Toyology

Retailers association picks their Hot Dozen for this Yule

The TRA represents over 75% of the Uk Toy Industry and has a decent idea whats going to be flying off the shelves at any given season. Its Xmas picks for 209 comprise amixed bacg of stuff that all steps in at under £50, most we agree with, a couple we're at a loss to explain : 

Bakugan Battle Pack, Spin Master (£19.99)
Battle Strikers starter Set, Mega Brands (£9.99)
Ben 10 Alien Force Kevins DX Action Cruiser, Bandai (£29.99)
Bendaroos Mega Pack, Spin Master ( £19.99)

GO GO Pets Hamsters, Character Options (£9.99)
GX Racers Tightrope Terror, Flair  (£22.99)
Kidizoom Multimedia Digital Camera, V-Tech (£49.99)
Lego Games Minotaurus, Lego (£17.99)
Monopoly City, Hasbro (£24.99)
Princess Peppa’s Palace, Character Options (£39.99)

Science and Minifigs

 
One very fortunate UK comprehensive school has just opened the first LEGO education centre in the country and queues are expected to form before the bell on monday mornings from now on at Stockley Academy in Middlesex. These LEGO classrooms are a part of 140 schools ion Sweden and designed to get kids enjoying  science, technology and maths more by making robots, programming them and problem solving.

Why cats need nine lives

We spent some time this week out and about with the latest creation from FurReal, Lulu, a most realistic kitty as you'll see from the footage and peoples reactions. This thrill seeking kitty enjoyed pulling a few stunts and illustrates very well why cats need all nine of their allocated lives.

Eco Dollshouse released

Combining education and play is a tricky business but this energy efficient dolls house
aims to educate kids from an early age about being green.  Around the house are a number of items including a wind turbine, a solar panel and electric inverter for generating lectricity, a rain barrel for collecting rain, a biofacade, which uses the natural cycle of plant growth to provide shading, and a blind that can adjust the amount of sun light and air circulation. Exlusive to Selfridges new toy department it'll set you back £149.99 - No word if the materials were from a renewable source.

Barbie busts new moves

Mattel have been working with reknowned choreographerJaQuel Knight and have launched a video to a re-recorded version of the 90's hit Barbie Girl. Do The Barbie is part of a campaign to show off the new Barbie Fashionista dolls 12 points of movement and over 100 poses and might just get some of you out of your seats, catch the routine on the Barbie YouTube channel and please remember to turn the speakers down.

No fuss furry friends

'Realise latent childhood dreams with new hamsters on the block 'Go Go Pets.' Like a hamster but less likely to spend all day sleeping and all night pounding 'the wheel' as you clutch a pillow over your head, Go Go Pets are a modern day 'hamster alternative' and come in a range of friendly characters.
Each character boasts a unique personality and all move from 'nurture mode' to 'adventure mode' cooing, purring and exploring their surroundings, rather than lying inert in a ball of cotton wool as you tap the bars of their cage. As well as owning a robotic, furry friend, the Go Go Pets range also offers mini hamster city accessories including a garage, skate ramp, surf boards and adventure balls as well as a hamster carrier and blanket for those who desire hamster company in the office, playground or whilst commuting. Which I imagine must be everyone.'Grab them from Character

Steph Prentice

Fairy Light

Clip one of these to your nightime read and bother no one else as Tinkerbell shines a light on your novel, possibly one for younger readers but Ahhhhh isn't it cute? Euro 7.99 at Play.com

Rolling around with Laughter

 

These new motion sensor toys are totally ridiculous, noisy and after a while quite annoying.. Simply brilliant for annoying parents and workmates! Set your dog or monkeyon the floor and marvel as th activation kicks in and the stuffed puppet rolls around across the floor in fits of laughter. £19.99 at IWOOT where a video awaits of the animals in action so turn your sound down.

Play with those vocal chords

 

The new Yada Yada Yada toy from Recreation records a few seconds of your chatter inside then just hit the play button to hearthe message back, pretty dull so far. A pitch controller at the front however means you can slow down or sped up your vocals as they play resulting in some of the most amusing sound bytes we've ever heard. Grab your pocket money and head on down toAmazon with £7.99 in hand.

Hide and Seek with Scooby!

Give Scooby a call on the interactive remote and he'll give you clues as to how close you are like 'You're colder than my nose' or 'You're on the right path!'. Scooby also shows you how close you are by lighting up the zones map on your remote so you can follow the spoken clues and go from cold blue to warm yellow to red hot before you find him. Great fun for kids from 5+ to play alone or in pairs, you do of course need someone to hide Sccoby first! £29.99 at Character as well as loads of other Scooby Doo stuff.