BOOK REVIEW: PENELOPE'S PLAYGROUND BY PIXI AND ROXY JACENKO

My big boy has just started school, and at that age, more than ever, it is important that the children learn that it is ok to be different, and to accept and understand that. And the new book written by Roxy Jacenko and her daughter, Pixi Curtis, Penelope's Playground* is the perfect story book to read out to children, and help them understand how important it is to be kind to each other, regardless of how you look. 

PRODUCT REVIEW - BACK TO SCHOOL - SMASH BENTO BITE LUNCH BOX AND DUAL WALL GLOW IN THE DARK BOTTLER

PRODUCT REVIEW - BACK TO SCHOOL - SMASH BENTO LUNCH KIT

THE ULTIMATE TOY GIFT GUIDE FEATURING POLLY POCKET, VTECH, NEOBEAR, PJ MASKS, PEPPA PIG, LEAPFROG

Have you got little kids and struggling with ideas of what to give them... then I've got you covered with a large selection of cool toys, many of which are educational at the same time... 

TOY REVIEW + GIVEAWAY - PJ MASKS TIME TO BE A HERO DVD

TOY REVIEW: CROCODILE CREEK 36 OCEAN ANIMALS AND 36 DINOSAURS PUZZLES FROM CHILDSMART

TOY REVIEW - VTECH RACE AND LEARN CARS 3 TABLET - XMAS GIFT IDEA

TOY REVIEW: POINTY PEMBLETON VISITS THE DOG PARK BY NAT PANZARINO - GREYHOUND RESCUE

TOY REVIEW: TONO KNIGHS & DRAGONS POP-UP CASTLE AND CHECKERS FROM PINK POPPY

TOY REVIEW: CROCODILE CREEK BUSY CITY FLOOR PUZZLE FROM CHILDSMART

PRODUCT REVIEW: WORLDS APART CARS 6 BIN STORAGE FROM CHILDSMART

Having a tidy house is a bit of a challenge when you've got little kids. But thanks to this cool Cars Storage Bin from Worlds Apart from ChildSmart, things are a lot tidier at our house these days. 

The Cool storage bin is super easy to assemble, and comes with 6 fabric tidy boxes that sit neatly on the storage case, and they can be removed and are light and easy for the child to carry around too.

There are two different printed Cars designs on the storage boxes featuring Lightning McQueen, which match the printed sides of the storage case. 

The storage bins can be used for all sorts of toys, as well as a selection of lighter books, so it is all neat and tidy, and easy to find, and also within reach, as the storage system has just the right height, 60cm, so its perfect for little ones.

The actual case is made from a sturdy MDF construction, with printed sides, and it has of course been tested to the highest of child standards to it is safe to leave free standing in the child's own room.

This storage system not only look super cool in any kids room, it will also excite any little Cars fanatic. Since having it, we have also noticed a significant improvement in getting our two little boys to tidy up their toys, and keep the floor clutter free - and thereby not only looking after their toys a little better, but certainly also minimising the risk of them falling over toys and getting hurt. It also helps them keep toys separated so that it is easier for them to find specific things when they want them. 

Oh, and your child not a huge Cars fan, don't worry, as this cool Storage Bin system is also available with among others Thomas the Tank, Frozen, Disney Princesses, and Monsters University.


Worlds Apart Cars 6 Bin storage - RRP: $99.95
Visit ChildSmart for stockists

* Products have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.


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HOT WHEELS MAKES PLAY EPIC

Hot Wheels, every little and also BIG boys fantasy. From the bright orange track to the endless possibilities of what you can do for hours upon hours of fun for little thrill seekers. My two little boys and their big boy daddy have been busily setting up tracks and using the new Ultimate Garage and the Track Builder Systems as the base from where it all happens. This was a project all three boys in the house took on to try and build the most epic track of the century, and luckily for us we had the room to accommodate this large and ever evolving structure...

Here's some of the new Hot Wheels products we used for our epic race experience.. 

The Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage is a huge play set that has a massive 36 parking spaces, and heaps of other places to park your Hot Wheels car collection. The cars can go on countless adventures from here in 8 different play zones, from a trip down the spiralling ramp and around the bay, trying to avoid the hungry attacking shark, go up one of the two working elevators, and then race side-by-side down the ramp to see who's the winner. The cars can also go to the car wash, fill up with petrol, or go grab a burger. And what makes this cool play set even more fun, is that it has lots of lights and sounds that sound very realistic too. It also comes with 5 cool Hot Wheel Cars and a car-grabbing helicopter that can land on the helipad. 

The Hot Wheels Roto Revolution is for 1 or 2 players, where you can challenge each other, by launching the car with the adjustable power boosters into the rotating motorised loop and hold your breath hoping it wont crash in any of the crash zones, either on the track, on the ground or in the air. The game takes a little skill, knowing when exactly to launch the car without immediately crashing, and the last car still standing without a crash, wins. The set also has parking areas for the cars, and comes with two cool Hot Wheel Cars. 

Then there's the Hot Wheels Track Builder System. The Construction Crash Kit comes with over 40 pieces including tracks and Mega Construx ('lego style' blocks) to help build up the track and fly off as the cars crash into the brick panels and see the bricks fly off. 

The clever box allows almost endless tracks and configurations to be built including lane ways, towers and loops, with easy to follow instruction manuals. You can even build up the track using the cardboard box the kit comes in, so clever. As well as tracks, and bricks, the kit also comes with a launcher, multiple crash levers and connectors, and 2 cool Hot Wheels cars. 

Alternatively there's the Hot Wheels Track Builder System - Stunt Box, which is a cool little 'suit case' full of tracks, blocks and parts, that you again can use to keep your imagination run wild as you build an endless tracks. It includes tracks, loops, ramps, launcher, connectors and track turns, and also a cool Hot Wheel Car. And what's even more cool about this set, is that you can use the actual box to build up your track, and when you're done, it can be used as clever storage. 

Finally, there's of course the Hot Wheels Cars. As well as the cars included with the play sets, you can also purchase them individually, and let me tell you, there are so many different ones available, and with new ones launched all the time, that your kids will want to keep collecting. 

In addition, we also used some cars and other Hot Wheels play sets my boys already had, but common for all, is that these Hot Wheels toys seriously are incredible. My boys, both the four and two year old (and daddy too!!) are having the best time placing the cars at the top of the ramps and letting them fly down the tracks, going through the loops and crash, all while competing who has the fastest cars and can do the best tricks. I also love the fact that my little boys can use their imagination and creativity and continue experimenting building and creating new tracks and scenes, which they can use for role play, which so far among others have included police car chases after the bad guys, firemen going to put out the fire, or going to get the family take-away for dinner. 

I also love that you can continue to build and add on to the Hot Wheels sets with new kits and tracks as everything is built to work together. And for a little extra fun, the kids can also incorporate house hold items or furniture for extra steep ramps etc for even more cool stunts. And as the options are endless, all depending on their creativity and imagination, it also means that they will continue to play with these toys for years to come, which in my opinion makes then great value toys too. 

The Hot Wheels Toys are recommended for kids aged 5+, and note that this kit comes with small parts, so it is not recommended for kids under 3 years of age.


Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage - RRP: $139.99
Hot Wheels Roto Revolution - RRP: $39.99
Hot Wheels Track Builder System - Construction Crash Kit - RRP: $39.99
Hot Wheels Track Builder System - Stunt Box - RRP: $29.99
Hot wheels Individual Cars - RRP: $2.29

Available from leading toy stores, including Toys r Us, Myer, David Jones, Target, Kmart, and Big W - and many are currently available at great prices during the July Toy Sales. 

*Note, products have been kindly provided and this is a sponsored post - but the above opinion and statements are in no affected by this, and we've truly loved playing with these toys. The products have been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

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PRODUCT REVIEW: VTECH TOOT-TOOT DRIVERS LIFT AND REPAIR SHOP AND TOOT-TOOT VEHICLE

Today I am enlisting the help of our older boy for yet another toy review, this one the Toot-Toot Drivers Lift and Fix Repair Shop as well as the Toot-Toot Tractor both from VTech. 

This toy has built-in SmartPoints, 5 in total to be exact, and when you roll over the hot rod, or any other Toot-Toot car for that matter, such as the Tractor, which can be purchased and added individually, you will hear different phrases, music or fun sounds effects. And when you push the light-op button (the windscreen) of the cars, they say their names, (in this case Hot Rod or Tractor), and sings three different and catchy sing-along songs and make lots of fun sounds.

Combined, these 5 SmartPoints have more than 40 different sounds, melodies, sound and phrases, so your kids (or you!!), won't tire of repetitive songs too quickly.

The car lift on the repair shop raises up to the second level and you can see the car spin around, which all helps teach motor skills - but kids can also role play further by leaving the car at the ground level and pretend to repair the car with the included wrench and spare tyre, paint the car, or fill it up with petrol. To make this even more fun, the garage door also flips open, so cars can drive in and out, and both the spray paint nozzle and the petrol pump nozzles moves up and down and around to making it more realistic too.

The Repair Shop and the vehicles have following developmental benefits;

• Motor Skills through lifting the ramp, moving the gas pump and pretending to repair vehicles
• Language development by hearing the vehicles respond to the SmartPoint locations with phrases that encourage first words and early vocabulary.
• Imaginative play by pretending to repair, paint and fill the vehicle with gas to enhance the imaginative play experience.

The Vtech Toot-Toot Lift & Fix Repair Shop and the Toot-Toot vehicles are intended for kids aged 1-5, and our 3 year old is having so much fun role playing with the set, repairing the cars, putting petrol on it, and also pretending to wash cars. He also really likes driving the cars down the ramp and seeing them take off down our hall way, something that also gives our youngest boy great joy. The little one also enjoys playing with the set, but not yet at the point of being able to role play, but really enjoys playing with the little cars, pushing them down the ramp and placing them in the garage.

This Repair Shop does take a little bit to put together as you also have to add all the stickers, and our boy was a little frustrated with the wait (and wanted to help, which wasn't particularly helpful!), so if you're giving this away as a present, I would recommend that put it together first, to save any frustration and tears.

 

 

But overall I am yet again impressed with these toys from Vtech - they give kids hours and hours of fun, and because of how they are made, they will grow with the child as they become older and even more into role play. As a parent, I love that it is a quality toy, and that thought has been put into the toys to encourage development of important skills. I also love that you can purchase the little cars individually and even add and attach other Toot-Toot playsets, to create a whole city of roads/tracks and other sets such as airport, police and fire stations. The playset is also lightweight so easy to take with you when you go ie. to friends places, and of course the little vehicles even easier, and perfect when you want your kids to be entertained when you want relax at a café or even in the car. Big tick of approval from my boys and myself!

 

 

 

 

Vtech Toot-Toot Drivers Lift & Repair Shop - RRP: $39.99

Vtech Toot Drivers - tractor or other individual vehicles - RRP: $11.99

Available from Department stores, some variety stores and major toy retailers

 

* Products have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

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