Young Driver experience

We were invited to try out an Admiral Young Driver​ experience at the weekend, which I knew the eldest would love as he is just starting to show an interest in all things cars and racing.
Young Driver do two separate classes 5-10 year olds and 10-17 year olds.
As my eldest is only 7 we were booked into the 5-10 class. Luckily when we arrived at the Venue (Manchester) they had a spare slot for the second car so we able to pay and book the youngest (5) in too, she had been disappointed she wasn't going to be doing it so it made her day. 

In The 5-10 class the children are able to drive, with supervision, a small electric car (Firefly) my eldest loved this as he is a huge Thunderbirds fan and his imagination let him travel to Tracey island!!
After registration and signing in the instructors took the kids on a few laps around the course to guide them on how to drive the car, and as the course was laid out as a road using markers and signs they were able to identify common road signs and what they meant, use indications, experience junctions, a great introduction to driving and the highway code! Once happy the kids knew what they were doing we were able to 'co drive' with them. It was a really fun morning for the kids, something they both really enjoyed and talked non stop about all the way home! The experience was age appropriate for both the kids, i wondered initially if the youngest would manage and be able to complete the circuit but i had no concerns once i saw her behind the wheel, our little Penelope Pitstop (for those old enough to remember!)
At the end they were given a Young Drivers driving licence to keep, and I believe if presented at a future time they will progress and follow on with teaching other aspects of driving so a real ongoing activity if you wanted. 

At the venue we were greeted warmly and the registration process was simple and straight forward, the kids were shown patience and understanding so a really positive experience, one we have discussed repeating.
The 10-17 year olds are given lessons on the designated course (on private property which has been adapted in to a realistic road system ) with qualified driving instructors using learner vehicles so a really great and realistic introduction to driving which will surely allow them to gain worthwhile experience in preparation for legally being on the roads leading to safer more knowledgeable drivers. Young driver also offer the opportunity to have a lesson in a Bentley! Now that would be an experience.
As parents we were impressed with the Young Driver experience and would recommend to other parents. Take a little look at the video of the experience in the Firefly.

Prices start from £19.99 and gift cards are available, i think this would make a really great alternative gift and something to remember. There are over 40 venues throughout the UK so plenty of choice,  for more information head over to www.youngdriver.eu

Sheaffer have one ‘Ion’ the future with new compact pen launch

World famous pen manufacturer Sheaffer are hoping that their latest compact size pen will make a big impression with a selection of bold colours and portability.

The stylish writing instruments manufacturer has launched the Sheaffer Ion, a pen that will put an end to carrying heavy pencil cases or searching amongst other valuables for a faithful writing tool.The pocket-sized pen, which launches in May, measures just over three and a half inches making it ideal for writing, taking notes or doodling on the go.

Ideal for doctors and teachers as well as students and shoppers, the Ion clips to lanyards, keys and bags making it the perfect pen to find easily in an emergency or when needed to make a quick note whilst in the supermarket.

Sheaffer, the National Stationery Week sponsor launched the Ion as the 104-year-old brand undergoes a refresh, releasing a selection of innovative and bold new products whilst increasing their work with up and coming artists and creatives around the globe.

The packaging of every Ion pen features artwork from Bristolian artist Ery Burns, whose collaboration with Sheaffer will see her head-turning mid-20th century style creation brandish all Ion product packing

Coming in six trend-setting colours, from understated classic black to head turning green, Sheaffer’s Ion is the perfect partner to any style or outfit whilst continuing to be convenient and compact.

Featuring a retractable mechanism and a refillable gel barrel that can be used alongside four ink colours, the versatile Sheaffer Ion is the ideal portable pen for professionals and creatives alike.

Nicola Shepherd, Sales and Marketing Director at Sheaffer, said:

“A pen is a key accessory and the Sheaffer Ion makes it easy to carry round that vital implement, making it available immediately, whenever and wherever you need to put pen to paper.

“The compact size makes it ideal to add to your everyday household items, such as house keys or work lanyard and the colours are fun! I’ll definitely be taking mine everywhere!”

I was sent the Sheaffer Ion to review and it is such a handy little pen, clipped onto the inside of my bag i am never left searching the depths of my bag, and never without a pen which is an ongoing problem in my house and at work, if i put a pen down it disappears! It was comfortable to hold and write with. This will certainly make my life easier on the go.

The Sheaffer Ion is available from the start of May and retails at £12.99 in all good stationery stockists.

Qixels Kingdom Castle Attack playset review

Qixels are becoming ever popular and are a versatile toy that can grow and expand the imagination. They are small pixelated cubes that fuse together with a spray of water, they allow you to create anything from your imagination, simply place, spray with water and they set together creating a masterpiece from your imagination. As well as developing the imagination, manipulating the cubes into a design also helps develop fine motor skills in younger children which helps when they need to start to learn to write in school, so developing whilst having fun.

My son had a set at Christmas and has come up with a variety of masterpieces, and he even creates them to give as a personal birthday present for family members which i think is a lovely idea. The last few days we have been reviewing the Qixels Kingdom Castle Attack play set.

As a Qixel fan he was ecstatic to receive this and was straight into it, for us it was a god send and couldn't have come at a better time as he was off school poorly and it served as a great distraction. Qixels Kingdom set allows you to build your own kingdom one cube at a time, build your castle and expand or change it as you want it, defending against the dragons and ogres with your very own knights. I really like how the set encourages use of the imagination and allows a story to build as you create and expand your kingdom. It kept my son entertained for a good couple of hours as he created and played. We previously have had other brands which needed heat to set them which takes away from the child creating aspect of the toy as this is something they are unable to do themselves and can be frustrating. Qixels are easy, simply spray and set, no heat, no glue, all achievable for the child. 

This set has a RRP of £29.99 and is suitable for ages 4+

Qixels are an award winning brand and are bought to you by Character options and they have many other sets available to suit any little persons imagination or interest including:

Qixels 3D Maker - Once they have mastered the technique of Qixels children can take their designs to the next level with the 3D. There are a variety of 3D characters to create including aliens, bugs and jungle characters. (RRP £24.99)

Theme Packs - There are so many cool designs to create including Dinosaurs, pirates and even monsters! Once created, these pixelated characters can be used as individual toys to play with or make great a bedroom decoration. (RRP £9.99)

Mega Refill Pack – The fun is as endless as your child’s imagination with the Qixels refill pack, the pack includes 1500 cubes including 750 glow in the dark cubes (RRP £12.99)

So many hours of fun to be had, simply make, spray and play! visit https://www.character-online.com/ for more information on theme sets and to purchase your set of Qixels, for hours of fun and happy children.

Sylvanian Families - Timeless toys

I am sure our childhood memories all include playing with Sylvanian Families.

Since 1985, Sylvanian Families has been loved by many people around the world. It is a nostalgic toy range that attracts people from different age groups. Based on three concepts, Nature, Family and Love, children can explore the power of imagination and learn to care and share with one another. Sylvanian Families are there to help children acquire key social skills.

All of the families live in the Sylvanian Village, where everyone enjoys the world of nature. Set around everyday lives, to be enjoyed in comfort, our brand covers a range of activities in which children can explore different play patterns and create their own stories.

Everyone can be a part of the family, and learn about relationships including kindness and love of others.

There is a variety of houses, shops,furniture and accessories all of which are very detailed. Every figure has got a sweet, unique expression, good form and size. By the nature of the flocking the figures warm appearance is very tangible to a child.

Sylvanian Families is an evergreen toy, it has a friendly appeal to everyone. It has many different aspects that appeals to a wide range of children including playing-doll, decorating the homes, collecting the furniture, and changing the outfits. There are no rules or regulations which allows children to create their own stories and to use their imaginations.

Sylvanian Families promotes wholesome play and has an enduring appeal which helps to develop thoughts and emotions.

Information taken from the official sylvanian family webiste 

I recently received the chocolate Rabbit family to include in my Eater Gift guide and my youngest loved it as already has the hotel passed down from family. So when i was asked if we wanted to review and add the convertible car to the collection, it was a definite yes.

As with all Sylvanian family products, it was well made and sturdy and will take many years of play, it was a great addition to our collection and adds a different element of play, exploring transport and what that can lead to (holidays, adventures and not one mention of mummy's driving abilities!)
My daughter has always loved imaginative play so really gets into a story and creates many wonderful stories and tales her Sylvanian friends have been on. The great thing with Sylvanian families is it is timeless and adaptable so can be whatever your child wants it to be using the vast imaginations they have, and you can keep adding to it. No play session is ever the same! 
I am sure Sylvanian families will be around for many years to come and be passed on to younger generations as ours have been. 

Brand new episode of Kazoops review

I was sent the brand new episode of Kazoops to review, the brand new episode featured today on Cbeebies at 4.20pm if you miss it be sure to get it on catch up and see what fun Monty and Jimmy Jones get up to in the first episode of the new series.

Kazoops is all about Monty and his best friend Jimmy Jones, the family pet pig. Kazoops shows that if you just use some imagination you can find some fresh new perspectives on the preconceptions of life through the eyes of a spirited boy of six.

In the brand new episode we see Monty trying to help his family with the dilemma of moving a piano upstairs to his sisters bedroom, many different ideas are discussed and attempted but dismissed as not useful, until Jimmy daydreams about a dragon lifting the piano, this prompts the family to try lifting the piano up the outside of the house and through the open window, problem solved, well done Jimmy!

Kazoops shows how imagination can help problem solve, being curious and enthusiastic helps learn new things, as well as encouraging loyalty and friendship, a wonderful, colourful, music filled show for children to help encourage imagination and problem solving.

Tune in Tuesday to see Monty and Jimmy Jones think Jeanie’s new stick insect isn’t a very interesting pet and tell her it would be much more exciting to have a lion.  But when Jeanie tells them you can’t keep wild animals in the house, Monty and Jimmy Jones question why not.  
In Wednesday’s episode Gran wants Monty and Jimmy Jones to win a painting competition, even if it means Monty not painting what he really wants to, leaving Monty wondering if it really is important to always be the winner.  
On Thursday the Kazoops take a vote on which ice-cream flavour to get from the market and Monty doesn’t want the same flavour as Gran. He begins to wonder if you can still be friends with people if you like different things.  
And in the last episode of the week Monty is surprised when Stan is too scared to go under the house to fetch a toy for him, and begins to wonder if adults get scared sometimes too. This leads him to travel to an imaginary medieval realm where he meets a Knight who’s scared of heights…

So make sure you tune in to catch some exciting adventures with Monty and Jimmy Jones.

Getting out and about, keeping the kids busy

As the nights are now getting lighter and the days a little warmer the kids just want to be outside, on their scooters, bikes, skates, playing football or rugby, generally being active and outdoors. We live in a great place to be able to get out, we have a park close by, places to ride the bikes and scooters and fields to play football or rugby in so its not too difficult to keep up with their demands but at times they want to try something new and are always on the look out for new toys, especially things they can enjoy outdoors.

I was recently sent a RC racing off road buggy to review, i do not need to tell you how happy this made my kids! Unfortunately we were due to go away for a few days so this was like torture for them, knowing they had to wait to try it out. Luckily the weather has been good so we were able to get out and test it out after school.

The off road buggy will take on rough-and-tumble outdoor terrain.This mean,radio-controlled machine features front and rear suspension,off-road tires,and high-speed performance. Good looking changeable Lexan body. Forward, reverse,better steering structure for left and right controls. Full suspension,differential gears,off-road tires. READY TO RUN! 

• Speed: 13 Km/h
• Scale: 1:16
• Dimensions: 250 x 160 x 115 mm
• Weight: 379g
• Wireless Range: Approx 30 Meter
• Charge Time: 3 Hours
• Playing Time: Approx 18 Minutes
• Material: ABS chassis & PVC car housing
• Driving System: Two Wheel Drive 2x4
• Control System: 27MHz & 40MHz remotely
• Battery Requirement: 4.8V Rechargeable battery pack, for the car , 2 x AA for the transmitter

We have already had hours of fun and am sure we will have many more with the summer ahead, and plenty of ideas already for places to try it out!

If you want to have a go and try one for yourself take a look at Autosessive, a one stop shop for car enthusiasts, with great prices on a range of car parts, car care products, touring and travelling products and lots of gadgets like this buggy. 

Sip and Sound straws review

Do you worry about your child's teeth as they are emerging and growing, all the advice that they should avoid too much contact with sugary drinks and foods, avoid bottles, certain cups, it can all be so confusing and to add the problem a child that really isn't a big drinker can lead to parents becoming quite worried and anxious. We often spend a lot of money on trying all sorts of cups just to get our child to drink, i know my cupboard is always full of different styles of cups, more so when they were toddlers. Now its just some thing they will find appealing and fun.

That is where the Sip and sound straws are like nothing you will have tried before! They reduce contact time with those little teeth, they help avoid stains on the teeth and they make animal noises!! Yes your little one will be greeted with animal sounds as they sip away, encouraging them to drink more to hear the noise again and again and create some funky tunes as they experiment with the straws.

We took the straws to a play date and the kids had so much fun creating tunes with their friends, all the while increasing their fluid intake and having so much fun! I am sure these will be used for a long time to come and be a great party piece when anyone visits.
All the kids that tried them wanted to take a straw home and it made for some funny moments for us parents listening to the 'tunes' created. A real hit and novelty product for the kids, and a great fun way to encourage kids to drink more.

The Sip and sound straws come in four different designs, a horse, a pig, a cow and a sheep and the noises burst from the straws as the drink passes through them. The straws retail at £5.99 each and are available at www.flairplc.co.uk

Review and giveaway ZooHood animal onesie

I have a boy who loves his onesies, especially animal onesies, often seen discarding his school uniform and straight into his onesie as soon as he walks through the door from school.  Who can blame him though, i am always straight into my pyjamas at the first opportunity too. I have been checking out these cool ZooHood animal onesies, there are so many cute and original designs to choose from it was such a hard decision to pick just one!

I eventually decided on a monster onesie for my eldest to try out, which i thought would really appeal to him now he is all grown up and not into cute and cuddly animals anymore. Being a little bit of a monster himself also makes it quite suitable!

The first thing i noticed was the quality of the material, it is thick yet super soft and looks like it will take some use, definitely a must with the amount of wear it will get here. It has a popper front which for a boy (or grown up if fancy the adult version) is ideal for toilet use, especially when the weather is a little cooler at night, no having to fully open up the front. The onesie looks cool and would be a great dress up outfit for dress up day at school or just play but so snuggly it is the perfect sleepwear.

ZooHood also do the range in adult sizes too, so why stop at just the kids, the whole family can create their own ZooHood zoo! There are dogs, penguins, unicorns, giraffes, tiger, panda, bear and many many more animals to choose from. Take a look at their full range and i can guarantee there will be one for every member of the family, you can also enter the competition below to win one of your choice.


ZooHoo animal onesie giveaway

Lalaloopsy Tress Twist 'N' Braid Glitter Hair Dough Doll

I have a little girl who has recently become Lalaloopsy mad, as well as back to back episodes that are now available on Netflix, we have a mermaid bubble doll she received as a birthday present, and we have this weekend taken a look at the the Tress Twist 'N' Braid Glitter Hair Dough doll.

I do not think i need to say how much she enjoyed this, dough and Lalalloopsy, a perfect combination, especially as it was glitter dough! She was itching to get it out the box and give it a try, it was quite easy to work and she soon became engrossed in creating some wonderfully colourful, sparkly hair styles for Lalaloopsy.

The Doll came with three pots of glitter dough and three different attachments to give different 'hair styles', there were some cute little clips and some scissors to do some creative hair styling of your own. Lalaloopsy came with a handy base to sit her on to make handling easier. To use simply fill the container inside the head with chosen glitter dough, replace cover, and twist her pony tail to see the hair grow and grow, then style as you choose. Hours of fun for any young girl.

The doll was sturdy and well made, it felt good quality and up to the wear and tear it is going to get from hours and hours of play in this house. It was a good size for handling for small hands, not too fidlly or too heavy either. I think this is going to be just the start of our Lalaloopsy collection.

The Lalaloopsy dolls were once rag dolls who magically came to life when their very last stitch was sewn, taking on the personalities of the materials that were used to make them. They live in a colourful, silly world, and it’s your job to keep the magic of their world alive!

Tress Twist 'N' Braid was made from clay. She sees a new day as a chance to try on a new look… especially her hair! Twisting, braiding, making it a bun, she always has so much fun.

LalaloopsyTress Twist 'N' Braid glitter hair dough Doll is available at a RRP of £29.99 and available at most good toy stores and online.