Numberblocks MathLink Cubes 1-10 Activity Set, By hand2mind - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Mathematics cubes with exciting Numberblocks theme!   

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Parents looking for mathematics cubes with interesting concept + Numberblocks fans (adults or kids!) 

Hands up all Numberblocks fans who adore these colourful block characters from the mysterious Numberland! We received this hand2mind Numberblocks MathLink Cubes 1-10 Activity Set from Clover Street (the retail distributor of hand2mind brand in Australia and New Zealand) recently, and we are super excited to share about it today! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Transforming Cubes Into Numberblocks Characters! - One thing that sets hand2mind cubes apart from other brands is, obviously, the accessories to transform the blocks into our favourite Numberblocks characters! Each set includes 100 cubes, 59 “faceplates” (smooth pieces that can be clicked onto the cubes), 54 stickers, 11 numberlings (clear plastic plates with numbers printed on them), 11 character cards, 15 double-sided Write 'N' Wipe Activity Cards, 1 stand for “zero” and 1 activity guide. We LOVE the experience of clicking, sticking, and building our familiar characters, from “One” (the single red block), “Six” (Indigo lady with eyelashes and pink mouth), and everyone’s favourite “Seven” (rainbow-colour character with 7 strings of multi-coloured hair!). We love that we can “shapeshift” them into different formations, just like in the show! 

(2) Easy To Click & Connect - The cubes are easy to be clicked together, twisted apart, and spun around. We tested out similar cubes from other brands before, some of them targeted older kids, and require more strength and fine motor skill to snap them together. This hand2mind version can be easily handled by kids as young as 3! 

(3) Activities From The Numberblocks Show - I love the activity cards that feature 30 activities inspired by the episodes! There is a Blockzilla monster that loves bigger numbers, hairy Big Tum that loves puzzles of finding “missing numbers”, a hole that makes the heads of the character falls off (which sounds pretty gruesome, but it’s just a really cute “adding and subtracting” activity 🤣), and two gigantic hands that teaches us about splitting numbers. 

(4) Use As Mathematics Learning Aid - The cubes can be used just like any other mathematics manipulative. We can learn about multiplication and division, shapes (each side of the cube has a cutout of either triangle, square, or pentagon), patterns, colours recognition, and build interesting objects. 

These are some awesome and versatile educational resources! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

Little Blossoms Toys (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Vegetable Puzzle, By Tuzzles - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Wooden puzzle of unique vegetables theme!  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Wooden puzzle collectors 

 “My favourite foods in the whole wide world are purple onions, fresh cauliflower, and a fancy stalk of celery”, said…… NO kids ever! 🤣 I hope it’s not just me, but it’s a daunting and almost impossible task to get my kids to ever take a bite of anything green or leafy. So I am secretly surprised to see my kids having such great time playing with this Vegetable Puzzle from Tuzzles. If only they would enjoy their vegetable dish as much as playing with this Vegetable jigsaw 😅. 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) 24 Pieces Puzzle With Appetising Vegetables  - This puzzle makes vegetables look appetising and exciting. 😁 You gotta love the bright orange pumpkin, visually stunning purple aubergine, spherical red tomato, and beautiful carrot that looks fresh from harvest! We name the vegetables, we fit the puzzle pieces, and we admire its final beauty! I’m loving the variety of vegetables and the amazing colours (the blue background is such a smart choice of colour!). The set comes with 24 puzzle pieces - challenging enough for a six-year-old, but possible to be done by my three-year-old with a bit of trials and errors. I just simply love how educational, unique, and artistically pleasing this puzzle is! 

(2) Australian Owned + Wooden Material - I love the wooden material. The base and puzzle pieces look durable. Tuzzles is an Australian owned company and makes its puzzles locally. The brand is known for its modern, bold, colourful, and quality puzzles. 

(3) Great Quality - I think the craftsmanship is really good; each puzzle pieces are precisely cut and fit perfectly onto the sturdy base. This is a great toy for training up fine motor, pattern recognition, and puzzle skills! 

We need more Tuzzles in life! 

Where to buy this: 

http://www.tuzzles.com/ (Website) 

Enjoy the video! 

Pocket Money 1, By Knowledge Builder - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Educational game for kids to learn about money  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  5 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Parents and kids who love monopoly and looking for something with an "Aussie touch" 

Our family loves classic Monopoly, but I always thought it would be super awesome if we can incorporate actual Australian currency in the game to give it some real “Aussie” touch. So imagine my excitement when Knowledge Builder sent us this “Pocket Money 1”. This is a fantastic game to practise money-counting in Monopoly-style, but with a kids-friendly pocket money theme! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Pocket Money Theme for Kids - The rules can’t be simpler; throw a dice, move your token, earn or spend money as indicated on the landed space, and be the first one to gather $50 in cash. Instead of “purchasing lands”, “building properties”, “paying super tax” or “going to jail” like in Monopoly, what we have in this game are something more relevant to the kids’ day-to-day life. We pay $1.25 for cupcake, earn $2.50 washing grandpa’s car, earn $4.35 from recycled bottles, and ride a merry-go-round for $1.50. The boy loves the “tooth fairy” space that earns us $6.00. I love that the game includes events and tasks that are familiar to kids. This is a great game to reinforce money awareness and to reevaluate our spending habits (the boy said he would never buy another bubble wand ever again 🤣 ). 

(2) Realistic, Aussie Currency Design - The set includes 70 coins and 12 each of $5 and $10 notes. I love the realistic-looking play money, and how they replicate the true Aussie currency design on both sides of the cash (but with the words “Play Money” printed on them), just like the “Play Shop” set I have previously reviewed. We get to spend and earn, practise giving out change, counting cash, and learning about equivalent values (eg two 50c coins have equal value as a $1 coin). This is a perfect example where we get to learn new skills whilst having fun! 

(3) Quality - The notes are made of synthetic paper with fantastic tear-resistant, and the coins are made of light weight durable ABS plastic. I love the foldable game board, and the resealable bags to store the cash. 

I love the simple rules of this game. However, if you are looking for something more challenging for older kids, then “Pocket Money 2” might be a better option. I will review about it next time. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.knowledgebuilder.com.au/product/pocket-money-game-toy-products/

Enjoy the video! 

Dinosaur ABC Puzzle, By Nature & Decouvertes

Nature/ Type:          Wooden puzzle - dinosaur + learning of alphabet letters 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Collector of wooden puzzles and toys 

It’s always a bliss to discover toys that cleverly combine learning and playing in creative and fun ways. We found this “Dinosaur ABC Puzzle” from Nature & Decouvertes in our local toy library recently, and it was (as expected) an Instant BIG hit for the kids! Throw a palaeontologist-wannabe a puzzle with brontosaurus, volcanic scene, and pieces arranged in alphabetical order, you get an excited kid that can’t get enough of the joy of ABCs! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Learning Puzzle With Dinosaur - Mr Brontosaurus stared at the erupting volcano and spilling lava with defiant, fearless look! He is a herbivorous dinosaur with long gigantic neck, whip-like tail, bulky torso, disproportionately small head, and short trunk-like legs. Included are 26 removable puzzle pieces, each representing an alphabet letter. The puzzle base has spaces divided in black outline painted with lower case letters (starting with “a” at the upper neck of the dinosaur, and ending with “z” almost at the tip of its tail). The puzzle pieces have upper case letters printed on each of them. The aim is to match the upper case letters to the corresponding lower case letters. Once the 26 puzzle pieces are placed at their allocated space, you get a mighty blue brontosaurus! 

(2) Puzzle Knobs - I love the wooden round knobs on each of the puzzle pieces. This is an awesome feature, especially for younger kids who are still training up their pincer grasp skill. We can easily manipulate and move the puzzle pieces around by holding onto the pegs. 

(3) Quality & Material - I love the wooden material, sturdy puzzle board, and the vintage feel of the design. I love that it possesses heirloom quality, durable enough to be passed down from one family to another. I can’t find much information about “Nature & Decouvertes” brand or any other product specific information, but generally, I love how aesthetically pleasing the puzzle looks, the cool colour scheme of baby blue, and I like the pre-historic details of exciting volcanoes and bright green grass. I also love the thick black outline, and the very handy puzzle base that keeps everything in a single storage base. 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.natureetdecouvertes.com/ (Website) 

Enjoy the video! 

Anamalz Tyrannosaurus Rex, By Anamalz - REVIEW

 

Nature/ Type:          Wooden, irresistibly CUTE T-Rex  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Kids and Adults - anyone that loves things that are cute, of heirloom quality, and fun! 

If I have to use just ONE word to describe Anamalz , it’s gonna be “different”. Anamalz is stunningly unique, you would know instantly when you see an “Anamalz” ; they are irresistibly adorable with smooth wooden craftwork, cotton rope, and fuzzily soft fabric finishes. They are Anamalz-ing, special, inimitable, and unmistakably, Anamalz. Today, I’m going to talk about Anamalz Tyrannosaurus Rex. 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Unique! - Like I say, you can recognise an Anamalz from far or near. This Mr T-Rex is probably one of the cutest dinosaurs I have ever seen - the curvy round head and body, huge nostrils that make us smile, innocent gaze, green velvety fabric cover for the tail and neck, and bendable legs, arms, tail and neck. It looks friendly, heartwarmingly endearing, and charming in its funny little way. The kids affectionately call him “Rexy Rex”, and it has been involved in many of our pre-historic, non-scary, happy-ending play scenes and story-telling moments. 

(2) Flexible Cotton-Roped Limbs & Joints - One greatest feature of Anamalz is their bendable, flexible, cotton-roped limbs and joints with steel wire inserts that give the animals their free-standing ability, and superpower to strike up quirky poses! Mr T-Rex has twistable neck and tail, moveable legs and arms to create different actions and stunts. Like the actual dinosaur species, Mr T-Rex needs support from its tail and neck to get itself standing steadily on two feet. We enjoy adjusting its limbs to find the centre of balance, while pitching Mr T-Rex’s head forward, upward, and downward - with each pose looking cuter than before! 

(3) Quotable Quote - I love the witty quote on the back of the hang tag. “Dinosaurs had no coffee. How did that work out?”. Words to ponder. 🤣 

(4) Quality - Anamalz is owned and designed in Australia, manufactured in a Japanese factory in Vietnam. I love that the products are made of sustainable plantation beech wood. The fabric is AZO dye-free, paint is water-based and non-toxic, glue is Japan's F4 Star. Anamalz meets international toy testing standards, and offers lifetime guarantee. 

Seriously, you don’t just won 15 Industry Toy Awards for no good reason.

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.anamalz.com/collections/hidden-valley/products/tyrannosaurus-rex-1

Enjoy the video! 

Tyrannosaurus Machine Beast 3D Puzzle, By Calebou - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          3D puzzle made of thick paper and plastic connectors 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  6 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Machine/ Dinosaur + Paper Craft lovers 

I have some mixed feelings about this “Tyrannosaurus Machine Beast” 3D puzzle from Calebou. On the one hand, the end result is super cool-looking. I love that it is an inventive paper craft with clever nuts and bolts that makes things extra exciting. But on the other hand, the process of constructing this beast is (unfortunately) downright frustrating! I’m glad that I persevered and got this built! I hereby present you, the marvellous - T-Rex Machine Beast! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Clever Use of Connectors - We were excited and full of anticipation testing out this kit. Like other Calebou products, the set contains sheets of thick paper padded with foam core with removable pieces that are separately numbered. We popped out the independent pieces, and fitted them together to form an amazingly cool robot, by following the illustrated guide. What I particularly love about this kit is the very innovative plastic nuts and bolts and connectors that give the built models some articulated joints with flexible movements: the jaw, the limbs, the neck, the tail - they are all moveable or rotatable, and so much fun to play with! 

(2) DIY Craft Kit - We love DIY craft kit and puzzle, and the instructions are generally not too difficult to follow. But what I dislike about this set is the relatively flimsy material; some of the papers on the top layer peeled off at the edges from the foam boards. A few puzzle pieces bended and got slightly damaged when we tried to fit the corners into the connecting slots (and this is despite us being consciously careful and gentle with them). It was a great sigh of relief to see an impressive outcome after some frustrating (and a little painful) building process! 

(3) Cool Model - There isn’t much information online about the manufacturer, save that it is a business in China specialising in paper products (mainly 3D puzzles), and the products have passed international standards such as EN71 and ASTM. I must admit the paper 3D model is quite visually stunning, and I like that it stands well with bright attractive colours! 

Overall, I’m happy with the end result, but I wish the building process is a bit more enjoyable. 😊🤦🏻‍♀️

Where to buy this: 

http://www.calebou.com/ (Website) 

Enjoy the video! 

Mondrian Blocks (Yellow Edition), by Smart Egg

Nature/ Type:          Art-inspired brainteaser with clever travel case 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  6 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Brainteaser / puzzle lovers of all ages! 

I am no artist. But when someone transformed an art into a clever brainteaser, THAT makes me EXCITED! Thank you Divisible by Zero for sending me this Mondrian Blocks (Yellow edition) from Smart Egg for a review. We are hooked! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) 88 Challenges - Inspired by paintings of Piet Mondrian, this brainteaser consists of 11 blocks of geometric squares and rectangles in red, blue, yellow, black and white. There is no complex rules to read. We can dive right into the puzzle-solving once we open up this “Pandora’s box”. There are 88 challenges included, grouped in 4 different level of difficulties. Place the 3 black starter blocks at the positions shown on the challenge card, and we can start cracking our brains to get the remaining blocks fit onto the grid. No solution is provided (“you can’t cheat with this game”, my six-year-old said). There is only one way to solve the puzzle for each challenge. This is the sort of game that the more you play, the faster and better you become. High chance is you would get hooked in no time and keep wanting to do “just one more”. I really enjoyed discovering and learning “tricks” with my boy (eg for the initial challenges, we need to first figure out where to place the “obvious” blocks like the two slim red pieces). This is a satisfying and mind-stimulating game! 

(2) Cleverly-Designed Travel Case - I love the travel case. There is a two-way patented latch that can keep all components securely locked within the case. There are compartments for each of the 4 types of challenge cards. The reverse side of the lid has “clues” on how to re-arrange the pieces for a quick pack-up. The lid can be opened up fully or stay partially opened in an upright position. 

(3) Game Board - The game board are designed in a grid with “raised squares” that can connect to the hollow bottoms of the blocks (a bit like how Lego or Mega Bloks works). This is a fantastic feature for a mess-less play in car or train. 

(4) 4 Editions With Unique Challenges - There are 4 different editions of Mondrian blocks (red, blue, white, and yellow), each has a unique set of 88 brainteaser challenges. We can play this solitarily, or compete in a group if you have more than one copy! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.thetherapystore.com.au/mondrian-blocks (Australia, The Therapy Store)  

Enjoy the video! 

Monopoly Super Electronic Banking, by Hasbro - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          New electronic version of the classic "Monopoly" game  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️  

Recommended age:  8 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Probably adult players that hate counting / handling cash transactions 

Monopoly is a timeless game - never gets old nor out-of-style. We recently tested out this “Monopoly Super Electronic Banking” by Hasbro - there are things that we love, things I’m not too sure about, and things that we don’t quite like. 

Let’s start with why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Electronic Banking Unit - The most prominent feature in this game is the all-in-one banking unit that replaces all physical paper cash. The innovative banking unit keeps track of the money transactions, cash balances, and land title owners. For players that hate dealing with cash transactions and the hassle of paper cash, this technology version is an awesome improvement! However, if you are playing with young kids (like us), the digital reader takes away the counting and money-units learning elements, which are so essential in classic Monopoly! 

(2) Matching Bank Cards With "Special Rewards" - The game also incorporates some unique rules and excitements. Each of the 4 tokens is paired with a matching bank card associated with its “special rewards”: the Yellow Car token can earn $50 when the player rolls a “6”; Blue Airplane has “Frequent Flyer” privilege that allows the player to “travel” for free (saving $100 each time). The white Super Safer earns $50 each time when the player lands on “Chance”, and player with the Red Bag token receives $50 each time when it becomes the first buyer of a colour group. Our family loves this feature! 

(3) Other New Rules - I also love the “flight mode” rule of this game that allows players to travel (and purchase) any unowned property on the board. There is also a new “forced trade” mode where a player can compel another to exchange a title deed. Auction, get out of jail payment, and bonus rewards (when “Go” is passed) are all done using the digital unit. 

(4) Shorter Game - The board is much smaller (32 rather than 40 spaces), and the game ends when the last remaining lot is purchased - hence making this version a much quicker (under 30 minutes) game. 

Overall, this version has some good features but is probably more suitable for adult players. For family with young kids like ours, we prefer the original version with paper cash and physical “properties”. 

Where to buy this: 

https://shop.hasbro.com/en-au (Website) 

Enjoy the video! 

GoldieBlox and the Dunk Tank, By GoldieBlox - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Simple science kit to build an easy machine 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  4 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Young kids that enjoy building + science/ engineering 

We found this hard-to-find “GoldieBlox and the Dunk Tank” at some pop-up marketplace recently, and we were stoked! I tested out and wrote about a similar range “GoldieBlox and the Spinning Machine” a while back which we absolutely love (although I did have some reservations about its durability and sturdiness). I was excited to give this set a try! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Easy and Simple FUN Device - Similar to the other GoldieBlox range, this set has all the construction components we need to build a simple device that demonstrates the fun of science and engineering. Included within is a storybook, an animal figurine (Nacho the dog), a bouncy ball, 2 wheels, 9 short axles, 18 long axles, 12 blocks, 10 spacers, 2 targets, and 3 design templates. The illustrative instructions are straightforward, and it took us around 10-minute to build the easy dunk tank structure. It was super cute seeing cheeky Nacho sitting suspended on a board above a container of water. The kids laughed so hard throwing the bouncy ball at the target, and watched how the board gave way and dropped Nacho straight into the “tank”. They did it over and over, and the laughter was simply contagious! It probably didn’t cross their mind that they had just built a simple machine of hinges and lever. I love that this is an entertaining experiment, bright and colourful, and a true example of how kids can learn through play. 

(2) Design - The components feel a little flimsy, but workable and function well for a simple device like a dunk tank. The design of the yellow “fish bowl” bouncy ball is a nice touch, and I love how the pieces are inter-compatible with other GoldieBlox range to expand the creations. I also love the storage box with organised inserts. 

(3) Story Concept - The set comes with a foldout “pamphlet” of story featuring GoldieBlox, a smart female engineer, who was figuring out a way to bathe her dog Nacho. I personally find the story a little confusing, but I love the concept of encouraging young girls to discover the world of engineering (although the toy itself is gender-neutral, and would be loved by girls and boys). 

Where to buy this: 

Not sure, but its official website is here: https://goldieblox.com/

Enjoy the video! 

Animal Mosaic Puzzle, By Doron Layeled - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Wooden animals-theme puzzle 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Wooden toys and puzzle lovers / collectors 

This Animal Mosaic puzzle has all the good qualities as expected of Doron Layeled brand - wooden material, sturdy, brightly painted, and made with awesome craftsmanship. This is probably not my personal favourite of all Doron Layeled puzzles, but we enjoyed playing with it nevertheless! I love the little touch of quirkiness and the “jumbled up” arrangement of animal pieces, all “squeezed” right next to each other in an unexpected and fun way. 

Why I love ❤️ this puzzle: 

(1) Playful Arrangement - I love how playfully it arranged the animals pieces onto the square puzzle base. I love the randomness, the odd-shaped, and the irregular way the pieces were cut and crafted. There are 14 animals on separate puzzle pieces that can be connected into one big mixed-up, upside-down, orderless, out-of-size-proportion, “mosaic”-styled art. We have a gigantic yellow duck, a red elephant with almost similar size, a tall and blue long-necked giraffe, a one-humped camel, a lime-green dog with a slight hunchback, a blue kitten with the sassiest expression, and a few more other abstract-looking animals - some easier to be identified than the others. The kids love that this puzzle is a bit more challenging than the usual standard ribbon-cut puzzle. There is no doubt some uniqueness in the design, but some of the animal pieces do confuse us a little. If you are looking for educational resources to introduce kids about animals and their actual features, then this is probably not the best toy for that. 

(2) Vintage Feel - As usual, Doron Layeled painted their puzzle boldly with bright stunning colours, completes with thick black outlines. I love the “classic” and vintage feel of this puzzle. 

(3) Material & Quality - I also love the wooden quality of the puzzle. Most of the animal pieces are solid and thick enough to stand vertically on flat surfaces. I love the durability and heirloom quality of Doron Layeled products. This is a puzzle that can probably last for a very long time, perfect for passing down from one generation to the next, or from one family to another. 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.doronlayeled.com/product/3d-puzzles-e72511810-animals/

Enjoy the video! 

Flower Garden, by CaDA Elements - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Innovative building kit using traditional bricks and other components    

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  6 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Building toys + art and craft lovers 

CaDA Elements is my new delightful find. I’m so thankful for the chance to test out the Flower Garden set and explore the magic behind this “out-of-the-box” design! Today, I’m going to share about our CaDA experience! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Conventional Building Bricks With A Twist - I love the “build beyond bricks” concept; kids are encouraged to combine conventional building bricks with things around us (paper, cardboards, tree leaves). There are 230 accessories in the set, including building bricks, illustrated assembly instructions, and 12 perforated paper sheets with petals and leaves. We love the inventive clip brick (my six-year-old calls it a “crocodile snapper”) that works like a laundry peg, but with part connectable to bricks. The building process feels familiar, but so refreshingly different at the same time! We really enjoyed putting different components together, experimenting and discovering the cleverness of this new assembly method. We love the straightforward, step-by-step illustrated guide. 

(2) Clever Touches - I love the extra touches of excitement incorporated within the design. My personal favourite is the “wings-flapping movement” of the bee, very creatively built using a clip, strip of paper, and a few “snap fastener” parts! We also love the use of flexible joints and connectors for the flowers, leaves and the (personalise-able) garden signs for easy adjustment. The cardboard box can also be cut-up and use as a base for the garden bed. 

(3) Be Creative! - The instruction guide provides two different models (garden with a larger bed or two smaller beds). The garden is modifiable, with over 20 petals to mix and match. Kids are also encouraged to customise their flowers by painting on the blank reverse side of the petals. There is one major problem - the built garden looks so adorable, none of us wanted to destruct the model. We are hence left with plenty of “extra” flower petals unused - we wish there are more building bricks and clip accessories included so that we can build a more gigantic garden using up all these “extras”. But overall, we love our CaDA experience, and we can’t wait to see what else is coming up next with Cada Elements ! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://decadastore.com/collections/cada-elements/products/cada-elements-flower-garden-set-c71022w

Enjoy the video! 

Slice and Bake Cookie Set, by Melissa & Doug

 

Nature/ Type:          Wooden cookies pretend-toy 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Young baking enthusiasts + kitchen imaginative play lovers! 

This is a toy library toy that my three-year-old is very attached with at the moment - she slices, decorates, arranges and serves up awesome party foods for her class of soft-toy kids. Today, I’m going to talk about this latest love of her life- “Slice and Bake Cookie Set” from Melissa & Doug . 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Sliceable Doug + 12 Cookies - There are quite a few fantastic features in this smart cookies set; firstly the “dough” can be sliced up into 12 separate cookies using the included wooden knife, thanks to the interesting velcro base design. There are 12 colourful toppings that the kids can stick on the dough to turn them into happy and yummy treats. Seriously, who can resist the Hundreds and Thousands spherical sprinkles on delectable chocolate and vanilla cream, the big round chocolate in classic M&N style, and that swirly icing on the fluffy chocolate whipped cream! Next up, arrange these delicious cookies on the 12 self-stick tabs on the tray. I really love how the tray holds the 12 cookies in their positions; the kids can run around with the tray with dozens of cookies (or even tip the tray upside down) without the frustration of their baked goodies moving around or tumbling out. This toy is cleverly engaging and perfect for any aspiring bakers and cafe owners! 

(2) Accessories - I also love the extra accessories included within the baking set; we have a spatula to slide out the cookies from the tray, a cute gingham-styled mini oven mitten for the little hands, and a cylindrical  durable storage tube made of thick cardboard, completes with lid. 

(3) Wooden Material - We love the wooden and sturdy quality of Melissa and Doug toys. 

(4) Learning Skills - I also love how the design incorporates mathematics and pattern learning elements. The 12 cookie toppings can be categorised into 4 separate “sets” of substantial-similar patterns (sprinkle on brown base, sprinkle on white base, lovely colourful swirls, and polka dots). Kids can arrange the cookies randomly on the tray, or in a row of 3 cookies grouped in similar pattern. This is an entertaining toy that can train up matching and fine motor skills. I love the versatility of it! 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.melissaanddoug.com/ (Website) 

Enjoy the video! 

Dino Raw Play Pouch, By Play Pouch Australia

Nature/ Type:          Smart storage bag + play mat for mess-free play!   

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Seriously, any parents / Lego-players / toys-overloaded households - You NEED one of this! 

Since the day I gained my “mumma” status, I have tested, modified, reinvented numerous ways to store our Legos. I started off by categorising them by colours/ functions - not only was it painfully time-consuming, it also took away the joy of random play. I then threw the bricks all into a large clear container, but I was soon faced with the frustrations of “I can’t find that piece I want”, plus aching soles. 

Today, I’m going to share with you what I sincerely believe to be the greatest “hack”, the BEST-est way to store your Lego. I present you Dino Raw Play Pouch from Play Pouch Australia ! 

Why I love ❤️ this product: 

(1) HUGE round mat - This is a toys storage bag that can be opened up into a large round mat of approximately 140cm in diameter! I love the slightly raised edge with concealed rope that keeps all the bits and pieces at one place. It’s easy to search and spot for the right pieces with the bricks all spread out on a wide area, whilst keeping the house tidy at the same time. Our Lego play has never been so satisfyingly calming. We are AMAZED! This is the best solution for “minimum mess, maximum play”! 

(2) Super quick pack-up - When the kids are done playing, simply pull on the loose ends of the rope, and in a jiffy, the mat will transform into a giant pouch that have everything gathered within, ready to be stored away or hung from a hook on wall. It literally took us 5 seconds to pack up! 😱 I love the handy zipped pocket where we can keep our most treasured Lego pieces separately (eg. our Star Wars mini figures and special “sharp claws” parts that the boy loves). This is ingenious! 

(3) Quality! - Play pouch is made of 100% durable cotton canvas; it can contain massive loads of toys (our two huge containers of Lego have found their home in a pouch finally, and we have extra space to buy more 🤣). 

(4) Range of Designs - I love the beautiful range of designs, from simple golden dots, captain blue, rainbows and stars, to this hand drawn dinosaurs theme from @dinorawkids . We love the exciting and vibrant artwork of pre-historic creatures: triceratops, brachiosaurus, T-Rex, stegosaurus, pterodactyl, and more! 

Play Pouch Australia , you make life so much better!!! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.playpouch.com.au/products/dino-raw-printed-play-pouch

Enjoy the video!