Playmobil has been a favourite brand of mine for years. I love the miniature world and the range of items available is just breathtaking. The new Robo Gangster Truck brings the world of espionage to the brand with Secret Agents, satellites and chaos capsules!
The truck came in pieces, all packaged into individual bags to make it easy to organise.
It was easy to fit all the bits together, aided with clear pictorial instructions.
The finished model was sturdy, robust and impressive. It has gull wing style opening doors, firing rockets, a chaos satellite launch pad, two gangsters and accessories.
For any budding James Bonds out there, the Robo Gangster truck promises hours of fun imaginative play. The firing satellite is a really nice touch with shiny solar panels that fold out. The missiles really fire from their launchers. It is recommended for ages 7 and over. Older children will be able to play with all the fiddly accessories, whereas Freddy just wanted to whizz the truck around. It was Daddy who had most fun with it and expressed how much he would have loved one as a child!
The Rob Gangster Truck has an RRP of £29.99 and is available at Toys R Us. The most exciting thing about the Robo Gangster Truck is that you can add a remote control unit to it along with a fully working secret spy camera. This elevates this toy to something that gadget mad kids (and dads!) will love. Look out for our video showing these features in action, coming soon!
Moshi Monsters are quite a phenomena, albeit one that has bypassed my own kids who aren't really big fans. So when we received a Mosh 'n' Chat Katsuma, I didn't have any preconceptions of what to expect.
The 30 cm tall orange plush toy looked like a typical anime character with its big eyes, huge head and fantasy appearance. It is quite a cute looking toy. If you press its tummy it begins to chatter and will continue to chat to you as long as you talk to it. However, it only speaks in its own Moshi language, which is basically gibberish. Continually pressing his tummy causes it to giggle and laugh.
Katsuma is also meant to double up as a room guard for your bedroom. A sensor should detect when people approach causing it to make a racket alerting you to any intruders. This is an added feature that gives this toy a purpose. Unfortunately we couldn't get this to work despite our best efforts. It just didn't detect us at all and sat silently instead.
Freddy was quite excited having a toy that chatted to him and had a long lasting gibberish conversation. It isn't ever going to assist his speech development, but he enjoyed the exchange. But the novelty wore thin after a while.
Katsuma is quite a cute looking toy, but that is as far as his appeal goes. If your kids are Moshi Monster fans, I'm sure they would love the Mosh 'n' Chat toy as a part of their Moshi Monster collection. It comes with an adoption certificate and code for a free in-game item. However, we were not overly impressed by it. Sorry Katsuma!
When we received Animagic Benji, the cute interactive puppy, to review, Kizzy and Freddy were very excited. He looked lovely with his fluffy white fur, big puppy dog eyes and shiny black nose. Benji is meant to behave like a real pup. He sits up, barks, waggles his ears, wags his tail, plays tug of war, growls and snores when he falls asleep. All the fun of having a puppy without the house training!!
Meeting his new toy!
Benji
Benji has a sensor that is meant to detect you as you approach so he will excitedly bark to let you know he is pleased to see you. Unfortunately, however hard we tried, our Benji would not respond until we manhandled him quite vigorously, which was a bit of a disappointment. Once he got going he did reward us with wiggling ears, waggy tails and cute puppy noises which delighted the children. He sat up and lay down, but getting him to do so was a bit hit and miss.
Cuddling Benji
You are meant to be able to play Tug of War by putting his rope toy into his mouth and pulling on it. We struggled to make this feature work and couldn't get him growling at all. We all tried but couldn't quite get the knack of this game.
Tug of War!
The other disappointing thing about Benji was the noise of the mechanical movements which sometimes made a loud clunking noise. This was a bit worrying and sounded like his legs were breaking.
However the general consensus was that he was very sweet and really quite adorable, but just didn't do as much as you'd expect a premium priced toy, with an RRP of £59.99, to do. It is a shame because he is such a cute little puppy that you really want to pet and play with. You'd be just as well buying a cuddly toy to hug instead, for a fraction of the cost. The kids do all love him and play with him...but of course they did not have to pay for him. I would expect more from an Animagic toy, it's a pity the beautiful Benji didn't deliver.
Kizzy loves science and beauty...so when Toys R Us sent her the Face Mask Laboratory it combined two of her favourite subjects!
The set includes everything needed to make luxury clay packs using ingredients used by top cosmetic brands. Everything fits neatly into the workbench. Products can be tested and personalised and are completely safe for the skin.
The ethos of the company is great. It is very positive for young girls and is not aimed at encouraging girls down the fashion and beauty route. Instead it helps young girls learn about their changing skin, have fun, feel good about themselves and be independent. There is positive affirmation that they are beautiful! Wild Science Girls aren't 'fashion sheep' and they have the attitude to resist the pressures to conform to destructive stereotypes.
The best place to do the Face Mask Laboratory is by the sink with access to clean water. There is a "get your skills" section in the instruction book which teaches the child how to use the syringe and pipette, and how to measure with them. It was a really good exercise that Kizzy enjoyed doing. The instructions are very clear with step by step photos. There are even some experiments to carry out on the ingredients and some facts and hints about skin, which adds to the educational value of this kit.
An allergy test of the ingredients is recommended. Plastic gloves and a dust mask are included for safety. There is also advice on the safety of storage of the finished product and use-by stickers to ensure freshness if you keep the face mask.
The mask was easy to make and can be personalised with fragrance and colours.
Big sister Megan acted as Kizzy's guinea pig and tested out one of Kizzy's clay masks.
This Face Mask Laboratory set was educational, fun, positive and produced a genuinely good end product that left the skin feeling fresh and clean.
Freddy loves to paint, but painting often involves a great deal of mess! So when Toys R Us sent us the Tomy Aquadoodle Rainbow to try out, it sounded like the perfect solution to satisfy Freddy's desire to paint during those times when I could do without the cleaning up afterwards!
The Aquadoodle Rainbow is an amazing drawing mat that lets you draw rainbow pictures with water using the special water pens, stampers and drawing brush. The special white surface instantly transforms into brightly coloured markings as it comes into contact with the water.
The set includes the large colourful mat, 2 water pens, 3 stampers, a drawing brush and a water pot.
Both Freddy and Kizzy enjoy playing with the Aquadoodle. It was brilliant to take to their Grandparents' house for them to play on. It kept them entertained together and made no mess!
After the children have finished playing with the Aquadoodle mat, you leave it to dry and it's ready to be played with again.
The water pens can be refilled from the tap and we have experienced no leakage. The water pot also did not spill at all. Even if there was a spill, only a minimum amount of water is used. So it really is a mess free activity.
It is a great toy that will keep the children entertained for hours in an engaging and mess free activity. It folds up neatly when you want to pack it away. It encourages early penmanship skills in pre-schoolers and is a lot of fun.
There is a whole range of Aquadoodle products to choose from. Check out toysrus.co.uk or look instore to find the perfect Aquadoodle for your little one!
I love being a Toyologist. Being able to test all the latest toys with my family is an absolute honour. I also love the fact that I get to share the fun by offering a top toy prize on my blog every month!
This month I'm offering an Orchard Toys Jack and Jill game to one of my followers!
Suitable for ages 3 and up, players race up the hill to get to the well in this fun number and colour matching game. Spinning the spinner might see you tumbling down the hill which adds a fun element that children will love.
To enter, simply leave a comment telling me what your favourite nursery rhyme is. Then fill in the entry form below: Bonus entries for tweeting and following Toys R Us on Facebook! Good Luck!!
North Pole Camouflage the Transparent Game by Jumbo Games is a one player game of logic which challenges you to help North Pole creatures "hide in plain sight"!
You have to arrange the six transparent puzzle pieces so the animals are camouflaged in their correct environments and do not overlap with the hunters.
There are 48 challenges ranging from starter to master, each with its own challenge card that fits into the game board, but using the same six puzzle pieces. Solving each challenge needs logical reasoning, cognitive thinking and spatial perception. (This means I'm out...I am incredibly spatially challenged, but thankfully my Tiny Testers are not!!)
Kizzy enjoys games of logic and liked the idea of saving the animals! Fish and whales need to be in the sea, polar bears need to be in the snow, neither can go on top of the hunter!
It is quite challenging, but Kizzy got up to Level 5 without too much difficulty...only 43 more levels to go!! Daddy tried to go straight in at the hardest level...he regretted that decision! It really is tricky and requires real logic to solve the challenges. This game will keep the family puzzling for a long time.
The game board has a pull out section to store the challenge cards and puzzle pieces neatly. This makes it good for taking on holiday or to the grandparents' house to keep the kids occupied.
The solutions to all the levels are included, so if you end up tearing your hair out you can take a peek. This game is recommended for ages 6-99...so it is suitable for the older kids, mum, dad, granny and grandad!
It is a real brainteaser that will help develop problem solving skills in boys and girls.
Definitely a good educational toy for children who enjoy puzzles and a game that all the family can play, taking it in turns to complete the challenges. (Sadly, I couldn't do level 1 without help...I really am useless as solving shape puzzles!)
The Galt Sparkle Jewellery Set is another toy that 8 year old Kizzy was thrilled to receive and review for Toys R Us! With 185 assorted beads, holographic stickers, silky thread and elastic, you can create sparkly necklaces and bracelets to accessorize any outfit.
The beads were quite easy to thread onto the string so it was not frustrating for Kizzy to do independently...until 2 year old Freddy tried to 'help'. The sound of 185 beads falling onto laminate floor was really something. Obviously, toddlers and small beads do not mix, so Daddy removed him from the room allowing Kizzy to continue with her jewellery making in peace.
The instructions were very straightforward and simple to follow, and the selection of different shaped and coloured beads was good.
Kizzy was kept occupied threading and sticking for quite some time. She needed a little help tying the ends off, but that was the only adult assistance required.
It is perfect for rainy days or would be a great activity for a sleepover or birthday party for young girls.
The Galt Sets retail for £5.99 which is a great price for so much fun!
Leap Frog make so many cool things for kids! We have been introduced to another of their products, thanks to being Toyologists. Freddy has been sent the Tag Junior and I am officially impressed! Using amazing optical technology, it encourages toddlers' to develop a love of books and introduces pre-school skills through playful book-based activities.
Designed for kids aged 2-4, the Tag Junior reading system brings board books magically to life with fun sounds and activities. The 'Book Pal' is a cute, little character, which is chunky and easy to hold in little hands. As it is placed on the specially printed pages of the Tag Junior books, the words on the page are spoken aloud, and characters speak to your little one. It works on both words and pictures which is great for inquisitive toddlers, encouraging them to explore. You can even program it to say your child's name (from a list of 1900 names online). Freddy has started talking back to his book pal when it speaks to him!
Each book focuses on an early learning skill such as counting, social play or letter recognition. The talking pal allows the toddler to take charge of the experience, to hear the sounds from the characters and objects on the pages. Some pictures lead to open ended questions making the Tag Junior really interactive. It works using a tiny optical scanner... I haven't got a clue how it does it. but it is very clever!
Perfect for little hands.
Up to five books can be stored on the book pal so children can go from one downloaded book to another. One book is included "If I Were..." which is about animals and has a lovely rhyming text that Freddy really enjoyed. We were also sent four other titles Cars 2 World Adventure, Thomas and Friends Best Friends, Toy Story 3 To Imagination and Beyond and ABC Animal Orchestra. It's good to see so many favourite children's characters in the choices of book available. Each one has lots of different sound effects and audio responses. They are a lot of fun!
Plenty of favourite characters.
To use Tag Junior you need a PC with the internet to download the audio to the book pal. Connecting cable is included. It was very straightforward to do with clear online instructions. The book pal requires 2 AAA batteries which aren't included.
I really liked the fact that the reading voice had a British accent, rather than an American one which means that Freddy won't be picking up an L.A. twang from playing with his Tag Junior.
Overall, I am really impressed with this educational toy. It has awakened Freddy's interest in books and has really engaged him. The audio responses and learning activities are really extensive. Freddy particularly likes the Toy Story 3 book which is a lovely story about Bonnie and her toys. I love that it talks to Freddy by name, it is a nice touch personalising the experience. Although at the moment he still makes the book pal repeat one sound over and over again, reminding me of a stuck record, he is beginning to understand the interactive elements of the toy and is choosing to play with it regularly. For a toddler who would rather be throwing or kicking balls around the garden, this interest in books is really encouraging. He has given the Tag Junior a thorough toddler testing and it is withstanding his playing perfectly!
This is not a replacement for parents reading stories to their children. Nothing beats snuggling up at bedtime with a favourite storybook. Instead, it is a really fun way for pre-schoolers to enjoy books independently with the help of their Tag Junior Book Pal. Priced at £29.99 for the Tag Junior and £9.99 for the software from Toys R Us, it is a great way to introduce reading and electronic learning to toddlers. I personally think it is a nice blend, combining the traditional with the ultra modern. I will definitely be adding to his software library!
The arrival of the Hello Kitty Cosmetic Case created a real stir in our household. The second that Kizzy saw it, she wanted to try it out. She loves Hello Kitty and she loves make-up. Combining the two was a real perfect combination for her.
The bright pink case contains a selection of cosmetics and accessories and includes a light up mirror. It takes 3 AA batteries which aren't included.
There is a lovely selection of products in the box which fit into a plastic insert keeping them neat and tidy. However, they fitted so tightly that it was difficult to take anything out without battling the inner packaging. We actually ended up ripping the plastic surround on the lip gloss palette as it was so hard to remove, which was a shame. Otherwise this was a really nice set for a young girl. It is portable so can be taken on visits when a makeover may be called for!
Freddy does some "face painting"!
Kizzy enjoyed playing with it, applying eye shadow and blusher, peel off nail varnish and roll on glitter gel. Everything came off easily from her face with a babywipe...which was a blessing given how much she applied! She really liked the light up mirror in the inside of the lid which made her feel like she was in a dressing room of the rich and famous.
The Hello Kitty Cosmetic Case is available to purchase from Toys R Us for £29.99. It is suitable for ages 3+.
My husband has proved his dedication to Toyology. He has spent 45 minutes in the rain putting up the Little Tikes Seek and Explore Climber with the ever helpful Tiny Toyologist Freddy trying to clambour all over it mid-construction! Ever since the huge box arrived, Freddy has been waiting to get his hands on the toddler sized play equipment. With imagination it can become a fort, a castle or a frontier outpost. With multi-level platforms, plank, rope, slide and crawl through tunnel, the climber helps pre-schoolers develop climbing skills and encourages role-play.
The construction of the plastic climber was quite straightforward for my husband and his electric screwdriver. The instructions weren't the best and it was a bit tricky to get some of the screws in underneath the climber, but it was up and built well within the hour.
The completed Seek and Explore Climber is a good size, approximately 3.4m long, 1.8m wide and 1.2m high. There are plenty of bits to climb up and on, to peek through, to slide down, crawl through and hide under. It feels really strong and sturdy and the castle-esque design adds to the play value. The colours used include beige, green, blue and brown rather than bright primary colours so it is quite pleasing on the eye!
Freddy was very impressed with his new piece of play equipment. It was a lot bigger than I had anticipated and it had plenty for Freddy to explore. Kizzy, who is 8 loves playing with her little brother and couldn't resist having a go herself. Shame it kept raining, cutting short their games, but we did manage to film this short video showing the Little Tikes Seek and Explore Climber in action.
The Little Tikes Seek and Explore Climber is available at Toys R Us for £199.99.
