Anyone who has ever read my blog knows that I'm a huge fan of STEM toys. I love toys which inspire children to learn more about their world. How does it work? Why does it do that? How can I change it? Can I make it better?

These are questions our Scientists, Technology Experts, Engineers and Mathematicians of the future need to be allowed to ask, and as they find out their answers, your children will be learning skills which will last them a lifetime.


Brainstorm Toys are a household favourite and we've been buying them for our children since they were small. We've also reviewed loads over the past few years, and the links are all at the bottom of this post. They've sent us a selection of toys which I'll be putting away to give to my boys for Christmas.

On Friday 6th December at 6pm, Brainstorm are hosting a Twitter Party where they'll be giving away lots of fun educational toys. I'll be there, and if you have any questions then this is your chance to ask the professionals - and the bloggers and other parents.


STEM Toys make excellent gifts because you are giving the child much more than 'a toy'. You will be helping them to grow, and you may be introducing them to a passion they'll have forever.

We were sent a copy of Sproutword last month for review and I am delighted to say that the creators have offered one of my readers a copy as a Christmas Present.

Suitable for 2-4 players, Sproutword is a letter tile game which is entirely plastic-free and utterly beautiful. The tiles are a joy to play with, and the gameplay is so much more than 'make a word'. In this game you can use everyone else's letters and change words, and winning is all about having control of the longest word in play - the Sproutword.


Sproutword is a brand new game and doesn't yet have an official age recommendation, but as long as you are a fairly confident reader then you'll be able to join in, and with luck can even win. You'll have a more fierce and competitive game with players aged around 10+.


Inside the box are 4 cloth drawstring bags containing the wooden letter tiles (made from sustainable wood in Devon and Dorset). Each player chooses a colour, takes out a number of tiles and places them face up on the table before play begins.

The Good Toy Guide is brought to us by Fundamentally Children, who I'm working with again this year to promote the 2019 Christmas Good Toy Guide. They promote toys that teach your child the skills they'll need as they grow. Toys which make your child think, explore, problem-solve and develop motor skills like hand-strength or dexterity. The sort of toys I really like.

The special edition Christmas Good Toy Guide 2019 is out now and is free for anyone to read online,  plus 65000 paper copies are also being distributed around the UK.


Fundamentally Children and the Good Toy Guide don't sell toys, so included in the guide are over 50 toys which have been tested and specially chosen to be included based entirely on merit. Each toy is clearly rated for Fun, Skills Development and Ease of Use.

Tadah!!!! It's time for the Christmas Present Giveaway that I know some people at least enjoy the most. The lovingly named 'Pile O Stockingfillers'. This is where I put together an eclectic mix of the stuff I've collected over the year and give it all away to one lucky reader.

This year I didn't go to as many conferences, and the pile of actual stockingfillers wasn't as big as in previous years, so I've had to top it up with a few bigger bits, including a couple who I've also included in my Christmas Present Giveaways already...


There's this Autumn's big family release - Toy Story 4 on DVD. I have another chance for you to win this here - and I'll also include a couple of paper masks which will be great next Halloween....


There are a few books I ended up with extra copies of, including a Hannah The Spanner book given by the author, Stuart Simmonds, and 2 more of you can win a copy of this beautifully illustrated story book here.

The Science Mad Chemistry Lab is a proper Chemistry set designed for children who are ready to move on from volcanoes and start looking deeper into why their world works as it does. Trends UK have sent us this set to review with my 11 year old, and my 9 1/2 year old joined in with some extra close supervision...


We are a household who love science and my boys have grown up experimenting. I'll start by saying this is an awesome Chemistry set. The price is brilliant for the kit included and the experiments are genuinely age 10+ and incredibly exciting for my boys. Here's why we think that...


Inside the cardboard box is a plastic insert holding all of your equipment. There are over 20 pieces of equipment, including several made from real glass - the spirit burner, stirring rod, a glass tube, 2 test tubes, beaker and conical flask - so we've opted to keep ours in the box between use for safety.

I love Learning Resources toys. They introduce younger children to all kinds of skills that they'll use for their lifetime, while playing with some of the best toys around. I'm delighted that they are giving one of my readers a Beaker Creatures Alien Experiment Lab as a Christmas present.

Recommended for children aged around 5-9, the Alien Experiment Lab includes over 20 different experiments for your young scientists to try...


There are 18 pieces in your set, including a Slime Station and Slime Extruder, Creature Mold and Pod Maker. There are also 2 collectible little Beaker Creatures Aliens hidden inside Reactor Pods. There is loads to excite any youngster.

On Thursday this week (7th November) at 4.30pm I'll be joining in with Jumbo Games for a big Puzzle Party on Twitter. The theme is "A Night In With Jumbo" and it's a perfect fit for these dark Winter evenings.

I've been sent 4 x 1000 piece puzzles, a sorter and a ginormous puzzle board for review, and Jumbo Games will be giving away the same bundle during the party. Very importantly though, they'll also give away this same bundle to one of my readers as a Christmas Present Giveaway...


Included in the bundle are:

1x Wasgij Christmas 15 ‘Santa’s Unexpected Delivery!’ 2x1000pc Jigsaw Puzzle
1x Falcon de Luxe ‘Santa’s Special Delivery’ 2x1000pc Jigsaw Puzzle
1x Puzzle Mates Portapuzzle Board
1x Puzzle Mates Puzzle Sorting Trays

We love Big Potato Games. Perfect for a household where the kids are getting older, all of their games have easy to learn rules, instant play and make you laugh. This bundle has 3 of our favourites - 20 Second Showdown, What Came First? and my personal favourite, the gloriously packaged Blockbuster Movie Game.


Big Potato have sent us a lot of games for review over the past couple of years, and these are 3 excellent choices which we've all really enjoyed, so I'm delighted that they have offered to send this bundle of 3 games (worth almost £65rrp) as a Christmas Present to one of my readers.

I am ecstatic to have this awesome Christmas Present giveaway courtesy of Tactic, who also sent us these games for review over the last couple of months. One reader wins the entire bundle: Original Alias, UK Alias, Story Chest and The Great Tour (European Cities).


Together this bundle of Tactic family games is worth over £100 at recommended prices, we've reviewed and loved all 4 of these games. This is without doubt one of my favourite giveaways I've ever run.


Original Alias is an instant play, easy to learn word guessing game suitable for 4 or more players aged around 10+, in teams of 2 or more.

A couple of months ago My Personalised Case sent me a new tough phone case and bluetooth speaker to review. Both are personalised with my own photos and I am impressed with the quality, printing and reliability of the products, so I'm very happy to say that they've offered one of my readers a £50 voucher to order something for yourself - or someone else...


The My Personalised Case website is very intuitive, and easy to navigate and use, with lots of familiar options and effects available. Ordering took about 5 minutes including uploading photos.

My Tough Phone Case is in 2 parts with a rubbery lining and tough outer shell. It has been on my phone since it arrived and has been dropped several times, including a terrifying fall all the way down the stairs. It's survived so far!

Reveal is a game for 2 to 4 players or teams aged 8+, and we were first sent a copy to review by the developer when it was still being tested a couple of years ago. Since then it has gone from strength to strength and I'm delighted to have a copy to give away to one of my readers.


This is the game with no questions, just answers! There's no set up time, play instantly. Inside the box are 3 packs of cards in 3 topics - TV, Movies and Music. Players have to guess the answer by revealing as few letters as possible.

I'm a strong believer that every child should be able to find toys that represent them and their friends, and so are One Dear World. They have created 4 different dolls which represent children from different ethnic backgrounds, and they are currently crowdfunding to make a range of dolls with disabilities.

One Dear World have offered one of my readers a doll plus an extra outfit as a Christmas present...


This is Hope and she was born in Ghana. She has 3 good friends - Parth, Lea and Jun. I did a full review of Hearty Hope last month and I think she's excellent. She is beautiful quality and the perfect size and weight for young arms to hold.

Anyone who reads my blog knows just how important board games are to our family. We play a lot, everyone joins in and it's relaxing family time - talking, building and reinforcing relationships.

The Board Game Family: Reclaim Your Children From The Screen is a fantastic 'how-to' for parents from The Dark Imp's Ellie Dix. Ideal for anyone who wants to get their kids back into the living room, away from screens and back into family life together.


I did a full review of The Board Game Family back in September and I really felt that the author, Ellie Dix. is on my wavelength. She enthuses about the same games we love here, and has a great strategy for parents to get back in tune with their kids - even if you have never played a board game before.

Bizarrely we haven't really had a go with 3D pens before, so we were complete amateurs when we received the 3Doodler Start 3D Printing Pen for review. This is a beginners set suitable for children aged 6+, with everything you need to learn how to write in 3D, and complete some small projects...


Inside the box are the 3Doodler Start Printing Pen, USB charging cable, instruction booklet, 'How-to' Activity Guide and 2 packs of biodegradable eco-plastic refill filaments (48 strands in 8 colours). There's a big plastic insert which I'd like to see replaced by card in the future.


The 3Doodler Pen is wireless, which is so much easier for children especially. It charges pretty quickly and lasts a fair while, at a guess it's 90 minutes / 20 minutes. I've been caught out with how quickly it's charged each time so far. It has a clear green LED to show whether it's active / inactive, and charging / fully charged.

There is an on / off switch and just 1 control button - it couldn't be simpler to use.

Blackpool-based ARTdiscount stock a huge range of art supplies, including their own brand range of products, at great prices. We're delighted to be working with them on another giveaway, for a Student's Art Bundle.

Students can get through art supplies more quickly than just about anyone else, and they can have the tightest budgets. ARTdiscount have put together a great bundle of products which would be handy for anyone, and ideal for students...


At retailers recommended prices the bundle would cost almost £60 (you'd save around £20 buying at ARTdiscount), and includes:

Derwent Academy Watercolours 12 set
Staedtler x18 watercolour brush pens
ARTdiscount own brand Watercolour/ Gouache brushes
Daler-Rowney x24 Artists' Sketching & Graphic Pencils

Dr Seuss' most famous Christmas grump is available on Duvet Covers and Cushions this Winter thanks to Dreamtex and ASDA, and they've sent us a set to review - plus they are giving a set away to one of my readers. Available in Single and Double sized Duvet Sets perfect for your child's bedroom. The Grinch is the perfect Christmas decoration for your room.


I'm a big fan of Dreamtex bedding because their duvet covers have wide openings for easy changing, reliable popper fastenings and the material is soft and easy to care for. The poly/cotton can be washed hot if necessary and tumble dried.

This Winter we are working with Blackpool based art supplier ARTdiscount. They sell quality brands, including their own range of products, at great prices. They have put together an awesome bundle of goodies for anyone who does a little art at home, or fancies trying.

Being creative is fantastic for your mental health, it's relaxing and rewarding, can lower your blood pressure, ease tension and you can end up with a piece of work you are really proud of! As Bob Ross said, “I really believe that if you practice enough you could paint the 'Mona Lisa' with a two-inch brush.”


Included in the ARTdiscount Art Beginner's bundle are:

Docrafts Artiste x12 fineliner pen set
Derwent Academy 19 piece sketching set
ARTdiscount own brand Watercolour brush set
Staedtler Noris x12 Colour pencil set
Watercolour tin with brush, 12 colours

I couldn't turn down a review of Harry Potter's fabulous Invisibility Cloak. Made by Wow! Stuff and recommended for age 6+, this is a cloak with a trick. It can make anyone, or anything, invisible using a smartphone or tablet and the supporting app.


I was a bit worried we might not be able to find it, but inside the box is a fully visible Invisibility Cloak, plus phone stand and instructions.

ALIAS is an instant play, easy to learn word guessing game made by Tactic, and they've just released a brand new UK ALIAS version. We've been sent both Original ALIAS and UK ALIAS to review.
Suitable for 4 or more players aged around 10+, in teams of 2 or more, ALIAS will be brilliant for play over Christmas when our grown up family are home for the holidays...


Both games have a similar format. The packaging is a sturdy cardboard box with a plastic insert, which is retained for storage of the game between plays.


The UK ALIAS edition is suitably themed! Both games have bold, bright, modern illustration.


Inside the box are the game board, 6 gorgeous little counters in the shape of people, timer and Question Cards. Original ALIAS has 4 huge piles of cards which contain 3200 different words to guess - try learning all of those..

Our latest game review for Big Potato Games is Colour Brain - Disney Edition. Suitable for 2-12 players aged 8+, this is a question and answer game where every answer is a colour.

Just like most Big Potato Games, there are no tricky rules to learn and virtually no set up or tidy away time needed, so it's really user-friendly and ideal for parties or family gatherings.


Inside the box is everything you need: The Rules, Pencil, Scorepad, 8 Card Steal Cards, 44 Colour Cards and 5 packs of 50 double-sided Question & Answer Cards. There's very little plastic waste and you can play instantly.