Games & toys

Louise Pollard and her family tried out Imagination Games' family board game Beat the Parents and, true to the title, the kids won!

My little BABY born® is the little sister of BABY born® from Zapf Creations and is perfect for the little arms and attentions of an infant aged one plus.

David Collins and his son, Sandy, had a rare "boys day out" leaving baby Betty at home with Mum, to attend the launch of a new range of Tonka toy cars at Santa Pod raceway, the home of UK drag racing (the self titled “fastest and loudest motorsport on earth”).

As soon as a baby can sit unaided, you can consider a babywalker. Harriet Coates has had great fun in the Ziggy Rocker Walker from Tippitoes.

The Toy Retailers Association have announced their predictions for the top 12 toys for Christmas 2010.

Hasbro has got together with Parenting Without Tears to offer five lucky readers three fabulous family games: Monopoly Revolution, Nab It! and Pictureka!

The Sims was always a great favourite in our house when Olivia was younger so we were delighted that Brian O'Neill could take his son and a friend to preview MySims – SkyHeroes at the RAF Museum in north London.

Vivid Imaginations is pulling clear of the field with exciting new additions to the Roary the Racing Car toy range! And three lucky Parenting Without Tears readers will win a Loada Race-Day Truck (£24.99) each plus three runners-up will each receive a Rescue and Recovery set (£9.99).

How do you keep a 3½ year old boy with a broken leg entertained?  The Interactive All Around Chuggington Set seems to be a pretty good place to start, writes Georgina Collins.

Recently launched in the UK, Paper Jamz has classic rock styling, a range of 30 chords and three legendary rock anthems that can be jammed along with in both Rhythm and Perfect Play modes, or you can turn off the vocals and sing along, Karaoke-style! Read what Louise Pollard and her family made of it.

Having reached its silver anniversary, Pictionary® now has a brand new look with two levels of play to provide a fabulous game for all the family, writes Anne Coates.

A three in one set of games to keep everyone amused in the garden, park or on holiday. Anne Coates and friends took it with them for a picnic in the park.

Ten year old Jack Denne reviews Shrek Forever After for XBox 360 a game based on the fourth Shrek movie.

Babies' first toys are important – especially when they give parents some precious hands-free time to do the important things  like eating! Harriet loves playing on the 3 in 1 Curiosity Gym, as Oliva Coates reports.

Baby gyms have come a long way since Anne Coates had one for her own daughter. Here she – and Harriet – test out the Silver Cross Homefrown 3 in 1 Playmat and Gym. Harriet's appreciation is shown by the smile on her face!

Toby Bell soon got the hang of a game new to him – Garden Noughts and Crosses from Brightminds – as mum Alex writes.

Sian Minett comments on son James' experience of playing How to Train your Dragon based on the Dreamworks animated film of the same name.

Jack Denne, aged ten, reviews  the new game from Activision, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.