Review: Time Tokens - A Great Way To Control Your Child's Screen Time

We recently had the opportunity to test Time Tokens - a brilliantly simple solution to weaning kids off a growing dependence on their tablets and screen time in general by putting the control in their hands.

Counter intuitive though it may sound, Time Tokens aims to give children the power to manage their own screen time in a way which avoids arguments, teaches them new skills and encourages them to actively seek out family time which is NOT screen based.

The brain-child of mum of 2 Amanda Bucknall, Time Tokens were born when she found it increasingly difficult to get her 7 year old son Harry to turn off the TV or get off the i-pad.

It was easier to persuade him to do his homework, go to bed or eat veggies!

Fed up with emotionally draining battles over screen-time, Amanda and Harry set about inventing a system that would work for both of them – Time Tokens was born.

It worked so simply and effectively, soon temper tantrums were a thing of the past and Harry was actually using less screen-time and was happier and calmer as a result. After trialing it with friends and family Amanda realised they had hit on something really special.

So how does it work?

Each child is given a Time Token wallet which contains a selection of tickets each worth a certain number of minutes.  The parents decide how many tickets they are allowed and the children hand them in to gain the appropriate number of minutes of screen time.

There is also a Golden Ticket which the children get as a reward for sticking to their side of the bargain and which they can exchange for a non screen-based family activity (an ING) of their choice.

The pack also contains a timer so they can check they are sticking to the number of minutes they have 'bought' and a contract which the child signs to say they promise to stick to their side of the bargain by not going over their allotted time.

They must also promise to switch off once their timer says their time is up and not complain!

Friday is Time Tokens day when they'll get their next allowance.

There is also a range of cute cartoon characters called the Frazzles, Sparky, Splodge, Whizz, Wiggle and Pickle, each of whom has a different interest and idea of how to spend that Golden Ticket, painting, singing, exploring, making things - absolutely nothing to do with typING!

Every Friday you receive a newsletter which features a Time Tokener of the week and artwork the kids have produced of the Frazzles, together with tips and advice to help parents maintain a calmer and less 'frazzled' household.

The minimum age is 5 years old and I would say the top age range is about 8-9.

So what did we think?

The Time Tokens themselves are a breeze to use and the kids grasped the concept immediately. What was interesting from our point of view as parents is that the exercise forced us to recognise our part in the kids' rather excessive amount of screen time.

I think we are all guilty of using screen time as a babysitter and general calming activity when, ironically, it is often anything but.

Time Tokens actually makes adults discuss appropriate limits on screen time and encourages you to focus more on non-screen-based activities.

Caitlin was happy to stop using her iPad when her allotted time was up as she enjoys reading more than her brother.  (She's 8, he's 6).  She'll happily take herself off to her room and read.

Ieuan, on the other hand, requires rather more coercion to give up his tablet but was very keen to take control of planning the family outing.

We are addressing our other bad habits too - for example taking iPads to restaurants to keep the kids quiet.  Now we are encouraging them to talk about their day and making plans as a family.

We had noticed the beginning of a definite spiral of moodiness linked to iPad usage - I hesitate to use the term addictive behaviour but it can be pretty close.

We make sure that the iPads stay downstairs and don't find their way up to bedrooms (or get hidden under duvets!).

Time Tokens may not work for older, more sophisticated kids but it is a great tool for at least beginning to tackle the problem of excessive screen time and to help set more realistic limits.

I loved the idea of the contract / promise the child signs up to and the Willy Wonka Golden Ticket reward.

If it does nothing other than get the adults to address the problem then it's worth the very reasonable price of a pack of tokens.

And if it gets children reading (Charlie & The Chocolate Factory for example), instead of playing Hay Day or watching endless Kinder Egg videos on YouTube, that's a great step forward.

Time Tokens are available at a special launch discount of £10.95 from www.TimeTokens.com

I think they're well worth a try.

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Review: Twice The Fun With The Double Flip Fun & Games Mat

If you are used to holidaying in the UK, you will be familiar with the age-old conundrum of what to do when it's tipping down with rain and you are ensconced in a small space with the potential for a boredom-induced family squabble.

Drawing is Caitlin's favourite thing to do

You will probably also be familiar with the arsenic hours of Sunday afternoon when all homework has been done (finally) and the kids are kicking their heels and getting fractious.

Here's a solution.

It's called The Double Flip Fun Games Mat from what2buy4kids.co.uk and it's a reversible play mat which offers kids a range of activities to choose from.

Ieuan adding spiky hair 

These include:-

Snakes & Ladders
Colour by numbers
Dot to dot
Word searches
Letter writing practice
Noughts and Crosses
Creative drawing
Bee Dice Game
Insect Dice Game

The kit contains the reversible games mat and five dice, six counters and ten washable felt tips so the kids can play with their friends (1-6 players).

The mat is a decent size, measuring 120 x 100cm and there is also a fabric carry bag.

The suggested age range is 3-10 and best of all the mat is washable so it can be used over and over again.  You can wash it at 30 degrees without detergent but don't tumble dry it. You have to make sure that you only use washable felt tips though.

The Double Flip Fun & Games Mat

I duly roped in my two crack testers to see if it would keep them occupied for longer than five minutes.

Caitlin, as expected, went straight for the pens to do some drawing whilst Ieuan went for the dot-to-dots.

I really liked the range of activities, particularly the educational element - practising drawing letters for example.

There are a couple of wordsearches and colour by numbers which are more time consuming activities.

I think though that the wordsearches and dot to dots are probably one time only activities, but the colouring aspect and the games could be repeated endlessly.

Ah- Peace & Quiet!

I'd also put the age range closer to 3-8 - I am not sure the games are sophisticated enough for a 10 year old, or at least likely to keep their attention for too long.

I also think it depends on how many children are playing with the mat.  My two are quite competitive and vie to create the best drawing and you can bet they'll pick the same activity to do which is where having a reversible mat is quite handy.

The Double Flip Fun Games Mat is good for keeping kids occupied rather than being a full-on family activity.  I don't think it would replace, say, a board game.

But if frazzled parents are looking for a half hour's peace to read a book (or lie down in a darkened room with a gin & tonic), then it's ideal.

The Double Flip Fun Games Mat is good value at £23.99 given that it has multiple activities and can be reused.

One side of the mat

It is ideal to sling in your bag to take anywhere you think there might be excessive waiting too - my only comment would be that it does take up some space to lay out.

If you're looking for gifts for kids I think The Double Flip Fun Games Mat would be a welcome present.

Darth Maul, apparently.

Further information from www.what2buy4kids.co.uk.

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A Colourful Stationery Giveaway For Kids From Maped Helix

There's nothing like the incentive of colourful, fun pens, pencils and stationery to encourage kids to do their homework.  Well, that and various bribes and muttering about the removal of WiFi privileges.

Maped Helix is a stationery company with a long history and has been making educational and stationery products for many years.

Although best known for educational stationery, including the Helix/Oxford Maths Set, this year Maped are all about colour.

A Selection of Maped Helix Pens & Pencils *note prize bundle differs

They also have some quirky ideas which my two loved. What about the Zenoa Collector eraser (PVC free) which has a happy or sad face or the pink Twin Tip Girly ballpoint pen which has four colours,two at each end.  Then there's the strangely bendy Flex Box full of coloured pencils which you can bend to fit in your backpack or satchel.

Maped Helix Color Peps Flex Box

The Zenoa Eraser

We found the products to be solidly made and good quality.  We have got through endless packs of cheap supermarket 'value' pens or pencils which give no colour and last precisely 15 minutes before they've been dropped on the floor and are impossible to sharpen ever after.

Caitlin has claimed the Girly pen as hers

I have a great prize bundle to give away which contains some ideal stocking fillers for Christmas.

There is:-

Maped Color Peps Flex Box with 12 coloured pencils
Maped Zenoa Collector Eraser
Maped Twin Tip Girly Ball Point Pen In 4 Colours
Maped Graph Pens - Fine Point In 4 Colours
Maped Geo Custom 15 cm ruler.

Please note some of these are different products to those pictured above.

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget - just click on the link.  Terms and conditions apply.  UK entrants only.  The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Saturday 19th December.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Further information about Maped Helix products, including stockists, is available on their website www.mapedhelix.co.uk/products.

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Review: Salcura Bioskin Junior & Giveaway

Having had two kids who have occasionally suffered from mild eczema, I was interested to discover Salcura Natural Skin Therapy.

Salcura is a British Skincare Brand that creates natural formulations for problem skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne and sensitive skin.

Salcura Bioskin Junior Bathtime Bath Milk - £9.99

One of Salcura's most popular ranges is the award-winning Bioskin Junior, which caters to dry skin conditions in children. In particular the range is designed for babies and children prone to eczema and psoriasis.

Bioskin Junior offers a range of products to form a skin therapy regime which uses only naturally active ingredients. The products are free from steroids, SLS, parabens, lanolin, phthalates, antibiotics and paraffin.

The products are designed to work with the skin to aid its own natural healing process and will also help sooth dermatitis, dry and itchy skin. We were invited to try some of the Bioskin Junior products.

We tried the two step system (Daily Nourishing Spray and Outbreak Rescue Cream) and the Bath Milk.

The bath milk is designed to cleanse, soften and soothe and has chamomile as the active ingredient. There is also a face & body wash and a shampoo. The product has quite a botanical, natural fragrance and is non greasy - helping to avoid dangerous slips in the bath.  Salcura suggest using 2-3 capfuls of bathmilk per bath.   We found the bathmilk gave a soothing, gentle bath with no harsh aromas and no greasy residue left to scrub off the tub.

Salcura Bioskin Junior Daily Nourishing Spray - £9.99

Eczema can damage the skin's protective membrane. Traditional creams and emollients can help to manage this by creating an artificial barrier but the Bioskin Daily Nourishing Spray works differently.

Salcura say it penetrates deeply to nourish and support the growth of new cells, helping the skin to repair itself and rebuild its own protective membrane.  

The nourishing spray is designed to be used on affected areas of skin twice a day. The spray can be used on the face too - just take care to avoid the eyes.

We found it to be a light, colourless spray which is easy to use, pleasantly fragranced and quickly absorbed.  

The Daily Nourishing Spray is part of a two step system.  The spray is for regular maintenance when skin is not flaring up. Its active ingredient is Sea Buckthorn, rich in Omegas.

Salcura Bioskin Junior Outbreak Rescue Cream - £9.99

The Outbreak Rescue Cream is designed to be used during flare ups. It should be applied liberally to the skin as often as required and can also be used on the face.  I tried it on a sore patch of skin I have on my hand and the cream did not sting, was very soothing and left a definite protective layer.

The active ingredient is Natural Volcanic Zeolite, said to be rich in rejuvenating minerals.

I was quite impressed by the Bioskin Junior products and like the fact that there are no harsh additives. The spray, in particular, is a great way of applying skin care to wriggly, grumpy little ones! Older children could even apply it themselves.

There are some brilliant customer reviews on the website too.  If your child has eczema you tend to work your way through all the 'usual suspects' - Doublebase, Diprobase etc until you find one that works but the customer reports here are promising.

The Salcura Bioskin Junior products are available at  www.salcuraskincare.com and have a 30 day money back guarantee. Alternatively, you can find them at Boots and some wholefood shops.

I have a set of the products we reviewed to giveaway - the bath milk and the two-step system (the nourishing spray and the outbreak cream).  Entry is by the Rafflecopter widget.  UK entries only and terms & conditions apply. Please see my competitions page. The giveaway ends at midnight on Saturday 19th December.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Further information at https://www.salcuraskincare.com/bioskin-junior/.

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Review: The KidzInMind App - A Safe Digital Playground For Kids

There's no denying that iPads and tablets are a permanent fixture of the parenting landscape.  They can be a brilliant resource for education and hands-on learning.  Equally, and more contentiously, they are often used as a babysitter and a distraction when in restaurants and doctors' waiting rooms.

Ieuan testing the KidzInMind app

I'm sure that iPads, tablets and gadgets in general will feature heavily on many parents' shopping lists this Christmas, but how many of us think about our children's privacy and the risks they may be unwittingly exposed to?

Our two have had tablets for several years and we soon learned that children today are incredibly IT-savvy. Very quickly apps were discovered and played with and we found that Caitlin (aged about 4) was already trying to memorise passwords (with some success, I might add).

Both adored YouTube videos of Kinder Egg openings and the unveiling of the latest Marvel Superhero merchandise. Then there are many, many videos of people popping balloons.  Everyone needs a hobby, I suppose.

There have been one or two occasions though where we've caught them watching stuff like Annoying Orange and a Buzz Lightyear video in which the language was definitely inappropriate.

And it's not surprising.  In a recent GPEN report on children’s privacy online, the results showed that nearly 60% of websites and apps redirect children away from the site or app, meaning there is a greater chance of discovering inappropriate content. It also found that only 22% tailored content specifically for children.

So I was pleased when we were recently invited to review KidzInMind which is described as "a safe digital playground filled with fun and educational apps for the growing minds of little children".

The KidzInMind app offers a safe 'digital playground' for kids to play in.

Available on iOS and Android (sadly not on Windows), KidzInMind claims to offers parents peace of mind with age appropriate and approved educational apps, videos and games for kids on smartphones and tablets.

There are no adverts, no hidden payments and parental device controls are included.

Kidzinmind is an app containing apps which have all been vetted for the educational suitability and safety. The recommended age range is 1-6. Parents are able to control what the kids see and the kids are given access to a playground of icons such as a book, an easel and so forth.  Clicking on each of these take the child to a range of themed apps.

Every app has been selected and approved to meet strict criteria.

● Safe and secure - no inappropriate language, no advertising, no hidden payments and a baby safe mode.

● Educational - all apps have been evaluated to ensure that they are engaging, educational and appropriate to the child’s stage of learning.

● Time alert play - you can relax in the knowledge that your child is learning within a safe and secure environment and control the amount of play time your child is allowed with the parental control timer.

● Restrict activity – you can use the parental control feature to specify exactly what your kids can do whilst using the KidzInMind e.g. no internet or other app access.

● Approved by parents – KidzInMind has received the kidSAFE Seal, Mom’s Choice Award and was nominated Best Mobile App for Children and Toddlers in 2014

He's very thorough.

The games are varied in their age appeal.  There are some really sweet simple games where the child can create their own aquarium.  Ieuan (6 last June) really loved the camera templates where you can take a selfie and superimpose funny glasses or a santa hat on to your photo.

There are also some age appropriate videos, including one of our favourites - Larva (you may have caught it on CITV).

I think 6 is definitely the top age for this app and it was interesting to see that, despite the relative sophistication of some of the games Ieuan plays, for example Spiderman, he was just as happy with a simpler, less noisy, less intrusive game where he could fully understand what he was doing.

I would definitely feel confident letting the kids play with KidzInMind without having to dash back and forth checking that they aren't watching something adult rated.

I really liked the handy parental control features and there is a good choice of games to play. KidzInMind say that the value of the educational games and apps is well over £50. The types of app you can expect (all fully vetted) are nutritional, (in collaboration with Parma University), handwriting and brushing your teeth correctly.  In fact, KidzInMind has worked closely with experts in paediatrics, nutrition and education to curate a unique selection of the best apps for children.

Ieuan says "It's amazing. My favourite is Dino Lab and I love watching Larva" - he's currently assembling the ingredients to make a cake via the Families 2 app. Prior to that, he reassembled a dinosaur skeleton in an online jigsaw.

KidzInMind is more than just an app too. The KidzInMind blog, the Facebook page, the Twitter profile and the YouTube channel offer parents access to a wealth of information about different services or products for their children and discussions with other mums and dads.

KidzInMind is available to download on Android from Google Play and iOS from the App Store.

The app is subscription-based and after the first week, which is free, KidzInMind is priced at 79p per month for limited in-built apps and features. Parents can pay £2.99 per month for unlimited access to the full app, video and game catalogue and all the parental safety controls.

I think this very reasonably priced, given the quality of the apps contained within KidzInMind and it is certainly worth if for the peace of mind and educational content.

For more information about KidzInMind please visit www.kidzinmind.com/uk.

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Review: Infruition - Fruit Flavoured Water The Healthy Way

I was recently invited to try out these rather inventive water bottles from Infruition.

Infruition's mission is to help people to drink more water naturally. The concept is simple: a standard re-usable water bottle with a chamber to store fruit, veg, herbs, tea - whatever you like, which over the day infuses your water with your chosen flavour.

Caitlin & Ieuan with their Infruition Kids bottles

I am not a big fan of manufactured, flavoured bottled waters, many of which contain Asparatame - a controversial artificial sweetener which is said to be responsible for a whole host of health problems such as Tinnitus.

Aspartame is what gives the sweetness to many diet drinks, yoghurts and low fat foods and it's everywhere. The NHS refutes what it calls these scare stories but I'll leave you to make up your own mind.

Infruition Bottles

The Adult Size Infruition Bottle

Either way, giving your kids the pure, healthy goodness of fruit has to be better than a cocktail of sweetners and additives.  And anything that encourages them to drink more water, such as these Infruition bottles, is a bonus.

The bottles are very sturdy and well made.  They are made from 100% BPA free plastic and stain resistant materials.

You can put the actual bottle in the dishwasher but the fruit chamber and caps need to be hand-washed.

The cap, bottle and fruit chamber

The bottles have a leak proof design and a well fitting lid.  The adult size bottles (700 ml) come in yellow, green, red and blue, and the kids' bottles (450 ml) come in pink and blue.

The fruit chamber can be filled with a selection of chopped fruit.  We tried strawberries but you could add mint leaves and blueberries.  Or, you could try orange, kiwi and watermelon.  You could even add a herbal tea-bag for, say, a cold mint tea in summer.

Much better than sugary drinks

I felt that the bottles could have benefited from an instruction leaflet but there is a recipe booklet on the way which suggests delicious combinations such as cucumber, raspberry and grape, kale and avocado or even lemon and lavender. I am assuming this will be available when you buy the bottles.

Also there is a rubber bung in the lid which can be taken out and I am assuming it has to be in order to wash it but it wasn't entirely clear.  The fruit chamber has to be screwed in to the lid with care, being made of a thinner plastic than the bottle.

You do have to turn the bottle so that the cap is on the side when you drink if you're a glasses wearer.  (You know what I'm like about my glasses!).

Once the kids had drunk some water they wanted to get the fruit out and eat it, which was not a problem but it would mean dismantling the bottle when you're out and about.

On the plus side, if my two drink more water and eat more fruit, that's fine by me!

The adult Infruition bottle is £15.99 and the Infruition Kids bottles are £12.99. They are available on the Infruition website.

I think the bottles would make a great Christmas gift for the health-conscious family, or your favourite gym bunny.

You can find out more about Infruition on Twitter @InfruitionWater, Instagram @infruition.water or Facebook. @Infruition.

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Review: Hey, That's My Fish! Game

Sometimes, the simplest games are the most fun and this one, "Hey, That's My Fish!" from Esdevium Games has kept Caitlin and I playing for a good couple of hours.

Hey, That's My Fish!

The game involves moving your penguins over the ice floe and capturing as many fish as possible.

You have 4 penguins each and they move across a selection of tiles each marked with one, two or three fish.

There is a strategy involved.  You create a square with your 60 hexagonal tiles which represents the ice.

Turn the tiles over and shuffle them, then flip them over and start creating your ice floe.

Caitlin laying out the ice floe tiles

The tiles are hexagonal and you can move in any direction, unless you are blocked by your opponent.

Basically, your penguins jump from tile to tile and the tile they jump off is added to your stock of fish.

It's a race to get your penguins on the tiles with two and three fish.

Our ice floe creation needs a bit of work

Beware though,  if all the ice (tiles) vanishes around you, you're stuck and are out of the game.

The winner is the player who collects the most fish before the ice melts.

The game can be played by 2 - 4 players and is, I would say, suitable for children aged 6 and up.

Caitlin intends to win!

Caitlin really enjoys this one and can't wait to challenge her dad when he returns from his latest business trip.

Hey That's My Fish! retails at £9.99 and is available from Amazon and from other gaming stores. You can use this handy store locator to find your nearest stockist.

You can also read our review of Dobble, Disney Pictopia and Hotel Tycoon.

Thanks for reading Mother Distracted.  I really appreciate your support and I'd love it if you could share this post across social media. If you’re new to Mother Distracted, why not join me on the Mother Distracted Facebook page, tweet me on @lindahobbis or follow me on Instagram.

*A PR sample was sent for the purposes of this review which contains an affiliate link.

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Review: Hotel Tycoon Board Game - Move Over Hilton!

As is becoming customary on a Sunday, we gathered round for a session of board-game playing - this time trying out "Hotel Tycoon" from Esdevium Games.

We loved Disney Pictopia and Dobble so were looking forward to trying this one too.

Hotel Tycoon sees players try to buy and build the best hotels, earn the most money and bankrupt their opponents. And once you've secured your land and built your hotel, you can charge players who end up outside your hotel entrance.  The more luxurious your hotel, the more money your 'guest' has to pay.

The suggested age range for this one is 8+ and we found this to be right as it was a little too complex for Ieuan.

The other thing to bear in mind is that the game takes quite a bit of assembly (at least the first time around) as you have to build the hotels, which are assembled from cardboard cut-outs and add on roofs and bases.

We'd suggest putting the game together and then assembling the family if you are playing with younger children.

Like Monopoly, which I think is this game's nearest equivalent, Hotel Tycoon needs several plays before you get into the swing of buying your land, applying for planning permission, constructing hotels and nabbing properties off your opponents.

The game certainly has an intellectual element to it which older children will enjoy.  Caitlin, for example, loved having money from the bank and quickly understood the concept that the more land and hotels you had, the more likely you were to win.

When it's time to put the game away, there's a handy "cheat sheet" which shows you how to place your hotels back in the box without having to deconstruct them.

Hotel Tycoon is the kind of game which takes a good hour or so - it would be ideal on a rainy Christmas afternoon and I think the more you play it, the more you'll become hooked.

Here's how it works.



As usual, Caitlin managed to win by dint of buying everything in sight.  Ieuan just wanted the "Uptown" hotels to construct his own version of Hogwarts - which is where he is now.  Happily playing with all the hotels, building "Ieuan City" and shouting (I kid you not) - "Hurrah, I'm rich!".

Hotel Tycoon is available from Waterstones at £24.99 and is also available from Amazon.

For a review of two other great Esdevium games, Disney Pictopia and Dobble (and a Dobble giveaway), click here.

*A PR sample was received for the purposes of this review

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2 Great Games, Dobble & Disney Pictopia

On a drizzly Sunday afternoon, there's nothing better than settling round together to play a game or two  - and given that we live in Wales, I have to say that's quite a frequent occurrence.

So, when we were delighted to be sent two new games to play from Esdevium Games.

Dobble

Dobble is a game of speed, observation and a great test of your reflexes for 2-8 players.  Aimed at anyone over the age of 6 years, the game is a race to find the one matching image between one card and another.

There are 55 playing cards, each displaying 8 pictures and there is always a matching picture on any two cards. The images may be different sizes and placed on any part of the card, making them difficult to spot.   Every card is unique and has only one picture in common with every other card in the deck.

Can You Spot The Matching Symbol  - Say Cheese!

There are 5 mini games: Fill the Well, The Towering Inferno, Hot Potato, Catch them all & The Poisoned Gift

The cards come in a sturdy tin and are fairly small making this an ideal game to take on holiday.

The Husband is wearing his "I'm going to win this hands down" expression

How to play

We tried the first of the mini games - The Towering Inferno.

The cards are shuffled and one card is placed face down in front of each player. The remaining cards go in a pile in the middle of the table (the draw pile).

When ‘go’ is called out, the players flip their card face up. It's a race to spot the identical symbol between the card of any other player and the card from the draw pile.

The first player to find an identical symbol names it, takes the card from the draw pile and places it in front of him or her, on top of his or her card.  This means a new card is revealed on the draw pile and the game continues until all the cards from this pile have been drawn.

The winner is the player who has gained the most cards.

We had a lot of fun with this one and it was just the right level of complexity for Ieuan (6) who doesn't have, shall we say, unlimited wells of patience.

I was completely hopeless and appear to have the reflexes of a sloth.  Caitlin thrashed us all soundly, much to the Husband's annoyance, spotting the symbols at lightening speed.

In my defence, I hadn't yet had my 5th coffee of the morning.  When I'm feeling a bit stronger, I will be challenging our motley crew to one of the other mini games to see if I can recover from the humiliation.  It's suggested in the instructions that if you could even host a Dobble Tournament. This is likely to involve many hours of practice in my case.

Dobble is a great alternative to Snap and UNO and we highly recommend it.

Dobble, from Esdevium Games is available from Tesco, Argos or WHSmith or from Waterstones at £12.99.

We were also sent Disney's Pictopia The Ultimate Picture-Trivia Family Game to try.

Now we are all big Disney fans in this house but I have to confess my knowledge is probably stronger about the classics.  I was fully prepared to be roundly beaten once more by Caitlin (who is dressed as a Disney Princess 80% of the time - i.e. when not in school uniform).  Ieuan was going to be a wild card and we spent a good ten minutes debating whether Iron Man had anything to do with Disney.

Families team up to play a trivia game with 1000 questions covering the world of Disney.  Not only is it competitive, but it's also a team game too.  Everyone gets a chance to show off their knowledge from Disney Junior and Disney XD to the Disney Parks and classic films (hurrah!).

The aim of the game is to reach the castle space on the board by moving your counter each time you answer a trivia question correctly.

Caitlin, already looking a tad too confident

You are given 5 wager tokens (to bet on the likelihood of you getting the right answer) and a cute answer dial in the shape of Mickey's ears which allows you to secretly select your answer which is then revealed when everyone has set their dials.

Players take turn being the host so they get to choose a card to read. The roll of the die selects the question the host asks - and there are 5 types of question which may come up.

• Pick 1 - all the players work together to select the one answer they think is correct
• Pick 2 - all other players work together to select the two answers they think are correct
• Pick 3 - all other players work together to select the three answers they think are correct
• Solo Pick 1 - each player except the host uses their answer dial to secretly select the answer
• Spotlight - these are questions about the play and what they think which the other players then have to guess by matching their answer on the answer dial

But before the question is asked, you have to look at the card to see if you recognise the films / clues and then bet one of 5 wager tokens depending on how confident you are that you know the right answer.

If you get the answer right, you move the same number of spaces on your wager token.

The game is very well thought out but it may take you a while to get to grips with the rules. It is definitely more suitable for the over 7's, although Ieuan was able to answer some of the questions. The questions which delve a little into the personality of the players (the Spotlight questions) are a nice touch.

Once again, we were no match for Caitlin who particularly liked the secrecy of the answer dial.  If there is one aspect I thought was possibly unneeded, it's the wager tokens and for younger kids I think you would be better off just rolling the die again and moving the matching number of spaces.

Caitlin is itching to play this one again and we've promised her a rematch this weekend.  There is also a free Pictopia app with bonus content and a lightning-round final challenge which we will download, although, fellow Lumia owners, be aware that the app is for iPhone or Android only.

Disney Pictopia is available from Amazon or Waterstones at £19.99.

For more information on Esdevium Games, you can visit their website at www.esdeviumgames.co.uk or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

I also have one Dobble game to giveaway.  Just enter via the Rafflecopter. The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on 30th September 2015.  UK entrants only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Review: Disney Princess Colour Magic Brush Rapunzel From ToysRus

We were lucky enough to receive a Disney Princess Colour Magic Brush Rapunzel Doll from ToysRus for Caitlin to cast her expert eye over (when she isn't being a dalmation).

The doll is well made with beautiful silky hair (cue much muttering from mummy along the lines of "well, see now, Rapunzel obviously BRUSHES HER HAIR" since it is a constant battle to keep Caitlin's locks under control). 

And Rapunzel comes with a clever hair brush gizmo which, when full of crushed ice (or, more simply, filled with water and stuck in the freeze compartment of the fridge for half an hour), creates pink and purple colour streaks in the lighter blonde segments of the doll's hair or leaves star shapes when the end of the brush is used.

I have to stress that, tempting as it is to ignore the multi-lingual instructions, unless the water in the brush is ice cold, you won't get much (or indeed any) colour change in the doll's hair which could lead you to think that it doesn't work.  

So be prepared to endure thirty minutes or so of "well is the brush ready yet?"

It's also worth noting that the colour changes may not last that long. 

Once the hair reaches room temperature again, it is likely to return to its original hue, however, we found that the pink and purple stripes lasted long enough to garner interest.  

The stars on the other hand, although clear in shape, faded very quickly.

Using the brush to create pink and purple streaks in the lighter blonde sections of Rapunzel's hair.

Blink and you'll miss 'em - pink stars

Like all toys with a 'gimick', there's a risk that it'll be a two minute wonder but the Rapunzel doll is attractive and well-made enough to outlive the thrill of turning hair pink and purple.

The Disney Princess Colour Magic Brush Rapunzel Doll is available from ToysRus at £19.99. Delivery is from £4.95 or click and collect is free.

Caitlin is already very attached to Rapunzel and hopefully I've found a source of inspiration to make the daily battle of the hairbrush weighted ever so slightly more towards my side.

And I'm making the most of this 'girlie' phase because Ieuan currently wants to be one of Despicable Me's evil purple minions.

*We were sent a Disney Princess Colour Magic Brush Rapunzel from ToysRus for the purposes of this review.

**This is our application to be a Rainbow Toy Awards Toy Tester

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