KAPLA Book and Colours Set - Red + Orange, By KAPLA - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Identical building planks in red + orange 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  2 year-old ++   

Who would love this: KAPLA fans and anyone who wants to enhance their building experience! 

KAPLA amazes us continuously with its limitless potential and open-ended concept.  The “KAPLA 200 Box” is a great set to kick start a KAPLA creative journey. But if you want to enhance your experience and give your models a hint of colourful vibrancy, then you should try out one of the “KAPLA Book and Colours Sets”; today I’m going to talk about this red + orange set that we truly love. 

 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Red + Orange Planks - KAPLA are identical, smoothly crafted planks that allow builders to create anything, from the simplest to the most complex structures. No glue or clips or any supporting accessories are needed; the only thing you need is your imagination! It’s fun to build up, and even MORE fun to break the construction apart. This set comes with 40 coloured planks in red and orange, completes with an art book. You can of course build various impressive structures just by using these red and orange planks; but if you already own the essential natural planks, these fiery red and orange are just the perfect colours to give a touch of liveliness to your created models. 

(2) The Art Book! - I LOVE the hard-cover art book! I love admiring the building ideas and working with the kids to get the models built up. We love the mystical creatures, the gigantic “scarecrow”, majestic buildings that remind me of a contemporary art gallery, artistically-designed arch structures, skeletal frames, classic motor vehicles, trailer truck, and many more. I love that the art book includes models from the easy low-level structures to the gravity-defying types. The building ideas incorporate the red/ orange colour theme into the creations seamlessly and beautifully. There are also Light Blue/Dark Blue and Green/Yellow box sets available. I will share about them in the coming weeks. 

(3) Display Box - I love the cleverly-designed cardboard display box with flexible sleeve for the art book and planks. I love how compact and organised the box set looks. 

(4) Sustainable Material & Quality - KAPLA planks are made from natural and untreated Landes pine, ethically sourced from 100% renewable French forests. The coloured planks are dyed using food-safe colouring. I love the quality and craftsmanship! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://kaplaaustralia.com/products/kapla-book-colours-set-red-orange (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Large Puzzle Colour Circle Goethe, By Grimm’s - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Wooden colours wheel  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Wooden toys / Grimm's toys collectors 

Grimm's wooden toys are classic, timeless toys, and probably requires not much introduction. We read and see them frequently in social media, Montessori articles, educational newsletters, YouTube videos and many other platforms. We recently discovered this “Grimm's Large Puzzle Colour Circle Goethe”, and we’re instantly captivated by its colourful appeal. 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Explore The Magic Of Colours - The set comes with a sturdy wooden base, and 24 beautifully crafted block pieces that can be put together and form a circular rainbow pattern that spirals harmoniously. I’m no expert in Goethe’s Theory of Colours; based on my quick research, Goethe explored the interaction of colours with light and shadow, and the result is an inspiring and symmetric Goethe’s colour wheel. Grimm adopted the idea and created this puzzle set that plays around with the visible spectrum, mix of pigments and perception of eyes. The set uses primary “Blue, Red, Yellow”, the “in-between” (such as green and orange), and the complementary (opposite) colours. The 8 colours are arranged in “natural order” (the rainbow spectrum). It’s a calming experience arranging the puzzle pieces to form a complete colour wheel that seems to swirl with such inviting gracefulness. 

(2) Open-Ended Toy - Each of the 8 factional colours consists of 3 different shapes - 4-sided long rectangular block, acute trapezoid form, and triangle - all with their smooth edges and curvy bodies. Like any usual Grimm’s toys, these blocks are more than just “puzzle” pieces. You can arrange them randomly, build 2D images, incorporate them into small world creations, or simply sort and stack them up into towers. I love the wooden tactile feel, and the infinite possibilities and variations that can be built using these rounded blocks. I love the minimalist and open-ended concept. 

(3) Sustainable Material & Safety Compliance - This set is made with lime wood and non-toxic water based colour stain / plant-based oil finish. I love the child-friendly size (28cm in diameter), and the sufficient thickness (2cm) for sturdy vertical play. Grimm’s toys are known to be made of sustainable sourced wood, and conforms to the European safety standards EN71. 

Where to buy this:

https://www.grimms.eu/en/products/colour-themes/rainbow/1473/large-color-circle-goethe

Enjoy the video! 

Pocket Money 2, By Knowledge Builder - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Board game that teaches about management of money 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  8 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Older kids who are curious and want to learn more about money management in a fun way!  

I’m guilty of occasional splurges, and “special celebrations” (which coincidentally, includes Christmas 😆🤣) are always great excuses to spend! I am really pleased that there is a game that focuses on the concept of “spend-wisely” without sounding too “preachy”. This is one of our family’s latest favourites - “ Pocket Money 2” from Knowledge Builder ! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Learn Basic Skills to Manage Money Through Play - We love Pocket Money 1, but Pocket Money 2 is of a whole new level for the older kids! We get to learn the basics of managing money, including understanding the differences between “spending money” and “saving money”, need and want (paying phone bills is a “need”, but enjoying a theatre experience is a “want”). We also learn to balance and allocate a portion of money for charity, saving in bank, and unique experiences. Each player will start with $100. To win, you need to have $250 in the bank, purchased 2 Wish cards and 1 Charity card.The key is to spend strategically; eg we should first earn enough cash prior to buying a charity / wish cards to prevent ourselves from getting “bankrupt” too soon. 

(2) Multiplications & Divisions - This is an amazing game to practise mathematics skills through play! For example, the proceeds from “Cupcake Stalls” or “Car Wash” are meant to be shared equally (i.e divided) amongst all players.We also need to calculate total earnings by multiplying hourly rate with the number of work done (eg, 3 hours of supermarket work ($11 per hour) would earn a player $33). Each time a player passes the “Start” space, they earn 20% of the money held in Saving Account. There are also rules about “rounding up” to next ten, exchanging smaller notes and coins for equivalent larger denominations, and a chance to work with decimals and whole numbers. 

(3) Realistic-Looking Aussie Currency Cash - The notes and coins are realistic-looking based on Australian currency. Included are 70 coins and 80 notes (from $5 to $100). I love the money tray  that neatly organised all the cash based on denominations. The notes are made of synthetic paper, not easily tearable, and the coins and tray are made of high-quality ABS plastic. I love the quality and the educational value of this game! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.knowledgebuilder.com.au/product/pocket-money-2-toy-products/ (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

DUPLO Build Me Emotions, By LEGO - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          LEGO DUPLO bricks with a focus on emotions/ expressions  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Young DUPLO fans 

There is hardly ever a Duplo set that doesn’t excite my kids. LEGO DUPLO Build Me Emotions - 188 pieces is one engaging and cute construction toy that makes us smile and creates loads of fun discussions. 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Double-Sided Facial Bricks - The best thing about this set is the unique double-sided facial expression pieces. The emotions depicted are obvious and easily discernible. I think this is a great starter set for any young kids who are learning and grappling with the concept of “good” and “bad” emotions. The “angry” face has eyebrows pushing towards each other with suppressed narrow lips; a “sad” face is represented by eyebrows that droop towards each corners and downwards-pulling lips; the “surprise” face has two widened eyes and an opened-mouth gape. The “positive” emotions, on the other hand, are displayed with lively round eyes, cheeky wink, raising lip-corners, and happy rosy blushes. It’s easy to tell the expression apart, and it’s even more fun when we can “transform” an expression just by turning our constructed figures from front to back, as each side of the expression brick shows a different emotion. These are child-friendly toy that teaches apparent and easily- recognisable “feelings”; there is nothing complicated, no “in-between”. 

(2) Build Your Characters - The set comes with sufficient pieces to build interesting figure structures. The “curved top” brick is perfect for building “feet”; the “curved bottom” is great for connecting the “head” with “body”, and the taller curvy pieces can be combined into a “skirt” for the characters. There is no right or wrong way to build this. I love how “open-ended” the concept is. 

(3) Building Ideas - The set also comes with 8 double-sided building cards (featuring 16 characters) that provides the kids with interesting building inspirations. 

(4)  It's DUPLO - And last of all, like any other DUPLO sets, the durable plastic brick pieces are compatible with other DUPLO / LEGO products. The colours are, as usual, appealing to young kids with so many varieties! 

 

I think this is an awesome “beginner” emotion set for kids (but it would probably outgrow the kids pretty soon). 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.teaching.com.au/product/LEG5018 (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Slapzi, By Carma Games - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Matching card games for kids + adults 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  8 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids (who can read) + adults that love fast-paced games

The school holiday has started, which means: it’s time for games (and more games!). We tested out “Slapzi” from Carma Games (kindly gifted by Divisible by Zero), and we are loving this fantastic recommendation! 

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) Fast-Paced Matching Game - The set comes with 120 unique picture cards and 65 clue cards. The rules are simple. First, each player gets 5 picture cards. Flip over a clue card and places it at the centre. Players rush to be the first person to “slap down” a picture card that matches the clue card. For example, a “doughnut” would fit the description of “Meant to go in your mouth”; “Leaning Tower of Pisa” would meet the “Taller than you” condition. The first player to get rid of all 5 picture cards wins the game. Our 6-year-old loves this game and wanted to play with this over and over. Sometimes, we need to justify our disputable pair, and that’s when it becomes funny! For example, Do we REALLY own more than 5 pairs of scissors? Does a rocking horse have legs? Can a “welcome mat” fits down a chimney? We love the fast-paced, quick thinking game with a hint of silliness! 

(2) Clue Cards - The descriptive clue is printed twice on each clue card, facing two directions (the “normal” and “upside down” ways). In other words, you can have multiple players sitting all around the table / or opposite of each other, and no one would have a disadvantage because the clues are easily readable by all. LOVE this thoughtful detail. 

(3) Double-Sided Picture Cards - The picture cards are double-sided, which adds on to a fun twist. All players would have to frantically flip their pictures cards, checking both front and back to grab the right match. The sheer variety (and randomness) of the pictures (from “eagle”, “sandwich”, to “vacuum cleaner”) means there are bound to be plenty of matching possibilities (and odd choices!). 

(4) Different Game Variants - Slapzi has more than one way to play. The instruction has 7 other variants, e.g. matching two clue cards at the same time, matching “either-or”, or having players race to match spread-out clue cards to pictures simultaneously. (5) I love the quirky long rectangular storage box with 3 compartments - it’s convenient and organised! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.thetherapystore.com.au/product/slapzi/

Enjoy the video! 

Adventure Van, By Hape - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Adventure van imaginative play set  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids that love adventures/ camping + imaginative play 

The kids think camper van is one of the coolest things in the world; they want one with pop-up roof, mini kitchen, and freezer with never-ending ice-cream tubs. When Hape (Australia) offered the Adventure Van to us in exchange for review, I knew this would be an instant hit for the kids! The verdict? Impressive! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Adventure Van + Camping / Outdoor Accessories - This toy fits the Aussie summery season! This is dream vehicle of all adventurous souls: spacious van with cooking stove, kitchen sink, stand-up shower, and inbuilt “navigation system” (with 3 exchangeable GPS screens). The set comes with orange plastic tent, matching felt-fabric outdoor rug with floral pattern, a hang glider, two surf boards, “campfire” made of plastic “logs” and felt orange flame, two blue fish on wooden skewers, miniature mugs, plates, frying pan, and two avid campers Dave and Mia (with moveable joints and heads)! I like the complete accessories for campsite imaginative play. We love posing the figures around our pretend camping ground - barbecuing, launching the hang glider, riding on massive wave, driving, resting. 

(2) Interior / Exterior Features - I love the details and delightful features of the van. The interior walls are painted with interesting objects such as ukulele, Hawaiian Lei, potted herbs, and shower station; externally, the vehicle is joyfully decorated with conch shell, star fish, snorkelling set, singing bird, curious squirrels, lady bug, and cheeky crab. The steering wheel is spin-able, and the van has moveable wheels. My personal favourite is the removable reversible roof; it’s a shield at one side, and exciting blue sliding wave at another. 

(3) Gender-Neutral - I love the gender-neutral theme; both boy and girl can enjoy the same air sport and water activity. 

(4) Material - The camper van is mostly made of wood with some mixture of plastic materials (eg roof, steering wheel, and most of the accessories). They are generally of high quality and very well-made. I’m not a fan of the massive number of stickers on plastic surfaces (I’m clumsy with stickers). But other than that, I’m happy with the toy. As per usual Hape products, the toy meets international standards for safety. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

[This review was first written and published in Instagram on 3 December 2021] 

Where to buy this: 

Myer (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Skippity, By MindWare - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Colourful "Checkers-inspired" game 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  5 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids that love simple strategy games 

This game reminds me of multi-coloured lollies and festive lights. This is probably the most colourful game I have ever tested, and I love the “checkers-inspired” concept. Thank you Leisure Learning for providing this “Skippity” from MindWare for a review! 

 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Easy To Learn - This game is visually-gripping, easy to learn and quite addictive to play. The game comes with 100 “skippers” (or multi-coloured checker pieces), folding game board, storage box and instructions. Players take turn to select a skipper from the board, use it to hop over (horizontally or vertically) other skipper, and collect the “jumped over” skippers along the way. The player that captured the most complete colour sets (each set consists of one of each colour - red, orange, yellow, green and blue) wins. 

(2) Strategy Game - What I love most is the scoring system which encourages players to strategise. Instead of requiring all players to randomly collect as many skippers as possible, this game focuses on “getting the most complete sets” (ie quality is more important than quantity). After each turn, we sort our accumulated skippers by colours, by stacking them up on the corresponding spots on the game board. This helps us to visually-ascertain the status of our latest collection and decide which colours to aim next. Players can do multiple jumping chain, or even “block” our opponent through the simple jumping mechanic. This game is educational, fun, and tactical. 

(3) Different "Starting" Combinations - To set up, players mix all the skippers,  randomly place one skipper on each square on the board, and remove 4 skippers at the centre. What this means is, we get different combination of “starting board” each time, so every round of game is going to feel and play slightly differently. 

(4) Attractive Colours - The colours are visually appealing for kids, and the foldable game board is space-saving and easy to be stored away. The plastic components are light weight, pretty basic, and gives an “average” quality feel. I wish the skippers could have been designed a bit cleverer for easy-stacking. 

Overall, this is an entertaining family game that I wouldn’t mind seeing more on our game nights! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.leisurelearning.com.au/skippity (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Large Gear Construction Set, By Qtoys - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Wooden board with inter-changeable gears 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids who are fascinated with gear mechanics / This toy is perfect for schools and daycares due to its sturdy material. 

Qtoys is one of those brands that I have been following closely for a while. Qtoys represents nature-inspired, timeless, and quality educational toys that can be passed down from one generation to another. This Large Gear Construction Set captured my heart instantly for the very first moment I set eyes on it. 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Beautifully-Designed Gear Board - This set comes with a large-sized gear board (with multiple holes on it) measures 36cm x 45 cm x 2 cm, 10 gears ranging from 15 cm to 8 cm, and 10 wooden axle pegs. Each of the four largest cogwheels has a slightly different and unique design: There is an “ordinary” gear, one that reminds me of a pirate ship wheel, one that has four symmetrically positioned cut-out circles on it, and the fourth one has a three-part cursive circular pattern within. It’s fun to watch the magic created when these large and smaller circular intermeshing gears placed right next to each other, using simple mechanic to trigger a chain effect that is both enchanting and fascinating. I love how an amazing STEM concept is explained in such a visual and engaging way! 

(2) Material & Quality - This wooden gear board is relatively heavy (weighs around 3kg), thick and sturdy, and definitely long-lasting! The craftsmanship is beautiful with smooth finishes. As per usual Qtoys products, the toy is made from plantation timber of rubber and acacia trees, non-toxic and child-safe materials. Qtoys is in compliance with Australian and New Zealand toy safety standards. 

(3) Open-Ended Play - The gear board is interchangeable. I love that there is “no-strict-rules” to play with it, meaning the kids can mix and match the gears in different configurations, test out the strength of the teeth and the outcome of their arrangements, and experiment it in any way they desire. The gears may link up to create interesting spinning sensation, or twirl independently on its own. There is really no right or wrong way to do it. I’m loving how versatile and open-ended this toy is! 

I think this is an heirloom quality toy that would find its home passing from one family to another for many generations to come! 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.qtoys.com.au/shop/wooden-toys/construction-play/gear-construction-set/ (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Makruk Chess, By Funyards Australia - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Wooden Makruk Chess Set 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  8 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Collectors of classic games / rare-to-find Thai & Cambodian chess set 

I received this “Makruk Chess” set from Funyards Australia for review recently. This is a really refreshing experience for me as I had never played with a Thai/ Cambodian-style chess-variant before. This set has a timeless touch, and is a rare-to-find gem that would make a classy centrepiece in any household. 

Why I love ❤️ this set: 

(1) Uniqueness - I grew up playing “XiangQi”, which is a Chinese chess variant with quite substantial differences in feel, rules, and strategies compared to the orthodox chess. What I notice about the Makruk Chess is how similar it is to the international version, yet retaining unmistakable uniqueness in certain aspects. The chess pieces are divided into darker and lighter wood colours. The pieces feel familiar but with an unusual, exotic style. The King, Queen, and Bishop pieces look alike, but are different in sizes (the King is large and wide, Bishop is medium, and the Queen is the smallest). The stocky Rook reminds me of an ancient dome found in some Asian architecture. The knight is distinctively distinguishable with its intricately-crafted horse head design. The pawns are essentially checker pieces in round disc but with beautiful spiral pattern. The chessboard consists of 64 squares, 8 rows by 8 columns, in chequered pattern. 

(2) Tactical & Slower-Pace Rules - The board is laid out with the pawns a row ahead of where they are in orthodox chess. The King, Knight and Rook have equivalent moves like the Western kind. Bishop and Queen take a “slower” pace with only one square per move. One major difference is that the Queen in Makruk is the weakest piece in the game, very unlike its Western counterpart. There are also special “counting rules” which can change a pursuit into a draw. Makruk appears to be a much tactical and slower game that requires more patience to play. I love the included easy to-read one-page rules, in English and with illustrations. 

(3) Elegant Foldable Box - I love the foldable wooden box with brass hinges and a magnetic “closure” that keeps all the pieces compactly stored in a box. I also love the compartmentalised tray, the elegant workmanship, solid wooden material, and the convenient portability design. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

Funyards Australia 

Enjoy the video! 

Color Wonder, Mess Free Coloring - Bluey, by Crayola - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Bluey colouring sheets with "magic" markers 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Bluey fans / And parents who are looking for mess-free & travel-friendly activities  

Spending time with our little munchkins is fun, BUT sometimes, we just need that few moments of peaceful “break”, and that’s when we truly appreciate activity sets such as this “Crayola Color Wonder, Mess Free Coloring - Bluey” kit. Crayola recently provided this set to us as part of the Parentfluencer program, and I’m so happy to be joining this Crayola-loving community! 

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) Mess-Free Color Wonder Markers - The most exciting feature of this product? Hands down, the NO MESS and non-toxic Color Wonder Markers!  I’m used to the aftermath of chaotic and messy arts. In fact, scrubbing paints and getting rid of marker stains are part and parcel of our parenting experience. 😅 BUT, that doesn’t mean I enjoy the cleaning. That’s when Crayola Color Wonder steps in to take away the stress! The ink appears to be clear and invisible, and it doesn’t show up on most surfaces - skin, clothes, furniture, rug etc. But when you apply the markers on the “Colour Wonder” sheets, the colours come to life within seconds! This experience wasn’t entirely “new” to us (we have used similar products before in the past), but the charm is still there; our girl was thrilled and kept screaming “it’s magic!”.

(2) 18 Color Wonder Sheets - The activity set includes 18 Color Wonder Pages featuring the fun adventures from the well-loved TV show Bluey, including “Queen Bingo” and her spectacular Crown and magnifying glass, Bluey Mum (Chilli) with her hockey stick, family portrait, camping adventure, and the “Keepy Uppy” balloon. Our favourite sheet is the one depicting Bluey, Muffin, Sock, and Bingo having terrific time enjoying popsicles! 

(3) Special Hidden Surprises - I love the surprises “hidden” at the background of each colouring sheet. Once we applied the markers, the “secret” items revealed: flowers, fluffy feathers, stars, wavy lines, balloons or even delicious popsicles! 

(4) Travel-Friendly - I love the convenient “foldalope” packaging that works as reusable storage for the colouring pages and markers. This set is perfect for road trips! 

Having said that, I wish the set can come with more markers. 5 pens are nice as a “starter” for small toddlers, but probably not stimulating enough for kids age 3 and above. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

Amazon Australia 

Enjoy the video! 

Glo Pals Light-Up Cubes, by Glo Pals - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Cubes that light-up in water!  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++   

Who would love this: This is a perfect bath and sensory toy that would sure to capture kids' attention. 

I was intrigued from the very first time when I saw Glo Pals in social media. So when Jellystone Designs sent us these Glo Pals Light-Up Cubes (in festive Red and Green) and Red Sammy, we were THRILLED! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Light-Up In Water Technology - I have never seen anything that glows in the water with such enchantment before. Glo Pals were inspired by a child with autism whose mother used the technology behind Glo Pals to help him overcome his fear of water. The result is these multi-coloured, liquid-activated cubes that light up when they are immersed in water. Glo Pals has immense potential for versatile uses; it makes bath time easier, sensory play more exciting, and sprinkles magic in water play. It glows in bathtub, jars, Calm Down Bottle - and anything else that can contain liquid. The Light-Up Cubes are packed in a set of 4. 

(2) Colours & Characters - Glo Pals come in yellow, blue, purple, white, green and red. I love that each colour has a unique character to go with it, each with their fun-filled personalities (eg, Purple Lumi has a deep passion for art and craft, and Red Sammy loves outdoor and sports!) The characters have bendable arms, and they “glow” when we insert a cube at the back of the Pals. Each of the character set also comes with 2 cubes of matching colour. 

(3) Tested & Compliance With Safety Standards - Glo Pals website assures us that the technology has been extensively tested and meets applicable safety standards. The electronics are sealed and are not user accessible (in other words, the encased button batteries are not replaceable, but the pals/ plastics are recyclable). 

(4) 16 Lighted Hours - Each cube lasts a minimum of 16 lighted hours. The cube automatically turns on when placed in water, turns off when it is dry. Only the time that the product is lighted will count against the battery life. For our family, our cubes (apart from 1) are still working fine after 8 weeks of use in the bath. It is important to drain the cubes completely when they are not in use to extend the battery life. Personally, I wish to see an improved technology in near future so that the cubes can be more sustainable and have a longer life. Nevertheless, this is a great invention that sparks JOY! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://jellystonedesigns.com.au/collections/glo-pals (Australia) 

https://glopals.com/ (Website) 

Enjoy the video! 

Fire Station Box, By Tooky Toy - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Foldable fire station house in a boxset 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️  

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids that enjoy imaginative / small world play 

I love toys that are organised, portable, and sufficiently compact for easy storage. Earlier this year, a Melbourne toys rental service provider Toy Cycle sent us this "Fire Station Box" from Tooky Toy as part of its "monthly subscription rental service". We think the design of this toy is pretty clever, and I love the easy travel case, and various included characters and accessories that complete the entire fire-station play experience. 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Expandable Box - I love the cleverly-designed fold-down and expandable box that sets the backdrop and scene for the fire-rescuing drama. The bright red box itself is a “fire station building” with cutout doors, the lid and front panel can be “spread out” and turned into a green field with images of roundabout, stop signs, fire hydrant, flowers, bushes and trees printed on it. The set comes with 17 Individual miniature replicas including a helicopter, a fire truck (with moving wheels), 2 fire-fighters, and other accessories such as a burning house, first aid kit, loud speaker and fire extinguisher. My two kids love this toy and enjoy arranging the pieces around the fire station box and perform their thrilling version of fire-fighting. I love how interactive and engaging this set is, and how it encourages role-playing and interesting conversations. 

(2) Material - I love the great quality of the set. The individual standing pieces are made of FSC quality wood, colourfully painted with safe water-based dyes. Tooky Toys takes pride in its eco-friendly manufacturing process, and has durability in mind when creating their toys. 

(3) Neat & Organised - I love how organised the set is; everything can be stored neatly within the box with magnet-embedded lid. I love the convenient handle for easy portability and travel. This is a practical and fun toy! 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.eleganter.com.au/fire-station-box (Australia) 

https://tookytoy.com/index.html (Website) 

Enjoy the video! 

KAPLA 200 Box: 200 natural planks, By KAPLA - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          200 wooden planks in identical size 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  2 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Anyone!!! KAPLA is for all ages & personalities, kids + adults 

I have been a KAPLA follower for a really long time; the bold and extraordinary creations of the world-wide KAPLA community have always impressed me profoundly. No glue, screw or clips are required. What you need is an imagination, steady hands, and a basic sense of balance and gravity. I am sincerely thankful to KAPLA Australia for providing me this “KAPLA 200 Box: 200 natural planks”. We’re immensely excited to start our journey as a newbie KAPLA-builders! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Learn New Building Techniques - We have played with similar plank-building sets in the past, but I never fully grasped any basic techniques and my constructions were often limited. I love the included KAPLA booklet that features various images of building ideas and “dissected” process, allowing us to have a rare glimpse of the complex KAPLA structures from different angles and perspectives. We learned about the 3 “basics” of planks-stacking (flat, on the side, or standing-up vertically). We learned how to build “circular” shape that ascends in size, how to defy gravity by using symmetrical weight, how to build a ramp and other dramatic sloping surfaces, and how to build a spiral staircase by searching for the balance point. It is amazing what such seemingly simple construction units (perfectly identical planks in 15:3:1 ratio) can create! 

(2) For All Ages - KAPLA is for all ages and personalities! My three-year-old set up a “playground” and enjoys knocking down the planks. My six-year-old loves challenging himself with tall structures and complicated maze. It’s light weight, open-ended, inspiring. KAPLA encourages development of fine motor skills, concentration, and perseverance. 

(3) Sustainable Material - KAPLA is made of natural untreated wood from the sustainably managed pine forests of Les Landes (France). The planks have smooth finishes, and are precisely cut and subject to high quality controls. 

(4) Expandable & Additional Features - I love the few special “KAPLA” signs that give an iconic touch to the created structures. I love that KAPLA is expandable and we can add on to our collection with more planks. I also love the simple and easily portable cardboard storage box with cord handle that comes with this set. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://kaplaaustralia.com/products/kapla-200-box (Australia) 

Enjoy the video!