The best toys for six-year-olds have to do a lot. Most importantly, they have to be fun and engaging - but, it’s great if they encourage interaction with family and friends as well to help build those developing social skills.

From slime to Barbie dolls and mix and make toys there are plenty of fun options at this age. Child development expert and GoodtoKnow expert panellist Dr Amanda Gummer says: "At aged six, children are at a crucial stage of development and their curiosity and imaginations are really growing. When choosing toys or gifts for six-year-olds, opt for ones that will help foster creativity, problem-solving skills, and encourage social interaction whether as a bonding experience when you’re playing with your little one, or with their siblings or friends."

This list of the best toys for six year olds is based on a range of factors, including feedback from parents and kids, our own product testers, customer reviews and ratings as well as the top toys for 2024, as chosen by industry experts. We’ve also considered a range of price points to suit any budget or occasion.

Best toys for six year old boys and girls

1. Barbie

Barbie has seen a resurgence of late, thanks to the recent blockbuster movie, and her popularity is still riding high. Dolls make great toys for six year olds - they provide an opportunity for pretend play and problem-solving, while also building on their emotional intelligence. In a Boston University article about Barbie's popularity, clinical instructor of child life and family-centered care Ann Herzog says that Barbie 'can foster a child’s development by encouraging language and communication and by offering opportunities for pretend play and problem-solving.' She adds: 'Play with dolls, in particular, allows for emotional expression, developing empathy, and practicing problem-solving skills.'

2. Audio players

No-screen toys, like the popular audio players Yoto or Tonie, can make a great gift for this age group. These players help to encourage independent play and learning, can help with language development and are easy (and safe) enough for a six year old to operate by themselves with ease. Not sure which player is right for you? Read our Toniebox review to see how it faired in our tests. We've also put the Yoto player through its paces, and you'll be able to read that review very soon.

If you know a six year old who already has a Toniebox or Yoto player, then a new Tonie audio character or Yoto card makes a great gift (but it's always worth checking which they already have in their collection to avoid doubling up).

3. Dinosaurs

To a six-year-old, dinosaurs are seemingly other-wordly, awesome and fantastical creatures, made all the more exciting by the fact they actually used to exist! They are also prolific in a child's world - they can be seen on TV, on clothing, in books and even in food form - which only adds to their appeal.

Studies even show that intense interest in dinosaurs can have a significant benefit on a child's development, including increased knowledge and heightened attention.

4. Toy Pets

By six-years-old, kids could already be pestering their parents for a pet, but a real-life version may not be the right solution for the family at this point. But a toy pet could be a perfect way to teach some key skills that come along with pet-ownership, without the additional responsibility.

5. Mix and Make Toys

Mix and make toys tend to offer various types of play in one package - there is usually a element of experimentation or mixing of ingredients, followed by or combined with a particular process or action, before a mystery reveal of another toy inside.

Not only do toys like this spark imagination and creativity, they can help introduce the notion of delayed gratification too.

6. LEGO

You absolutely can't go wrong buying LEGO as a gift for a six-year-old. But do make sure it's age appropriate first - a LEGO set with too few or too many pieces is sure to leave them disappointed.

There are lots of reasons why LEGO is good for development, including the positive impact it has on problem-solving skills, focus and self confidence. GoodtoKnow's child development expert Dr Gummer adds: "I really like building or construction sets like LEGO that encourage spatial reasoning and fine motor skills."

7. Educational games

Kids are like sponges when it comes to absorbing information, so incorporating learning into play can be a great way to build on their cognitive development. Plus games like this are perfect for playing with friends and family, which can help children learn how to be a gracious winner or a good loser.

8. Sylvanian Families

Another toy to encourage role-play and storytelling, while also sparking creativity, is anything from the world of Sylvanian Families, which was introduced in the UK in 1987. More than just adorable animal characters, the toys on offer include playsets, accessories and more.

9. Hot Wheels

Hot Wheels toy cars date back to the later 1960s, and still hold strong appeal today, thanks to their low price point, engaging appearance, and the nostalgia they can instill in parents and grandparents alike.

10. Squishmallows

Squishmallows were the biggest selling toy of 2023 - super squidgeable and uber soft. No wonder six-year-olds love them! They come in a range of sizes and iterations (like the Fuzz-a-Mallow variant) and can cost anywhere from £5 to £50, so you can easily find one to fit any budget.

They are infinitely collectible too - and there are loads of adorable characters to choose from.

11. Board games

A good board game will help encourage interaction with friends and family members, along with encouraging a healthy dose of friendly competition. Dr Gummer, who is also the founder of The Good Play Guide, says: "I love a family board game night, or taking the time in a busy weekend to digitally detox with a puzzle or trivia game and there are loads of age appropriate options for cooperative play and strategic thinking."

12. Slime

Slime can be a bit hit and miss (often a hit with children and a big miss with their parents), but if you know a six-year-old who likes getting their hands dirty, then will love a slime-based gift. This kind of sensory play can help calm an anxious child too - it draws focus to one or more of the five senses and encourages mindfulness to promote relaxation.

However, slime should definitely be avoided if the child you know hates getting stuff stuck to their fingers - they really won't enjoy it. They might prefer the Squishmallow instead - soft and tactile without the gloopy hands.

13. Polly Pocket

Polly Pocket has had a bit of a redesign in recent years, so is more substantial than it used to be, a fact that will be music to the ears of parents who were worried about choking hazards.

With lots of sets to collect, featuring cute, bright character cases as well as the eponymous Polly and friends, these toys make great gifts for six-year-olds, without breaking the bank.

14. Jigsaws

According to parenting expert Amanda Jenner: "Jigsaw puzzles are great as they tend to have a longer attention span at six and love a challenge and this is really good for their cognitive skills and helps them to play independently."

They'll hone their problem-solving skills as they try and fit the pieces together, and feel great sense of achievement when they manage to complete it. If you know their favourite book or TV show, then you can always look for the jigsaw puzzle tie-in to win all the brownie points you can.

15. Heroes of the Goo Jit Su

Like Stretch Armstrong, but infinitely cooler, toys from the Heroes of the Goo Jit Su range can be stretched, pulled, twisted and squished before returning to their original shape.

These can make great fidget toys and be useful to encourage mindfulness and keep anxiety at bay.

Do six year olds still play with toys?

Six-year-olds definitely still play with toys - they love pretend play but are also ready for some more challenging games. They love playing with friends or family, but by the age of six, many kids have mastered independent play and are ready for a little more freedom.

GoodtoKnow's child development expert Dr Amanda Gummer adds: "Play is essential for the holistic development of six-year-olds. It’s crucial to promoting cognitive growth by encouraging problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making skills. Allowing children to engage in imaginative play and explore different scenarios, enhances their creativity and emotional intelligence. I’m a big fan of interactive play experiences which at six, will help children develop essential social skills such as cooperation, communication, and even resilience, laying a solid foundation for positive relationships and interactions with others as they get older."

If you've seen or heard that the six-year-old in your life doesn't play with toys anymore, it could be that they have too much choice. Like us, kids can get overwhelmed and overstimulated and this can happen if they're surrounded by too much choice and left wondering where to start.

How to choose the right toy for a six-year-old

Understanding the developmental needs of a child of six is crucial to choosing the right toy for them. Dr Gummer adds: "When choosing gifts for six-year-olds, I always recommend thinking about a child’s interests, and developmental needs. Art supplies such as paints, markers, and craft kits provide opportunities for creative expression and imagination. Outdoor toys like bikes, scooters, or sports equipment can promote physical activity and coordination, and construction toys can help with spatial awareness and reasoning.

"By making smart gift choices that align with children's interests and developmental milestones, a child can benefit from enriched play experiences that support their growth and learning journey."

How many toys should a six year old have?

The number of toys is up to you (and your little one, of course) and there is no exact number as to how many kids should have. But according to one study, when little learners had fewer toys in their environment it allowed them to play more creatively, focus and play with each toy longer.

The study tasked toddlers to engage with four toys, followed by 16 toys. The results showed that with fewer toys, participants had longer durations of toy play and played with toys in a greater variety of ways, therefore putting their creativity skills to the test, supporting their development and promoting healthy play.

Ultimately, kids don't need piles of toys to be happy, they just need a handful of the right toys for their interest, imagination and creativity to flourish.

What is the 20 toy rule?

As its name suggests, the 20 toy rule involves asking your child to select the 20 toys they want to play with over the next week or two weeks and carefully stash away all others.

Along with helping keep your living room or playroom clutter-free and tidy, the 20 toy rule gives your little one a chance to really play and engage with their toys and do so in a more focused way. This should hopefully benefit their creativity levels and kick start their imagination at the same time.

How we chose the best toys for six year olds

For this guide to the best toys for six-year-olds, we drew up a short list of suitable items based on our product knowledge and extensive research, making sure everything we picked was suitable for this age range. We spoke to parents of six year olds (and got feedback from the kids themselves) to see what toys they liked the best and why. Where possible, we also called products in and put them in the hands of six-year-old testers to try them out.

We also spoke to child development experts, including GoodtoKnow panellist Dr Amanda Gummer, to find out exactly what types of toys are suitable for six-year olds and the benefits that they, and play in general, can offer to children of this age.

Read more: How we test

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We recently got our hands on this year's festive must-have for footie fans; the Match Attax 24/25 Advent Calendar. It's safe to say our 11-year-old tester (and a total baller) was absolutely thrilled. 

From the moment the Match Attax 24/25 Advent Calendar arrived, she couldn’t hide her excitement, immediately declaring it her “product of the year” among the many toys she’s had the chance to review during 2024. High praise indeed!

What's inside the caldendar?

As our tester opened the calendar, her face lit up at the sight of each of the 120 Match Attax cards tucked inside, including 24 festive Squadzone cards featuring stars like Joshua Kimmich, Randal Kolo Muani, Cristiano Ronaldo, and the legendary Fernando Torres. We let her dive straight in as she was reviewing this rather than using it to count down the days until Christmas, and she was eager to see who she would discover behind each door. Opening each door was like a mini treasure hunt, and her excitement only grew with every new card she revealed.

There's also a daily quiz

One of the standout features is the exclusive Gold Edge card guaranteed to be included, which had her buzzing with anticipation. Alongside that, there’s a fun daily quiz that keeps the excitement going beyond just collecting the cards. Our tester loved the chance to test her football knowledge while unwrapping her daily surprise, saying, "I love the quizzes when you have to try and guess the player." The unpredictability of what each day's door would bring definitely added an extra thrill.

The card selection is cool

What our tester particularly loved about this calendar is how it brings together two of her passions: football and card collecting. “Football cards are my favourite hobby apart from playing football,” she remarked, and she appreciated the fresh idea of an advent calendar entirely dedicated to her favourite pastime. “It’s really exciting because you don’t know what you’re going to get, and you get such good cards.”

We got a rare card

The highlight for her was pulling a Lionel Messi Hall of Fame card, which she had only ever seen on YouTube. “Let me see how much it’s worth!” she exclaimed, already envisioning the playground conversations that would follow. “If I keep it for longer, it could be worth more,” she mused, as her thoughts visibly turned to showing off her prized card to her friends.

Is it worth the price?

Overall, our tester found the card selection to be excellent, noting, “You get cards you really want.” Priced at around £30, she felt the Match Attax 24/25 Advent Calendar was worth every penny, especially with the guaranteed Gold Edge Messi card and the fact that this is an advent calendar that could truly keep you occupied every day in December. “Imagine opening new cards every single day!” she remarked. Plus, if you happen to pull a really good card, you could easily earn back the price of the calendar, making it a smart investment for any budding young card collector.

The anticipation of not knowing when the best cards would come only added to the fun. “One of the first cards I opened was the best—Hall of Fame. I always wanted that card, and they’re new this season. I’ve only ever seen YouTubers get them!”

Who's going to love it?

The Match Attax 24/25 Advent Calendar turned out to be a hit, giving our 11-year-old a fun way to count down to Christmas - although she couldn't bear to save it until then - while enjoying her passion for football and collecting. It's a well-thought-out gift that combines excitement and entertainment, making every day in the lead-up to December 25th feel special.

Related features:

• Trading cards are bringing major nostalgia vibes for Euro 2024
• Best toys for 8 year olds 2024
• Top Christmas toys

Mum Punteha and her eight year old daughter Amelia put the new Shimmerverse Pixlings doll and pet from Magic Mixies through it's paces to feed back on what it's like to play with and if it's worth your money.

If you're not familiar with the Magic Mixies offering, it's a range of mix and make toys that require your child to complete a series of engaging steps before magically revealing a special toy. These kinds of toys are best for children aged five and over (but do check the specific toy before you buy). Toys like this are not only super engaging for kids, but they'll also spark their imagination and help introduce them to the concept of delayed gratification.

One of the newest additions to the range is the Shimmerverse Pixlings doll and pet (it works in a similar way to the original Pixlings doll that we've reviewed previously). You might also like our review of another new addition to the range, the Pixie Supreme Magic Mirror.

Packaging and set up

"It came in a vertical plastic double-layered jar with a large screw-top plastic lid, and peel away plastic wrapping. There was no further external packaging," says Punteha. "The point of the jar was for a magic liquid potion to be added, and some steps follows before you open the lid up and remove the Pixling and her Pet, a 'Pegacorn' from it.

"Afterwards, there is no need to keep the jar and it is a sizeable amount of plastic to dispose of (30x17x16cm). It is unclear if this jar section can be recycled or not, but we have chosen to reuse ours to store craft items in so the plastic doesn't immediately go to waste.

In the box, you get:

• The Pixling doll
• The Pegacorn pet (it's half pegasus, half unicorn)
• Potion ingredients including colour liquid, fizzing moon rock, and dissolvable paper shapes
• A collectors guide and instruction manual

What's the play experience like?

Punteha says: "It definitely kept my daughter's interest as it was unusual, unique, and fun to do." As you mix the potion ingredients together in the bottle (you will need to add a bit of water), they combine to create a mystical (and shimmery) navy blue potion. Then as you say the magical words 'Magicus Mixus', you press and trist the gem on the top of the bottle and watch at the dark liquid turns clear, and reveals the doll and her pet in the centre of the bottle. Don't worry, they're kept away from the potion liquid, so they're not all soggy when you get them out. Punteha adds: "I lost count of the number of times Amelia shouted, 'Cool!' throughout the process. She really was in awe at various points and I can't blame her. The toy is seriously cool."

However, for the reveal part of this toy, adult supervision may be required as there are multiple steps to follow and it may get a little messy. as Punteha explains: "Though my daughter can read very well (she is a free reader at school), she was not able to follow the steps without supervision. There was a certain amount of stiffness to the toy's lid as well which took adult supervision. An older child may well be able to do it alone but I wonder at what age a child may no longer be interested in this. We needed scissors to open the liquid magic potions, a tray to capture the liquid mess, and paper towels to clear up the spills.

"I thought it would have less steps and be simpler to setup and use. As a parent who has a full-on job, chronic pain and limited energy, having to take my child through more than a dozen steps, many of which were messy and not possible to complete without supervision, this toy was harder to get going on than expected.

"It's also not a quick process. Be prepared to spend around 45 minutes working through the steps. You have to unbox, read the instructions and not all of them will make sense until you're at the step itself. It is not entirely intuitive and some of the instructions are not as clear as I would have liked. It left room for error which resulted in bit of a mess where the adding of the liquid portion was concerned because while the twist top lid of the jar needs to be kept shut to stop the liquid spilling out, there is another separate twist function that mixes the potion together."

Once you've revealed the Pixling doll and her Pegacorn, they can be played with again and again, but the magic potion part is sadly a one time deal. But both the doll and the pegacorn are really engaging in their own right. They are incredibly detailed, posable and kids will love their other-worldliness. Punteha adds: "The doll quality is great as expected with lovely rainbow colored synthetic hair that doesn't immediately become a tangled mess!"

Is it worth the money?

Punteha definitely thinks this unique toy is worth the money, saying: "The disappearing potion element is fun for children and adults alike, and it's good value for money. The potion fun makes it a special experience to have with your child. My daughter had a lot of excitement throughout the various stages and really enjoyed playing with the items it came with. It would make a really lovely birthday or Christmas present and a nice thing to do together with a child.

"The potion is certainly a novelty and something interesting to do. It does feel a bit of a gimmicky feature but the toys it comes with are of good quality and you might expect to pay that much for a doll and her pet on their own, if not more, so with the magic potion elements added on, I think they are good value for money. A barbie horse I looked at alone was £30 recently, and a doll of this this size and quality, you can easily expect to pay at least £20 for.

Overall, both Punteha and Amelia were big fans of the toy, despite the fact it got a little messy. "I had no idea what type of 'magic' the potion element would involve and was impressed by the mystical nature of it all. The way the inky potion cleared in the outer layer of the jar was unique and impressive and I still haven't figured out how that worked!"

Mum Punteha joined forced with her eight year old daughter Amelia to test the new Magic Mirror from Magic Mixies. Here she shares her thoughts on the toy to help you decide if you should buy it for your child.

If you're looking into the top Christmas toys, or your child has a birthday coming up, they might already have an idea of what they want. But it can be a minefield for parents to know which toys are worth the money and which are best avoided. Luckily, that's where we come in. We've tested loads of bestselling and newly released toys to help you decide which give the best value for money, and most enriching play experience for your child.

Suitable for kids aged five and over, and with the RRP of £69.99, the Magic Mirror is one of the newest releases from the Magic Mixies range of mix and make toys. You might already be familiar with the bestselling Pixlings. With the Magic Mirror, you follow similar potion mixing steps as with the Pixlings set, and once complete, a Pixie Supreme fashion doll is magically revealed. Afterwards, the mirror becomes a fortune teller, where you can ask it yes or no questions and it will answer them.

Packaging and set up

"The mirror comes with an outer box, with half of it open to view. The box is made from corrugated cardboard and is recyclable. There were lots of flaps on the outer box sealed with tape which needed cutting - at least 10. It was very secure but my daughter needed a little help getting those snipped. She was then able to open the rest of the box and remove the Magic Mirror herself," says Punteha.

The mirror does require three AA batteries to activate the 50 lights and sounds, and these aren't included, so make sure you have some on hand to avoid disappointment.

In the box, you get the mirror itself, which measures 32 x 12 x 34cm, a potion cup, potion ingredients (including dissolvable paper and a fizzing tablet), and a 25cm Pixie Supreme fashion doll once the magic reveal is complete. You will need small jug of water and some kitchen roll or a towel would be handy too.

While Amazon offers an exclusive Skyler doll, most other major retailers only offer the Luna doll variation. However, you have a one in six chance of finding the special edition Shimmer fashion doll, which adds to the reveal excitement.

What's the play experience like?

"There were lots of instructions to follow - 16 steps in total - and the Magic Mirror verbally talks you through them. Each time you complete a step in your time, you press the diamond on the interface to move on to the next. That was really helpful as it allowed me to enjoy the experience too and be immersed in Amelia's enjoyment, rather than flipping back and forth from a set of long instructions. It also helped my daughter do the steps by herself which gave her an enormous sense of accomplishment and satisfaction," says Punteha

But don't be put off by the number of steps, as Puteha explains: "It doesn't feel too arduous as the mirror talks you through each step. It is intuitive to play with and everything functions as it should making the experience fun and smooth for parent and child."

Once you have revealed the fashion doll (which is incredibly detailed and a brilliant toy in it's own right), the mirror can be used as a fortune teller, which extends the play experience further. Simply switch to fortune teller mode using the switch on the back of the mirror. Punteha adds: "It is really fun, even for the adults! I had a go later when Amelia had gone to bed and the way she answers yes/no questions is great because she has 50 responses and phrases and that keeps the magic and variety going. It definitely kept Amelia's interest and I have heard her talking to the Magic Mirror every day since we opened it, making it weeks of play and interest. Any friends she has had over for playdates have also loved it and the answers to their questions sent lots of giggles into the air!

"It's worth noting the confetti that pops up and out when you've completed the steps elicited a lot of laughter from Amelia and she said, 'I've never seen that before!' and truth be told, neither have I. It was a nice feature and a glittery pat on the back for getting through all the steps as directed."

Can you repeat the reveal?

Yes you can repeat the reveal as many times as you want. You'll need switch off the mirror using the switch on the back, and slot the doll back into its stand, making sure hair and clothing are tucked in, and then pull the handle on the back of the mirror until you hear it click. Hey presto! The doll is back inside the mirror. To start the process again, switch the mirror back on and press the diamond.

Not only will kids love trying to figure out how the magic works, they'll also be really excited to share the magic with their friends again and again.

Is the Pixie Supremes Mirror worth the money?

"The price is steep but the 50 responses and magical interaction of this talking mirror make it a special buy and worth the spend," says Punteha. "I really love this toy and if there is a special achievement to reward your child for, a 'main' birthday or Christmas present quota to fill, this would be a great choice as I've not seen interactive toys like this that retain interest for so long.

" I've not tried a toy that talks back before but I have tried other Magic Mixies potion or magic-led reveals. I found this one much easier to follow as the instructions are read out by the talking mirror. I didn't think its responses would be this unique and varied, so I enjoyed the lack of 'cookie cutter' interactivity. It's clear a lot of thought has gone into the testing and manufacturing process to make this one as easy, and enjoyable as possible to follow and play with."

For more toy reviews, check out our thoughts on the Really Real Puppy from Little Live Pets, the De'longhi coffee machine toy and this Pati School crafting set.

Mum-of-one Stephanie tested this Minion Ultimate Fart Blaster with her six-year-old son. Here, she shares her thoughts on whether you should add this to your child's toy collection.

Whether you're looking for a birthday pressie or one of the top Christmas toys for a child in your life, it can be difficult to know what's worth your money. Fortunately, that's where we step in. Here at GoodtoKnow, we test new and popular toys with the help of mini toy testers to help you spend your money wisely.

This time, we roped in mum Stephanie to test the Despicable Me 4 Ultimate Fart Blaster toy, with the help of her son, Ted. The fart blaster not only offers 15 different fart sounds that kids will absolutely adore, but it can also blast scented fog rings and can project a Minion image for kids to aim at. Each blaster comes with two different scents - stinky and banana.

Packaging and set up

The blaster is easily removed from its cardboard packaging, which will be a relief for parents who have an eager child standing right buy waiting to get their hands on it. You will need six AAA batteries, and these aren't included, so if you plan on buying this as a gift for a child outside of your immediate family, it's worth including a pack of batteries in with the wrapping.

In the box, you get the fart blaster toy, plus two bottles of scent liquid - one smells like banana, while the other is the ominous 'stinky' smell (although our tester found it wasn't as bad as she anticipated and smelled like burnt popcorn).

What's the play experience like?

Stephanie explained that her son enjoyed playing with the Fart Blaster, saying that Ted giggled his way through the experience as it spoke to the appeal of toilet humour and gross things with kids of this age.

"You pour the liquid into the hole on the side, press the black button and it starts the smoke coming out of the front, then press the grey button that sounds and makes the smoke blow into circles which made Ted giggle."

When it came to the scents the toy emitted, Stephanie was initially concerned. "It’s not as bad as I first thought. You pick from ‘stinky smell’ or banana scent. The stinky one is like burnt popcorn. It lingers for a few minutes but does disappear quite quickly. Fair warning though, you will have the machine thrust into your face so your child can make sure they ‘stink you,’ and the heat and smell that close to your nostrils are… well, a lot." So you might need to lay some ground rules beforehand. The blaster also emits a range of sound effects that Ted enjoyed, from fart noises, laughter and the iconic Minion chatter.

While Ted managed to operate the blaster without too much help, adult supervision is definitely required when it comes to pouring the scent liquid into the chamber. Stephanie explains: "The trickiest bit for the adult was pouring the liquid into the hole. If you spill it, it’s oil-like and makes the handle very slippy."

Speaking of the handle, Stephanie also found that "the pushing of the buttons on the handle seemed good for pincer grip too," but "they were quite clunky and hard for him to grip."

Does the Fart Blaster offer good value for money?

While Ted definitely enjoyed playing with the blaster, with an RRP of £30, Stephanie feels that it's expensive for what it is, largely because of the fact that the scent bottles are quite small and run out quickly: "The bottles that come with it to create the smoke and smell don’t have much in them, and I’m not sure what you could replace them with - it’s not like refilling bubbles with washing-up liquid."

Once the liquids have run out, we have spotted a seller on Etsy selling refills, but these are an ongoing cost, which again affects the toys value for money. Plus these unofficial refills are not available at major toy stores or on Amazon.

However, even if the liquid runs out, the sound effects and Minion connection offers a good opportunity for a child to use their creativity and engage in some imaginative play using the toy itself and sound effects alone.

For more toy reviews, check out our thoughts on the Really Real Puppy from Little Live Pets, the De'longhi coffee machine toy and this Pati School crafting set.

GoodtoKnow's Deputy Editor and mum of three Heid Scrimgeour tested the Smart Ball Kick Tracker with the help of her 10-year-old daughter Alba. Here she shares her experience and verdict on whether this toy is worth buying.

Touted as one of the best toys of 2024 by industry experts, the Smart Ball Kick Tracker is designed to help budding footie fans practice their keepie-uppie skills and track their progress.

Here Heidi and Alba give you all you need to know about this new toy, and highlight why it made it on to our list of the top Christmas toys.

What is the Smart Ball Kick Tracker?

"The Smart Ball Kick Tracker is a mini football with a built-in counter that tracks the number of keepie uppies you can do. It provides instant feedback which motivates kids to keep improving and try to beat their previous score," explains Heidi. "One of the best things about it is its simplicity. The counter is clearly displayed, and the ball itself is lightweight, durable, and easy to handle."

When it comes to age suitability, this toy is aimed at kids from the age of six, and Heidi thinks there is a sweet spot: "It's an entertaining and motivating item for younger players. It’s perfect for kids who are just getting into football and want a fun way to practice their skills."

When it comes to setting up the tracker, it's definitely child-friendly: "Set up is super easy and minimal set up and, yes, a kid could do it by themselves although it's more fun with an adult acting impressed at their keepie uppies."

What's the Kick Tracker like to play with?

"It's super appealing because kids can clearly see the item and the track counter, it's not all hidden away in packaging, plus most football-loving kids have seen YouTubers play with this so it has got kudos," says Heidi. "The play experience is really fun, you just clip it to your clothing and start your keepie uppies while the counter ticks away. It's really motivational, the determination to beat your previous score is high!"

However, older children who are more skilled ball players may find the kick tracker has some limitations. Heidi adds: "It's not perfectly accurate in counting each touch, which gets frustrating, and means the novelty wears off quite quickly, especially for older children or more experienced players who aren't challenged enough. Also, it’s worth noting that the ball is slightly smaller than a standard football, which might not appeal to everyone - confident players would prefer to just practice with a real ball and count for themselves."

Does it offer good value for money?

In Heidi's opinion, the Smart Ball Kick Tracker definitely offers good value for money: "It's tricky to find a football gift or toy for less then £20, so this is the perfect birthday or Christmas pressie for a footie-loving kid." As well as the affordable price tag, this kick tracker is great for encouraging an active lifestyle for kids from a young age, a habit that they can take with them into adulthood. Ten-year-old Alba also added that the smaller sized football is actually really helpful for developing better ball control.

If you are looking for a gift for an older, more confident player, this might be a little too simplistic and the novelty might wear off quite soon, especially that the tracker isn't may miscount. Heidi says: "It’s a little bit disappointing because it's not perfectly accurate and will still count it as a keepie uppie if it just hits off your leg or the furniture.

We expected it to be great fun but a bit short lived because our tester is 10 and a confident player, so we think it's definitely better suited to a younger kid or less experienced player." Resetting the counter also seemed to take a while. It should take 10 seconds, but according to Heidi and Alba's testing, they found it took longer.

However, for younger kids building their skills from scratch, this is a really fun way for them to build their skills, track their success, and improve on previous scores.

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For more toy reviews, check out our thoughts on the Really Real Puppy from Little Live Pets, the De'longhi coffee machine toy and this Pati School crafting set.

I tested out StoryPhones, the storytelling headphones for kids, with the help of a four-year-old. Here's what they were like to use, how they work and ultimately whether they are worth your money.

Screen-free audio players for kids are having a moment right now - from the Toniebox to the Yoto audio player - and for good reason. These devices are designed to be used by kids from the age of three, promoting independent learning and play, and so have super simple controls that are perfect for little hands.

But with more than one option to choose from - how do you know which is right for your child? Fortunately, I've tested them all with the help of my four-year-old nephew Max - here's how we got on when testing the newest option on the market - StoryPhones.

What are Storyphones?

Suitable for kids aged three and over, Storyphones are essentially an all-on-one storytelling headphone audio player.

They offer a screen-free (and hands-free) way for kids to enjoy stories, allowing them to learn and play independently. The headphones offer a great audio player solution for when you're on the go. Audio is played via 'shields' which are thin discs that are slotted into the headphones.

There are different kinds of shields that you can use with the StoryPhones:

• StoryShields - children's stories from the likes of Disney and Pixar
• PlayShields - these offer the option to record your own stories or songs. Your headphones should come with a PlayShield in the box, and you can record your own audio using the Storyphones app.
• ZenShields - these are also included with your headphones, and offers soothing sounds, like rainfall, waves and classical piano, to help kids calm down and unwind, and even fall asleep.

The headphones are available in different colours - grey or white, or you can choose a Disney-themed pair, in either blue or pink. I tested a grey pair. There are three listening modes too - Story, Bluetooth and Wired.

Packaging and set up

The StoryPhones come in attractive and compact packaging, so they'd make a lovely gift for a child. Not only does the packaging include all of the instructions to need to set up the headphones, there is also a picture to colour in, which I thought was a really nice touch, especially considering these headphones are aimed at kids.

It doesn't take long to set up the StoryPhones, but you will need to download the StoryPhones app on to your smartphone, and register in order to complete the set up. This was relatively simple, although it took a couple of attempts for me to set the language and link the StoryPhones - not that it was difficult, just that the first attempt failed. The process was complete in about five minutes.

What you get in the box

• StoryPhones
• PlayShield, with customisable stickers
• ZenShield (already attached to the StoryPhones)
• Travel bag
• Audio cable
• USB-C charger

What you get in the pack ultimately depends on the package you buy. If you buy one of the Disney-themed sets, instead of a PlayShield and ZenShield, you will get two Disney StoryShields instead.

What are StoryPhones like to use?

When you first add a StoryShield to the headphones, you need to be connected to WiFi and you have to wait a minute or so (depending on your WiFi connection) for the content to download, before you can listen to the story. However, you should only need to do this once. Once the story has been downloaded, you should be able to listen to the StoryShield anywhere at any time, without being connected to WiFi.

Attaching and switching a shield: I found it really easy to attach a shield - they are magnetic - but I definitely had to show Max how to make sure the shield was attached properly - it needs to sit flush over the grooves on the outside of the headphones. The grooves and ridges are there so that when the shield is twisted, you can move through chapters of the story.

Controls: The shield fits on the outside of one ear cover, while on the other, you'll find simple volume and skipping controls. These are really easy to use, although when Max was having a listen, he was so engrossed in the story that he didn't use the controls at all. But older children may be more inclined, especially as they grow in independence and start to want control their own listening experience.

Volume: When it comes to volume, I think the default setting does have too high a maximum volume that could be damaging for younger ears. However, parents can choose from three volume limits (depending on the age of their child) in the app, so make sure you do this before giving the StoryPhones to a child for the first time.

Auto switch off and battery life: After 15 minutes of being idle, the StoryPhones will switch off, (you can just pop a shield on to start playback again) and with one full charge, you can get up to 20 hours of playtime. This is close to the battery life of the Yoto, and significantly higher than the battery life of the Toniebox, which is about seven hours.

Comfort: When it comes to comfort, the StoryPhones have very soft cushioning, which means they won't hurt your little one's ears. or their head, and they are adjustable - at their biggest, even I could wear them comfortably.

StoryPhones listening modes

A real plus of the StoryPhones is that they can act as regular headphones too. There are three different listening modes with StoryPhones:

• StoryMode - This is when you attach a shield and listen to the stories or sounds determined by your choice of shield
• BluetoothMode - Connect your StoryPhones to your smartphone via bluetooth, and your little one can listen to music or audio books that may be on your phone.
• WiredMode - Your StoryPhones come with a 3.5mm jack audio cable, which means that you can physically connect the headphones to another device and listen via a wired connection.

How do Storyphones compare to Yoto and Tonies?

Storyphones offer quite a different listening experience compared to a Toniebox or Yoto player. While the other players have the option to listen with headphones or on a speaker, StoryPhones are 100 per cent headphones, which means they can be particularly suitable for children who may share rooms (while wanting to listen to different things), or for kids who want to sit with friends or family while they listen to their own stories, instead of boring grown up conversations or TV programmes.

StoryPhones can also be particularly useful when travelling, especially if you are trying to keep a child calm and entertained at the same time. If you already have a Yoto Mini, then you've probably already sussed a travel-friendly audio player option, but if you have a Toniebox or a larger Yoto playet, you may find them too bulky to take on holiday.

The shields themselves are circular (they almost feel like a badge, but without the pin). These are smaller that Tonies or Yoto cards, but while that might be good from a storage point of view, it does make them easier to lose, especially if you have a growing collection. There is no official storage option available as yet, like the Yoto card wallet, but if you only have a few shields, they will easily fit in the carry back along with the StoryPhones for the time being.

Are StoryPhones worth the money?

StoryPhones have a price tag of £80-90, depending on which StoryPhones you buy and where you buy them from, and shields cost about £13 if you buy them individually. Shield bundles are available, with four shields for about £38, which works out at about £9.50 per shield. Price-wise, this is pretty much on par with Yoto and Tonies.

But what really adds to the value of these headphones is that they can also be used as regular headphones, which means they can grow with your child, even as their tastes change. The headphones are neutral enough that they won't feel too childish as your kid grows, and they are adjustable so will always offer a comfortable fit.

Should you buy StoryPhones if you already have a Yoto or Toniebox?

Whether you should buy StoryPhones if you already have another audio player in your collection will depend on a few factors.

If you want something suitable for travel, then StoryPhones are a great option as they are more compact that the Toniebox or larger Yoto player. However, if you already have a Yoto Mini, they you might find you already have your travel needs covered.

If you want your child to enjoy their audio player through headphones, then you can buy player specific headphones. Yoto headphones are wireless and cost about £35, while Tonies headphones are wired and cost about £25. But if you want headphones that can also act as an audio player in their own right, then StoryPhones will also work with the Toniebox and Yoto player, via a wired connection.

For more toy news, Yoto has launched new Harry Potter cards in response to huge demand, and we round up this year's top Christmas toys based on our hands-on testing.

I tried the brand new Connetix Magnetic Tiles Roads Creative Pack with my four year old nephew. Here's our verdict on what they are like to play with, and if they are worth the £135 price tag.

Magnetic tiles are hugely popular with kids, so it'll come as no surprise that toys like this make it on to our list of the top Christmas toys for this year. My nephew Max, age four, is a big fan of construction toys, and has has a set of magnetic tiles since his third birthday. As well as building vertical structures, he's also used his existing set to make tracks and trails for his array of car and tractor toys. But while these tracks were colourful, they were lacking any real complexity.

Enter the new Roads Creative Pack from Connetix, a collection of 48 black tiles that enable kids aged three and over to build more exciting tracks, including ramps, roundabouts, tunnels and more.

What is it?

The Roads Creative pack is one of two sets in Connetix's new Road range, offering road-based construction play for kids. The first set contains 48 pieces and will give you everything you need to create a fun road set up. The second set extends the scope of play - the Roads, Ramps & Intersections Pack features 16 pieces, including sturdy ramps of different lengths, extra intersection pieces, and more turns.

The tiles don't have any road marking on them, so there's no restriction on play and your little one's imagination can literally run wild when it comes to their creations. At the same time, the tiles will help their developmental skills, like hand-eye coordination and problem-solving, while also broadening their knowledge of STEAM learning concepts, like magnetism, gravity, motion, shape and light refractions.

While the tiles are perfect for independent and collaborative play from the age of three, this toy will grow with your child as the learn how to create more complex structures and layouts. This means repetitive play is easy, and there'll be something new to create every time.

Packaging and set up

The tiles come neatly packaged in a sturdy cardboard box, along with a little booklet of road inspiration, that shows you lots of different ways to configure the tiles. The 48 tiles are organised by their shape in the box, which means you can clearly see the different shapes (all the tiles are black so this is really useful). They are ready to play with straight away.

The magnets are quite strong with these tiles, so younger kids might need a bit of help separating them from each other, especially on the larger tiles. But apart from one instance, Max managed to separate the tiles himself.

What do you get in the box?

• 4 x ramps
• 4 x turns (curved tiles)
• 4 x T-intersections
• 4 x R-intersections
• 20 x squares
• 2 x rectangles (the size of two squares)
• 2 x rectangles (the size of three squares)
• 4 x quarter circles
• 4 x small rectangles (the size of half a square)

What's it like to play with?

The tiles are really fun to play with, and there are endless possibilities when it comes to configurations you can make. The magnets are strong enough that any construction can hold its shape well, but as with any toys of this nature, the structures are not indestructible.

Familiar with the tiles and how they work, Max was straight in there making tracks, but was really excited when he saw he could make ramps for his cars. It took him a couple of goes to understand that he needed some kind of support under the ramp to make it sturdier as he drove his toy bus over it.

While we worked on the first layout together, Max was keen to take over and come up with his own. I really enjoyed seeing his imagination really lighting up, and once he'd built a road, he wanted to incorporate other toys, like the trees from his farmyard set, into the mix to make it more real.

Beyond building a road, he also used the tiles to create a tower and for a version of the floor is lava using his stuffed toy. It's great that he didn't feel limited in what the shapes could be used for. Max was also super excited to show his dad the tiles, as they quite often play together building really fun structures with his other magnetic tiles.

Is it good value for money?

While some magnetic tiles are cheaper than others, Connetix are often at the more expensive end of the scale. The Roads Creative set has a RRP of £135 so they aren't cheap. That price works out at £2.81 per tile, whereas other sets of magnetic tiles, like these from Amazon, could be closer to 0.61p per tile.

However, Connetix tiles are known for their signature strong magnets and are more durable than some other cheaper tiles on the market that may not be able to stand up to enthusiastic hands.

If your budget will stretch, then the Connetix tiles are a lovely high-quality option, and a great companion set for other Connetix tile sets you may have (or have on your wishlist). But if the price tag is just too high, we've listed some fun alternatives below.

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For more toy reviews, check out our thoughts on the Really Real Puppy from Little Live Pets, the De'longhi coffee machine toy and this Pati School crafting set.

Mum Punteha tested the new Freezy Cakez Fridge playset from Cookeez Makery with her eight year old daughter Amelia - here's how they got on and whether they think this toy is worth the money.

You might already be familiar with the Cookeez Makery Baked Treats Oven that's taken the toy market by storm, and now there is a new addition to the brand's mix and make toys - the Freezy Cakez set.

Suitable for children age five and over and with a price tag of £40, we predict this being hugely popular, and have even touted it as one of the top Christmas toys of the year. Read on to find out why it's worth your money.

What is the Freezy Cakez Fridge?

The Freezy Cakes playset is a mix and make toy that is great for promoting curiosity and wonder, and teaching kids about patience and delayed gratification. The idea is you mix up and make a cake mix complete with ice cream decoration and a plastic wafer, mold it, then pop it in the magic fridge for 20 seconds.

When the timer pings, your cake has magically transformed into a interactive and scented plushie. When you first take it out of the freezer, your plush pet will be shivering so you'll need to cuddle it to warm it up.

There are different pets to collect, Strawberry Unicake, Minty Polar Bear and Tiger Berry Ripple and it's a surprise as to which one you will create.

Packaging and set up

The playset comes in a partially open cardboard box that showcases the mint green fridge. The box is recyclable. When you open the fridge, you'll find all of the ingredients you need inside, including the instructions. There are also some plastic transit screws that an adult will need to remove before you can play with it.

What you get in the box

• Fridge
• Interactive plush (this is hidden to start with)
• Toy cake mix
• Toy ice cream
• Plastic wafer decoration
• Dough mold
• Scoop
• Measuring jug
• (You will also need some water and a mixing bowl, and towel or wet cloth might be handy to wipe off any messy hands)

Once you have removed the transit screws and got your ingredients ready, you are ready to go. However, our tester Punteha did flag that she found the instructions a little unclear: "It was a little confusing as the instructions say to turn it on but there is no visible button on the fridge and the image in the instructions is just a close up of the on/off button." The on-off button (and the battery compartment) are actually located on the plush toy and not the fridge, and you won't need to turn anything on before the initial reveal (but more on when you might need to, when we cover repeat play later in the review).

What's the Freezy Cakez Fridge like to play with?

"It is very cute and looks almost like a retro Smeg fridge. It's very nice to look at and Amelia was straight to the door to see if it opened, which it did. She immediately talked about what she was going to do with the fridge when the set up was done so she was definitely engaged and excited about that.

"My daughter needed a little supervision with the dough-making parts of the setup so it’s worth keeping in mind to do this when you have time to supervise. It was messy too as the toy cake mix is powdery and light and can go flying off. We also ended up adding more water than instructed to the dough as it didn't feel like it was coming together as it should."

When it comes to the magical reveal, once the molded dough is placed in the fridge and the door is closed, you turn the temperature dial on the fridge, which triggers a hidden platform to drop down, revealing the plush toy. The original platform, where you place the dough, also drops down so it doesn't get squished and make an doughy mess.

After the initial reveal, the playset effectively becomes two toys in their own right - an interactive pet and a fun fridge. Punteha adds: "Amelia has really enjoyed both the interactive plushie, taking it to bed with her and cuddling it because it purrs and chitters when cuddled, as well the fridge itself which has become the daily focus of different imaginative games she’s been inspired to play, such as Amelia’s kitchen and Amelia’s takeaway and cafe.

"Amelia has always loved kitchen, baking and role-play inspiring games, playing with them since she was two and always returning to them for many months at a time and this little fridge has lots of potential for continued play. We've had kids' microwaves and ovens before but none had the interactive 'ding' battery-led functions so that's been a lovely novelty for Amelia and makes it seem more 'real' and therefore enjoyable for her."

How easy is repeat play?

While mixing the dough using the ingredients from the playset is a one-time thing, you can repeat the reveal time and again. You get a little resealable plastic bag in the set which can help you to keep the dough from drying out (worst case scenario, or if you want to repeat the full experience, you could make your own play dough).

To repeat the magic reveal, you'll need to open the Velcro flap on the underside of the plush toy and set the switch back to fridge mode. Then you place the plushie back in the fridge, facing the side, and lift the platform up and push it until you hear the click that secures it in place. That action will reveal your dough on the lower platform, which you can take out and remold to start again.

Is the Freezy Cakez Fridge good value for money?

With an RRP of £40, the Freezy Cakez playset, isn't a budget buy, but as Punteha explains, it's well worth the money: "Overall, I think the Cookeez Makery fridge is worth the spend as it’s two toys and a nice activity rolled into one. It’s not been a novelty toy that gets put aside within a couple of days and looks to have quite a bit of longevity.

"As her mum, I really love hearing that little tiger plushie being activated by Amelia when she's playing by herself. It's been especially soothing at bed time after she's on her own and before she falls asleep. She plays calmly with the plushie and really enjoys the responsiveness of it. If it's not being held, it shivers and when you press it close to you, it purrs and stops shivering. It's a really lovely toy.

However it might not be the toy for everybody: "If your child has some sensory sensitivities in play, the powder and water mix might not be quite right for them as it’s either quite crumbly and messy, or a bit sticky," says Punteha.

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Calling all Yoto users - your prayers have been answered, as the Harry Potter series has been added to the card offering.

We're sure we don't need to explain the enduring appeal of Harry Potter - the books were bestsellers, the films blockbusters, and there's also a new TV series in the works. Harry and friends have also been keeping kids learning over the school holidays.

And now, all 124 hours of the beloved magical saga, narrated by the legendary Stephen Fry are now available for the Yoto player. Released on 29 August 2024, the Harry Potter series is available to buy on the Yoto website, with individual cards starting at £17.99, and bundles starting at £47.99.

Suitable for kids aged seven and above, the cards were released in response to huge demand from parents and kids. Ben Drury, Co-Founder and CEO of Yoto, says: "Ever since Yoto’s launch in 2020, we’ve received a constant stream of emails, DMs, letters and comments, crying out for the Harry Potter series on Yoto. Our vision for Yoto has always been to be the best children’s audio platform in the world, so having Harry’s iconic adventures in our catalogue is a huge moment for us. We know that incredible audio has the ability to unlock children’s imaginations, much like the Harry Potter series has done for nearly three decades.”

Individual cards

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, £17.99, run time 8hrs 26mins 
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, £17.99, run time 9hrs 43mins 
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, £17.99, run time 12hrs 3mins 
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, £32.99, run time 20hrs 55mins 
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, £32.99, run time 29hrs 2mins 
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, £32.99, run time 20hrs 31mins 
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, £32.99, run time 24hrs 

Bundles

• Harry Potter: The Complete Collection, £164.99, run time 124hrs 40mins (7 cards)
• Harry Potter: Books 1-3, £47.99, run time 30hrs 12mins (3 cards)
• Harry Potter: Books 4-7, £119.99, run time 94hrs 28mins (4 cards)
  
  

To make the launch feel even more special, the Harry Potter cards are the first Yoto cards to feature foil and texture effects in their design - I was sent a sneaky peek of the first three cards and they are stunning - the images of the cards on the website look pretty cool, but after seeing them in person, those pictures don't do these cards justice. The illustrations are incredible detailed, instantly recognisable and the foiled lettering makes them feel really special. I showed my Potter-mad Goddaughters, Ella (nine) and Mara (six), and they thought they were amazing and 'our favourite cards out of all our cards'.

Jessica Tarrant, Content Director at Yoto, adds: “As our biggest and most-requested launch to date, we’ve worked magic touches into every part of this much-anticipated release, including creating over 200 custom chapter pixel images and introducing our first-ever embossed and foiled cards, adding a tactile element that will make the experience even more special for Harry Potter fans. These beautifully crafted cards are not only a gateway to spellbinding adventures but are also cherished collectibles that children will treasure.”

The cards are designed to work seamlessly with the Yoto Player 3rd Generation and Yoto Mini (2024 Edition), as well as through the free Yoto app.

For more on popular audio players, we also reviewed the Toniebox, and did a thorough comparison of the Yoto and Tonie audio players to help you choose the right one for your family.

I tested the Little Live Pets Really Real Puppy - here's how I got on, and why it was a big hit with my four year old nephew.

The Really Real Puppy is an interactive pet for kids that moves and makes noises when it's petted or fed. There are two breeds available: Patches the Beagle (which I tested) and Luna the Samoyed. While there might only be a couple of options, each one has a different combination of eye colours, collar colours and birthmarks. The Really Real Puppy is suitable for children from the age of four upwards and are priced at £59.99.

Whether you are looking for a birthday present, or a great toy for Christmas, this is definitely a worthwhile option to consider.

Packaging and set up

The Really Real Puppy toy is securely packaged in a cardboard half sleeve, which is great from a recycling point of view. There were only six pieces of plastic - including two plastic ties on the carrier, and four small plastic tags securing the plush toy's paws to the cardboard. All other ties were paper.

You'll need scissors to cut through the ties, and some are easier to get the scissors through than others.

Once the packaging is removed, you'll need to open the Velcro slot on the puppy's stomach, which is where the battery compartment is located and flip the switch from 0 to I.

What's included in the packaging?

• Puppy with batteries included
• A carrier, with handle, that converts into a bed when the upper part is removed
• Bottle
• Adoption certificate
• Instruction manual.

What's the Really Real Puppy like to play with?

As soon as you flip the switch into the on position, the puppy starts to make realistic noises and opens and closes it's eyes. The toy has two sensors (one in the head and one in the back) and two buttons (one in the nose and one on the mouth) that prompt any number of the 60+ realistic sound effects. For example, when you use the bottle to press the mouth button, the puppy will close its eyes and you'll hear suction sounds, and when you stroke its back, you'll hear cute little whimpers and barks. Lie the puppy on its side, and after a few seconds, it'll close its eyes and make little snoring sounds.

I especially loved how the puppy has slightly weighted paws and head - it makes it feel much more substantial that a standard stuffed animal. This weight further adds to the realistic features, which kids will love.

The puppy is really soft to stroke, and I really liked that, while it's predominantly fluffy, there are a couple of other textures for little hands to explore - including velvety ears, and plastic pads on the paws.

When I first showed it to my four year old nephew, Max, he wasn't immediately enamoured, but once I turned it on and he heard the realistic sound effects he was really engaged. He was instantly curious about what actions of his would trigger which noises and he loved passing it around the rest of the family to encourage them to cuddle it. When the puppy closed its eyes, he also instructed us to all talk quietly so we wouldn't wake it up and he gently put it in its bed. For a little boy who loves dinosaurs and sharks, it was lovely to see his nurturing side come to the fore.

While I found it a little distracting that you can hear the mechanics of the eyes opening and closing, this didn't phase Max in the slightest. The only other thing that would make this toy even better, would be the inclusion of a few more accessories to play with, like a food bowl or brush, to extend the play options.

Is the Really Real Puppy worth the money?

With a price tag of £60, this is definitely not a budget buy, however I think the price tag is justified for the interactivity possibilities on offer here. While it's suitable for kids age four and older, I think this is a toy that will hold appeal for older ages too - in fact, my nine year old goddaughter spotted it in my 'to be reviewed' pile on a visit to my house, and she was besotted too.

Every part of this toy set feels like good quality too - there's also nothing flimsy about the carrier, especially the connections where the lid attaches to the bed base. Although a couple of additional accessories would be a brilliant bonus.

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LEGO has shared four new sets inspired by Fortnite, and they’re available for pre-order now.

If you're already looking for the top Christmas toys to get some ideas ahead of the big day, it’s no surprise that LEGO makes the cut – it’s great for kids’ development and it has been a firm favourite for generations of children ever since it was invented almost a century ago, in 1932.

And now, LEGO has announced four new sets, all inspired by the popular video game Fortnite, which are sure to excite LEGO and Fortnite fans alike - exclusively available to preorder from the official Lego store. 

The four new sets in the collection are the LEGO Fortnite Durrr Burger, LEGO Fortnite Supply Llama, LEGO Fortnite Peely Bone, and the LEGO Fortnite Battle Bus.

The Durrr Burger is a recreation of the restaurant mascot found in LEGO Fortnite, released in December 2023 and accessed through the Fortnite game application. It’s suitable for those aged nine and above, with 193 pieces altogether. It’s priced at £12.99.

The Supply Llama is a 691-piece set suitable for those aged 12 and older, and lets fans create the character with accessories including a Grappler, Slurp Juice, Rough Ruby and Slap Juice, coming in at £34.99. Meanwhile, Peely Bone has 1,414 pieces and is best suited to adult LEGO fans – it features moveable arms and accessories including Peely Pick Pickaxe, Paint Launcher, and Banana Bag Back Bling. It’ll cost £89.99.

Then there’s the Battle Bus, which is set to appear in LEGO Fortnite in the coming weeks and arrives as a LEGO set too. It’s suitable for those aged 10 and above, and comes with nine LEGO Minifigures too. Like the Peely Bone, it will cost £89.99.

You can pre-order all four now, while they’ll be available for purchase from 1 October, exclusively from LEGO stores and on the LEGO website.

For more great new toys, these are the best kids toys 2024 according to industry experts, and the best toys for eight-year-olds. Meanwhile, they’re all the rage at the moment, so here are nine Tonies starter bundles to kickstart your collection.

The creators of Hello Kitty have revealed that the beloved character isn't actually a cat, and fans are shocked.

Looking at the list of this years top toys, there are a lot of brand new releases that made the list. However, it's worth thinking about those toys that have really stood the test of time., When you think of classic toys, Hello Kitty might come to mind, and for good reason. Hello Kitty exploded (not literally, folks) on to the scene in 1974, when her likeness appeared on a coin purse, and since then, she's conquered the globe. She's now in 130 countries, and there are thousands of products that feature her cute face - she even has her own theme park in Japan. Beyond that, Hello Kitty is also lauded as one of the first pop culture brands to introduce Japanese culture to the West.

While she has been delighting fans around the world for five decades (she's celebrating her 50th anniversary in November), many fans have also long believed that Hello Kitty is an adorable white cat, but according to an executive from the company behind the brand, that's not actually the case.

Is Hello Kitty a cat?

Despite widespread thought to the contrary, Hello Kitty isn't actually a cat. Speaking to NBC, Jill Cook, an executive from Sanrio, the company behind the Hello Kitty brand, revealed that Hello Kitty is actually a child and not an adorable feline. Jill says: "So, Hello Kitty is not a cat. She's actually a little girl. She was born and raised in the suburbs of London. She has a mum and dad and a twin sister Mimi, who is also her best friend."

And the news has come as a shock to a lot of fans, with many turning to social media to express their outrage. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote: 'Today I learned Hello Kitty is not a cat. I feel so lied to,' while another said 'Today years old to know that Kitty in Hello Kitty is a girl, not a cat. Her name is Kitty White...Everything is a lie!'

But it's ok if that revelation doesn't sit right with you, after all, Hello Kitty is said to weigh three apples and stand at five apples tall, so there are definitely some blurred boundaries at play when it comes to the character's true nature.

Why has Hello Kitty stood the test of time for fifty years?

Whatever Hello Kitty's true nature, there's no denying her enduring appeal, which Jill Cook largely puts down to the longevity of her core message. Jill says: "Her core message is friendship, kindness and inclusivity. And part of what has helped her transcend borders, languages, cultures, is that that's understandable to everyone." Jill adds that Hello Kitty is timeless and relatable for people of all ages and "adapts and evolves while her core message remains the same"

Best places to buy Hello Kitty

• Sanrio
• Dizzy Pink
• Miniso

For more toy news, Peppa Pig is also celebrating an anniversary this year, while the Rubik's Cube has also turned 50 in 2024. We also round up the best toys of the 90s - how many did you have?

After being introduced to the world 65 years ago, Barbie has undergone many transformations over the years. We take a look at how the iconic doll has evolved since its debut.

With the movie version of Barbie riding high on our list of the this year's top Christmas toys, it seems like Barbiemania is stronger than ever. If you had one of these bestselling toys of all time growing up, then you might be figuring out how to play with Barbie dolls in a positive way with your own kids.

However, in order to achieve enduring popularity over more than six decades, Barbie has had to adapt, and not always without controversy. Over the years, Barbie has been accused of promoting a negative body image and gender stereotypes and criticised for a lack of diversity. We take a look at ways in which Barbie has evolved over the decades and weathered the storm to really cement her icon status.

6 ways Barbie has evolved over the years

1. Body proportions

Barbie caused controversy right from the start, with critics slamming her unrealistic body proportions and too-sexualised appearance. After all, her initial design was based on an 'adult gag gift' doll from Germany called Bild Lilli. However, Mattel tweaked the design to give Barbie a more innocent look.

More controversy followed when in 1963, a Barbie doll was sold with a diet book accessory called Don't Eat. Then, following the introduction of the first Malibu Barbie in 1971, Mattel also received backlash after releasing a doll with larger breasts that further promoted an unattainable body image. A study showed that for a young, healthy adult woman to have the same proportions as Barbie, where hip measurements were a constant, the woman would have to increase 24 inches in height, five inches in the chest, more than three inches in the length of her neck, all while decreasing her waist by six inches. Other research found that young girls aged five to eight who were exposed to Barbie reported lower body esteem and a greater desire for a thinner body type than those who didn't play with dolls, or who played with a doll with more realistic proportions.

It wasn't until 1997 that Barbie's impossibly tiny waist was made bigger as she was given more realistic body proportions. By 2015, you could buy Barbie dolls with curvy, tall and petite body types.

2. Skin tones and racial diversity

In 1968, Mattel took its first steps towards more inclusivity, by introducing Barbie's first Black friend, a doll with the same proportions (so clothes were interchangeable) called Christie. But it wasn't until 1980 that Barbie herself was available as a Black or Hispanic doll.

To date, Barbie is now represented with 35 skin tones and 97 hairstyles to more accurately reflect the world in which we live. Mattel flags on the Barbie website that these numbers are 'and counting' suggesting we'll see even more diversity moving forward. In 2017, new Ken dolls were released with diverse features including a man bun, cornrows and freckles.

3. Representation of different physical conditions and disabilities

For decades, only an able-bodied Barbie was available, but in recent years, we have seen a lot more representation of different physical conditions or disabilities. In 2019, Mattel introduced a Barbie reflecting permanent disabilities, including a doll with a wheelchair and a doll with a prosthetic leg.

Now you can get a Barbie with a visible hearing aid, a Barbie with Down Syndrome, created in partnership with the National Down Syndrome Society, and the recently released blind Barbie. You can also buy a bald Barbie and one with vitiligo.

4. Introduction of friends and family

Following criticism that Barbie was viewed by some as solely a sex symbol, Mattel introduced other characters into her world. Ken was introduced as her love interest in 1961 and in 1963, her best friend Midge was introduced. The following year, Barbie's sister Skipper landed on the scene.

However, both Midge and Skipper were eventually discontinued, after their own controversy. A pregnant Midge doll was pulled from shelves amid concerns that it promoted teenage pregnancy, while the 'Growing Up Skipper' doll, released in 1964 and intended to portray a girl’s journey through puberty, had breasts that would get larger when the doll's arm was wound.

5. Barbie's occupation

Throughout her 65 years, Barbie has sought to prove that young girls can grow up to become anything they want to be. By the 1990s, Barbie could be seen in a whole host of roles typically occupied by men, including firefighter, navy admiral, and even President. Now Barbie can literally be anything, from an astronaut and doctor to a polar marine biologist or footballer.

6. Championing inspirational women

Barbie has also been used to celebrate and champion inspirational women from the real world. In 1967, the first celebrity Barbie was released, based on another icon, British fashion model Twiggy.

Over the years, famous faces like Audrey Hepburn, Beyonce, Marilyn Monroe and even the Prince and Princess of Wales have been immortalised in Barbie form. As part of its Barbie Role Models initiative, Mattel honours women from diverse backgrounds and fields who are breaking boundaries to inspire the next generation of girls. While many of these dolls are one-offs gifted to the person they represent, you can buy Barbie versions of inspirational women from history, including Dr Maya Angelou and Florence Nightingale.

When was Barbie introduced?

Barbie was introduced in March 1959, at a toy fair in New York. Wearing a black and white zebra-print swimming costume, shoppers could buy either a blonde or brunette version of the doll.

Barbie was invented by American business woman, and mother, Ruth Handler. Ruth was frustrated at the limited toy choices available for her daughter Barbara, finding that choices were limited to baby dolls, which gave the impression that all young girls could grow up to be was a mother and homemaker. Ruth pitched the idea of an adult doll to toy manufacturer Mattel, and the rest, as they say, is history.

For more Barbie related news, we look at the Barbie baby names that are soaring in popularity, explain the ending of the first Barbie movie, and look at whether there will be a second Barbie movie in the future.

Games and activities on a Harry Potter themed website could be the perfect solution for merging learning with play this summer.

The school holidays are well underway, and amid concerning reports that kids can lose up to two years off their reading age during the break, it's no wonder parents are worried about keeping their kids' minds occupied over the duration of the school holidays.

According to a survey on behalf of the online home of Harry Potter, wizardingworld.com, 59 per cent of parents say that language and phonetics are some of the most challenging things to teach at home, especially during the summer break - but it turns out that the wizarding world of Harry Potter could be parents' secret weapon to engage their kids in practicing these skills.

As part of the Wizarding World website, there is a dedicated section for kids which is jam-packed with free, interactive games, guides and mores, designed especially for young minds. Children can take their pick from loads of fun games and activities including:

• How to pronounce wizarding words - to help them practice their phonics
• Character introductions to help them practice their reading skills
• Remembrall Rush matching game to help boost memory skills
• Quizzes to put their reading comprehension skills to the test
• Word games, like Fill in the Blank, to help them practice their language skills

When it comes to pronouncing wizarding words, almost two thirds of parents (63 per cent) have used spells from Harry Potter to help spark their child's interest and enthusiasm in sounding them out, with 'stupefy', 'expecto patronum' and 'expelliarmus' among the most fun for kids to learn, according to the survey.

Speaking of how these games offer learning benefits over the summer, psychologist Honey Langcaster-James says:“This research shows that many parents want to continue to support their children’s learning when they’re not in school, but sometimes they feel overwhelmed by the task. The key to success is to aim for activities that are genuinely fun for children, and which harness their imaginations in unique ways, but at the same time, are pastimes that parents can also enjoy alongside them.

"Even very young children benefit from opportunities to engage with language in unique, exciting and entertaining ways. They develop their earliest reading skills though story time, and as they get a little older, through fiction books, playing games, completing activities and watching things they enjoy."

For more ways to help kids learn while playing, check out the best educational Tonies. You might also like our tips on how to teach kids about money, and the money games that can help.

I tested the Casdon De'longhi Barista Coffee Machine toy with my four-year-old nephew - here's how we got on.

If you're not familiar with Casdon, they are renowned for creating toy versions of products from household names including Dyson, Joseph Joseph, and Morphy Richards. From cleaning toys to pizza ovens, Casdon's offering is perfect for encouraging pretend play with kids. Casdon's De'longhi Barista Coffee Machine is a toy version of the De'longhi la Specialista Coffee Machine that you may have at home, and is designed for kids from three years who love to role play what they have seen their parents or other adults doing, whether at home or out and about.

To test it, I roped in my four-year-old nephew Max (and got major cool auntie points at the same time) - who also helped me review another Casdon product - the mini Dyson - with great success.

Setting up the Casdon De'longhi Barista Coffee Machine

Setting up the coffee machine is quick and easy, although you will need a little screwdriver to hand to open the battery cover, and two AAA batteries, if you want the sound effects to work. There's no assembly required and it comes easily out of the cardboard packaging. I also love how the packaging is plastic free so it can all go in the recycling bin.

All of the accessories are stored neatly and securely on the back of the coffee machine which is really handy - although Max did need my help to get a couple of them out of their slots. And when you put them back in, you need to give them a little push until you hear a click to ensure they are securely stored.

In the box, you get:

• The coffee machine unit
• A portafilter
• 2 x plastic cups
• An americano coffee pod
• A cappuccino pod, which comes in two parts - one coffee, one milk
• A milk jug.

Design

As with all Casdon toys, the design is impeccable - they look just like the real things and the coffee machine is no exception. As I was testing it with Max, I realised that he might not have ever seen a coffee machine before, and I thought he might be a bit non-plussed. But he was really excited to play with it as soon as I showed it to him.

The various parts slot together to make the drinks and there are little dials to click, a lever to pull on the main coffee machine unit and a lid to lift and drop the pods in to. While Max loved exploring what all the different parts and accessories did, I especially appreciated the slots on the back of the coffee machine that allow you to securely store all the accessories when playtime is over. This is really handy, especially if you have a little one who tends to misplace crucial parts of toys (and expects you to find them when they want to play).

However, it was a bit tricky to get the portafilter out (who knew the little scoop-esque contraption was called a portafilter!), even for me, and I made the mistake of putting one of the cups away with the coffee and milk pod in it, which made that a bit difficult to get out again afterwards - but now I make sure to put the milk pod in the milk jug when packing away, which helped.

What's it like to play with?

Max adored playing with the coffee machine, and fetching drinks for me. It was adorable to see him role play taking my order, and telling me to be careful as it might be hot. Although he did try to charge me £100 for a cappuccino, so I'm not sure what kind of coffee shops he's frequented recently.

The toy comes with clear instructions that tell you the process to follow, from dropping the pod in the coffee bean pot on the top, using the portafilter and pulling the lever to collect the pod, then moving it to the next slot on the machine to drop the coffee into the plastic cup. You can also use the milk frother by turning the dial on the side. Max wasn't necessarily interested in following the exact process, preferring to figure it out by himself. He really enjoyed dropping the pods into top and the plastic cups, and 'pouring' the pod from the milk jug.

While Max and I played with this toy together, it can easily be played with independently or with other children. Playing independently can help kids work on their problem-solving skills while engaging in pretend play, while their social skills, sharing and turn-taking get a look in when playing with their peers.

You can totally play with this toy without adding batteries, and get a very similar play experience. But adding the batteries means kiddies can enjoy realistic sound effects as they play. In terms of volume, I found that I could hear and recognise the sounds, but they weren't too loud or grating, which will be good news for parents (and kids) who might be sensitive to noise.

I think also some of the movements required to follow the instructions, like slotting the portafilter into the grooves, or packing the accessories away, were a bit beyond where Max's fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination are at, but it's great practice for him to hone those skills.

Value for money

With an RRP of £25, I think the De'longhi Barista Coffee Machine offers good value for money - it's a well designed and relatively compact toy, and while it's suitable for kids from the age of three, it holds appeal for older children too. There's nothing flimsy about this toy either, so it's definitely robust enough to cope with enthusiastic little hands putting it through it's paces.

In terms of role play, this coffee machine nails the brief, offering kids a realistic and detailed replica to really get their imaginations going. This is only improved by the fun sound effects.

Or try these alternatives

For more toy ideas and reviews, check out our picks of the top Christmas toys, the best toys for six year olds, and our review of the Pati-School Party Creations Starter Kit.

Family-friendly UNO is the nation's favourite game to play on holiday, according to a new survey.

When you head on holiday with the kids, it's unlikely you'll be taking a stash of the best kids toys of 2024 with you in your hand luggage, but as many parents know, you'll definitely need some fun games in your arsenal if you're heading away on your hols. While experts have shared their recommended travel toys for kids, and parents we spoke to recommended these life-saver holiday toys, it might be worth adding a couple of these top games into your suitcase too.

According to a survey of 2,000 adults commissioned by The Entertainer, family-friendly card game UNO is the nation's favourite game to play on holiday, followed by Scrabble and Monopoly. If we take the survey results as representative of the nation as a whole, more than 10 million Brits count UNO as their favourite game to play on holiday.

Brits reveal their favourite holiday games

1. UNO
2. Scrabble
3. Monopoly
4. Trivial Pursuit
5. Jenga
6. Connect 4
7. Dobble
8. Snakes and Ladders
9. Cluedo
10. Top Trumps

And we can see why UNO nabs the top spot - not only is it quick to learn and easy enough for the whole family to play, it encourages a bit of competitive spirit, and is compact and light enough to easily fit into hand luggage. It's also perfect for filling any amount of time you have to spare - a quick game while you're waiting for some bad weather to pass, or a tournament to see who in your family can take the crown as UNO champion. Mum-of-one Jenny says: "We're never without UNO when we go on holiday. We've played it on the plane, on the beach, everywhere. When my son was little, my husband and I would play it in the evenings while George slept next to us, but now George is bigger, he can join in too. Even when we've gone on holiday with my sister and her kids, we can leave the kids to play it, while the grown ups chat."

Board games also proved popular with holiday goers, with Scrabble, Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit rounding out the top four holiday games according to the survey. Super child-friendly games like Dobble, Jenga and Connect 4 also made the cut, offering a great way to keep kids entertained during any holiday downtime.

With a card game taking the top spot, The Entertainer's research also delved into what the most popular games you can play with a standard deck of cards, with Rummy taking the top spot. Rummy is a points-based game and can be played with two to six players, making it perfect for chilled nights on holiday. Kid-friendly Snap and Chase the Ace made the cut, as did solo game Solitaire.

1. Rummy
2. Solitaire
3. Snap
4. Blackjack
5. Chase the Ace
6. Go Fish
7. Hearts
8. Spades
9. Old Maid
10. Sevens (also known as Fan Tan or Parliament)

For more holiday related news, we explain how to get cheaper family holidays and offer tips on how to save money on holiday, including how to save money at the airport, especially when you're travelling with kids.

I roped in my Goddaughters Ella, age nine and Mara, age six, to help me test out the Pati-School Party Creations Starter Kit - here's how we got on.

Touted as one of the best kids toys of 2024 by industry experts, the Pati-School Party Creations Starter Kit is part of a range of Pati-School sets that involve using modellable paste to decorate a a selection of items (like keyrings and trinket pots) to look like sweet treats.

What is the Pati-School Party Creations Starter Kit?

The Party Creations Starter Kit is a crafting set that encourages kids to decorate a selection of bases (including a trinket box, picture holders and keyrings) to look like delicious frosted cupcakes and macarons using modellable paste 'frosting' and a selection of beads, gems and other accessories.

Suitable for kids from the age of six, this craft set is a great way to foster your kid's creativity and help them enjoy some screen-free play time. In case you miss it on the packaging, and just to be super-clear - this is an arts and crafts kit and no part of it is edible.

Ella and Mara had a great time testing it out and were thrilled with the end result, and so this set got a spot on our pick of the top Christmas toys for this year too.

The set comes with:

• two 'frostings' (one pink, one blue)
• two piping attachments
• a plastic trinket pot, with lid
• two picture holder bases
• three sweet-treat-shaped keyrings
• a selection of decorations.

A quick word on the packaging - it's eye catching and you get a really good sense as to what you can create with the kit. However I found it a bit confusing that the different sets in the range are distinguished by a number rather than a set name. For example, the Party Creations Starter Kit doesn't actually say Party Creations Starter Kit on the packaging - which could make it very difficult to find a specific set, in store (we've actually seen this set referred to by a couple of different names online too). If you want to make sure you get the correct one from the range, you'll need to look out for set number 32331.

What age is Pati-School suitable for?

Pati-School products are aimed at kids from the age of six. There are quite a few small parts in the set, and kids need to have decent fine motor skills to be table to squeeze the frosting paste out of the tube, and avoid the temptation to give it a taste.

What's it like to play with?

The Pati-School set we tested managed to keep my Goddaughters entertained for a good hour. They were really curious to see all the bits they could use and enjoyed planning who was going to decorate what and with which colour frosting and decorations.

To get the kids up and running, they definitely needed some adult input to make sure the piping nozzles were attached. You get a set of picture instructions in the kit that are pretty self explanatory, but if you need more guidance, there is a QR code you can scan with a smartphone to watch a video tutorial. Once we'd explained how it worked, then it was over to the girls! They loved sharing the piping bags between them (they both preferred the bevelled nozzle), and while they needed an occasional hand to just squeeze the frosting down the bag, they managed to do it all themselves.

When it came to the decorations, the girls got really into decorating their first creation and used almost all of the beads and gems, before realising this would leave them short for decorating the trinket box. It would have been even better if there were more decorations like this in the pack so the girls could really go to town.

Once everything is decorated, you have to wait for them to dry. It takes a good two days for them to dry fully, so you will need to find somewhere out of the way where the paste can dry out. But once dry, the paste is rock solid. It might not survive a drop from a height, but you're definitely not going to find paste-like smears anywhere.

As with any crafting project with kids, make sure you pop mats or a wipeable tablecloth down before they start. We did have one instance of some paste missing the mat and landing on my dining table, but thankfully you have a long time before the paste sets, so I managed to wipe it up quickly. For that reason, I'd recommend keeping an eye on the kids as they play, just in case you need to do a quick clean up.

Can you play with Pati-School more than once?

Pati-School is designed to be played with once, and you'll likely use all of the frosting and accessories during the decorating process. But the creations themselves will last and the trinket box can be used to store all manner of little treasures, the picture holders will look great on display in a child's bedroom, and the key rings could definitely jazz-up a school bag or two.

Where can you buy Pati-School?

Pati-School is available at a number of retailers, including:

• Amazon
• eBay
• The Entertainer
• Smyths

Is Pati-School good value for money?

For an hour of crafting time, sister bonding and some pretty impressive decorating skills, I definitely think the Pati-School Party Creations Starter Set is worth the money. The girls were really proud of how pretty their designs turned out, and it was great to see them step away from creating a carbon copy of what was on the box, and letting their creative instincts take over.

The only thing that would improve this set is if there were a few more beads and rhinestones in the set for the girls to really bedazzle the bases.

For more toy reviews, check out our Toniebox review, Yoto player review, and Beast Lab review to see if they are the toys for the kids in your life.

If you have any of these vintage LEGO sets knocking around in the loft, they could be worth thousands of pounds.

Like with most things, if you have something old, rare and in good condition, then it could be worth some serious cash. And toys are no exception. While the best toys of the 90s are possibly not yet old enough to be worth much, it's highly likely that they could grow in value over the coming years. If you have any rare toys, like certain Happy Meal toys or Power Rangers, in decent condition, and if you have space and can store them effectively, they could be worth holding on to.

When it comes to Lego, the story is no different - certain sets can be worth a big chunk of cash too. Lego expert Ant Robinson from Madbricks, shares the sought-after vintage Lego sets that could hold serious value, saying: "Vintage Lego sets hold a special place in the hearts of collectors and can be worth a substantial amount of money. By understanding the factors that influence their value and identifying key vintage sets, you can uncover the hidden treasures in your collection. Whether you decide to keep them for sentimental reasons or sell them for a profit, the world of vintage Lego offers endless opportunities for discovery and investment."

Vintage Lego sets and how much they are worth

1. Town Plan (1955): This is one of the earliest Lego sets ever. Complete sets in good condition can fetch several thousand pounds. Estimated value: £3,000-5,000.
2. Castle (1978): The first Lego Castle set, often referred to as the "Yellow Castle," is a highly sought-after collector's item. Estimated value: £1,200-1,800.
3. Galaxy Explorer (1979): This iconic space-themed set is highly sought-after by vintage Lego collectors. Estimated value: £800-1,200.
4. Monorail Transport System (1987): This rare set is a favourite amongst enthusiasts. Estimated value: around £1,500.
5. Legoland Train (1966): This is one of the earliest train sets produced by Lego. Estimated value: £2,500-3,500.

Why is vintage Lego so popular?

The rarity and exclusivity of a vintage Lego set is a large portion of its appeal, especially for collectors who pride themselves on owning scarce and sought-after items. Some can also hold particular historical significance, as Lego expert Ant Robinson, explains: "Early Lego sets mark the evolution of the brand and showcase the ingenuity of Lego designs from decades past."

There's also the nostalgia factor. For many, Lego reminds them of their childhood, and can make people long for a simpler time, or moments spent with loved ones who may no longer be here.

What influences the value of vintage Lego?

• Condition: Complete sets, including manuals are more valuable than those that may be missing key pieces. Unopened sets in original packaging are especially valuable as they are incredibly rare.
• Age: in general, the older the set (especially if it is in good condition), the more valuable it is.
• Rarity: Sets that were released as limited editions or those with unique pieces are worth more than other sets.
• Theme: Sets from popular themes or significant series tend to be more sought after by collectors.
• Historical Importance: Sets that represent milestones in Lego’s history or are firsts in their category (the first Technic set, for example) can be highly valuable.

What to do if you think you have some rare Lego at home

If you think you might have some valuable vintage Lego at home, then you might want to find out how much it's worth. You can use sites like BrickLink, BrickPicker and eBay to have a look and see what similar sets are selling for to get a sense of their current market value. It's also worth inspecting the condition of your sets too. If there are pieces missing or damaged, then the value will likely be reduced.

If you're considering selling your vintage Lego, then it's worth making contact with collectors or forums (you can try social media too) to speak with collectors to gather more information. You could also ask collectors to point you in the right direction of getting a professional appraisal if you think you might have something especially valuable on your hands.

For more Lego news and advice, you can check out our articles on the most expensive Lego set ever, find out when Lego was invented, and find out where you land in the Lego versus Playmobil debate.

I write about toys for a living, and as part of my job, I rope in the kids in my life to help me test them out - I'm not going to lie, it makes me very popular.

When I find a toy that I highly rate and that the kids love, it's even more exciting to find it in the sale so that you, dear readers, can snap it up for a fraction of the usual price. I've spent weeks scouring for the best Prime Day toy deals that you need to know about, and was thrilled to spot that one of my favourite toys I've tested in 2024, is currently at its lowest ever price in the Prime Day sale.

The Cookeez Makery play oven is, frankly, fantastic. It comes in two versions - Baked Treatz or Cinnamon Treatz (both are in the Prime Day sale for the same lowest-ever price). The idea is that you have to mix a special dough, which you then pop in the play oven, and 90 seconds later, a sweet-smelling plush toy is magically revealed.

Each playset contains one of three interactive pets and it's a complete surprise which one you get. But to be honest, they are all adorable so it doesn't feel like a huge gamble.

When I tested this out with my six-year-old goddaughter, Mara, it was a massive hit (Mara's older sister, and my other goddaughter, Ella, was also super keen to get in on the action when she got wind of what we were testing). Mixing the dough and forming it using the mold was a bit of messy fun, but the real fun started when we popped it into the toy oven. Having to wait 90 seconds for the interactive pet to 'bake' is a great lesson in delayed gratification, and my goddaughters were beside themselves with excitement (and I could happily watch that scene again and again).

But my favourite part was when the timer went off, and the girls could hear little mews coming from inside the oven. They opened the oven door to see that their little doughball had miraculously turned into a cute little plush - they couldn't figure out how it happened and the wonder on their faces was absolutely priceless. It got better too - when they got the plushie out of the oven, it smelled like cake and was warm to the touch. Talk about a brilliant sensory experience!

If you're worried that this toy is a bit of a one-and-done experience, I hear you. But in my experience, repeat play is not only possible, it's also sought after by the kiddos. They wanted to repeat the play scenario again to see if they could create the plush toy again and then, after a few goes, they wanted to understand the mechanism behind the surprise reveal. Once they discovered how they could reset the play oven, they were really excited to show their friends. You even get a little resealable bag to put the dough in to keep it fresh, which I thought was a really nice touch.

Want more toys with surprise reveals? Check out our full Cookeez Makery review, our Magic Mixies Pixlings review or our Beast Lab review for in-depth information.

Although Prime Day may be over, Prime Day toy deals are still live so you have a little bit more time to bag a bargain. If you have kids' birthdays coming up, or want to get a head start on (dare I say it?) Christmas shopping, then now is the time to shop.

If you find the thought of scouring pages and pages of deals completely overwhelming, you're in luck. We've been scouring Amazon (so you don't have to) to find the best toys and games deals that you can snap up right now. We've been eagle-eyed to see if any of the toys we've loved, tested, recommended, or have on our own wish lists, have had their prices slashed.

Take a look at our curated list of the best Prime Day toy deals that are still available.

Best Amazon Prime Day toys and games deals

• Up to 32% off LEGO, including Minecraft, LEGO Friends and Harry Potter sets
• Up to 48% off Barbie, including dolls, accessories and playsets
• Up to 40% off Mattel games including Uno, Scrabble and Pictionary Air
• Save up to 30% on Melissa & Doug wooden toys
• Up to 29% off classic Little Tikes toys, including slides, play houses and Cozy Coupe
• Get up to 46% off Play Doh tubs and playsets
• Up to 50% off Polly Pocket, including bestselling playsets
• Up to 35% off Bluey toys, including puzzles, playsets and plushes

Best toy deals out there from ELC, Argos, The Entertainer and more

• The Entertainer has up to 75% off OMG dolls, board games, Barbie Play Doh and more
• Very has up to £200 off outdoor toys, slides, swing sets and trampolines
• The Early Learning Centre has up to 60% off toddler stacking toys, dolls houses and activity tables
• Argos has 25% off toys with special TOYS25 code, including Hot Wheels, LeapFrog and Fisher-Price

Mix and make toys

Baby walkers

Interactive toys

Birthday gift ideas under £20

Board Games

LEGO & construction toys

Dolls & Figures

Outdoor toys and games

Playsets

Books

When is Amazon Prime Day?

Amazon Prime Day technically ended at 11.59pm on Wednesday 17th July 2024, after 48 hours of discounts and offers galore. But there are still deals available right now. The discounts are exclusive to Prime members - but the good news is, if you're not already a member, you still have time to sign up for a 30 day free trial, to take advantage.

For the last couple of years, Amazon has also held a Prime Day-esque event in October, but it has not yet been confirmed whether that will happen in 2024.

Do you have to be a Prime member to shop Amazon Prime Day?

Yes you do need to be an Amazon Prime member to take advantage of any Prime Day deals. Exclusive access to the sale events throughout the year is one of the main perks of being a Prime member. But on top of that, there are a load of other hidden benefits of Prime that make the membership fee worth it.

You can get a 30-day free trial, even while the sale is on, and when that expires, membership will cost £8.99 a month. If you want to save a bit of cash, you can opt for an annual membership, which costs £95.

How to spot a good toy deal on Prime Day

The best way to spot a good toy deal on Amazon Prime Day is to check the price against other retailers, factoring in any delivery costs that you might incur. You can also use a website called CamelCamelCamel, to check the historic prices of Amazon products to see whether it tends to be the cheapest on Prime Day. If it is, then make sure you snap it up quickly as you might not be able to get it for this price again.

It's also worth remembering that Prime Day deals change all the time and may not be around for the whole 48-hours, so if you spot something you want, it's worth checking out asap to secure that price, rather than leaving it in your basket and hoping to come back to it later.

We share the hidden benefits of Prime to help you make the most of your membership.

We put the Yoto audio player (3rd generation) through its paces to see if it's worth the money, and how it stands up against other audio players out there.

If you have kids, you might already be familiar with the audio players available and even have picked a side in the Yoto vs Tonie debate. Similarly to the Toniebox (read our Toniebox review if you want to know more), the Yoto is an audio player that is designed to be operated by kids from the age of three, and encourages independent play and learning.

Stories are played via cards (about the size of a credit card), and it's got bags of extra features including a nightlight (which can double as an ok-to-wake alarm) and a room thermometer.

But with a price tag of £99.99 for the player alone - is it worth the money? Read our review to find out.

Setting up the Yoto Player

Setting up the Yoto player is really easy - it took me less than five minutes, which is very handy if you have a very eager child wanting to get the paws on it. You'll need to download the Yoto app (available on App Store and Google Play), and if you have that downloaded before you take the player out of the box, you'll be guided through the entire set up process.

You will need a plug (you get a USB charging cable in the box, but not the plug itself) and you need to connect your player to power before you start the set up process. For super fuss-free set up, it's helpful to have your WiFi password to hand too. As you're guided through the set up process, you're also asked to set up a family account (it's free) and you can add multiple players to your family account if you want. All you need is an email address and password. There is a subscription model that you can take advantage of - £9.99 per month and you can get two cards every month - but it's not a requirement in order to be able to use the player. You can buy cards individually or in sets as and when you need.

What do you get in the box?

In the recyclable box, you get the Yoto player, a charging cable and a welcome Yoto card. which can be used to point you in the right direction if you get stuck with the set-up.

Any cards or accessories, such as a protective 'adventure jacket', wireless charging dock or card case are sold separately.

Yoto Player design

Although audio players of this nature are relatively new, the design of the Yoto feels quite retro - almost the shape of an old Apple Mac computer. It's simply designed, with the main body and two orange knobs to control volume and chapter skipping. It's really intuitive where and how you add the cards, and while you do have to hold the card vertically, it doesn't matter which way round you put it in - which makes it very kid-friendly. The sound is crisp and clear, even when you reach maximum volume levels (which isn't deafeningly loud, thank goodness).

The Yoto's grey and orange colourway is eye catching, but it's worth pointing out that the Yoto only comes in one colour, unlike the Toniebox, which is available in broader range of shades. But if you are keen for some customisation, then you do have a choice of 'adventure jackets' that you can buy for your Yoto (but this is an added cost). These are flexible silicone cases that you put over the Yoto to protect it from bumps and knocks - you can choose from orange, pink, blue or mint green. I like that you can buy this additional protection, but would have liked it to have been integrated into the main unit to protect it from enthusiastic and possibly clumsy fingers.

While it doesn't have a traditional screen so to speak - you can't watch anything on it - it does have a display that, when active, shows the time and a weather graphic, or a pixel drawing of a themed character when you pop a card in. This style of graphic adds to the retro feel. I was initially concerned that this would make the Yoto unsuitable for light sensitive children when it came to bedtime, but you can tip the player forward, lying it display side down, which hides the display from view, and also activated the nightlight function (if you want it). You can turn off the nightlight in the app settings if you don't want it. You can choose the colour of nightlight, and even set it to show one colour at night and another colour in the day - a really useful feature if you are trying to teach your tiny human to stay in bed until a particular time.

It also has an integrated room thermometer which allows the parent to gauge the temperature of room the Yoto is in via the app, without having to step inside. I can see this feature being particularly useful during clammier summer nights.

You can also use the app to set volume limits for both day and night usage so you can be sure no-one is keeping anyone awake into the wee hours.

What's the best age for a Yoto Player?

The Yoto is aimed at kids between three and 12 years old, but I can see it being particularly appealing to kids from the age of six and older, as the retro design feels it holds longer lasting appeal. My Goddaughters, who are aged six and nine, both prefer the Yoto to the Toniebox. They both thought the Toniebox was a bit young for them, and they love being able to organise their card collections. They each have a card case that holds up to 64 Yoto cards.

However, my four-year-old nephew prefers the Toniebox - he loves that it comes in his favourite colour, red, and adores exploring the textures of the the Tonie audio figures.

How easy is the Yoto to use?

After a super-simple set-up process the Yoto is really easy to use. To wake the Yoto, You simply press the power button on the side of the player, and you'll hear a little chime and see a smiley face appear on the display. Then it's ready for the cards. You can have the card facing in any direction, which means younger children can play their favourite stories without worrying about orienting the card in a particular way.

To stop playback, you simply take the card out or it'll turn off automatically when the story ends (and if there is no activity).

To adjust the volume, you just turn the left hand orange knob, and you'll see a colour coded volume bar appear on the display. The right hand knob allows you to scroll through and skip to particular chapters on the cards - turn the knob to select the chapter you want, then press the knob to jump to that chapter. A detail I particularly liked when skipping through the chapters was that it's really clear whether you are skipping to a story or a song. As you scroll through the chapters, you'll see a character on the display for story chapters and musical notes for a song.

Once the cards are downloaded, (which happens automatically when they are played when you are connected to WiFi), you can listen to them anywhere without having to be connected to the internet.

You can also use blank or digital cards in order to create your own audio for your kiddos to enjoy.

What's the battery life like?

Once fully charged, you can get about 24 hours use out of the Yoto Player before it needs charging again. If a long battery life is particularly important to you, definitely opt for a Yoto - in comparison, the Toniebox battery lasts about seven hours.

How does it compare to a Toniebox?

Ultimately, the Yoto and Toniebox work in a very similar way, but they have a few key differences.

• Size: The Yoto is more compact than the Toniebox, which might be appealing if you want something a little more subtle.
• Cards versus characters. With the Yoto, stories are played via cards, which can be easier to store. The Toniebox uses Tonie audio characters that can look great on display.
• Lights: The Yoto has more lights than the Toniebox, thanks to its display, but you can place the Yoto display face down to activate the nightlight should you want it. The Toniebox doesn't have a nightlight, and any lights on it are completely covered when a Tonie character is places on top.

• Bonus features: The Yoto has a clock, nightlight and thermostat, and you can set alarms, which are really useful features - but if you don't need that, then the Toniebox may have all you need.
• Durability: To boost the durability of the Yoto player, you can buy an 'adventure jacket' to help protect it from bumps when you're on the move. Conversely, the Toniebox is covered in a layer of padding.
• Price: The Yoto has an RRP of £99.99, while the Toniebox has an RRP of £79.95. Yoto cards cost around £9.99, while Tonie characters cost around £14.99.

Is a Yoto Player worth the money?

If you want to jump aboard the audio player train, then a Yoto is definitely worth the money. It has a range of bonus features that set it apart from other players, so it does feel like you get good value for money. Its easily incorporated into a daily routine too, so cost per use is low too.

With the Yoto, there are also a broad range of extras you can buy - from the card case to the adventure jacket and wireless headphones. But this does add to the cost. However, if you buy via the Yoto website, you can add an activity jacket and wireless charging bad to your order, which works out more cost effective than purchasing them separately at a later date. You can also keep your eyes peeled for bundles, which include the player and a selection of cards, as you'll make a saving that way too.

If you want something more travel friendly, and at a cheaper price point, then you can always consider the Yoto Mini, which sells for £59.99.

Want to read more toy reviews to see what's worth spending your money on? Check out our Magic Mixies Pixlings review, or our Beast Lab Shark Beast Creator review.

If you want to make sure the kids are entertained while you're on holiday (or en route), then these parent-approved purchases deserve a spot in the family suitcase.

No one wants to hear the dreaded 'Mum, I'm bored', but as all parents know, it can be really hard to keep kids entertained when you're on holiday, especially if you are trying to carve out a few minutes of peace and quiet for yourself. While it's unlikely you'll have a never-ending stash of the best kids toys 2024 in your luggage, you'll need to whittle down your choices to what will fit in the suitcase (or hand luggage) and what will keep your kids entertained for the longest. Plus, if you are looking to stock up, there are loads of early Prime Day toy deals to be had right now.

Experts suggest that there are certain types of toys that all parents should have in their bag when travelling anywhere with kids, so we've asked a bunch of parents to share their experiences of travelling with kids, and which toys proved worth their weight in gold.

1. Doodle boards

Mum-of-two Laura, who has two girls aged six and two, says: "For me, the number one life saving toy to take on holiday is a mess-free reusable drawing pad. We use them everywhere when we go away with the girls - planes, ferries, in the car. They are an absolute bargain and by far the best thing I've bought them." These drawing pads come in a pack of two and are less than £10, and are suitable for kids from the age of three.

If a flight in involved, then Laura makes sure she has a stash of wrapped toys, gifts or sweets to eke out over the journey. She adds: "If we're going on a plane, I'll wrap a little present for each hour of the journey for the girls to unwrap, which keeps them entertained and helps to break up a longer journey too." If you want to give this a go yourself, without breaking the bank, keep your eyes peeled for multi-buy offers or multipacks that can be separated into individual little fun parcels for the kids to enjoy.

2. Fidget toys

Mum Grace has just returned from a holiday with her four-year-old, Max, where she raved about this dinosaur fidget toy. "Max was really well behaved on the flight and loved looking out of the window, but when we were on the way from the airport to the hotel, he started to get a bit restless. He's obsessed with dinosaurs, so he was super excited when I pulled this dinosaur fidget toy out of my bag. It lights up, which he loves, and it plays sounds - but thankfully there is volume control. After a very early morning flight, I don't think any of us could have handled it at full volume. But luckily, Max didn't mind, and he played with it all the way to the hotel.

"It's small enough to fit in my bag, and is lightweight, so it's easy to have on hand at all times, just in case. The buttons are really easy to push, and it's great for boosting hand-eye coordination too."

3. Washi tape

GoodtoKnow's Family Editor Stephanie Lowe shared that having a roll of washi tape in her bag at all times was a life-save when travelling with her son Ted when he was a toddler. "Having washi tape in my bag at all times was so handy with a toddler. We'd use it to mock up a racing track that he could follow with this little cars. It's great on a flight too - you can stick it to the back of the seat in front, or on the walls or windows, and Ted would be entertained for ages trying to peel it all off. And it's completely mess-free, so we didn't have to worry about causing any damage or leaving any sticky residue behind.

"Wrapping your child's toy in tin foil can also be a great way to keep them busy. When Ted was in toddler era, I would scrunch tinfoil around his favourite toys, leaving an arm out that he would recognise and then he would work at getting the tin foil undone to 'save' them. This was great for boosting his pincer grip and fine motor skills as well as teaching him about perseverance."

4. Uno

For mum-of-two, and GoodtoKnow's News Editor Lucy Wigley, you can't go wrong with Uno. "We take Uno everywhere! I have happy Uno memories from every holiday we've been on since the boys were old enough to play it, and there's even been times when we've played it while away and ended up with a table full of other children all joining in!"

Suitable for kids from the age of seven and between two and ten players, Uno is perfect for family holidays. It's compact, so takes up very little space in the luggage, but we guarantee you'll be talking about the moment someone puts down the +4 card at the last minute for years to come.

5. LEGO

GoodtoKnow's deputy editor Heidi Scrimgeour is a mum-of-three and swears by Lego and Duplo for giving kids something to focus on while you get your bearings. Heidi explains: "The boys always got a big, new, exciting Duplo set to open when we got to our destination. The novelty of a new toy is amazing for keeping them entertained first thing each morning while we enjoyed a coffee and a few minutes' peace. As they got older, we'd switch to Lego, which might seem like a nightmare for plane travel but again the longevity factor of giving the kids something to focus on while we unpacked unpacked helped enormously."

"The boys were obsessed with Marvel LEGO and would often spend holiday money on a new one - they'd have a decent number of pieces to keep the boys busy, but I also loved that the pieces were big enough that they were tricky to lose."

6. Stickers and activity books

For dad-of-two Peter, sticker books are a must-have if you're taking kids on holiday. "We'd buy four or five sticker books or activity books to take on holiday, wrap them up, and take one in our hand luggage and hide the others in the suitcase to use during the holiday.

"The first time the kids ever went on a plane, we got an airport-themed sticker book, and they loved spotting what they'd seen in the book in real life. It was a long day of travelling, but the idea of unwrapping a present definitely kept meltdowns at bay. The other activity books in our stash came in really handy when we were eating in the hotel restaurant. The kids were entertained and my wife and I managed to finish our meal together."

7. Suction spinners

Mum-of-one Lucy swore by suction spinners when travelling with her son when he was six months old. "I took a pack of suction spinners in my bag when we took Harry on his first flight - I was so nervous he would cry the entire time, and that I'd get frustrated looks from fellow passengers. But thankfully, Harry was good as gold and loved spinning his toys. I stuck one to the tray table and had Harry on my knee and he was so happy spinning it round and trying to grab it. I gave him another one to have in his hands, which he loved to shake and pop in his mouth."

If you're travelling with an infant, then this foldable foam mat is also a good idea. It's light and compact enough that it can fit in your luggage, and will give them a safe place to enjoy some tummy time when you get to your destination. It can lay flat, or you can pop the sides up to create a type of pen that can help keep a baby's toys contained.

For more tips on travelling with kids this summer, make sure you know how to sit together as a family on the plane for free, the expert-approved ways you can save money at the airport, and how long child passports last.

I don't want to sound dramatic, but watching my four-year-old nephew Max play with toys has changed my life.

As I write about everything from the best kids toys of 2024 to early Prime Day toy deals, I get to test a lot of toys. I tend to look at them quite analytically to see how they work, the benefits they offer kids, and ultimately if they are worth your money. But I recognise that as a fully-fledged grown-up, I am not the target audience for these toys. That means I regularly rope in my four-year-old-nephew Max to get his opinion too.

Not only does that mean I get to spend some lovely quality time with the sweetest, most hilarious boy on the planet, and get some work done at the same time, but I also get major cool aunt points for having a steady supply of brilliant toys ready to test out with him (we've tried out loads of fun toys, from slime to Beast Labs). As we started testing toys together, I'd assumed that we might make some core memories and have loads of fun, but I hadn't quite realised the deeper, more meaningful impact it would have on me as an adult. This is what I've learned.

• Instructions are more like guidelines. I can hardly remember a time when I didn't read the instructions before using something for the first time. I want to use it properly, as intended, and with the best results. When Max and I test toys together, we follow the instructions to a tee so we can test effectively. But after that, Max gets some free reign to just play however he wants to play. To start with, I found myself getting a bit twitchy - he wasn't playing with it like the instructions said, and I even found myself trying to correct him. When on earth had I become so rigid? And it was in that moment that I realised I needed to loosen up! Max was having a great time, making up his own rules, and using his imagination to great effect. And isn't that the point of toys?
• There are no limits when it comes to creativity. I reviewed a mini Dyson toy with Max, and I loved how much he loved having his own replica vacuum cleaner so he could copy what he'd seen grown ups do around the house. But after playing with that for a while, in Max's world, the Dyson morphed into a monster that was chasing us around the room, then it was a wall we had to jump over. Next it became some kind of hobby horse, and a walking stick, and even a sword. Max's imagination was not confined by any preconceived notion, and in that moment, I felt genuinely inspired to be more Max. I now make an concerted effort to not only look at something for what it is, but also what it could be. And there's something so freeing about tapping into that creativity, and I want to do it more.
• Friends are simple. I was at a park with Max watching him play with a couple of other children of a similar age. At one point he came over for a drink, and told me he was having so much fun with his new friends. I asked what their names were, and he said he didn't know, but they were his friends. Lots of adult relationships and interactions can be so complicated, but this was an absolute reminder, that sometimes when you boil it down, they can be so simple.
• The enthusiasm is boundless. Max and I play with toys is relatively small doses, which means it's really easy for us to have loads of fun before either of us become tired and emotional. But Max's boundless energy and enthusiasm is hard to keep up with as an adult. While parents undoubtedly know this already, it's made me all the more determined to spend more time playing with toys with Max to give his parents a well-deserved break.

For more advice on playing with toys with your kids, experts explain why it's ok if you hate playing with your kid. We also share the types of play all kids need for their development, and how to tell if your child has a balanced play diet.

With Create Week (1-7 July 2024) encouraging kids to engage with their creative side, we share some great messy play ideas and dig a little deeper into how it can aid your child's development.

Toys that allow your child to tap into their creative side are nothing new, but they are still hugely popular with kids of all ages - there's even a couple of the best kids toys of 2024 that fit the bill. Arts and crafts cover a broad spectrum of toys too - from a piece of paper and some crayons or simple colouring books to messier versions including slime toys, clay modelling, and mud kitchens.

When it comes to constructive play, crafting is a great idea, and the messier it gets, the more you can take advantage of the benefits of sensory play at the same time. Messy play is the perfect time for your child to explore and interact with a variety of materials and boost their development at the same time.

What are the benefits of messy play?

Engaging in messy play can have serious benefits when it comes to your child's development. It not only stimulates their senses and imaginations, but can also help them develop their processing and fine motor skills and aid with their language development too.

• Messy play stimulates imagination and creativity. Toy experts at The Entertainer, say:“Parents could see numerous advantages by letting their children engage in messy play. These activities can help children improve various skills and are a great way of stimulating their imaginations and creativity."
• Messy play engages your child's senses. "Messy play is also a great way of developing sensory processing skills. The activity involves several senses including touch, sight and smell - allowing children to learn more about materials and textures while expressing themselves artistically."
• It's good for boosting fine motor skills. “Actions such as squeezing, scooping and pouring materials can improve hand-eye coordination while also being a form of entertainment. Fine motor skills are crucial for writing and drawing - highlighting how beneficial and educational messy play can be for children’s development."
• Messy play aids language development. As your child encounters new sensations and materials, it's a perfect opportunity for them to expand their vocabulary as they try to articulate themselves. You can encourage this by talking to your child as they play, commenting on sticky, rough or gloopy textures, any scents they might be picking up on, and any sounds that they might be making. All of this can help foster a better understanding of the world around them and boost their cognitive development at the same time.
• It can help ease feelings of anxiety. Messy play encourages kids to focus on their five senses, which can promote mindfulness and act as a grounding activity to help reduce anxious feelings.

But while messy play may offer loads of benefits, it's still, well, messy, which can be mega-stressful for parents. If you are looking for messy play toy ideas that keep the actual mess to a minimum, we've found some brilliant options below:

With any kind of messy play, make sure your kids are supervised at all times.

For more expert advice on how to make the most out of your child's play time, child development expert and GoodtoKnow panellist Dr Amanda Gummer explains the three stages of play all parents should know, and shares the idea of the balanced play diet.

If you've got a kid's birthday coming up, or want to grab some games to see your family through the summer holidays, then The Entertainer's flash sale this weekend could be right up your street.

Whether you're looking to save some money on the best kids toys of 2024, or the outdoor toys you have are in dire need of updating, any opportunity to save some money before keeping the kids entertained all summer will be welcomed by parents. After all, according to recent research, school holidays cost parents more than £3,000 a year. Yikes.

To help, toy retailer The Entertainer has announced a flash summer sale for savvy bargain hunters. From now until 11.59pm on Monday 1 July, parents can save £10 when they spend £60, or £20 when they spend £100, by using the code SAVEMORE when shopping online. The offer is available online only, and can't be used in conjunction with any other offer. LEGO playsets and gift cards are also excluded.

Need some inspo? These are the toys we've got our eye on in the sale:

If you need more ideas for toys to look for in The Entertainer's sale, take a look at our picks of the best dinosaur toys, interactive pets for kids and the slime toys that they will love (and that they can play with outside over the summer). Want more discounts? Check out our picks of the best early Amazon Prime Day toy deals.

In honour of International Stitch Day (yep, that's totally a thing), we dig a little deeper as to why this Disney character is seeing a popularity surge right now.

Disney's Lilo & Stitch was released in 2002, and tells the story of an orphaned Hawaiian girl named Lilo, who adopts a 'dog' that turns out to be an alien creature. The story centres around the Hawaiian concept of ohana, which means family (its translation includes more than just blood relatives too - it also includes adopted and chosen family). It's one of the hundreds of kids films you can watch on Disney+, that can actually be beneficial for your kids, but if you don't already have a subscription to this streaming service - make sure you check out our guide to how you can get Disney+ for free.

Initially known as Experiment 626 (hence why International Stitch Day falls on June 26), Stitch was genetically engineered to cause chaos and destruction, but his bond with Lilo and her older sister Nani, causes him to reconsider his destructive nature to keep his new family together.

But despite the film being released more than two decades ago, Stitch is more popular than ever - he even made it onto the list of the best kids toys 2024. We spoke to an expert to find out why that is and have a look at the best Stitch toys you can buy right now.

Why is Stitch still so popular more than 20 years later?

There's multiple reasons why Stitch has skyrocketed in popularity recently, from the impact of nostalgia and social media, spin-off merchandise and even theme park attractions that keep the adorable little alien in the public consciousness.

Stitch first appeared in the Lilo & Stitch feature film in 2002, and has since appeared in three straight-to-video sequels as well as a TV series and a live action version if the film is also in the works. Kids love his cute koala like appearance, semi-intelligible speech and his mischievous antics are all too fun for kids to follow along with.

Richard North, President at WOW! Stuff, who have recently released their Real FX Disney Stitch Puppet, available at Smyths, adds: “Stitch has a distinct design and expressive nature that makes him enduringly appealing to children and teens of all ages, and we are currently seeing a huge resurgence in popularity."

Stitch is also hugely popular on TikTok right now, with more than 500,000 posts featuring the hashtag #liloandstitch. Richard explains how this is boosting Stitch's popularity further, saying: "Thanks to the digital age and social media, Stitch’s image and personality has become hugely popular online as fans share memes, fan art and their stitch merch! This has helped sustain and possibly even grow his popularity to where Stitch is today.

"As well as this, Disney has continued to support and promote Lilo & Stitch through various channels, including a fashion resurgence which appeals to all age groups, theme park attractions, and appearances, keeping the cute, mischievous character front of mind."

But beyond the promotion of Stitch, there is something deeper at play, as Richard explains: "There is also a cycle of nostalgic interest and affection for Stitch, once children grow up, they want to introduce Stitch to their own children and so on!"

If you want embrace Stitch's newfound icon status, then take a look at these brilliant Stitch toys, available to buy right now.

For more Disney-related news, we look at why Donald Duck has stood the test of time for 90 years, and reveal everything we know about when Inside Out 2 will be available on Disney+.

With the sun shining (for now at least), you might want to spend more time outdoors with your kids. We share some brilliant ideas for outdoor play that will keep your little ones entertained and get them learning at the same time.

You might already have some of the best outdoor toys in your collection, and even a paddling pool at the ready for when temperatures rise. Sunshine and fresh air have well-documented benefits, but being outside can also be a great opportunity for sensory play, which is really valuable for your child's development.

So if you are looking for outdoor activities that are also educational, experts at toy company Lovevery share five great outdoor play ideas that are perfect for pre-school age children.

5 simple outdoor play ideas for toddlers

1. Experiment with ice cubes

Ice is fascinating to toddlers - it's cold, slippery and it changes form right in front of their eyes - all of which not only engages their senses, but can also help them develop their language skills as you talk with them about what they are experiencing. So when you know it's going to be sunny, grab a ice cube tray (if you have some different shaped molds that can be really helpful), and get them in the freezer ready to take out on a warm day.

You can pop them on a tray for your little one to discover, or take out a couple of containers for them to practice moving the ice cubes from one place to another. Ramp up the fun-factor even further but adding drops of food colouring before freezing, to help with sorting skills and colour recognition.

2. Paint with their feet

Tape bits of paper together to form a paper path of sorts (it's a good idea to put a book or some kind of weight on each corner to prevent it blowing away and getting paint anywhere you don't want it) drop some blobs of paint on there and encourage your little one to paint with their feet.

Not only will this help engage their senses in a fun way, but it can also help boost their coordination and creativity.

3. Have a pretend picnic

Playing pretend is a vital type of play for your child's development, and so good weather offers the perfect opportunity for a pretend picnic. Lay out a blanket, gather up any toy food sets you might have, and bring along some stuffed toys to help enjoy the feast. If you don't have anything suitable, this LeapFrog Musical Rainbow Tea Party has 24 per cent off at Amazon right now, making it less than £20.

Your little one will love playing host, and offering foods and drinks to the guests, their imagination running wild.

4. Paint with nature

Head out for a walk with your little one to look for some natural 'paintbrushes' - think leaves, pinecones, sticks etc. Not only are these fun to find and collect, and offer a sensory experience in their own right. Let your little one have a really close look, touch and smell of their finds. They can also be used to create some nature themed art too. Use the materials to paint a picture, or turn them into stamps to create some fun prints.

5. Create an obstacle course

A simple obstacle course is a great way to boost your child's gross motor skills, sequencing and memory. This can involve moving through hoops, throwing bean bags, going through a tunnel. But even if you don't have lots of suitable items for an obstacle course, if you have a patio, you can always use outdoor chalk instead. I did this for my nephew when he was three years old, after seeing a mum share the idea on Instagram, and he loved 'popping the bubbles', 'touching the stars', and 'going around the world'.

For more ideas for entertaining your kids, check out these easy craft ideas and these mindfulness activities for some inspiration. For more sensory play ideas, take a look at our pick of the best sensory toys.

Squishmallows have cemented themselves in the hearts of kids around the world, but could Hug-A-Lumps take their place? I tried Hug-A-Lumps with a couple of Squishmallow stans to find out.

It's official, Squishmallows were the biggest selling toy of 2023 - and for good reason. They are super-satisfying to squish, cuddle, and use as a makeshift pillow, and there are hundreds of different characters to collect, including Stitch from Lilo and Stitch and Tigger from Winnie the Pooh. They even appear in our guide to the best toys for six-year-olds. And my Goddaughters, Ella, nine and Mara, six, are obsessed - they each have a Squishmallow collection underway, including a range of sizes and styles. Last Christmas, they were very keen to tell me that they'd written to Santa asking for a Fuzz-A-Mallow (a fuzzy version of a Squishmallow) to add to their hoard. But could Hug-A-Lumps usurp the Squishmallow crown?

What actually are Hug-A-Lumps?

Hug-A-Lumps are a new range of plush toys - they are super-soft and squishy, with multiple characters to collect, but in a major difference to Squishmallows, Hug-A-Lumps are weighted. When placed on the body, the weighted pressure can provide an instant hug, promote relaxation and offer an overall calming effect.

Suitable for those age three and over, including teens and adults who might want to get in on the stress-busting benefits, Hug-A-Lumps weigh 1.5 kilograms (3.3lbs) and are about 60 centimetres long. This means they are the perfect size for a really good cuddle.

They cost £19.99 each, available from the likes of Smyths, The Entertainer and Amazon and there are eight Hug-A-Lumps to collect. Take your pick from Sydney the Sloth, Delilah the Dinosaur, Olly the Dog, Luna the Cat, Bailey the Duck, Hazel the Rabbit, Maverick the Goose and Rocky the Crocodile.

What did our hardcore Squishmallow fans think of Hug-A-Lumps?

My Goddaughters made a beeline for the Hug-A-Lumps when they saw them on my kitchen table - instantly drawn in by their cute faces. (I had Bailey the Duck and Rocky the Crocodile ready to show them). They loved having a good squish of the Hug-A-Lumps while they were on the table, showing that sensory exploration is so important when it comes to play.

But the real surprise for them came when they picked the Hug-A-Lumps up to go in for a proper hug. Both girls were even more intrigued when they realised that these didn't feel like other plush toys they had - they had some heft to them. (The weighting is in the body of the Hug-A-Lumps - the heads aren't weighted.) After that discovery, the girls' didn't want to put them down - they hoofed them everywhere, even choosing to have them on their laps, even while playing with other toys.

Having that bit of extra weight not only has wonderful calming benefit, but the girls also said that it made them feel like they were holding a real animal - so there's benefits when it comes to pretend play too.

I asked them how the Hug-A-Lumps compared to their beloved Squishmallows - and it was a very close call. They were convinced that Squishmallows were just a little bit squishier, but when I did a side by side comparison - I genuinely could not tell a difference in the squish factor. But Hug-A-Lumps got a big tick in the pro column for being so satisfying to cuddle.

From a cost point of view - Hug-A-Lumps might come out on top for me - you could pay north of £50 for a 50 centimetre Squishmallow, but 60 centimetre Hug-A-Lumps are £19.99.

Hug-A-Lumps could be great for anxious teens and adults too

From an adult's perspective, Hug-A-Lumps could be a great aid for anyone, regardless of age, who might feel a bit stressed or anxious - the weight feels like a hug, which can promote feelings of calm and relaxation. The softness and squeeze-ability can also help to engage the senses and encourage mindfulness, which is a grounding technique used to alleviate stress and anxiety. The nostalgia of having a plush toy in your possession could bring some comforting childhood memories back to the forefront too.

If you have a teen who might be a bit anxious about the thought of leaving school, or maybe heading off to university, sneak a Hug-A-Lump into their luggage.

For more toys news and ideas, check out the best kids toys 2024, the best interactive pets for kids, and our pick of some brilliant toys to support your child's mental health and wellbeing.

Donald Duck is 90. The iconic Disney character has been embedded in the public consciousness for almost a century, after making his first appearance on screen in 1934. Since then his likeness has been seen in countless cartoons, films, toys and memorabilia.

And it didn't stop there. If you had any of the best toys of the 90s, you probably also remember Donald's nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie and their antics in DuckTales on Saturday morning TV.

While Donald might not feature in the list of the best kids toys 2024, we take a look and why this Disney stalwart has stood the test of time, and show you some of the new toys that have been released in honour of his big birthday.

5 reasons why Donald Duck is an icon

1. That voice - Donald's semi-intelligible speech is instantly recognisable, sounds like nothing else, and no matter how many times you practise your impression - it's very difficult to imitate. But boy will your kids have fun trying!
2. His mood is so relatable - Donald can be having a good day, then something will come along to ruin it, and it makes Donald mad and pessimistic. Actually, are we sure Donald isn't actually a human?
3. He's an army hero - during World War Two, the Disney Studios in Burbank, California were occupied by the US Army for eight months. Walt Disney was approached with requests to make propaganda films, which ultimately saw Donald Duck join the army, fight for his country and be framed as a patriotic hero.
4. He doesn't give up - no matter how many times Donald gets knocked down, he always gets up again ready to start a new day.
5. He's a fixture at Disneyland - Donald might not appear in Disney movies of late, his likeness, along with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, is so ingrained in Disney's legacy that he can meet a whole new legion of fans at Disney theme parks around the world.

Donald's popularity on and off screen have earned him numerous accolades. Movies he's been in have been nominated for multiple Oscars, and he's even got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

New Donald Duck toys for his birthday

To celebrate his 90th birthday, The Walt Disney Company is collaborating with big-name brands, such as Adidas, ASOS, Funko, Pandora and the Disney Store to launch some new products and collections. These include everything from toys and collectibles to jewellery and clothing.

For more on all things Disney, check out our collection of the best Frozen toys, our take on Inside Out 2's new character, and how you can get Disney+ for free.

There are lots of great things about the Toniebox, including the option to record your own audio. Here we explain how you do it - and the good news is, it's easy and quick.

If you already have a Toniebox, you might already be familiar with how the audio player works. If not, make sure you read our Toniebox review to see if this is the right audio player for you and your child.

While the most popular Tonies ever include super well-known stories, like that of The Lion King, The Gruffalo and Peter Rabbit, every Toniebox comes with a Creative Tonie, which can be used to record your own stories or messages. Now the Toniebox wasn't around when I was little, but my dad did have a cassette player and a microphone, and recorded stories for my brother and I on our adventures with some family friends and an imaginary dog called Jam. I cannot convey the excitement I felt when I first heard a story where I was one of the main characters, but just know that lovely memory has stuck with me for decades.

Now things are a little more advanced, here's a step-by-step guide to recording your own stories for your child to enjoy on their Toniebox.

How to record your own story on the Toniebox

You will need:

• A Toniebox
• A Creative Tonie
• Your smartphone, and the mytonies app, available on Google Play and the App Store

With the Creative Tonie, you can record up to 90 minutes of your own audio. This could be you reading a story, making up your own adventures with your child as the main character, or recording personal messages for your little one (which might be very useful should you be away from your child for any reason).

For ease and efficiency, it's a good idea to have a strong idea of what you are going to say before you hit record. If you regularly send WhatsApp voice notes, you'll know what I mean!

Step-by-step guide

1. Make sure you are logged in to the mytonies app on your phone
2. In the menu at the bottom of the app screen, go to Recordings. This is where you record, and where all of your existing recordings will be stored
3. In the top right hand corner, you will see a microphone symbol. Press that, and you'll see a red circle appear at the bottom of the screen
4. When you are ready to start your recording, press that red circle. When the recording begins the circle disappears, and a red rectangle, with the pause symbol in the centre, take its place.
5. You can pause the recording at any time, and then click Resume when you want to carry on
6. Once you're finished, press finish recording.
7. Now you can listen back to your recording, or scrap it and start again.
8. Once you're happy, you should see an upload symbol, that looks like the shape of the Creative Tonie's head with an upwards arrow. Press that and you can upload your audio track to the Creative Tonie. You can only upload one audio file at a time.
9. At this stage, you can rename the file names, just double tap so your cursor appears in the file name and overwrite.
10. Then you need to synchronise your Toniebox and you should be able to play your stories and messages. To sync, turn on the Toniebox, the pinch one of the ears for about three seconds until you hear a sound. You should see the lights on the top flashing blue. When the light turns solid green, you can then place the Creative Tonie on top to play your recording.

The Creative Tonie comes with pre-loaded content, but this is removed when you add your own recordings. However, if you want the pre-recorded content back, simply delete all custom recordings in the mytonies app.

As I mentioned in my review of the Toniebox, it did take me a couple of attempts to get the custom audio to play through the Toniebox - I seemed to have issues with the synching. While the Toniebox is easy for a child to operate, there might need to be some parental support if they want to record themselves and hear their own voices back.

For more Tonies content, check out our pick of the best educational Tonies, the latest Tonies, and our guide to Tonies starter bundles to kickstart any collection.

When it comes to digital pets, you might be more familiar with the iconic Tamagotchi. But there's a new anime-inspired digital pet that is all the rage in Japan, and it's due to be released in the UK in the coming weeks.

Punirune, a new digital pet toy, has captivated fans of Japanese anime culture, with more than 700,000 sold since 2021 across Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. And it's soon be released in the UK. For those who are unsure, anime is a style of animation that originated in Japan - you might find that your child is already a fan of these anime shows - and features fantastical themes and messages about resilience, self discovery, and fighting for what's right. While anime might have started in Japan, it has fans of all ages all over the world. And the Punirunes anime series, which premiered in October 2022, is the major inspiration behind a new interactive pet.

Many regard the Tamagotchi as one of the best toys of the 90s, and they are still hugely popular today. Bitzee is also hugely popular - an Amazon bestseller in fact - that is designed to react to touch. There are also other screen-free options, such as the in-demand Furby, and the adorable Let's Go Gecko. But the Punirune takes the classic digital pet into a whole new direction - by incorporating a fun sensory play feature into the design.

What is a Punirune?

A Punirune is an interactive digital pet that combines looking after the pet, with tactile squishy play. On the outside, there is a full colour backlit LCD screen, when you will see your Punirune pet displayed - with more than 50 characters to collect. But where the Punirune takes interaction to a new level, is via a hole on the toy. When you place your finger in this hole, you can press the squishy button and watch on the screen as your digital pet reacts to your touch. For an immersive experience, your finger is also displayed on the screen, mirroring your actions as if you are actually interacting with the pet. We can see kids loving this feature as they let their imaginations run wild.

Doug Wadleigh, President of Toys at Spin Master, who will distribute Punirunes, says: “Punirunes is not your average toy, it adds an irresistible tactile element and physical connection to the digital pet in a fun and quirky way. With proven international success and the surge in popularity for anime-inspired toys we think Punirunes will be a hit with kids and kidults around the world.”

Punirunes will be available from August 2024.

Why will kids like Punirune?

Interactive pets make great toys for kids, helping them learn emotional intelligence, as well as empathy and responsibility. If you find you're being nagged for a real life pet, it's a good idea to let your child have an interactive pet first to help them understand what a commitment it is. Toys like this are also great for imaginative play, which is one of the eight types of play your child needs for their development.

When it comes to Punirunes, the interactive characters, that need playing with, feeding and nurturing will be super engaging to kids. Plus being able to see their digital pet react to their touch adds a sense of realism to pretend play. Plus being able to see their finger appear on the screen, as if they are somehow straddling the line between reality and the digital world will be hugely exciting. Kids also love sensory play, so they'll love the sensory element of the Punirunes.

For more toy inspiration, check our the best kids toys 2024 - as chosen by industry experts.

With summer holidays fast approaching, we look at the trip-friendly toys all parents should have on-hand, whether you're heading on holiday or just on a day out with the kids.

Even if you've planned loads of things to do with the kids over the school holidays, there is usually a certain amount of travelling involved - and if you want to avoid the dreaded moaning or squabbling coming from the back seat, it's a good idea to make sure you've got some toys on hand to keep them entertained.

If you're child is obsessed with one of this year's top toys, it's completely understandable that you don't want to take that with you for fear that it will get lost or broken. But worry not, toy experts at The Entertainer have revealed the three types of toys all parents should have in their arsenal when travelling with kids over the summer (and we've added a couple more suggestions too.)

Toys to travel with this summer

1. Activity books

Activity books are perfect for keeping younger children entertained whenever you leave the house - whether you're out for a family tea, in the waiting room at the doctors, or heading on holiday. The best part, activity books are lightweight, and can many can be rolled to fit into a handbag. Activity books come in various guises too - from colouring books and sticker books, to all encompassing options that include everything from pictures to colour in and mazes to fine the way out of, to quiz questions and spot-the-differences.

The I Can Write ABC Book from The Entertainer is a great shout - it's a wipe-clean activity pad that teaches children from age three how to perfect the alphabet. We also love the 101 Awesome Activity Book for Kids - it's an Amazon bestseller for a reason - and includes maths quizzes, logic puzzles, things to colour in, word searches and more for children aged four to six.

2. Card games

If you're travelling with more than one child, let them keep each other entertained with a card game, while you focus on getting to your destination. Plus when you get there, card games are perfect for a family fun evening while you're on holiday - the whole family can get involved and enjoy a bit of competition, and the decks are small enough to easily fit into your luggage. Bestseller UNO (available on Amazon) is a given, but even a standard deck of cards offers loads of ways to play.

The toy experts at The Entertainer add: "Aside from UNO, Top Trumps is another widely popular card game, with a range of specific categories available such as the World Football Stars edition - just in time for EURO 2024."

3. Plush toys

The experts at The Entertainer say: “Plush toys are a great choice when travelling with children. These cuddly products provide comfort and security, particularly to younger children. They’re also a great sleep aid - ensuring children are well-rested when they reach their destination.

“In particular, I recommend the Bluey Soft Toy - perfect for fans of the extremely popular kids show. Furthermore, the Minecraft Rabbit Plush is another perfect choice for any parents looking to purchase a comfort toy for their child on their travels."

4. Audio players

If you've got a particularly long journey, then audio players, like the Yoto player and the Toniebox, are worth taking with you. Not only do they offer screen-free fun, but they can be easily operated by a child, which can be incredibly useful if you're driving.

Better still, you can buy headphones for both, so your little one can enjoy their own story time in private. Just make sure you've charged the player and downloaded any stories on to the device so you don't have to rely on finding public WiFi when you're out and about.

5. Hand-held games

For older kids, hand-held games and puzzles could be a great way to keep them entertained on longer journeys - without their phones. Think Rubik's Cubes, fidget toys and puzzles.

This 50th anniversary Rubik's Cube has major retro vibes, while this IQ Gears puzzle is perfect for kids (and kidults) age seven and over.

Looking for more? Check out these toys for £10 or less, or the most popular Tonies ever that are worth adding to any travel bag.

Big names, including Jamie Oliver and Julia Donaldson, have just been shortlisted in a book awards scheme, aimed at encouraging children to read.

Julia Donaldson, author of the nation's favourite children's book, The Gruffalo, is joined by Countdown's Susie Dent, TV presenter Philippa Forrester and British geneticist Adam Rutherford on the shortlist for GoodtoKnow's sister title The Week Junior 2024 Book Awards.

While your child might already have their favourite bedtime story, or be lucky enough to have a personalised children's book where they themselves appear in the story, a recent report shows that the number of books being read by children has dropped by more than four per cent in the last 12 months. The Week Junior's award scheme is designed to inspire more children to read for pleasure.

• Celeb chef Jamie Oliver is shortlisted, not for a cookbook, but for his debut audio book Billy and the Giant Adventure, which he narrates himself.
• Dictionary Corner stalwart Susie Dent is shortlisted in the Wellbeing category for her book Roots of Happiness, which is an uplifting guide to positive words.
• Julia Donaldson is shortlisted for her picture book, The Bowerbird.
• Where Are You Really From? by geneticist Adam Rutherford, is shortlisted in the STEM category.
• Amazing Animal Journeys by former Tomorrow's World and Robot Wars presenter Philippa Forrester, is shortlisted in the Animals and Nature category.
• There's also an absolute classic shortlisted in the non-fiction category - the Guinness World Records 2024, which is due to celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2025, reflecting its enduring appeal to young readers.
• Sponsored by the World Book Day charity, the Breakthrough award shortlist includes Pari Thomson’s Greenwild: The World Behind the Door; Zohra Nabi’s The Kingdom Over the Sea, and G.M.Linton’s My Name is Sunshine Simpson.

The shortlist was selected by an expert committee, including booksellers, librarians and primary school teachers, from more than 370 entries. In total there are 74 books shortlisted across 13 categories, including:

• Animals and Nature (New for 2024)
• Graphic Novel (New for 2024)
• Hobbies and Interests (New for 2024)
• Picture Book (New for 2024)
• Poetry (New for 2024)
• Wellbeing (New for 2024)
• Audiobook
• Breakthrough Book
• Cover of the Year
• Fiction Older
• Fiction Younger
• Non-Fiction
• STEM (in partnership with The Week Junior Science+Nature magazine)

Readers of The Week Junior get the chance to vote for the Cover of the Year, and the Children's Choice Award - which is the overall winner of the shortlist in all categories. Better still, WHSmith is also offering a voucher to The Week Junior readers for 20 per cent off books bought in-store and online this summer.

Anna Bassi, editorial director of The Week Junior, says, "The 74 books on our shortlist represent an incredible range of authors, illustrators, designers, stories and subjects – testament to the endless creativity and innovation in children’s publishing. Our judges are in for some excellent reading over the next couple of months. I’m really excited to find out which of the books readers of The Week Junior elect to win our Children’s Choice trophy – this is their chance to vote and I hope they’ll use it. With reading for pleasure seemingly in decline I’d like to think our shortlists will inspire more kids to give books a go, discover something new, and hopefully spark a love of reading that lasts for life."

The Week Junior Book Awards were launched in 2023 to celebrate children's books and honour creative excellence within the industry. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in London on 30 September.

For more news your child might love, we take a look at Inside Out 2's new character, and highlight how you can help your tween tell if a friendship is the right fit for them.

With the Euro 2024 tournament kicking off today, we take a look at the trending toy of the tournament, that's got kids embracing a rather nostalgic trend.

There's a whole raft of classic toys that you can still buy today, including the best toys of the 90s, and it turns out that there's a Euro 2024 themed toy sweeping the collections of football fans across the country that has a real nod to the past - collectible trading cards. These cards, available from Amazon, Argos, and Smyths, have young football fans caught up in the summer sporting event hype and buzzing with the excitement of collecting and swapping the cards with the hopes of ending up with a full set.

GoodtoKnow's Consumer Editor, Heidi Scrimgeour, shares that these cards are her football-loving daughter's latest obsession. "My daughter is literally obsessed with the Panini England football trading cards ahead of the Euros starting this week.

"She takes her binder to school and they spend lunchtimes swapping and trading cards. She fully hopes to collect the whole set and make millions from it one day, especially if England win the Euros."

While these cards and their sticker counterparts are the latest fad for the kids (in spite of some controversy), the idea of a toy like this is nothing new. When I was a child, it was a Gladiators sticker book that was all the rage, and my friends and I would be so excited to buy our packs of stickers from the local newsagents, exchanging Lightning's face for Wolf's legs with the hopes of coming into possession of one we needed and filling all of the spaces in the sticker book.

Soon after, came the glorious appeal of Pogs and Tazos - coin-shaped cards with various designs, from celebrities of the day, Looney Toons characters and more, that were infinitely collectible. Since then Pokemon and Disney Lorcana trading cards have continued the trend.

But what is it about these cards that holds such appeal?

1. In part, it is the companionship with something larger, whether it is a sporting event, TV programme, comic book or even music stars.
2. They allow your child to extend their affinity and build on their passions.
3. Then there is the exciting problem-solving and negotiation skills that come with identify gaps and opportunity for swaps, and establishing fair trades with their friends so they may both build their collections effectively.
4. Beyond that, there is the epic satisfaction and self esteem that comes from successfully completing a collection. That collection in itself can become a wonderful keepsake that your little one can reminisce over in the years to come.

If you think your child might be interested in Panini's football cards and stickers, we've found three options to help them get started.

More football themed toys...

If trading cards and stickers aren't your thing, don't let that put you off embracing the footballing spirit this summer.

For more screen-free fun, read our Toniebox review, how to solve a Rubik's Cube, or if you're on a budget, check out our collection of toys for £10 and under.

We round up some fantastic ride-on toys that are not only loads of fun, but will also help to boost your little one's gross motor skills too.

Ride-on toys are great for kids, and feature in many of our toy collections including the best toys for three year olds, as well as in the list of this year's top toys - they're super fun, help foster balance and coordination, supports leg muscle development and boosts problem-solving skills. From bouncy toys to balance bikes, and scooters to baby walkers, there is lots of choice available.

We've picked out favourites based on our expert product knowledge and personal experience, the experience of real-life mums, as well as looking at the bestselling and highest rated products at a variety of retailers.

12 ride-on toys for toddlers

What are the benefits of ride-on toys?

Ride-on toys are really good for your child's development, boosting their gross motor skills and balance, as well as improving their coordination and spatial awareness as they navigate their way around obstacles.

Studies show that the rate of active play in modern life has decreased compared to previous years, and so ride-on toys are a way to encourage your child to engage in more physical play, which can lead to them adopting a more active lifestyle.

The Good Play Guide, founded by GoodtoKnow expert panelist Dr Amanda Gummer, also states that toy vehicles, whether hand-held or ride-on, can are great for pretend play and , boost social skills, and encourage your child to make their own sound effects as they play, mimicking what they have seen in the real world.

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We take a look at the best educational Tonies you can get, and why they make perfect additions to any Tonies collection.

If you're new to the world of Tonies, Tonies are handmade magnetic characters, filled with stories, facts and songs - to play them, you simply sit them on top of an audio player called a Toniebox. You can read our Toniebox guide to understand all the benefits of this kind of toy, or you can take a look at our in-depth Toniebox review to see if it's the right choice for your family.

If you've decided on a Toniebox, then you'll need to buy some Tonies to play on it, but with more than 700 available, it can be hard to know where to begin. We'd definitely recommend taking at look at the most popular Tonies as a starting point, and keeping up to date with the latest Tonies to see what's new. While some Tonies are designed for entertainment purposes, there is a growing number of educational Tonies that kids will love too. To curate this list, we've not only called on our extensive product knowledge, but also a personal experiences and the first-hand opinions of kiddos we know and love.

9 educational Tonies to help your child learn about the world around them

How are Tonies educational?

All Tonies are designed to support your child's language development, encourage independent play and learning, and boost their imagination, but there are a selection of Tonies that are specifically designed to be educational as well as entertaining. And the topic selection is broad - in terms of both subject and age suitability. Some cover facts and figures about fascinating creatures (past and present), others will focus on historical figures and civilisations, while others will teach your children about other cultures from around the world. With the recently launched Blippi Tonie and the new Learn with Peppa audio character, even three-year-olds can get in on the education action.

What's really great about Tonies is that the hand-painted figures are really detailed - adding a great visual cue to accompany the audio tracks.

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We rounded up some excellent tractor toys that are sure to satisfy any tiny tractor enthusiast, and help with their development at the same time.

My nephew is four years old and has been obsessed with tractors since he was 18 months old. I thought this was just because his granddad is a farmer, and had probably spent more time on a farm than most during his lifetime. But when I was researching the best toys for 18 months olds and the best toys for three year olds, toy tractors kept cropping up, demonstrating that it's not just a quirk of my nephew. There are so many great tractor toys out there too - perfect for sensory play, imaginative play and fostering problem-solving skills to boot.

And so we've compiled this list of excellent tractor toys, with options suitable from 12 months, using our extensive product knowledge and real life experience, as well as taking into account popularity, product ratings and reviews on various retailer sites.

12 excellent tractor toys that are perfect for toddlers

Why do kids love tractor toys?

Studies show that from the age of about 18 months, many children can develop an 'intense interest' in a certain concept, and that it can have many benefits for their cognitive development. You might notice your child becoming increasingly interested in dinosaur toys, for example. But they could just as easily develop an intense interest in tractors, diggers, trucks and other large vehicles.

GoodtoKnow's sister brand The Week investigated why kids are obsessed with large vehicles of this nature and found that these kinds of toys hold a special kind of appeal during a child's sensorimotor development stage, where they learn about the world through their five senses, and so toys with moving parts, like wheels, that are brightly coloured, and make sounds are all incredibly engaging.

Additionally, they might have seen real-life tractors while outside of their home, or seen them on TV in shows like Tractor Ted, and be fascinated by their huge size, loud noises, or unusual movements - and so being able to have their very own version that they can hold in their own hands can be a useful catalyst for pretend play and creativity.

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We put the Casdon Dyson Cordless Vacuum to the test, and get the verdict of a four year old to see if this toy is worth the money.

The Dyson Cordless Vacuum toy from Casdon, is a working replica of the grown up version you may have at home (albeit, with less powerful suction), and is designed for little hands who love to role play with cleaning toys as they mimic what they see you do. It even made the cut for our round up of the best toys for three year olds.

To put it through its paces, I roped in the help of my four year old nephew, Max, who very much enjoys the fact that I write about and test toys for a living - he recently helped me test out the Beast Labs Shark Beast Creator playset, which was a resounding success. Cute anecdote alert: I hadn't told him what toy we were going to be playing with, and when he saw the box, he came running over, pointing at the box, asking 'What is that on earth?' - good start!

Packaging and set up

I love a toy that is just super easy to get out of the box - no scissors (or screwdriver!) required (although you might need a little screwdriver later on). The packaging is all cardboard so it can go straight into the recycling bin, and there is no excess packaging that feels unnecessary.

The toy arrives in four separate bits - you have the main unit and three attachments, including a brush head, crevice tool, and the extension tube which takes it from handheld to an upright vacuum. You will need a little screwdriver to open the cover to add three AA batteries if you want the sounds and suction to work.

Design

What's so brilliant about the design of the this Dyson toy, is just how good a replica it is. It looks just like the real thing, which was super exciting to my nephew. His parents have a cordless Dyson, so does my mother and so do I, so Max is used to seeing grown ups whizzing round the house with the vacuum so he was thrilled to have his own.

Attachments are connected and disconnected in the same way as a real Dyson - the parts, once aligned, can be simply pushed together, and then press the button and pull to detach. While this was really easy for me to do, it was a little bit trickier for a four year old. It's designed for age three and over, so kiddies might need a helping hand with the attachments until their fine motor skills can tackle the task.

When you press the red button located underneath the handle (it's like a trigger action) there's a cool whirring vacuum sound, that sounds realistic, there's very light suction, and there are loads of tiny coloured balls in the main chamber that whizz around when it's in use, which is a really cute feature. The main chamber does open by pressing the red button on the top of the main unit, but the colourful balls remain contained. The suction is very light - I tried vacuuming over some pieces of shredded paper, and they remained on the floor - so you don't have to worry about anything getting caught up in the vacuum.

When it's fully assembled, including the extension tube, it stands at about 68cm tall, ans while it's robust it's not heavy so it's the perfect size for little ones to manoeuvre.

What's it like to play with?

When I handed the Dyson toy vacuum to my energetic nephew, the extension tube was attached with the brush head, and he immediately started to zoom from one end of the room to the other pushing it on the floor, mimicking what he'd seen grown ups doing (although the running was likely Max's own flair). He was even more excited when my mother emerged with her own Dyson so they could vacuum together (although he did soon tire of hers making noise and asked her to go and put it away).

When he'd deemed the floor clean enough, he got to work on chairs, cushions, feet and whatever else he could find, which he thought was hilarious. We did have to intervene when he started waving it about like a light saber, but a quick switch to the crevice tool was all that was needed to protect the surrounding items and nearby eyeballs.

Max really loves to be helpful, so you could literally see him glowing with pride as he helped his Grammy clean her house. He was also quick to tell his mum and dad how he'd helped when he got back home. While he might need a little help changing the attachments right now, he can definitely operate the toy himself and enjoys playing with it independently.

How loud is it?

Some kids can be quite sensitive to toys that make a noise, especially if they are not expecting it, and while this toy does make a noise when the button is pressed, it's not as loud as a real Dyson, and the whirring sound means it's a bit quieter when the button is first pressed, so it's not too startling.

For those who might be particularly sensitive to sound, you could take the batteries out, and it's still really enjoyable to play with.

Value for money

The Dyson vacuum toy has an RRP of £25 which feels like a fair price. It's suitable from the age of three, but I know my goddaughters who are age six and nine would both love role-playing with it, and so I think that makes it great value for money. While you might need to occasionally replace the batteries, all of the parts are robust enough to stand firm against the most enthusiastic of role-players.

I also think how good a replica it is boosts the value you're getting. It's really detailed, even down to the ball sockets and logos that appear on the main unit and the brush head - these details are an exact match of the real thing, which adds a lovely sense of realism to pretend play, and it will really spark a little one's imagination.

Read more of our toy reviews, including our Toniebox review, Cookeez Makery Oven review and Magic Mixies Pixlings review.

Every month, there are a slew of new Tonies to add to your collection - here we highlight our favourite of the newbies to help you narrow down which ones to buy.

Tonies are hand-painted magnetic characters filled with themed facts, stories and songs. To listen, you, or your little one, will need to pop the Tonie character on top of the Toniebox audio player. If you are new to the world of Tonies, read our Toniebox review to see if its the right option for your family.

But once you have one, thoughts will likely turn to building out your collection of Tonies. Starting with a selection of the most popular Tonies is a good shout, or if your child is yet to start school, you might want to pick from the best Tonies for preschoolers. However, it's also useful to keep abreast of the newest releases to see if there is something that you know your child will just love. These are the latest Tonies to be released, including a slew of absolute nostalgia classics, and why we think they would make a great addition to any collection.

Latest Tonies to add to your collection

How much do new Tonies cost?

Newer Tonies have an RRP of £14.99, but you might be able to find some brilliant Tonies that have been out for a while for a little bit less than that - Tonies has a sale section on its website, where you can find Tonies for £12.99. Or you can buy additional Creative Tonies (where you can upload up to 90 minutes of your own audio) for £11.99. Remember though that you do get a Creative Tonie when you buy your Toniebox.

If you really want to expand your Tonies collection for less, you could always buy Tonies second-hand, or swap with friends and family, especially if their child has outgrown something that would be perfect for your own. But you need to make sure that that it isn't marked as 'Mine' in the previous owner's MyTonies account - if it is you won't see it in your MyTonies account (although you will still be able to play it on your Toniebox).

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More than a third of parents live in 'constant fear' of their child losing their favourite toy, according to new research.

As any parent knows, many younger children have a favourite toy that they love to take everywhere with them. Quite often, these toys offer the child a sense of comfort, and might also be used as part of the bedtime routine to help children fall asleep. It might be a sensory toy that they have had since birth, or maybe they've become really attached to part of a plush stacking toy, or even have an interactive pet that they love to take along on their adventures. But parents also know that if that toy goes missing, then all hell can break loose!

According to the study, which was commissioned by Outlet Shopping at The O2, more than nine out of 10 children (93 per cent) have a special item that goes everywhere with them, and more than eight out of 10 parents (83 per cent) are worried that their child will lose their favourite toy at some point. More than a third (34 per cent) of parents would classify it as more than a worry, and say they 'live in constant fear' of their little one losing their favourite toy.

These precious toys are also some of the most stressful items to lose according to parents, who say it's as bad, if not worse than losing a mobile phone (36 per cent), house keys (33 per cent), plane or train tickets (19 per cent), while almost one in 10 say there is nothing more stressful than losing their little one's favourite toy.

More than a fifth of parents (22 per cent) are resigned to the fact that it's just a matter of time before their little one loses their favourite toy, with half saying that the prized toy has already gone walkabout at least once. Mum of two and GoodtoKnow contributor Lucy Wigley says: "Both of my children were very attached to their favourite cuddly toys. One was named Hettie, the other, Fifi. The kids were so in love with their respective cuddlies, they had to go everywhere - to the supermarket, the beach, and to nursery. I was always on edge about them leaving the house in case they got lost, and one day Hettie disappeared at nursery. I frantically searched everywhere, alerting staff to the gravity of the SLEEPLESS NIGHT we'd have if she wasn't found. The tearful, sleepless night came when Hettie couldn't be located. Thankfully, I had a call first thing the next morning to say she'd turned up, and I sprinted to get her as fast as I could.

"We agreed the best thing would be to get a spare Hettie and Fifi - they were both Jellycat toys and still in circulation. Except, I didn't hide them very well, and Fifi's double was found. My son then insisted on having both, completely foiling our plan for emergency spares because of my poor hiding skills. Luckily, the newly named 'Fifi 1 and Fifi 2' were never lost, and still sit on his bed to this day (although are no longer needed on every single family excursion)."

In order to prevent the loss, one in five parents say they are hyper-vigilant to keep an eye on the toy when out and about, while almost a quarter (24 per cent) admitted to keeping an identical back up at home should they need it. Mum-of-one Grace told us: "My little boy is four now, and he still loves this rabbit comforter he's had since birth. It was a gift from my sister-in-law, and she even bought him two so we'd have a back up. But we ended up buying two more back-ups because we knew he'd be devastated if we lost it. Having more also means that we can pop a dirty one in the wash without him getting upset."

If the worst does happen, the research shows that almost half of kids (42 per cent) and even one in ten parents will shed tears, with 21 per cent of parents resorting to calling friends and family, and 17 per cent posting on school and nursery WhatsApp groups to try and locate the missing toy. Just under a third of parents (30 per cent) head straight online to purchase an identical replacement.

If you can't find an identical replacement, then take a look at our pick of the best toys for three-year-olds, toys for £10 and under, and this year's top toys for an option that will hopefully offer a new favourite toy instead.

We put the Toniebox and various Tonies through their paces to see if they are worth the price tag, and to gauge just how easy they are for kids to operate.

If you're new to the world of Tonies, then you might be wondering what a Toniebox is and how it works. Essentially, it's a wireless, screen-free audio player that is designed to be operated by children. It's got no sharp edges and features padded sides, so it can withstand the most enthusiastic of operators. It comes in a variety of eye catching colours that kids will adore too. Audio is played via magnetic figurines called Tonies, which sit on top of the Toniebox.

Read our review to find out if the Toniebox is the right audio player for you.

Setting up the Toniebox

The Toniebox arrived well packaged (it's all recyclable too, which is a big tick in the plus column) with everything you need for a successful set up. You get the Toniebox in the colour of your choice, a charger, instructions and a Creative Tonie that can be used to upload up to 90 minutes of your own audio.

The set up process took less than 10 minutes and the instructions are really easy to follow. In fact the instructions are surprisingly minimal, which made me nervous initially, but where the paper instructions leave off, the app instructions took over. You will need to register a new free account on the website or on the mytonies app, which is available in the App Store and on Google Play.

You will also need access to your emails to complete the registration process, and you will need to be connected to WiFi and have your WiFi password to hand. If you are buying this for a child in your family, it's a wise move to set it up first so that your child can hit the ground running.

Toniebox Design

I'm testing the bright red Toniebox because I'm a good aunty and red is my nephew's favourite colour. It's a rounded cube shape (not a sharp edge in sight), and it's got a layer of foam padding around all of the sides, so it feels really sturdy. The audio comes out of a speaker on one side of the cube, not all, and so it feels pretty intuitive as to how you should hold it to hear the audio in the best way. There is also a headphone socket on the top where you can attached wired headphones.

The Toniebox has two different sized 'ears' on the top, next to the magnetic panel where the Tonies are attached. The only lights on the Toniebox appear on this top panel, which is great if you are planning on incorporating this toy into a child's bedtime routine - no one needs a flashing light show just before bed!

It also has a circular dip on the bottom, which is where the charger fits - this is a cool feature and it keeps it sturdy even when it's charging.

What age is best for a Toniebox?

The Toniebox is aimed at children aged three and over. My nephew has just turned four and came to mine to take part in my 'storytime experiment' (also known as testing the Toniebox).

Initially, he was more excited about the Tonie audio characters I have, including Highway Rat and a Dinosaur, both of which were super recognisable to him. But when I showed him what happened when we put the figurine on the top of the Toniebox, that was even more exciting. By the time he went to bed, he was confidently turning on the Toniebox, swapping over Tonies and adjusting the volume.

For more advanced actions, like rewinding or fast-forwarding, or skipping chapters, a child of that age will need to be shown, but I have no doubt they will pick it up quickly, tiny sponges that they are.

How easy is a Toniebox to use?

Once you've completed the initial set up, and you've got a Tonie to play with, then Toniebox is really easy to use - and you'd want it to be, especially when one of it's main selling points is that it can be operated by a child.

To turn the Toniebox on, you pinch one of it's ears, and then you'll hear the start up music, then you just pop your chosen Tonie on the top, and it starts playing automatically. If you take the Tonie off, stopping play, and put it back on, it will start again from where it left off, but if you play a different Tonie in between, or the Toniebox turns off, the Tonie will start back at the beginning.

To stop the audio, all you need to do is remove the Tonie audio character. There's no need to switch the box off - it turns off automatically after 10 minutes. It'll also turn off 10 minutes after the end of a Tonie's audio tracks, so there's no need to worry about it running all night. By tilting the Toniebox to one side, you can fast-forward or rewind the audio track (and you can use the mytonies app to select whether you tilt it left to fast-forward or right, which I thought was a very cool feature).

To adjust the volume, you pinch the bigger of the Toniebox's ears to turn it up, and the smaller ear to turn it down. I really liked that the maximum volume was limited, and you can even reduce this further in the mytonies app.

You can also tap the sides of the Toniebox in order to skip to the next or previous chapter of the audio, but it does feel like you have to tap it in a very specific place, with a specific force in order to skip - it took me a couple of goes to successfully skip in the direction I wanted to.

For a child's opinion, I roped in my nephew, Max, who has just turned four. And it was a resounding thumbs up from him. He loved having a really good look at the audio characters and was excited about the ones he recognised. For Max, he was most engrossed in the stories when he was away from other distractions, so it was perfect for him when it came to bedtime. He was really happy to listen to it independently too.

Some Tonies encourage interaction by asking questions of the listener, and you might find your child is more likely to interact if you join in too - this was definitely the case with Max, and might be because of his age.

While the Tonie is great for independent play, it doesn't have to replace the personal interaction and story time that you might already have in place before your child goes to sleep. But it's a great additional to resource to help them hone their listening skills, learn new things and bring on their language development. And you can absolutely listen to it together if you want to enjoy some quiet time with your little one.

Another thing that's great about this Toniebox is that it's portable. Once it's set up, and the audio files from the Tonie figures are downloaded on to it (this happens automatically when you place the Tonie on the Toniebox when you are connected to WiFi. You will see a flashing blue light underneath the Tonie as it downloads, and once complete, the light will go green), then you no longer need to have a WiFi signal in order to listen to the audio.

Recording your own audio using the Creative Tonie

A really cool feature of the Toniebox is the ability to record up to 90 minutes of your own audio using the Creative Tonie, that comes with the box as standard. You can record your audio using the mytonies app and assign it to your Creative Tonie - it look me a couple of attempts to figure out how to assign my recording to the Creative Tonie, and a little while longer to figure out how to get it to actually play through the Toniebox. But once you've done it once, it's easy to replicate.

This process definitely required grown up input, but I know more than one child who would love to record themselves and hear their own voices back!

This functionality can also be really helpful if you are having to spend some time away from your child - being able to leave a recording of your voice, reading a bedtime story or repeating the phrases you say before your child goes to sleep, for example, could help to settle your child at bedtime, even if you are not there.

What's the Toniebox battery life like?

When fully charged, the Toniebox battery lasts for up to seven hours, but how long it actually lasts will depend how you use it and at what volume. Seven hours might not seem very impressive, especially when we are used to our grown up devices like smartphones and tablets lasting much longer. However for younger children with shorter attention spans, this is probably less of an issue.

When Max played with it, he played with it multiple times during the day, listened to it at bedtime, and then listened to some more stories the next morning before it needed a charge.

Which is better - Toniebox or Yoto?

Tonies aren't the only screen-free audio device out there - there's also the Yoto, which works in a similar way, but instead of figurines, the Yoto works with card-style audio files.

Both devices are portable and kid-friendly and are similar prices. The Yoto boasts an impressive 24-hour battery life, while the Toniebox battery will last up to 7 hours. You can also get a Yoto player than comes with additional features, like a built-in room thermometer, night light and an ok-to-wake clock.

But ultimately it comes down to what you need and potentially, which one your child has spotted. If you need a room thermometer, nightlight and clock, then it's worth buying the Yoto, but if this would be doubling up on what you already have, then you might choose the Yoto.

I personally love the Tonie audio characters - they are so intricate, instantly recognisable, and add a bit of visual flair to the screen-free experience. I also think seeing the characters helps to spark the imagination. But for our Family Editor, Stephanie Lowe, the Yoto might just have the edge - you can read her Yoto vs Tonies comparison to find out more.

Is the Toniebox worth the money?

I think the Toniebox is absolutely worth the money - within minutes, it had my four-year-old nephew entranced, and it was brilliant come bedtime. Even if you just by the box and have the Creative Tonie, you can record your own stories (then delete and record more, if you go over the 90-minute limit). You can also find a load of free audio files in the mytonies app, which you can load on to the Creative Tonie.

When it comes to the audio characters, it could easily become expensive to build up a collection of Tonies, but at the £15 mark, it's a perfect price point for gifting, so you can always let friends and family know if there are some Tonies your little one is looking to add to their stash.

When the Prime Day sale is over, you could save a bit of money initially by buying your Toniebox as part of a starter bundle, which will give you the box and a selection of Tonies, for less than buying them all separately.

Want to read more toy reviews to see what's worth spending your money on? Check out our Magic Mixies Pixlings review, or our Beast Lab Shark Beast Creator review.

Musical toys for babies and toddlers are a great addition to your little one's collection. They might already have some of the best toys for 18 month olds, or best toys for two year olds, but musical toys offer a whole host of benefits all their own.

A type of sensory toy, musical toys are great for stimulating your tiny human's senses, as well as helping them hone their fine motor skills, including moving their hands and fingers and practicing their gripping and grasping motions, as well as their hand-eye coordination. Additionally, toys like this can help introduce your child to the concept of cause and effect, where they start to connect their actions, such as banging a drum, with the sound that it makes.

If you're looking to add to your child's toy stash with a little musical number, we've found 12 of the most popular and bestselling options, plus some we rate from personal experience, to help you narrow it down.

12 brilliant musical toys for babies and toddlers

Benefits of musical toys for babies and toddlers

While we know that sensory play offers a host of benefits for children, including improved cognitive development, emotional understanding, fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, the specific incorporation of music elements has it's own set of pros too.

According to one study, babies brains can benefit from musical lessons even before they are old enough to walk or talk. The study found that 12-month-olds who took part in interactive music classes with their parents 'smile more, communicate better and show earlier and more sophisticated brain responses to music.'

Other studies show how these early musical experiences influence children's lives as they grow. You never know, you could have the next Beyonce or Justin Timberlake on your hands!

How we chose the best musical toys for babies and toddlers

We compiled this list using our extensive product knowledge and experience, as well as the feedback from mums whose kids loved these musical toys. While we have first hand experience of some of the toys on this list, we also investigated which musical toys were the most popular, bestselling and highest rated at a range of popular retailers.

As we commit to sharing more sustainable toy options with you, we've also included a few wooden musical toys if you want to keep your plastic use to a minimum.

Also, while we've shared these ideas with you, you likely have a whole host of items at home that would make great instruments in the eyes of a baby or toddler - think pots and pans with a wooden spoon, or sealing rice in a container.

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It's been 50 years since the Rubik's Cube first launched, and it's captivated audiences ever since. With a special 50th anniversary retro cube on the list of this year's top toys, the puzzle's popularity is still going strong. Suitable for children (and adults) aged eight and over, the Rubik's Cube is a brilliant option if you are concerned about screen time, and it's small and compact enough to make a perfect travel toy. And it was one of the most popular toys when millennials were kids, alongside Beanie Babies and Game Boys. Plus, it doesn't need batteries. Result!

Plus, it's super engaging. Before you even try it (or find a method to help you solve it), it feels like it should be relatively easy to solve, right? After all, it's small enough to fit into your hand, and it's suitable for kids (hello, dexterity and problem-solving skills), I mean, really, how hard can it be? Well, as 10 year old me discovered in a pre-internet era, it was flippin' hard - the original Rubik's Cube has 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 combinations (that's just over 43 quintillion for those like me, who just can't comprehend that many digits) and only one solution. And 10-year old me was stumped (and impatient).

Now I'm grown, I've seen loads of hacks online about the logic and process behind solving the puzzle, which makes me want to attempt the cube again. Now I've got access to the retro Rubik's Cube (and the internet), here's how I got on!

How to solve a Rubik's Cube

I tried four different methods and hacks to solve a Rubik's Cube with the hopes of approaching the puzzle with some kind of logical plan to lead me to success, rather than just aimlessly twisting and turning the sides in the hopes of magically making enough moves to go full circle and complete the brain teaser, which was definitely my approach when I was younger.

But the Lisa Simpson in me always baulked at not being able to solve it in one sitting, and that's trait has definitely not gone away as I've matured.

As well as completing it for myself, I also wanted to gauge just how easy it was to follow the hacks and methods and determine which I thought was the best method for children to follow.

Method #1 - Official Rubik's Cube Method

What is the method? First, I tried the official Rubik's method. This is similar to the seven step method mentioned below, in that it involves working in layers and beginning with the white face of the cube. But this method involves making a daisy shape on the top layer (like the white cross but with a yellow square in the middle of it instead of a white one). Then once you have solved the white layer, you go on to the middle layer, before completing the final layer.

Out of the methods I tried, this one is definitely the most handy for kids to follow as it has really clear and colourful diagrams for every step of the process. Again, this was a bit painstaking to follow, but it's definitely the case of the more you do it, the more it'll be committed to memory, and you'll eventually be able to do it without the instructions. That being said, this can be really positive for children, teaching them about perseverance and the importance of practise in order to become good at something. They can work towards the goal of being able to solve the cube without following the instructions, then once they can do that, they could start timing themselves to see if they can do it quicker than before.

Did I solve it? Yes

Difficulty rating: 7/10 (there are a lot of steps, but the diagrams are really clear and helpful)

Method #2 - the seven-step method

What is the method? Next up was to try the seven step method - this starts with creating a cross shape of white squares on the top of the cube, which is easy enough, but you have to make sure that you have two squares of matching colours following on from the cross as you move down the sides, which is harder than it looks. Then you have to get the white corners in place, then you work on the second layer, before you start on a yellow cross, change up the corners, give it a twist, and then, all being well, you've solved the cube.

This method was painstaking, but it worked, eventually. You have to make sure you orient the cube exactly as the instructions state, otherwise you inadvertently mess up layers you've already solved. Although it worked, this particular set of instructions seemed like they might be too complex for a child to follow, and there weren't many helpful images to follow along with.

Did I solve it? Yes

Difficulty rating: 6/10 (Children may need help from adults to decipher the instructions)

Method #3 - The Instagram Hack

What's the method? This hack states that if you repeat a sequence of four moves, six times, you can solve the cube. There is a really simple diagram to follow, and each move involves moving two columns either up or down, and the top and bottom layers either clockwise or anticlockwise.

I saw this method when I was scrolling Instagram, and immediately saved it to try later. With more than 350,000 likes, and a seemingly quick and easy method. How exciting, I thought, this will turn my cube into a lovely mindfulness activity that I can try when I need to shift my brain into a different gear for a few minutes, and it will be super easy for kids to follow. It involves repeating four specific moves, six times in order to solve the cube. But this hack only works if you start with a completed cube. If you have a jumbled cube, like I did, this gets you nowhere near to solving it.

Did I solve it? No

Difficulty rating: 1/10 (the moves are simple to follow, so it feels like it should be easy, but in the end, the process just doesn't solve a jumbled cube).

Method #4 - Using a Cube Solver

What's the method? If you have tried and tried to solve the cube, are desperate to solve the puzzle as quickly as possible, you can try a Rubik's Cube solver, like this one, where you input exactly what each of your cube's faces look like, and get personalised steps to solve it.

This might feel like a cop-out and you won't necessarily get the same sense of accomplishment than if you solve the puzzle using an alternative method, but it's not necessarily a bad solution, especially for a child.

Kids will need to input the coloured squares exactly as they appear on the faces of the cube, which can help them practice their spatial reasoning. Once they have their solution, they still have to follow instructions on the screen in order to solve the puzzle. Using a tool like this can help children improve their dexterity and handling of the cube, and get used to how the puzzle moves, and how certain movements result in particular outcomes. This can help them grow more confident in trying new sequences of moves when they play again, with the aim of solving it themselves.

Did I solve it? Yes

Difficulty rating - 2/10

Best way to solve a Rubik's Cube - our verdict

Firstly, the best way to solve a Rubik's Cube for the first time is definitely to follow instructions. You need a method to follow, otherwise you just end creating more of a jumble to solve.

My favourite method was the official Rubik's Cube solution - there are clear and easy to follow diagrams for every step of the process - which makes it much easier for children to follow along with. It's a slow process to begin with though, but as you become more comfortable with the moves you can make, and the logical steps to follow, you'll definitely get quicker.

The seven step method is very similar - in fact lots of the methods you find online are very similar to the official solution, and there are also videos you can follow if you want to see a real-life solve - we've added links to our favourites below.

I wouldn't knock Cube Solvers either, especially if you feel like you've got into a pickle and want to start again. But I'd steer clear of any method that seems too quick or too simple - it's probably also too good to be true.

• Official Rubik's Cube Solution
• Ruwix Seven Step Guide
• Wikihow
• Teach Kids Engineering Method
• VIDEO: How to solve a Rubik's Cube with Matty Hiroto Inaba, ranked 6th in the WCA (World Cube Association)

How long does it take to solve a Rubik's Cube?

How long to it takes to solve a Rubik's Cube will depend on which method you use to solve it, and how many times you've attempted the method. Once you know the process for solving a Rubik's Cube, you could potentially solve the puzzle quite quickly, and without the need for instructions. But it'll take a lot of practice to beat the current world record which is a jaw-dropping 3.12 seconds.

Tips for solving a Rubik's Cube

• Keep the Rubik's Cube on a table so you can keep the front face consistent as you go through your sequence of moves
• Try to work in layers
• Centre pieces are always in the centre - they don't move position
• Get used to the jargon - the letters F R U L D, stand for Front, Right, Up, Left, Down. The letters on their own, in any method, mean to move that face 90 degrees clockwise. If those letters are followed by and apostrophe, such as F', that means the move should be made anticlockwise. If the letter is followed by the number two, such as F2, that means the move is 180 degrees rather than 90.

Want to have a go at the Rubik's Cube?

For more screen-free options, check out our picks of the the best slime toys for messy sensory play, or the most popular Tonies for some chilled storytime. If you're looking for a buget gift, we've rounded up the best toys under £10.

Slime can be a bit of a hit and miss toy - some children love the gloopy, messy fun, while others hate the fact it sticks to their hands (we have a suitable alternative in our list below). But there's no denying the popularity of this form of sensory play.

Playing with slime can be a brilliant way for children for experience new and fun textures, develop their language skills as they try to describe the sensations, and can help promote feelings of calm through play. Get a sense of the viscous fun and the clean up required by checking out my account of introducing my nephew to slime - so much glutinous and slippery fun!

In many cases, you can buy slime toys for less than £10, but do make sure that you check the age range guidance before purchasing, and make sure that younger children are supervised when playing. It can also help to make sure you have aprons, like these from Amazon, as well as waterproof tablecloths or mats handy to help contain the fun.

9 slime toys that kids will love

Why do kids love slime?

Slime is popular with kids for a multitude of reasons - it's tactile, it's messy, it's creative and it's great to play with others. As GoodtoKnow expert panellist and child development expert, Dr Amanda Gummer explains, these interactive play experiences "will help children develop essential social skills such as cooperation, communication, and even resilience, laying a solid foundation for positive relationships and interactions with others as they get older."

Engaging in sensory play can also help foster calming play, which can be especially helpful if you have a child who worries. Discovering the new textures and listening for the squelchy sounds can help to focus the mind on the senses and play more mindfully.

Plus, slime is kinda disgusting, and kids tend to love disgusting stuff, as the popularity of these gross-sounding games goes to show. And if playing with the slime creates some questionable sound effects then all the better!

Is slime safe for children to play with?

If you buy your slime from a reputable retailer in the UK, and you do you research and only buy products with the CE mark, which means it meets safety standards, then you can safely assume that it's safe for your child to play with. But it never hurts to be cautious when buying toys of this nature.

In 2018, research from Which? found that eight out of the 11 best selling slime toys weren't actually safe for children to play with. The products were found to have a toxic level of a chemical called Boron, which could lead to skin irritation, diarrhoea and vomiting. As a result of findings, those toxic products were removed from sale in the UK.

Even so, young children should always be supervised when playing with slime toys, and hands washed thoroughly when play is over. If you're worried about your child potentially ingesting the slime, you could follow our recipe to make your own edible slime instead.

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It's been six years since Toys R Us fell into administration, but it's returning to a high street near you this summer, thanks to another high street stalwart.

With its wall-to-wall toys and one of the catchiest jingles ever (bonus points for anyone who can remember the lyrics), Toys R Us was a high street staple in the 90s and noughties, known as the place to get toys for all age groups, from stacking and nesting toys for babies to interactive pets or dinosaur toys for older children. This retailer was such an icon, that we bet any millennial parent can remember a trip to Toys R Us to buy one of these classic toys, during their childhood. Its first UK store opened in 1985, and was lauded at the first toy supermarket, but by 2017, its US parent company filed for bankruptcy and by 2018, the 100 UK stores were closed.

But Toys R Us is back, in partnership with WHSmith. The collaboration was first announced in 2022, when WHSmiths bought the rights to relaunch the Toys R Us website. Nine in-store concessions were also trialled in WHSmith stores in: Canterbury, Chelmsford, Cheltenham, Cwmbran, Oxford, Poole, Reading, Solihull and York.

• Canterbury, Kent
• Chelmsford, Essex
• Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
• Cwmbran, Monmouthshire
• Oxford
• Poole, Dorset
• Reading, Berkshire
• Solihull, West Midlands
• York.

And now the concessions are set to be expanded into more WHSmith stores, with another 30 planned to open by the end of August 2024. The locations have not yet been confirmed, but they will follow suit of the existing concessions. Shoppers will be able to browse a curated range of products, including favourites like Barbie, Hot Wheels, Peppa Pig and more. The products will be refreshed and updated throughout the seasons, and customers will be able to view the full range on the website. In addition to the focused selection of toys, the concessions will also have interactive experiences and demonstration tables which will delight little shoppers.

To find out if you have a concession near you, you can use the store finder tool on the Toys R Us website. If you haven't yet seen the relaunched website, you'll find all of the top toy brands, from Crayola and Squishmallows to Baby Annabelle and Pokemon. The website also has some exclusive toys from Plus-Plus, as well as a whole selection of downloadable activities featuring iconic Toys R Us mascot Geoffrey the Giraffe.

If you've got toys on your shopping list, make sure you check out this year's top toys, to see what the experts say is worth your money. For those on a budget, we've curated a list of toys under £10, and highlighted the most popular Tonies too.

Knowing how to find brilliant toys for under £10 is a skill that all parents (scrap that, all adults) should have, and here's why.

Being a parent is expensive, even more so when birthdays and Christmas roll around, and this year's top toys don't come cheap. The costs soon tot up when you have more kids. The costs rise further when your child starts school and gets invited to the birthday parties of their 30 classmates where they want to take a pressie for their friend.

It's a similar story for those with nieces, nephews, Godchildren, and a myriad of other children in their life - when it comes to present giving, you quite often need something that the kids are going to love, but isn't so expensive that it either breaks the bank or annoys the child's parents. GoodtoKnow's Family Editor Stephanie Lowe knows this situation all to well: "My son still has 'class parties' so that's 28 presents I have to buy this year alone so £10 per child is my absolute limit. I'm really anti-tat so spending £10 on something that's actually loved and worth-it is a must."

That's why we've come up with this list of toys suitable for a range of ages and interests, that all come in at less than £10. We've chosen toys based on our extensive product knowledge, our real-life experience or that of children we know and love, those that have the best customer ratings and reviews, and those that are bestsellers. For a wider choice of toys, check out out toy collections that cover everything from the best toys for 6-12 month olds to the best toys for 10 year olds.

18 toys under £10 that make perfect gifts

How we chose these toys under £10

To curate this list of the best toys under £10, we used our in-depth product knowledge and expertise as well as personal experience to list the toys we really rate. Many of the toys on this list appear in other toys collections that can be found here at GoodtoKnow. We also looked at customer ratings on the retailer's websites, as well as which toys topped the bestsellers and most popular lists, as well as those that are trending right now.

Prices were correct at the time of writing with all toys available for £10 or less.

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With more than 700 characters available, it can help to know what the most popular Tonies are if your child is starting their own collection.

If you're new to the world of Tonies, they are hand-painted magnetic characters filled with facts, stories and songs, that sit on top of an audio player called a Toniebox (if this is all sounding very jargon-heavy, then make sure you read our guide to what is a Toniebox for a beginner's breakdown on all you need to know). You can also read our Toniebox review to see if the audio player is the right choice for your family.

A good starting point is a Tonies starter bundle, where you can get the player and a selection of popular Tonies - some bundles have a set variety of Tonies, while if you create a bundle on the Tonies website, you can choose your own. But which Tonies should you pick? Here we explain which are the most popular Tonies to help you make the right choice.

11 most popular Tonies (plus one we predict will be a bestseller)

To determine this list of the most popular Tonies, we analysed the Tonies that feature on the bestselling lists on the Tonies website, as well as other major retailers including Amazon, Very, John Lewis, and Smyths. The most popular Tonies are all suitable for preschoolers from age three.

If you're looking for Tonies for older children, there is so much choice available. From Tonies based on iconic Roald Dahl characters, like The Enormous Crocodile or Matilda (both suitable for age six and upwards), to educational Tonies like the Nat Geo Kids Astronaut, suitable for those from five years old, there really is a Tonie for everyone.

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With the summer in reaching distance, new data has revealed the hottest toys for outdoor play when the weather warms up.

Having the best outdoor toys and games on hand for when the summer holidays hit is a great way to ensure your kids get some time outside and away from screens, as well as getting some exercise without even realising it. Many of this year's top toys are tailored to indoor play, which might not be a bad thing, given the unpredictable British weather, but it's worthwhile having a couple of the hottest options for outdoor play on hand for when the sun does manage to peep through. And the trendiest options have been determined thanks to new data from The Entertainer after the retailer analysed Google Trends data to compile the list and rank the toys.

And it's a playground classic that takes the top spot.

Outdoor toy trends for summer 2024

The data found that seesaws were the most popular outdoor toy for 2024, with 339,000 average monthly searches, which is a 68 per cent increase over the last 12 months. If you wanted to invest in a seesaw for your kids to enjoy in your own garden, then something like this crocodile rocker from Amazon would be great for younger kids - plus, they're not reliant on a playmate to enjoy the seesaw fun as they can sit in the middle and rock away.

As they grow, you might opt for something a little bit more substantial, like this seesaw (also from Amazon) that spins as well as bounces.

Sports equipment like rugby balls, tennis rackets, basketballs and mini golf sets also make the list alongside more sedate options like kid-friendly gardening tools, foam gliders and a sandpit. Take a look at the list in full:

1. Seesaw
2. Gardening tools for kids
3. Zipline kit
4. Rugby ball
5. Tennis racket and balls
6. Foam gliders
7. Fishing rods for kids
8. Cricket set
9. Basketball
10. Volleyball
11. Kite
12. Mini trampoline
13. Trampoline
14. Climbing dome
15. Toy bucket
16. Tetherball
17. Mini golf set
18. Slide
19. Water gun
20. Sandpit

Engaging in outdoor play is good for your child's physical and mental health as counsellor Georgina Sturmer, MBACP, explains: “Playing outside encourages us to flex our muscles and run around. This is good for our physical health and has a knock-on impact on our mental well-being too.

“Playing outside requires us to engage all of our senses. As we experience the outdoor world, nature and fresh air, it can calm our nervous system or lift our mood, reminding us to retain perspective over any stresses or worries.”

But in addition, this type of play can also help boost a child's creativity as well as their self confidence. Georgina adds: “Outdoor play often incorporates elements of careful risk-taking. Seeing if we can jump high enough, reach far enough, balance well enough. This is a natural way for children to develop their confidence and self-esteem. They learn to attempt new things, to experience setbacks and to challenge themselves to keep trying something new.

“Outdoor toys and games can be played in many different ways. They encourage us to think creatively, to design new games, to collaborate with others, to role play imaginary scenarios.”

Speaking on the research, David Westman, Recreational Play Expert at The Entertainer said: “As we approach summer, it’s always intriguing to explore the outdoor toy product trends to spot the items generating the most interest.

“It was also encouraging to see so many products that promote active play, such as tennis rackets and balls. These toys are great for remaining physically healthy outside of school months when children tend to be less active."

If you need more inspiration, we've got loads of ideas of things to do with kids, as well as brilliant options for toys for all age groups, from the best stacking and nesting toys for babies to the best toys for 10 year olds.

From Furbys to robot dogs, and puppies to geckos, we round up the best interactive pets for kids. Even though we have included interactive pets in our round up of the best toys for six-year-olds, they actually make great toys for kids of all ages, teaching emotional intelligence, empathy and responsibility, while also instilling nurturing skills. Fostering these characteristics is hugely important, especially if your child wants a real pet, or you plan on introducing one into the family at a later date.

Interactive pets aren't a new concept, there are a few on this list that are classic toys that have been around for years. But advances in technology means that there are more interactive pets than ever to choose from.

For this list, we've chosen our favourites based on our in-depth experience and product knowledge, customer reviews and the bestsellers. Our selection is suitable for a variety of ages ranges, with prices from £9.99 to £66.99.

15 interactive pets for kids

Why are interactive pets good for children?

Interactive pets make great gifts for children as they really tap into imaginative play which is an important type of play for their development. GoodtoKnow expert panellist Dr Amanda Gummer explains: "Allowing children to engage in imaginative play and explore different scenarios, enhances their creativity and emotional intelligence."

These types of toys can also be enjoyed solo, which can be really beneficial in helping a child grow in their independence, practice their decision-making and concentration skills. Interactive pets can also help your child develop their nurturing side, and help expose them to the responsibilities that comes with real-life pet ownership.

For more interactive toys, check out our Tonies guide or our pick of the best mix and make toys. You can also take a look at this year's top toys to see the newest toys on the block.