Summer Outdoor Fun with Tobar

The summer holidays are a great opportunity to get the kids outside in the fresh air getting active and having fun. Tobar has a great range of classic and contemporary outdoor toys, which are perfect for the job, and Freddy received a selection to try out.

The Space Hopper is real retro classic from my own childhood, so I was thrilled to introduce Freddy to the iconic smiley faced, giant bouncy ball. It came with a pump so we could blow it up straight from the box and get Freddy bouncing around. It is big and bright with handles to grip on to. Bouncing on a Space Hopper is such a simple pleasure and so much fun. Freddy mastered the art of bouncing and even took to doing some extreme bouncing action by using his Space Hopper on the trampoline (thank goodness for the safety nets!)

The Slot Together Hula Hoop is a great idea. It comes in eight, slot together sections making it handy for storing away in the box. It also means you can adjust the size by removing sections. The pieces are colourful and easy to push together making a sturdy hula hoop. Freddy is a bit of an expert hula-hooper so he enjoyed spinning it around his middle and doing tricks with it. Using all 8 pieces made it a good size for him to use, with a 70cm diameter. I really like the design of this hula hoop. The cheap ones that we have bought before tend to lose their shape or break apart quite quickly as they are made from covered cardboard, whereas this one is made from solid plastic pieces so will last much longer. Storing a hula hoop can be a bit tricky, but once taken apart, this one fits into its box and can be put away or taken away on holiday easily.

The Soak 'n' Sling Frisbee is a small sized, soft frisbee that can be soaked in water and used in water fights. Kids can take aim and throw, while others try to duck out of the way of a soaking. Freddy enjoyed using it without the water to practice his throwing and catching skills. As it is soft and rubbery it is easier to catch than a regular frisbee and the small size makes it more manageable for little ones.

The Pogo Ball is a cross between a hopper and a pogo stick. The blow up hopper ball is attached to a foot platform with an optional clip on pogo handle, giving two ways to play. It offers a stable way to perform tricks and stunts while balanced on the foot platform and bouncing using the inflated ball. (Unfortunately, the Pogo Ball was not compatible with the foot pump we had so we have to get hold of a pump with a needle attachment to test this one out properly!)

Tobar are UK wholesalers of toys, gifts and novelties, so look out for these products in toy shops and on Amazon. 

My Mini Golfer

Freddy loves getting outdoors and playing in the garden, so when he received a Mini Golf Set from Great Gizmos to try out he was very excited.  Still in his school uniform, he raced outside to have a few rounds of golf.  Unfortunately, our lawn was more "rough" than a putting green, but unperturbed, Freddy put down the hole and was quickly enjoying his game.

The Mini Golf Set includes a kids' size wooden golf club and ball, along with a flagged hole and two tracks, which can be put down to make the game more challenging.  Everything fits into a cloth bag for storage and for carrying around easily.  

Everything was the perfect size for Freddy and he enjoyed putting the ball around the lawn, through the tracks and into the hole.  The club and ball are well weighted and are great for little hands to manage.  

Each piece is beautifully made, strong and sturdy, making this a great investment that will last for years (unlike some of the flimsy plastic golf sets on the market with bendy clubs and balls that blow away or get crushed when whacked by a 5 year old wielding said club!)

The Plan Toys Mini Golf Single Set is £21.95 from Great Gizmos.  It is a great introduction to the game and gets little ones up and active out of doors, learning a new skill. It is suitable for ages 4 and up.  Freddy loves it and I am very impressed with the quality of the pieces and the fact that it packs away into a bag.

Win Outdoor Toys from Wilko #giveaway

It's nearly the summer holidays and we are looking forward to six weeks of fun in the rain sun!  One way of keeping the kids entertained out of doors is to invest in some fun outdoor toys.  Wilko stock a great value range of toys and we were sent some to review.

• Wilko Play Stunt Kite Nylon Multi-Coloured £4.00
• Wilko Play Boom Bat Set Multi-Coloured £4.00
• Wilko Play Gardening Set  £4.00
• Wilko Play Magic Bubble Accessories Multi-Coloured x 26 £4.00
• Wilko Play Cricket Set Multi-Coloured £4.00
• Wilko Play Catch 'Em Out Game £4.00

The toys are all colourful and fun with lots of kid appeal.  Freddy particularly loved the Magic Bubble jar that has loads of different shaped and sized bubble wands as well as a pot of bubble mixture. He loves blowing bubbles, then chasing them and popping them or watching them float to the sky.  The Boom Bat Set will help future Wimbledon champions hone their bat and ball skills!  The satisfying "boom" noise when the soft ball hits the colourful bats made Freddy laugh everytime!  The cricket set is a lovely colourful set complete with wicket and stumps to transform your back garden into a mini version of Lords!  Budding gardeners will love to grow their own using the gardening set or little ones could even use them in the sandpit to dig and build.  It comes with three tools and pots for gardening fun. The Catch 'Em Game is a lot of fun as you try to catch the ball on the velcro catchers.  Grown-ups seem to like this game a lot too, so it's definitely one to entertain the guests after a barbecue. We can't wait to try out the kite next time we go to the beach.

You can win your own box of fabulous, outdoor toys in this giveaway!

Simply fill out the Rafflecopter entry form below to be in with a chance of winning.  UK only.  Giveaway closes on midnight on the 10th July 2013.  See the full range of Wilko outddor toys here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Big Game Hunters

Over eleven years ago, Big Game Hunters who trade at www.gardengames.co.uk began producing and selling innovative and unique outdoor family games.  Designed to bring families together to have outdoor fun, their products have been rigorously tested to give total peace of mind.  They are a leading supplier of outdoor games and equipment and are passionate about what they do!  They are specialists in Trampolines, Above Ground Swimming Pools and Outdoor Toys.

I was given the chance to experience Big Game Hunters for myself and have been sent a gorgeous Hexagonal Wooden Sandpit to try.

The sandpit measures 1.5 m across and comes with a protective cover and geotextile underlay.  It is perfect for children to dig, shovel and build sandcastles to their hearts' content.  The generous size is good for two children to play side by side.

The service was faultless.  Emails kept me up to date with the shipping process and my delivery arrived the very next day after it had been ordered.

Priced at £59.99 this is great value for a solid wooden sandpit.  The design is great and on inspection the wood is of a really good quality, it felt smooth to touch and smelt fabulous.  Full instructions are included.

I just wish the weather was better so we could build it and let Freddy test it out now.  Unfortunately this will have to wait until we can let Fred out to play again without freezing!  Then we can bring the fun of the beach to our garden.

If you are hunting for a Sandpit check out http://www.gardengames.co.uk/acatalog/Sandpits.html


In fact, if you are hunting for anything outdoor and fun, then the Big Game Hunters can probably supply it!

All Surface Swingball

I remember playing Swingball myself as a child at the local play centre.  The game has remained a firm favourite for years.  I was very excited to introduce it to my younger children when I was sent an All Surface Swingball by Mookie Toys.  This version of the classic game is portable, with all the parts fitting into the base unit which can then be carried using the integral handle.  It can be used virtually anywhere making it ideal for taking to the park, to the beach or for playing in the garden.  Assembly is simple and the base unit just needs filling with water or sand to stabilise the unit.

Kizzy made this video of the Swingball set, demonstrating how easy it is to set up and use.  She needs a little practice before she is an expert, but that is the beauty of Swingball.  She can play alone and sharpen up her skills before taking on her older siblings!

For your chance to win your own Swingball set, check out my competition post HERE!  But hurry, it closes on September 30th 2011.

Find out more about Mookie Toys and their great range on their website that offers a World of Play!