Doc McStuffins Time for your Check Up

Dottie McStuffins is a six year old girl who wants to be a doctor, like her mum - and also happens to star in her own TV show on Disney Junior. With the help of some of her cuddly toys, she "pretends" to be a doctor by fixing her toys, earning her the name of Doc McStuffins. As soon as she goes into her playhouse and puts on her stethoscope all her toys come to life.

Since launching in the US in early 2012, Doc McStuffins has received widespread praise, especially for the strong way in which it inspires young girls into the medical profession, but also due to the presence of an African-American child in the lead role.



As is the case with many children's TV shows, Doc McStuffins toys have now reached the shops and one of the first of these is the Doc McStuffins Time for your Checkup Interactive Doc and Lambie.

This set contains both Doc and Lambie dolls, stethoscope, Doc's medical bag with thermometer and otoscope (for looking in ears) and a hair comb for Doc. Doc has a small button on her stomach, just under where the stethoscope sits, which when pressed says a couple of phrases and also sings the "Time for a Checkup" song from the TV show. Lambie also has buttons in three different places on his body which are activated when a child uses Doc's medical tools to listen to his heartbeat, take his temperature or check his ears.

The "Time for a Checkup" song which Doc plays is incredibly catchy and quickly becomes an earworm for the whole family. Doc fans love to be able to play it whenever they want to though and are very keen to sing along.

Doc and Lambie are perfect for any Doc McStuffins fan who wants to act out Doc's adventures and are quality toys which easily withstand the rigours of toddlers playing with them. They're not without a couple of frustrations though - Doc's hairband just doesn't stay on her head and it's impossible to fit her doctor's kit and comb in her bag at the same time, much to the frustration of the pre-schooler reviewing them. From an adult point of view it's lovely to see a TV series tie in which encourages so much role play, but if you buy Doc for your little ones be warned that the packaging is an absolute nightmare to get into - even more so when you have an excited child telling you to open it quickly.

The Doc McStuffins Time for your Checkup Interactive Doc and Lambie is available in all Cuthberts stores and also on their website. You can also win one by entering our giveaway below.

Hama Beads at Cuthberts

If you're looking for a non-messy craft for children then look no further than Hama Beads.

Hama Beads are incredibly simple, but very effective at the same time. The beads themselves are round plastic, with a hole through the middle, and can be arranged on a peg board to form patterns or pictures. Once the design is complete you lay a piece of the supplied ironing paper (like greaseproof paper) over the design and run a hot iron over it to fuse the beads together. This means that you can then display the completed picture or turn it into something like a drinks coaster.

Many of the peg boards are made of clear plastic so that you can lay the pattern sheet under the board to follow it easily. Separate pattern books are also available and numerous patterns are also available on the internet, with whole Pinterest boards devoted to them.



More artistic children can come up with their own Hama designs and it's relatively easy to do so. The only thing you need to remember is that if you're making a design on a board and then iron it, your finished picture will actually be the reverse of what you've put down on the pin board. Not a problem with a reversible picture, but if your design contains text you might come a bit unstuck - a lesson I learnt when making the Cuthberts logo at the top of this blog post!

There are three different sizes of Hama Beads available to suit different age ranges.

• Maxi Hama Beads - 10mm diameter, designed for pre-school children aged approx. 2 and a half to 4 years.
• Midi Hama Beads - 5mm diameter, ideal for children aged 5+
• Mini Hama Beads -  2.5mm diameter, for children aged 10+

For younger children the beads really do encourage and help develop their fine motor skills and for this age range just putting the beads on the board is entertainment enough, without following a pattern. Hama Beads can also form a great part of role play and I've seen them used as food ingredients in many toddler cooked meals before. Pouring them from one container to another provides a great test of a child's dexterity through play.

I'm yet to find a child that doesn't enjoy Hama Beads and I've heard many parents say that it's been the only craft that their boisterous child has enjoyed and that has kept their interest for any period of time. Even as an adult, following a design can be incredibly relaxing after a busy day.

Hama Beads are available in Cuthberts stores in St Albans, Hatfield and Letchworth and also on their website.

Have you found Mr Gold?

Minifigures will be familiar to Lego fans of all ages and there's a special treat in store for some very lucky collectors of the latest series. Across the world, 5000 series 10 minifigure packets don't contain one of the main 16 collectables, but instead a limited edition Mr Gold.

Some Mr Gold minifigures have already started appearing for sale on eBay around the world, and here in the UK many already have bids on them taking them into hundreds of pounds. Not bad for an initial £2 investment!

You can keep track on the Lego website as to where Mr Gold has been found so far, and at the time of writing the UK is leading the Europe league table for the number of found Mr Golds. There are still over 4000 Mr Gold figures out there waiting to be found and one may well be in your local Cuthberts store. If you do find him please make sure you let us know and post a picture on our Facebook page!

To help you with your collection, Toymaster stores have also introduced a Lego minifigures Loyalty Card. Every time you buy a Lego Minifigure you collect a stamp and then your sixth minifigure is free. The loyalty card scheme runs until 30 November 2013.

And if collecting real life minifigures wasn't enough there is also a Lego Minifigures Collector app for your iphone. One for the real diehard Lego fans.

In addition to Mr Gold, the sixteen Lego minifigures making up Series 10 are:

1. Librarian
2. Medusa
3. Roman Commander
4. Warrior Woman
5. Tomahawk Warrior
6. Skydiver
7. Bumblebee Girl
8. Grandpa
9. Paintball Player
10. Sea Captain
11. Sad Clown
12. Revolutionary Soldier
13. Baseball Fielder
14. Trendsetter
15. Decorator
16. Motorcycle Mechanic

Micro Scooters for Everyone!

If you walk in any local park you're bound to see plenty of children darting around on scooters. If you look carefully you'll notice that a clear majority of them are riding Micro Scooters and there are many reasons why the one brand has such a strong following.

The three wheel design of the mini and maxi Micro scooters means that young children easily find them very stable and easy to steer. They are also very low to the ground which helps children's balance further. The high build quality of all Micro Scooters means that they easily stand up to the everyday wear and tear that children put them through as they travel to school or round the local park. As they are light weight they can easily be hung off a buggy whilst your little one is exploring the local playground, or for mum or dad to carry it home whilst they stay at school.

The Micro Scooter range isn't just limited to the Mini and Maxi scooters though and Cuthberts are proud to stock Micro Scooters which cater from the very young, right up to adult commuters. The below should give you a taste of what is available for different ages, but all our staff are extremely knowledgable about the whole range, so do just come into your local store and ask us to help find what is right for you or your children.

Mini Micro Seat (1-3 years)

 

With the addition of a seat and O-bar handle to a Mini Micro Scooter you have a ride on which will work well for children around the one year mark. Once your child is more confident on their feet and balancing well the seat can be removed and you have an ideal first scooter. The O-bar handle is shorter than the standard mini T-bar handle making it easier for little ones to use and gain confidence on. When they have grown in height, normally around the 3 year mark, the supplied T-bar handle can be swapped in and it becomes a standard Mini Micro Scooter.

The tough plastic base and wheels mean that this scooter is strong enough to withstand what a toddler will put it through, but can also be used indoors on hard floors without ruining your floor!

Local mum Mrs C reviewed the Mini Micro Seat with her daughter.

Cuthberts stock the Mini Micro Seat in both pink and blue (containing seat, O-bar handle and T-bar handle as well as scooter base), and also sell the Mini Micro Seat and O Bar as a separate package.

Mini Micro Scooter (3-6 years)

This was the original, award winning, micro scooter and the one that you will have most likely seen out and about. A three wheel scooter with simple tilt and lean steering it's perfect as a first scooter for young children.

On her blog mum Emma talks about how a mini Micro Scooter has helped her daughter, who suffers from Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH), to develop gross motor skills and build strength. She also mentions how some children in hospital also use micro scooters as part of their physio.

Cuthberts sell the Mini Micro Scooter in the original blue and pink colours and also stock the neon colour range. They are exclusive local stockists for the limited edition Mini Micro Candy Pink and Candy Blue.

Maxi Micro Scooter (6-12 years)

Once children have outgrown the mini micro scooter there is a natural progression on to the Maxi Micro Scooter. Still with the three wheel design and the tilt and lean steering that children mastered with the mini, the maxi also features an adjustable handle height so that it can grow with the child.

Life at the Zoo recently reviewed their son moving up from a Mini to a Maxi Scooter.

Cuthberts stock the Maxi Micro Scooter in red, blue, purple and black.

Micro Sprite Scooter (5-12 years and upwards)

Not all Micro Scooters have three wheels. The Sprite is a two wheeled aluminium framed scooter which is also foldable, making it even easier to transport.The steering on the Sprite is also different, with 360 degree steering, much like you get on a bicycle. Like on the Maxi Scooter, the handle height is adjustable. It's an ideal introduction to two wheeled scooters for children.

Seasider in the City's son and husband were sent a Maxi and a Sprite to review together.

Cuthberts stock the Sprite in red, pink, silver, black and blue and all colours are also available online.

Micro Bullet Scooter (5-12 years and upwards)

The Bullet is very much like the Sprite in design, but features an anodised frame, making it even more resistant to corrosion and wear. Again with an adjustable height handle which folds the bullet also has a unique “Gun finish” which makes it really stand out from the others.

Cuthberts are pleased to sell the Micro Bullet both in store and online.

Micro Rocket Scooter (7 years – adult)

If you want to take your scooting up a gear as a teenager then the Rocket is the scooter to do just that. Whilst still having the robust finish of all Micro Scooters and the adjustable height folding handle of the other aluminium scooters, the Rocket also features unique fatties wheels which provide extra grip and stability, especially when scooting on slightly uneven surfaces.A tribal design and racing green finish complete the Rocket's unique look.

Cuthberts' stores stock the Micro Rocket and it is also available online.

Micro Flex Scooter (10 years – adult)

The Flex scooter really opens up scooting for adults as well as children. Parents are finding that a Flex is a great way to join the children when out for a scoot, whilst commuters are seeing them as a realistic option for getting to the office, or to help avoid car parking charges at the local train station. The fact that it folds easily means that it can either be carried with you or it will go in the car boot along with the children's scooters.

The patented composite flex deck makes it the most comfortable scooter around and the adjustable height handle means that it accommodates commuters of all heights.

Cuthberts are pleased to stock the Micro Flex in store.

Micro Flex Air Scooter (10 years – adult)

Following on from the Flex, the Flex Air incorporates a wood and fibreglass deck to help absorb bumps and also air filled wheels (hence the name). Again, it has the folding mechanism and adjustable height, but the large frame of this scooter makes it particularly suitable to taller riders.

The Micro Flex Air is available in all Cuthberts stores and online.

Spare parts

In addition to stocking the scooters themselves, Cuthberts also stock a range of spare parts for the Mini and Maxi Micro Scooters which can be used either to replace anything broken, or to help your children change the look of their scooter, especially if it is being passed on from an older sibling. Just changing the handle grips or brake can really give a scooter a whole new look. Should you want any specific part then please phone your local store to check availability.

The Best Playmobil Ever. I mean EVER!

                Cuthberts love this review of the Playmobil 5100 Stone Age Man with Cave by Brilliant Blogger and Playmobil Ambassador Being a Mummy. 

                         You can follow her blogs at Being A Mummy   

           The Best Playmobil Ever. I mean EVER!

The other day Playmobil sent us a box, as part of their ambassador scheme I thought it might contain something for the children which they would love. Little did I know that I would find myself secretly envious of Boy, hoping that he didn't like his brilliant new toy and hoping that he would give it to me. Of course, he loves it and girl (although technically too young) equally loves it. Curses, I wonder if it can 'go missing'...

What am I talking about? Only the best Playmobil in the whole world ever without fail invented by a Playmobil design genius. A set of Playmobil that is an essential purchase for all archaeologists the world over. Playmobil set 5100 Stone Age Cave with Mammoth!For archaeologists it needs no interpretation, you can re-enact Clan of the Cave bear type scenarios in your living room. I actually feel more inspired than when I read Paul Bahns Journey Through the Ice Age and that is saying something. When I was setting this up with the boy you needed to stick little stickers of cave art on the cave. I kept wondering if I could squirrel them away and stick them onto my archaeology toolbox instead. There's a gap in the market if ever I spotted one!

So anyway, you get a working mammoth, lots of palaeolithic hunters with associated flint spears and a ritual deer skull headdress! A cave, some fish, a wolf and a wolfskin. What more could you want? I've genuinely had hours of fun playing with this with the kids, it's great because I can tell them about stuff and show them things in my books as they come up during role playing.

Review: It's the best toy in our house.

If you want to get one, and if you are an archaeologist reading this I know you will, you'll find this (and lots more sets in the range)

Cuthberts sell a great range of Playmobil on our website www.cuthbertstoys.com

Cuthberts - keeping it local...

Cuthberts Toys were born in St Albans on 28th September 2009, We are an independent retailer who believe that a local community should get great value and service from retailers like us. Shopping locally and the current retail climate seem to be in the news a lot recently, as its the first day of Independent Retailer month we thought a few words about us and how we use local companies may be of interest. Its a little like a wheel, what goes around comes around...

The Collective Design

The Collective Design in Spicer Street were briefed to design a new brand identity and temporary hoarding for the Galleria Hatfield store. Matt and his team have also worked with us to design a new logo, develop web concepts, social media advice, and much more.

Herts Signs - Hatfield

 Herts Signs arranged for the design work to be converted into a hoarding and then applied to our new shop front at the Galleria Hatfield. The company also worked with The Collective Design to produce and install an illuminated store sign and internal signage.

CPS Electrics managed the install of the signage and lighting at all of our sites.

CPS - Hatfield

Letchworth based IT Store configured and installed the EPOS and back office computers for the new Hatfield Galleria. Our daily IT support is also provided by the team based in Letchworth.

Sendall Fire Protection provide site fire risk assessments for all our stores. Fire extinguisher, and alarm installs were also contracted to Stevenage based Sendall Fire for the new store. 

  

Nabco - St Albans

Cuthberts shop design and layout was provided by St Albans based Nabco, they also supplied the bespoke fixtures and install contacts. 

Albans Locksmiths on Hatfield Road installed new locks on all doors in the new store. 

Flooring was repaired and reinstated by a cleaner based in St Albans, this will develop into a long term contract and work for Richard. 

Our Cleaner on his day off.

SA Law - St Albans

SA Law of London Road, St Albans completed all the legal aspects of the store opening. They advised on the lease and on the commercial aspects of concluding a retail property contract. SA Law have provided all of our legal needs from guidance on our first store to the opening of the third store in Hatfield.

Cuthberts Unifoms are printed and supplied by Verulam Road based Printed Clothing.

St Albans based Red Knight Security provided and installed CCTV with security advice and ongoing support. They have provided an integrated system across all the stores and our remote and mobile systems.

Our window cleaners are Brandon Brothers 
of Hatfield, that's not them on the right.

it's me on the ladder

Team members for the new store were recruited from Hatfield and the surrounding areas. In total four full time and six part time jobs have been filled. 

Cuthberts Toys at The Galleria Hatfield

 We think shopping local works, you decide...

HISTORY HEROES - How well do you know your monarchs?

HISTORY HEROES

How well do you know your monarchs?

 History Heroes at www.cuthbertstoys.com

This is a super game which comes in the form of forty two playing cards and one of instruction, about British monarchs. It's presented in a pack like a regular pack of playing cards but each card inside is devoted to one British or English monarch.  The cards all have a jolly cartoon picture of each monarch and below that, are six facts of decreasing complexity.  At the bottom of each card are clues designed to help befuddled players to achieve the correct answer. There are six games to play which are described on the instruction card and these are fun and competitive. It would also be possible to set further challenges to players such as putting the monarchs in chronological order, or using them as a starting point for further discoveries.  

I can well imagine that anyone playing one of these games would quickly increase their store of knowledge about those who have wielded power over the English, or the British, as they were after James 1 of Britain and VI of Scotland. 

Even those who consider themselves well informed will learn some surprising facts.  Did you know that Henry VIII was the first to be called Your Majesty, or that William IV had an affair with an actress and had ten children with her? And that Oliver Cromwell died of malaria after a huge thunderstorm hit London in 1649?

This is a game which is guaranteed to provide a lot of fun for children and their grown ups.  Inquisitive children of eight upwards will love this and so will their grannies and grandpas.  Granny might also pose the question 'can a man who beheaded two wives or one who went mad or one who abdicated the throne be properly called a 'hero'?  But that's another profitable way to use this very attractive game. It would make a lovely present and keep the family occupied for hours. And you'll all be better informed at the end.