Enabling Environments: Equipment - Festivals calendar; Walking Wagons; Waterproof Ponchos...
Ruth Thomson
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
New products for play and learning indoors and outdoors are previewed by Ruth Thomson.
FESTIVALS CALENDAR (£13.80)
Calendar with RecorderPEN (£63.75)
Child's Eye Media and bi-lingual books publisher Mantra Lingua have joined forces to produce a festivals calendar for 2010, with an interactive option.
A3 in size, the calendar features a series of vibrant photographs depicting children celebrating religious and cultural festivals across the UK.
The interactive feature, with festival stories, music and songs, is accessible using Mantra Lingua's RecorderPEN. Simply touch the calendar to hear pre-programmed material, including Child's Eye Media's festivals stories, which have been retold for younger children with the help of the faith groups involved. You can also use the pen to record yourself, or let children record themselves, and listen to recordings instantly.
WALKING WAGONS
Walking wagons are ideal for transporting children on longer walks or for carrying them back to nursery when little legs grow tired. Light, stable and fitted with drum and parking brakes, these strong, folding beachwagons are suitable for carrying children aged nought to ten years old. They come in three models: the Rambler Daytrack (EUR749), the Rambler Explorer (EUR1,079) and the Rambler LE (EUR1,419).
Identical in appearance (the Daytrack is a reduced version and the Rambler LE is a longer version of the Explorer), the wagons come with an adjustable pulling rod. Due to large air tyres, bearing-mounted wheels and rubber axle bearing, they give a comfortable ride, and they can negotiate bumps and kerbs as their steered front wheels are not fitted together on a single front axle.
WATERPROOF PONCHOS (£4.95) AND WELLINGTON BOOTS (£8.95)
Minibeast ponchos and wellie boots are now available from Pretend to Bee, specialist in role-play clothing. As well as the frog, bee and ladybird versions, there is a 'monster' poncho and matching boots.
A Star of Bethlehem dressing-up costume has also been added to its Nativity range.
SENSORY BAGS (£11, set of four; £20, set of eight, plus VAT and postage)
Play to Z Ltd
Multi-coloured organza bags containing a variety of rich sensory delights and activity ideas are now available from Play To Z. Designed for babies, toddlers and older children, the bags are designed to appeal to both boys and girls and aim to encourage exploration and creativity.
The range includes Orangey Circles, Smelly Sticks, Apples and Pears, Lacy Leaves, Magic Loofah, Measure and Magnify (featuring glass cubes), Jagged Jems and Dazzling Diamonds.
THE ANIMAL BOOGIE SONG SACK (£24.99)
Music Education Supplies
Debbie Harter's wonderful songbook The Animal Boogie becomes all the more fun with a song sack from Music Education Supplies.
Along with the book and CD comes a set of six animal masks, including a bear, monkey, bird, leopard, elephant and snake; an egg shaker; small jungle drum, knock knock, jingle bell stick, monkey castanet; and teacher's notes written by music adviser Helen MacGregor.
WATER PARK RANGE
Reflections on Learning
www.reflectionsonlearing.co.uk
Children will enjoy exploring the movement of water with Reflections on Learning's new Water Park range of resources, designed for this very purpose.
A starter set (£39.99) comprises six tracks, a watering can, a sand and water trowel, a pond and a water wheel. The Extra Large Starter Set, costing £54.99, also includes a water tunnel, barrage and switch point. Extra parts can be bought separately, including an Extra Water Wheel Pack (£14.99) and a Extra Barrages Pack (£14.99).
PRODUCTS FOR REVIEW?
If you have a new product that you would like reviewed, e-mail details to: ruth.thomson@haymarket.com.
