Not all the prices quoted throughout the magazine include VAT, so do check before ordering.
Look forward to spring
Marks & Spencer has two new kits designed to encourage children to develop an interest in nature. The Sow & Grow kit has been developed with the aid of teachers and parents, and supports the National Curriculum at levels 2 and 3. The pack includes an informative leaflet, three fast-growing plants -nasturtium, sunflower and cress - amd the necessary equipment to grow them. The Mini Beasts kit contains a small digger, a magnifying glass, a container for catching mini beasts for observation and a leaflet with instructions on how to make a wormery and a caterpillar house. The kits cost 5 each. * Telephone 020 7268 1234
Blow up balloon
Outdoor activities may still be limited by the weather, but that's no reason to deprive the children of exercise. The Balloon Racer from Asco consists of a trundle wheel that activates a pump and inflates the balloon.
As the child runs with the wheel the balloon inflates, and when the child slows down the balloon gets smaller. The trundle wheel is wooden, fitted with a clear plastic tyre to minimise floor marking, measures 26(d) x 96(h)cm and will take any normal-sized balloon. Priced 39.95.
* Telephone 0113 270 7070
Build a story
Playstack is a relatively new product that helps children literally to build stories. Each pack consists of 28 cards that are designed to slot together to form a three-dimensional structure depicting favourite stories or familiar real-life situations. There are no right or wrong ways to put the cards together, so they should really stimulate the imagination, although each pack includes a full colour story book for children who may need guidance.
Titles so far include Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, At Home, On the Farm, In the Jungle, Let's Go Shopping and Underwater. Cards are available in two sizes, but for nursery use, the larger size (19.99 per pack) would probably be most appropriate. With these, a tower of up to 130 cm can be built. The recommended age is three to eight years.
* Telephone 020 7627 1188
In the bag
It's time to start planning your spring outings, and to help get you on the move here is a new range of baby bags that you will not be ashamed to be seen out with. The Oi Oi range is in a unisex design and is equally useful as a baby bag or general purpose travel/work bag. There are four styles in the range: the Quilted Backpack; The Messenger; The Travel Bag and The Small Tote. The Quilted Backpack, shown above, is made from nylon micro fibre with a PVC lining, changing pad, insulated bottle holder, PVC rubbish bag, insulated front pocket for bottles and drinks and separate compartments for keys, mobile phone and other accessories. The bag comes in black with adjustable straps, gunmetal zip pullers and an Oi Oi metal tag, measures 350(h) x 280(w) x 130(d)mm, and is priced 44.95 from Cheeky Rascals.
* Telephone 01428 682488
The knight is young
The Knight is Young is an exhibition of more than 40 armours and weapons made specially for children from the 16th through to the 19th centuries.
All the objects in the exhibition belong to the Royal Armouries collection and come from around the globe, including the princely armours made for Henry Prince of Wales, Charles I and II and Henry VIII's son, Edward VI, who became King of England in 1547 at the age of nine. The exhibition also includes a display of historic toys and tiny armours with moving parts. A quiz is provided to encourage children to interact with the exhibition and entrance is free. From 22 February to June the exhibition will be sited at the Royal Armouries, Fort Nelson and from July to October the exhibition will be at the Tower of London.
* Telephone 0113 220 1999
Easy division
If you are looking for a room partition that is easy to erect and dismantle, then a new product called Kids Barrier Corriboard could be just the thing. The partition, available from Killyleagh Box Company, is made from colourful, flame-retardant polypropylene die-cut sheets that are designed to be robust but lightweight. Panels, available in a choice of red, green yellow or orange, slot into blue posts either in line or at right angles to form a corner. The panels also come with windows or multiple shape cut-outs and cost 5.50 each. The posts are 6.50 and the company promises free next day delivery for orders over 60 anywhere in the UK or Ireland.
* Telephone 028 4482 8708
Reflective furniture
'When ideas meet hands, extraordinary things happen. Thoughts give shape to the material and the material remodels the thoughts, and then the things we do grow along with our own growing.' This quote, translated from the Italian, describes the now well-known Reggio Emilia approach to early learning, and appears on the brochure from a new company called Reflections on Reggio. The approach is now being enthusiatically embraced by many nurseries and schools in this country and in response to this, Reflections on Reggio supplies a special furniture range. It currently includes The Kaleidoscope Mirror (595), Mirror Exploratory (225), Light Station (595) and two Light Boxes (225 and 325), and each item comes with guidance on how it can best be used.
* Telephone 01732225850
Going with the euro
Whether or not we adopt the euro is still a matter to be decided and remains a political hot potato, but this hasn't stopped schools from gearing up for the possible change. Learning Resources reports that sales of euro play money are booming: in 2002 alone, the company sold 3,900 sets of euro notes and mixed euro coins. 'To date, we have received nothing but enthusiasm from both teachers and parents, who are snapping up the coins and notes,' says a Learning Resources spokesperson. 'The issue is more how the products are used in the classroom, rather than any inherent political content.' A Euro Coin Classroom Assortment, consisting of 700 coins, costs 24.50 and the Euro Note Classroom Assortment (set of 500) costs 15.50. Smaller packs are available from 2.
* Telephone 01553 762276
Tables with street cred
Looking for something 'noisy, cheeky and slightly subversive' to keep the children at your Out-of-School Club entertained and infomed? Well, that's what a new CD called Dave Benson Phillips's Maths Machine promises to be.
David Benson Phillips, who will be familiar to the children through his appearances on a number of television programmes, uses a variety of current popular rhythms and styles - such as rap and hip-hop - to help them learn their multiplication tables. The idea behind the CD is that children seem to find it very easy to remember the words of their favourite pop songs, especially if they also dance along to the music. The CD is available by mail order for 10 plus 1.50 p&p from Hillier-Stevens Music, PO Box 663, Tring, Herts HP23 5WA.
* Telephone 01296 662333
Knife, fork, spoon
Keeping cutlery sensibly stored and ready for use may become easier with this connecting cutlery set by Trebimbi. Designed to encourage younger children when they first start to use cutlery to eat with, each piece is made to look like a character with an engraved face on the bowl, blade and fork, and buttoned shirts with hands outstretched on the handles. The cutlery is ergonomically designed to prevent the child's hands from slipping and to encourage the correct grip. Made from high quality stainless steel with hard textured plastic handles, the set is available in blue or pink, and measures 16cm in length, priced 9.99 from Initial Ideas.
* Telephone 0870 333 8990
TUFF from TTS
The company TTS has recently launched its brand new Early Steps collection with the TUFF Spot, which is a 94cm diameter 'amphitheatre' with plastic walls. It can be filled with any number of things - TTS recommends cous cous, soap flakes or shredded paper to name but a few - as well as the more conventional sand. Each one costs 11.75, but there is a special price of 33 if you order three.
* Telephone 0800 318686
Magnetising
If you've got a dull wall or corner that could be put to use as a magnetic surface,you might want to consider Magnamagic Paint from The Toy Tidy Company. The paint contains liquid metal properties that will attract any magnet, and all you have to do is mix it with the paint colour of your choice and brush or roller on four coats, plus a topcoat of ordinary paint.
Magnamagic paint is completely non-toxic and comes in a 0.225L can that makes up to approximately 0.45L. This should cover around 3.5 sq m with four coats. Priced 24. For further infomation, contact The Toy Tidy Company.
* Telephone 01223 291430
Tolo Plush
Tolo Plush is a completely new range of baby toys from Racing Champions.
The range includes three soft toys: Sneezy the Dragon; Moo the Chiming Cow and Charlie the Activity Chimp, all of which provide a variety of squeaks, rattles, textures and detachable accessories, from 9.99. Play Cubes come in Farm and Jungle themes and also include chimes, squeakers, teethers and crinkly textures to explore, priced 9.99. The Chuckles collection is a range of soft toy characters with lots of textures and a hidden squeak, priced Pounds 6.99 each. Chuckle Rattles come as four different animal faces with a teething ring attached and integral rattle, priced 4.99. Lastly, there are Elephant and Lion Chime balls that are soft to handle and designed to help babies explore colour, sound and movement, priced 5.99.
* Telephone 01271 336 155
Back to basics
Fun with Flour is a free pupil and teacher pack for early years and KS1 from The Flour and Grain Education Programme. The aim of this resource is to encourage children to explore the relationship between the countryside, manufacturing processes and the food on their plates. Among the information sheets included are The Grain Chain, The History of Bread, From Seed to Table and a Glossary of words relating to the production of flour and grain. You can download the pack at www.flourandgrain.comor order by calling the Flour Advisory Board.
* Telephone 020 7493 2521
