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62 PRE-SCHOOL NEWS


COMMENT A DADDY BLOGGER’S VIEW


Parent bloggers are an increasingly influential part of the pre- school landscape. We take a look at recent blog posts from a daddy blogger…


This month: Dadda Cool


I WRITE ONE of thousands of UK parent blogs; I’m not unusual in that sense but I happen to be a chap, so I write a daddy blog. That makes me as rare as a Tickle Me Elmo in December ‘96. There is no definitive number but I was told for a recent parent blogging awards, only 42 Dad blogs were nominated against thousands of Mum blogs. I’ve been writing my blog for about three and a half years


now. In the last couple of years I’ve been contacted by PR agencies on behalf of toy companies with a view to providing an authentic parents perspective on products. Or rather, to let our kids loose on the products.


Despite having a three year-old girl, I don’t get approached about anything pink or fluffy.


I must admit I’m a bit naughty but probably not in the way


you’d expect. I do get offered an enormous number of toys, ranging from Hexbug Nanos, to Playmobil and Character licensed figures and I only tend to say ‘yes’ to the ones that look good.


My time as a blogger is limited and I don’t really want to spend my time thinking up innovative ways to say something is bad without saying it outright or offending someone. It’s much like reading a bad book really, I’d rather stop and pick up something better. It’s not a job for me, it’s a sideline on a hobby I have, so I have to be realistic.


Some brands run what are referred to as ambassador schemes, and I’m lucky enough to be on the Playmobil Playologist scheme. This has seen us get various play-sets to review but also allowed me the treat of a tour of their factory in Germany, which was utterly fascinating. I now know more about injection moulding than most people. I know I’m treated a bit differently to a lot of the mummy bloggers. For starters, despite having a three year-old girl who likes everything pink, I don’t get approached about anything pink or fluffy. I get offered techie toys (we had a pair of Realtec Spynet video glasses last month) and video games but nothing little girl related. Fortunately Playmobil is awesome for girls as well as boys. I’m not complaining; far from it but it does seem funny my gender is seen above that of our kids. I’m sure I could write a different take on a Fisher-Price Princess Castle.


Check out more from Dadda Cool online here, http://www.daddacool.co.uk; and on Twitter @daddacool.


NOVEMBER 2012 by Samantha Loveday


MARKS & SPENCER is to roll out an exclusive Guess How Much I Love You nursery toy and gift collection in January 2013.


The product designs are based on a new style guide created by Walker Licensing – a division of Walker Books – which introduced a fresh contemporary creative direction specifically for the baby and infant categories. “It’s absolutely fantastic to have M&S on board for this exclusive Guess How Much I Love You nursery toy and gift range,” said Anna Hewitt, head of licensing at Walker Books.


“M&S is the perfect place to launch the first products using the new creative direction and introduce this contemporary classic brand to a wider audience.” Guess How Much I Love You is based on the popular picture book by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram. First published by Walker back in 1994, it has sold over 28 million copies around the world and is in print in over 50 languages. Walker says its universal message of love carried throughout the book is the foundation for the new creative direction designed to add contemporary styling to the classic brand. Walker Books: 020 7793 0909


M&S signs up for Guess How Much nursery line


Exclusive toy and gift range for the popular picture book property is due to launch in stores from January 2013


Bajo wooden toys make UK debut by Dominic Sacco


GREEN OWL Toys is bringing the new Bajo wooden toys to the UK for the first time.


The products are manufactured in


Poland and are aimed at children aged six months to six years old.


Items include the £25.50 wooden sorting scale which explores colour, weights and proportions using colourful cylindrical shaped weights, a £19.99 rainbow push- along and the £25 Pentomino puzzle. The latter is for children from three years onwards and comes with a booklet with ideas and solutions to make new 2D shapes and 3D objects.


Then there’s a bird rattle toy which has two circles at right angles to each other, encasing a bell.


A statement sent from Green Owl Toys account manager Izabela Hailey to ToyNews read: “The Bajo toys have already won many awards in Europe and are waiting to be snatched by the market through their UK agent Green Owl Toys. “These unique wooden toys made by Bajo are of top quality and have included a design not seen anywhere else.” Green Owl Toys: 020 8851 9904


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