Toyland Christmas Chats with The Enchanted Nanny Part 2

It’s Christmas time, and The Enchanted Nanny is chatting all things toys! From nostalgic favourites to exciting new holiday releases, this episode is packed with festive fun, toy talk, and Christmas cheer. Perfect for parents, caregivers, and anyone who loves a little holiday magic.

Transcript

Natasha (00:00)

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So we have been sent some toys from some of our favourite brands that we work with. So let's talk through a few of these. Let's start with LeapMove. Now LeapMove is obviously screen heavy.

So you attach it to the top of your TV and essentially the child, picks up the child's movements and the child will have to jump if the character needs to jump over something. He'll bend down if the child needs to, if the character needs to bend down. Equally, if you need to climb up a ladder to get to the next level, you need to like literally like climb. ⁓ So it is screen heavy.

Danielle (00:57)

I love it.

Natasha (00:58)

It's absolutely getting the kids moving.

Danielle (01:01)

So I used to be a primary school teacher and if I was...In a year R a classroom, I would be using this. Yeah, 100%. Already by looking at it, so there are games that have letters. Now they're capital letters, that's fine. Children still need to learn about those. You've got some phonics going on there. You've got number recognition. But for me, these kinds of things, I think work so well for spatial awareness, and getting children to move in ways that they might not necessarily move day to day. And I understand it's screen heavy, I do. However, life can be screen heavy. You're not ever going to be able to avoid them. And I think sometimes using them in ways that help them to explore different movements, help them to...do the hand-eye coordination as well. Just little things that sometimes need a little bit more. I don't see a problem with that, I actually really like this.

Natasha (02:13)

It's gold dust to me so my son ⁓ Reggie has to do physio every day. ⁓ wow. So in the winter months physio is really difficult. In summer we're outside on the trampoline, inside trying to get physio done which is just getting up and getting his body moving. This will be gold dust.

Danielle (02:30)

Yeah,

I would use this with William. William's four and it's four plus so it's perfect and you can tell it's really made for that age range. ⁓ I just, like...

Natasha (02:40)

These days you can't always get out as well. Some days are just a bit heavy aren’t they.

Danielle (02:44)

Look, the thing is, when you're educating very small children, the best way to help them learn is through movement and obviously visual and sound. Something that this is going to have in buckets. So actually, if you are helping your little one to learn to read or to learn to play different games that require a little bit more thinking, this is perfect.

It is, especially like you say in the winter months when it's harder to get outside. Yeah, I really like that. I would use that. Yeah. And it would be, it would definitely be for William. He would adore this.

Natasha (03:20)

I say boys are like dogs, they need walking, but this could walk them inside.

Danielle (03:25)

⁓ I think it's really sweet ⁓ and I remember that we had ⁓ a whole year once where we were doing the Just Dance. But we loved it and was the same thing. it involved a screen but it also involved so much laughter. Yeah. And so much movement that we wouldn't have...

done. You know, rather that what would you rather if they could be sat still for all of Christmas day or they could be on that moving around getting out their energy, especially if it's raining and you can't go out for a walk and you're trying to get stuff done. Yeah, I really like it. I think it's sweet.

Natasha (04:01)

I also really love this. So this is Hey Clay. And once again, it is using an app, but it teaches you step by step how to make these characters. Now, obviously this is an animal dog one, but they've got like a bluey one. They've got all sorts of 

Danielle 

Do they come to life? Does it animate them?

Natasha 

I don't think it animates them as such, but it just teaches you how to use these tools and how to make them. Yeah. But

Danielle (04:35)

So if I was going to use this, I'm always very much, and it's the teacher in me, like where's the learning? Where's the, I want them to enjoy a toy and I want them, I also want it to be kind of helping to develop their imagination or their skills or their cause and effect. So if I was going to get something like this, the nice thing is my four year old could just.

do it with his sisters. The eight and 11 year olds would enjoy it too. But towards the 11 and 16 year old, I would probably then look at getting them to do some research into, is it stop frame animation? Is that what it's called? Stop motion. I think when you can create things like this and then start

Natasha (05:12)

Yeah, isn't it stop motion?

Danielle (05:20)

to teach yourself another skill, that's where this becomes something that's going to keep them busy for a whole day. So don't ever think that a toy is limited by only one thing. Yeah, very much so. And I would join it too. It would be hilarious. mean, my animation would probably be about two seconds long, but I'd be so proud of it.

Natasha (05:31)

therapy.

I love making things. ⁓ GraviTrax's Junior. So GraviTrax do an older collection, but they have just launched this junior collection. Now it's aimed at kind of William Reginald's age, even Quincy's age, but it basically is like a marble run. As such. So you have to build up all of your different levels, to make sure that you've got enough gravity to make sure that the marbles run the right way. Now the marbles can run through all of these different pieces. And yes, it's three to seven, but there's loads of different add-ons. So you could buy the starter set and then somebody else who wanted to buy a smaller set could then buy a nice add-on to them.

Danielle (06:33)

or maybe like that. So the only thing I would say with this one for me is I would probably not get this until William was seven. Yes. Specifically because of the ball. Of the ball. The marble element. ⁓ And you have to know your child. Exactly. And you have to know that they're not going to fit.

Natasha (06:54)

This goes back to

the age and stage.

Danielle (06:56)

And

stage. stage. So this says three plus, William is four. Yes. Someone could buy him that thinking, he's four. But I'd be like, He's going to eat the marble. depending on, you know, I'd be like, okay, well this is a game that we do where I'm present.

Natasha (07:03)

he's full, yes, he's in middle of that. He's gonna eat the marble.

Danielle (07:16)

and we do it all together. then I've just got eyes on the marble all the time. But yeah, I think that's great. I love, again, that cause and effect. And I was obsessed with Marble Run. I didn't have it, but I had friends who did. And I used to beg them, like, please can you send the Marble Run up? But then they were like, oh no, I'm not gonna do it. I just can't gut it. Please send up Marble Run, I love it. But yeah, that's the only thing I say with anything that has a ball. Yeah. Yeah, age and stage.

Natasha (07:42)

Number blocks. I Love number blocks. Now number blocks have always been these plastic cubes that all connect together, but they have actually launched, which makes me so happy, like a wooden set. ⁓ lovely. So this is a wooden set. ⁓

Danielle (08:01)

Gorgeous.

Number blocks. So when I was doing my teacher training, ⁓ we had like a version of this and you might have seen them, but they've got like holes in them.

Natasha (08:16)

Should I just connect?

Danielle (08:18)

I just love the concept of anything that makes maths and number, particularly early maths and number, visual. Because I was such a visual child and I had to draw dots and something like this. And I have been lucky enough to see so much of the number blocks stuff and things that are coming out. And I am never not impressed by how much they're making. It's just incredible. 

So I think the thing is for somebody who doesn't necessarily, like maths isn't like their first language. And it doesn't just make sense to them. Being able to see colour and shape and saying, well that's four. That is four, four is four. ⁓ I just love it. It makes it accessible. It's something that's fun. And again, it's one of those things that hit different nails on different heads. I love.

this brand, same with, I don't know if it, is it the same company that do alpha blocks as well? But for me, maths can feel, you either take to it or you don't, I think. And I'm a very creative person and so something where it's like, it's right or it's wrong, it's this or it's that. My brain doesn't work that way. But as soon as you start adding like, well remember, four is yellow. Four is a square. And I'm like, oh

Of course four is a square. Of course it's this, of course it's that. Yeah, I love it. And doing things that are gonna make that journey visual and then being able to help a child make connections, especially when you start to do tens and ones or as we used to call them tens and units. Yeah, I can't speak highly enough of number blocks. I think they're great. And especially now doing the wooden ones as well. Yeah, just so much nicer. The other thing I will say, that not everyone picks up on with these. And I need to test this. I'm making an assumption here. The weight is different. Because obviously they get bigger depending on how many cubes are attached. That is huge. When you talk to a child about more or less and you're able to say to them, well, you know, this is bigger, but is it necessarily more or less? it's just another way of making those connections that, yeah, I love it. But I need to check because I might be saying that, they might all weigh exactly the same, but I highly doubt it because of how well they think this through.

Natasha (10:55)

And another toy that I want to talk about is Melissa and Doug. Have you seen these? These are blockables.

Danielle (11:02)

I've seen, I feel like I have, but I haven't tangibly played with them yet.

Natasha (11:09)

So they are lot of fun and obviously like really good for motor skills, nice and chunky pieces that all kind of go together.

Danielle (11:20)

I like them because they become creative in a way that I do love a standard set of blocks. But I just think actually as they do get a little bit older and they do get a little bit more technical and creative, being able to pop the add-ons on is really lovely. I think this is really sweet. And again, I know it says two plus but how much is this one? 

Natasha (11:41)

29.99 

Danielle 

That is pretty good. It's also really easy to wrap.

Natasha

Yeah.

Danielle (11:49)

Anything that's just in a basic box. So yeah, this again, age and stage, this is two plus, but this would be right up William Street. He would absolutely love it. So I think anything like that. Yeah, I really like that. Oh, and it's got little backdrops as well. 

Natasha

⁓ yeah, can make all your scenes.

Danielle 

That's really sweet. And again, it's encouraging, not just the building.

but then starting to add some vocabulary in as well and making up the story. So it's taking that play from just being a pop one thing onto the other to actually, we're gonna engage and we're gonna make the story happen. That being said, I do love toys that are just open-ended. So I love this. I think both have their merits, but it's okay if you are just getting them a standard block. ⁓

Natasha (12:39)

Yeah, absolutely.

Danielle (12:42)

I have this thing about children being allowed to be bored and children being able to scaffold their own play. So it's one of those things, if I was going to have something that did have that help, that support to play, I would be making sure that I wasn't always using that bit. Like I want you to use your own imagination. But I think both have their merits of actually, you know…some children don't play imaginatively and that might just be the thing that helps them kind of make that little leap, that scaffolding. But yeah, I like that.

Natasha (13:18)

What are your thoughts on toys like this? So this is a little fantasy family.

Danielle (13:26)

⁓ these are the surprises, aren't they?

Natasha (13:29)

Yeah, so he has 50 sounds and reactions. I don't know how to make him work though.

Danielle (13:37)

So my older daughters, ⁓ they're obsessed.

Natasha (13:40)

Do they love these kind of things? He says, feed me. So says he lays two eggs.

Danielle (13:45)

Anything…. so last year for them it was all about the

Natasha (13:48)

It has two eggs that it lays, two little chickens.

Danielle (13:51)

It's surprise and that's thing, everything is about mystery. I'm noticing, it has been probably for about the last like seven or eight years, maybe more. Everything is about like you never know what you're gonna get. So yeah, my kids love them. this is the thing.

Natasha (14:08)

It sings, dances.

Danielle (14:10)

I don't necessarily love them, however Christmas is about them choosing what they love. So we have had all of them, but we'll end up having more this year because they are obsessed. So I like this one because the nice thing about this is it doesn't seem to come with too much else. My lesser favourite ones are the ones that come with like a guinea pig hutch.

Natasha (14:35)

And this, even though you would know what's inside, unless you put something different inside the eggs, it can lay them over and over again. So you could like, if you get creative, like put a real egg inside.

Danielle (14:47)

I do like them. The biggest thing I love about these toys is how much my kids love them. them, yeah. Like their little faces. they And just watching them discover what's inside the eggs and stuff.

Natasha (14:59)

Because that is probably the hardest part, isn't it? Is letting go of the picture perfect Christmas toys. Like, I pitched it like this, it was all going to be wooden toys and it's all going to be beautiful. And it's not going to be a single bit of plastic involved and the children are going to love this beige room. But actually,

Danielle (15:10)

Been there. And that's the thing because you constantly reality is gosh is that gonna be a toy that I'm like Yeah, we go to a lot of car boot sales and you always know the ones where you're like I'm gonna see a lot of those Yeah, five years time really nice start clearing out there. Yeah, however, it is it's that weighing up, like they've been asking for this for months. And they are set. And it's so funny because I think from kind of summer to Christmas, you have that toy in your head and usually it's got like a really weird name and it's like, oh, it's like a fudge mellow, squish nopoli, surprise magic garden whisperer. Like it's always like a ridiculous. And most of the time they've told you the wrong name. So you go into the shop and you're like, I am looking for this thing. And they're like. Don't know what you mean. ⁓ But it is, it's usually those toys that they're most excited about. And I find they are also the toys that collaboratively they enjoy together. So we had ⁓ one of those potion ones where, and again, when I bought it I was like, ⁓ what am I doing? But the memory of the smoke coming out. Right? And their little faces and they'll be like, it's happening, it's happening, it's gonna happen, I've gotta wave the wand and they're gonna do it. It's just so, so magical. And I remember presents from when I was little, like my mum got me this ⁓ mermaid doll and I loved the little mermaid, I was obsessed. And when you put her in the bath, her tail disappeared and then there was a ring left behind that you could wear.

And it's so funny because I thought it was the best thing in the world. However, she was Winnie the Pooh-ing. Like, she was naked from the waist down for the rest of my childhood.

Natasha (17:13)

So once the tail disappeared, it disappeared.

Danielle (17:15)

Yeah, like it was, I guess it was made from that kind of sugar paper type thing. But this is the thing, my mum could have looked at that toy and gone, what is the point? She's gonna end up with a Barbie that's just wearing a bra and nothing else, right? So she could have used her rational mind, but she knew that I was gonna be like overwhelmingly excited about, so anyway, she got me this doll.

Danielle (17:44)

And it's so funny because bless my mom, obviously she like filmed it. I could not post this video because I was in the bath. But it's hilarious. And like reenactment is me just going, what, what, what, where's her tail gone? And I am so animated about it. And all you can hear is my mom just cackling in the background. And then I'm like, wait.

There's something there, there's something there. It's a ring! And I was like, again, I was very emotional about this little thing, crying about how insane it was. But the memory of that has stuck with me, it's stuck with my mum, and every so often she'd be like, do you remember that Barbie got you? And her tail disappeared and it was a ring. And we just absolutely wet ourselves laughing. And if she'd have just used her rational mind and been like, yeah, I just always had this semi-naked Barbie that wasn't a mermaid anymore.

Natasha (18:28)

You'd never have had that core memory,

Danielle (18:34)

That's the story. yeah, that's the thing. It's that weighing up actually, if that's what they've asked for, go for it. You're never going to forget that. If it's something that you can afford and you're happy for them to have it, just do it. Don't be too rational about these things. It's Christmas. But also don't go into debt.

Natasha (18:52)

Don't go in to debt. That is our one piece of advice is that we don't need to get ourselves in to debt to have a good Christmas.

Danielle (18:58)

100%. So yeah, it is, it's that. Yeah. Do they need it? Can we afford it? And then a little bit of a, you know?

Natasha (19:00)

weigh it up.

And then if you can't afford it brand new in the shop, take a look at all of the places we've...

Danielle (19:14)

And

that's the only issue with these, that's the only thing I will say with the surprise things is it's really difficult to buy those second hand and have that same magic. ⁓

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Natasha (20:10)

One thing I do with my children is I get them every year to put together, I give them a sack and I say to them, they have to fill the sack with toys that they no longer play with, that they've no longer got any interest in and we leave them downstairs and the elves will come and take them and then a few days later, obviously, then it is Christmas because we have to make space.

Danielle (20:33)

100%.

Natasha (20:34)

And actually we make sure that they go to the charity shop enough in advance that another family could benefit from them so that it's not dropped off on Christmas Eve because no one's benefiting from that. A week in advance so that families that are shopping there and want to shop there actually can see some gems and then on Christmas Day obviously then the boys get...

Danielle (20:57)

I think also having some kind of a collaboration either with maybe your child's school class or even if it's just close friends and family where you all say you know I'm looking to buy one of these and I don't mind a second hand one yeah or I have this does anybody want it as a Christmas like you know do a little bit of a swap

⁓ But yeah, having some kind of a communication group. And I do think that if you're in a baby group or you're in a children's ⁓ class, WhatsApp, or use it for the greater good. And just say, look, shall we all say things that we are looking for for Christmas that we don't mind buying second hand to see if someone's got it. You might have bought something for your child and they've barely used it. You've even still got the box.

and someone says, my goodness, I've been looking for one of these for ages, they're really expensive, does anyone have a second hand one? And you're in this group of people, Liza, here you go. Have it.

Danielle (21:55)

Or you know, I'll give you some money. But having that kind of a communication and again, it just comes back to constant community. Like we can all help each other have a really lovely Christmas. Yeah. And how lovely would that feel to know that you've all supported each other and made the most of what you have? 100%. But yeah, I am so with you when it comes to getting the sack and saying, look, if this is the size of a sack that you want your presents to be in, you need to fill it up.

Yeah. Like it's one in, one out. Yeah. And that makes life so much easier for you.

Natasha (22:29)

And also, it's kind of like, I will tell my children that they can go to the charity shops and things like that and actually, we can help other people, we can give them away, we do it with our books as well. I think it's so important to teach them those values. We don't need to have hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of toys in this house. need to have what we love.

Danielle (22:51)

I think also it's an important teaching point. I always say that if I want something, I need to make room for it mentally and physically.

And I like kind of really delicately teaching them that. I know it's a bit of a visualization, but it works really well for them. And then you can use that as a connection point. Remember around Christmas, you really wanted that. And you did need to make some room for it. You already had too much of this or, know, it's teaching them to do that. It's teaching them gratitude as well, because you can go through those toys while you're putting them in the bag and say, gosh, do you remember that? Do you remember when you got this? 

And have that, grateful that we had that and we had that game and it was really funny and talking a bit. Because actually what can happen is that children want the next thing and the next thing and the next thing. They consume, consume, consume and there's just stuff everywhere and it's not good for them. It's not good for us. It's not good for anyone. It's just that careful balance. One in, one out. Have gratitude for the things that you have and if you're getting rid of them, maintain that gratitude. I loved playing with this but I'm ready for someone else to enjoy it and it's a lovely lovely thing to teach early on. It becomes a tradition.

Natasha (24:11)

It does become a tradition, it's a tradition in my house.

So obviously we've been talking about lots of amazing big brands but also there's lots of really small brands isn't there that need our support during Christmas and equally do some amazing amazing gifts.

Danielle (24:30)

Yeah. So I know that people find it really difficult to buy for older children, particularly teenagers. And I have found a brand called Goodeehoo. And they make stationery, bags, all sorts. And it's all really gorgeous, but it can all be personalized. So for me, that's a big win. So I use this brand personally and so do my older children for their stuff. ⁓ So this is one of, a lot of their stuff kind of looks like this. It's all very bright. So in terms of like the brighter colours, you're looking at sort of stuff like this, but everything can be personalized. So if say for instance, you've got a smaller price bracket, this is 6.99. And then with personalization, think the personalization on top is £3.50, but That's lovely. Yeah. And actually they, you know, that could be for a school bag. It could be for pencil case. Yeah. If they're a bit older and they do have a bag, it can go on a bag. It's just really nice. I've not got it with me, but they do a really gorgeous wash bag and it opens flat and it's just perfect. Like. You can pop it on your bed, can pop it on your dresser. You can personalise it, but if I was buying it for a teenager, this gorgeous, lovely wash bag, I would personalise it and then I would fill it up with pamper stuff. So a little bit like what you would do with the stocking. Pampering things, sweets, chocolate, socks, just fill it up with lovely, special stuff. But the great thing about this company is the price point, but also the fact that you can add personalisation. And I think if you've got a budget that you're sticking to, to be able to do both, to get something that's lovely, but also make it personalised and special, that gets my vote every time. So for teenagers, particularly, something like that, particularly the wash slash make-up bag, and knowing that you can choose from a really big variety of colours as well.

Perfect. And you're also introducing them to a really gorgeous brand that's affordable so they can maintain that if they're like, I really like that. And if they also do lots of other stuff, then they're going to find that early on and it's not going to cost them an absolute fortune. if you're buying them a ridiculously expensive handbag, wash bag, laptop bag, whatever.

They can't maintain that. We've bought them something they love and then they can't add to it. Yeah, absolutely. But that's why I love Goodeehoo. But yeah, I just think they're gorgeous.

Natasha (27:13)

And another small business that I absolutely love is Georgie Bells. So they made these beautiful sacks. Now I can't find my son's name Quincy on anything ever. But, he knows that. So when we go in the shop and he sees all the bits, especially at Christmas and he looks for his name, his name's never there. So then when I give him a Christmas sack like this, like his face will beam. 

Danielle (27:38)

⁓ Yeah.

I have the same actually a couple of mine have got quite unusual names and they look whenever we go to like garden centres and stuff and you find their little Christmas books or the headbands and stuff and they never find them and it's nice to see your name on something. Yeah. Like that's the first thing you heard lots and lots of it's a nice feeling when someone says your name and you see it on something.

Natasha (27:58)

So Georgie Bells does beautiful Christmas sacks like this, but also do the most beautiful, softest pyjamas. These are but they are personalized and they're absolutely beautiful. buying something like that for a little one is such a great gift.

Danielle (28:06)

These are these,

They're so cute

They’re gorgeous.

Natasha (28:25)

And the gift doesn't have to be on Christmas Day, it could be before. Yeah.

Natasha (28:31)

Yeah, your December jammies, yeah absolutely.

Danielle (28:29)

Yeah, your December jammies. They're really gorgeous. So one tip I will say, if you're buying pyjamas as a gift, is to size. So you know normally when you buy children's clothes, you buy like the next size up. Don't do that with pyjamas. So pyjamas are designed to be tight to the skin.

Danielle (28:51)

Basically because, this is so morbid, this is such a, but it's an important tip. We should do one about Christmas safety, I'd be all over that. But yeah, make sure that they're true to size because if you're, there's candles everywhere around Christmas time, if there is anything with open fire or there happens to be one, you want their pyjamas to be tight to the skin, that keeps them safer. But yeah, sorry. My little safety announcement for the day.

Natasha (29:17)

Daniel, safety announcement.

Danielle (29:19)

No, no. I'm always a safety first, especially with gift giving as well.

Natasha (29:24)

So let's do one last question before we wrap this up. If you could only give one gift this Christmas, what's it gonna be and why?

Danielle (29:36)

If I could only give my children one gift, so the same gift for all. It's really difficult. A physical gift, it would be the Tonies box. However, personally, if I could only get one gift for all four of my children, it would be an experience. It would be something where we're like, we're go and do this. Which is probably not the best thing for a Christmas present podcast, but yeah. If I was really restricted, it would be something we could all enjoy as a family together.

Thank you so much for watching the Project Baby podcast. Thank you so much, Danielle, again. If you want to check out the Enchanted Nanny, you can check her out.

Danielle (30:19)

Yeah, basically just type in Enchanted Nanny pretty much anywhere, you'll find me...

Natasha (30:27)

you'll find her. If  not, she'll find you. It was so lovely to speak to you again and we will speak again soon. But if you'd like to hit the subscribe button, then you can make sure that you don't miss out on any of the other podcasts coming up. Thank you so much. See you soon.