Pre-School

Toyin’ around

The perfect balance

Check out the ranges available from CuddleCo designed to entertain little ones while offering skills such as coordination and balance.

CuddleCo have a range of rocking toys, including a horse, elephant and even a scooter. Children love to rock back and forth, entertaining themselves for hours on end.

These toys are the perfect way to teach little ones balance and coordination while rocking. The integrated safety arm and backrest provide extra support so that the child can play safely.

0161 702 5062 sales@cuddleco.co.uk

The infant and toddler toy market continues to grow and expand which isn’t really surprising as babies and infants aren’t yet ready for electronic devices and apps. However, that said there is a new generation of parents on the block and attitudes towards this might quickly alter where parents seek toys that also have a level of technology built in. We are experiencing more infant and pre-school toys being launched where some level of App is included to work alongside the product.

When buying toys for little ones, parents are often seeking a mix of both educational and entertainment factors to assist their child to learn while also having fun which in turn can provide a great opportunity for retailers to cash in on products that offer a level of both. However, you can’t beat sometimes the appeal of a more traditional approach to toys that fall within this category, be they made of suitable plastics, wood or fabric. Remember, this is also a great category if you are looking for gifts in-store or to enhance your websites - as a trade we are fortunate that manufacturers in the toy sector provide age relevant toy ranges that recognise that there are many elements to make a perfect toy and one which also offers huge gifting appeal.

Paddington

set to play

Rainbow Designs is delighted to be celebrating its 50th Anniversary with a number of exciting new additions to its tremendously successful The Adventures of Paddington toy range, specifically aimed at preschoolers.

The Adventures of Paddington toy range is perfect to help spark little imaginations and encourage preschoolers to create their own adventures with Paddington. The exciting new lines include a fun-packed Talking Paddington Soft

Toy with five Paddington phrases including ‘Hello, my name is Paddington’, ‘Where’s my marmalade sandwich?’ and ‘I wonder what adventures I shall have today?’. There are also two new fun-packed playsets, the Rescue Set and Multi Figure Set, that will join the existing range of the Play Bus Set, Collectible figures and Adventures of Paddington Soft Toys.

Other joyful Rainbow Designs’ collections, that have been designed for preschoolers and helping little ones learn through play, include Peter Rabbit TV, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt as well as Guess How Much I Love You, Fun with Spot wooden toy ranges.

01329 227300 www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk

Compact at click of a button

Get ready to roll with the Liki Trike, the world’s most compact folding trike.

The sleek urban design of the Liki Trike allows you to be safe and have fun. With it’s unique and patented small fold, the ingenious trike simply folds and unfolds at the click of a button. Designed to easily fit in the boot of your car or the airplane’s overhead bin, the Liki trike allows you to travel comfortably with your child. Liki is adaptable to suit your child as they grow – it is suitable for children from 10 months to 3 years

0161 702 5062 | sales@cuddleco.co.uk

Soothing stories with tonies

tonies: scree-free, portable, soft yet robust audio speakers for children up to 7 years old filled with stories, music and educational content.

Simply pop a hand painted Tonie on top of the Toniebox to activate the sound, take the Tonie off and the audio stops, making it easy to use independently even for the smallest of hands. With a diverse range of titles to choose from, the Toniebox is the perfect nursery must-have audio player. The Sleepy Time Tonies support sleep routines with Nature Sounds, White Noise and Lullaby‘s, with 120 minutes of gentle music and relaxing sounds to help little ones drift off to sleep easily and calmly.

www.tonies.com

Ickle Bubba introduce Teepee time

Make space for adventure this Summer with the launch of Ickle Bubba’s four-Piece Teepee Playtime Bundle.

With matching printed bunting, a coordinating padded playmat and two soft, cuddly cushions – little ones can create the cosiest den. Meanwhile, parents can be assured that once the teepee is set up, it’s sure to stay in place as its wooden poles have super safe non-slip ends. It’s also an ideal playtime accessory for trips away as the poles are collapsible, making it easy to store away after being transported in its handy fabric carry case.

meghan.bird@icklebubba.com

Children love to mimick their parents, check out the Doll Carrier from Egobaby

The Ergobaby Doll Carrier is the perfect way for children aged 18-months and older to join in with babywearing while leaving their little hands free for other games or tasks. And with teddy less likely to be left behind when safely carried, hopefully there’ll be fewer tears too! It makes a great gift for big brothers and sisters, involving them in the care of their new little brother or sister by letting them mirror their parents and keep their favourite toy close.

service@ergobaby.co.uk

Created to perfection

The Stephanie Collection features magical sparkly fabrics on a high polished chrome chassis. The pink shimmers in the sunlight and is trimmed with a stunning silver piping.

Each Roma dolls pram comes complete with a coordinating bag which attaches to the handle, a removable apron and shopping basket. With 2 in 1 fabrics, the Stephanie carrycot converts into a seat unit with simple poppers. Inside the seat unit is a 3 point harness, for dollies of all ages! The Stephanie is available as a single or twin model, therefore is suitable from 36m right up to 16 years.

molly@romaprams.co.uk www.romaprams.co.uk

Inspiring little imaginations!

NEW

4 Figures

NEW

As seen on

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With 2

Figures!

NEW

With 5

Phrases!

Come Rain or Shine

It’s never too early to introduce diversity…

The launch of a new toy from Hippychick is suitable from birth onwards available to pre-order in time for Christmas can show children how.

Beatrix Potter Gifts by Enesco launches a new Peter Rabbit baby collection

Beatrix Potter Gifts by Enesco is proud to present its brand-new licensed Peter Rabbit Baby Collection. Having worked closely with Penguin to create the totally exclusive artwork, the new collection follows the theme ‘Come Rain or Shine’.

Featuring everyone’s favourite cotton-tailed bunny, Peter Rabbit is depicted across the collection, seamlessly blending some of Beatrix Potter’s original illustrations with more contemporary representations of the literary character. Harnessing hot trends in the baby and nursery industry at the moment, the new collection sees Peter and his friends in a gentle watercolour washed background, where the sun shines and rainbow colours abound.

Available to buy within the new Come Rain or Shine collection are the Peter Rabbit Muslin Squares, Peter Rabbit Face Cloths, Peter Rabbit Bibs, Peter Rabbit Dummy Holder, Peter Rabbit Changing Bag, Peter Rabbit Changing Mat and Peter Rabbit Hooded Towel.

Sure to be the most-wanted piece of the whole collection is the Peter Rabbit Changing Bag. Featuring Peter Rabbit on an easily wipe-down PU fabric, off-set against pastel splashes of colour on a cool grey background, the item measures 31cm x 35cm and is perfectly sized to fit everything you and your baby might need while enjoying a day out together, just like Peter and Mrs Rabbit. Retailing for £59.95 and complete with a giftable hang tag, the Peter Rabbit Changing Bag makes the perfect gift for any parentsto-be.

The Peter Rabbit Changing Bag along with other items in the Come Rain or Shine collection are available to buy from:

www.beatrixpottergiftsbyenesco.co.uk

In a world sadly still all too familiar with prejudice based around colour, gender and disability it’s encouraging to know that 98% of those parents asked in a recent survey are fully primed to introduce activities into their children’s lives to promote and encourage equality, diversity and inclusion.

But the survey also revealed that only 26% of the sample knew at what age their child will start to recognise different skin tones. Leading experts in childhood learning show the age to be as young as six months*, whereas most parents in the survey opted for ages 3-5. It is also widely accepted that children can start to internalise racial bias from between the ages of 2 and 4*.

It is unsurprising, therefore that diversity toys and aids for children are forging a category in their own right in the worldwide toy market. The latest to hit the shelves in time for Christmas is dena Diversity – the only toy that focusses specifically on different skin tones and that is suitable for use from birth onwards. dena Diversity is a passion of Julia Minchin, founder of Hippychick, a baby and toddler business that has been given the exclusive rights to distribute dena in the UK. Commenting on the launch, she said: ‘Exposing your child to a diverse range of people and cultures in their very early years is critical. But not all of us are fortunate enough to have this at our fingertips. Dena, we believe can start to work its magic from day one, helping babies to start to open their minds before they even become receptive. dena Diversity is a boxed set of 12 figures in various colours designed to emulate various skin tones. The figures are made from a food grade silicone and like the rest of the range, offer imaginative free-play opportunities for babies from birth onwards. It can be thrown, sucked, chewed, bounced, stacked, flexed and, when they are older, can even be used as moulds for cooking. The possibilities with dena are endless.

Learning is fun with tonies

Stories play a definitive role in early language development from learning, and as a child grows up, to reading and increasing vocabulary. Audio storytelling has the power to introduce children in the pre-reading stage to the wonders of narrative long before they can read for themselves.

As listening forms the basis of early childhood language development, tonies - the smart audio system for children - turns listening and learning into an exciting experience for little ones of all ages. By unlocking a new world of audio adventures and curiosity tonies helps children to ignite their imagination through narrative. Education professionals in particular are enthusiastic about learning about the benefits of a Toniebox. Early Years teacher Lisa says: “tonies offers collaborative learning opportunities; for example, children can listen to the audio whilst reading the words in the book or look at the pictures as the story is narrated.”

Making time for play every day is crucial for children, for both escapism and for their development. Active and independent play encourages concentration, as well as physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development, and teaches self-expression. Tonies offer a huge range of stories and songs; from well-known classics like Rapunzel and Peter Pan, to modern day favourites such as Frozen and Julia Donaldson‘s classic Room on the Broom, the Gruffalo and Zog.

‘Immersive play also helps to build self-worth by giving a child a sense of their own abilities, helping them to feel good about themselves. Importantly, children should be allowed to choose how they play, following their own instincts, imagination and interests,’ says Miss Grant, Reception year school teacher, South London. tonies is defining a new era for audio systems for children. The robust, yet soft, screen-free and intuitive design of the Toniebox cube makes it easy for even the smallest hands to take control and operate it completely on their own. Tonies make learning new words fun and playful for children but also allows a child to listen independently as the Toniebox is simple and straightforward to operate. tonies also supports sleep training, with a selection of newly launched Nap Time Tonies this year., Nature Sounds, White Noise, Lullabies and Bedtime Stories. These promote calm bedtimes and help little ones drift off to sleep easily.

Tonies offer a huge range of stories and songs; from well-known classics like Rapunzel and Peter Pan, to modern day favourites such as Frozen and Julia Donaldson‘s classic Room on the Broom, the Gruffalo and Zog. Tonies also offers educational collections such as ‘How and Why’ figurines- Secrets of the Deep Sea, The Age of Dinosaurs, Space Travel: The Moon and Counting Songs. The worlds that are evoked by the audio spark childrens’ imagination and play and all without a screen in sight.

A huge educational benefit of Tonies are the ‘Creative-Tonies’ which have 90 minutes of blank audio space for teachers or family members to record and upload messages, lesson plans and stories onto. These audio messages or stories can be listened to time and time again easily by children. www.tonies.com