AD – Yoto Player and adventure jacket gifted for review . This post contains affiliate links
I have been conscious for a while now of how much screen time our children are exposed to. Since Covid home schooling in particular, our children have become fully immersed into an online world. Whilst that has some benefits, it can also be damaging to their mental health and wellbeing. We are huge book lovers in this house, reading every single day (and night) before bed. Not only do books help children with their emotions, understanding of their world, writing and vocabulary, but they’re a great form of escapism to live in someone elses shoes for a while.
I’d heard great things about the Yoto box – a screen free audio player for kids and a great alternative to kids cd players or kids music players that we may have been used to in our own childhood. I was excited to learn whether the Yoto box could engage the girls without being constantly stuck to a device. We were kindly offered a Yoto Mini player review for our honest feedback earlier in the year and it has proven to be a HUGE hit with Neve in particular. We’ve since gone on to become somewhat Yoto obsessed, now having two Yoto Players and two Yoto minis in our home. The Yoto has completely overhauled our bedtime and taking a huge amount of stress out of our morning routine.
An Honest Yoto Player Review
We were offered the opportunity to carry out a Yoto player review and understandably, we were really excited. The girls were looking forward to testing out the Yoto functionality, the wide range of Yoto cards and really putting this fun Yoto audio storyteller through its paces.
Read on to learn more about the Yoto box and answers to Yoto Player FAQs. Here’s our verdict in the Real Mum Reviews Yoto Player Review.
PLEASE NOTE – A NEW 3rd Generation Yoto Player was released in June 2023. Whilst this review is about the 2nd generation Yoto, you may wish to read this first, before heading to my Yoto 3rd generation player review. There are some improvements/enhancements to the new model, but much of the content below remains useful for enhancing your Yoto experience.
The Yoto Box Player is an easy to use, robust and durable cube shaped audio player specifically aimed at children. Unlike other smart devices such as Alexa and Google Home players, the Yoto Player is completely child friendly. There’s no ads, no camera and no microphone – great for peace of mind.
With a large pixel screen and clock, the Yoto Player story box can be used to play a range of content including stories, radio, podcasts and sleep sounds. With simple and intuitive controls, it’s easy enough for your child to operate themselves, promoting independence.
Content is played in the form of Yoto Cards, which are inserted into the Yoto box. With over 700 Yoto cards to choose from (sold at both Yoto’s online store and Amazon) and the ability to Make Your Own (MYO), the Yoto Player is a great for fun, screen free entertainment for kids.
Key Features
Up 10 hours of play per charge
Large pixel display
Play sleep sounds, white noise and more
OK-to-wake nightlight and clock
Magnetic charge dock included
Parent controllable via the app
3.5mm headphone jack
Ability to use the Yoto Player as a Bluetooth speaker
RRP £89.99 (or £85.49 using the Yoto discount code below)
What are the differences between the Yoto Player and Yoto Mini Player?
It’s worth mentioning that at the point of conducting this Yoto Player review, we already owned (and loved) the Yoto Mini player.
The main differences between the Yoto Player and Yoto Mini come down to portability. The Yoto Mini is a smaller (measuring 7 x 7 x 4cm) more portable handheld audio player, ideal for travel, car journeys and use outside of the home. On the flip side, the original Yoto player is larger (measuring 11 x 11 x 10.5cm). It is more suited to use inside the home.
Whilst the Yoto Player does offer a 10 hours battery life that allows it to be carried around, it’s designed more to be a fixed player, placed on the charging dock. The Yoto player is ideal in a bedroom or nursery setting.
Both the Yoto Mini and Yoto Player work using the credit sized card Yoto cards inserted into the top to play content. Likewise, both can be used to play sleep sounds, podcasts and child friendly radio.
What extra features does the Yoto Player have?
The additional features of the Yoto Player that the Yoto Mini doesn’t have include:
the nightlight (a big bonus for us)
the larger, more noticeable pixel screen with clock, which almost makes it more ‘robot like’ in appearance.
The Yoto Player is great for all ages! Officially the Yoto Player is aimed at children aged 3 to 12 year. That said, there are some Yoto cards that are suitable from birth (with parental supervision). Personally, I think the Yoto Player is suitable for all kids (and grown ups!) as the audio options are pretty endless.
We carried out this review with my two children – my youngest who is 6 and my eldest who is 9. Having previously had a Tonies Toniebox I was pleased to see a wider selection of Yoto Cards for older children, with a wide selection of chapter book Yoto Cards that were more appealing to my 9 year old. My youngest can operate the Yoto box without assistance and the controls are very intuitive and easy to use.
Confession time. I sometimes listen to the Yoto by myself! With Yoto MYO cards, I don’t think you can ever be too old for a Yoto!
What’s in the box?
Yoto Player
Yoto Make Your Own / Welcome Card
Instructions
Yoto charging dock and plug
How easy is the Yoto Player to set up?
The Yoto Player is very straight forward to set up. You can get the Yoto player set up and start using it in minutes.
The Yoto box comes with a quick start guide included, and the instructions are incredibly easy to follow.
How to set up your Yoto Player
You will need to know your WIFI code, so if like me you always forget to jot that down, go and snap a photo of the code from your router before you start.
You first need to download the Yoto app (available free on both the App Store or Google Play for both Apple and android devices)
When your Yoto box is connected to the charging dock, you simply turn it on and press and hold both control buttons until a code appears on screen, This code is then entered on the Yoto App to sync the phone and Yoto device.
In the Yoto App, you then need to ‘set up a Yoto player’ and follow the on screen instructions, including linking the device to your Wifi. This process is even easier if you already have a Yoto device, as you can simply add the new player to your Yoto Household / Family, giving each player a unique name should you wish to control it via the app.
How does the Yoto Player work?
The Yoto Player is really simple and intuitive to use, even for younger children. Even when we were new to Yoto, my daughter (6) was able to very quickly navigate her way around the device. She was able to figure out which buttons to press in no time.
To play content on the Yoto, you simply insert the card in to the top of the cube. The content starts playing automatically. If you remove the card, the content will stop. Reinsert the card and it will continue from where it left off – ideal for longer Yoto cards and stories.
The two buttons on the top of the Yoto control volume and tracks, and you can even change what each button does by setting up shortcuts in the settings on the Yoto App.
What do the two buttons on the Yoto do?
Turn left button clockwise to increase the volume
Turn anti clockwise to.lower the volume. Parents can set maximum volumes in the Yoto App if they wish.
The power button is on the right hand side of the Yoto player (press and hold for three seconds)
When a card is inserted the right hand button can be used to scroll forward and backwards through the tracks, or pressed to skip to the next track.
With no card inserted, pressing the right hand button once will trigger the Yoto Daily podcast.
We love the child led element of the Yoto Player, in that your child can quickly and easily pick the story or Yoto Card that they want to listen to and stop, start and pause it as they wish. It also has the added bonus of being fully controllable via the Yoto App, meaning that I can start a story and pause it when I think it’s time for my daughter to go to bed – all from the comfort of my bed!
Does the Yoto Player need WiFi / Internet?
Certain elements of the Yoto Player need a WiFI connection, such as podcasts and radio stations. However, once you have downloaded the Yoto Cards onto your device, they can be listened to anywhere.
The first time you insert a new Yoto Card into a Yoto, the content will be downloaded onto the player, which has 16GB (around 350 hours) worth of storage. You can check if the cards are fully downloaded before you leave via the Yoto App. This means that the Yoto Player can be taken out of the home, for car journeys and to the park should you wish. That said, if you want a more portable option, the Yoto Mini is better suited to travel.
Can you use the Yoto Player as a Bluetooth speaker?
Yes you can. If you wish to stream Spotify or another streaming service from your Yoto Player you simply need to sync the bluetooth connection to your device. To do this, head to your yoto player device on the Yoto App and click on settings. In the advanced settings section, turn on bluetooth pairing. Then press the left hand button on your Yoto player until it pairs. You can then play whatever content you like from your phone straight through the Yoto speakers.
Do you need any additional accessories?
The Yoto Player doesn’t necessarily need any additional accessories, however, there are a few Yoto Accessories that I would recommend. The first is the Yoto Adventure Jacket.
Whilst we personally think the Yoto Player looks better ‘nude’, the silicone Adventure Jacket is the best way to protect your Yoto Player from accidental drops or tumbles. If you’re using the Yoto with a younger child who is likely to want to carry it about, I would definitely add that to your basket too. The Yoto Adventure Jacket retails at £24.99 (currently on offer at £19.99) and comes in a choice of seven colours. We have the Rain Cloud Adventure Jacket which is a dark grey.
Other useful Yoto accessories include Yoto storage such as the Yoto Card Case to store your Yoto Cards. The cards, whilst robust abd hardwearing are slim and small – so otherwise have the potential to get lost of fall down the sides of the sofa.
In addition, we also love the Yoto Headphones which can be inserted into the Yoto player headphone jack when you need a bit of peace and quiet. The Yoto Headphones also have a daisy chain mode, allowing two children to share one device with two headphones.
What Yoto cards are there?
There are over 700 different Yoto Cards to get your hands on for your Yoto Player. Yoto cards include everything from Disney stories, Roald Dahl Classics, Julia Donaldson collections and Tom Fletcher chapter books. Content ranges from stories to music, podcasts to activities. You can even buy educational Yoto Cards and cards that can introduce children to new languages.
According to Yoto, some of the most Popular Yoto cards in 2022 include The Gruffalo (listened to a whopping 5.8 MILLION times) and Disney Classics Frozen (listened to 2.3 million times). Similiarly, the recent Disney release Encanto also has a card which was listened to just shy of 1 million.
Some of our favourite Yoto Cards include Roald Dahl’s Enchanted Forest, the Claude Collection and Zog. You can check out our tried and tested recommendations on the best Yoto Cards below. Not surpirsingly, there are LOADS new Yoto Cards expected in 2023! Watch this space!
Most of the time we have kept our Yoto Player on the charging base, which means we haven’t had to worry too much about battery life. That said, the Yoto Player claims to have a battery life of up to 10 hours off charge. How long it lasts will ultimately depend on how much your child is pressing buttons, swapping traps or switching cards in that time.
This is less than the 20 hours on the more portable Yoto Mini. We will only be using the Yoto Player at home, so 10 hours is perfectly adequate for our needs.
Yoto Player Tips and Tricks: Features we love
Yoto Pixel Screen
We LOVE the giant pixel screen on the Yoto Player. Not only does it have a cute robot face when you first done it on, but the screen displays a unique image for each track on the Yoto card. Neve loves this part of the Yoto experience, always looking forward to what image comes next.
If you decide to create Make Your Own content, you can even create your own Yoto Icons to display on the screen. We use the app ‘8-bit painter’ to do this. You can also download other community created Yoto icons at yotoicons.com
Yoto Make Your Own Cards (Yoto MYO Cards)
We are LOVING being able to Make Our Own Yoto cards. There are a number of ways to do this. First, we have made some Yoto cards of me reading Neve’s favourite stories aloud. We then downloaded audio content via our local library at Borrowbox (although for legal reasons you should delete this from your cards when your loan period has expired). You can also add content from purchase MP3s, CD or audio books that you already own. You can read our tried and tested step by step instructions on how to MYO Yoto Cards below.
What other content can you listen to on the Yoto Player?
There is LOADS of FREE content you can listen to on the Yoto. For me, that’s what really sets the Yoto apart when you weight up Yoto vs Tonies.
Sleep Sounds
If your child struggles to drift off at bedtime, or you have a young child that like background noise to help them fall asleep – this will be a handy feature! You can access sleep sounds on the Yoto Player by going to More in the top right corner on the app under My Library. Here, you can select from Yoto Radio (a special blend of child friendly soothing songs and music) to white noise such as Vacuum cleaners, fans, rainfall, thunderstorms or waves.
Yoto Radio
Does your child love listening to music but you worry about adult or explicit lyrics? The Yoto can provide access to loads of child friendly radio stations that can be played via the app on to your player.
Yoto Podcasts
From educational podcasts for kids such as the Week Junior Show or Science Weekly, to Yoto’s very own Yoto Daily podcast – the Yoto player has loads of podcasts to choose from. Neve ADORES Yoto Daily which we now listen to every morning at breakfast. From jokes to riddles, fun facts to games, Jake at Yoto Daily is a fun screen-free form of entertainment that leaves both hands free for eating their cereal!
Yoto Timers
Yoto parents have raved about these simple timers on the Yoto app. We love the two minute Toothbrush timer that encourages little ones to brush their teeth for the allocated time. There is also a Tidy Up Timer which can encourage even the most reluctant of mess makers to clear up after themselves.
YotoSoundscapes
Again, best suited to younger children, these soundscape cards provide fun background noises and sound effects for creative play. Whether their walking the plank on a pirate ship, working on a construction site or heading under water in a submarine; they’re great for bringing their imagination to life.
Slumberkins + Yoto
If you’re little one has trouble relaxing, calming down or becomes overwhelmed with sensory overload, these Slumberkins meditations and visualisations can help centre and focus on a mindful activity. They are helpful for all but a real positive for children with ADHD, Autism or Aspergers.
Yoto nightlight and Ok to wake clock
We LOVE the nightlight feature on the Yoto player, which is subtle enough not to over stimulate your child, but bright enough to provide a gentle glow in their bedroom. The nightlight is set up in the settings on the Yoto App. You xan choose from 7 different colours – a selection of which are pictured below. You can also set Night and Day modes on the Yoto which can be used as an Ok to wake sleep trainer.
I set the Yoto Player to change colour at 7.25am. This way, if Neve wakes up earlier than this, her clock will still be purple and she knows to go back to sleep. if the Yoto is blue, she can get up. Whilst Neve is obviously a little older; we’ve found this works really well. I would have loved this with Neve as a toddler, because sleep training a preschooler is hard!
So time for our Yoto Player review – what do we love and what would we improve?
Yoto Player Review: Pros
Easy and intuitive to use
Robust and hardwearing audio player (great for kids)
Ad free, camera free and microphone free (great for privacy and security with children)
Large pixel screen which brings each card and track to life
Built in clock (great for teaching the time)
Night light and Ok to wake clock (in a choice of colours)
Ability to control the Yoto from another room using the Yoto App (lifesaver!)
Huge range of Yoto cards to choose from, which are affordable and suitable for wide range of ages (including older children)
Wide range of free content including radio stations, podcasts and sleepsounds
Yoto Daily podcast has overhauled our before school morning routine
Excellent sound quality
Great customer service (and a brand who listens to feedback and acts on it!)
Yoto Club (great value for money for those buying cards more regularly or looking to build up a Yoto Library)
Yoto Player Review: Cons
So how would we improve the Yoto?
Volume is limited – For most parents will be a good thing, but there are times when I wish it could be just a smidge louder, for example when listening to a story with my daughter whilst getting ready.
The Yoto Club has some limitations. Recent changes to the set up of the Yoto Club haven’t pleased everyone. There are now limited choices from which you can use your Yoto credits. Would be great to see exclusive content for Yoto Club members or the ability to have early access to new release Yoto Cards. Without this, I think people will only have the Yoto Club membership for a limited period of time. Great for beginners looking to build up their Yoto library, less great for those who already have a wide selection of Yoto Cards.
No rewind controller – The Yoto Player doesn’t currently have the ability to rewind using the buttons (only switch between tracks). If your child has a tendency to natter, they can’t manually rewind it on the Yoto Player itself. That said, you can rewind on the Yoto App. You simply manually move the progress bar back by a few seconds – an easy workaround if you have your phone to hand.
Lack of movement – Some children may miss the interactive element of a screen or book. My youngest did expect the pixels on screen to move initially. For this reason, its great to combine books and the cards (but obviously that comes with an additional expense).
Cost – The cost of Yoto cards is inevitably more costly than purchasing a standard audio book, ebook or physical book. That said, not in all cases – for example – The Matilda Yoto Card costs £9.99 and its currently £10.99 on Audible. Either way, the Yoto cards are generally cheaper to buy than Tonies chraracters. I feel they are well worth the RRP.
Which is better, the Yoto Player or the Yoto Mini Player?
Honestly, we’ve enjoyed and used both. We tend to keep the original Yoto Player on charge in my daughters bedroom all of the time, so it acts as more of a fixed bedtime audio player that we listen to before bed.
The Yoto Mini Player has become a more portable option for us. We listen to the Yoto Daily podcast on the player downstairs whilst eating breakfast, We would also opt to use the Yoto Mini if we were travelling or visiting friends and family. For that reason, I absolutely think that you can justify purchasing both if budget allows.
Yoto vs Tonie which is better?
The Yoto vs Tonie Debate is a fairly big one. Many parents ask which is better – the Yoto Player or the Tonies Toniebox?
There are lots of similarities between the Toniebox and the Yoto Player. In my opinion, the Yoto Player offers something extra, particularly given the wide range of free content such as podcasts, music, sleep sounds and Make Your Own (MYO content) .
Yoto also has a wider selection of cards available and is slightly more affordable than the Tonies characters.
You can check out our full Yoto vs Tonie comparison in our full comparison post below.
Absolutely! The Yoto has been used every single day since we had it. We use it at breakfast getting ready for school and is now a crucial part of our bedtime routine. In summary, for less than £100, I think the Yoto Player is worth every penny.
We are really looking forward to the new Yoto cards expected in 2023!
Here at Real Mum Reviews, we’ve been sharing our honest reviews of products aimed at parents since 2013. We pride ourselves on providing detailed, thorough and impartial reviews. We aim to answer the questions that parents really want to know when making those all-important purchase decisions. Whether the item has been gifted to us or paid for directly by ourselves, we promise to provide honest, impartial and genuine.We provide verdicts of our experience including our views on the pros and cons of each product we test.What follows is our honest Yoto Player Review with tried and tested hints, tips and hacks from our experiences a real Mum with two daughters.
If you enjoyed our Yoto review you may also enjoy these other posts:
#AD – Features review items and press samples (marked with a *) Contains affiliate links
Are you looking for the best Frozen 2 gifts and toys? The week has finally arrived. Frozen 2 is hitting our screens tomorrow and I have two girls at home that are so excited they may burst. The 6 year wait for the sequel has felt pretty long, and with lots of rumours around the synopsis of the movie, we are really looking forward to seeing how the next adventure pans out. (If you are reading this after the 22nd November, you can see our full Frozen 2 verdict here)
With the movie release being so close to Christmas, it’s not rocket science to expect a fair few Frozen 2 gifts and toys to be on Christmas lists this for Father Christmas year. To take the stress out of your Frozen 2 Christmas Shopping, we’ve rounded up our pick of the best Frozen 2 Gifts that your children would be super excited to find under the tree this year. For the ones where we have been lucky enough to put them through their paces, you can also check out our full product reviews below too!
Frozen 2 Dressing Up
I have two sisters in this house that love nothing more than bringing the characters of Anna and Elsa to life. Whilst we do still have the original dress up sets, they are getting a touch on the snug side. Frozen 2 sees a whole new style of outfit, and as such, I am pretty sure they would both be chuffed to bits to see one of the new Disney Store Frozen 2 Costume options under the tree. They even have adorable boots to match! If you’re hoping to pop one of these under the tree, I recommend that you buy these sooner rather than later if you’re after a specific size – as at the time of writing, some sizes are already out of stock!
If you really want to bring their Anna and Elsa looks to life, these Disney Frozen 2 Face Paintoos* are a great stress free option! Face Paintoos transform the magic of ‘face painting’ into a fun and easy activity for everyone!
With these Disney Frozen II Face Paintoos pack it’s easy to recreate the perfect Frozen 2 dress up look, with great results every time, and reassuringly for us parents, there are absolutely no artistic skills required!
Face Paintoos don’t smudge, they are quick and easy to apply (just add water) and are easy to remove with the special wipes supplied. The designs in this special edition Frozen 2 box include Elsa, Ana, Olaf and Nokk (the ice horse!) and elements can be cut out and used individually if you’d like to make them last just that little bit longer!!
The Disney Frozen 2 Face Paintoos retail at £12.99 and are available to buy at Amazon. You can see the girls checking out the Face Paintoos in my insta image below.
When it comes to Frozen 2 Jewellery and Accessories*, you really don’t have to spend a lot of money to recreate that perfect Frozen outfit! The number one downloaded app Wish.com have a great range of Frozen 2 options at very affordable prices including tiaras, gloves, shoes and jewellery sets. We managed to pick up enough for both girls for less than £30!
Frozen 2 Fashion
Whilst their feet may quite literally be Frozen if they wore them now (brrrrrr!), the Frozen Fever that gets created around the release Frozen 2 isn’t likely to disappear any time soon, and these kids Frozen themed Havaiana flip flops* are the perfect gift in preparation for the summer holidays, or if you are lucky enough to be heading off somewhere warm over Christmas!
With two different designs featuring both Anna and Elsa, with ice blue and rose gold straps, they make a great gift this Christmas.
One I was quite excited to see (and for which if money was no object I would literally buy them all!) Clarks have recently released an adorable range of limited edition Frozen 2 inspired shoes and boots for kids, with their maroon and ice blue colours paying homage to the movie. With lightweight souls, extra padding for comfort and just a touch of sparkle, you won’t have ANY issue trying to encourage your kids to get their shoes on in the mornings! I mean just look at them! You can shop the entire Clarks Frozen 2 Range here.
Frozen 2 Fun & Games
Of all the Frozen 2 Gifts and toys on sale this Christmas, the Playdate Sven Ride on Reindeer* is the one that certainly makes quite the impression – he is huge! This ride on reindeer for children aged 3 and above, stands at over 3 feet tall with the ability to support weights of up to 70lb.
Sven comes with his very own carrot and features 20 different sounds including 2 phrases in Kristoff’s voice. Pop the carrot into his mouth and he will make real life chomping sounds and pull on his reins to hear real galloping sounds and other reindeer noises.
Next up, voted one of the Top 12 Toys for Christmas at the Dream Toys awards 2019, the Frozen 2 Elsa Singing Doll with light up dress is sure to be one of the most popular Frozen 2 gifts this Christmas.
Standing at just under 40cm in height, this adorable toddler size Elsa singing doll comes dressed in a beautiful purple glittery gown and removeable purple shoes. By pressing the gem on the centre of her dress, children can help Elsa sing the powerful song ‘Into the Unknown’ from Frozen 2, as well as stating 14 phrases and quotes based on the movie. As the sounds and music plays, Elsa’s entire gown lights up from top to bottom with beautiful diamond shaped lights.
The Into the Unknown Frozen 2 Singing Elsa Doll*retails at 34.99 (currently on offer at £31.99 and is suitable for ages 3 and above.Be warned. Into the Unknown is as catchy as Let it Go and equally hard to sing – so we can expect to hear this on repeat and out of tune for at least the next 6 years.
If you children are fans of collectibles (my two love any kind of surprise blind bag!) or if you are looking for a Frozen Themed stocking filler, these Frozen 2 Domez Series 1* collectible blind bags are a great option.
Featuring iconic characters from the upcoming Frozen 2 film, each Domez blind pack includes one of nine characters enclosed in their own stackable and connectable display case. A little different from your average collectible, the Frozen 2 Domez can also be stacked on top of each other to “Connect & Display—Your Way!”
Each Frozen 2 Domez collectible figures stands at 3.1 inches tall (inside the domez) and features Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, Sven, Elsa and the Nokk, Mattias, Yelana and a mystery chase variant!
The Frozen 2 Domez collectible bags are available at Smyths Toys now and are £3.99 each, making them the ideal price point for Frozen 2 gifts and stocking fillers.
Want to win 3 x Frozen 2 Domez figures to pop into your child’s stocking? Enter our giveaway below!
Just like Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf play in the movie, this Frozen 2 charades* game is one of the Frozen 2 gifts the entire family can enjoy this Christmas.
Suitable for 2 to 4 players, each person picks a character and races around the board, winning steps by guessing and performing charades before the timer runs out! The Frozen 2 charades set comes with lots of objects and actions to put every player to the test and picture icons for younger players who can’t read. If you land on the FLIP icon, ALL players must perform the charade.
The set comes with four 3D figurines included – Elsa, Anna, Olaf and Sven.
Frozen 2 Charadesretails at £19.99 and is available to buy at Amazon.
You can see Frozen 2 Charades in action with the cast of Frozen below:
Frozen 2 Storytime
When it comes to getting your little ones off to sleep after the excitement of watching the movie, this personalised Frozen 2 storybook*, is a lovely bedtime read. Your child will enter the Kingdom of Arendelle, home to Anna, Elsa, Olaf and Sven. It is up to the group to save the Kingdom, which has become trapped in a perpetual winter. Epic adventures await, as the group encounter the might and power of the elements, uncovering ancient mysteries along the way.
This personalised adaptation of Frozen 2 features the recipient’s name all the way through the story and on the front cover, and also has the ability for the sender to add a personalised message on the opening page.
In the Book with Disney Frozen 2 is availabe to buy at The Gift Experience and is available in hardback and softback editions.
Frozen 2 Craft & Activities
For Frozen 2 gifts at BARGAIN prices, The Works have a fantastic range of Frozen 2 products* that are ideal for stocking fillers this Christmas, with huge savings on their RRP (up to 60% off!)
We LOVE the little carry along colouring set, which comes with a mini pad full of Frozen II Scenes to colour and a little pack of crayons, all in a handy set perfectly sized for little hands. Ideal for those who are eating out over the festive season, the carry along set is great for restaurants to keep children occupied whilst they’re waiting for their meal!
If your children are anything like my girls – stickers are ALWAYS a hit, so the Frozen 2 1001 Sticker Book and Frozen 2 Sticker Set with bookmarks to cut out and decorate are also a fab option to capture the attention of creative kids!
Of all of the Frozen 2 collaborations, this one has probably excited me the most (as if I needed an excuse to step foot in a Smiggle store!). To celebrate the release of Frozen 2, Smiggle has collborated with Disney to launch a fab new Smiggle Frozen 2 collection featuring Anna and Elsa. From backpacks to lunchboxes, pencilcases to drinks bottles, and even gadgets and accessories, Smiggle have covered it all, no matter which sister they prefer!
A small selection of our favourites are pictured below including:
Smiggle Frozen 2Scented Alpha Keyring* (£6)- perfect for personalising your school bag, book bag or keyring, each letter of these peach scented keyrings featured an embossed Elsa design and sparkly glitter snowflakes. I was tempted to get one for myself!
Smiggle Frozen 2 Utility Pencil case* (£13.50) with awesome ice like glitter panel and a gorgeous applique badge of Elsa complete with a moveable hair braid. Super functional with two zipped compartments and inbuilt penslots, this case is a great way to keep all their school stationery neat and tidy whilst maintaining a touch of sparkle!
Smiggle Frozen 2 Scratch Art* (12.50) The girls love these scratch art kits and have had a few of the other smiggle scratch art sets in the past. Having had something similar as a child, these are the kind of gifts I would always love to receive, and was something to entertain myself with when visiting family over the Christmas period. With a mix of Frozen 2 pages, activity pages and ‘recreate the illustration’ pages, the set also includes stencils to help little ones create their very own masterpiece.
You can see the full range of Frozen 2 Smiggle items on their website here. Spend over £60 on the Smiggle Frozen 2 range, and you can also enter a competition for a chance to win a magical family adventure to Iceland!
Frozen 2 for the Home
This adorable Olaf Mug* is a great gift for Frozen fans young and old, and is the ideal mug for your festive hot chocolate and marshmallows! Fear not – this Olaf won’t melt at the first sign of heat, but is a great way to give yourself a Frozen 2 Warm Hug to start off your morning. The Olaf Mug is £12.99 which is a small price for someone worth melting for.
If all the Frozen 2 excitement is making your little ones too tired to sleep, this super cute Olaf Light is a smiley and friendly bedroom guest, to fill their room with a reassuring warm and comforting glow. If your little one regularly wakes in the middle of the night or is simply a little bit scared of the dark, Olaf may soon be your bedtime saviour!
Frozen Parties ahead?
In preparation of the inevitable Frozen 2 parties that re going to be in high demand, this NordicWare Frozen Snowflake Cakelet Pan is a great way to create beautiful looking snowflakes, a great way to bring the look and feel of Arandelle in your family home! The NordicWare Frozen 2 cakelet pan makes 6 detailed snowflake cakes. Sprinkle with icing sugar or edible glitter to finish off the look!
Frozen 2 Giveaway
Fancy winning a set of 3 Frozen 2 Domez for a stocking filler with a difference? Enter our Frozen 2 giveaway using the Gleam app below. UK Entries only. Giveaway opens 21/11/19 and closes at 11.59pm on the 8th December 2019. GOOD LUCK!!!
#AD – Products sent for review. This post contains affiliate links*
Have you heard of B friends yet? The girls both absolutely love playing with their dolls, and now Neve is 3, her and her sister actually play really well together, acting out little scenes and using their imagination to bring their stories to life. It normally ends up with Erin playing the role of teacher, but its very cute to watch them interacting together.
The girls love playing with larger size dolls, and B friends from Addo Play have recently launched at The Entertainer with a diverse selection of dolls, costumes, accessories and furniture.
We were sent some items from the B friends range for the girls to test out, and as expected, they were a real hit.
B fun, B fab, B friends!
The B friends Dolls are a lovely new friend for your child. Each beautiful doll, has their very own unique personality and style and are made with hair that looks and feels natural.
The B friends range aims to encourage creativity, confidence and character and highlights the importance of friendship and the fun of hair play!
There is also a range of accessories and cute outfits to try out, with each outfit being especially selected and designed to match latest trends.
You will notice that Kate, one of the newest doll additions to the B friends range, has a real Frozen feel about it, in a beautiful shimmery gown.
B friends Mia
We were sent B friends Mia who I the girls almost instantly fell in love with. Mia comes dressed in a casual pair of trousers and cute bird design t shirt, as well as a practical pair of flats, all of which can be removed and changed for other B friends outfits (sold separately). They are very easy to put on and off (even for small hands) and fasten with a basic velcro strap at the back.
Mia is really pretty, with a dark skintone, amazing curly dark hair, and beautiful brown eyes. I have to admit I had a bit of hair envy, as it looks so real and is lovely to brush, braid and comb.
The box briefly describes Mia’s personality explaining that she loves to play outdoors, whether she is cycling in the park or going to concerts with her besties! I like this little bit of insight into each of the characters, as it really helps the girls learn more about the different personalities of the dolls they are playing with.
Mia stands at 46cm tall and can stand unassisted. She comes with one set of stylish clothes, which are interchangeable with the other collectable 45cm B friends Dolls — Emily, Megan, Amber, Amelia and Kate.
Mia has been a big hit with Neve in particular, who always picks Mia up first out of all of our dolls in Erin’s bedroom. The only slight negative is that some of her hair does shed a little, but she certainly has plenty to go around!
We were also sent the B friends Wooden Vanity Station which is a great furniture accessory to help the girls bring their stories to life. The product comes part assembled, making it very easy to unpack, and simply screw the back panel with mirror in at the rear. I am pleased to advise that EVEN I managed to do this completely unassisted, and if this flat pack technophobe can do it, then trust me anyone can!
The Wooden Vanity Station is a great accessory to help create a bedroom scene, with other items such as cabin beds and wardbrobes available too.
The vanity station is finished to a high quality, with a small draw at the front which is a great place to stash away the shoes or accessories when not being used so they don’t get lost. Erin has also been putting hair clips and bobbles in there, so that they are easily accessible and to hand when she is practising her different hair styles. The back of the vanity unit and the front of the drawer are painted in a bright cerise pink, with star design throughout.
Neve really enjoyed making Mia stand in front of the mirror and look back at her reflection, and liked being able to see her own face looking back at her too!
Overall the doll and the vanity station have been a real hit with both girls, and they have both been played with fairly substantially since we received them! The dolls retail at £30 each, which whilst not cheap I think is a fair price given their substantial size. Their hair is also really lovely quality, so for those that love styling and accessorising it will keep them busy and occupied for many hours to come.
You can see the full range of Addo Play B friends toys and accessories at The Entertainer here.
*We were sent the Mia doll and vanity station for the purpose of this review however as always all thoughts and opinions are my own*
Its time to introduce the Frozen 2 Singing Elsa Doll. With just a week until the long awaited Frozen 2 movie release, I have two VERY excited girls on my hands, and have to admit, I am quite looking it forward to it too! We are off to the cinema on the night of the films release, and I will be sure to share my verdict on the blog soon after! Its been 6 years since we first met Anna and Elsa on the big screen, and with the synopsis of Frozen 2 being based on Elsa learning the history of her powers, I am looking forward to seeing where how their latest adventure ends up!
Jakks Pacific have released an exciting new range of Frozen 2 toys which have recently hit the shops, and I know for a fact these are going to be huge this Christmas! With their Disney “Into the Unknown” Frozen 2 Singing Elsa Doll being voted one of the Top 12 Toys for Christmas at the Dreams Toys Awards last week, you can pretty much guarantee this will appear on more than a few Christmas lists this December.
We were lucky enough to be sent the Disney Into the Unknown Frozen 2 Singing Elsa Doll to put through her paces, and you can see her in action on our video run through below.
About the Frozen 2 Singing Elsa Doll
Standing at just under 40cm in height, this adorable toddler size Elsa singing doll is inspired by Frozen 2, and comes dressed in a beautiful purple glittery gown and removeable purple shoes.
When you press on the gem in the centre of her dress, Elsa sings the powerful song ‘Into the Unknown’ from Frozen 2, as well as stating 14 phrases and quotes based on the movie in a friendly and engaging childlike voice. As the sounds and music plays, Elsa’s entire gown lights up from top to bottom with beautiful diamond shaped lights.
With arms that can move up and down and head can be turned from side to side, Elsa has beautiful big blue eyes and long plaited hair, Elsa is ideal for creative role play.
The Into the Unknown Frozen 2 Singing Elsa Dollretails at 34.99 (currently on offer at £31.99 and is suitable for ages 3 and above. Elsa requires 3 X AAA batteries, but these are included.
Our Experience of the Frozen 2 Singing Elsa Doll
The Singing Elsa Doll is a lovely toy to support the Frozen 2 movie release, and with the added element of her light up dress, is really something special to find under the tree this Christmas.
When you first remove the Singing Elsa doll from the box, you first need to check whether she is on the right language setting, as Elsa does sing in multiple languages. She has a small switch to the top of her back. Check first whether she speaks in English, and if she doesn’t, move the switch into mode 2 and press the gem until the English voice arrives.
The volume on the Frozen 2 Singing Elsa Doll is quite loud, and whilst there doesn’t appear to be an obvious way to turn the volume down, her voice is quite sweet and childlike and therefore fairly inoffensive for parents. There is also the option to switch to the instrumental version of Into the Unknown if you need it to be slightly less overpowering in a family room setting! The majority of her 14 phrases and quotes end in a question, and are mostly about adventure and her mission, which is a great way to encourage creative play and dialogue between the doll and the child playing with her.
A word of warning – the Into the Unknown song from Frozen 2 is predicted to be as big as Let it Go, and having played with the Frozen 2 Singing Elsa Doll even for a short amount of time, I can definitely see why. It is very catchy and really sticks in your head. Unfortunately however it is also quite a tricky song to sing, with lots of very high notes which means that not only will you find yourself humming this to yourself in the shower, but are likely to hear children singing it regularly, most likely out of tune, for the next 6 years at least (based on our previous Frozen experience!)
The Frozen 2 Singing Elsa doll comes in a gorgeous purple gown which is covered in glitter, and its worth pointing out that a small amount of the glitter does shed, however not enough to be annoying. Her arms move up and down, and her shoes can be removed and popped back on as required. The voice options are easy to navigate through, and if one starts that you don’t want to listen to, you can simply press the button again and she will swap to another quote or song. If you don’t play with her for a little while, Elsa will say goodbye and effectively turn herself off in order to preserve battery life.
The pulsing and strobe effect of the dress lighting up from top to bottom is really impressive, and I can imagine children will love playing with this in the dark of their bedrooms as night, as the impact of her dress projecting on the walls could be pretty impressive!
Another lovely feature of this doll is the eyes (the technology for which has a patent pending!) – they really have a deep 3D feel about them and are quite enchanting.
I think the Frozen 2 Singing Elsa Doll is really lovely, with a friendly face and a lovely size for my daughters who are three and six, however the only disappointment for me is her hair, which whilst looks lovely in Elsa’s traditional plait, is a little bit waxy at the bottom. I therefore wouldn’t feel comfortable removing her plait to restyle her hair, as I am not sure you’d ever get it back quite in the same standard as it was when it arrived. It feels like it has some kind of coating on it to hold it in place, and as such, I am not sure how soft, or how easy it would be to brush through.
Overall the Frozen 2 Singing Elsa Doll is a really lovely doll for Frozen fans (of which I expect their to be many!) and I think it is likely to be a big hit all round.
The Into the Unknown Singing Elsa Doll with light up dress is available to buy at Smyths Toys, along with a whole other host of Frozen 2 Toys and Gifts.
*Disclosure – We were sent a Frozen 2 Singing Elsa Doll for the purpose of this review, however as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own*
Have you heard about the new Race with Ryan game yet? If you know anything about my girls, you’ll know that they both love a bit of YouTube. Whilst I never quite understood the fascination of watching another child opening packaging, they are absolutely obsessed, and during their quiet time on their tablets or as a bit of a treat, will happily sit calm and content watching the surprise reveal of a new toy being opened and put through it’s paces.
It appears that many many of us, parents and children alike, have spent time watching YouTube superstar Ryan at Ryan’s World – a 7 year old kid from California who became famous for his s unboxing and playing with toys who now has over 21 MILLION (yes you read that right!) subscribers to his channel.
Ryan has gone on to launch his own toy range including collectibles and surprise eggs of his own, and on the 1st November 2019, added to this with the release of a brand new video game from Outright Games.
What is Race with Ryan?
Race with Ryan is a brand new multi car kart racing game aimed at children aged 3-6 years and is available on PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PC. Race with Ryan retails at £29.99 and is exclusive to Smyths Toys.
With a real retro Super Mario Kart vibe, something which my inner 80s child got pretty darn excited by, Race with Ryan is a game that the entire family can enjoy.
We were sent a preview copy of Race with Ryan to put to the test, and our full verdict is below!
Our Experience of Race with Ryan
Think Super Mario Kart, with a modern Ryan Toys Review twist and you’d have hit the nail slap bang on the head.
Race with Ryan is a fun multi kart racing game featuring Ryan and all his friends including Policeman Ryan, Red Titan, Gus the Gummy Gator and Pirate Combo Panda.
There are 6 different zones (which can be played forwards or in reverse) within Race with Ryan, including Ryan’s Play Room, Fantasy Park, Spookyland, Wild West, Toy Shop and Treasure Island. The zones are fun, bright and colourful, with detailed backdrops and scenes and some have an almost 3D feel, so you really do feel like you’ve been transported into the slightly trippy environment of each zone.
Ryan’s Play room is my favourite, with an almost Toy Story vibe of toys and their hidden adventures. Whilst I love the choice of zones (with each one having something different to offer), I do wish there had been a few more than 6, as I do think there is the potential to get bored fairly quickly. That said, as Erin is starting the game on easy, there is definitely scope for her to progress and develop through the difficulty settings as she increases in confidence.
There are a variety of different modes of play including careers, quick racing and split screen options so that up to four players can play together (subject to the number of controllers you have available). Unfortunately we only have one, so took it in turns instead. I definitely think having multiple controllers would help you really get the best out of the game, but at the £45 mark per controller, it’s just not something I can justify purchasing at the moment, so ask your friends to bring their own!
Race with Ryan has assisted steering and automatic gas options for younger players, something which was great for Neve who has literally no idea how to navigate a controller but equally hates to feel excluded – she really felt like she was joining in and was able to celebrate doing well despite having no element of skill whatsoever! 🙂
There are easy, medium and hard settings, so when we took it in turns we could change to ensure that the difficulty was based on the competency of the player. In other words, Mike played on Hard, I was on medium and Erin stayed on easy.
During the game play, something which is colourful and bright with a slight “pop art” feel, Ryan himself occasionally pops in from the side of the screen to congratulate, encourage or sympathise. I personally found this a little bit annoying, particularly his exclamations of “oh yeah!” but Neve found it hillarious, repeating him every time he did so. I think this is just part of his normal personality, so the children will be used to his enthusiastic exaggerated vibe!
Whilst racing round the track on the mission to top the leaderboard, the aim is to collect eggs (which appropriately look just like Ryan’s World Giant Mystery Egg toy available in shops), all of which contain a variety of super powers that help you on your mission.
Egg surprise powers include burger shields (a bit random), sticky slime (to strap the players coming up behind) and trick surprise eggs which are slightly darker in colour and explode should you hit one in error! You must also navigate around obstacles, and avoid getting squished by bouncy balls or traps from your opponents.
With simple controls and a tutorial guide for those who have never played before, the girls have really enjoyed playing Race with Ryan, and I love the fact its a game we can all enjoy together, competing and celebrating each others successes.
Whilst Ryan himself can be a little annoying for the grown ups (sorry Ryan), I think the game is ideal for it’s target age group, and a nice flashback to my childhood too. I’ve enjoyed embracing my inner child this weekend, and think that Race with Ryan is a great option for any mini Ryan fans who are looking to first enter the world of gaming!
*Disclosure – We were sent a press copy of the game to put through its paces in exchange for our honest review. As always all thoughts and opinions are my own*
#ad – we were sent the Paw Patrol toys featured within this post
In this house the love for PAW Patrol is strong. Rescue dogs in training each with their own special skills, these pups have become heroes for many when trouble strikes in adventure bay, and are loved and looked up to by children all across the UK for their courage, leadership and the ability to solve every challenge that is thrown at them.
Do you know or have a little hero in your life who deserves to be recognised? This Summer, for the second year runnng, the much-loved PAW Patrol pups with their unique personalities and special characteristics are celebrating ‘real-life’ little heroes in the PAW Patrol Little Heroes Paw Awards 2019 and absolutely anyone can enter!
The eight PAW Patrol Little Heroes Awards champion little ones who deserve to be recognised for touching the lives of others! Whether they have shown strength or courage, kindness or loyalty, made a difference or shown leadership skills and wisdom beyond their years – the Little Heroes Paw Awards want to hear all about it! Maybe they have been particularly helpful to someone in need, been particularly kind to animals, or have another special attribute that you think should be recognised, the PAW Awards are here to celebrate our children’s real-life stories.
Chosen by a panel of judges, the winners of the eight awards will be invited to attend a Luxury VIP Weekend in London in order to attend the awards ceremony on Saturday October 12th. The awards will take place at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London where high tea will be served before the presentation ceremony, and will be carried out with the help of the PAW Patrol characters and special guests. and the 8 Award winners and their families will enjoy a luxurious VIP weekend staying in a family Studio (2 adults and 2 children under 12) from Friday 11th until Sunday 13th October. Breakfast is included and each family will receive £200 spending money!
As a special finale, on Sunday morning, the PAW Award winners will enjoy an exclusive behind closed doors experience at Hamleys, The Finest Toy Shop in the World. Transported to Hamleys from the hotel, guests will enjoy the special activities, where along with their favourite PAW Patrol characters, they will be guests of honour at the famous opening ceremony! And that’s not all, Hamleys have kindly donated a voucher to be used on any of their 50,000 toys.
As well as the specially organised activities, guests will have plenty of free time to enjoy the hotel facilities including the stunning pool – plus take in a London attraction or two!
As if that wasn’t enough, each winner will also receive an award keepsake – plus a bundle of the latest PAW Patrol toys including the Mighty Pups characters!
Do you know or have a little hero in your life who is between the ages of 3-10 years who you would like to nominate?
You can enter the Awards by visiting www.PAWAwards.co.uk and outline why this little one deserves to be one of the PAW Patrol Little Heroes of 2019. If you are nominating someone else’s child, please seek permission of the child’s parent or guardian first.
The Eight PAW Patrol Awards
The Rubble Award for Strength
Whether physical or emotional, do you know a little one who has shown unusual strength? They may have been brave, tough or strong. We’d love to know what they did and how proud you are of them!
The Skye Award for Courage
Has a little one you know shown outstanding courage? Did they face their fears or help others through a courageous act? Please tell us what happened and why they deserve this award!
The Marshall Award for Loyalty
Sometimes, loyalty is tested and it’s not easy to do the right thing by others! It might mean missing out yourself or upsetting another. But if you know a little one has shown remarkable loyalty or willingness, do let us know.
The Rocky Award for Making a Difference
Has a little one helped the community? Have they taught you a thing or two about saving the planet or shown inspiration, or wisdom or come up with a brilliant idea? Tell us why your little patroller is a shining star!
The Chase Award for Leadership
Has your little one proven a responsible leader? Was there a time when they unexpectedly stepped up to the mark to lead, shown confidence, maturity or set a great example? Whether at school or at home, we’d love to hear!
The Everest Award for Kindness and Friendship
Has your little one helped or supported a friend or family member in need or just been incredibly kind to others? Tell us how they have been a great friend or about their generosity and kind heart.
The Zuma Award for Being Helpful
Everyone needs a little help at times and sometimes often and kids are not always first to offer – but if you have a special little assistant in your life then please share what makes them your helpful hero!
The Ryder Award for Kindness to Animals
Do you know a child who is a hero who shows kindness above and beyond to the animal kingdom? Tell us how this child is a friend to pets or animals whatever their shape, size or wherever they live!
The New PAW Patrol Toy Range
Whilst on the subject of PAW Patrol, there are some great new additions to the PAW Patrol toy range this Summer, including the PAW Patrol Ultimate Construction Truck and Chase’s Ride n’ Rescue transforming playset (both of which are featured in the photos within this post).
The PAW Patrol Ultimate Construction truck is a large size dumper truck which is fully equipped for every construction mission, and comes complete with their very own Rubble figure. With a moveable front scoop, large wrecking ball and a swivel scoop that could be used to collect and remove even the heaviest of obstacles, you can be sure that Rubble can save the day on even the most challenging of missions. The PAW Patrol Ultimate Construction truck comes with lights and familiar PAW Patrol music and sound bites, and includes an ultimate construction mini steam roller which can be attached to the side along with other mini vehicles (each sold separately). The Ultimate Construction truck retails at £49.99 and is available to buy at The Entertainer.
Chase’s Ride n Rescue Transforming playset has been a huge hit with the girls. At first glance, this cool police vehicle with Chase figure is ideal for high speed chases and rescue missions, but that’s not all. Open up the police vehicle to reveal a hidden interactive scene straight out of Adventure Bay!
Help Chase rescue the animals before they get hurt! Callie the cat is stuck on the roof – children can help fire the cannon to hit the balloons and help her safely back to the ground.
The gopher familiar are also trapped under a fallen tree! Use Chases super strength to pull the log and drag the tree to release them! Finally help rescue the trapped Bunny and celebrate the fact that all the animals are safely back where they belong.
A great interactive set, we loved how this can be folded back into its police vehicle to take with you on the go. The Chase Ride n Rescue Playset retails at £19.99.
*We were sent the items featured in exchange for this post however all thoughts and opinions are my own*
Hi, I’m Lucy, a thirty something mum of two from Birmingham. A memory maker, tradition keeper, stationery addict and Mr Men fanatic. HR Advisor by day and sleep deprived Mama by night!
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