Lockdown fun - Painting Rocks

My first go at painting rocks

Lockdown is putting pressure on us all to find ways to entertain the kids while we work or cook or just have a few minutes to ourselves.

Painting rocks isn't just for children, adults can have fun too. This isn't a How To post more a Why Don't You Try This? If you do an internet search you will see so many gorgeous rocks, these are not easy to replicate, but it doesn't matter. Find a rock, give it a wash and dry, cover it in paint or nail varnish or stick things to it, then place them around your local area for others to find.

Ravensburger Mothers and Babies Jigsaw Puzzle - Review

Ravensburger Mothers and Babies Jigsaw Puzzle - Review

Bee was delighted to be sent a Ravensburger mothers and babies jigsaw puzzle for us to review*. Something designed for his little hands, something just for him. Bear gets quite a few toys and puzzles to review but this is Bee's first.

We love the quality of Ravensburger puzzles, they are beautifully printed and accurately cut. Would the mothers and babies jigsaw puzzle live up to our expectations?

Ravensburger Thomas & Friends, Giant Floor Puzzle - Review.

Ravensburger Thomas & Friends, Giant Floor Puzzle - Review.

We love a good jigsaw puzzle and Ravensburger are always great quality. We were delighted to be asked to review* their Thomas & Friends, Giant Floor Puzzle.

Bear loves surprises and as soon as he saw the box he pointed at the engines naming nearly all of them. Do you know them all?

We started the puzzle by finding and joining the edge pieces together. The pieces are large and great for little hands. They fit together precisely so no need to force the pieces to make them fit. Bear recognised the engines as their faces appeared in the puzzle and was able to complete the inside without any help.

Learning Resources Playfoam Pals - Review

Learning Resources Playfoam Pals - Review

When we were asked if we would like to review* Learning Resources Playfoam Pals I knew straight away that Bear would absolutely love them. Little animal pals hidden in Playfoam, sparkles, and mess! What more could a boy ask for?

Bear was delighted when he saw them. "Look what we have today" I said "WOW!" he exclaimed, "I love them!"

The packaging state that they are mess free (oh yeah, I thought), so with tuff tray on the table to collect all the bits, Bear opened them.

27 ways to entertain grandchildren during the summer

27 ways to entertain grandchildren during the summer

I look after Bear, who is three and Bee who is nearly one, for four days a week. During school term Bear goes to pre-school for a few hours each morning. Now it's the summer holidays we have to entertain them both, without breaking the bank.

Sadly many places put up their entrance fees during the holidays so days out cost more. It's also harder when one child is not walking, many places are out of bounds at the moment, mostly because I do not want to carry Bee and he doesn't want to be carried.

We are lucky in Wales as museums are free and once you hit sixty then all residents are entitled to a free bus pass. So what do we do to entertain the little ones?

Shark Bite, Let's Go Fishing and Mr Bucket Toy Review

Shark Bite, Let's Go Fishing and Mr Bucket Toy Review

We were approached by Pressman Toys and asked if we would like to review* some of their games. Yes! We shouted, we would love to.

Bear has had his eye on Shark Bite and Mr Bucket for a while. Bear also loves fishing games (I made a really simple magnetic one ages ago that he still loves to play with).

We were sent Shark Bite, Let's Go Fishing and Mr Bucket to review. All the games are a fun way to help develop hand eye coordination. Which was our favourite?

Ravensburger PJ Masks Jigsaw Puzzle - Review

Ravensburger PJ Masks Jigsaw Puzzle - Review

We love jigsaw puzzles and Bear loves PJ Masks so when Ravensburger asked us to review* their PJ Masks Jigsaw Puzzle we were very excited! 

The weather had been very cold and wet and I had been struggling to find things for Bear to do indoors. He also had the beginning of a very bad cold and he was very particular about what games he played. A jigsaw puzzle was the perfect solution.

Ravensburger Toy Wonderama Jigsaw Puzzle - Review

Ravensburger Toy Wonderama Jigsaw Puzzle - Review*

Jigsaw puzzles bring back so many memories. Each Christmas my mother had one spread across the dining table that we would all add a little to as we wandered by. How she found time as a mother of four children I'll never know. So when Ravensburger sent me the Toy Wonderama jigsaw puzzle to review it wasn't just the picture on the front that took me back to my childhood.

Megableu Tumball Game - Review

Megableu Tumble Game - Review

Last week Bear was feeling very poorly, he had a nasty ear infection and nothing was distracting him. I had been sent the Tumball Game by Megableu to review* and so took it with me when I visited, not expecting him to want to play with it at all. How wrong I was! He loved it.

Hallmark Itty Bittys Star Wars and Disney Christmas Collection Review

Hallmark Itty Bittys Star Wars and Disney Christmas Collection Review*

We are very lucky to have the opportunity to review products on our blog. Bear knows that we have to take photos and then he is free to play with the toys, but he is only little and sometimes he forgets. Sometimes the toys are just so cuddly and cute that all he wants to do is give them a big hug. That was the case when we were sent some of Hallmarks itty bittys to review.

Fisher-Price My First Thomas & Friends Railway Pals - Review

Fisher-Price My First Thomas & Friends Railway Pals - Review*

We were so pleased to be sent a Fisher-Price Thomas & Friends Playset to review. Whenever Fisher-Price is mentioned I think quality toys. It was a brand we trusted when our children were little. Now we have grandchildren we are always looking for toys that are fun, that inspire their active imaginations and if they encourage learning then that is a bonus.
Bear put up with the obligatory sitting in front of the box for me to take a photo, but he couldn't wait to open the box.
While I was trying (and failing) to get the perfect shot, Bear pressed Percy's light up bumper, (it's on the outside for you to try). Percy said one of the many phrases, I didn't catch what Percy said but Bear chastised it.

"It's Percy, silly!".

That was the beginning of a day of make believe.

WOW Toys Town Advent Calendar - Review

WOW Toys Town Advent Calendar - Review*

It's nearly that time again, CHRISTMAS!! It wouldn't be Christmas without an advent calendar and one of our favourites is the WOW Toys Advent Calendar*. When Bear was one I bought him the WOW Toys Farmyard Advent calendar and he loved it. He didn't open a window a day, he opened them all and took them all out at once, but he was only one and quite adorable so I didn't mind at all. He still plays with the toys from it. None are damaged or broken at all so we were really excited to be given a Town advent calendar to review.

Gift Guide For A Three Year Old

Gift Guide For A Three Year Old*

Three is a magic number, toys and gifts that were out of bounds are now suitable. Bear was three last week and he had some amazing gifts. Some were bought because he asked for them and some we thought he would love. Three is an age where their hand eye co-ordination matches their imagination. They can put together puzzles and make their own games up with the simplest of toys. Gifts do not have to be expensive and most of these are affordable and suitable for both birthdays and Christmas.

Tinsy Winsy Weeny Tots Baby Doll and Pram - Review

Tinsy Winsy Weeny Tots Baby Doll and Pram - Review*

We were pleased to be asked to review Kid Creations Tinsy Winsy Weeny Tots baby dolls and Out & About accessory set. Tinsy Winsy Weeny Tots are miniature baby dolls which fit in the palm of your hand. Each doll is dressed in a beautifully designed miniature outfit and comes packaged in it's own card cot bed.
There are fifteen Tots and two accessories to collect, the Out & About Set and the Bed Time set. We were given two Tots and the Out & About Set to review. The Out & About set includes a baby in an all-in-one outfit, a pram, a changing bag, changing mat and fabric nappy.
Bear has just had a baby brother, I thought it would be perfect but what would he think?

5 Minute Games For Toddlers - Muddy Creatures

5 Minute Games For Toddlers - Muddy Creatures

5 Minute Games For Toddlers just take a few minutes to prepare and mostly use things that you would already have in the house.
Bear loves to watch You Tube, he loves the reveal videos. The ones where creatures or toys are pulled out of a messy gloop or a bowl of smarties. I have been meaning to do this for him for ages and this week the sun was shining, we had the paddling pool out and I thought it would be a perfect game for him.

Lottie Dolls - Muddy Puddles and Astro Adventurer - A Review

Lottie Dolls - Muddy Puddles and Astro Adventurer Outfit Set - A Review

When we were asked to review* Lottie Dolls - Muddy Puddles and Astro Adventurer outfit set we didn't hesitate. We have no gender divides here and Bear enjoys pushing prams and playing with the dolls house at his Tots Club as much as playing with the other toys, so I knew he would love Lottie.

It's called Messy Play For A Reason

Until Tuesday I loved messy play. It's called messy play for a reason but I don't usually mind lots of paint or water or dirty hands. When Bear was very little, less than a year old, I spent many weeks persuading him that paint on his hands was fun and that he wasn't to worry about a few splashes. Just get in and have fun. Lets do finger painting or even better hand painting. Or stamping, I even made stamps out of old kitchen sponges.

10 Five Minute Games For Toddlers

10 Five Minute Games For Toddlers

I am always looking for quick, homemade games to keep Bear occupied. There are lots out there but they usually take a lot of preparation or require a trip to the shops to buy the supplies.
I wanted games that Bear would love, and I could make in five minutes from supplies I already had in the house. Every game has been tested by a two year old and given the thumbs up. If you have the time and patience many make excellent craft activities too.

5 Minute Games For Toddlers - Down The Drain Pipe

5 Minute Games For Toddlers - Down The Drain Pipe

This may take a little longer than 5 minutes to prepare depending on what you have lying around. Basically you need a pipe and some stones. We have chippings around the house that Bear liked to collect and drop down the drain. This was such a bad idea for so many reasons, most importantly I was worried that the drains would get blocked. To distract him we made him his own drain pipe.

Toddlers Easter Wish List with The Works

Toddlers Easter Wish List with The Works*

Easter will soon be here and the children off school which means the inevitable rainy days. We usually go to soft play or another indoor venue when the weather is bad but when the children are off school it can be too busy so I like to keep a few items to surprise Bear and keep him happy. I love The Works because it has a huge choice of books, craft supplies and toys and it doesn't cost a fortune.  I love browsing the internet and The Works has a great site and delivers too.

Toddlers Easter Wish List with The Works

Books

The Works books are always such good value and are top of my wish list. The only difficulty would be choosing which Easter Egg Hunt book to get (1-4). I love the look of the Easter Treats (5) book too, full of recipes for cakes and biscuits there must be at least one Bear and I can do together. Bear loves colouring (6) and stickers (7). Lastly a book that is also a craft, making animals out of egg boxes (8).