In The Playroom

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Fun with UltraDash

By in Toy Reviews No Comments

We have been having so much fun with UltraDash over the past few days. It is an ideal game for keeping active in the garden or inside the house, so it’s perfect for these crazy times we find ourselves in at the moment!

The aim of the game with UItraDash is to race between coloured targets, as directed by the flashing lights on the handheld tagger, and then quickly tag each one – aiming to beat each other’s speed, or beat your own personal best.

The game takes very little time to set up, once you have added batteries, you can pull this out any time and get going straight away. It’s brilliant for those moments when the kids are restless and just need a good run around to use up some energy and re-set everyone’s moods, and we’ve found it’s just as much fun for the adults as for the kids!!

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5 Kid-Friendly Instant Pot Recipes You Must Try

By in Food No Comments

The Instant Pot is one of the world’s most famous multicookers and one of the Best Seller products on Amazon. Its popularity is due to the many functions it brings to the table and the ease of use. It is one of those appliances that truly improve life in the kitchen and raise any home-schooled chef’s level.

While you’ll find many opinions on this multicooker, the one that’s most popular is the diversity of dishes one can prepare with it. The Instant Pot is amazing when it comes to preparing delicious meals without too much effort.

To prove just how great the entire IP series is for anyone’s kitchen, we listed five recipes that are easy to make and are beloved by almost anyone, including our little picky eaters… and if you need any more ideas, there are a wide variety of cookery books available at The Works

#1: Scrambled Eggs

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Top 10 Fun Easter Activities for Toddlers and Pre-schoolers 

By in Gift Guides & Seasonal No Comments

Guest post from Leanne of Sloth and Stork

Easter always puts a spring in my crafty step, as a nanny of over 5 years working with toddlers and pre-schoolers I love this time of year for finding ways to keep the kids busy, learning and having fun.

From making chocolate nest treats, learning about a chickens life cycle, Easter scavenger hunting and building dens for the Easter bunny (to take a break from delivering eggs, obviously)….as nannies, we work hard for our bunny!

With lockdown keeping families all cooped up, trying to occupy little minds, while working from home (and secretly binge-watching Working Moms) planning activities to keep them from staring at a screen all day has been made almost impossible. 

And while it’s fine for me to sip coffee at my desk, serenely gazing out of the window, writing about crafts and activities to keep kids busy…I know that you’re at home with small people running around, tugging at your sleeve, asking to be fed (again) or shouting that their brother has just stuck Olaf in the toilet. 

As you tuck them into bed, quietly breathing a sigh of relief, you should be settling in to a night of adult time, safe in the knowledge that the next day is filled with things to keep them busy, creative and learning. 

Which is why I’ve collated my years of experience with toddlers and pre-schoolers and my time off to come up with this list of the top 10 fun Easter activities for toddlers and pre-schoolers – to give you a very well deserved break! Think of me as your virtual nanny. 

1. Make Easter bunting 

A great way to kick off an Easter themed activity week is to decorate their playroom or bedroom with their own handmade Easter bunting. 

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Discovery Dinosaur 3D effect Jigsaws Review and Giveaway

By in Competitions, Toy Reviews 71 Comments

You can’t beat a good puzzle, and the kids and I have been having fun with a new range of Discovery Dinosaur puzzles each with 150 pieces.

These Dinosaur Puzzles, made by Kidicraft, are from the Discovery range of 3D effect puzzles which are manufactured using new Prime 3D lenses to give greater depth and motion to the images.

The 3D style really is effective, they felt as if the dinosaurs were really coming out of the jigsaws! And it also adds a little more challenge to completing the puzzles as it’s a style we haven’t tried before.

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HOSTING A VIRTUAL BABY SHOWER

By in Baby No Comments

Guest post from Luisa Figueroa

With the recent outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), people have used their imaginations to continue to acknowledge the special moments in their lives. One of the most important celebrations is being pregnant. Unfortunately, during this pandemic, many countries are in lockdown or under quarantine. Current in Australia, there are recommendations to social distance and not gather in large numbers. Being pregnant, you may feel uneasy being around others so we have put together a guide on how you can hold an online or virtual baby shower.

What is a virtual baby shower

A virtual baby shower is where you celebrate the upcoming birth of a baby. This would take place online rather than in person. People are able to log in to the online baby shower from all around the world. They can participate in games and watch the presents being opened and celebrate with the expectant mum to be.

Set the time and date by e-invites

Just like any normal baby shower, it’s best to schedule a date and time that will suit as many people as possible. You will be able to invite friends and family from around the world. A great e-invite solution is paperless post.

Virtual Venue

No need to book a hall or premises for your baby shower venue as you have everything you need at your fingertips. There is a large selection of virtual venues to choose from which include Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts and Facebook. Choose the one you are most comfortable using as you may have to train a few people on the ins and outs of the chosen software. The best thing about the virtual venue is that clean-up is minimal.

Care package

If possible, plan well in advance send the guests a care package with everything they need for the online baby shower. This can be everything from materials they will need to play the games, basic decorations or a thank you for coming gift. If you are running short of time you may need to compile a list and email through with the e-invite.

Gift registry and shopping ideas

One of the most exciting things about celebrating a baby shower is buying a baby shower gift for the mum to be. This shower doesn’t have to be any different and with a variety of online baby shops throughout Australia, there is something for everyone! You may want to purchase a baby gift card or set up a gift registry. When it comes to online shopping your choices are endless.

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Sonic The Hedgehog Movie Printables

By in Printables No Comments

Get ready for epic fun and super-sonic action when everyone’s favourite hedgehog races home in the blockbuster hit SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, debuting for Download and Keep on April 10, 2020 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Bringing Sonic the Hedgehog to life in this fun adaptation, it’s easy to understand why this film is a must-watch, and achieved the highest opening weekend of any video game movie adaptation in film history!

Powered with incredible speed, Sonic the Hedgehog (voiced by Ben Schwartz), aka The Blue Blur, embraces his new home on Earth. That is, until he accidentally knocks out the power grid and sparks the attention of super-uncool evil genius Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey). Now it’s super-villain vs. super-sonic in an all-out race across the globe to stop Robotnik from using his unique power for world domination. Sonic teams up with The Donut Lord, aka Sheriff Tom Wachowski (James Marsden), to save the planet in this action-packed hit that’s fun for the whole family.

My kids loved this movie in the cinema, and now to mark the home release, we have some fun Sonic the Hedgehog printable activity sheets to share with you – perfect for keeping the children busy at home.

Sonic the Hedgehog Colouring pages


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Brilliant Free Resources for Home Learning

By in Education, Printables No Comments

Learning Resources has devised a range of FREE home learning activities for 2-11s to help parents and children prepare to spend more time at home.

Visit the blog to discover activities that will help keep kids learning and engaged through meaningful play. The family-friendly resources include downloadable activity books for maths, science/STEM, language and reading support, animals and geography plus printable worksheets, activity sheets and play-based learning ideas to keep children busy indoors.

For 35 years, the company has been the leader in educational toys and games for children aged 2-11 years and has built up trusted relationships to help meet the needs of teachers, parents, carers and other learning mentors.

There is tonnes available from activity books to print out and fill in, to hands on learning with STEM activity guides and recipe cards. There are ideas to extend the play and learning using Learning Resources products you may already have like the Coding Critters or Playfoam, and lots where you don’t need any special supplies or equipment at all.

We will definitely be using some of these to keep the children busy over the Easter holidays these next couple of weeks, and then to supplement their school learning afterwards while the school closures continue!

For more information visit LearningResources.co.uk or keep in touch over socials, where they are sharing plenty of ideas and inspiration to keep our children happy and learning during this time!

You can find them on

Facebook: @LearningResourcesLtdUK

Instagram: @LearningResourcesUK

Twitter  @LRUK

 

44 Cats Toys Range

By in Toy Reviews No Comments

You may remember our post a few months ago about the TV series 44 Cats. If your children are fans of the show, you will be pleased to know that there is now a range of 44 Cats toys available to go along with the show! These new toys are available from retailers including Argos and The Entertainer.

The range includes musical plush characters, as well as smaller Buffycats figurines including colour change ones!

We were sent a couple of the new 44 Cats toys for N (Age 3) to try out at home.

44 Cats Musical Plush Toy – Milady

The Milady musical plush toy is very cute and soft, with easy to activate sound effects when you press her body. She plays a catchy song from the TV series.

N loved the musical Milady straight away as she is perfect to snuggle up to.

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Puffin Storytime… and more: Resources for School Closures

By in Education No Comments

In response to national school closures, children’s publisher Puffin are offering a rich programme of online storytellings and ‘at home’ activities to spark the imagination of children and support families at home

The much-loved and biggest UK children’s book publisher, Puffin, which in 2020 celebrates its 80th birthday, is now re-planning events to take authors, illustrators and stories directly into children’s homes

Initiatives include a daily Puffin Storytime, a Puffin Podcast series, an online book festival – the Puffin Festival of Big Dreams – as well as updated Puffin Schools resources to facilitate home-learning. They are also working with numerous partners to ensure children can continue to dream big and engage with reading and the power of storytelling from their homes

Puffin’s range of activities and free initiatives across the coming months for children and families to enjoy from indoors, includes:

  • Puffin Storytime: From Monday 6th April, Puffin will be bringing 20 minutes of storytime magic to homes daily at 3.30pm on weekdays. This will include readings and draw-alongs from their stellar list of authors and illustrators. Caregivers, teachers and children can view Puffin Storytime on Puffin’s YouTube, Instagram and Facebook channels #PuffinStorytime

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Learning Resources Online Easter Egg Hunt

By in Competitions No Comments

We’re #StayingIndoors and have teamed up with one of our favourite toy brands Learning Resources for an eggciting online Easter egg hunt. You’ll stand the chance to win an eggciting prize to keep the kids busy and entertained, and are guaranteed to receive a mystery discount!

On Monday 6th April hop along to Learning Resources’ Facebook or Instagram pages and look out for the clues. Follow the clues to find one of their favourite blogs, where you’ll need to hunt for an Easter egg to crack. Hidden inside each Easter Egg you’ll discover a letter! Remember all the letters because you’ll need them to spell out the answer to a question at the end of the hunt to enter the competition!

Learning Resources are giving away a bumper Alternative Easter Gift prize bundle to once lucky winner and everyone who enters the Egg Hunt will receive a surprise discount of between 10-50% off a Learning Resources purchase on their website.

Check below on Monday morning for our Easter egg which may appear with a clue that you will need…. 😉 Good luck!

When you see the Easter egg… you may need to give it a few taps to reveal the letter!

 

 

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