Sep 25 2014

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Posted on September 25, 2014 by admin

I’m delighted to announce I’m partnering with Toyella for this exciting blogger competition. You could win £150 in toy vouchers to redeem at their online store that could help make Christmas that little bit easier. Better yet, entry couldn’t be simpler. Both Toyella and I have worked hard behind the scenes to make this competition easy-to-enter & inclusive. Ultimately, we’d like to see your kids getting involved & some really creative entries.

Toy stores take on an extra special quality during the build-up to the festive season. Yet for many, it’s also a source of frustration. Our children’s favorite television shows are swamped by adverts squarely aimed at them. When you pass them that bit of pen and paper to write their list to Santa, you find it lists 1001 gaudy plastic toys you already know will entertain your child for less than an hour.

Toyella’s award-winning toy collection offers parents the sophisticated buying experience they’re craving. Catering for children up to the age of 12, they’ve searched all over the globe to find toys that offer something just that little bit different. Every toy exudes style and clever design with many brands exclusive to Toyella here in the UK. Toys that don’t measure up to their strict requirements, simply don’t get in.

They have to be cool, exceptional quality, progressive and stimulating. Quirkiness, build quality and toys that educate your children are key; either by providing sustainable mental challenges, or helping to refine physical skills through traditional play. Not only do this, but each toy really looks the part too. Toyella pride themselves in sourcing toys that parents will be proud to have on display in the nursery.

Toys such as the Tash Quad Ride-on, exclusive to Toyella, offers children aged 12 months to 4 years a safe and silent ride. Practical restricted steering meaning there’s plenty of maneuverability but prevents children jack-knifing and hurting themselves as they perfect their co-ordination.

For children over 3 years, the fun Oogi by Moluk teaches us you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. This strange yet endearing character offers bags of versatility. Made from super soft elasticated silicone, its arms, legs and head are suckers. This flexibility allows children to stand, hang, stretch, bridge or swing their Oogi. One Oogi can connect to another and the suckers mean Oogi can be used to connect any number of different objects together. Strong and durable, it can even be thrown as a game to see who can ‘stick’ him to a wall or surface.

Watch children learn and express their creativity or perhaps have one for yourself as a desktop companion!

For creative types, Mon Petit Art’s range showcases some truly innovative games and crafts. From funky sketchbooks to origami, to (my favourite) the Familia Tipo, there’s endless hours of both independent and collaborative play to be had. These would make wonderful unique stocking fillers.

Finally, construction addicts will enjoy the endless possibility of shapes and objects that Plus-Plus offers. Available in different sizes for various age groups, Plus Plus is highly regarded in education and is used in most Danish schools for strengthening motor skills.

* BLOGGER COMP *

Toyella want to see your children embracing creative play. This can be anything from dressing-up, to building towers, to putting paint to paper. It doesn’t matter what age your child is, creativity is beautiful in all forms, so we just want to see them engaging with the world around them. For this, we’ll need either a picture or video taken by mum or dad.

Then it’s mum and dad’s turn. We’ll then need you to describe in no more than 300 words what your child is up to & why creativity is an important feature of their playtime. You can write this in whichever style best suits your blog - whether you have a wicked sense of humour, or you just want to inspire other parents. Poems, rhymes or jokes are all welcome. The best entries will be those that most accurately describe your picture and what your child is gaining from the experience.

The winning entry will be judges by Toyella and My Mills Baby based on the level of creativity, originality and interpretation of Toyella’s brand and values, so do head on over to the Toyella.com and have a look around!

IMPORTANT:

Please be sure to embed the following badge code on your site as part of your entry. Please also clearly state within your post that it is an entry to the #ToyellaChristmas Blogger Competition. If you could also link back to this post so other bloggers can enter too, that would be fabulous.

To enter your blog post:

Come back here and link up your blog post by leaving me the URL in the comments below
Follow @Toyella & @MyMillsBaby on Twitter
Share the blog post on Twitter with the hashtag #ToyellaChristmas including the handles of the two hosts (above)
Subscribe to the Toyella newsletter

Competition Closes: 25th October 2014

Winner Announced: 26th October 2014

Good luck!

Terms and Conditions:

The prize is £150 to spend at Toyella.com. There is no cash alternative
Entrants must publish a blog post with an image featuring their child at play, and no more 300 words accompanying the picture
Do follow links are included at the authors discretion but are not compulsory
The blog post must include the embedded blog badge
Once complete the blog post must be linked to in the comments of this post
The entrants blog post must also be shared on Twitter with the hashtage #ToyellaChristmas
Entrants must follow @Toyella and @MyMillsBaby on Twitter
The winning entry will be judges by Toyella and My Mills Baby based on the level of creativity, originality and interpretation of Toyella’s brand and values
Open to UK residents aged 18 and over, excluding employees and relatives of Gemma Mills and Toyella.com
One Entry per person
Competition closes on 25th October 2014 11.59pm
The winner will be contacted by email within 7 days of the closing date and will need to respond within 7 days
The winner’s name will be available on request
The prize code will be given direct from Toyella.com within 14 days of receiving the winner’s address
Entry to this confirms that participants have read, understood and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions
This is a joint promotion between My Mills Baby and Toyella.com

Jun 25 2014

Learning to Ride (who am I kidding… Crash) with the Tiny Bike from Fun4Kids

Posted on June 25, 2014 by admin

Capture5 Learning to Ride (who am I kidding... Crash) with the Tiny Bike from Fun4Kids

I’ve been eying up the Tiny Bike from Fun4Kids for awhile now. Around a year ago I saw a little boy whizzing around on one, leaving his mum for dust. He looked happy, confident (and for want of a better description) like a proper little dude. As mum jogged on behind him I overheard her telling another parent that it’s the best thing she ever bought. That’s all I needed to mentally add it to my ever-growing list of Wants. Ordinarily I have to pester Craig for these things for a few months, but thankfully in this case I didn’t need to - Fun4Kids kindly offered to send me one to review.

Bonus. No need to stoop to back rubs and grovelling! 0412 Learning to Ride (who am I kidding... Crash) with the Tiny Bike from Fun4Kids

What is it?

Simply put, it’s a tiny bike. Made for tots, there are no pedals. A toddler will simply straddle the bike and learn to balance on two wide rubber wheels. When they gain confidence, they can push off, then lift their little feet onto the foot plate. This allows them to coast just like we would if riding downhill. It’s the new revolution in bike riding and a far cry from the days of wobbly stabilisers most of us all will remember.

index1 Learning to Ride (who am I kidding... Crash) with the Tiny Bike from Fun4Kids

The theory is that it enables a child to get to grips with all the coordination necessary to ride a real bike; balance, positioning and steering. Children (particularly the littlies who haven’t quite mastered the art of conversation yet) learn best through repetition and practical instruction. They’re also surprisingly fast learners and don’t tend to be deterred by the odd bump or crash. The old adage, “if at first you don’t succeed then try, try again” therefore suits them perfectly, and this is why the balance bike has really taken off here in the UK.

Tiny Bike Fun4Kids5 Learning to Ride (who am I kidding... Crash) with the Tiny Bike from Fun4Kids

They say:

When pushed briefly, children instinctively learn how to reproduce this movement independently soon afterwards. The Tiny Bike helps develop a child’s sense of balance and stimulates their physical and mental development, improving general co-ordination.

So how did my 2 year old get on?

The Tiny Bike is best suited to children aged 2-4 years. Dexter is only just 2. I know that physically he’s where he should be, but he is at the lower age of the recommended age group and it really shows. His first attempts are bordering on woeful. The best he manage at the moment is straddling the bike frame and walking it along. It makes for very cute viewing but I doubt he’s learning anything.

0012 Learning to Ride (who am I kidding... Crash) with the Tiny Bike from Fun4Kids

Despite this, I don’t want to judge the Tiny Bike too hastily. My friends swear by them and Dexter isn’t one to give up easily. In fact, despite being utterly terrible at it, he’ll still rush over to it in the garden everyday. I’m sure in a few months time he’ll have it licked and will be begging me to take him up and down the hills outside our house. It’s also incredibly well built and sturdy, and is hailed as the lightest of its kind. It all adds up to being the best balance bike for first-timers, and I’m certain it’ll soon be a huge hit for my own little dude.

Putting it together was really easy. It arrived part-made with the back wheel already attached to the frame. All I needed to do was screw in the front wheel, build the handlebar and slot it into position. A quick tighten here and there and it was ready to go. All the tools required were in the box and the instructions were pictorial and simple to follow (even with an over-inquisitive toddler attempting to clamber over my back as I worked). In fact, I didn’t even have to chance to pop on the stickers as Dexter was already mounting it! Within seconds my little two-legged Bambi was toppling over in the dining room and begging me to squeeze my over-sized bum onto the miniature bike to show him how to use it.

006 Learning to Ride (who am I kidding... Crash) with the Tiny Bike from Fun4Kids

This is another big plus for the Tiny Bike. It’s wide rubber compound wheels allow little people to get in some much-needed practice both indoors and out. They’re really wide to minimise falls and offer the smoothest ride possible for fragile bums. They’re also virtually silent meaning you’re not losing the will to live when your little one laps the dining room table for the twentieth time.

Safety-wise it has no spokes to trap tiny fingers and the seat and handlebars are fully adjustable to accommodate all those growth spurts you’re bound to see between the ages of 2 and 4. The handlebars are also easy to manipulate so even Dexter is able to cut tight corners as he waddles with his bike between his legs.

The best bit though, is that it looks just like mummy and daddy’s bikes and is sure to capture your child’s imagination - even when they’re not quite ready for it. I’d be inclined to say they’re more suitable for ages 2.5 and above but then what do I know?! Dexter is my first child and all I have to go on. Whatever the case, I’m sure it will withstand a real battering from Dexter and still have some life left for Heidi in a few years time.

My only sight criticism is that I like to see a kickstand. Although I can appreciate this isn’t likely to appeal to little ones, it would make it easier to store, make the garden look tidier and help prevent scuffs and scratches.

Currently priced at just £49.95 (down from £69.95) it’s great value for money. Available in 8 colourways (including lime green, baby blue, pink and purple) there’s one to suit every personality. You can grab yours at Fun4Kids where there’s also loads more low-priced outdoor and indoor toys to have you reaching for your purse. You can also find out more by visiting them on Facebook and Twitter.

Aug 13 2013

GIVEAWAY: Toys, Toys, Toys! Win a £50 Voucher for Cost Cutters! (CD: 06/09/2013)

Posted on August 13, 2013 by admin

costcutters logo GIVEAWAY: Toys, Toys, Toys! Win a £50 Voucher for Cost Cutters! (CD: 06/09/2013)

A few days ago, I was introduced to a new online toy shop specialising in educational toys - Cost Cutters. With 30 years of experience providing high quality educational supplies and toys at affordable prices, they stock a number of desirable and well-known toy brands including BigJigs, Lego, Wheely Bugs and Orchard Toys!

“Cutting cost, not quality” is our main aim – helping to allow your “budget to stretch further” without compromising on quality, choice, durability or reliability. Cost Cutters

I’m really impressed by the choice available, including a great selection of traditional wooden toys. There are ride on toys, role-playing toys, sensory toys, early years furniture and arts & crafts, all at incredibly reasonable prices - if you’re lucky enough to win this £50 voucher it’ll go a very long way!

Well the lovely guys at Cost Cutters have offered up an incredibly generous £50 voucher for one of you to win. Looking through the website, I’m insanely jealous as this could net you a whole host of stock fillers to squirrel away for Christmas. I think Dexter would shower us with kisses if he was to get his hands on a miniature Honeywell oven and hob set (£47.99), or the EverEarth work bench (£27.95) pictured above!

Entry is via Rafflecopter so get entering now to treat your little one and score some major mum or dad points!

NOTE: If you’d like to know more about how Rafflecopter works, SuperLucky Di has a fab little guide to walk you through it.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

T&C’s – a.k.a – the boring bit!

Only 1 option is mandatory (leave me a comment) – the rest only improve your chances of winning so just complete as many as you feel like
UK entrants only – you must be over 18 too (sorry)
The winner will be contacted by email and must respond within 1 week of having been emailed (I’ll try all known avenues to contact them) or a new winner will be drawn
When the giveaway is closed, Rafflecopter will select the winner completely at random
The winners name will be published on this site

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