Reviews by Alice Ellerby, Saffia Farr, Jess Hazel, Ann Owen and Rosalind Kingston-Jones
CircleTales: The Adventure Storytelling Game
As a home educator I’m always on the lookout for wonderful learning resources and Circle Tales has become a firm favourite in our household. We have begun playing this game weekly (pictured) and my husband and my beginner reader team up so that my husband does the reading but my youngest comes up with the storylines. It’s absolutely incredible to see their imaginations come to life and their confidence grow each time we play. I also love that it gives us quality time together as a family with lots of laughter. We write out the stories we create and have begun a little collection of them to keep, which are always so much fun to read back. AO
£35 circletales.com
Wikinger Kubb Compact Outdoor Game
We love Kubb in our family! This is a fantastic, travel-friendly version of the traditional Viking chess game. Crafted from sturdy natural wood, it’s both durable and lovely to look at. Designed for ages 5+, it’s great for the beach, garden or any flat outdoor space. We always take our set camping. The game encourages strategic thinking, focus, and hand–eye coordination, and is ridiculously good fun! It feels like a good mixture of silly and competitive. The adjustable playing field and difficulty level means it’s inclusive and can grow with ability. It comes with a handy cotton bag for easy storage and transportation, which is ideal for summer outings. A brilliant way to get children and adults moving and thinking outdoors. JH
£26.99 vertbaudet.co.uk
Your Wild Books
I love the books in the Nature Craft Series by Brooke Davis. They are full of activities you can do with natural materials and each book has a different slant. For a friend’s 4th birthday, we made Magic Wands from Nature Craft Projects for Kids. Hidden in the woods were ribbons and bells for each child, which they had to hunt for, while also gathering a stick, a flower, and a leaf. We brought all our gathered materials together and used wool to make them into magic wands. It was a really enjoyable process and the children were so happy with their beautiful wands. The photography in the books is stunning and the craft activities are well described and easy to follow. Along with many simple projects, there are others that use tools, and my 7-year-old got a lot from learning new skills. There are so many wonderful projects to try. I highly recommend these books. AE
Mermaids Oracle Deck and Guidebook
I’m a fan of divination tools as a method of self-enquiry, and this set is beautiful for anyone drawn to mermaid folklore. Presented in a small folding keepsake box, it includes 40 oracle cards with diverse mermaids and mermen from myths and legends across the world, along with a guidebook. The illustrations are rich and vibrant, and the book is simply laid out with a dedicated page for each card. I love pulling a card in the morning for a daily affirmation or insight. It’s fun to see what comes up, and a gentle way to think about what’s going on beneath the surface. The cards offer a lovely way to connect with children and to gently explore thoughts and feelings. I have fond memories of drawing cards with my mum when I was young; it really felt so magical! JH
£16.99 blackwells.co.uk
Bubble Pollinator Kit
Children love bubbles, so this kit is a great hook for learning about the importance of pollination, how it works and what you can do to help natural pollinators. First, you use the small bamboo pot and brush to collect pollen. This is then added to the plant-based bubble mix, which you then blow bubbles with to pollinate flowers using a bamboo straw. The mix is non-toxic, plant and insect friendly, vegan and fully biodegradable. And it creates amazing bubbles! I have never seen a straw used to blow bubbles before and it’s a really effective instrument for the task. This is a very satisfying kit to use, from a company with admirable ethical credentials, and a fun and interesting way to learn about the environment. AE
£24.99 drzigs.com
Rei Alta Bairn Baby Carrier
This carrier is ethically hand-crafted in Scotland and made with soft 100% organic cotton fabric. The shimmer of the weave is fantastic. The colours range from the deepest blues to turquoise and rich teals, contrasted with an opulent, golden yarn. It’s a really beautiful carrier and one I cannot wait to carry my newborn in once he arrives. For now, my toddler has relished being carried once again. The wide padded straps make carrying him easy and comfortable for both me and my husband, with a range of carries possible. It is lightweight, intuitive to use and fast to put on. The vibrant colour is great for summer or winter, making the carrier a truly versatile piece that will be used by our family for a long time. A great carrier for those who love Oscha fabrics but are less confident with wrapping. RKJ
£153 oschaslings.com
Traditional Snakes and Ladders
Snakes and Ladders is surely everyone’s first board game. This is a lovely wooden set made from high-quality, responsibly sourced materials, with a bright, colourful board and four counters. It’s the perfect introduction to turn-taking and great for number recognition and counting. Initially behind in the game, my 4-year-old soon learned how quickly your luck can change in this game as I slid all the way down a snake to trail behind her – much to her delight. This is a useful feature of Snakes and Ladders to help you learn the social skills needed for board games. Those who find it difficult to be coming last, often don’t have to experience their discomfort for long. A great introduction to gentle competition, and a wonderful family game that can be enjoyed across generations. AE
£12.99 bigjigstoys.co.uk
History Heroes Board Game: A Race in Time
We played A Race in Time as a family (all adults!) and absolutely loved it. I’m not a history buff, so there were some figures I’d never even heard of, but it prompted some interesting discussion. It’s such a fun blend of history, learning and strategy. There are different ways to play, but the general aim is to race through world history, from ancient Egypt to the present day, answering questions on the cards. It’s cleverly designed to make it accessible for everyone. To level the field, younger players can refer to the poster included, which shows all the figures from the game and a fact about each one. It’s beautifully made and suitable for ages 8–80+. I’d highly recommend it for families, adults, or anyone who loves history or needs a game to help them learn new facts! JH
£29.95 historyheroes.co.uk
Top-to-Toe SPF30 Sunscreen
This is a natural, unscented sunscreen, carefully formulated for those with eczema, allergies or sensitive skin. It uses non-nano zinc oxide to provide safe, effective, 100% mineral sun protection and is suitable for use on everyone over 6 weeks. My husband and I used it during the hot, sunny weather. We thought it was excellent and, importantly, neither of us got sunburnt, despite being outside for long days. We liked that it was easy to apply and absorb and felt moisturising alongside the protection. Some natural sunscreens can be thick and coat the skin, but this felt pleasant and quickly soaked in. The pump dispenser helps to ensure only a little is used at a time and its slim packaging means it slips easily into the pocket of a bag. The lotion contains soothing nutrient-rich natural ingredients including organic jojoba oil, regenerative rosehip and omega-rich borage. SF
£28 for 100ml balmonds.co.uk
Mini Vets Playset
My daughter loves this pocket-sized vets set. Made from sustainably sourced FSC-certified playboard, it comes flat-packed. Children can pop out the different components and slot them together to make a 3D scene, complete with a vet surgery, two dogs, a cat, a guinea pig and a tortoise, as well as a vet and medical equipment. Part of the mini range, this set is small and lightweight and can be easily popped into a bag in case you need some on-hand entertainment while you’re out. While taking a degree of focus, it’s designed for little hands to assemble, and my daughter loved the careful concentration needed to utilise her fine motor skills. Once she’d made it, she slipped into that consuming imaginative zone that can last ages! AE
The Happy Newspaper
The Happy Newspaper is like a little burst of sunshine! It’s colourful, uplifting and packed with bite-size positive news stories. Each issue has a lovely mix of news, showbiz and sports, a Happy Kids pull-out spread, puzzles, poems and a section called Everyday Heroes, which shines a light on people quietly doing brilliant things. Created by illustrator Emily Coxhead, the paper has grown from a small Kickstarter dream into a global community. The stories are inspiring for all ages. It would make a lovely gift in the post for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the regular news, or to celebrate a new baby, so they can always remember the good things that were happening around the time they were born. Schools and home educators could make important use of it too. Published every three months, subscriptions and single issues are available. JH
£4.99 thehappynewspaper.com
Tiger Tags
I am one of those terrible parents who struggles to name their children’s clothing! Sewing on a label is just not for me. I once bought an ink stamp, but then the ink ran out. I resorted to a Sharpie, but I could never fit my children’s double-barrelled surname on the label. I was desperate to try these adhesive clothing stickers and they are brilliant. You order them online by typing in the name as you’d like it on the tag and choosing your design. There are various colours and you can add a small picture if you’d like to – animals, hobbies or nature, for example. You can use them on clothing or hard objects, such as water bottles and lunchboxes, and they are washing machine and dishwasher safe up to 60°. They are so easy; this is a game-changer for me! AE
£12.95 for 52 stickers tigertags.co.uk
