Dr Miriam Stoppard for GALT

Two leading figures in the world of parenting/child well-being, have teamed together to create a range of toys for babies in their first year.  Developed Dr Miriam Stoppard, the UK's most trusted parenting expert and GALT,  each toy is designed to encourage learning through play and includes a play guide written by Dr Miriam with tips on how to play with the toy in the most beneficial way while having fun!  The range includes 7 soft, 7 wooden and 7 plastic toys.

We were sent the gorgeous Song Bird to have a play with, but of course Molly is a bit too old to play with such toys now. We're on to the mega important stuff now like dressing up, pretend make up, and cooking in her kitchen!!

So I thought my gorgeous little 6 month old nephew would appreciate it a little more! 

Song Bird: 

A soft velour bird with textures and sounds to explore. Press the bird's tummy and it will make a chirping sound. With rattle, squeaky tail and ribbon feathers. Machine washable. Part of a range of baby toys developed with Dr Miriam Stoppard, the UK's most trusted parenting expert. Includes a play guide written by Dr Miriam with tips on how to play with this toy in the most beneficial way while having fun!

Here is how little Stanley got on:

Stanley loves the bright colours especially the colourful feathers/tabs on the wings!

He enjoys the sounds the bird makes, especially the chirping, but its quite hard for a baby of this age to get it to chirp by itself... Stanley found this incredibly frustrating :-(

Overall, it's been a hit! I wouldn't say it's a revolutionary toy but it does what it says and it amused Stanley for 10 minutes :-)

Tomorrow, Dr Miriam will be hosting a live WebTV show at 11am talking about using play to aid children’s development.  I’m sure it will be well worth a watch and you can do so here: Ihttp://www.studiotalk.tv/show/educational-toy-masterclass f you would like her to answer a specific question, head on over there now and leave one for her!

Step by Step With Dora

I remember when Molly was a wee munchkin and I was adamant to get a set routine in place. From sleeps to dinner to bath and reading - I'm talking at 3 months old here. I wanted everything to be perfect and I think I did good at getting a good solid routine down Bree Van De Kamp style (Desperate Housewives for all you strange beings who clearly missed out).
However, I didn't foresee what was about to come.

The terrible twos.

Well actually not just terrible twos but crazy work schedule.

In an ideal world, I wouldn't work. I would spend every day with my Molly. But as we all know times are tough, and I love lovely things for me and my family. This comes with hard work and I love hard work. I am also very passionate about what I do....what I am getting at is:

On scheduled hair wash days, Molly might hit the roof and I might have a blinding headache.
Or I'm running a little late, so my mum will do dinner and bath at hers and myself or James pick Molly up from work.

Don't get me wrong, I still believe routines are fundamental to a child's upbringing and education and 9/10 we get it right. However, I no longer freak out when ok she has a slightly later bedtime one night out of 7, just because she has a tantrum because she wants to still be playing at 7!

Molly will have her dinner at 5pm, then it's a little time to play while food is digesting, then it's bath, pjs on and then milk, teeth cleaned and stories in bed.......

To help parents, like myself, at getting routines established and to help children cope with change, Nick Jr have launched their Step by Step campaign, with the one and only Dora The Explorer. We were sent a great Nick Jr bag, a Dora wall height chart with stickers - which Molly just loves and some print outs to help with setting the routine.
If you would like some more ideas and tips on routines or even get your hands on the printouts, then head to http://www.nickjr.co.uk/shows/Dora/stepbystep.

Shameless Plug.....

Those of you who don't really know me, then wouldn't know that I run the COOLEST, MOST AWESOMENESS, and DOWN WIT DA KOOL KIDS street dance school called Dance Jam.

Please take a look at my website:

www.dance-jam.co.uk

If you live in HAMPSHIRE, UK.... Then get in touch!!!!

Iron Man 3 - Sonic Blasting Iron Man & Nerf Gun Review

Ok, I have to admit that when I got the chance to review the new Ironman 3 toys, I would've preferred Barbies. I'm a girly girl and always will be. But.. I knew one little chap who would L.O.V.E them!

Dylan is my 7yr old nephew who is definitely a boys boy and hates cuddles with his Auntie Holly - waaaaaaaaa! 

But when this package arrived, I must admit I had to be strong to not open these amazing looking toys!!

Meet Ironman 3 Sonic Blasting Toy:

As with most toys these days, its a case of 'making the toy' first. But only a simple case of assembly was required! 

As this toy looks amazing, it was the first Dylan was desperate to rip open the box. And I must admit, although its not pink, it looks amazing.

My little reviewer wanted me to mention that the legs don't stay on very well and the missiles could shoot out a bit further. I think he was aiming for his sister ;-)

Next out the box was the Nerf Gun:

Again a bit of assembly required, but I managed to do it - so can't be that hard ;-)

So the Nerf Gun comes with little foam disks (10 to be precise) and they shoot out - boy, do they shoot out!!

I was hit at least 15 times and so was his poor sister, until she got her own back.

Dylan really loved the Nerf Gun, even more than the Blasting figure. I think that had more to do with the ability to shoot foam disks at me!!

The Nerf Gun is priced at £19.99 (bargain)

The Sonic Blasting Iron Man is priced at £29.99

Disclaimer: These toys were sent to me through the markettiers4dc Parenting Blogger Network to review.

BIG thanks to my nephew Dylan :-) 

"In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it, you'll be thegrandest lady in the Easter parade."

Sunday night. Last minute emails. Lesson planning. That dreaded 'back to school' feeling.

Easter is over.

WAAAAAAAAA.

Molly was a spoilt little bunny this year - and of course, mummy has to help demolish the mountain of eggs we still have. I'm nice like that.

We were even sent a fabulous Easter box from that gorgeous lot at Nick Jr - full of games to play, cake silicone cases, a chef hat & a Dora dvd.

But now, it is back to earth with a bang, and heavy one at that ;-)

Did you have a nice Easter? What did you get up to Dolly-rama's?

xxx

My day with Nick Jr!

So, a few weeks ago, I was kindly invited up to London to have a LIVE web chat with the utterly gorgeous Helena Dowling and scrummy mummy Becky Overton (writer of Arnie & Barnie's Bedtime Stories on Nick Jr).

I had arrived fairly calm and collected, and just excited to meet the lovely team, when a voice perked up -  "Holly, would you like to have a look at the set?", 'Sure" I said, you know like I do this thing all the time. One look at the cameras and lights, and BAM! 'hello' heart beating REALLY fast, and oh 'not seen you in a while' sweaty palms. The nerves had kicked in.

It wasn't so much the topic or the fact I was being filmed, more to the point it was going to be LIVE!
If you know me, you know that I am a bit of a klutz  sometimes I don't think before I speak, and a lot of the time I am quite clumsy. I had visions of Bridget Jones in her first live TV appearance where she got stuck down a fireman's pole (ooh matron).

But, once we got started, it was just such an amazing time. Becky Overton, is just the easiest person to talk to and instantly put me at ease and Helena is, of course, a pro.

You can catch the clip on the post below. I am far too critical of myself, so have watched it once and that is enough...

A huge thank you to Jessica Feldman, Sarah (lovely PR wonder woman) and Becky, the Arnie & Barnie producer who were all so so lovely.

Blimey, it's like I have won a bloody Oscar...

That's next year...

The Importance of Bedtime Stories

Hey y'all!!!

Ok, so have a little blog breather for a little while and turns out I am coming back with a BANG!!

Nick Jr have been in touch (as you do) and liked my blog (gulp - looks at last blog post date) and have asked me to have a little discussion on the importance of bedtime stories with the lovely Helena Dowling, presenter with Nick Jr, and Becky Overton, British children's bedtime story writer.

Me? Scared? YUP!!

BUT, it is a subject I feel quite strongly about as I LOVE story time and so does my little crumble!!

Anyway, if want to watch the discussion or just laugh at me, then do have a read of all the show info below. You can also submit a question if you want to.

Wish me luck!!

The Importance of Bedtime Stories

Watch our live show with Becky Overton, British children’s bedtime story writer, and TV presenter Helena Dowling to discuss why bedtime stories are so important for our little ones.



Show date: Friday 22nd March

Show time: 12:30pm

Many parents can find bedtime stressful, but that needn’t be the case. Reading bedtime stories can really help your children relax and fall asleep more easily, and create an emotional bond between parent and child. Not only does a bedtime story help create a sense of occasion but it can also give children something to really look forward to before they turn out the light.

While some of us might lack confidence in our ability to read to our children, some of us are unsure of what tone or volume to use, or even what stories are suitable for bedtime reading - fear not, help is at hand.

So if you are worried about how you can read your children bedtime stories, don’t know exactly what the benefits of reading with your little ones are or want to share your tips and advice to other parents, then log onto our live show.

Becky Overton, a British Children’s Writer, whose stories are featured on A Bedtime Story with Arnie & Barnie on Nick Jr. and read by well-known celebrities such as Greg Rutherford and Kimberly Wyatt, is on hand to answer your questions, alongside TV presenter Helena Dowling and Holly Driscoll from Dolly and Daydreams.

WEBTV SHOW LOGISTICS

Becky Overton, Helena Dowling and Holly Driscoll join us live online athttp://www.studiotalk.tv/show/the-importance-of-bedtime-stories on Friday 22nd March at 12:30pm
Click here to submit questions before the show http://www.studiotalk.tv/show/the-importance-of-bedtime-stories

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT


Website: www.nickjr.com/read<http://www.nickjr.com/read>