New Steiff Bears Range launched for 2011

Steiff is adding to it's organic cotton range of baby toys with two
new characters - Sniffy Mouse and Hoppel Rabbit. Each character is
available in a range of products; cuddly toys, musical mobiles,
comforters which are available in blue and pink. Sniffy Mouse and
Hoppel Rabbit are specifically aimed at babies with their designs
able o take plenty of wear and tear whilst a baby explores them. Both
toys are available in various sizes from 12cm to 28 cm. Steiff place
an emphasise of using safe, high quality material. The organic cotton
is woven at Steiff's own textile factory this allows them to control
all stages of production. The organic cotton has been certified with
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and are tested by
Landesgewerbeanstalt located at Nurnberg (LGA). The new Steiff toys
will be launched for sale in early 2011.

Asobi Ready to Celebrate Their Second Birthday

In January 2011, Asobi will be celebrating their second birthday. Asobi, who are known for their eco-friendly lines of products have aquired new lines to distribute. Baghera who distribute retro metal pedal cars were taken on in September 2010. Baghera will use Asobi as the exclusive UK and Ireland  distributor. This will enable Baghera to distribute their products around their customer base far more easily. From December Asobi will also distribute Boikido toys in the UK, the Boikido range feature wooden toys which have key educational and fun qualities. And finally Asobi will also distribute Marc Vidal products, which are a range of pocket money toys that have retro styled packaging. The range is already widely appreciated in the US, Australia and Japan.

Fiesta Crafts Release New Cuddles Range of Puppets Squeakers and Pyjama cases

The new Cuddles range by Fiesta Crafts is a range of puppets, squeakers and pyjama cases that are aunching this month. The Fiesta Crafts Cuddle range featuresfarmyard animals including sheep, cow, and duck, toddlers will love to snuggle up to the warmth of the cddle material. Cuddle puppets are ideal for babies and toddlers to interact with and be entertained. The cuddles toys are made from super soft fabric.

Also in the range are squeekaboos which come in the form of a duck, sheep, rabbit and mouse, ideal for playing peek-a-boo with. These too are made from super soft fabric.

The cuddly pyjama cases are a standard pyjama case combined with a soft and cuddly plush toy. Also planned for 2011 is a new range of Doowell magnetic colour-in games and educational charts. Also building on the success of the Tellatale Theatre range will be the Fiesta Crafts Doorway Theatre adding to the hand and finger puppets already produced.

Considering a Wooden Sand Pit for the Garden

Childrens wooden sand pits can be a great toy that will keep kids entertained for hours outside. There are many childrens wooden sand pits available on the market these range greatly in their size and price. However there are a number of thing that should be taken into consideration before buying a sand pit.

Do you want to move the sand pit? 

Is thee sand pit to be set in a permanent place or does it need to be packed away after  usage or move it out of the sun? If you do then you will probably do well to avoid a large wooden sandpit.

What size should the sandpit be? Are you restricted for space, or are there 1,2,3 or more children that need to use the pit. What kind of activities will be taking place in the wooden sand pit.  The larger the sand pit the more fun and activities can be enjoyed whilst using it. Try to make sure the sand pit is of an adequate size to accommodate these requirements, this will ensure that the maximum amount of fun will be had.

What age are the children that are going to use the sand pit? Bigger children obviously means they are going to require a bigger one for example, plum large octagonal sandpit which also has seats. Whilst if you are buying for a toddler then you might consider investing in a small plastic sand pit at first. If you plan to use the toy for a number of years then you might want to consider a  wooden sand pit to invest in, which tend to be far more durable compared to their plastic counterparts and some have lids and cover to protect them against the worst of the winter weather.

Your Budget? This is probably going to be one of the biggest concerns. Sand pits vary greatly in price, from cheap plastic to bespoke wooden and concrete varieties. Remember buying too cheap might mean an inferior product which might be fragile, have sharp edges or be made from cheap materials, for instance.

Correct Sand? You can buy play pit sand that has been cleaned thorougly and is suitable for children to use. Do not be tempted to use sand from a builders merchants. This type of sand may have been treated chemically and it can have a strong pigment to it that can stain.

How to make a Finger Puppets Theatre in Six Easy Steps

You can make a fun theatre that is small enough for finger puppets by following the six easy steps below. This is a great little project for kids to take part in and you will end up with a educational toy that will encourage children to learn social skills like talking in front of an audience and role play.

1.Cut the top off a cereal packet, this will be the bottom of the theatre.

2.Using poster paint, paint the box (use old newspaper to protect your work surface). Let it dry completely.

3.Cut a rectangular hole on one side of the box -- this will be the stage of your theater. Leave at least 2 inches of the box so the box will not fall apart.

4.Using colored construction paper, draw and cut out curtains for your theater.
If you'd like, use small rectangular scraps of fabric instead of the construction paper.

5.Glue the curtains to the box. Cut a tiny rectangle of contrasting color paper for the pretend curtain tie-back. For the fabric version, use a twist-tie as a tie back.

6.You now have a tiny theater that is useful for putting on shows with finger puppets, popsicle stick puppets, or puppets on a straw.

There you go a quick and easy theatre for finger puppets that has cost next to nothing to make. To buy such an item would cost a fair amount and whilst still being fun, kids would'nt get the extra satisfaction of creating the theatre for the puppets themselves.

TP - Sandpits for Children Different Styles

TP manufacture a range of garden sandpits for children that will suit different space that are available. Each of the sandpits for children comes with a warranty are easy to assemble and are suitable for toddler ages upwards. Each of the sandpits for children have a different theme or shape.

TP Forest Deluxe Picnic Table Sandpit is a great sandpit for smaller gardens and combines two elements, a play-table and sand pit.

• A combined wooden picnic table and sandpit
• Fold the top together after use to keep out the rain
• All plastic parts are UV stabilised
• Very robust Scandinavian Redwood structure
• TP Toys quality at a fair price

The TP Forest Wooden Hexagonal sandpit is a traditional looking wooden sandpit. Again suitable for small gardens and smaller children, it is the most compact hexagonal sandpit that TP manufacture:

• Smooth rounded edges for added safety
• Unique hexagonal design
• All plastic parts are UV stabilised
• Very robust Scandinavian Redwood structure
• Non-rip weather and pet resistant cover
• Base Liner included

The TP Safari Sand boat sandpit is more then just a sandpit It incorporate boat styling, featuring a canopy and a steering wheel. Smaller then the Sand Sailer Sandpit it provides a sandboat with a smaller footprint. With bench seats for the crew and steering wheel for the captain, you can be sure that your children will have hours of fun.

• Includes cover to keep animals and dirt out, and base liner
• Features a handy covered toy storage area, at the front of the boat
• Complete with steering wheel
• The stripey sun canopy, keeps the sun at bay whilst your children are playing

Modern Rocking Horses Safe for Toddlers

Wooden rocking horses were first made about two hundred years ago, becoming more and more popular amongst the middle classes through Victorian times. England became the most desirable with the dapple grey variety even being given royal approval by Queen Victoria herself. As time progressed so rocking horses for toddlers became increasingly popular across the world as a 'must have' toy for any affluent household. Wooden rocking horses have always been iconic, resembling more a piece of furniture to be admired rather than a toy that a child would use on a day to day basis. Having said that rocking horses have developed over the years to become much more fun and safe, especially woodenrocking horses for toddlers. Some of the designs available represent modern styled furniture - layered ply that has been curved to form undulating shapes that are smooth to the touch. Rather than the traditional style of rocking horse that more closely resembles it's living subject. Fine crafted detail that follows the lines and form of a real horse with a flowing mane and tail. Although traditional style wooden rocking horses are still made their high cost often puts them out of the range of most people. The modern variety that have utilised different materials that are cheaper can be manufactured far cheaper and are much more available to households with more modest incomes.

Wooden Rocking Horses - Traditional and Contemporary

Wooden rocking horses have always been iconic, resembling more a piece of furniture to be admired rather than a toy that a child would use on a day to day basis. Having said that rocking horses have developed over the years to become much more fun and safe. Some of the designs available represent modern styled furniture - layered ply that has been curved to form undulating shapes that are smooth to the touch. Rather than the traditional style of rocking horse that more closely resembles it's living subject. Fine crafted detail that follows the lines and form of a real horse with a flowing mane and tail. Although traditional style wooden rocking horses are still made their high cost often puts them out of the range of most people. The modern variety that have utilised different materials that are cheaper can be manufactured far cheaper and are much more available to households with more modest incomes.

Wooden Climbing Frames and Plum My First Play Centre for Smaller Gardens

Wooden climbing frames come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. An average size for wooden climbing frames will occupy a ground space of approximately two meters square, although these can be far greater in size reaching 5 meters by 4 meters or even larger. Obviously you will need a very large spare space to accommodate such a construction, a luxury many people do not have. Even a more average sized children's climbing frame can be difficult to fit into a garden or backyard without it being obtrusive not only in terms of it's length and width but also in terms of it's height. There are smaller climbing frames that have a smaller footprint and a much reduced height that have lots of play activities built into them. The Plum My First Play Centre is one such climbing frame that is suitable for toddlers and younger children. It features many activities including; a rock wall with multi-coloured hand and foot grips, climbing net, play den with door and window, 4ft slide and play deck. The actual floor space taken up by the play centre is 1.5m by 2m it is very low and only measures 1 meter in height.

Childrens Wooden Bookends New Stock

We have now taken delivery of our full range of children's  Wooden Bookends. Many have matching themes and can make an excellent addition to any child's playroom or bedroom.

I'm Toy Cook Shop and Play Pretend Wooden Toy Kitchen

A clever multi-functional wooden toy, I'm Toy Cook Shop and Play is a toy kitchen set for children that trebles up as a shop front and a puppet theatre. With the splashback attached, there are shelves and hooks to place kitchen essentials on, whist underneath there is a hob, sink and oven to keep any pretend cook busy. Remove the splashback and the top part of the frame becomes a window to sell pretend food from which can be decorated with the printed board and material provided to form a shop canopy and signage. Take the material down, slip it onto one of the horizontal rods, turn round the signage and you have a curtained puppet theatre. The I'm Toy Cook Shop and Play is made from sustainable Rubberwood and built to withstand years of play and represents great value for money.

Fiesta Crafts Tellatale Puppet Theatre

The highly imaginative Tellatale Theatre and Shop  from Fiesta Crafts is the ultimate in role-play fun. This multi-award winning toy needs only to be turned around to combine two all time favourite children’s traditional role-play activities.
Children will love the two delightful play possibilities of the easy-to-construct wood and fabric theatre: On one side it’s a glamorous, colourful theatre stage, complete with high quality tie-back curtains, star-print front cloth and ruffled valance with detailed theatre-masks motif. On the other side is a bold red and white themed traditional shop front. Both the theatre and shop can be constructed as a table top theatre too. Suitable for ages 3 to 8 and equally suitable for boys and girls, it complements the popular Tellatale Puppets range.

Children's Pull Along Toys - Some Modern Examples

Wooden push along toys and pull along toys encourage young children and toddlers to learn how to balance when learning to walk. A childrens pull along toy is often cast as a fun character and can become a great companion to a toddler as it is taken on various trips both indoors and out as can wooden push along toys as well. I'm Toy Actor Runner Cow, for example, is a wooden pull along cow mother with baby calf. Baby an be pulled along with mother or can be detatched to stay at home. The cows head turns and her legs are movable for various poses. An original pull along toy, Fiesta Crafts Pet Chase Pull Along consists of a dog, cat and mouse who all link up to create a classic chase scenario. Or you can change the chase order to really mix things up.

Plan Toys Wooden Pull Along Dog - Very Cute!

The wooden pull along dog by Plan Toys has a white body with brown patches. With fabric ears and rubber trimmed wheels, the puppy dog will follows obediently where ever his owner leads him. When moving along the dog wobble around on his wheels, when he stops moving he obediently sits and looks lovingly at his owner.

Plan Toys Chalet Dollhouse

The Plan Toys Chalet Dollhouse is a versatile dolls house that comes in two halves that can be arranged in  many different ways. The house can be remodelled as many times as you like! It features three stories, a slanting roof with a large sky light and comes with two movable staircases. All that needs to be added are some doll occupants, furniture and  imagination! There are different types of Plan Toys Dolls House available in styles like Victorian and Modern.

Plan Toys Chalet Dollhouse Image

Plan Toys Pull Along Crocodile

Somewhat of a classic toy, Dancing Alligator has a light green wooden slated body with rubber trimmed yellow wheels.

The pull along crocodile makes rhythmic click-clack sounds as the body parts flex and clack together. The alligators head and tail also move up and down as the alligator lurches across the floor. Toddlers can pull it along on it's two foot leash while learning to walk.

The Plan Toys Dollhouse features a wind turbine and a solar cell panel with electrical inverter for generating electricity, a rain barrel for collecting rain, a green facade which helps control the appropriate temperature of the house, and a shade canopy that can be pulled down preventing or allowing the wind and sunlight coming through. All furniture including recycle bins are included in the set. The Green Dollhouse is designed to help children learn how to lead a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

Plan Toys Parking Garage

The Plan Toys Parking Garage is equipped with three floors of parking space, an elevator tower, and helipad. The set includes a figure, car, petrol station and car wash

Suitable for children aged 3 years and over.

Wooden Toys for Children

Here you will find numerous resources for wooden toys for children.