Zhu Zhu Pets - Review

My children both adore animals. Unfortunately, we live in a small two bed rental home with no garden so having any real pets of our own is a no-no. To my children's delight, toy pets exist and they were thrilled to see what it was like to look after their Zhu Zhu Pets.

Zhu Zhu Pets are little hamsters but you don't have to feed or clean them - score! We received:

• Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster - Chunk
• Zhu Zhu Pets Adventure Ball 
• Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster House Playset

As soon as we opened the parcel, the children were so excited to get playing. Chunk the hamster is quite big so is perfect for little hands to play with. They come with batteries so all you need to do is push the button on it's back and watch it scuttle off! The Zhu Zhu Pet hamsters make noises too and their movements are random so you just don't know what it's going to do. The sensors mean that when they bump into things, they can turn themselves around and keep going. E kept exclaiming, "It's so cute! Look at it's pretty hair!" The little tuft on top is pretty adorable and she loves that he is soft and fluffy just like a real hamster. 

The Adventure Ball is a great accompaniment to the individual Zhu Zhu Pets. It includes one piece of plastic that you clip onto the bottom of the Pet before placing it into the ball. The ball itself is pretty easy to clip together but don't leave it near a boisterous almost-3-year-old! She managed to crack it a little but it's nothing a bit of glue didn't fix. She now knows to leave mummy to open and close it! The sets are recommended for age 4+ so it's worth going by that or supervising younger children.

The ball has a little "door" so you can put the hamster in or take it out so really there is no need to take the ball apart once it is built. When inside the ball, the Zhu Zhu Pet will run around just like a real hamster in an exercise ball. The kids prefer using this over leaving the hamster to roam free around the floor as it can't get stuck under the sofa!

The Hamster House Playset was a massive hit with C and E. It took a little instruction reading and building but all in all, it was easy enough to get right. The children were very excited to decorate it any way they wanted with the stickers that were included. You get the main base area where the hamster starts off. There are three openings but included are two yellow stoppers so if you only want the hamster to go up the slope and not escape out the two side parts, you can block them.

The slope attaches to the base area then clips into a helter skelter type part. When you place the Pet into the base part and press the button, it will find its way up the slope then back down to the ground. The slope has three opening lids and if they aren't clicked closed, the hamster can pop its head up. They do need to be closed fully for it to continue its journey smoothly. 

The Hamster House Playset comes with a hamster too (the exclusive Winkie) so we had no fighting over them. They enjoyed playing with them together and letting them take turns in the Adventure Ball and Hamster House Playset. I think the fact that the Zhu Zhu Pets are so unpredictable was a source of excitement for the children. They both let out squeals and giggles when the hamsters ran off. 

We absolutely love playing with them and they are a great idea for people who can't have pets or for practice before getting a pet! The Zhu Zhu pets are available in four different characters and are £12.99 each. The Adventure Ball can be purchased for £9.99 and Hamster House Playset for £29.99. The range of Zhu Zhu Pets toys can be purchased from all major toy retailers.

(We received these items for the purpose of this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.) 

Bigjigs High Level Expansion Set - Review #PlayPatrol

We absolutely love being a part of the Bigjigs #PlayPatrol. We have already reviewed three items of the Bigjigs Rail range and were so excited to receive our next item. We never know what we are going to get so it's always a lovely surprise. 

 

This time round, we received the Bigjigs High Level Expansion Set. As the name suggests, this works best as an add-on to a track set but if you already own some Bigjigs compatible trains, you could probably use it as a standalone. 

 

The set is comprised of 27 pieces; 17 pieces of train track and 10 girders of a different height. I have to admit that I got myself a bit confused whilst setting it up (although that could be because I had two excited children chattering in my ear). I made sure that I had each girder in height order to make it easier for me to know which one corresponded to the letter in the instruction sheet. They don't go in size order so I think that threw me a bit. 

 

Eventually, I got that track built and I was pleased with how sturdy it is. Each girder has little grooves to hold the track in place so I don't have to worry about the children playing a little too roughly and me having to fix it over and over again.

Both C and E really enjoy this track because it's so different to any other track that we have had. The circular shape is new, as is the fact that there are two levels to it. E gets very excited and refers to it as a "train slide" - super cute! She was also excited to see the little plant and animal images on the sides of the girders. These are made of plastic and I like that there are two different textures to the track. They also add a bit of colour to the plain wooden track. 

 

I've found that the children need to focus a bit more when moving the train around. If they take their eyes off for a second, they tend to lose momentum so it's great for hand-eye coordination and dexterity. They have been playing together with two trains most of the time and using their imaginations to construct a little scenario that is happening between them. 

 

If your children are fans of train tracks - they will love this! The Bigjigs High Level Expansion Set retails at £34.99. You can find out more at the Bigjigs website and you can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. 

(We received this item as part of our role as member of the Bigjigs #PlayPatrol. All thoughts and opinions are my own.) 

 

BRIO School Playset & Village Modules - Review

We are massive fans of BRIO toys and we have been lucky enough to review a few items from the range in the past. If you aren't familar with the brand, BRIO have been creating high quality toys since the end of the 1800's. Originally founded in Sweden, today the family run business has developed into a global company. The idea is that the simple designs spark creativity and encourage development.

I was really excited to receive the new BRIO School Playset for the children to review. The set contains 22 pieces which are a mixture of plastic and wood. Four year old C does request that I build it for him as he has a bit of trouble with needing assistance for a lot of things. The two base pieces slot together easily, and it's just a case of putting together the walls and other bits that are super simple - it can be done without even reading the instructions.

Since C started preschool, he has enjoyed roleplaying where he is the teacher with a class full of students so he has really loved using the two figures that come with the set as a teacher and student. He will make the teacher let the student have outside time where he can play on the attached slide then have the teacher stand in front of the blackboard, ready for the days lessons. The set does not require batteries so children are encouraged to use their imagination. I love watching C act out little scenarios.

In addition to the School Playset, we also received a BRIO Village Module. The expansion module is simply 14 additional pieces that you can use to either expand your school playset or create extra buildings to create a proper village style scene. They are really bright and colourful which is something that I love to see with preschool toys. These slot together in the same way as the School Playset and you can use the pieces to create differently shaped buildings. When built, the sets are very sturdy and can even withstand a boisterous two year old playing with them.

C has had lots of fun playing with these sets, especially using them with his BRIO Rescue Set that we reviewed a few months ago.  I love that the BRIO range work together quite well and I can almost see the cogs whirl round in C's head when he plays with them, wondering what situation he can put his characters in next.

The BRIO School Playset retails at £29.99 and the Village Module is £19.99. They are available to buy from all good toy shops and online retailers. Both sets are recommended for age 3+.

You can keep up to date with at the BRIO website, Facebook and Twitter.

(We received these items for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.) 

 

Fisher-Price Silly Wheelie Mickey - Review

I cannot start this review in any way other than, this is probably the best thing that C has ever owned and I honestly believe every kid should have it on their Christmas list this year.

When I first received the email about reviewing, I knew it would be a hit as C loves Mickey Mouse and owns quite a few Mickey Mouse toys but I didn't think it would be as loved and well-received as it has been.

As soon as he arrived, C was keen to get him opened. He is recommended for children aged 2+ so at 3 years of age, he's perfect for C. He kept telling me "Mickey's on a bike!" and when I switched him on, his little eyes lit up. He also comes with 4 AA batteries so he's ready to go. 

All you have to do is pull the flag back on the back of his bike and Mickey can speed around the room, doing wheelies and spins and he sings a little song and says different phrases. He even pedals the bike! The song is so catchy too and I'm always finding myself singing it in my head! C thinks it is absolutely hilarious and the first night he arrived, C spent around half an hour running around the living room after him, sweat dripping from his head and in stitches laughing saying "He's doing a wheelie, mummy! He's so funny!"

Mickey has been played with every single day since we got him and he's always the first toy C asks for in the morning. He even had to come with us for a sleepover at grandad's at the weekend! I've honestly never seen C so attached to a toy and I am seriously impressed. Even my parents were saying how wonderful he is.

The only downside is that C's one year old sister, E, is absolutely terrified of him and crawls as fast as she can away from him when he's switched on. It's terrible of me to say, but it is quite funny! I think he just moves a little too fast for her. She's happy enough to play with him when he's stationary though.

Fisher-Price Silly Wheelie Mickey retails at £31.99 and honestly, it's worth every penny plus more to see how happy he has made C. I really think owning him is the best thing that's ever happened in his life and I cannot recommend him enough.

(Disclaimer: We received this toy for the purpose of this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Oxelo B1 Scooter - Review

C is, and always has been, an outdoorsy child. He would spend all day running around and playing outside if he could. We own quite a lot of outdoor toys so when we were offered the chance to try out a Oxelo B1 scooter from Decathlon, of course I said yes! C actually already owns a scooter but he struggles a little with it. I was hoping that this one would be easier for him to manage. This one is aimed for 2-4 year olds so I thought it would be perfect.

Firstly, I love that the scooter is customisable. You can purchase the chassis for £22.99 then the shells are £2.99 each and you can choose from green, yellow, red, pink or blue. This means that straight away you are able to tailor it to your childs tastes or you can purchase them all and change when they want! It just needs a few screws.

I'm usually rubbish at putting things together and building but this is totally foolproof. Once it was together, C couldn't wait to get going!

I had a little play around with the height (there are 2 levels) and C at 3 years old only needed to use the lower level. This means that he has plenty of room to grow and will be using this for quite a while to come. The fact that it is a three-wheeled scooter gives him reassurance and he could manoeuvre it well too. This isn't a tilt scooter which is what his previous one was but more of a "normal" scooter so he finds it much easier.

Our first outing with the scooter was to my parents house. C loves playing out in the garden so I folded it and popped it in the basket of his little sisters pram. Folding the scooter is simple and I love that there's a little rubber bit to keep it together. I honestly couldn't feel any extra weight on the pram so it's great for when we're out and C can't be bothered scooting - I can carry it easily!

C has had so much fun playing on his new scooter and it's definitely become a firm favourite in our household. The grip on both the base and handles means he can scoot along comfortably and have little or no tumbles off!

You can purchase the B1 Scooter and coloured shells directly from Decathlon.

(Disclaimer: We received this scooter for the purpose of this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

LeapFrog Mobile Med Kit

My favourite thing about blogging is trying out baby and toddler items and writing about my thoughts. As a mum, I hate to spend a lot of money on an item only to find its a bit rubbish and not really worth it. Christmas is creeping up on us very quickly and C has been having a play with the LeapFrog Mobile Med Kit. 

C is quite a good vocabulary so as soon at it arrived he was very excited to "be a doctor". The Med Kit is is little ambulance (which sort of looks like a bag at the same time) that includes a stethoscope, thermometer, otoscope and syringe. 

The four tools were all ones that C wasn't previously familiar with. The ambulance does say their names so he got to grips with them quite quickly. He loves to practise giving mummy, daddy, E and even his toys check-ups and making sure they were okay. He finds is especially funny that the syringe squeaks when you push it down. Each tool has a space inside the ambulance and he enjoys rolling it along the ground. 

The Mobile Med Kit is great educational toy as your child is encouraged to go on medical missions, learn about body parts and the ambulance even sings 'Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes'. This is a song that C knows well but they have jazzed it up a bit with a new verse that got C excited. 

I definitely think the LeapFrog Mobile Med Kit is the perfect gift to any child aged 2-3 years old. C absolutely adores the role play aspect. 

The Med Kit retails at £17.99 and it can be purchased from the LeapFrog store and all major toy retailers. You can find out more at the LeapFrog website and you can follow them on Facebook and Twitter. 

(Disclaimer: We received this item for the purpose of this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Munchkin Scooper Hooper

C loves having baths and I think it's down to the fact that he likes to play with different toys. Ones that he doesn't play with day in, day out. 

As part of being a Munchkin Blogger we received the Scooper Hooper. 

The Scooper Hooper is two toys in one. You get the 'scooper' and three rubber balls. Firstly, you can play by letting the balls float in the water and trying to scoop them with the 'scooper'. The handle is easy grip so it's perfect for C's little hands to hold. He had lots of fun trying to catch the balls as they floated by him. It's great for hand-eye coordination too!

Alternatively, the 'scooper' has a suction pad at the end of the handle so it can be stuck onto the side of the bath. Your child can then use the balls as basketballs and try to get them in the net of the scooper. C preferred this game better. 

The colourfulness of the scooper and balls combined with the different textures and game that can be played makes it the perfect bath toy for children. 

The Scooper Hooper is suitable for children aged 12 months + and it retails at £5.99. 

You can find out more at the Munchkin website. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

(Disclaimer: We received this item as part of our role as Munchkin/Lindam Bloggers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Puppy

I love Fisher-Price toys. I played with them when I was a kid and even now, when you hear "kids toys" they are probably one of the first brands to pop into your head. 

We were recently contacted to see if E would like to try the new Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Puppy and due to my love of the brands baby learning toys, I jumped at the chance. When it arrived though, it was C who was all over it! It is recommended for children aged 6-36 months so he's well within the age range at 30 months.  

The Puppy has three levels:

Level 1 - Explore (6mths+) which aims to focus on first words and sounds to spark baby's curiosity. 

Level 2 - Encourage (12mths+) which aims to prompt baby through questions and simple directions. 

Level 3 - Pretend (18mth+) which encouraged imaginative fun and early role play. 

The puppy is a great baby learning toy as it boasts lots of features such as over 50 songs, tunes and phrases. The sounds are made by touching the puppy's ears, paws, tummy and light up heart. C is able to press all of these with no problem. E tries to copy him but she is drawn towards the heart most of the time. She does like the different textures so it's great for sensory play. 

C loves to sing along with the songs and try to converse with the puppy. He enjoys interacting with the body parts and say what each part is. It also teaches letters, counting and colours so it's hugely educational. 

I love how it can entertain the littlest of babies right up to toddlerhood so it well worth the money as it is a toy that will grow with your child. 

The Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Puppy retails at £19.99 and you can find it at all major retailers. 

(Disclaimer: We received this toy for the purpose of this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own). 

Tobar Toys Giveaway

Following on from my Tobar Toys review of the Snuggleasaurs and Bump N Go Bubble Train, I've been given the opportunity to host a competition so that my lovely readers have the opportunity of winning their own!

If you missed my earlier review you can pop over here to read it.

The prize will be ONE red Snuggleasaurs and ONE Bump N Go Bubble Train (pictured above) for ONE lucky winner. This competition is open to residents of the UK and it will run from the 6th November until the 1st December so you will receive them in time for Christmas. Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Win competitions at ThePrizeFinder.com - See more at: http://www.theprizefinder.com/content/two-tobar-toddler-toys#sthash.FtFgeRyz.dpuf