Inspired by the original Spirograph of the 60s, the Spirograph Design Tin Set from Kahootz Toys is one of the most popular drawing toys on the market today. 

Designed by a mechanical engineer, the Spirograph has been fascinating and enthralling young artists for decades with its creative designs and beautiful creations. The Spirograph Design Tin Set includes 1 central ring and 1 rack, with 7 design wheels and a 10 page guide book to explain and suggest many elaborate designs. 

Additionally, the Spirograph Design Tin Set comes with Spiro Putty rather than pins to hold the central ring in place. Not only is this safer for children, but it ensures there are no holes in the page.

Is the Spirograph Design Tin Set Worth Buying?

There has always been something mesmerizing about the designs that can be created by the Spirograph, and absolutely nothing has changed. The 10 page guide book is very welcome, as it can be helpful in inspiring children as they understand the various creations that result from different wheels. 

Of course, there is nothing quite as fun as playing with different wheels and experimenting, but the guide book provides a solid introduction for novice users who are unfamiliar with the mechanics of a Spirograph.

The Spiro Putty is new, but this too is an excellent addition. Although some parents have reported being disappointed that the Spirograph Design Tin Set does not come with pins to hold the central ring in place like the original, the reality is that the Spiro Putty is far safer. There is no danger of piercing the skin, and the Spiro Putty also protects the paper from being punctured with various holes. 

While the Spirograph Design Tin Set only includes one central ring, there is plenty of scope for creativity. Some parents might rather a larger set, and if so, they should look for the full Spirograph set.

As far as nostalgic toys go, the Spirograph Design Tin Set is one of the few that really hasn't changed all that much over the years. At its core, it is still a mechanical drawing set that fosters creativity and encourages experimentation. As fun now as it was then, the Spirograph is something unlike most other toys out there. Children are rarely encouraged to engage in arts, crafts and design these days, and the Spirograph Design Tin Set does just that. Introduce your child to the Spirograph today, and let their creativity run wild. You won't regret it.

The VTech Smart Shots Sports Center is the perfect accompaniment for your budding little sports stars. Score points by shooting baskets through the basketball hoop, or kick the soccer ball into the back of the net! 

The animated scoreboard will keep track of your child's score, helping them to with their numbers along the way. The sports center sings along as you score, and shouts out encouragement to your child as they try to score. The Smart Shots Sports Center boasts over 50 songs, phrases and melodies to keep your children entertained, and it also shuts itself down after inactivity to preserve battery life. 

Encourage activity in your children from a young age, and introduce them to the VTech Smart Shots Sports Centre!

Is the VTech Smart Shots Sports Center Worth Buying?

The Smart Shorts Sports Center is a durable and well-made toy that can provide endless fun for children. It is perhaps a little ambitious to call it a sports center, considering that it only really allows children to play two sports. However, this is somewhat beside the point, as what the Smart Shots Sports Center does, it does extremely well. 

The animated scoreboard is encouraging and engaging, and counts cumulative scores up to ten, so while the VTech Smart Shots Sports Center is obviously helping children with their motor skills and hand eye co-ordination, it is also helping them with their numbers.

Although the package is listed as including batteries, many parents have reported receiving their Sports Center without any batteries included. Although this is a minor inconvenience, and the Sports Center takes 3 standard AA batteries, it is none the less annoying when these kinds of toys aren't usable straight out of the box, particularly when that is what is claimed. 

While the VTech Smart Shots Sports Center is categorised as being ideal for children from ages 1-3, it is unlikely that many 3 year olds would get extended use from the Sports Center. For most 3 year olds, the Sports Center will be simply too small and not provide enough of a challenge. However, for children between the ages of 1 and 2, the Smart Shots Sports Center is absolutely fantastic. It offers just the right level of difficulty, and encourages children to keep at it to improve. 

The automatic responses from scoring provide children with a sense of achievement, and the dual mode of basketball and soccer ensures that the toy stays fresh in children's minds. There's no doubting it; VTech have done it again!

The Playhut Beauty Boutique Play Hut is not just any play house, it is a proper beauty boutique where children can go to get their hair cut, try on new outfits, or even get a manicure! Ideal for indoor play, the Beauty Boutique Play Hut inspires imaginations and encourages interactive play. 

This bright pink play hut is easy to set up, easy to put away and easy to store! As well as having two side entrances, the Beauty Boutique Play Hut also boasts an open window and a front door, giving it the feel of a real boutique store. The material is also extremely lightweight and durable, meaning the Beauty Boutique Play Hut can be easily packed up and transported, making it great for bringing on play dates. 

Is the Playhut Beauty Boutique Play Hut Worth Buying?

The Playhut Beauty Boutique Play Hut is approximately 3 feet tall when assembled, which can be a bit of a squeeze for older children. However, younger children can easily stand up inside the play hut, allowing for fantastic imaginative play. 

The colours are bright and welcoming, and the many features of the Beauty Boutique Play Hut make it stand out from many other similarly styled play huts. In particular, the optional inclusion of a changing room and full length mirror in the play hut mean children can try on new outfits and take a good look in the mirror before fashioning them to other children and parents.

The material is advertised as extremely lightweight, and they aren't kidding. The Beauty Boutique Play Hut is incredibly light, so much so that it really is only suited for indoor play rather than outdoor play. Assembly is straightforward, but is not quite as simple as popping out the play hut in seconds. There are a couple of bars that must be looped through certain tabs to keep the hut upright and to keep the front door functional. Similarly, the window, mirror and changing room need to be manually set up, so it's advisable to allow a couple of minutes (at most) to set up the Beauty Boutique Play Hut.

In terms of indoor play huts, the Beauty Boutique Play Hut is one of the more imaginative ones on the market. It actively encourages imaginative and interactive play, and although it is not quite as simple to set up as the branding would lead you to believe, it is still a quick and simple assembly. The material is lightweight, and it's not going to stand up to consistent rough usage. However, that's the point. This is not a rough and tumble play house, it's a beauty boutique, where the walls are just as delicate as the clientele! For hours of imaginative play, the Playhut Beauty Boutique Play Hut is hard to beat.

The Snowtime Anytime Indoor Snowball Fight is the brainchild of a mother and daughter team who stumbled across the idea while hosting a Christmas party. 

Snowtime Anytime Snowballs combine all the tremendous fun of a snowball fight with none of the mess! Snowball fights are one of life's simple pleasures that can bring family and friends together like few other games. However, traditional snowball fights are often messy affairs that require huge clean up and wet slush being dragged all through the house. 

With the Snowtime Anytime Snowball Fight toy, this is no longer a problem. This is a no mess, no slush indoor toy that can be used all year round.

Is The Snowtime Anytime Indoor Snowball Fight Worth Buying?

It's somewhat surprising that this market hasn't already been cornered by a giant toy conglomerate, as the idea is so simple. Children absolutely adore snowball fights, but they are often restricted from participating for many reasons (lack of snow being one!). This is the real beauty of the Snowtime Anytime Snowballs - they really are an anytime toy. It could be Christmas day or a beautiful summer's evening, it doesn't matter. If your children want a snowball fight, then that's what they can have.

The snowballs are well made. Around 3 inches in diameter, they are light and fluffy, and have a reasonable likeness to the feel of real snow. Considering these are designed to be thrown around, it is important that they don't start falling apart at the first signs of wear and tear, but thankfully this isn't an issue. 

Similarly, although they are robust enough for repetitive use, they are sufficiently light so that there can be no concerns about damaging items in the house. Snowball fights encourage heavy activity in children, so although it would be wise to put away any valuables that could be knocked over and damaged, the snowballs themselves are very unlikely to cause any damage.

As with any physical toy, the snowballs can get grubby and dirty over time. However, they are machine washable, so cleaning them is no chore. This is important, as many parents report that the Snowtime Anytime Snowballs are one of the more popular toys in their children's collections. The pack also comes with its own storage bucket, meaning tidy up is simple and snowballs aren't easily misplaced. 

Many teachers have also responded positively to the toy, saying that it is ideal for indoor play during sports classes. It may have been designed with children in mind, but the Snowtime Anytime Indoor Snowball Fight pack is a treasure for young and old alike. It is highly recommended. 

2015 is shaping up to be a big year for Star Wars fans, with the 7th instalment of the film franchise set to be released in December. Additionally, the recent new animated show Star Wars: Rebels has proven to be a huge hit. 

As a result, LEGO have launched the AT-DP toy. The AT-DP, or All Terrain Defense Pod, is a powerful, heavily armoured machine often deployed on planets in the search for rebels. It is operated by two pilots and features two spring loaded shooters and an imposing laser cannon. 

While the AT-DP is sure to be a hit with young star wars fans, it holds just as much popularity with model collecting fans looking to expand their collection.

Is the LEGO Star Wars AT-DP Toy Worth Buying?

The LEGO Star Wars AT-DP Toy comes with 4 figures. Fans of the Star Wars: Rebels series will recognize Agent Kallus, while anyone with a passing interest in Star Wars will identify his Stormtrooper comrade. Additionally, there are two AT-DP pilots included. 

The figures each have their own signature weapons; blaster pistols for the pilots, a full blaster for the Stromtrooper and the powerful build-up blaster for Agent Kallus. The figures are nicely detailed and encourage imaginative play for younger children.

The AT-DP itself is not difficult to assemble considering its size. This is a 500 piece set, so patience is required, and some younger children may need a little help with some of the trickier aspects of the build. When finished, the AT-DP measures 11 inches tall, 8 inches long and 6 inches wide, making it a formidable toy and an impressive model. 

Although the AT-DP is designed to be played with, the range of movement is somewhat limited. The legs can be posed, but in order to remain upright and balanced, they must be reasonably close together. 

Star Wars toys are only going to get more popular the closer we get to the new film being released. With increased popularity comes increased demand, and as such increased prices. Those with children who have even a passing interest in Star Wars should consider the fact that these toys are only going to get more expensive later in the year. There are plenty of bargains to be had now, so parents could consider stocking up on some early Christmas presents that can be brought out later in the year.

Of the LEGO Star Wars range currently available, the AT-DP set is one of the best, combining a number of figures with a truly imposing mechanical menace. At this price, the LEGO Star Wars AT-DP set is a bargain.