Everything from tanks to Transformers have featured in the Top Trumps card game so far, but now some of the country’s historic houses are set to battle it out in a new version of the game.

The National Trust game is being made available in Trust shops and online and features thirty historic places to visit in the UK going head-to-head in battles over acreage, film and TV appearances, hauntings and cups of tea consumed.

The game follows the successful National Trust Monopoly launched last year which gave people the chance to buy up their favourite places and develop visitor centres and holiday cottages.

Alan Parris – buyer for the National Trust – who masterminded the Trust version of the game, explained:

“The 30 properties were selected to show the great variety of the historic places looked after by the Trust. Games are a fun way of engaging people in what we do – but, better still, people also have the chance to visit and see for themselves. The game’s size makes it perfect for kids as they travel on days out, so could be ideal for the start of the holidays, but I am sure some grown-ups will be keen to get hold of it too.”

A new National Trust game of British Wildlife Top Trumps is also on sale, featuring 30 creatures living on Trust land, including adders and raft spiders.?

More info here

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By doing so the child can get a toy that actually will help them develop and you get to rest easy with the satisfaction that you have made a positive contribution on their life.

One of the most popular tech-smart toys this year is the Nitro Web Notebook ‘Safe Surfing” product which has 70 interactive activities programmed into it that teach children everything from Spanish to science to art to maths.  The tiny classroom learner is also connected to the web, which means the content can always be updated and allows children to interact with peers also using the same device.

For younger children, the perfect gift may be the Kidizoom Digital Camera Plus, which allows small children to use the miniature digital camera that allows them to store up to 2000 photos of their own.  It is equipped with 2.0 mega pixel resolution and can be connected to a home computer or television so that children get to share their art with friends and family.

Finally, one more option for the child who is hard to shop for is the Expanded V Smile Motion Smartridge Library which contains titles from all of the most popular children’s characters such as NASCAR, Ni Hao Kai Lin, Handy Manny, UP, and plenty more.

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10. Rubber Band Plane

Rubber Band Plane

Before battery power was affordable the only way to fuel a toy plane was with a rubber band.  This unique idea has come back to life this year with the Rubber Band Aeroplane that is a stunning representation of a small propeller plane straight off of a private runway. It comes in an easy to assemble kit, so children can have fun putting it together before it goes on its maiden flight. For added enjoyment, the rubber hand is made of the most durable materials on the market for unlimited hours of fun.

More info here.

9. Bag of Farm Animals

Every child that has a doll house or farm set will love adding in some of these plastic farm animals to their decorations.  The plastic animals are solid and able to stand on their own and thus are perfect additions to any child’s play set.   Included in the small affordable set are horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and lambs.

More info here.

8. Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope

Before every toy was made from plastic there was wood, and this old fashioned wood kaleidoscope is capable of portraying each of the same wonderful rainbow designs that their contemporary plastic versions can.  For children who love colorful displays, the kaleidoscope is able to provide plenty of multi-colored designs.  On the outside the kaleidoscope is black with stars embossed across the cover.

More info here.

7. Rainbow Spinning Top

Rainbow Spinning Top

For children over a year old, this colorful top is a wonderful distraction and play toy.  Made of strong metal the top is capable of spinning for hours to a subtle but pleasing humming tune. Low priced and equipped with a base for storage the rainbow spinning top is the perfect gift for the curious toddler in your life.  It is also fun for older adults who enjoy a flashback to their younger days.

More info here.

6. Soft Babies Jingling Ball

Soft Babies Jingling Ball

Plush, soft, and full of colour, the soft babies jingling ball is made to please children from the day they are born.  Completely safe and durable, the ball can bring hours of excitement to babies as they explore how to use their hands to shake the ball and hear its delightful jingle. Even better, as babies grow older they can use the ball to play fetch and toss making it a timeless toy that will last your child for quite some time past their infant years.

More info here.

5. Metal Spud Gun

Toy guns go hand in hand with childhood like mud on a rainy day.  Luckily, if you never grew up or want to give your children the same fun that you had you can enjoy the metal spud gun which comes in a delightfully vibrant red colour.  Even better, the spud gun is not only able to fire small pieces of potato, but also rubber pellets, caps, and even a small amount of water if loaded correctly.

More info here.

4. Fun Snap Bangers

Every kid loves a sharp noise, especially if it is one that they can create on their own.  With the fun snap bangers you can let your kids make their own snaps whenever they like simply by tossing one onto the ground.  Since they are cheap and small in size you can easily pick up a few boxes of the fun snap bangers to fill up a stocking on Christmas Eve.

More info here.

3. Wooden Letter Train

Wooden Letter Train

If you want to give your child a Christmas present this year that is personalized to for them consider getting a wooden letter train for them this Christmas.  All children love the charm of a wooden trail that they can pull along with them, but yours will love theirs better if it spells out their name or a personalized message of your choosing.  The wooden letter train can also be used for a room decoration as well if you are looking for something to spice up your child’s room.

More info here.

2. Penguin Race Game

Penguin Race Game

At 32cm tall the penguin race game is able to entertain young children for hours as the little penguin is able to climb the steps until it makes its descent back down to the bottom to begin all over again.  Assembly is easy making it a gift that your children can start playing with on Christmas morning and all it needs to continue working is one D battery so make sure to include one in the wrapping paper.

More info here.

1. Guatamalan Worry Dolls

Guatemalan worry dolls

At the top of the top ten Christmas toy list this year are the adorable small handheld Guatemalan worry dolls.  Made for children who are past the age of placing small objects in their mouth the worry dolls are perfect for children who are still scared of the dark.  The box contains a small leaflet that tells your child how having the dolls near you as you sleep will relieve them of any worries.

More info here.

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Please Bear

Thankyou Bear

Bully Bear

Thirty two cards to a pack, 16 different bears are featured with captivating and easy to remember rhymes. ‘we know that everyone enjoys Bears who tidy all their toys’ and ‘a bully bear is no one’s friend And will be lonely in the end’ Each card helps a young child understand either good or bad behaviour in a very easy and fun way.

Designed specifically for young children to learn good manners and social skills they can be used for playing games like Bear Snap and Memory Bears, or for the basis of role play, comment and discussion. Nose Picker Bear ‘it really is an ugly pose To stick your fingers up your nose’!

Avril Lethbridge, creator of the concept says ‘I think children identify with these little bears, they are cute and colourful and get some important lifestyle messages across to young children in a fun and non-patronising way’.

Each card has a colourful picture of an appropriate bear with its name at the top and two lines of descriptive rhyme at the bottom. The catchy rhymes are easy to learn by heart and will soon become locked in a child’s memory.

The cards, which come in a presentation folder are just £6.99, and are light and easy to post, making them ideal stocking fillers.

The cards are the first in a series of games and products that will cover various etiquette issues, such as Table Manners, Relationships in the Playground and Making Friends.

Packs cost £6.99 inc VAT and are available from www.nicebearnaughtybear.com

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Online independent toy directories were asked independent stores from all over the internet to submit what they thought were the best toys of 2009. The result was a large range of nominations with several standouts that were popular from all 300 respondents, such as the Baby Stella Doll.

Toy Shop UK’s Tim Hawkins stated that the company is glad to announce an unique top ten list that is not based on profit margins alone or on the large dominant toy brands.

Instead, Hawkins stated that the list portrays what independent retailers with the best interests of children in mind think parents should purchase this year.

There were several different categories in the awards in 2009 each that featured their own winners. For infants, the top toy this year is the 7 in 1 Activity Centre from I’m A Toy. Also possibly a great gift for infants was the winner in creative play, the Tellatale Hand Puppets from Fiesta Crafts.

Moving up to the toddler age range, the Farm Animals Chunky Puzzle by Meilssa & Doug took the honours for Games & Puzzles and the Dragon A-Z Jigsaw Puzzle by Lana Kade took honours in the ECO category. Also a great toy for toddler and for those approaching pre-school age is the winner of the Dolls category the Baby Stella by Manhattan Toy.

Finally, for older children rounding out the list as the winner in the Educational category is the Kidilook by Vtech, the Lewis Hamilton McLaren Kit by Airfax in the Models category, the Quadrila Basic Set by Quadrilla in the Construction category, and Sophie’s House in the Wooden category by Le Toy Van.

Out of these toys, the Baby Stella and the Traditional Rag Doll received the most votes from across all categories earning them a special node in the awards although interestingly enough the Traditional Rag Doll by Imajo did not make the final list of winners.

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Carolyn Budding, director at Little Terra, a really different website, dedicated to inspiring children back outdoors, said:

‘Children love being outside, bug hunting in their garden, cycling, jumping in muddy puddles or simply racing to the top of a hill on a walk. They often just need a bit of encouragement to venture away from the TV or Play Station.’

Here are some Christmas Gift Ideas for childern.

Under £5

o Aunties and Uncles, neighbours, pre-school friends and anyone looking for little stocking fillers will love Little Terra’s Mini Construction Kits priced at ONLY £1.99. Little ones will also love building their own mini vehicle and as they’re made from plain wood they get to paint them afterwards too – double the fun! Approx size of vehicles 12x6x6cm

o Encourage your little terras to look after the local wildlife this winter with this lovely little Birdie Bistro, at £4.99. This smart bird feeding station comes with one feed block and is available in red, blue or yellow.

£5 to £10

o Another grandparent’s pleaser! A cute Little Pals Gardening Starter Kit for £5.95 – comprising a fork, gloves and plant marker for aspiring little green fingers everywhere and available in pink or green for boys and girls.

Space Ants

o If you’ve ever watched the films Antz or Bug’s Life with your kids then you will love Space Ants at £9.99 -a modern take on the traditional ant farm. The nutritious gel allows you to see the ants live and work more clearly –fAntastic!

o Knitting is making a come back and Nans and Grans won’t be able to resist this retro Knitting Doll £5. The kits include one doll, in three different designs, complete with wool and knitting needles and will provide hours of creative fun.

o Another innovative and useful idea is this Santa Torch; only £5 and no batteries required.

Over £10

o Little Terra’s top Christmas present this year for all budding conservationists – Butterfly Garden, £14.99. Watch as caterpillars turn into colourful Painted Lady butterflies then release them into the garden. Includes certificate for five caterpillars and food.

o Zip Bin Country Stable £17.50.A beautiful stable shaped storage chest / carry case that opens up into a paddock play mat. Comes with two horses and two riders. Perfect for pony loving little girls.

Over £20

o Explorer Junior Walking poles £24.99. These walking poles are a proper junior sized version of mum and dad’s – designed to get the kids dragging you out for a walk for a change. Telescopic, with a wrist strap and basket to stop them sinking into the mud.

o Tyrrell Katz Backpacks £22.95 – a neat children’s back pack with zipped front pocket and two side pockets. A great size for school, travel, out on walks or just for keeping all their favourite Christmas presents in! In ballet, horses and bugs designs.

www.littleterra.co.uk is dedicated to inspiring children back outdoors and offers everything they need to enjoy, learn, explore and have some old-fashioned fun outside.

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British parents spend £1.4 billion each year on ‘educational’ toys, but the early years experts at Talking Tots believe many of these toys offer no significant developmental benefit to children. The Great Toy Awards are designed to recognise toys that offer real educational value for children, and are selected by a team of experts including paediatric speech and language experts, educational psychologists, teachers – and toddlers!

Hoping for some toys from the Great Toy Awards

“We considered more than 3,000 toys for inclusion in the guide, and many of the most popular items are no more educational than the box they come in,” says Tracey Park, co-founder of Talking Tots. “We launched the Great Toy Awards to recognise toys that are designed to really work with children’s early development, and that combine educational value with fun and great value for money.”

Parents can discover the 2008 Great Toy Award winning toys at the Great Toy Guide website, where they can purchase all the winning toys, and access exclusive discounts and special offers on a range of brilliant toys from companies including Manhattan Baby, JellyCat, Le Van Toy, Plan Toys and many more.

Talking Tots is also offering one family the chance to win a stocking stuffed with £250 of Great Toys including a Leapfrog “Tag” system – one of the most exciting new toys of 2008.

The 2008 Talking Tots Great Toy Awards winners are:

Great Communication Toy: Bamba’s First Comforts, £29.99, Baby Sign Factory
Great Motor Skills Toy: Hammering Set, £9.99, Absorbent Minds
Great Imaginative Toy: Dragonstone Castle, £13.99, Lula Sapphire
Great Role Play Toy: Tea Time Tray Set, £23.95, Tickety-Boo
Great Early Learning Toy: Cookie Shapes, £13.40, Learning Resources

Full details of all winning toys and runners up are available on the Great Toy Guide website at www.greattoyguide.com

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LeapFrog Tag

The Tag Reading System consists of an electronic reader which, when used with the range of exciting LeapFrog book titles, makes story time come to life. With every touch Tag’s built-in camera reads words and pages aloud, with characters and pictures making noises to enhance the reading experience. The groundbreaking Tag technology helps children learn to read, develop their vocabulary and learn how to spell, through games and activities within the books.

The Tag system works by “reading” by identifying dotted media. A small, sophisticated infrared camera works as an imaging system to recognize letters, words, and symbols when written on special dot-patterned paper. Using an optical pattern system and digital processing techniques the Tag reader can determine its precise location within the dot media. This enables a child to jump around within a book, or back and forth between different books in a seamless way.

There are more than nine titles in the LeapFrog Tag range, from classics such as Paddington Bear and Dr Seuss, to contemporary characters like Ariel from Disney Princesses and Po from Kung Fu Panda.

The current full list is:

Disney Pixar Cars
Disney Princess
Kung Fu Panda
Go Diego Go
SpongeBob Square Pants
Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends
Olivia
Paddington Bear
Dr Seuss The Cat in the Hat

Exciting titles due to launch in 2009 include Dora the Explorer, Scooby Doo and the eagerly anticipated Madagascar 2. Tag stores up to five titles and is small enough for learning on the go.

A unique benefit of Tag is that it connects to a brand new online Learning Path*: a dedicated website where kids can unlock fun rewards and activities and parents can follow their child’s learning progress.
Tag is suitable for 4-8 years old. RRP £39.99 which includes the title Ozzie & Mack

The new technology means that children are no longer confined to repetitive books. With Tag, reading becomes a joy and a game! Children are now able to get a sense of independence as they can to read by themselves or with their parent. For more information visit www.leapfrog.com/tag

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This year the Early Learning Centre is offering a free toy with any purchase of products in the star buys range.

This year also sees the launch of the Brilliant Start range, designed specifically for babies. This new range of innovative toys is designed in black and white with bold contrasting colours and graphics to captivate babies. Toys such as the Brilliant Start Activity Table help to encourage babies’ visual development and boost their strength and co-ordination.

The Classic range from the Early Learning Centre, featuring toys made out of wood, tin and fabric, continues to be a best seller with traditional toys such as the Tin Spinning Top, and the Rocking Horse adding a touch of nostalgia to Christmas.

A number of Christmas toys are also on offer to encourage children to use their imagination and creativity including the Snow Queen Palace, featuring towers and balconies. Along with the Magical Figure Set, this is a Christmas must have for imaginative children.

In a similar vein, Early Learning Centre’s Christmas gifts also include the Castle of Courage, an impressive dolls house featuring four towers, turrets, battlements, flagpoles and a working drawbridge, as well as the Jousting Set and the Stomping Battle Rhino, both ideal accompaniments to the Castle.

Early Learning Centre has literally hundred more toys on offer this Christmas all available in store or online, with parents being encouraged to look to the star buys for great value for money and free gifts.

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Here are some kids Christmas gift ideas from Mapsinternational.co.uk, ideal for kids fascinated by geography and the world.

• Primary world wall map (RRP £23.99) Ideal for pre-school and primary aged children, the perfect introduction to world geography.

Kids World Wall May

• Dinos solar map (RRP £14.99) specifically designed for children includes fantastic colourful cartoons. Excellent fun and educational too.

Solar System Map

• Inflatable animal globe (RRP £10.95) 16 inch inflatable globe is fun to play with and a great way to learn.

• Map of the world jigsaw (RRP £6.91) illustrated in detail by Colin King and features engaging light-hearted colour images.

• Globe 4 kids (RRP £44.16) with all the details that kids care about, drawings of people, animals and landmarks.

In addition, they have a special Christmas discount offer whereby each customer will receive a free pocket world atlas when they spend over £40.00 in November and December.

Click here or on the graphic below to visit their site.

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