Natalie writes…
In another installment from our Hot Toy List for Christmas 2008, I’ve put together cardboard toys, ride-ons, and trikes and bikes for the exciting age range of 1-2 where they are discovering a whole new world as they learn to walk, run, and pretend. Brands featured were Paperpod, Nume, Brio, Pintoy, Big Jigs, and Radio Flyer.
Cardboard Heaven
We love toys made from recycled cardboard because, not only are they eco friendly but they allow you to stamp yours (and your childs) personal style on them and they can be great starter toys for their world of pretend play. Oh and they travel well!
Toddlers as young as a year old can find themselves playing with doll houses, pretend play kitchens, and play houses even though they can be for older children, so cardboard can be handy at this stage with no small parts.
Paperpod probably have the most well known range of play houses from the giant house above which your tot may play in themselves or treat like a giant cardboard dolls house, to teepees, and rockets (pictured above left). Lula Sapphire have a great selection between £27-£35 each and that’s before you take off your exclusive 15% discount!
Over at Little Fashion Gallery, if getting a pretend play kitchen for your eager beaver toddler is the order of the day, they have a fab cardboard cooker and washing machine by hip Italian designers Nume. Both are £27 each.
The cardboard dolls house by Paperpod is recommended for age 3+ so use your discretion about whether you think it’s suitable for your child to bop their soft toys and dolls around in. You would be surprised how many one year olds own doll houses…Or is it their parents? £26.95 at Kidspod.
Ride On Time
Ride on toys are brilliant and we only wish we were young enough to hop on board and enjoy the fun! They’re great for developing motor skills, balance, co-ordination, and strength in those legs.
Hippy Chick Wheely Bug – joint favourite
Suitable from 1 year
A brilliant toy and cute but cool, and it not only looks great but has great manoeuvrability. The bug is a soft padded layer of sponge covered in a tough wipe clean, polyurethane skin. Sizes small for 1-2 years or large for 2-5 years in a variety of animal themes.
£42.95 to £49.95 from Bambino Direct.
You can also get the small Wheely Bugs for £44 at Lula Sapphire plus you get an additional 15% off with our exclusive discount code.
Brio Ride On – joint favourite
Suitable from 9 months
We featured in the 0-1 category yesterday as it’s suitable from 9 months. A stunning, contemporary buy, this is where stylish ride ons are at!
£49.95 from Wooden Toy Store
Other favourites include:
Big Jigs Shape Sorter Zebra Ride. Suitable from 18 months. Hop on board for a ride, or post the shapes through the side or play with the mini abacus on the front. RRP£49.99 but it’s £34.90 at Wooden Toy Store.
Monoplane Trike. Suitable from 12 months. One to take flight with your budget on. Let them sit on the padded seat of the plane body and manoeuvre with the swivel wheel. £80 from Great Little Trading Co.
Trikes & Bikes
Okiedog Cheeky Chick Ride On – brilliant value
Suitable from 12 months to 3 years
Hot favourite and a great value buy! This ride on come trike has won several awards. No assembly required, just twist and pull down the wheels. It folds up really neatly for transport with a handy carry strap and has non-abrasive PVC wheels so it can be used indoors and out. The front wheels are spaced wide for stability and no steering is required PLUS you can buy a push bar for it! £34.95 at The Baby Catalogue although you’ll need to buy the handle separately from Boohoobaby for £12.50.
Other favourites include:
Pintoy Wooden Trike. Brilliant Value. Suitable from 18 months. RRP around £36. £32.57 from the Bambino Goodies Amazon Store. An eco friendly, great value buy made from solid rubberwood with a built in steering safety mechanism and rubber wheels.
Radio Flyer Classic Tiny Trike. RRP £70, £62.97 at All Garden Fun. A sturdy, high quality, classic ride from the US big name in ride ons.
Check out all of the other toys that we’ve featured in our Hot Christmas Toy List 2008
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