to life in a series of exciting adventures.  The full colour pictures feature Fudgy, and Freddy loved pointing him out on the pages.  The books have great educational value, making learning fun!

Kizzy has enjoyed sharing Fudgy and the books with her little brother.  She reads him the stories while he holds onto Fudgy Bear.  It is very sweet!

Fudgy Bear has his own canvas bag so you can carry him and his books around safely.  There is also a fun Fudgy Bear Activity Book to accompany the series.  

You can buy your own Fudgy Bear for just £15.99.  His books are £5.99 each.  At the moment you can purchase Fudgy Bear with all Five books for just £39.95 plus you'll receive a free canvas bag and activity book!  What an amazing Christmas present for your little one!

I'll be giving away a Fudgy Bear with two of the gorgeous books plus the activity book and canvas bag so keep you eyes peeled for that competition coming very soon!!

Christmas is Coming...Gift Ideas for Children!

The evenings are drawing in, the weather is taking a turn for the worse, my Christmas holiday is all booked up...no wonder my mind is drifting to thoughts of the festive season.

Very soon the shops will be full of the latest must have Christmas toys so I thought I'd take a look at some of the products that I loved at the UK Mums.tv Christmas in July event.

Zhu Zhu Pets

These adorable electronic hamsters were one of last year's top toys and since then, the range has increased adding more characters and play sets to make this brand even more irresistible.  The interactive and realistic pets are artificially intelligent and will explore their environment.  They squeak and scurry providing unpredictable fun.  With an ever increasing range of styles and accessories including hamster balls, cars and play houses, the fun just keeps growing.  They are cute, cuddly and entertaining.  They are even about to star in their own movie "Quest for Zhu" so don't miss out on this phenomena!

Schleich Bayala

Schleich produce the most beautiful models.  The range includes the World of Nature including farm animals and wild life,  World of History including knights, heroes and pre-historic creatures , and the World of Fantasy including Smurfs and Bayala.

Bayala is a fantasy land where beautiful elves live in harmony with nature and other fantasy creatures.  Characters and mystical creatures can be put together to create scenes perfect for imaginative play, immersing a child in a world of make believe.  The detail is beautiful.  The Scenery Packs include exclusive items, not available separately, which add to the play value of the range.  The Noctis Scenery Pack includes the dark Arelan warrior Noctis, his stunning panther and the impressive camp fire.  The lovely models are so detailed and made to the highest quality.  A beautiful range for any collector.

My World, My Body

Gibson Games have a fabulous range of puzzles for children.  One such educational, pre-school puzzle is "My Body" which I think is just brilliant.  It is a set of two puzzles made using chunky, quality card, that depict internal and external body parts.  Oval shaped spaces in the 36 and 50 piece puzzles identify the body part pictured, teaching early biology skills.  Fun Facts are included which my 8 year old loves.  Did you know we have the same number of bones in our neck as a giraffe??  Tips for extending the gameplay are suggested to encourage discussion and enhance the experience for both child and parent.  They compliment Early Learning Objectives and government guidelines for children aged 0-7.  For just £8.99 it is a great puzzle with an added educational element.

Deluxe Charm Bracelet Set

The current trend for charm bracelets can prove to be a pricey one.  Looking into a jeweller's shop yesterday I looked at the Pandora beads and charms that were selling for upwards of £25 each!  My Style has a fun alternative for young girls who want to create their own unique jewellery.  The Deluxe Charm set includes everything you need to have hours of fantastic fun using beautiful, coloured clays to make gorgeous and unique beads.  The high quality components are designed to ensure a superior and stunning result.  The silver rivets, charms and special effect components really give a superb end product.  The beads and charms can be added to the bracelets to make a lovely gift for someone special or for yourself.

I think this is a great idea for a craft set with impressive results.  The instructions are really clear.  The clay can be twisted or marbled to make attractive coloured beads which are then oven baked with the rivet inside.  The potential for creating different looks is great, giving the child the freedom to express themselves through their finished piece of jewellery.  For just £19.99, it's a lot cheaper than buying Pandora Beads and much more fun!