Santa is now finalising his naughty and nice list. This means last minute gifts are being purchased, wrapped and put under the tree. For those who are stumped and need a present for the kids that is guaranteed to pleased, check out the toys below!

Moose toys for kids

Moose toys have got a great range of toys that will entertain children of all ages. Check out the great range available:

Cleverkeet – RRP $79.99 (years 5+)
I have shared this great toy previously on the blog. It is the smartest bird to hit the toy shop shelves and the easiest to maintain in your home! Check out the full review here.

Little Live Pets Tweet Talking Birds – RRP $14.99
This is the ultimate compromise for kids asking for pets this Christmas! The Little Live Pets Bird responds to your touch and sings, chirps and tweets just like a real bird. The more you play with this little bird, the happier it will be and if you make it really happy it will even whistle a special song just for you. You can even record a 10 second snippet of your voice and listen to it talk back!

Little Live Pets Lil’ Mouse House Trail – RRP $19.99 & Single Pack – RRP $16.99
Calling all animal lovers!! These are the cutest little pets your child could have. These little mice squeak and scurry just like a real mouse and have even got their very own personality. Combine this with the mouse house trail for hours of fun as your little ones build different tracks, play areas and even a see-saw for their pet mouse. *Batteries are even included!

Shopkins Shoppies – RRP $16.99
The latest craze to hit the shelves and hearts of little girls all over the country, Shopkins are filling homes fast this year. Thanks to the popularity of the Shopkins collections, you can’t go shopping without the Shopkins Shoppies. These gorgeous little dolls come with different hairstyles, moving arms and legs and create a great deal of fun!

Glitzi Globes Fairy Lantern – RRP $34.99
This awesome toy allows children to make their very own glitter globe. It includes one mega dome that becomes a fairy lantern and three mini globes so your child can create multiple sparkling designs. This is a very pretty playset that any girly-girl would love!

For the adults

Shout! – RRP $29.99
Answer the questions before the time runs out! This team board game is full of quirky questions, fun challenges and is guaranteed to have everyone stitches. The questions are from an array of subjects so you will not become bored. This game is fun for everyone!

What is your last minute Christmas shopping list?

Disclosure: I received the above items for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.

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My boys loves board games; they always have. It doesn’t seem to make a difference whether it is Monopoly, Scrabble, Operation, Connect Four or their latest favourite Make ‘N’ Break.

Each has a component of education to them but most of all, they are fun!

Make ‘N’ Break Board Game

Make ‘N’ Break is a Ravensburger board game that requires players to pick a card and build the structure on their chosen card, paying attention to the detail of colours and order of each block. The challenge is that while you must keep your hands and fingers steady to build, you are also timed and must complete as many different structures as possible before your time runs out.

It is recommended for ages 8-99 however my 6 year old absolutely loves it so I think as long as your child is old enough to know not to put the dice in their mouth, they should be fine. I love that this game is educational. It teaches children hand eye co-ordination in addition to paying attention to detail and patterns. It combines luck with communication, creativity and action.

Make ‘N’ Break can take as long or as little time as you like. It doesn’t have to drag out and become boring, keep the game exciting by making and breaking these whacky structures as fast as you can! This exciting board game can be played with as little as 2 people and makes learning fun.

Make ‘N’ Break includes: 1 timer, 10 building blocks, 60 building cards, 1 dice.

You can purchase Make ‘N’ Break from Child.com.au for RRP $34.99.

If you are looking for a new game to keep the kids entertained; this is a great board game for Christmas, those rainy days or just because you feel like playing!

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Benefits Of Pretend Play For Preschoolers

Don’t dismiss pretend play for preschoolers or toddlers because it doesn’t interest you. This is a crucial part of learning for kids. Read this to understand how!

Your child constantly sees you completing mundane everyday tasks, but to them it is not boring jobs. To them you are doing amazing and complicated activities. They want to learn how to be as amazing as you and this is where the benefits of imaginative play begin.

How imaginative play improves child skills

Pretend play helps children of all ages improve skills they need later in life but because they can advance these talents through fun activities, they will enjoy it and continue to grow. Here are just some of the ways creative play can benefit your child:

• Encourages imagination – the ability to be creative and make up scenarios that can be acted out, allows children to not only be original but also permits them to express themselves in a way they feel comfortable whilst allowing their imagination to progress.

• Social skills – when playing in a group environment, pretend play encourages team work and cooperative behaviour. This is important for their basic social skills to develop and encourage flexibility with ideas.

• Thinking – this is relevant to social skills because when playing with others, not everything is going to happen the way your child expects or wants it to. This allows your child to problem solve and consider other possibilities to achieve a solution. This is often how they develop the skill to improvise!

• Inspires them – playing gives kids the ability to be whatever they want to be. They can be a fireman, astronaut, mum/dad, shop keeper and absolutely anything else that makes them happy! This joy and imagination stimulates their senses and encourages them to further explore possibilities that they previously hadn’t considered.

• Language skills – pretend play offers children the ability to improve their language skills by talking, listening and sharing their emotions. This is so important to the development of a child because it is something they will continue to use for the rest of their life!

Pretend play activities for toddlers and pre-schoolers

Children learn a great deal by simply watching how people around them interact. By mimicking common scenes they witness at home, they are enhancing their cognitive skills and developing behaviour that is appropriate later in life. While imaginative play is something children will learn to do on their own; you can certainly do things to further their interests. Many of which require minimal effort on your behalf!

• Designate room – not everyone has space to assign an entire room to pretend play but most can reserve at least a corner. This is a great idea if possible because it gives your child the space they need to pretend. By filling ‘their area’ with old containers, a bench or table with a sheet over it, boxes, old phones and even dress ups; it is ready for creativity.

The items in this area do not have to be new or costly! Your child will decide whether it is a kitchen, space station, shop, etc. and will ultimately make it whatever they want.

• If you have a new baby in the family, let your child help or copy you complete the parenting jobs. For example: if you are changing a nappy, let them also change their babies (aka doll) nappy or feed it when it is hungry. They want to be involved and are learning each and every time they pretend to be like you!

• If you are doing the washing, vacuuming, making lunches, gardening, etc. – LET THEM HELP!

• Play with them – if they want to play doctors, be the patient. If having tea parties, drink the tea. Place your order and let them bring you your food. Let them be the mail lady. Whatever the situation is – ENCOURAGE IT and BE EXCITED with them!

Childhood is full of learning and development. There are so many options that allow kids to learn while having fun; for more ideas on how you can get involved with imaginative play (click the link).

It is critical to a child’s progress that they are encouraged every day; so make pretend play for preschoolers important to you too.

How do you encourage pretend play for preschoolers and toddlers in your home?

This is an S1 POST in collaboration with Child.com.au.

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Games are a great way to develop children’s skills. By allowing them to discover and learn through puzzles, experiences and games, you are giving them the opportunity to grow in a stimulating environment.

Junior Labyrinth Review

Recently my children received a Junior Labyrinth from Child.com.au and they absolutely love it. Not only are they learning how to think logically, they are having fun whilst doing it.

The object of the Labyrinth, for children aged 3 years +, is to move the balls with the magnetic pens to each end without getting stuck in the barriers. There are moveable pieces of wood inside that make for an extra challenge when moving the balls around the labyrinth. In order for them successfully complete the maze they must think about not only the move they are making but also consider what action they will make a few turns in advance.

When my boys were in long day care the centre had a large scale one of these on the wall and the kids absolutely loved it. This smaller version has not lost any of its appeal and if anything because it can be used by 1 or 2 players at a time, they can enjoy a little bit of healthy competition as well. As a result of it being interactive and engaging, children do not realise they are refining their motor skills and challenging their hand-eye co-ordination. To them, they are just having fun.

The Junior Labyrinth is made with the highest quality in mind from sustainable rubber wood. This makes it not only strong and durable but also safe for your children to play with for years to come. It is perfect for indoor use or whilst travelling as there are no little pieces that can be lost and it requires absolutely no clean up.

With a retail price of $65.99 from Child.com.au this 30cm square Junior Labyrinth is the perfect size for children of all ages.

Do you kids enjoy mazes and puzzles? How do you assist in developing your child’s skills?

Disclosure: I received the Junior Labyrinth for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own or that of my children.

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If you haven’t heard or seen the LeapTV in stores, it is a gaming system for kids that is not only educational but it also gets the kids active. We have had ours for a couple of weeks now and while we limit gaming time in our house, the LeapTV is one gaming device we are happy for the kids play during their allocated gaming/technology time.

We love the LeapTV because it encourages children to get their minds and bodies moving. LeapFrog have kept the system very easy to use, with first time players in mind so it is great for children of all ages (recommended for ages 3-8). The LeapFrog LeapTV offers three unique ways to play – body motion, pointer play and classic control.

Body Motion – The motion sensing camera captures them and automatically puts them in the game so every action they make can be seen on the screen. Their actions are incorporated into the game as they explore different activities such as dancing, playing with unicorns and martial arts.

Pointer Play – the pointer play takes pretend play to a new level by utilising the transforming controller with a simple twist. The control allows children to slice through coconuts, swing from building to building and much more.

Classic Control – As you would expect the control can also be used as a classic controller. Children can press A and B buttons to perform actions, shake to sled through enchanted forests or tilt the controller to make the character (or race car) turn.

Designed for little hands the controller is the perfect size. My 18 month old can hold it comfortably when she plays with the unicorns, as can my 6 and 8 year olds when they play their race car game. The LeapFrog LeapTV offers an educational, active video gaming experience for children with a wide range of games available. For more information on stockists and LeapFrog products visit the LeapFrog website.

Disclosure: I received a LeapFrog LeapTV for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.

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Board games often get a bad rap because some people think they are boring or simply for children however I disagree. I am a huge board game lover. Always have been. I love the household classics like Monopoly, Yahtzee and scrabble but I am always on the lookout for new games to add to the collection. So naturally I was ecstatic when I was recently sent The LOGO Board Game to enjoy with my family these holidays. And it has been put through its paces this week.

My sister and brother-in-law joined us for a week at Christmas and after all the planning, cooking and festivities, an easy fun filled night was on the cards. I was amazed at how much notice and attention we pay to advertising. Those working in advertising are well worth their money! This game is full of everything about everything; from chocolate and tyres to cleaning products! Yes they all have logos but the LOGO Board game isn’t just about the brand logos, it is also about the items wrapped up in them.

On the box it recommends players to be aged 12+ however our 7 and 5 year olds got quite a few right which made them feel great. They loved being able to play. It was surprising because we were actually learning a few facts about the brands we know and love along the way. As I mentioned above, we have played this game a lot lately and as there so many different cards we still haven’t gotten through them all. I love that it isn’t repetitive!

When the kids were no longer playing and it was just us adults we ditched the board and just played with the cards. I know this isn’t how it is supposed to be played but we took turns reading out the cards and whoever ended up with the most cards in front of them as a result of correct guesses won the game. Whichever way you play it, you won’t be disappointed.

Are you a board game enthusiast? What is your favourite?

Disclosure: I received the LOGO Board Game for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.

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