Games & toys

Arriving just in time for the rain and half term, the HeyDoodle Into The Wild A3 Mat from the ABC series proved to be an activity so absorbing that Christine Mayle's granddaughter aged six and grandson aged three could play and colour together again and again.

The So Slime Twist ‘N Slime Mixer encourages a wide range of social skills: sharing, co-operation, language development and most important FUN, write Christine Mayle whose grandchildren have had a whale of a time with the slime.

What to do when you have a child who is at that age where YouTube and TikTok is everything and all they want to be when they grow up is a YouTube star? Well, first of all it might be an idea to grab yourself some equipment! Now Mason has been going on about doing some videos, and of course we like to encourage creativity, if of course it cuts out screen time, and gets him doing something creative and energetic and so, we were very happy when we had the opportunity to review the Studio Creator 360 from Canal Toys, writes Lee Cooper-Muir.

If your child is anything like ours then they will absolutely love crafting, making things out of nothing, creating stickers and using loads of notepads for journals, doodles, drawings and playing imaginatively. The Style 4 Ever 3-in-1 Scrapbooking Station provides all this and our son loved it, writes Lee Cooper-Muir,

A great way for your teens to expend energy during the holidays and have a lot of fun – a Gel Blaster to soak their opponent(s) as they race to avoid being the target.

Fancy building your own rocket from Aardman's first film, A Grand Day Out, and flying to the moon for cheese? Now you can with this cracking cardboard BYO Wallace and Gromit Rocket kit. Lee Cooper-Muir and son, Mason, review.

Get inspired with our Build Your Own Cardboard Plane Launcher. The 47-piece kit contains everything you need to slot together and build this incredible launcher. Follow the detailed instructions, press out the pre-cut parts, attach the elastic bands and you’re ready to fly your planes, writes, Lee Cooper-Muir.

Leo Cooper-Muir and his family have loved reviewing Build Your Own toys, what did they make of the BYO STEM-inspired Marble Labyrinth?

Canal Toys Style 4 Ever Fashion Designer Studio was an immediate hit for Christine Mayle's granddaughter.

“Watch vibrant colours and patterns change before your eyes with Build Your Own’s new eco-friendly, STEM-inspired Kaleidoscope!” Is the description from BYO and as Lee Cooper-Muir says, "I loved playing with kaleidoscopes when I was younger so why not make our own?"

Fancy a new game for family game night, that’s fun for all the family? Or maybe a game to play with friends whilst sipping on some grog?  Then Fire in The Hole might be the option for you, says Lee Cooper-Muir

Well, what can we say? Mixing dinosaurs, an eight-year-old and craft… You have a winner with BYO Pteranodon Mini Build Kit, writes Lee Cooper.

A planet-friendly take on the traditional arcade game, this super cool tabletop Pinball Machine provides hours of entertainment. Play alone or challenge your friends and family, who will win? Review by Lee Cooper 

Leapfrog 2-in-1 Touch & Learn Tablet reviewed by Lesley Lodge.

Canal Toys Art Lab Watercolour Studio reviewed by an enthusiastic Cooper-Muir family.

Monopoly Cash Decoder – a new version of the iconic game from Hasbro. Anne Coates readies herself for a family showdown.

The Studio Creator Unicorn Speaker from Canal Toys provides children (and adults) with hours of audio and visual fun. Christine Mayle reviews with her grandchildren.

Living Nature's collection of over 200 toys is the closest you'll ever get to the real thing and are perfect for animal lovers aged one to 100. What's more, the stuffing of our animals is made with recycled plastic, meaning they are 100 per cent eco-friendly. Harriet and Anne Coates were enchanted.