Easy Bake Ultimate Oven

For decades now, the Easy Bake Oven has been top of many girls' wishlists for birthdays and holidays. The latest version of the toy - the Easy Bake Ultimate Oven - has now done away with the classic light bulb heating method and is easier to use than ever. Even better, the cooking area can fit more treats in at one time! Keep reading to find out more about whether it's worth choosing this toy for your child.

Features Of The Easy Bake Ultimate Oven
  • Does not require light bulbs like previous ovens,
  • Includes all the pans, mixes and accessories needed to follow the recipes,
  • Comes with recipe booklet,
  • Accessories: cupcake pan, pan pusher, baking pan, cupcake wraps,
  • Mixes: Chocolate chip cookie, pink frosting mix, red velvet cake mix, rainbow sugar crystals mix.

Is The Easy Bake Ultimate Oven Worth Buying?




The best thing about any Easy Bake oven is the fact that it's easy! Kids can't generally bake traditional cakes in a standard oven, so it's a simpler and safer for them to use a toy such as the Easy Bake Ultimate Oven. Unlike previous Easy Bake Oven toys, you no longer need to use a bulb as the heating element, so it's even simpler to use than it has been in the past. There's absolutely no assembly required: it comes ready to use.

The cooking process is easy enough to follow, and kids even younger than the recommended age range of 8+ will still be able to enjoy making food. Make sure you supervise kids, however, as they'll need to work with the electric appliance and make sure that they turn the oven on far enough in advance to heat up properly. You'll also have to wait 10-20 minutes for the mixture to cook.

As for the cooking process, it's well worth noting that everything included with the Easy Bake Ultimate Oven is SMALL! That not only includes the finished baked products, but it includes the mixing utensils and every other accessory. When your child has finished cooking, they won't get full on these treats!

Once you've finished with the included mixes, you'll need to buy more. If you stick with the Easy Bake brand then this can be a little expensive considering how small the cakes are. However, kids usually love them for the pure fact that they've created them themselves!

The Easy Bake Ultimate Oven isn't too different from most other ovens in the Easy Bake range, but if your child has never owned one before then this is bound to put a smile on his or her face. Sure, the treats are small and aren't the highest quality you can get, but you can't beat the fun for kids of cooking them for themselves!

Where To Donate Toys That Your Kids No Longer Play With

Whether you're buying new toys for the holidays or you have a birthday coming up, one way to keep on top of toy clutter is to get rid of the old, unused toys at the same time. You could just throw them about, but it makes a lot more sense to donate toys that are still in good condition. That way, someone else can make the most out of them, and you'll avoid putting the items in landfill.

Whether you donate toys to charity or your local school, there are a few things you should bear in mind as you do so. It's well worth the effort, too, as toy donations can be tax deductible!

  1. Any items you donate need to be in good condition. They don't need to be perfect, but they need to have all the parts in tact and no obvious damage. Aside from the fact that they may not work properly, broken toys could also be unsafe for new children to play with.
  2. Make sure any toys you donate are clean. Some toys can be washed in the laundry, and most plastic toys can be cleaned quickly with some soapy water.
  3. When you donate toys you'll need to get a receipt from the charity, noting the item's value (if you want to claim the donation against tax, that is). Also note that some donations won't be accepted by the IRS: it's always best to check with them beforehand.
  4. Sometimes finding toys to donate is easy, but getting your kids to part with them isn't. First, try to use this as an opportunity to teach them something about those less fortunate than themselves, and how much they will appreciate a toy that your child barely even remembers they own any more. If possible, have them help you choose the items worth donating, too.
  5. Charities aren't the only organizations who will accept toy donations. Some other ideas include: hospitals, shelters, daycare centers, children's homes and more. If in doubt, contact them and ask. Most places will be happy to accept donations in good condition.
When you donate toys, not only will you be clearing up the clutter and helping out other children in the process, you'll also be teaching your kids a valuable lesson about giving. It's well worth the effort!

Guide To The Best Harry Potter Toys

Even though the Harry Potter series of movies may have come to an end, kids still absolutely adore this character and the world that he lives in. If you're gift-shopping for a child who just loves Harry Potter, here's a guide to some of the best Harry Potter toys available.

Harry Potter Lego

Lego is loved by children all over the world, and its Harry Potter range has proven hugely popular with kids aged between six and fourteen. Some of the current sets available include:
  • Hogwarts Castle,
  • Quidditch Match,
  • Hagrid's Hut,
  • Diagon Alley,
  • The Burrows,
  • The Forbidden Forest.

These Lego Harry Potter toys range in size and complexity, and there's a set available at pretty much any price point. They all come with special Harry Potter figurines, some featured in multiple sets, some included in just one. If your child is really into Harry Potter then they may want to collect them all.

There's even a Lego Harry Potter game available - build the game board from scratch using Lego pieces. This is an excellent option if you want a game to play as a family during the holidays.

Harry Potter Costumes

Costumes aren't just for Halloween! There are a number of officially licensed Harry Potter costumes and accessories available for children who love to play dress up. Get hold of the Gryffindor robe, scarf/ tie and wand, and add the classic Harry Potter glasses and lightning bolt to complete the look.

Alternatively, you can buy costumes of some of the other main characters from the series, including:
  • Dementor,
  • Quidditch player,
  • Dobby,
  • Hedwig the owl,
  • Death Eater,
  • Voldemort.

Harry Potter Games

If you're a Harry Potter fan along with your children, and want to find a toy that you can all enjoy together, then there are some fantastic Harry Potter trivia games available. The Scene It! range has just come out with a new version to take the latest movies into account. You'll be asked questions on all of the eight Harry Potter movies, and the best thing about this game is the fact that adults and kids have an equal chance of winning.

Other Harry Potter games available include the very affordable Uno special edition, and Clue Harry Potter: based on the classic Clue mystery game.

There really is no shortage of Harry Potter toys available if you need to find something to suit a fan. The best thing is that all of these toys are affordable, so you don't need to break the bank to keep your child happy.

Fisher-Price Little People Zoo Talkers Animal Sounds Zoo

Animal playsets have always been popular with young children, but the Fisher-Price Little People Zoo Talkers Animal Sounds Zoo is a set with a difference, marked by Toy Insider as one of the hot 20 toys for the 2011 holiday season. These are animals that make noises and tell you what they are: excellent for teaching your kids about a wide range of creatures.

Features Of The Fisher-Price Little People Zoo Talkers Animal Sounds Zoo
  • Zoo playset filled with different habitats for all animals,
  • Includes polar bear, gorilla and a lion,
  •  Lots of surprises for kids, like peek-a-boo doors,
  • Carry handle makes it easy to take anywhere,
  • Easy to set up with a Phillips-head screwdriver,
  • Uses 3 AA batteries,
  • Animals all make their unique animal sound.

The Animal Sounds Zoo is designed to teach your child about animals in three ways: the way it looks, its name, and the sound that it makes. Children play by matching the animal to its habitat, and the included habitats are also suitable for additional animals should you choose to buy more in future. There’s also a DVD included with more information on the animals.

There are plenty of features on this set to keep things interesting. It's much more than a static playset, with some of the fun features including: 
  • A ticket booth where Zookeeper Zack makes his announcements,
  • Peek-a-boo doors where an animal can pop through from one side of the set to another,
  • Squeaking nest,
  • Slides, swings and teeter-totters,
  • Stickers to decorate the set.

Is The Fisher-Price Little People Zoo Talkers Animal Sounds Zoo Worth Buying?

As far as animal sets go, this one looks cute and comes with a large range of features to keep it fun. It's not too big and not too small for toddlers to play with, and the built in handle makes it easy to pack up and take with you wherever you want to.

The animals themselves look good, and help your child to learn more about the real-life animal. The sounds add an extra element of fun, but could become a little irritating to parents!

One thing to note is the fact that the set does require adult assembly. Specifically, you'll have to screw the set together, but it's easy and doesn't take long. Aside from this, the only downside is that the number of animals included in the set is quite limited. If you do want to buy more animals in future, they are quite costly in comparison to the price of this full starter set. That said, they will add an extra element to the game in the future, and fit together well with the animals already included.

In short, if you've got a child aged between 18 months and 6 years old, they're bound to love playing with all the parts that come with this set. The best thing is that it's affordable, too!

Scene It! Harry Potter Game

The Harry Potter movie series may have come to an end, but the obsession with the movies and books certainly hasn't. Toy retailers are predicting that the Scene It! Harry Potter trivia game is going to be a big hit with young people and adults alike this holiday season, full of questions based on the movies.

Scene It! Harry Potter Game Features
  • Questions based on all 8 Harry Potter movies,
  • Includes movie clips from the first seven movies,
  • Flextime game board lets players choose how long they want the game to last,
  • Harry Potter themed movers,
  • 120 trivia cards,
  • Scene It! DVD that lets you play many times without getting the same questions,
  • 12 buzz cards,
  • Play with just the DVD when you put it on Party Mode,Recommended for ages 11 and above.

Is The Scene It! Harry Potter Game Worth Buying?

It goes without saying that a Harry Potter trivia game is only really going to be fun for those who have seen and enjoyed the movies. If not, you'll find it difficult to get involved as you won't know the answers to the questions. If you've only got one child who loves Harry Potter, make sure they have some friends who will be happy to join in with them!

If you do love Harry Potter, then this is an excellent way to relive your favorite moments from all the Harry Potter books and movies. The game is kept fun and interesting through a range of different question formats, that will call on a variety of elements from the stories.

One of the best thing about the Scene It! games is the fact that kids and adults can play them together, with the same chances of winning. This newest version of the Harry Potter game is complete with questions from all the movies, and makes for a great way of celebrating the end of the series. The best thing? It's so affordable, but can create hours of fun playing with other people.

The only bad thing about this game, in comparison to the older games, is the fact that the playing pieces are now made from plastic, and are a little less interesting. But that isn't important in the grand scheme of things. Overall, the newest Scene It! Harry Potter game is fun for all Harry Potter fans, no matter what age.

Pocoyo And Friends Swiggle Traks Feature Track With Bridge Set

The Pocoyo TV show has taken kids' TV by storm. If you've got a little one who loves this animated show, then any Pocoyo toys are bound to go down well as a gift. The set that's touted to be one of the most popular this year is the Pocoyo And Friends Swiggle Traks, featuring 4 colored tracks, a bridge, a vehicle and ball accessory.
Main Features Of The Pocoyo And Friends Swiggle Traks Feature Track With Bridge Set
  • Comes with 4 tracks,
  • Motorized vehicle with Pocoyo inside,
  • Uses 2 AAA batteries,
  • One moving bridge,
  • 1 ball accessory.

Is The Pocoyo And Friends Swiggle Traks Feature Track With BridgeWorth Buying For Your Child?

The Pocoyo Swiggle Traks toys are recommended for preschoolers, and if you've got a child who loves the TV show, then you can pretty much guarantee that they're going to love this set. The best thing about the set is that it's so easy for little ones to put together. The track can be snapped together in different sequences to create different layouts that keep things interesting.

The main thing that makes Swiggle Traks different to similar toys is the fact that they're flexible. They can be bent while flat on the floor, or they can even be slanted up from the floor: the vehicle can still run on them. This increases the possibility for imaginative play and gives more fun options for your child.

One thing you should note, however, is that the moving bridge does need to be placed on a flat surface to work properly. When it does, it makes the tracks wiggle back and forth as the vehicle goes round. There's also a ball included for the car to push around the track as it moves.

Although the Pocoyo set is fun to use, it's probably not suitable for the older scale of the age range mentioned on many websites. The manufacturer says it's suitable for kids of up to seven years, but it's quite simple to use and is probably best for kids aged around three or younger.

The best thing about this track really is the fact that it's Pocoyo. Kids love their favorite characters and will have fun playing with this set for this reason. Thankfully, it's affordable, and you can expand the range of play options in future by purchasing more items from the Pocoyo range of toys.

Angry Birds Plush Toys

The Angry Birds app is the number one app across the world, downloaded and played by millions of fans. It involves catapulting the birds towards the green pigs in an attempt to get revenge. Sounds simple, but it's hugely addictive.

The Angry Birds have now made their way into the toy world. There are a range of different Angry Birds plush toys available to buy, ranging in size and depicting popular characters from the game. They all feature authentic sounds from the game, and are suitable for kids and adults alike.

Features of The Angry Birds Plush Toys
  • Come in a variety of sizes and characters,
  • Officially licensed to match the characters and sounds in the game,
  • Squeeze the top of the toy to hear the bird make a sound,
  • Suitable for age one and above.

Should You Buy The Angry Birds Plush Toys For Your Child?

The Angry Birds toys are suitable for just about anyone, whether you've got a big kid in the house who loves to play the game, or a toddler who could do with a new, fun, soft friend. That said, those who will appreciate this toy the most are those who've played the Angry Birds app before, whether on their smartphone, computer or tablet.

These toys don't come with any fancy bells and whistles. They're simply round, plush balls that make a few different sounds when you squeeze them. You can choose the sizes that best suit your needs, and they start at 5 inches.

The main thing you need to worry about in a toy like this is that it can withstand rough treatment. After all, the Angry Birds in the game are frequently catapulted towards the pigs! Kids are bound to recreate this with their toy, though thankfully most parents have reported the toy holding up well.

The only downside to the Angry Birds toys is that you need to be careful not to push too hard to create the sound. Although most units are fine, a few buyers have reported issues with the sound mechanism breaking relatively quickly. Also note that, once the included batteries run out, there's no way of replacing them.

In short, the Angry Birds plush toys are some of the most affordable “hot” toys you can buy this holiday season. At less than $15, they're a fun gift for anyone who loves quirky stuffed toys, or who is obsessed with the original Angry Birds game.


Welcome to Hot-Gift-Toys.blogspot.com

Even though I'm mid fourty, with my little daughter aged 10, I admit I still fall in love with toys. The bright colors, the squeeky and buzz sound really excite me and my little daughter. 




Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...