gross motor Archives - Sophie's Nursery

Tonka Steel: Bulldozer & Mighty Dump Truck Review

September 24, 2020 By lporter Leave a Comment

Tonka Steel: Bulldozer & Mighty Dump Truck Review

I’ve always been a fan of Tonka toys so the fabulous Tonka Steel Mighty Dump Truck & Bulldozer have made very welcome additions to our toy collection!

TONKA originated in 1947 in Mound, Minnesota originally created and manufactured by Mound Metalcraft (manufacturer of garden implements).

The company began selling metal toys, which soon became the primary business. In November 1955, Mound Metalcraft changed its name to TONKA Toys Incorporated. The name TONKA comes from the Dakota Sioux word “Tanka” or Tonka, which means “great” or “big”.

In 2001, TONKA trucks were inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong in Rochester, New York.

For almost 70 years, TONKA trucks have been the undisputed kings of the sandbox for decades. Built on the notion that “a toy shouldn’t break just because a child plays with it,” they’re strong, sturdy and long-lasting. Back in the ’70s, TONKA even had an elephant stand on one, just to prove their point.

Designed for continuous play for a range of ages, the Tonka Steel Classics fleet is built super tough with real steel. Ready for the biggest loading jobs, we have been trying out both the mighty dump truck & bulldozer. See how we got on below!

Tonka Steel Mighty Dump Truck

We love this new deluxe version of the Classic Mighty Dump Truck. It’s huge & being made from real steel ensures it has ‘Tonka tough’ endurance! The size & material it is made out of means the toy is perfect for children aged 3 & up. Built to take on the toughest construction jobs, my kids loved piling the bed up with dirt, sand, wooden logs & a variety of other items.

The Tonka Dump Truck bed actually movable, meaning lifting the truck bed up and down triggers the unloading action. This enables children to easily haul dirt, sand and gravel around the construction site.

I am all about encouraging imaginative play & this Tonka truck toy is perfect for providing this. Both children spend ages loading, unloading & driving the truck around the dirt & loading it with logs. The truck also supported their gross & fine motor development whilst having loads of fun!

Tonka Steel Bulldozer

Another Tonka Steel Classic, the Tonka Bulldozer is designed to demolish & clear anything in its path. It has a workable blade for moving sand, gravel & dirt & is a brilliant addition to a role play construction site.

Again, the Tonka Bulldozer is designed to last! Made from steel it is super tough & perfect for younger children (around ages 3-6). We played with both the Tonka Steel toys outside for a long time, rolling them across the pavement, through dirt & even down our steps – not a mark on them!

Overall

We absolutely love these toys! They are tough & so versatile. You don’t need to have a garden to enjoy them, they can also be used indoors. My 5-year-old spent ages loading & unloading her cuddly toy collection into the dump truck bed. The Bulldozer also got used to knock over wooden towers & skittle sets.

The Tonka Steel Mighty Dump Truck retails around £49.99 & the Bulldozer around £24.99. TONKA Steel Classics are available from a variety of good independent toy shops, JLP, Shop Direct & Amazon. I would say they are well worth the price as they will last for years & give so much play value. It is also worth noting that, when you start collecting the range, you also receive a bonus collector card for each vehicle!

I will certainly be looking to buy more from the Steel range for future birthday & Christmas presents!

Also…

For your chance to win some TONKA goodies, more product info, activities & more, head over to the TONKA Tough Event page! This week there is a TONKA Mighty Steel Bulldozer up for grabs!

** We received these items in return for our Tonka Bulldozer & Mighty Dump Truck review. All thoughts & opinions are our own.

Baby Shark Puppet Toys & FREE Easter Activities

April 5, 2020 By lporter Leave a Comment

Baby Shark Puppet Toys & FREE Easter Activities

So Easter is looking a bit different this year, isn’t it?! Being in lockdown for the foreseeable future, our usual Easter Egg hunt across the park sadly isn’t going to happen. However, we are making plans to use our garden instead. It is only small (yes we are lucky to have one!), but this fabulous collection of Baby Shark puppet toys & Easter basket is going to help make our egg hunt extra fun!

In our lovely Baby Shark themed Easter basket there is a Baby Shark Song Puppet with tempo control & Baby Shark Sound Cubes from WowWee. There is also a fun Baby Shark Easter Hunt themed activity sheet!

Baby Shark Song Puppet

How cute is this? Baby Shark is now available as an interactive puppet! All you need to do is move the mouth of the puppet & it will sing the entire Baby Shark song. The tempo control aspect of the puppet means that children can control how fast or slow the song is sung by moving the mouth at different speeds. Designed for ages 3+, Sophie played with it as Charlie, my 2-year-old, watched & danced along! They both absolutely loved it!

Baby Shark Sound Cubes

For more Baby Shark fun, we also received these cute collectable sound cubes!

All children need to do is squeeze the cubes & they will be rewarded with the official Baby Shark song. You do need to buy them separately (Baby, Mummy & Daddy), but are a fab little set for mini ones!

These are perfect for younger Baby Shark fans as it is very simple to get the song to play. They are also super soft & are a big hit with both my kids!

Both the Baby Shark Sounds Cubes & Interactive Song Puppet are available from Smyths & Argos.

Easter Hunt & FREE Baby Shark Egg Markers

I’m looking forward to setting up our Baby Shark Easter themed egg hunt in the garden & try to make the best out of a bad situation.

—–>>>>These downloadable Baby Shark themed markers are super fun & will add that extra sparkle<<<<<—–

– I can’t wait to see the kids faces!!

**We were sent these Baby Shark Puppet Toys & Easter Basket in return for this review. All thoughts & opinions are our own.

Summer Infant Train & Transition My Size Potty Review

June 11, 2019 By lporter Leave a Comment

Summer Infant Train & Transition My Size Potty Review

Potty training… ugh. Certainly not the most enjoyable part of parenting! I shouldn’t moan as Sophie was super easy to potty train. I left her until she was totally ready (at just over 3 years old) & it took us about 3 days to get her sorted. We had some accidents, but it was nowhere near as bad as I thought. But now that Charlie is getting older, I have to do it all over again. Yippee…

Looking back at what we did with Sophie, we just used a super cheap IKEA potty & some thick training pants. This time around, I decided to go all out & try a Summer Infant My Size Potty! I’ve been eyeing one up for ages so was super excited when I was asked to review one.

My Size Potty: Train & Transition Features

The My Size Potty is designed to look like a real toilet, but a miniature version. I love this because it helps young children feel grown up as they get to do what adults are doing. Also, it actually resembles the small toilets they have at nursery, helping them to get used to those. Of course, it also helps prepare them for using full-sized toilets in the future!

The design of the potty is great. The ‘cistern’ is actually a storage box for training wipes & tissues or whatever else you may need. The snap close lid is easy for little hands to open, but closes well enough that the wipes won’t dry out.

The toilet bowl is a removable potty making it easy to clean after use.

The potty topper seat is removable & is nice & soft for sitting on as it’s made from foam. Once your child starts to use the adult toilet, this seat can be used on there saving you having to buy one separately. There is also a storage clip that can be fitted to the main toilet for the seat to hang on.

The most fascinating & fun part of the potty for the kids is the realistic flushing sound it makes when they pull the handle. I think this is the key to making my child actually want to use his potty. It’s like a little reward for him!

Does It Work?

Every child is different, but I must say it has been a big hit with Charlie. I believe the fact it looks so realistic, has a fun flushing sound & he is able to get on & off by himself has made this a true win. He actually wants to use it. He is also starting to show an interest in the wipes in the cistern storage, encouraging him to be aware of his own cleanliness.

Overall

Overall we are really pleased with the My Size Potty. It has given us what I believe to be a head start on our potty training journey & anyone who uses our bathroom always comments on how wonderful it is! From a parents point of view, I love how compact it is considering it’s a ‘toilet’ & how easy it is to clean. Definitely a win here too!

** We received a Summer Infant Train & Transition My Size Potty in exchange for this review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Zimpli Kids: Gelli Baff & Slime Review

June 10, 2019 By lporter Leave a Comment

Zimpli Kids: Gelli Baff & Slime Review

Slime seems to be a BIG hit with kids & is something we have been wanting to try out for ages. The lovely people over at Zimpli Kids helped to make this happen by sending us a bundle of slimy items to try. We love a bit of sensory play & these products are a great way of providing my young children with messy fun that isn’t too much hassle or mess!

Zimpli Kids

Zimpli Kids design & sell some of the most unique & innovative sensory play items on the market. I love that they dedicate their time to creating fun new products that will safely enhance both a child’s and a parent’s experience of playtime.

The items we received from Zimpli Kids were:

Glitter Slime Play
Glitter Gelli Baff
Gelli Baff
Slime Baff

Inside each box was a sachet along with detailed instructions. It all sounded super simple so we got started!

Baff Products

We loved all of the baff products! My kids think bathtime is amazing anyway so this just blew their minds.

It was super easy to make – simply fill the bath with around 3 inches of water, add the contents of the given sachet & mix it with your hands. The slime/gelli took about 10 minutes to form.

We were left with a very gooey, gunky green slime, a lava red gelli goo & some glittery pink goo!

My daughter loved it & spent ages running it through her fingers & toes & pretending to swim in it.

The best part for me was how easy it was to clean after we had finished playing. By just adding water & a bag of provided white powder, the gelli & slime washed away down the plug with ease. It did not stain the bath or my kids’ skin or hair.

Just as a word of warning, the slime & gelli baffs are VERY slippery. We kept our bath mats in the bath whilst the children were playing to help with the slipperiness. I also ensured they remained sitting down until the slime had been fully washed away to prevent any accidents.

Slime Play

The glitter slime play is a bit different from the baff products as it is designed to be used in a bowl or tuff tray. It takes a bit longer to form (about 15 minutes) & gets thicker the more you mix it. I decided to use the glitter slime as a means of hiding some toys for the kids to find. They loved it!

Overall

Overall we loved experimenting with the Zimpli kids products & will definitely be getting some more for our further sensory adventures!

** We received a bundle of products in return for this Zimpli Kids: Gelli Baff & Slime Review. All thoughts & opinions are our own.

10 Best Toys for 1 Year Olds: Supporting Babies’ Development

March 17, 2019 By lporter 3 Comments

10 Best Toys for 1 Year Olds: Supporting Babies’ Development

**Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and I receive a commission if you visit a link and buy something on my recommendation. Purchasing via an affiliate link doesn’t cost you any extra, and I only recommend products and services I LOVE & trust. All opinions are my own.

Due to the popularity of our list of best toys for 6 months old AND now that Charlie is 12 months old, I wanted to write an updated list of our favourite play toys! Making time to play is crucial to healthy brain development, improving physical, emotional & mental skills. So, what are the best toys for 1-year-olds that help ensure a well-rounded development? At 1-year-old babies are learning to walk, understand cause & effect & develop their problem-solving skills. Below we have listed our choice of the best toys for 1-year-olds – from wooden building blocks to help developing motor skills to singing tractors that support animal sound recognition.

Rocking Caterpillar

How cute is this caterpillar? Little ones will love the soft fabric, bright colours & smiling face. The caterpillar’s body has been shaped into a small seat, keeping young children super secure when rocking on the hardwood frame. They will love the independence of rocking by themselves, developing their confidence. And of course, it’s great fun!

Playgro Elephant Shape Sorter

At 1 year old, babies are just starting to develop the concept of spatial awareness. Shape sorters such as this one are a great way to help little ones learn about shape, colour & problem-solving. The shapes on this elephant sorter are also numbered, which is a great visual introduction to first numbers.

B. Zany Zoo Wooden Activity Cube

With all the moving parts & different activities, little ones will love this busy cube. There’s a bead maze on top, buttons to pull along grooves, spinners, doors to open & more. Perfect for curious 1-year-olds & for keeping little hands busy. It also encourages young children to stand up & play.

Squirrel Play Wooden Car Roll

A simple toy, but so much fun, this wooden car roll encourages children to place their car at the top of the ramp & watch them roll down. Each ramp is brightly coloured & made from hard beech wood. Great for learning about cause & effect.

Squirrel Play 50-Piece Wooden Building Blocks

Perfect for imaginative play, these brightly coloured wooden blocks are ideal for stacking, building &, of course, knocking down. Stacking toys are great for developing fine motor skills, creativity & spatial awareness. What will your little one make?

Mickey N’ Friends Activity Gears Ride On

Just like a real car, this fun ride on has a beeping horn, a movable steering wheel, a key, shifting gears & revving engine sounds. This ride on also plays sounds & music. Perfect for developing gross motor skills as young children learn to use their feet to move themselves around. There is also a push-along handle for parents to use if required, especially if taking the toy outside. Bonus – the seat storage compartment means they can take their favourite toy along for the ride too!

Old MacDonald Tractor & Trailer

Perfect for teaching young children different animal sounds, this tractor comes with a farmer & a trailer filled with familiar farm animals. When children press the animals into the correct position on the trailer (a bit of shape sorting!) they are rewarded with the animal sounds. Press the farmer for a rendition of Old Macdonald & press the tractor so that it moves along the floor with realistic engine sounds.

Fisher Price Dance & Groove Rockit

1-year-olds love dancing & so will seriously enjoy playing with this Smart Moves Rockit buddy. Bright lights, rocking motions, interactive lights, hands-on activity centres & music are all part of this toy. The Rockit also teaches simple counting & the alphabet. Additionally, with the Smart Stages technology, the learning content changes as your little ones grow. The best bit? It can record the sounds you or your child makes & say them back to you in different silly voices!

Bright Starts Spin & Giggle Giraffe

Perfect for developing gross & fine motor skills, the Spin & Giggle Giraffe is a bundle of fun for younger babies up to toddler age. Sitting babies can put the provided balls into the giraffe’s mouth & are rewarded with singing & lights. Standing babies can push giraffe’s horns causing it to spin around & the balls to shoot out of his feet. Great fun & a real way to encourage your child to get moving!

TOMY Toomies Octopals

It wouldn’t be right not to include a bath toy in the list! This particular toy is made up of a mummy octopus & her 8 babies. They float around either all together or can be played with separately. Mummy octopus can be used as a pouring cup & the babies can be stuck to the side of the bath or tiles. Each octopus can squirt water & has a number on it. This number corresponds to the floating platform they sit on making this toy perfect for number recognition & counting as they get older.

You can find all these wonderful toys in the Smyth’s Baby Room catalogue – head to your local Smyth’s Toy Store or pop online to purchase the full range!

PIN 10 BEST TOYS FOR 1-YEAR-OLDS:

** 10 Best Toys for 1-Year-Olds is a collaborative post with Smyth’s Toy Store. All thoughts & opinions are our own. Toy photo credit Smyth’s Toy Store & Wooden Earth Ltd.

Tonka Steel: Bulldozer & Mighty Dump Truck Review