MegaBloks Build n Go Pad - #Bargainoftheweek!

Are you thinking about Christmas yet?

Yes, you're right, I did just mention Christmas in August and I'm not sorry! Living on a tight budget as we do, there is no way that I could afford to do all my Christmas shopping out of my November pay packet so I like to spread it across the year, usually starting as early as Boxing Day the year before...

I find that August is the best time for getting big discounts on toys as the big high street shops (such as Boots, Debenhams and Argos to name just a few) are clearing out their shelves of the 'old' stock ready for the 'must have' buys of the festive season, (some of which will be the same toys in different packaging!)  I've seen better than half prices sales at all of the above this week, but my 'bargain of the week' came from Argos...

Construction toys are always a good present both for my own children and their friends or relatives too, so when a friend told me about the Mega Bloks Create 'n' Play Build 'n' Go Pad's being reduced at Argos from £11.99 to just £4.99 I just had to get a couple for the 'Christmas cupboard' and when I took a look on the website and realised that Argos were offering 3 for 2 on all Toys until Tuesday I immediately reserved 3 at my local store!

They are currently on offer at many other shops for £10 each so at fraction of that at just £3.33 you can't go wrong. They are a perfect travel toy that includes a storage drawer, a building platform and 75 pieces. They are the smaller bricks though so aimed at children aged 4+.

One thing to bear in mind though is they come in two different styles; Blue with kits to makes cars and things with wheels and purple/ pink which includes flowers and animals, (I know which one my car loving daughter would prefer!) however when you reserve (or order online) you cannot specify which one you want so it is luck of the draw. When I when to collect mine I had to ask a very lovely staff member to nip down to the stock room and swap and pink one for a blue one, if you don't ask you don't get!

Have you started your Christmas shopping this year? I would love to hear about your 'bargain of the week'

The 'must have' toy...

As a mummy of two and a regular product reviewer, you can imagine I have (or should I say my children have!) tried and tested many toys and games. Many we've loved, some we've had mixed views on, and the odd few we've hated which have gone straight to the charity shop...

As children grow and develop, their interest in toys change. Something that captured their imagination one day may be easily overlooked the next. As they learn new skills they need new challenges. So it can be difficult to choose one product that is the ultimate 'can't live without' toy...

However there is one type of toy that I can honestly say has appealed to my children from when they were a few months old and could barely sit up, to now, when my eldest is just days off his 5th birthday, it's something that I can also see both him and his younger sister getting enjoyment from in years to come.

This versatile toy that can adapt to a child’s needs and spark their imagination is...

The humble brick!

 

 

 

A toy brick can take many forms, from soft blocks for young babies, who like to watch you pile them up and knock them over, who can develop their grip and dexterity by grabbing them and waving about or throwing...

 

...to wooden blocks, stickle bricks, mega bloks or duplo for the toddlers as they begin to see how they can pile them up, fit them together and create what ever their imagination dreams up! Or just make a mess by building the tallest towers and knocking them back down again! All the time they are playing with such a simple toy they are developing. Practising their fine motor skills that will soon be used to hold a crayon and write their name. Recognising patterns, colours and shapes, even starting to count.

 

 

 

 

 

As they get older they move on to smaller bricks and may start to create recognisable masterpieces grown from their imagination or carefully learnt by following instructions. Recognising parts, learning to read and problem solving all skills developed as they still play with such a simple toy.

In years to come I can see my son spending hours concentrating while building up an intricate modal of a battleship or similar.

Then jumping into the future, as a Daddy himself I can see him taking as much pleasure helping his own children create with bricks as my husband does with our children now.

A simple, inexpensive toy that holds a lifetime of excitement and creativity!

So are there any drawbacks to this wonderful toy? I can think of only one, and that is the lone Lego brick that hides away from the toy box at tidy up time, that stays hidden until Mummy is walking across the room in the dark until.... ouch!! Standing on a Lego brick, now that is pain!

In all honesty apart from that I cannot think of anything that could stop a toy brick being crowned the 'Mymummyspennies Must Have toy!' It versatile, cheap and resilient can be passed on and on and apart from colour fade shows no sign of wear or tear. And best of all there are no rules, no boundaries; the only limits are your child's imagination!

 

 

I have submitted this post as an entry to become a Toys R Us Toyologist.