Nick Jr | My Mills Baby

Over the next year we’ll be doing a series of review posts all about TalkTalk. These will cover all their services from telephone, to broadband to the TV package. As a self-confessed tv and social media addict, I can safely say there’s no one better placed than I to give TalkTalk a thorough road test, and hopefully it’ll be useful if you’re considering an upgrade or switch to a new provider soon. One thing is for certain, I’ll be brutally honest.

Our first assignment is to review the TalkTalk Kids Boost. In my opinion it’s these boosts that set TalkTalk apart from its competitors. TalkTalk offers its viewers the ultimate in viewing flexibility with all TV Boosts available with just one month commitment - so no lengthy subscription charges. This allows you to add extra channels to the basic YouView package to enhance your viewing experience. What’s more, you can add the Boost’s from the comfort of your sofa using your remote control and TalkTalk pin number. The on-screen instructions are incredibly easy to follow and the fees are clearly explained to minimise any confusion. This means your selected Boost will be added immediately and you can get watching your favourite tv shows in seconds.

So just what does the TalkTalk Kids Boost have to offer your little one?

Well first up, it’s great value at just £5 per month. With just a few easy peasy clicks on the remote, you can open up a whole host of great children’s entertainment. Currently featuring 14 child-friendly channels (including all the usual favourites: The Disney Channel, Disney Junior, The Cartoon Network, and Nick Jr… the list goes on) and a huge majority of the shows available On Demand, you can better control their viewing experience.

As we limit Dexter’s tv-time (I’d love to cite some noble reasons behind this but it’s mainly because I find kid’s tv irritating) this is fabulous for us. At only 16 months, I’ll select the shows I feel are most appropriate (and least likely to have this pregnant mumma blindly searching for a Kool n Soothe forehead strip) from a choice of live and previously aired shows via the On Demand feature. As Dexter’s viewing time could take place at anytime throughout the day, this means I’m not limited to a set timetable and can cut out a vast majority of annoying adverts for Dex.

I’ve put together a little video to show you how to get the most from your Kid’s Boost, how easy it is to navigate, and all its major features. Ordinarily I’d have the little man helping me out but after a few takes he needed a nap so it’s just me and bump today. Hope you find it useful.

MINI COMPETITION

TalkTalk have five Samsung 32″ HD TVs up for grabs via a TV picture quiz on their Facebook page. Head on over to enter - it’s great fun and really addictive (I’ve been playing all afternoon!).

DISCLAIMER: We have been provided with a free TalkTalk TV & Broadband package for the purpose of this year-long review.

With Dexter still a miniature little person (I figure he’ll become a toddler at two, and child at five) routines are still a bit of a cinch - aren’t they for all of us? Despite his octopus hands and a few broken iPhones - we haven’t had any parenting issues with him at all. Bedtimes are relatively easy as Craig and I run through exactly the same process every night; dinner, bottle, playtime, then up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire, cleaning toothy pegs, and a goodnight kiss from mummy. With little songs made up for each step - Dexter is never in any doubt where he’s heading and what comes next.

I am however under no illusion it’ll get harder - especially when we’re blessed with a little brother or sister for him. As soon as he starts getting interested in the tv, or learning how to jump out of his bed, I know we’ll have an issue.

To help parents navigate key developmental stages, and children get to grips with routine, Nick Jr and Dora the Explorer have launched the Step by Step campaign. It’s a clever selection of printables to act as prompts or rewards for children as they learn about the world around them. With bedtime routine charts, stickers to prompt your child to brush their teeth, and potty training reward posters currently available on the website (and more to come) Nick Jr has kicked off a child-friendly page full of colouring pages and cut-out’s for Dora fans to play with.

Using visual prompts as a way to help a child understand the world around them and begin to understand the benefits of following a routine (not least that mum and dad get to have a cuddle before 9pm each night!) is a great way to get your child involved in planning the steps. Furthermore, as Dexter gets older, it’s important to us that he’ll take responsibility for simple tasks around the home. Anything that makes this easier and fun for Dex will be invaluable.

We were also sent an adorable magnetic height chart (with little stickers to record Dexter’s height), and a Nick Jr tote bag to carry around all his worldly possessions as we go about our own adventures.

The height chart is fabulous as it can be folded back up and popped away between measurements (to save it from grubby and over-excited fingers!). It’s also incredibly colourful to engage young brains and get them interested in reaching that next metre mark. Here’s Dexie getting measured up… I can’t believe he’s a whopping 70cms!!

You can take a look at all Dora’s tips and PDF’s cut outs here - http://www.nickjr.co.uk/shows/dora/stepbystep/. Time to get down to Hobby Craft and grab some Self Adhesive Sticker Paper - you’ll be seeing Dora’s face in every room of your house for the next few months!

DISCLAIMER: I received these lovely goodies in exchange for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!