Games & toys

LEGO® has launched a sustainable advent calendar, which aims to save around a million plastic trays from landfills this year. Available in three themes: LEGO® Star Wars^TM GO® City and LEGO® Friends, the calendar contains a different toy to build each day. The trays are made from 100 per cent Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper, and can be recycled along with the box. Harriet was in Star Wars^TM heaven! 

Harriet was overjoyed to  receive the BABY born Interactive Wonderland Fairy Rider Doll – a five heart success for her.

The crazy bug bopping game from JML introduces Fizz the Fly, Bella the Beetle and Boris the Bookworm. Anne Coates watched Harriet get to grips with Fizz the Fly.

Following the success of their TfL licensed card game, Mind the Gap, the independent jigsaw puzzle and board games company, Gibsons, have released Chicken Out!, a fun and educational family card game that is perfect for children aged seven plus. Harriet and Anne Coates had great fun playing this together.

Fire 7 Kids Edition is the ideal way for children to use apps and access books and films plus there's great fun to be had using the camera and its editing tools as Harriet discovered. Reviewed by Anne Coates.

As seen on the Netflix original show, the Project Mc2 girls are back with brand new experiments! You can create your own Gummies with Adrienne Attoms, design amazing tie-dye with Camryn Coyle and create glitter tattoos with Ember Evergreen. Harriet and Anne Coates review tie dyeing with Camryn Coyle.

Set up your stumps ready for a great game of cricket. Olivia Coates reviews.

Fun and games guaranteed over the festive period with The Very Merry Christmas Game from Rascals, writes Anne Coates.

At home it's more fun to explore STEM education topics when you have the right equipment. We have tried out the new Discovery Kids Digital Walkie Talkies with a 3km range and the Discovery Kids 40mm Astronomical Telescope and they make great presents.

Zapf Creation® has come up with a fabulous addition to the BABY Born® family – a big sister. She arrived in the Coates household with much fanfare and joyous anticipation. 

They're the new kids on the block – Bratz Instapets inspired by their spirit animals. We were sent Jade to review and Harriet Coates was delighted.

Lucky Voice has developed the ultimate Karaoke App. We tried it out together with the Lucky Voice Karaoke Kit. The children at Harriet's end of term party were delighted.

Christine Mayle tried out the Galt two-in-one Playnest and baby Matthew tried out both options.

Creative, messy play is great when you are at home and can cater for spillages and the like but what about when you are at friends' houses or restaurants? Olivia Coates reviews the Revell MyArts Sand Shaker and found it perfect for taking out and about.

Tomy Colour Discovery Hot Air Balloon is reviewed by Ian Robinson with his two-year-old daughter.

Tomy's Jumbo Jamboree is a great musical toy to explore with small children from 12 months old, writes Ian Robinson.

Project Mc2 is back on Netflix and coincides with British Science week which runs from 11 to 20 March, 2016. The dolls based on the programme's characters feature in a new presentation with experiments for young scientists to perform at home. Harriet has always favoured Adrienne Attoms and was delighted to try out her volcanic experiment, writes Anne Coates,

Laura Chambers  was delighted when she reviewed the Frozen Aquadoodle from Tomy – perfect entertainment for her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Isabella.