Customer Reviews >>>>

Customer Reviews >>>>

Now, it may be that you have no desire whatsoever to furnish the means for a toddler to start digging in your beloved begonias. However, should you wish to nurture the first stirrings of an interest in horticulture, then these tools should do the job. Also available in pink, the little ones seem to have just as much fun trying to put all the bits back in the carry box as actually doing any gardening (thank God). The watering can is also a perennial toddler favourite and, being metal, can be safely left outside to weather the summer.

Toddler review: "I don't want to stop watering, Mummy! Noooo!"

It's an unusual tot who doesn't enjoy a slide. No, the bright plastic colours won't exactly give class to your garden, but you probably abandoned hope of that a while ago, didn't you? This one is a good size for novice or timid sliders (though plenty of larger ones are also available) and folds up into two pieces for easy storage over winter in a garden shed. The rungs are rounded and easy for little legs to negotiate, and the sides are high enough to avoid sideways spills. It takes about 30 seconds to assemble, which is key when you have eager little hands tugging at your legs demanding to know if they can go on it yet.

Toddler review: [crying] "I can't go on my slide 'cos it raining! I'm sad!"

This sweet tent is extremely easy to put together. It comes in a cardboard case (surprisingly compact for the size of the tent) and all the frame pieces are pre-strung, making construction idiot-proof. Then you simply slip the canvas cover over and tie at the bottom for safety.

Easy to put together also means handily quick to disassemble, as you wouldn't want to leave this out in a rain shower. It also means you can quickly pop it up indoors and keep toddlers happy on a rainy day. The door folds up (there's another tie to secure it if you prefer to be able to see indoors ...) and the window is covered in a light mesh, presumably for added safety.

Toddler review: "Is this my tent house? Can I have this tent house? I love my tent house!"

If you've ever been to a toyshop or playgroup where they have one of these, you'll have witnessed the ugly scenes as toddlers battle it out for the first go. You need a bit of space (and a disregard for your lawn and borders) to let them lose on this in your garden, but if you have the space - or a nice big green area nearby - your reward will be one very happy toddler, as they can happily spend (depending, of course, on their attention span) a considerable amount of time making frenzied beeping noises and zooming around. One clever feature is that the floor can be put in or removed. For very small children, you can leave it in and push them around yourselves; then once they get older, remove it and they can do the running around with their own two legs. As with all Little Tikes toys, it's sturdily built and easy to construct, taking about an hour for a single person to put together at an easy pace.

Toddler review: "Beep! Beep! Broom broom!"

Admittedly your toddler is going to be pretty baffled when you start waxing lyrical about your own childhood, Hiawatha and why, no, you absolutely can't call them Red Indians, but they will still love this simple wigwam (or is it a teepee? Answers on a postcard please). It's easy to put up, which is good as of course the cloth covering isn't waterproof so will have to come down again sharpish in a shower. The colour is perhaps not the most practical, but the canvas is washable, so you can get rid of the grass, chocolate and ice-cream stains easily enough. This is actually a very good indoor toy too, if your child's bedroom is big enough (it measures 150cm by 140cm).

Toddler review: "I hiding Mummy! I hiding in the tent! You can't see me!"

Now, this is clearly not the budget choice - there's no getting around that price tag. But if you are feeling generous, or possibly guilty, this is one amazing present. It takes roughly one stress-free hour to assemble (that's solo - the instructions suggest two people and while that would no doubt be quicker, it isn't essential) and requires no tools more complicated than a two-euro coin. Don't cheat and use sterling, now. There are no metal parts on the simple plastic fittings, which means no possibility of prying fingers getting trapped, or rusty metal in the garden. The two windows open and shut, there's plenty of space inside for growing children, and the little front garden and window boxes offer the ideal opportunity to start encouraging those green fingers. The only problem you will have is dragging them out when it's time for tea or bed.

Toddler review: "This is MY house Mummy! Not your house! You go away from my house! My house got windows!"

Another classic toddler favourite: liberally dispersing sand throughout your garden and traipsing it into your house will certainly keep them happy for quite some time. This is a basic model, perfect if you don't want to splash out lots of cash or suspect it might be a one-summer-only job. An added bonus is that the removable trays are very easy to clean - sand and water do, after all, tend to make mud.

If you want do want something more multifunctional and durable, and in-keeping with your no doubt terribly tasteful garden furniture, the Great Little Trading Company has a clever sandpit/picnic table hybrid.

Toddler review: Totally absorbed silence.

What to do if you have a small baby to keep an eye on while the toddler demands you help them up the swing? This playmat from Chicco is a good practical choice for indooors and out - it's machine washable, though obviously you need to remove the electronic component first, and robust enough to stand being run over by that toddler car. There are both animal sounds and nursery rhymes for them to listen to, and mirrors or teething rings to grab at. You never know, it might even give you 10 minutes to sit down and have a cup of tea.

Find the toys that are suitable for children by clicking on the category or type the toys name in the search box at the top of this page

Now, it may be that you have no desire whatsoever to furnish the means for a toddler to start digging in your beloved begonias. However, should you wish to nurture the first stirrings of an interest in horticulture, then these tools should do the job. Also available in pink, the little ones seem to have just as much fun trying to put all the bits back in the carry box as actually doing any gardening (thank God). The watering can is also a perennial toddler favourite and, being metal, can be safely left outside to weather the summer.

Toddler review: "I don't want to stop watering, Mummy! Noooo!"

It's an unusual tot who doesn't enjoy a slide. No, the bright plastic colours won't exactly give class to your garden, but you probably abandoned hope of that a while ago, didn't you? This one is a good size for novice or timid sliders (though plenty of larger ones are also available) and folds up into two pieces for easy storage over winter in a garden shed. The rungs are rounded and easy for little legs to negotiate, and the sides are high enough to avoid sideways spills. It takes about 30 seconds to assemble, which is key when you have eager little hands tugging at your legs demanding to know if they can go on it yet.

Toddler review: [crying] "I can't go on my slide 'cos it raining! I'm sad!"

This sweet tent is extremely easy to put together. It comes in a cardboard case (surprisingly compact for the size of the tent) and all the frame pieces are pre-strung, making construction idiot-proof. Then you simply slip the canvas cover over and tie at the bottom for safety.

Easy to put together also means handily quick to disassemble, as you wouldn't want to leave this out in a rain shower. It also means you can quickly pop it up indoors and keep toddlers happy on a rainy day. The door folds up (there's another tie to secure it if you prefer to be able to see indoors ...) and the window is covered in a light mesh, presumably for added safety.

Toddler review: "Is this my tent house? Can I have this tent house? I love my tent house!"

If you've ever been to a toyshop or playgroup where they have one of these, you'll have witnessed the ugly scenes as toddlers battle it out for the first go. You need a bit of space (and a disregard for your lawn and borders) to let them lose on this in your garden, but if you have the space - or a nice big green area nearby - your reward will be one very happy toddler, as they can happily spend (depending, of course, on their attention span) a considerable amount of time making frenzied beeping noises and zooming around. One clever feature is that the floor can be put in or removed. For very small children, you can leave it in and push them around yourselves; then once they get older, remove it and they can do the running around with their own two legs. As with all Little Tikes toys, it's sturdily built and easy to construct, taking about an hour for a single person to put together at an easy pace.

Toddler review: "Beep! Beep! Broom broom!"

Admittedly your toddler is going to be pretty baffled when you start waxing lyrical about your own childhood, Hiawatha and why, no, you absolutely can't call them Red Indians, but they will still love this simple wigwam (or is it a teepee? Answers on a postcard please). It's easy to put up, which is good as of course the cloth covering isn't waterproof so will have to come down again sharpish in a shower. The colour is perhaps not the most practical, but the canvas is washable, so you can get rid of the grass, chocolate and ice-cream stains easily enough. This is actually a very good indoor toy too, if your child's bedroom is big enough (it measures 150cm by 140cm).

Toddler review: "I hiding Mummy! I hiding in the tent! You can't see me!"

Now, this is clearly not the budget choice - there's no getting around that price tag. But if you are feeling generous, or possibly guilty, this is one amazing present. It takes roughly one stress-free hour to assemble (that's solo - the instructions suggest two people and while that would no doubt be quicker, it isn't essential) and requires no tools more complicated than a two-euro coin. Don't cheat and use sterling, now. There are no metal parts on the simple plastic fittings, which means no possibility of prying fingers getting trapped, or rusty metal in the garden. The two windows open and shut, there's plenty of space inside for growing children, and the little front garden and window boxes offer the ideal opportunity to start encouraging those green fingers. The only problem you will have is dragging them out when it's time for tea or bed.

Toddler review: "This is MY house Mummy! Not your house! You go away from my house! My house got windows!"

Another classic toddler favourite: liberally dispersing sand throughout your garden and traipsing it into your house will certainly keep them happy for quite some time. This is a basic model, perfect if you don't want to splash out lots of cash or suspect it might be a one-summer-only job. An added bonus is that the removable trays are very easy to clean - sand and water do, after all, tend to make mud.

If you want do want something more multifunctional and durable, and in-keeping with your no doubt terribly tasteful garden furniture, the Great Little Trading Company has a clever sandpit/picnic table hybrid.

Toddler review: Totally absorbed silence.

What to do if you have a small baby to keep an eye on while the toddler demands you help them up the swing? This playmat from Chicco is a good practical choice for indooors and out - it's machine washable, though obviously you need to remove the electronic component first, and robust enough to stand being run over by that toddler car. There are both animal sounds and nursery rhymes for them to listen to, and mirrors or teething rings to grab at. You never know, it might even give you 10 minutes to sit down and have a cup of tea.

Find the toys that are suitable for children by clicking on the category or type the toys name in the search box at the top of this page

The summer holidays can be stressful for parents at the best of times, but the Met Office has suggested that this year's will be a hot one, which could make it even more of a headache than usual.

Those with small children may want to invest in some new outdoor toys in order to keep the little ones entertained, as the fine weather seen over the past couple of months is set to continue throughout August.

For the boys, the Bumper Firepower Trike in red and black could be the hottest choice of the summer.

Suitable from approximately three years of age, the traditional style tricycle has chunky wheels for extra stability and costs just £37.99.

Girls may prefer the Bumper Starlet 12'' bike, which comes in purple and pink and costs £74.99, a saving of 11 per cent on the RRP.

Suitable for children aged three and over, it sports tassels on the handlebars for added style and stabilisers to ensure smooth riding for your youngsters.

For little ones enjoying the paddling pool, an inflatable ring such as the Barbie Hearts Swim Ring from Halsall International could be a great purchase, providing peace of mind to young children in the water and a fun Barbie design, all for just £2.95.

Boys will most probably enjoy the company's Ben 10 Swim Ring more, which comes at the same price, a saving of 25 per cent on the RRP.

Even the youngest of infants can have fun outdoors this summer with a play gym such as the Little Tikes 5 in 1 Adjustable Activity Gym for £33.95 or the Red Kite Lets Fly a Kite Playgym at £29.95.

Babies can use these play mats as a means of discovering the world around them while remaining in a safe and protected environment, with the attached toys likely to keep them amused for hours.

Rebecca Sherwin, forecaster for the Met Office, said: "It is going to be a lot more settled than the heavy downpours we saw in some places last week ... Most places will be mainly dry. Things will be a bit warmer as well."

Although the right outdoor and garden-friendly toys, play gyms and sports equipment is likely to keep most youngsters engaged, they can't stay outside all day.

It is important that parents also take an active role in entertaining their kids, spending as much time with them as possible, especially during the summer holidays when the whole family may have vacation time together.

Research from moneysupermarket.com indicates that 3.4 million households will struggle to meet the costs of entertaining children for the duration of the school break.

But buying toys from Kiddicare.com - the UK's favourite baby site - could save parents money, which they could then put towards other activities and entertainments.

A vox pop of residents from Sheffield revealed some of the ways that parents cope with their young ones during the holidays without breaking the bank.

David Withers said: "The best bet is to try and occupy them on a beach, where we can get a bit of a rest too. It's not easy though."

Kate Riley added: "I try to get them doing as much as I possibly can, whether it is sport, clubs, seeing friends, whatever. It's good for them to keep busy, and it gives me a break from them."

The summer holidays can be stressful for parents at the best of times, but the Met Office has suggested that this year's will be a hot one, which could make it even more of a headache than usual.

Those with small children may want to invest in some new outdoor toys in order to keep the little ones entertained, as the fine weather seen over the past couple of months is set to continue throughout August.

For the boys, the Bumper Firepower Trike in red and black could be the hottest choice of the summer.

Suitable from approximately three years of age, the traditional style tricycle has chunky wheels for extra stability and costs just £37.99.

Girls may prefer the Bumper Starlet 12'' bike, which comes in purple and pink and costs £74.99, a saving of 11 per cent on the RRP.

Suitable for children aged three and over, it sports tassels on the handlebars for added style and stabilisers to ensure smooth riding for your youngsters.

For little ones enjoying the paddling pool, an inflatable ring such as the Barbie Hearts Swim Ring from Halsall International could be a great purchase, providing peace of mind to young children in the water and a fun Barbie design, all for just £2.95.

Boys will most probably enjoy the company's Ben 10 Swim Ring more, which comes at the same price, a saving of 25 per cent on the RRP.

Even the youngest of infants can have fun outdoors this summer with a play gym such as the Little Tikes 5 in 1 Adjustable Activity Gym for £33.95 or the Red Kite Lets Fly a Kite Playgym at £29.95.

Babies can use these play mats as a means of discovering the world around them while remaining in a safe and protected environment, with the attached toys likely to keep them amused for hours.

Rebecca Sherwin, forecaster for the Met Office, said: "It is going to be a lot more settled than the heavy downpours we saw in some places last week ... Most places will be mainly dry. Things will be a bit warmer as well."

Although the right outdoor and garden-friendly toys, play gyms and sports equipment is likely to keep most youngsters engaged, they can't stay outside all day.

It is important that parents also take an active role in entertaining their kids, spending as much time with them as possible, especially during the summer holidays when the whole family may have vacation time together.

Research from moneysupermarket.com indicates that 3.4 million households will struggle to meet the costs of entertaining children for the duration of the school break.

But buying toys from Kiddicare.com - the UK's favourite baby site - could save parents money, which they could then put towards other activities and entertainments.

A vox pop of residents from Sheffield revealed some of the ways that parents cope with their young ones during the holidays without breaking the bank.

David Withers said: "The best bet is to try and occupy them on a beach, where we can get a bit of a rest too. It's not easy though."

Kate Riley added: "I try to get them doing as much as I possibly can, whether it is sport, clubs, seeing friends, whatever. It's good for them to keep busy, and it gives me a break from them."

With the long summer holiday drawing to a close, you might be wondering how to keep your kids busy for the last few days of summer. Thankfully, Littlewoods Ireland has an extensive selection of toys in a wide range of prices to keep both boys and girls entertained before it’s back to school!

With just a couple more weeks left of the six-week break, school might be the last thing on your children’s minds, but with Littlewoods’ toys combining both fun and education and encouraging their creativity and imagination, your kids can keep their bodies and minds active without having to open a textbook!

5-in-1 Sports Set. With Olympic fever still high, inspire your child to unleash their inner athlete and keep active with the Featuring outdoor activities like net tennis, badminton, swing ball tennis and children’s volleyball it’s ideal for boys and girls wanting to learn new sporty skills. With the new football season starting, your kids can also imitate their favourite players with the set’s soccer game, for endless hours of open-air entertainment.

If the weather isn’t great, our Fireman Sam Colouring Table is the perfect indoor activity, firing up your child’s imagination and allowing them to express their creativity through drawing. Or how about our Disney Princess Rapunzel Tea Pot, a perfect buy for girlie girls, ideal for outdoor picnics and make-believe indoor tea parties with her favourite dolls.

If you’ve planned a family day to a park and are wondering how you can keep the older kids entertained, then the Monster High Filled Backpack is perfect for girls who are beginning to grow out of family games. Containing a ring binder, A5 notebook, pencil case and spinning pen, it will keep them entertained for hours and can even be used for school come September. Alternatively, our Disney Cars 4-piece Bag Set is ideal for boys on the move, with a trolley bag, backpack, trainer bag and wallet-purse, so he can select his favourite bag to fill with their kit, snacks and activities.

With something suited for everyone at Littlewoods Ireland, you can relax knowing that your child has something to do for the rest of the six-week break, come rain or shine!

Find the toys that are suitable for children by clicking on the category or type in the search box at the top of this page