Little Live Pets Lil' Hedgehog and House

Little Live Pets definitely have the 'awww' factor when it comes to animal toys. They look, act and sound so real, children can't help falling in love with them as they deliver cuteness, fun and interactive play! The range continues to grow with new pets coming this year. The latest additions are the Little Live Pets Hatching Chicks and the Hedgehog and House

Freddy received the Little Live Pets Lil' Hedgehog and House to try out from Character Options. The play set consists of a battery operated, pet hedgehog that rolls into a ball or scurries around on its wheeled base, and a plastic house complete with hand operated elevator, a little flap door and curved slide. The hedgehog has a soft, velvety covered outer casing and a plastic face that peeps out. The pink nose can be pressed prompting the hedgehog to roll into a ball. After a moment, it pops out its head and continues to scurry and play.

We received the exclusive Shy Sky in the play set, a cute little mauve coloured hedgehog toy. Other colours of hedgehog are available separately and can be played with alongside Sky in the house.

Batteries are included, so you can play with Shy Sky straight from the box. You can play with it on a flat surface where it will scurry around until it hits something and rolls into a ball or goes off in a different direction. Or you can use it inside the play house, where it will run into the elevator, roll into a ball ready to be taken to the top of the slide for it to roll back down. The set comes ready built apart from the very edge of the slide that needs to be attached by clipping it on.

Freddy at first thought the creature was a 'big, fat hamster' as it doesn't have the characteristic spikes of a hedgehog, but that didn't deter him at all. The mechanism of the play set works quite well, although sometimes the hedgehog needed a bit of a push to get him to roll down the slide from the top of the raised elevator. After a few attempts we found that raising the elevator really quickly with a bit of a flick at the end did the trick, and Freddy became a dab hand at doing it. The movement of the hedgehog is fast and quirky and it is cute when it rolls into and out of a ball. Sometimes he ended up upside down and needed to be flipped back over, which added to the fun. The hedgehog can run around inside the house and pop through the door, but if you want him contained, the door is lockable using a little catch. The play set has a carry handle so you can take your toy wherever you go.

Freddy had a lot of fun watching the way the hedgehog moved both in and out of the house and liked making him roll down the slide using his well honed technique. I like that the play set is an all in one construction, so there are no little bits to lose and it stores away nicely with Shy Sky inside. The play set is a good size for little ones to carry around, perfect for taking along with them to the grandparents' house, on holiday or in the car.

The Little Live Pets Lil' Hedgehog and House is recommended for children aged 5 and over and has an RRP of £22.99 with additional hedgehogs costing £12.99. You can find out more at www.character-online.com/little-live-pets-hedgehog-and-house.

Keep an eye out and join on the fun on February 20th as UKMums.tv are having a Little Live Pets Takeover!

The Original Stretch Armstrong is back!

Back in the 70's, Stretch Armstrong was all the rage - he was the iconic muscle man toy with ultimate flexibility that everyone wanted. Something about his super stretchy limbs and his ability to return to his original shape, even after being tied in knots, made him a real must have. Now, some forty years on, Stretch Armstrong is back, appealing to a whole new generation of girls and boys who will love stretching him and getting to grips with another great classic toy from yesteryear.

The design is true to his original 70's form, standing 30cm tall with his square jaw, blond hair and little, blue trunks. The unique play value of The Original Stretch Armstrong lies in his stretchy body, which can be pulled to four times its original size. You can also tie him in knots and squish him and squash him, safe in the knowledge that he will go back to his original shape after you've finished playing. It is an experimental and entertaining toy for hands-on play.

Freddy received one to try out and I'm not sure who was more excited, him or his daddy! Ian admitted that he had wanted a Stretch Armstrong as a boy in the 70's but his parents had never bought him one. So he was pretty keen to play with Freddy and experience the fun of stretching Stretch Armstrong at long last.

Stretch Armstrong's body is rubbery and can stretch longways and widthways. You can wrap his feet around his neck, twist his body and tie his arms around his torso. Yet he always retracts back to his original shape. There is something quite satisfying about playing with Stretch Armstrong. It harks back to a time when toys were so much simpler.

Freddy pretended Stretch was a wrestling superhero and had him doing various fighting moves with other toys. He really enjoyed being able to stretch him, twist him and squash him into different shapes and positions. It is an action figure with a difference and is a very strong and robust toy that can withstand tough play. (Just keep it away from sharp objects.)

The Original Stretch Armstrong can be purchased from www.character-online.co.uk for £19.99.

Num Noms Series 2 - unboxing and review

The second series of Num Noms, the stackable, scented, crazy and cute collectibles have hit the UK! The range includes some savoury scented characters such as pizza, sushi, diner and brunch Num Noms, alongside some brand new fairground foods, ice cream, cup cake, jelly bean and freezie pops flavoured Num Noms. Each soft, squidgie Num pairs up with a Nom, which can be an eraser, a scented stamp, a lip gloss or a motorised base. Perfect for mixing and matching to create your own wacky flavour combinations. There are now over 5000 mix and match scented combos to make!

Mystery Blind Packs are £2.99 and include a mystery scented Num and either a stamp or lip gloss Nom. Num Noms Starter Packs are £8.99 and include three Nums and a motorised go-go Nom plus an accessory and a menu card. The Deluxe Pack contains six Nums (one is a mystery Num), two motorised Noms, a food container, accessory and menu and costs £14.99. Playsets such as the Lip Gloss Truck and Art Cart are available for £24.99. Some special edition items are available in each collection.

Freddy got to try out two blind packs and a freezie pop flavoured starter pack. The new Freezie Pop characters have scents such as Strawberry Pop, Tropi-Cali, Grape Soda Pop and Icy Berry and are made of a colourful, see through material that looks frozen. They come with a freezie pop container and a spoon for added fun.

The blind packs contain a mystery Nom and a Num. We got M.Mallow from the Cupcake Nums collection and Sugar Puffs from the Fair Food Nums collection along with a cherry and S'mores gloss-up. Freddy was hoping for a stamp-it Nom, but will at least now have very moisturised scented lips!

Num Noms are colourful, quirky and fun collectibles, each with a unique mix and match scent for some flavour combining fun. You can find out more at www.numnoms.com.


                             

Crazy Legs Scooby Doo - toy review

We all love Scooby Doo here Inside the Wendy House. Ian and I have been watching since we were children and now 6 year old Freddy is a fan. So when we received a Crazy Legs Scooby from Character to review, there was quite a lot of excitement from oldest to youngest!

The toy stands 30cm tall and is a good representation of Scooby Doo with this collar and tag. With a tap of his head, Scooby's legs go crazy! Each paw swivels independently, sending Scooby moving backwards, forwards, round and around in all directions! This random movement is quite chaotic and when accompanied by the sounds including boings and Scooby's catchphrases, it really is hilarious to witness!

Everytime you play with him, the movement is different  and unpredictable. He literally can end up anywhere: crashing into furniture, into your feet, disappearing under tables and bouncing off walls! You can't help but laugh. Take a look at this demonstration of Scooby in action.

                             


This toy is a great novelty item for Scooby fans. Little ones will chase him around giggling as he randomly spins and boings,yelps, laughs and says "Scooby Doo!!" It's a toy that puts fun before functionality, but anything that brings smiles and laughter definitely gets a thumbs up from me. Crazy Legs Scooby is completely bonkers, but that is why we love him.

It is suitable for ages 3 and up and requires 6 AA batteries (it comes with demo batteries). The RRP is £29.99 and it is available at Argos and other toy retailers.

JCB 5CX Eco Backhoe Loader - toy review

"I'm Fred I'm 5 and my dad's Bruce Lee, Drives me around in his JCB."

Freddy, like lots of other young children, loves trucks, cars and diggers. There is something that holds kids spellbound, when faced with a big, impressive vehicle. JCB is a brand that ticks all the boxes when it comes to delighting digger loving children. The iconic yellow colour and the totally cool designs lend themselves perfectly to firing up a child's imagination.

JCB has a range of brilliant kids' toys, scaling down the designs of their full size vehicles making them the right size for some fun and constructive play! Freddy used to love his My 1st JCB toys when he was younger. The cute, chunky vehicles were just right for him when he was a pre-schooler with a penchant for imaginative play and funny characters such as Joey JCB and Doug Dump Truck. Nowadays, he enjoys playing with more grown up toys, taking an interest in how things work and what they can do.

Freddy received an awesome large size, die cast JCB model of a 5CX Backhoe Loader. This is the classic vehicle that I think of when I think of 'diggers'.

The 1:16 scale JCB 5CX eco Backhoe Loader from Bruder Toys, has a fully functional front loader and backhoe with a tilting and locking bucket. It has a fully functional rear bucket with 2 outriggers for stability. There is a swivelling driver's seat and opening rear window, as well as an off-road front axle and rolling wheels with authentic rubber tread tyres. The attention to detail is brilliant - it is just like a mini version of the real thing.

One great feature is the steering wheel extender that is located in the base of the digger. Through an aperture in the top of the cab, the extender connects with the steering wheel and sticks out of the roof, allowing the vehicle to be steered as you move it along. It really adds to the fun of this toy. The buckets can scoop up objects and drop them where required.

With its fuctionality, this toy isn't just for looking at, it's for playing with! And that is exactly what Freddy did with it!  Whether indoors or outdoors, this is a great fully functional vehicle, which is just like the real thing.

Dad Ian and Grandad Stan both loved this toy. It definitely brought out their inner little boys as they marvelled at the mechanics and the authenticity of the design. They both thought it was incredibly realistic and impressive.

The Bruder Toys  JCB 5CX Backhoe Loader model retails for £39.99 and is available from Amazon.

Discovering Clementoni Toys - Crazy Chic Nail Salon and Archeofun

Clementoni is a leading European toy brand, and both Kizzy and Freddy have been lucky enough to each try something from their brilliant range. With toys suitable from birth to 13,200 piece puzzles suitable for adults, they have an extensive selection, incorporating educational toys for young learners, creative toys, Disney toys, baby toys, electronic toys and a huge selection of puzzles.

Crazy Chic - My Beauty World Nail Salon

Anyone who enjoys make-up and beauty will love this nail salon set. It includes three bottles of nail varnish along with nail file, adhesive jewels, 3D stickers and glitter to customise the look. There is also a removable, handy nail polish hand dryer to speed up the drying process.

Everything fits into a work station, keeping it all safe and together. The full colour instruction booklet gives tips and ideas for funky manicures, and there are plenty of contents in the set for using time and time again.

Kizzy and her friend Georgia had some creative fun designing looks for each other using the nail varnish and the accessories.  It is a lovely set for girls to practice their varnishing skills and explore their own unique style.

Science & Play Archeofun - T-Rex and Triceratops

Freddy is learning all about dinosaurs in school for this term's project. He is really interested in this subject matter so when he received this Science and Play 2 in 1 Archeofun set he could not wait to get started.

The set contains two plaster blocks inside which are the 'bones' of two dinosaurs, a T-rex and a Triceratops. Using the hammer and chisel, children can play at being archaeologists and chip away at the plaster to reveal the bones inside, which are then gently removed. Once excavated and cleaned, they can be attached together to create two fantastic, glow in the dark dinosaur skeleton models.

Freddy absolutely loved chipping away at the plaster block and was thrilled to find the bones hidden inside. We started off indoors with a tray, but he generated a lot of mess with his over zealous hammering so we moved outdoors to continue the process. The instructions suggest laying down newspaper, but we didn't have any. I'd definitely recommend that or plastic sheeting because it does create a lot of thick, white dust.

It took him quite a while to find and remove all the bones, but he was persistent with the job in hand and really enjoyed the whole process of unearthing his skeleton. It's a great introduction to palaeontology for children.

The models are really lovely in their own right. They fit together nicely and are quite sturdy. Freddy took them into school for Show & Tell as he was excited to share his excitement with his classmates.

I really liked that this set not only had the fun of excavating the bones, it also then allowed Freddy to build the models, which are now on display in his bedroom. The set also includes some dinosaur fact cards and an informative instruction booklet, which explains about fossils, giving some scientific background to the toy.

Find out more about this exciting toy brand at Clementoni.com.

Ben and Holly Magical Playground Playset - Swing with Holly Review

In the Little Kingdom, Holly is having fun swinging on her magical swing set.  The swings are attached to the stems of flowers making a colourful playground scene for the fairies and elves to enjoy! 

This swing playset is one of three interlocking sets, which connect together to create a bigger play area for the Ben and Holly figures.  The other two sets are a slide playset and a roundabout playset, each including a Holly figure. (It would have been nice to have each set come with a different character for variety, or you'll end up with three Hollies if you buy all three!  Freddy would have loved to see a Ben figure included.) 

The swing playset, is leaf shaped and features two flower swings and a toadstool.  Holly can sit in the swings and be pushed.  Holly also has a removable base, so when she is not being swung, she can stand up independently.

The quality is good and the playset is well made, colourful and perfect for fans of Ben and Holly, bringing the magic of the Little Kingdom to life.  I applaud the inclusion of a character so kids can play with the toy straight from the packaging.

It is priced at £9.95 and can be found alongside lots of other lovely Ben and Holly toys at Character Online.  

Freddy received the playset to review.

Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom Thistle Castle Playset Review

 Freddy is a big Nick Jr fan and Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom is a real favourite of his.  So when he was sent the Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom Thistle Castle Playset by Character, he was very excited to re-enact some of his favourite scenes from the show.

Thistle Castle is a magical toy with lots of hidden secrets that little ones will enjoy exploring. The playset comes complete with a Holly character, so children can play straight away.  It also comes with a bed and a treasure chest for added play value.

The playset can be attached to other playsets to build a bigger, more elaborate toy, but works well as a stand alone item.  The open plan design features Holly's bedroom and part of the kitchen downstairs.

The Holly figure comes complete with her crown, wings and magic wand. Holly's feet can be attached to a base so she can be free-standing.

Holly has a bed for her sleep in.  It isn't a fixed feature so it can be moved around.  There is a Holly shaped cut out in the mattress so she lies in the bed securely!

The toybox in Holly's room has a secret slide hidden beneath the lid.  Little hands can drop her through the hole.

The slide whizzes Holly down so she appears behind the door in the kitchen.  Perfect for a midnight snack!  There is a magical floating throne on the wall behind the door for more magical fun.

A secret door in the floor hides Nanny Plum's Book of Spell, perfect for when you need to turn somebody into a frog.  The treasure chest has disappearing treasure inside.

The cauldron has a spoon in it which can be stirred to mix the potion.

The spoon magically opens the store cupboard to show the food inside, and King Thistle's portrait disappears.

The attention to detail, such as the pictures on the walls and the magical features make this an exciting playset for little Ben and Holly fans.  Freddy wished it had come with his favourite character Ben Elf, but was happy enough making Holly the lead character in his imaginative games.

                        

You can add extra playsets and buy additional characters from the range, which are all scaled to be compatible.  They are suitable for children aged three and up.

The Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom Thistle Castle Deluxe Playset is available for £24.99 from Character Online and from other toy retailers.

http://www.character-online.com/products/Ben-and-Holly/Thistle-Castle-Playset/

Scooby Doo Trap Time Deluxe Mystery Machine Review

Freddy was sent a Scooby Doo Trap Time Mystery Machine Playset from Character Online to play with. As a household with two generations of Scooby fans we were all quite excited to get in on the act and re-enact some spooky scenes with Shaggy and the gang!

From Character Online

First thing we discovered was that the Mystery Machine did not come with any figures even though the illustrations show them with the product.  It does state clearly in writing on the box and on the website that the figures are not included, but it is a personal gripe of mine that toy manufacturers don't pop just one figure into the playsets so kids can enjoy playing with them straight away in the manner intended. Because we are die hard Scooby fans, I decided to buy a set of figures, three villains with interchangeable heads, Shaggy and Scooby which cost me £10, so Freddy could get the full Mystery Machine experience. They were worth every penny!!

The Mystery Machine is a fully working push along vehicle with seats for two characters upfront, accessed via a lift up roof panel.  It's pretty sturdy and chunky for little hands to wheel around. The whole back of the van opens up to reveal the monster catching equipment, giving an opportunity for some great imaginative play, Scooby Doo style.  There is a fully functional net cannon that fires out a net to catch the baddies, who can then be put into the cage which is on a jointed arm. Everything (bar the net itself)  is attached to the van so won't get lost.  It is a fun playset for little fans!

The back of the van can then be closed up and the gang can drive away having solved their mystery!  The figure pack villains come with a monster head and a human head so they can be 'unmasked' to discover whodunnit!  The play value was definitely increased by having the figures.  Freddy loved shooting the net at them and putting them in the cage.  He was also quite keen on pulling the interchangeable heads off!

This is a great toy for fans of Scooby Doo.  It is recommended for children ages 3 and up.  I love the fully functional traps that allow little ones to net and cage the baddies, and I like that everything fits back into the truck easily and tidily!  It is a really good design giving two play opportunities in one.

The Scooby Doo Trap Time Deluxe Mystery Playset retails for £19.99.  The five pack of characters cost me £9.99 and was definitely worth having to fully enjoy the Mystery Machine toy.  Find them both on the Character Online website.

Flying High On Playmobil Airways!

Since becoming Playmobil Playologists, we have waited excitedly for our mission to review something from the Playmobil range.  With so many different themes available, from dinosaurs to pirates to cowboys, we didn't know what Freddy would get until our parcel arrived.  The look of delight on his face when he saw the City Action Cargo and Passenger Aircraft and control tower was priceless.  He was one very happy little boy!

The set comprises of a very large jet engine aeroplane with a removable roof and opening cockpit, a control tower complete with equipment, five people with accessories and some cargo.  The plane has seating  onboard for five passengers and two in the cockpit.  The cockpit folds upwards to stow the cargo and there is a toilet inside the plane (much to Freddy's amusement) to keep passengers comfortable during the flight!  

The construction of the plane and tower took Ian about half an hour.  Some bits were a little bit fiddly to push together, but on the whole it was easy to assemble and the resulting models are sturdy and robust.  Playmobil produce such high quality toys.  We still have some that Freddy's older brother Joe had, which are now over 20 years old and still going strong.  It is very durable and robust.

I love the detail that Playmobil puts into its toys.  The 'PM' logo on the tail, the authentically opening swing door, the computer screens in the control tower and the very realistic loo and hand basin all add to the play value of this fabulous set.  The five people are all different.  There is a pilot, an air traffic controller, a businesss woman, an air hostess and a guy that waves the things that look like table tennis paddles!  Freddy loved the red haired lady because he thought she looked like his big sister Ella.

The aeroplane itself has a swivel wheel on the front of the undercarriage making it really manoeuverable and responsive to being pushed allowing big 360 movements with ease.  Although it is a big toy (59 x 63 x 24cm), Freddy was still able to pick it up and swoosh it around the room in flight with the crew and passengers safely seated inside.

The real value of Playmobil is providing the inspiration for some really imaginative play based on the theme of the toys.  City Action brings all the excitement of the city to life.  With a police station, hospital, airport, fire station, docks, railway, banks and all the associated vehicles and people, it's an excellent range for children to act out exciting city adventures.  Freddy loved positioning his people in and around the plane, getting the air traffic controller to check the skies before taxi-ing his plane down the runway and taking off.  His constant chatter, the dialogue he has between his characters and the story he invents to act out, all help to improve his vocabulary, his communication and his imagination.  He also shows great dexterity in manipulating the people and the props how he wants them all to be.  I love watching him engrossed in imaginative play, and this Playmobil set has really captured his imagination.

I wish I had a huge house with a massive playroom as I'd love to have a permanent display of Playmobil toys ready to be played with and enjoyed.  Sadly I don't which means I have to find somewhere to keep this awesome aeroplane when it's not being played with. It is a large toy, that is too big to sit on a shelf.  So for now it is positioned on the living room floor because I can't bear the idea of making it live under the bed...not yet, not while Freddy is having so much fun with it.

It is a great addition to his toy collection and is something that will last for years and will be handed down in the future to be played with all over again by the next generation.  

The City Action Cargo and Passenger Aircraft is £59.99 and can be found and purchased on the Playmobil website alongside the full range of fantastic Playmobil toys.  

Postman Pat Special Delivery Service Toys

When I first watched Postman Pat with my eldest children he was just a simple postman with a van and a cat.  Over the years, he has had quite a dramatic professional makeover and now has a host of vehicles at his disposal including a helicopter!

Character Online have a range of Postman Pat vehicles, playsets and action figures which will keep any little Pat fans happy as they re-enact scenes of their favourite Greendale adventures.

Freddy was sent a SDS Helicopter to try out.  The free wheeling vehicle comes with accessories: a harness and a highland cow.  Unfortunately, although it has a space for both Jess and Pat in the cockpit,  it doesn't contain any figures which is disappointing and makes this helicopter less of  a stand alone toy. However, some of the other vehicles do include Pat and he is available to purchase separately, so the helicopter will be a great addition to a Postman Pat toy collection.

Freddy didn't particularly recognise it as a Postman Pat vehicle once it was out of its box, but he was delighted to have a helicopter to play with! He did ask where "the man" was as the helicopter clearly has a seat that is crying out to be sat in.  He improvised in a mixed genre solution and made his Peppa Pig characters take the controls and fly the helicopter instead. Unperturbed by the lack of Pat, he enjoyed 'flying' the vehicle around, rotating the propeller blades and dangling the cow from its harness!

The cow is solid and heavy and was a little difficult to balance in the harness, but is well made and cute.  The helicopter is nicely made and apart from the doors coming off when it was dropped, is quite robust and sturdy.  The free wheeling aspect of the helicopter, the opening rear doors and the spinning propellers add to the play value.  Freddy is really enjoying playing with the helicopter and bar from the lack of Pat, this is a good toy and a great addition to the SDS range.

Priced at £10.99.

Sonic Blasting Iron Man 3 Toy - Review

We are big fans of Iron Man.  We love Robert Downey Jr's charismatic superhero and can't wait to see Iron Man 3.  So when we were sent a 15" Sonic Blasting Iron Man toy to review, everyone from 3 year old Freddy through to 44 year old daddy got very excited!  Daddy has a self-confessed man-crush on RDJ so this toy was always going to appeal to him.  Featuring a motorized rotating missile blaster, 5 fire missiles, 5 ice missiles, flashing eyes, Arc Reactor and authentic battle sounds it offers an all-action play experience for Iron Man fans of any age!

We were really impressed with the quality and craftsmanship of the toy: it feels very sturdy, stable and solid. Even when Freddy played hard, it withstood the rigours of being flown around the room and having fights with imaginary foe. The spinning sonic blaster shoots five missiles at a time at the touch of a button.  It is very effective but isn't too ferocious which is a bonus, meaning we still have all ten projectiles intact and haven't lost any down the back of the sofa.  The rotating action works really well and Freddy loved it!  He also loved the button that made his eyes and chest light up.  This really is a great toy for fans young and old which would look as good in a teen's bedroom as it would in a toybox.  Everybody agreed that it was a real blast!!

Here is Freddy's demonstration of the Iron Man toy which has quickly become his favourite plaything... making daddy very proud indeed!

The toy takes three AA batteries that fit securely into a screw up compartment in Iron Man's back.  It has an RRP of £29.99 and is available from good stockists including Amazon.


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Moxie Girlz Twinkle Bright Fairies Review

Kizzy was sent a Moxie Girlz Twinkle Bright Fairies doll to review.  She received Avery who is a lovely pink-haired doll with a purple and pink tutu, fluttering wings and a light-up butterfly accessory.  Avery is one of four Twinkle Bright Fairies (RRP £19.99).  

The magical fairy dolls are beautifully made with sparkly embellishments and attention to detail.  They have poseable legs to achieve the perfect flying position.  They add some enchantment to this range of dolls and will spark any girl's imagination with a liberal sprinkling of magical fairy dust!

                                       

The Moxie Girlz™ aims to encourage girls to reach for their dreams and embrace their individuality through self-expression, friendships and fashion.  Every girl has the strength to do something amazing. Anything is possible as long as you stay true to yourself and never give up on your dreams.

Monopoly Goes High Tech!

Once upon a time there was a board game called Monopoly.  Players were represented by silver figures such as a shaggy dog or an old boot.  You could land on the Old Kent Road and pay your rent and still get change from a fiver!  Oh, how times have changed!

The new Monopoly Electronic Banking (London Edition) has brought the traditional game bang up to date with super high tech banking that deals in millions.  Gone are the old playing pieces...in their place are a  mobile phone, a burger, a Racing car, a Skate Board, an Aeroplane and a Skate.  Iconic items from the modern era.

The board itself has had a facelift and now has iconic city landmarks and locations.  Out are the Utilities...in are the airports.  Goodbye Mayfair...hello Kensington Palace.

The aim of the game is exactly the same as you go around the board buying properties, acquiring houses and hotels (now high rise buildings) and making as much cash as you can.  The amounts however are now all in hundreds of thousands and millions...we're talking big bucks!  To accommodate the huge sums of money in play, the traditional banker has been replaced with an electronic banking device and swipe cards.

All transactions are now by card...so paying rent, tax or fines, buying properties or collecting money from other players, are all done by the touch of a button.  Each transaction gives an electronic beep (satisfying or annoying?)  Not dealing with cash is on one hand a good thing and saves a lot of faffing around as notes are lost on the floor, pinched from other piles or disappearing under the game board.  Having no physical cash is easier, quicker and stops someone having to do all the maths!  It ups the pace of the game making it much more fast moving. But it also marks the end of something that was so integral to the traditional game of Monopoly, so it is a little bit sad.  But like everything, things move on and this version is much more relevant to a modern audience.

Chance and Community Chest cards and Property cards are still used, but the content is quite different.  Instead of winning £25 in a beauty contest, you are sued for £500K or you get a £2m West End contract.

The Free Parking, Jail, Go To Jail and Pass Go squares are still the same and I'm glad they kept some of the traditional elements making it instantly recognisable as Monopoly...only a brand new version of a timeless classic.

This family game is now bang up to date and still a lot of fun for the family. The kids enjoyed being 'millionaires' and although I missed the old boot, the new format works really well!  Great for Christmas!

Chuggington Over & Under Starter Set

I must admit to really liking toys that are based on TV shows.  There is something very exciting about having the characters ready to be played with in your own home.  (I think it all stems back to me having a toy Kermit the Frog when I was a little girl and believing it actually was the one from the telly!)

Freddy has been testing the Chuggington Wooden Railway Over and Under Starter Set, a train set modelled on the hit TV show.  He was very excited seeing characters he recognised on the packaging.   The 22 piece layout includes a 2-in-1Clock Tower/Tunnel and a Bridge Tunnel that can be incorporated together into the track as a big tower or as two separate tunnels.  The track itself  is exclusive Chuggington track, but to me it looks exactly the same as other leading brands of wooden train track, except for being printed with the Chuggington logo.  (It is compatible with Brio which is a real plus).  The track builds into a figure of eight with a raised section that goes over the bridge and through the clock tower.

Freddy helps to build the wooden track.

The set includes two trains, Koko and Wilson, and also Vee the Loud Speaker which adds to the play value, giving more scope for role playing and re-enacting favourite TV moments.  This starter set stands alone as a nice complete first train set for a child, adding a familiar CBeebies twist to a traditional toy.  You can buy extra trains, track, buildings and accessories to add to the starter set to make a big Chuggington Collection.  In fact the box says "The more pieces you add, the richer the world becomes!"  I can imagine that by thinking that way you could spend an absolute fortune if you had a Chuggington fanatic in the family!

22 Piece Layout

The trains themselves are nicely made and very true to the CBeebies characters.  They have a magnetic coupling on the front and back so they can push or pull along other trains or carriages. They are a good size for little hands to play with, although as with all train sets they can derail quite easily which always frustrates 2 year old Freddy.  As children get older this is less of an issue, and this set is recommended for ages 3 and up, so I'm sure that Freddy's skills will develop as time goes on.

Tunnel or a Tower???

I really like how this train set has been made wooden rather than totally from plastic. Priced at £39.99 you are paying a premium for the CBeebies branding, but it is well made and a lovely wooden train set that will last for years.  If you have a Chuggington fan they will enjoy seeing Koko and Wilson whizzing around the track and through the tunnels.  You can add to the set if you want to with other characters and track, but you don't have to as it is a complete set in its own right.   It will inspire hours of imaginative play and is a great quality toy.

This train set and other Chuggington merchandise are available from Toys R Us online and in store.  Don't forget the Toys R Us Facebook Page and the Toy Box App for other reviews, Toyologist news and competitions.