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Modelling clay for kids that is safe and natural

Alan — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:20:56 +0000

Modelling clay for kids that is safe and natural

There are literally hundreds of uses around the home for Bicarbonate of Soda, from cooking to cleaning and deodorising, but one of the best ways it can be used in by keeping the kids occupied. Bicarbonate of Soda is easily made into a safe and natural modelling clay that can be used to for both educational and creative activities that will keep the kids happy for hours.

Using the clay, they can build their own pieces of 3D artwork that they can either keep or recycle into another work of art. This is a very simple recipe for making a clay that as well as being both safe and cheap, will provide hours of entertainment during the days leading up to Christmas when the words ‘I’m bored’ seem to be uttered constantly. You never know, you may well have a little Michelangelo on your hands.

To make this natural modelling clay, mix 400g of Bicarbonate of Soda with 100g of cornflour, 250ml of water and a tablespoon of vegetable oil together in a saucepan. Gently heat this mixture until it has the consistency of mashed potato, then leave to cool with a damp cloth over the top of the pan.

Once it has cooled, divide the mixture into separate trays, and add a few drops of food colouring to each of the trays and mix it thoroughly into the trays. Dust a usable surface with a bit of cornflour and let your kids start creating their very own masterpieces.

Using cookie cutters is a great way of teaching children about shapes and they will love squeezing and pressing objects into the clay to make new ones. Let their imaginations run wild by letting them mould their own forms, or even creating new colours by mixing different clays together! The clay can be kept in airtight containers to be used for next playtime, or left to harden for 2-3 days before being painted.

Dri-Pak produces 500g packs of Bicarbonate of Soda which are available from supermarkets, independent stores and directly from Dri-Pak. For further information and ideas for keeping the kids entertained as well as a directional video showing the making of Bicarbonate of Soda clay visit http://www.dri-pak.co.uk/kidsfun.html

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Meccano Partnership with Scouts to Build Britain

Alan — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:42:40 +0000

Meccano, the leading brand in construction toys, have announced a new 12 month long partnership with the Scout Association, with the intention of promoting creative learning amongst both boys and girls in the 6-10½ age group.

The Meccano Creative Challenge will be an integral part of qualifying for the Beaver and Cub creativity badge. Beavers and Cubs will have to complete several creative challenges exclusively using Meccano, and these will include creating models that are personalised, unique and individual.

Beavers and Cubs are also eligible to enter the Building Britain with Meccano challenge which is a nationwide event. This will involve both designing and building an iconic local British landmark such as Blackpool Tower or the Angel of the North.

All those who participate will be invited to attend the Beaver/Cub fun day which is to be held in June 2012 at Gilwell Park and their models will be placed in position on a ginat map of the whole of the British Isles. A star prize will be awarded to the pack or colony whose model is deemed to be the best by the Judge Sue Barrett, who is the country manager for Meccano Uk Ltd.

Sue Barratt, Country Manager, Meccano Toys (UK) Ltd, says: “The Scout Association is a perfect fit for Meccano. Our brands are valued and trusted so the fit is excellent. Our mission is to promote traditional play that encourages children to stretch their imagination. The other beauty of Meccano is the collaborative qualities that it brings. Parents can join in with their children, in the same way that leaders and peers can work together to make ever more creative constructions.

“To celebrate our partnership with The Scout Association, we are launching the ‘Building Britain with Meccano’ competition for Beaver and Cub groups across the country. When groups register to attend the Beaver/Cub Fun Day at Gilwell Park in June 2012, they will be invited to take part. Entry is on a first come first served basis. Each successful entrant will receive a supply of Meccano from which they will construct their model of a local landmark.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to work towards a badge and to enter a competition which could see them winning piles of Meccano prizes.”

Simon Carter, Assistant Director, the Scout Association said “The Meccano partnership is a great fit with Scouting. The Scout Movement encourages young boys and girls to be creative in all that they do. Meccano provides the perfect tool to harness the creative thoughts and ideas contained within every Cub Scout.”

See Meccano at www.meccanouk.co.uk join www.facebook.com/MeccanoToys or follow us at www.twitter.com/meccano_uk

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WIN! Make maths fun with Multibandz!

admin — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:10:12 +0000

These funky and brightly coloured wristbands are suitable for children up to 12 years old and are a fun and fresh new way to teach your kids their times tables. Each band is printed with a different times table and some even glow in the dark! A pack of 12 wristbands usually costs £7.92 from www.multibandz.co.uk but we are giving away 10 packs!

To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer this question:

‘What colour is the band for the 12 times table?’

Send your name and address to kidszine@xec.co.uk by midnight 25 July 2011, and to validate your entry please also sign up to our newsletter.

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Ivor the Engine railway adventure launched as an iPhone game

Alan — Fri, 13 May 2011 17:31:22 +0000

The opportunity to solve a series of puzzles whilst travelling along the famous Merioneth and Llantisilly railway in now possible without leaving the comfort of your home. The innovative games studio Dreadnought Design are the brains behind the Ivor the Engine relaunch and have now released their version for the iPhone.

The original game of Ivor and the Dragon was released on iPad in April, and players are immersed into an adventure on the Welsh railways with Ivor and his trusty driver Jones the Steam. Working together, there are a series of puzzles alongside the TV featured Merioneth and Llantisilly line, owned by the Rail Traction Co. Ltd. The games are adaptations of original Ivor stories written by the late Oliver Postgate.

The original artwork of the characters by Peter Firmin has been restored and brought bang up to date in the form of HD graphics. Ivor’s original music by Vernon Elliott also features on the new Dreadnought Design Ivor and the Dragon iPhone game. The designers promise that the game will be in the authentic smallfilms style and that both children and adults will enjoy an exciting journey along the picturesque railway.

Oliver Postgate’s son, Daniel Postgate, says:

“My father’s wish was for all the Smallfilms materials to eventually be made available online for everyone to enjoy again, so when we were approached by Dreadnought Design last year, the timing seemed to be perfect for development to begin. Peter Firmin and I are very excited about the launch of this game on the iPhone as well as the iPad, and are delighted that Dreadnought Design have managed to keep the authenticity of the series while managing to bring it back for today’s market.”

A series of interactive storybooks based on original Ivor the Engine stories are also under development and will be released under the newly created Smallworlds brand.

“This is just the start of an exciting year for Smallfilms,” added Daniel. “There is a lot more to come, and from some other familiar faces too, so watch this space!”

Ivor and the Dragon Game for the iPhone on iTunes

UK Link: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ivor-the-engine-for-iphone/id…
Price £1.79

US Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ivor-the-engine-for-iphone/id…
Price $2.99

Ivor and the Dragon Game for the iPad on iTunes

UK Link: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ivor-the-engine/id400910512?m…
Price: £2.99

US Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ivor-the-engine/id400910512?m…
Price: $4.99

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Ben 10 Toys

admin — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 10:26:40 +0000

Anyone involved in the sale of children’s toys will be well aware that Ben 10 toys are the hottest brand name in the toy market at the moment. It is well worth noting that last year’s toy of the year was the Ben 10, 15cm and 10cm Action Figures, not only that, Ben 10 were also recognised as the winners of the “Boys’ Range Of The Year” making them a unbeatable range of Children Toys.

For those who are not familiar with Ben 10, it is a superhero series were a huge following of young fans spread across the globe who not only tune in religiously to the latest adventures, but are also hooked on the fantastic range of toys available. In the cartoon series the Omnitrix, which is similar to a watch, provides the superpowers to Ben.

The superpowers allow him to morph into more than 10 specialist aliens, who also make up the action figures that they crave. There is even now a spin-off sequel following his adventures known as Ben 10: Alien Force, in this new series his Omnitrix has been vastly improved enabling Ben to more into new alien versions, not surprisingly there has also been a new range of alien action figures as well as the all-new Ultimate Omnitrix device.

Although Ben 10 has a wide range of followers, its main audience is made up of boys from 12 down to 4 years of age. The toys have been manufactured to high specifications and have been extremely well designed to not only give hours of fun and entertainment but also to inspire young boys to become creative in their play.

They have a great amount of detail, and stick very closely to the realism of the original cartoons, they are manufactured by the number three toy producer in the world Bandai, and offer very multi action variable size that are highly durable in order to stand up to the rigours of the play antics of young boys.

But for many adults in these difficult economic times many toys are simply out of financial reach no matter how demanding children can be, this is not really a problem if your child has a fixation with Ben 10, with action figures available from a little as five pounds, as well as the new Alien Force creature vehicles weighing in for just £15, and the latest version of the ‘Omnitrix’ devices ranging between £15 and £20 they are within the reach of almost any cash strapped parent.

Even the normally outrageously expensive video games are available from as little as £15 and books retail for approximately 3 pounds, a complete bedroom set, which even has several extras can be purchased for as little as £60.

The only thing left to do now is decide which of your child’s Ben 10 cravings you will have to give in to in order to satisfy their cartoon led alien fantasies.

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Let’s Play Teddy Tennis – DVD for young aspiring tennis players

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:27:39 +0000

Teddy Tennis have launched the first feature length DVD “Let’s Play Teddy Tennis”, an animated DVD designed to teach and encourage young children to learn the essentials of playing tennis.

Teddy Tennis is a new teaching method that inspires young children aged 3½ – 5½ to play tennis and develop a love of sport. It creatively connects to children through music, pictures, stories and teddy bear characters, making learning the elementary skills of tennis and sport, great FUN.

‘Let’s Play Teddy Tennis’ comprises 12 games and exercises that are taught in a typical Teddy Tennis lesson. The games focus on developing three areas or core competence; ‘ball skills’, racket skills’ and movement skills’; collectively these form the foundation for becoming accomplished at most sports and are therefore an excellent learning formula for all young children. The DVD also features the music and pictures that are so successfully utilised in Teddy Tennis lessons.

Richard Bean, co-founder of Teddy Tennis said “The idea behind producing the DVD is to enable children to practice what they have learned in class at home. Also, the DVD enables children who have not had the benefit of being to a Teddy Tennis lesson to learn at home. The games and exercises are very simple to follow especially since it includes the music which not only inspires kids but set the rhythm for the games or exercises.”

As well as getting children active and teaching them to play tennis, Teddy Tennis enhances co-ordination, grows confidence, develops communication skills and introduces young children to the concept of learning.

Roger Draper, Chief Executive of British Tennis said: “We think it is a great idea for the 3 and 5 year olds to build a foundation of good all round athletic fundamentals with music and pictures to help the youngsters understand the learning experience of tennis, we wish them well in their venture.”

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Deals on Toys

admin — Thu, 06 May 2010 15:14:21 +0000

Giving gifts to children gives as much joy to adults as it does to the kid’s faces as they rip open the wrapping to reveal a surprise of their dream toy. Of course that the adults involved obtaining that dream time at a reasonable price may not be such a joyous occasion.

Children can be astonishingly insistent and demanding about exactly what they want for their Christmas or birthday presents. They are very easily led by television adverts that pop up in between there favourite cartoon shows, endlessly drumming into them the need for the latest ‘in’ toy that they now believe they cannot live without.

They will then turn to the parents or grandparents, or any other adult that may succumb to their pleading for that special toy that they simply must have in order to get through the day without falling down in a fit of tears and tantrums.

Of course with the current financial situation it is not always easy for the besieged adult to find the cash required to satisfy their youngsters innermost toy desires. That is why it is often a real necessity to search out the deal on toys. Jumping in the car and driving to the toy shop at the nearest out-of-town shopping centre may not be the best way to obtain great toys at the best prices.

In the age of the Internet it is far more convenient to spend a few minutes searching the web for the great deals that are available. These reduced price toy deals very often put the toy megastores in the shade because they do not have the overheads of operating retail outlets which they must pass on in the form of higher toy prices.

Making use of good quality online toy deals is usually the best way of satisfying your kid’s needs without breaking your piggy bank.

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Christmas Toy Ideas

admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:56:05 +0000

With so many different toys out there to choose from, those letters to Santa can be quite useful in giving you an idea what the kids might be hoping for. If however, you’re stuck for Christmas ideas because you haven’t been told to tell Santa what’s at the top of your child’s wish list this year, then here is some festive inspiration based on the 2009 dream toys list (from the Toy retailer association).

Ben 10 Alien Force Kevins DX Action Cruiser, Bandai (RRP £29.99 Toys R Us)

Ben 10 has been popular for a while, but this particular toy is ‘the’ thing to have if you’re going to have something Ben 10. The Action cruiser is just like Kevin’s cool muscle car in the show, and it’s loaded with features such as alien orbs that shoot out from the front, and an exclusive Kevin figure.

Ben 10 Alien Force Kevins Deals

Bendaroos Mega Pack, Spin Master (RRP £19.99 Toys R Us)

Suitable from 5yrs upwards, this wonderfully creative toy is great. 400 coloured bendaroos sticks, two double sided templates, a cut and join tool, and an instruction booklet and you’re set for a great time. Bendaroos are flexible building sticks that can be twisted and bent to make all sorts of creatures and shapes. Simply unbend them again for reuse meaning that your child can use their imagination and play with these over and over again.

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GO GO Pets Hamsters, Character Options (RRP £9.99 play.com)

Go go pets are excellent. They are small, fury, realistic looking hamsters that have been given artificial intelligence so that they squeak and move around their habitat. Each hamster has it’s own unique personality and sounds. When you team one of the hamsters up with a Go Go Hamster accessory they will instinctively know if it’s a hamster ball, or skateboard etc. What’s even better is that these pets don’t need cleaning out or feeding (except with the occasional new battery), so if your kids have been going on about wanting a pet this could be the ideal solution!

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Cluedo is 60 years old

admin — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:28:13 +0000

Where would Britain be without arguably its favourite story format – the murder mystery? Gone would be the enigma Sherlock Holmes and his faithful sidekick Watson. Agatha Christie’s famous characters, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, would never have graced the pages of tens of millions of books, and the various TV series and movies portraying clever detectives and their mind-boggling skills that always unearth the killer.

But it’s not just in books, novellas and screens. The murder mystery found itself in game format sixty years ago when a musician from Birmingham named Anthony E. Pratt was inspired and worked to create “Cluedo”, the atypical whodunnit board game. Iconic characters like Colonel Mustard, Miss Scarlett and Professor Plum now rank among the greatest villains in history, having taken part in millions of murders re-enacted in family homes over previous decades.

To celebrate the board game’s 60th anniversary, Barry Forshaw from the Crime Writer’s Association recounts the evolution of the murder mystery and gives some great tips on how to write your own.

Hasbro have recently released a new version called Cluedo, Discover the Secrets. There are few new rules and some of the characters’ names have changed.

For instance, Colonel Mustard has become Jack Mustard, “once the most sought after celebrity football player . . . now a sports pundit”.

Professor Plum is Victor Plum “a self-made video-game design billionaire that (sic) moved out of the dingy basement into a life of luxury”.

The lead pipe has become a baseball bat, the revolver is a pistol and a dumb-bell, trophy axe and poison have been added to the murder weapons. The basically bland appearance of the board of the original game is now lavishly illustrated but purists may be put out that the action no longer takes place in an Inspector Poirot-era mansion but a home straight out of Footballers’ Wives. Gone are the ballroom, the library, the billiard room and the conservatory. In come a theatre, spa, guesthouse and observatory.

For more information visit www.hasbro.co.uk

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Merry Mache – Christmas toy kits using recycled newspapers

admin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:26:16 +0000

Merry Mache

An alternative to standard, plastic Christmas fillers and Christmas toys, petit artisan is launching 2 new Merry-Mache kits this year including a unique Nativity set specially designed by petit artisan. The Merry-Mache range is a selection of lovely Christmas toys and decorations made with recycled newspapers that can be kept for years.

Sold in kits packed in boxes that can be decorate, with quality brush and paint (made in France) or individually, these angels, reindeers, Father Christmas and other Christmas are produced in accordance with community trade principles in the Philippines. A quality paint brush and water based paint pots provide the creative tools – children need only add imagination. The toys are all natural, durable papier mache animals and decorative items that children from the age of 3 can personalise.

Each toy is handcrafted in local villages in the Philippines, employing over 800 people who earn a yearly living from making these products. The kits are then assembled in France, utilising craft accessories and packaging materials made in France.

Located in West London (Chiswick), co founders Anne France Kennedy & Karine Etienne have helped 3,000 consumers find a happy ending to their search for natural Christmas decorations. After an hour of educational, creative play children have their own distinct toy decorations to decorate the family or school Christmas tree.

More info at www.petitartisan.co.uk

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