Play Sense Fizzy Sand - Violet, By The Kid Cave - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Fizzy sand for sensory play 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids that love science experiment / messy play/ imaginative or pretend cooking etc. 

The Kid Cave has a range of lovingly-crafted sensory play products that we truly love. Recently, we received this “Play Sense Fizzy Sand - Violet” for a review, and I can’t express how grateful I’m for the chance to test out such beautiful and exciting creation! 🙏

Why I love ❤️ this set: 

(1) Versatile - So Many Ways To Play! - We love open-ended play with no rules and no intended outcome. This fizzy sand is smooth and crumbly, but it is also “solid” enough to mould into simple shapes and models. Oh, and did I mention that it is also gorgeously scented with a sweet calming aroma? The sand is soft and squishy to touch with a light texture. This is a great item to be incorporated into all sorts of imaginative play settings for versatile uses! I also love the very cooling steel blue shade of the sand that reminds me of the colour of an opaque glass sculpture. We poured them into a tray, decorated them with clay donuts and glittery gems; we scooped them into individual coconut bowl, all ready to create our ultimate bubbly healing potion. I can imagine using this fizzy sand as a setting for sensory exploration, small world creation, pretend bake experience, mud kitchen ingredients, sand cakes making, and many more! I love the generous 400g bag - there is so much we can do with this all-purpose fizzy sand! 

(2) Add Vinegar And Watch The Magic Happens - When the kids are ready for a little magic, bring out the dropper bottle with vinegar, and watch the fizzy sand “explodes” and overflows with lava-like bubbly reaction! The kids were thrilled with that unexpected science experiment when we squeezed in generous drops of apple cider vinegar from the pantry; they love watching the sand fizzing and bubbling up, like a DIY wizard potion from Harry Potter films. I am not a fan of cleaning-up, hence I’m delighted with how easy it was to wash away the wet powdery sand without any great hassle.

(3) Includes Wooden Spoon + Dropper Bottle - The fizzy sand package comes with a tiny wooden spoon, and a squeezable dropper bottle for the vinegar magic. These are some awesome accessories! 

(4) Australian Made With Non-Toxic Ingredients - The Play Sense range is handmade in Geelong, using non toxic food-grade ingredients, and lightly scented with non-toxic oils. 

Simply enchanting! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.thekidcave.com.au/collections/play-sense-by-the-kid-cave/products/play-sense-fizzy-sand-violet

Enjoy the video! 

Magnetic Match Rings, By Popular Playthings - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Matching game with magnetic rings 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  4 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Parents who are looking a fun way to help young kids to understand rules of magnetism

We love magnetic toys and always find ourselves attracted to them (no pun intended) 😆. If you are looking for an educational game that demonstrates magnetic rules in an engaging way, then you should check out this Magnetic Match Rings from Popular Playthings that we discovered in our local toy library (which you can also purchase from The Kid Cave if you would love to keep one at home!). 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Learn About Magnet Through Play - I have seen many toys that use magnetic attraction as the key principle to connect and build, but I have not tested many that explore how magnetic repulsion works. This game demonstrates the marvel of magnetism in a visually fun way! The set includes 40 challenge cards, 10 magnetic rings (3 blue, 3 red, 2 yellow, 2 green), and a magnetic stand. The objective is to arrange the coloured rings in the sequence and pattern, matching the illustrations on the challenge cards. The twist is: some of the rings connect and stacked on top of each other. Some, however, have gaps between them, with the upper ring “floating” in the middle of the stick (in a seemingly anti-gravity way). The “secret”, of course, is the magnet hidden within the rings. Each magnetic ring has a positive and negative sides. Rings that attract (positive to negative) will snap together. Rings that repel (i.e two of the same sides) will ”float” and create a space in between them. I love how kids get to learn about the “invisible” magnetic rules in a visibly clear manner through games. 

(2) Simple To Learn - The challenges are perfect for young little kids - they are simple to learn, easy to handle, gender neutral, and makes sense to even my young three-year-old! This is a nice teaching tool and basic science experiment that doesn’t feel intimidating. There are not many games that I can get my 2 kids (3 and 6 year-old) to work collaboratively together; this game is a rare one that targets the right age group. 

(3) Light & Compact - I love that this game is light, compact, and easily portable. The stacking stick can be removed from the base. I also love the thoughtful base design with a slot to display the selected challenge card for ease of comparison. 

Where to buy this: 

The Kid Cave (Australia) 

Leisure Learning (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

The Genius Square, By The Happy Puzzle Company - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Logic puzzle for 1 or 2 players  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  6 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids and adults that enjoy solving brainteasers / logic puzzle games 

Say YES to the JOY of packing puzzles! We love this timeless classic. Set the pre-conditions, use best endeavour to fit all pieces into a tray, test out different configurations, search for that “true” solution (but don’t despair if you end up with that impossible last piece that refuses to squeeze into remaining space! 🤣). “The Genius Square” from The Happy Puzzle Company is our family’s latest favourite - thank you The Kid Cave for this spectacular game! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Massive Challenge Combinations Using 7 Dice - How does a game with 62,208 number of challenges sound? Believe it or not, that’s what you get with “The Genius Square”! Comes with 7 dice, 2 grid boards in 6x6, 7 round “blockers”, and 9 coloured polyomino pieces. First, roll the 7 dice which would give you the grid references (A-F & 1-6) to position the cylindrical markers; next, fit the 9 puzzle pieces into the remaining spaces on the board. We are amazed by the ingenuity: there is apparently a guaranteed of at least one (or a few) solution for each set-up combinations, which makes this game super addictive (you can never predict which challenges are coming-up next until the dice are rolled). 

(2) 2 Puzzle Boards Included - The best part? The game comes with 2 boards for 2 players, meaning, we can solve the puzzle simultaneously with the kid (instead of just staring and restraining yourself from interfering with another’s game!). This is a game of skill (with a mix of luck); sometimes a misjudged of placement would cost you a game, and don’t be surprised when your kids can do better than you in this fast and frenzy game! This is a competitive 2-player game, but you can also do it solo. 

(3) Good Components - The components are reasonably decent. The plastic board has grooves that can hold the pieces in place and prevent them from slipping around. The wooden polyomino pieces are chunky, brightly painted, and look durable. But if I can improve one thing, I wish the storage box were a little more compact. 

(4) Quick & Fast-Paced - I love that this is a light-and-easy, fast-paced game! Each game takes around a minute (or a few minutes when you get a really challenging one). This is an awesome game for any occasion, at any time. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.thekidcave.com.au/

Enjoy the video! 

Play Sense Dough, By The Kid Cave - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Handmade play-dough 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Young kids that enjoy play-dough activities/ art & craft/ open-ended play! 

Our three-year-old is quite an enigma - she’s a little tempestuous and hard to predict. But there are a few things that would light up her mood almost without fail - Elsa from Frozen, unicorn piñata, and a play-dough activity. We are super honoured to have a chance to test out these gorgeous Play Sense Dough from The Kid Cave recently. Today, I’m going to share about the “Very Cherry” and “Peachy Peach” jars. 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Quality Handmade Dough I am a BIG FAN of handmade dough. I grew up playing with factory-made doughs which were always unpleasantly greasy, smelled horrible, and easily turned dry and crunchy after a day or two out from sealed packages. Since the day that I discovered the magical difference of a lovingly-crafted handmade dough, there is no turning back. The Kid Cave’s Play Sense Dough is responsibly handmade in Geelong, Australia. It’s toxic-free, no nasty ingredients, sensory soft, non-sticky, easy to clean-up, lasts much longer (up to 6 months!), and is rehydratable with just a few drops of water. Our kids were instantly drawn to the beautiful silky texture of the dough! 

(2) Beautifully Gorgeous Scent - The doughs are scented with fun and non-toxic oils. Like an alchemist, The Kid Cave matches the luxurious scent of each doughs with their respective themed colour. “Very Cherry” reminds me of a sweet fruity gummy bear. The dough invokes a lovely festive and Christmassy feel, and I absolutely love the stunning “cherry red” crimson. “Peachy Peach”, as per its name, has a fresh and delicate aroma. I love the soft and pastel mixture of light orange and yellow, the unique “peach” colour that is so heart-meltingly “romantic” and calming. 

(3) Open-Ended Play - When it comes to play-dough, there is no rule, no limit. The kids squish, roll, flatten, stamp, cut, sculpt, press, create. The girl made us a tray of “Cherry Brownie Cookies” in variety of cutter shapes, a peachy home for the alligator to store its glittery jewels, a fruit-scented “Christmas tree” in February, a cupcake topped with furry Pom-poms, and a three-tiered “donut cake”. 

(4) Large Storage Jar - The dough comes in a good quality 330g jar, which makes storage so easy and neat! 

Loving it! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.thekidcave.com.au/collections/play-sense-by-the-kid-cave

Enjoy the video! 

Pass The Pandas, By Ultra PRO Entertainment - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Quick & easy dice game 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  6 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids and parents who love quick and fast-paced games 

I’m not a fan of “game of chance” or any similar games where the element of luck plays too substantial a role. BUT, occasionally, there are some delightful exceptions that blow my mind. One of such recent discovery is “Pass The Pandas” from Ultra PRO Entertainment, kindly recommended and gifted by The Kid Cave. 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Easy To Learn, Addictive To Play! - The game takes a few minutes to learn: divide the dice between players, and take turn to roll all one’s dice. If “bamboo” is rolled, the next player must match or exceed the number showing the bamboo or they would acquire the “difference”. “Pandas” go to other players, “Water Drop” evaporates and is removed from game. No action is taken if we roll a blank. The first player that gets rid of all dice wins the game. It’s a simple game to learn, super addictive to play. I love the fast and furious nature. This is a game with non-stop frenzy of rolling / discarding/ passing / acquiring dice - a little chaotic and keep you on the toes. (warning: I played the game over 30 consecutive rounds with my boy in one go, none of us could have enough of it!) 

(2) Stay Focus & Train Up Reaction Time - Despite the “luck-based” character, players need to stay 100% focus throughout and maintain great reaction time to excel in this game! For example, we need to keep track of the number of “bamboo” we roll and observe closely what the next player is rolling, and do a “mental math” to decide if we can “pass” some dice away. Each tiny step can easily change the outcome in split second! 

(3) Good Components - Each die contains 6 sides: 3 with images and 3 are blank. I love the raised graphics on the dice that enhances the tactile experience, the touch of personality, and the playfulness of the theme! I also love how compact and easily portable this game is. 

(4) Game Variants - Whilst this is essentially a “luck” game, there is a “decision-making” element when there are 3 players or more (eg. players get to decide to whom they want to pass the Panda or whether to divide the Panda amongst other players for strategy reason). There are also variants of rules for advanced players that give the game some added thrills and “sophistication”. 

Simply awesome! 

# Gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

The Kid Cave (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

TOYI Basic 64, By TOYI - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Innovative toy making kit 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  6 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Young budding creators with BIG imagination!  

 “Garbage Attack!” yelled our 6-year-old, swinging his newly created one-eyed Alien around - his proud creation made of egg carton, blueberry plastic container, and components from the ingenious TOYI Basic 64. Thank you The Kid Cave for stocking and providing us this incredibly creative product that transforms all kids into innovative toy designers! We are thrilled to test out TOYI! 

Why I love ❤️ this set: 

(1) Transform Everyday Objects Into Toys! - TOYI is a toy-making kit that allows us to turn everyday mundane or unwanted objects into one-of-a-kind play companions. Included within are parts and modules - flexible connectors, feet, hands, wheels, eyes, joints, sticks - all in striking bright colours. The kids had never seen anything like that before! They couldn’t stop giggling whilst watching their most crazily adorable creations came into life! We built a juice-bottle 4-legged robot and an “astronaut” made of recyclable plastic bottle and toilet paper roll as oxygen tank. We also wrapped up some flexi connectors and attached a few pairs of wheels on the dozen-sized egg carton, transforming it into a moveable train; we made monsters out of cardboard box and disposable plastic containers. We love the stretchable bands - they can bind multiple items together and have special slots for eyes and joints to be inserted. The limbs (when attached to the joints) are moveable, and the wheels are rollable. The result is one chaotic, whimsical, imaginative universe with hilarious creatures designed by our young toy creators of the year 🤣. I love that TOYI enables kids to see potential in ordinary objects, giving second life to single-use items that would have otherwise ended up in bin. 

(2) Open-Ended - TOYI has no rules or instructions. It’s  open-ended, unstructured, and kids are encouraged to rely on their LIMITLESS imagination to build “whatever” using the resources and components before them. We can’t wait to create more insane stuffs out of cereal box, cookies tin, and old rags! 

(3) 100% Recycled Materials - TOYI uses 100% recycled plastic and paper. The parts are made of ABS and elastomer, and are designed to be “long-lasting, safe and provide a joy on every snap”. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

The Kid Cave 

[Use Code: "60secondtoyreview" for 15% off] 

 

Enjoy the video! 

abc - Aussie Icons, By HeyDoodle

Nature/ Type:          Wipeable silicone colouring mat 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Colouring & Art lovers! 

Great News, all toy lovers! The Kid Cave online store is launched, and you REALLY should give its account a follow if you haven’t done it yet. 🌈 The Kid Cave has recently provided us with a HeyDoodle abc - Aussie Icons for review, and It is INCREDIBLE! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Reusable, Washable, Wipeable- HeyDoodle elevates the traditional colouring activity to a whole new eco-conscious level. Each set comes with a HeyDoodle Mat, 9 HeyDoodle Markers and a travel pouch. HeyDoodle Mat is no ordinary mat. It’s reusable, washable, wipeable. It’s like having an invisible “reset” button, we get to “do it again!” - over and over. All we need is a damp cloth to “restart” the colouring process repeatedly! It’s a stress-free and paperless activity that keeps kids enchanted. The size of the mat is wide enough for two siblings to share the fun side-by-side whilst giving the parents some precious zone-out time. 

(2) Unique Aussie Icons- “Zooper Doopers” in frozen fairy floss flavour, closed toasted Aussie “Jaffle” with baked bean, anyone? I’m in LOVE with the Aussie Icons design that generates so much conversations! We got our “Vegemite” bottle and “Weet-Bix” box out from pantry to compare and confirm the “right” colours; We talked about what “Didgeridoo” is made of, the secret of “Uluru” and its ever-changing colours, and the magnificent wonder of “Great Barrier Reef”. There are also stars of Australian flags scattered around the mat for some searching fun. 

(3) Lower-Case Learning- This is also a lower-case alphabet learning toy, with a cheeky sense of humour. “a” is for “Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi”, “n” is for “No Worries Mate”. The all-time Aussie favourite snacks “Iced Vovo”, “Tim Tam” and “Meat Pie” took up i, t and m, together with our Aussie landmarks Harbour Bridge, Opera House, and Flinders Street Station for h, o and f.

(4) Convenient- This flexible mat can be easily rolled or folded-up, and stored in a convenient pouch together with the markers. I love how organised, compact, and handy it is! 

(5) Safety- The mat is made of food-grade silicone, free from harmful substances. 

Loving this!!! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.thekidcave.com.au/

Enjoy the video!