Revell are well-known for their long history of producing model kits, and their Junior Kits are especially designed to introduce young builders to modelling - while working as a fully functioning toy once built. We've been sent the Fire Engine (or Fire Truck if you prefer) Level 1 Junior Kit to review, suitable for children from around age 4.


My newly 6 year old is no stranger to building and modelling, but is not a natural instruction-follower and usually has a 20 minute attention span. He maintained interest throughout this build with a couple of short breaks. He did need a little help with 2 errors and 1 part he simply couldn't understand, but otherwise it is all his own work - and you can tell how pleased he was with it...

It is easy to see just how proud my 6 year old is with his personalised Reward Box, and now I have a chance for one of my readers to win one of their very own. The winner will have the choice of either the Fairy Cottage or the Pirate Chest theme.


Each Reward Box comes with an organza drawstring bag containing 20 silver painted wooden stars and 2 sheets of personalisation stickers - themed and letters.

Lalaloopsy dolls have been popular with youngsters for several years now, and this Spring they've released a series of new Mini Lalaloopsys with the brand new Style ‘N’ Swap range. All of the popular Lalaloopsy characters with new and exciting looks that can be mixed and matched again and again.


The Mini Lalaloopsy Style ‘n’ Swap range includes the Mini Lalaloopsy Style ‘N’ Swap Doll Assortment (£9.99). Each set has one doll, one pet, one accessory and over 10 removable wigs, clothes and shoes.

We love the What On Earth? Timeline Wallbook Of British History that we reviewed yesterday, so I'm delighted to be able to tell you that What On Earth? have kindly offered a copy of this brilliant large format hardback children's book as a giveaway prize.


The Timeline Wallbook charts the history of Britain from when the British Isles were first created right up until the present day and Tim Peake's trip into space. It covers everything from popular culture and historic battles to royal houses and castles, and my boys have found far more that they recognise or have heard about than they ever expected.

The Reward Box takes 'star charts' to a new level, with 3D wooden stars to collect in order to achieve your treat. Your child personalises their own box, using the enclosed stickers if they wish, and they can keep charge of it and count their stars themselves to keep track of how well they are doing.


I'm a big fan of positive reinforcement and I like to be able to encourage my young people to act with care for themselves and others, so we've long been fans of star stickers and reward charts.

My youngest child has had sleep issues, can be a bit boisterous and gets carried away easily, which results in breakages, injuries and annoyed cats. He rarely ever has bad intention, and has an immense sense of pride when he feels he's pleased us, so we have regularly had reward charts for him in the past. He was an obvious candidate for review.

I love looking at new books with my children, and sometimes a different sort of book comes along that really makes us pay attention. The What On Earth? Wallbook Of British History is definitely very different - and very impressive.


From outside the hardback cover the Wallbook Timeline Of British History looks like a regular large format book, but open it out and inside is a pocket magnifier, a 2 metre long pullout wallbook, and an 18 page copy of The Chronicle - a brilliant mock up of an imaginary newspaper.

Fruit Salad is an incredibly quick to grasp family game which is played using a set of 60 circular playing cards and 2 special dice. My 7 year old really likes this one, and as each game needs barely a corner of the table, takes 2-4 players and lasts only around 15 minutes, it's a great game for playing when you have an odd half hour to fill.


Fruit Salad is recommended for children aged around 6+ and I think that's right because it is fast and competitive, and if I played with any commitment I'd still frustrate my newly 6 year old as he simply wouldn't be as fast as me. My 7 year old though plays on a pretty even par, and can beat me regularly.

Over Easter Wilko sent me and my children a gorgeous bundle of goodies from their baking range to have a play with. Annoyingly people in my house were ill, so my plans for Easter cooking were a little delayed. We're all back on track and so I spent most of the weekend in the kitchen with help from my 2 young assistants...


Wilko's sent us some truly gorgeous equipment to help with our baking. The Mason Cash ceramic Mixing Bowl (£15) and Measuring Jug (£10) are absolutely gorgeous, I've taken a very possessive stance over them.

It pains me to hear clanking metal on ceramics, so I'm pleased to say Wilko's also sent us some plastic pig tools (£1 each), plus a Beech Wooden Rolling Pin (£3.50), a 9 inch spring form cake tin, silicone whisk (£1.25), heart cookie cutters and a mini kitchen scale (£2.50).

My family are big fans of the Cartoon Network show Adventure Time. The older children introduced us to it several years ago and it was a pleasure to have them watch something that the adults could appreciate too. The tragic backstories (poor, poor Marceline) and the fact these characters were each left alone, in a world where little makes sense, give Adventure Time a depth unusual to a largely children's TV Show.


Adventure Time is the first to arrive. There are 13 issues a year delivered to your home address by Magazine.com, so you don't need to remember to pick it up from the newsagent.

The Gtech Multi is a hand-held vacuum which combines the familiarity of an upright cleaner and the cleaning performance of the AirRam. Designed to complement your regular vacuum cleaner, the Multi can get into all those hard-to-reach places and edges, and give you a finish that makes all the difference, and makes the perfect partner for the Gtech AirRam.


The Gtech Multi arrives in a neat easy-open storage box which is not very big or heavy, and is pretty good for being minimal packaging. Inside are the Multi and the 3 attachments, plus charging cable/adapter.