Toy Reviews for August 2018

JELLYCAT BASHFUL CREAM BUNNY CHIME

Little ones can shake, rattle, roll and giggle with Bashful Cream Bunny Chime. This dreamy-soft bunny is full of woodland magic – just jiggle your bunny around to hear the softest fairy bells. Jellycat’s musical chum is soft and scrummy in cosy fur with long lop ears, a tubby tummy and a heart full of song! This is one bunny that will make you smile.

4/5

RRP – $34.95 Available from: Independence Studios www.isgift.com, The Enchanted Child

Our Verdict – I’m a bit of a sucker for soft and cuddly toys. So, this is another cute little bunny who has easily won me over. Small enough to join me at my desk and soft enough to make you go “awwww” – it’s very hard to resist. Add in the jingle belly chime and it’s close to cuteness overload. The only problem is I have to fight the kids for it!!

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GEMSTONE BALLS SET OF 3 Dazzling to look at, awesome to bounce! Set of three assorted green, clear and blue 45mm gemstone high bouncing rubber balls. Loads of fun for big and little kids alike. Play your own fun games or create other imaginative play, go whichever way your gem sparkles.

4/5

RRP – $9.99 Available from: Independence Studios www.isgift.com, Mr Toys Toyworld, City Beach

Our verdict – Not just any bouncy ball, these gemstone balls add a different dimension and sparkle to your play. Barely out of the packaging and my girls are already having fun, pretty much throwing them at each other of course, but having a ball nonetheless. Bounce them high or low, the fun is endless, just watch they aren’t thrown too hard because they could easily be used as missiles or weapons by arguing siblings. Great for a game of handball or just to see who can bounce theirs the highest. Now, there’s a bit of fun for the whole family.

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LEAP FROG LEARNING FRIENDS 100 WORDS BOOK Join animal friends Turtle, Tiger and Monkey as they explore new vocabulary in this bilingual book featuring 12 different learning categories. Touch the words on each page to hear the animals say toddler-appropriate words along with exciting sound effects. Switch to Fun Facts mode and kids can learn exciting facts about each word. Then, in Fun Sounds mode, play different sound effects by touching the pictures in the book. For more music fun,

press the light-up star button to play two learning songs. Explore everything the book has to offer in English and then slide the language switch to explore everything again in French.

5/5

RRP – $34.95

Available from: Big W and other toy retailers

Our Verdict – I’m not sure who’s benefiting more from learning another language, myself or my children? Either way this book is a great way to teach your kids early vocabulary both in English and in a second language. This book teaches kids familiar words, adding in fun facts, sounds and everything else to grab their attention to learn in a different way. It’s a first words book from an angle that’s also interactive, which kids tend to love. It’s bright, easy to follow and lots of fun. Definitely a winner for the littlest members of the family!

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VTECH INTERACTIVE LEARNING DESK

It’s a 3-in-1 interactive learning activity desk that introduces numbers, letters, animals, people and more. An LED screen displays the letters, numbers and other activity elements to assist with learning step by step. Listen to 20 different melodies using the music player, then flip up the desktop to use it as a chalkboard. It can also be used as an easel so kids can create artwork or as a flat art surface as well. It includes nine activity pages with more than 30 activities to play and more than 160 phrases to learn. There’s even a time telling clock with movable hands. There is also a card storage area and a stool included.

5/5

RRP – $89.95

Available from: Toys R Us, Toy Universe, Mr Toys Toyworld, Dick Smith

Our verdict – Your kids will love having their own little desk to do all their important (fun) work at. I’m forever sharing my desk because my girls have “important work to do mummy”. Well not anymore! They can “share” this space together (yeah right, like that’s going to happen!). It’s a great interactive space for kids and an awesome teaching and learning tool but as always in a fun way. Sometimes I think kids learn best when they’re having fun and don’t realise they’re actually learning. It’s a great way to do it!