Doggie Doo Game for all the Family

New Doggy Poo Game as Seen on TV
Put the educational toys to one side for a moment there’ll be plenty of time for the learning stuff later. For now it’s all about having a laugh with the kids with the new Doggie Doo Game from John Adams. Since its first air play on the Jonathan Ross’ TV chat show in September demand has been high and it has now been tipped as one of the top toys for Christmas. This is good news for parents looking for games at around £20.

Feed & Walk your Little Puppy
Children who are already familiar with the doggy walk will no doubt be used to the poop scoop procedure, but for those that’s not it’s a fun way to introduce them to it! At first glance you may not be taken in by the thought of playing along with a game about poop and scoop but you’ll be missing out if you don’t give it a try. This is one for all the family to enjoy and one that doesn’t need batteries.

More John Adams Toys and Games under £20

How to Play Doggie Doo
Two to four players can join in the action game with the recommended age of 4 years and up. In addition to the star of the show, the cute little dachshund features include 1 bone, 1 die and sticker sheet, 4 scoops, 1 container of dog food and 1 treat mould. The idea of the game is to feed the dog a doggie treat pump the lead and if he poops on your turn “scoop the poop” the first to 3 wins the game. Playing time approx 15 minutes.

Memory Game

Ravensburger Memory Game

The highly successful game from Ravensburger “Memory” first came on the scene in 1959 and as it celebrates its 50th anniversary looks to be as popular as ever. Each generation no matter where in the world they are from can play this timeless classic. To date it has sold more than 75 million copies in over 80 countries.

Global Success
The global success is all down to the simple structure of the game and because it is not based on language everyone can partake. The principle behind the game is simply to match pairs of cards using memory, turning two cards over per move.

The cards are printed with pictures based on various themes popular with adults and children including special edition releases. The game is simple to play, is suitable for all ages and there is no limit of players. Best of all because it revolves around concentration and memorising individual pictures it encourages the thinking process and exercises the mind.

It is refreshing to be able to appreciate old favourites that have proved the test of time and still hold the same amount of interest today. Kids, parents and grand parents can improve there memory and have fun too particularly with the “Memory journey through time” version.

Best of all is the game itself never gets boring because there are new versions constantly being introduced; so far there have been 250 variations. Ravensburger are releasing 20 different versions of themed style memory games this year to celebrate their fifty year anniversary.

Children in particular like memory games with Disney motifs like Disney Princess and Disney Fairies, there are Bob the Builder games, Star Wars Clone Wars memory and SpongeBob Squarepants.

Popular memory games

  • Winnie the Pooh
  • Micky Mouse
  • Bob the Builder
  • The Lion King
  • Cars
  • Thomas & Friends
  • On the Farm
  • Disney Fairies
  • Dora the Explorer
  • Lazy Town
  • Tigger and Pooh
  • Ben 10
  • Power Rangers

Memory is the world’s most popular matching pairs game and is suitable for all ages, the thick cards and easy rules means little ones can take part too. The basic idea of the game is simple- seeking pairs of cards that match; but the fun is turning over cards with favourite characters, heroes, TV stars and so one.

Games, Puzzles Educational and learning games

games

Games and Puzzles

The Top Toy Guide is your resource for finding the latest innovative games and new releases. This classic form of play has been around for centuries and as each year passes more games are introduced. Choosing the right game for a child takes a lot of thought so first consider the age and then decide what type of board game. Types of games fall into categories like educational, strategy, quiz, card games, team playing games etc.

The collection we have here includes an array of games for all ages and abilities. Games are foremost an enjoyable activity however, more and more games are used as an educational tool. Key components of games are goals, challenges, rules, and interaction which can be of a physical nature or involve some form of stimulation of the mind.

There are board games, computer games, ball games, games of skill and games of chance all requiring the player to have a certain amount of skill, strategy or luck on their side. This can soon improve with practice that’s why games never go out of fashion and remain a popular choice for families.

Playing games not only entertains us it keeps the mind active and healthy. There are many attributes and advantages of playing different types of games; from an early age upwards they can shape and build our social skills, improve our memory and concentration plus sharpen certain academic skills.

The age of the digital era has lead to the rise of gaming and the highly successful video game market. Wii and Nintendo DS Lite cater for everyone with great learning games for pre-schoolers, keep-fit and interactive games for the whole family with Wii sports and games including new releases from latest films.

Old fashioned games are as popular as ever and Monopoly, Cluedo, Snakes and Ladders, Bingo, Connect 4, Twister and Scrabble still hold the same appeal as they first did. They may look different and have had revamped make-over but the rules are the same and the guarantee of great family fun.

Games taken from popular TV shows has been a growing trend over the years with TV favourites Deal or No Deal one of the top sellers. Others include: Who wants to be a Millionaire, Family Fortunes, Catch Phrase, Golden Balls, Britain’s Got Talent, High School Musical DVD Game and more.

These TV favourites are ideal at Christmas time when families get together. It doesn’t take long to pick up the rules because everyone is probably familiar with the TV programme.

Gadget games on the other hand involve a little more skill and are usually a one on one experience. Hamley’s are predicting the Rubik Cube to be as successful as it was last year; there is a new version out for 2009 the Rubik 360 that looks set to just as addictive. This 3-D mechanical puzzle is like the original in that it can not be broken until you solve it and is suitable for 8 years upwards.

Bop it! Extreme 2 is one you can play alone or with others and suits 8 years old upwards. It sold very well last year and looks to do the same this year. This hand held device from Hasbro first came on the scene in 1996 since then there have been numerous variants. This is a reaction game where you have to act fast and follow the commands by bopping, pulling, and twisting your way to victory.

There are plenty of toy ideas for preschoolers and games to help them focus their attention and learn important life skills. They can have fun with games involving counting, colour matching, and early learning goals. Games can encourage observation and fine motor skills and also develop social communication.

Today the digital world has reached the Preschool learning stage with games such as Vtech V.Smile, Leap Frog Leapster 2 and Tag reading system.  Leapster 2 won a 2008 Gold Practical Pre-School Award and is aimed at 4 years old upwards. This advanced educational gaming system allows parents to monitor their child’s progress with the Leapfrog learning path.

The digital revolution has not so much taken over the way we play instead it has opened up another world of recreational enjoyment. Traditional board games have lasted the test of time and have been updated as each generation comes around that’s why at Christmas time grandparents excel at board games because they have had many more years playing the game!