Tag Archives: children’s toys

Smashers From Zuru – The Latest Thing For Sports Mad Kids

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Smashers from Zuru are the latest toy/collectable taking the kids world by storm.  A plastic ball that you have to physically ‘smash’ to get to the sports-themed collectable character inside, Smashers come in all shapes and sizes, and have limited editions that are highly covetable.There are hundreds to collect, and appeal to children who usually enjoy collecting Topps cards. These are the new pocket money toy, and I have to say my lad Joe is obsessed.

Smashers come in a red plastic ball that you smash on the floor to get to the toy inside. This is, of course, great fun for kids. The “shattered” ball then doubles up as a bit of a puzzle as kids can try to put it back into a sphere. Once you get your figure you can use the Smashers information leaflet to discover who you have. Smashers are sorted into categories ranging from ‘Super Rare’ and ‘Limited Edition’ to Bad Sports and Ball Stars. The information sheet also doubles as a game space where you can throw your Smasher at another figure to try to earn points.

Smashers are loved by kids icons like the Tekkerz Kid and It’s Romello, and for serious collectors the red collectors bus which converts to a ball park and play area, as well as providing storage for your Smashers is an absolute must. My lad Joe is football mad, the UK version rather than American football, but he absolutely loves the idea of Smashers and is now collecting them, using rewards for good behaviour, work and goals to collect towards buying another set of figures.

You can find Smashers at a range of stockists including Argos, Smyths and Tesco.

Win With Smashers

If you would like to win a Smashers 8pk set worth £9.99 and a Smashers football tin worth £7.99 please enter the competition below.

Smashers Giveaway

Tekkerz Kid and It’s Romello launch Infinity Nado at The Entertainer, Bullring

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Yesterday was a very exciting day in Birmingham for hundreds of kids enjoying the beginning of their half term holidays. You Tube stars the Tekkerz Kid and It’s Romello were in town to launch the latest Infinity Nado Battle set, and to challenge the Nado fans of Birmingham to try and beat the two brothers in a game. The kids of Birmingham rose to the challenge, making a journey to the Bullring, more specifically to The Entertainer to meet their pint sized heroes and maybe, just maybe, beat them at a game of Infinity Nado. I went along to The Entertainer myself to see what the game is all about.

I don’t mind admitting that I’d never heard of Infinity Nado, but after watching the children doing battle yesterday I can see why it is so easy to get hooked on the game. ToyTriangle gives a detailed description of the idea behind it and how you play, saying:-

Infinity Nado is based on the action packed theme about Battle, Justice & Friendship. Wherein, Jin along with his mates enter the center of the Gyro-type tower to stop its rotation overcome the evil forces to save the planet. The Infinity Nado spinning tops are mechanical spinning top that are turnable and can adjust its gravity centre rapidly even if suffering hard attack.It has the first chip integrating system in the world – RFID (Radio Frequency ID).

Children who had tickets were able to play against both the Tekkerz Kid and It’s Romello, and were then added to a board – winners, challengers, and those who forced a draw. It’s Romello was rather laid back in his approach to the challenge, winning some and losing others, but taking it all in his stride. The Tekkerz Kid however, proved much harder to beat, and also entertained the crowd when he pointed out that the spinners often resembled ballerinas, and pirouetted to prove a point. His banter with his brother was also very funny.

My boy Joe had a go at the challenge and managed to beat both brothers, which totally thrilled him and added his name to the winners section. He loved the game so much, and was super pleased with his goodie bag which contained two limited edition gold and silver Nados, so we purchased the Battle Set too as an early Easter present.

You can find  a full range of Infinity Nado products from The Entertainer.

How to choose a balance bike for your kids

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Encouraging kids to become athletic and enjoy the outdoors is great for their development and well-being. Riding bikes, for example, is an enjoyable activity that promotes healthy living and exercise. If you’re planning to teach your kids how to ride a bike, then it’s time to consider choosing a balance bike for your kids.

Before allowing kids to actually use a regular kids or toddler bike, it’s best to let them find their balance first with the help of a balance bike. If you haven’t heard of them before, balance bikes have replaced training wheels and tricycles. From the name itself, this type of bike helps kids to learn how to balance. It looks like a typical bike except that it doesn’t have any pedals. But you will be amazed to see that after a brief amount of time, your kid is ready to move up to a regular bike and ride it without any assistance.

Not all balance bikes fit every child. This is why you need to consider these things before making your purchase. The size is on top of the list because it is the most important thing you have to consider. The size includes the size of the tires and the height of the seat. Most balance bikes have 12-inch tires. But if your kid is taller than most kids his/her age, you can go for the 14-inch or 16-inch tires. The height of the seat will greatly affect how comfortable your child is when riding a balance bike. You will know that the bike fits the child if his/her feet are flat on the ground while he/she is seated, the knee is bent slightly, and he/she is able to push off the ground while in a sitting position.

Because bike frames are made from different materials, it is best to choose one that does not weigh more than 30% of your child. Your child should be able to easily maneuver the bike. Don’t go for a bike that has too many features since this will add to the bike’s weight. There should also be enough room between the seat and the handlebars as well as have a small gap between the rear tire and the seat. This is so the child could extend their legs properly and for easy balance and control.

There are different types of tires but what you should look for is one that has good traction on different types of surfaces. You will find air, foam, rubber, plastic, and big apple tires for balance bikes, with air tires being the best.

Having hand brakes will help your child to safely stop and prepare them for riding a regular bike. While most kids simply hold out their feet after pushing off, there are balance bikes that have footrests. This allows your child to place their feet on the footrest instead of holding them out while gliding. If you choose to have one, make sure that it is properly designed in such a way that it isn’t located in the middle. Instead, the footrest should be somewhere near the back where the child can rest his/her heels while riding. Most balance bikes, however, do not have footrests.

A bike’s frame can either be made from metal alloys such as steel or aluminum, wood, and composite frames. Metal, in particular, steel, is the most commonly used frame. However, this results to a heavier bike and tends to rust. If you want one that is lightweight, strong, and rust-proof, aluminum alloy is the best choice. A wooden balance bike is also a popular choice for being environment-friendly, lightweight, easy to use, and has a simple design.

For additional protection, choose a balance bike that has a rubber handgrip with a knobby end or protective bumpers. This will protect your kids’ hands when they run into various types of objects as well as protect their hands from hitting the ground if they fall.

With this information on hand, you will surely be able to pick out a balance bike that is suited for your child. And with how fast they’ll learn how to balance, you can definitely say that purchasing a balance bike was worth it.