Elf Tested – Santa Approved

Every parent wants the toys they buy their children to be educational and well-loved (well, to keep them amused for the amount of time it takes for you to drink a hot or even lukewarm coffee peace). So, the elves at the North Pole have been hard at work put together some ideas for under the tree this year that are Santa approved.

  1. Original Lock Activity Box

A fantastic activity box to teach children how to open up different compartments with various locks and catches and perfect for developing fine motor skills and dexterity.

  1. Stacking Garden Friends

Can you stack all the animals on the tree? Children will have so much fun stacking all the gorgeous garden friend animals while building their fine motor skills.

This adorable wooden set can be packed up in its own little carry bag and taken anywhere for fun on the go.

Set includes ten wooden animals, wheel barrow pot plant, a flower and printed drawstring bag.

Suitable for ages 18+ months.

  1. Stellar Rattle

Stellar rattle promotes motor development and is perfect for teething babies. It has hard plastic with tactile tubes and softer ends.

Suitable for ages newborn and up.

  1. Tic Tac Toe

An adorable bunny drawstring bag with tic tac toe printed on the back. Comes with a set of wooden playing x and o’s.

A fantastic set for travel, holidays and dinner activities.

Bunny drawstring bag, 5 wooden crosses, 5 wooden circles

Suitable for ages 3+ Years

  1. Baby Activity Walker

An exciting and interactive activity trolley to improve fine motor skills which features spinning gears, bead run, mirror and more.

Children will adore placing items in the back holder and walking their collection around. Helps give confidence in walking while also offering entertainment and physical play.

Activities include: Cogs and wheels flowers, beads on a wire, spinning sun, rotating cubes, Squeak, turn & spin, shape sorter, sliding discs.  Fabric storage.

Self-assembly required (for the at home elves).

Suitable for ages 18+ Months

  1. Service Station

An excellent version of a classic garage and service station that has two plastic ramps which adds loads of play value to this wooden playset.

Includes 3 wood cars, a helicopter and petrol pumps, an area to wash the car or pump up the tires.

Suitable for ages 3+ Years

  1. Skwish

The award-winning Classic Skwish goes natural. The award-winning Skwish fascinates babies with its twisted web of rods, strings, and beads. Skwishes and returns to its original shape, with beads that slide and rattle. The Skwish is a great multi-sensory toy that introduces cause and effect while encouraging the development of gross motor skills such as grasping and reaching.

It is constructed from Sustainable Rubberwood and Elastic. It is also available in other colours.

Suitable for ages newborn and up.

  1. Wheely Bug

These ride-on critters feature bright and friendly designs with wobbly feelers that are sure to delight. It has a padded body to ensure kids can play comfortably for hours, and is entirely multidirectional allowing kids to move about however they please while strengthening legs and motor skills.

Wheely Bugs are safe and easy to use for children who are learning to walk, and continue to be fun and engaging right through the post toddler years.

The tough outer layer can be easily wiped clean, and the wooden base is made from plantation grown poplar plywood with safe and rounded edges.

Suitable for 12+ Months.

Available in Unicorn, LadyBug, Bee, Cow, Tiger, Panda, Dog, Pig and Mouse.

  1. Ice Cream Cart

Stunning, timber ice cream cart in luscious summer colours. Kids can create ice cream treats with a magnetic scoop. Scoops can be balanced on cones to help in the development of hand eye co-ordination and gross motor skills.

The Ice Cream cart provides a variety of role play opportunities for side-by-side or co-operative play as children’s social skills develop.

Made from smooth sustainably produced rubber wood with bright gelato colours, all of which can be packed into the base.

Suitable for 3+ Years.

  1. Lock Activity Box

Another perfect activity box to help teach kids how to open up different latches and catches all while improving fine motor skills and dexterity.

All of the toys above and more are available at www.giftsandgames.co.nz and all good children’s stores.