Numberjacks: Mission to Learn - Exclusive!

If your children like the Numberjacks, then I have an exclusive for you. There is now an online game called Numberjacks: Mission to Learn.

The premise of the game is that you are an agent, assisting the Numberjacks. You can wear a disguise if you like! You play games to build up your brain gain. Once you have built up enough brain gain you go on a mission and earn stars and other rewards that you display in your room in the Numberjacks' sofa.

Three year old Presley and I have been playing the game all week and he has sat and concentrated for an hour at a time. each time. He already liked the Numberjacks television programme on CBeebies and he has also shown an interest in numbers, so I expected he would like the game. He asks to play it all the time.

I have control of the laptop, but he answers the Numberjacks' questions. Older children could operate the controls themselves, although it is nice to be able to sit with your child and solve puzzles.

I liked that the games and missions are educational and fun at the same time.

Numberjacks: Mission to Learn is brand new and as such there maybe a couple of bugs, but the technical team are there ready to resolve them straightaway.

You need to pay a subscription (either individual or family) to play, but readers of Sandy Calico Reviews can use the following discount code for a reduction of 30%, valid until 31st January 2011: SANDYREVIEWS30 

Presley and I give Numberjacks: Mission to Learn a big thumbs up. If you're still not convinced you could just join for a month for £4.99, less 30% discount, so that would be £3.50. See how you get on. £3.50 for an hour's peace every day for a month? Bargain!

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Crazy Chefs Game

The Crazy Chefs Game is another wonderful board game from Orchard Toys. It has taken over from Old MacDonald Lotto as our favourite game.

Each child has a chef board and has to collect 7 ingredients, a plate and the finished meal. I say 'each child', but there are 5 boards, so Presley's Monkey usually makes the kebabs, Presley makes 'noogles' (noodles) and cup cakes, Cash makes shepherd's pie and his Big Teddy makes pizza! We don't follow the rules to the letter, but we're happy with our slightly simplified version of the game. Older children would be able to follow the rules of course.

This game is well made, great fun and educational too. The boys can now recite the ingredients they need to make their various meals. When I'm cooking their tea they ask what the ingredients are, they now understand cooking a lot better than before.

We love this game and play it every day!

The Crazy Chefs Game is available from Toys R Us for £6.99.

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Moon Sand Demolition Set

The Moon Sand Demolition Set includes a construction figure, digger, sand box and two colours of moon sand. Using the inter-changable scoop as a brick-maker you can build walls and demolish them repeatedly with the wrecking ball.

Moon Sand is wonderful stuff. It doesn't dry out, so it can be used over and over again. But. There had to be a but! It's still sand. In your house. Yes, it vacuums up, but as the sand box is open at the middle this means the sand isn't contained during play.

At 3 and 2, my boys are little young for this and made their own entertainment by walking the builder and driving the digger through the sand. I think I'll put it away for next summer, the boys will be older and they can play with it outside!


The Moon Sand Demolition Set is currently available from Toys R Us for £11.99 (was £14.99).

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Mega Bloks 2-in-1 Buildable Thomas The Tank Engine

The Mega Bloks 2-in-1 Buildable Thomas The Tank Engine is a lovely toy. I had great fun assembling Thomas - it took me back to my childhood! The instructions are really clear and easy to follow. The Mega Bloks are well made and great to hold and play with.

You can also build a train station with the same 30 pieces, but there were no detailed instructions for this. You have to use your imagination and building skills.

Our boys loved this Thomas. He is a good size and the wheels mean to he can be pushed around with ease. At 3 and 2, they are a little young to follow the building instructions, but if I removed a few pieces they were able to successfully put Thomas back together. The Mega Bloks fit together really well. I know this because my boys delight in taking Thomas to pieces and asking Mummy to put it back together. If there was a time-trial for building this Thomas I would probably win!

This toy is a great introduction to Mega Bloks and a must for any Thomas The Tank Engine fans.

The Mega Bloks 2-in-1 Buildable Thomas The Tank Engine is available from Toys R Us for £24.99.

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Fireman Sam Fire Engine Convertible

The Fireman Sam Fire Engine Convertible is two toys in one. It's a robot-like Fireman Sam (see the image above) that converts rather neatly into a fire engine, with Fireman Sam's head poking out the top.

We liked that the conversion was easy to do, but there were a couple of sharp edges to watch out for and the whole toy looked a little cheap.

Our boys played with it for a while - they like anything they can 'brum about' - but they weren't huge fans, however if your child loves Fireman Sam, then this is the stocking filler for them.


The Fireman Sam Fire Engine Convertible is available from Toys R Us for £9.99.

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Zingzillas - The Album

We don't watch that much television, but we have seen the CBeebies world music programme, ZingZillas, so we were happy to review the CD: ZingZillas - The Album.

As soon as it arrived I popped it into the laptop and when the boys heard the 'ZingZillas Theme' they came running. They were disappointed that it wasn't a DVD, but listened anyway. I was impressed by the production quality and surprised at how catchy the songs are.

We soon moved the CD to the car and now when I start the engine I get an excited chorus of 'ZingZillas!' from the back seat.

This is how entertaining this CD is, I had driven two thirds of the way from Preston to Ormskirk - on my own - before I realised I was listening to AND ENJOYING a children's CD! My favourite tracks *ahem* are 'Welcome to the Island' and 'Drift Away' (the one with the harp).

So it's a huge thumbs up from us!

ZingZillas - The Album is released tomorrow, 4th October 2010, and is available from all good music shops.