Corolle dolls – A companion for all seasons!
I don’t want to jinx anything but judging from the past week I think summer may have finally arrived! Usually when you think of summer toys all things outdoor come to mind such as plastic vehicles, sand toys, climbing frames etc. but rarely do you think of dolls – I am about to change your perception, a doll is a companion for all seasons 
You are about to roll out the paddling pool and dust off those bathing suits, what would really be nice is if you could bask in the sun reading your book whilst your little one plays blissfully on her own… well now that’s very possible! Corolle Bath Babies are the only summer time companion your child will need. Bath Girl with Accessories comes equipped with snorkels, arm bands and flippers – all of this together in any pool of water (bath, beach, paddling pool) oozes hours of imaginative play. Their soft bodies are light so they float in the water, and have hooks on their back so they can be hung up to dry when water play is over. The other Bath Babies feature a boy and a girl who come with a rubber ducky and a dummy – dressed in the cutest summery outfits they are ready for action.
Headlining summer style this year is the gorgeous Camille en Vacances from the Les Cherie Collection. On a personal level the Les Cheries dolls are the most beautiful dolls I am yet to lay my eyes on (call me bias if you will), but for the hot summer sun Camille En Vancances (Camille on Holiday for you non-French speakers) is the only fashion doll for the job! I think the appropriate question here is, what is NOT to love about this doll? Is it her incredibly fashionable outfit with matching hat to shade her from the sun and bag to hold her sun cream and shades, or maybe her tresses of dazzling hair (is it weird to be envious of doll hair?), perhaps it’s her beautiful face with realistic features… I can’t quite put my finger on it but she is rather stunning.
As I said earlier a doll is for all seasons which means when autumn arrives and Camille gets back from holiday she can change into one of her many trendy outfits to keep her warm!
If it’s a busy fun filled summer you have planned then your daughter can have her own sidekick to take with her on all of your travels! The Corolle Mini Corollines have 7 personas so you can find the perfect mini double – whether your hair is red, brunette, black, or blonde, if you like polka dots or flowers, if you prefer pink or blue, one of these pint sized dollies will be your mini me!
Standing at an adorable 8 inches tall and sporting gorgeous rooted hair that is dying to be styled the Corollines fit into any bag, suitcase, or even a generously sized pocket.
So what do you all think, do or will dolls play a part in your child’s summer toy collection?
Buy Corolle dolls from these recommended retailers;
http://www.petalinadolls.co.uk/
Wonderworld ‘Tree Plus +’ Project 2013 Update!
We have had a steady trickle of new likers to the Wonderworld Facebook page and a few of you have tweeted for this amazing cause but it’s time we really put a dent in our 777 trees target!
As we managed to plant 651 trees last year we know this target is possible, we need you guys to help us shout about the Wonderworld Tree Plus + Project over Facebook and Twitter! Because we enjoy a competition over at DKL we want to give you the chance to win a fabulous Wonderworld Ride on Recycling Truck for being part of of the #Wonderworldtreeplus2013 project!
So its simple, Using the Raffelcopter widget below Like our Wonderworld Facebook Page, Tweet using the hashtag #Wonderworldtreeplus2013, or Share a Wonderworld Facebook Status about the Tree Plus + Project and you’ll be entered into the competition to win this fabulous prize. However, let’s not forget most importantly you’ll be helping to save the environment by planting a tree for every one of those social media interactions you make!
Terms & Conditions.
This competition is open to all residents of the UK and ROI over 18 years of age, excluding employees of DKL and their affiliates, agents and families of such employees and any other person connected with this competition. Entry into this competition confirms that eligible participants are in acceptance of the terms and conditions set out below. To take part in the promotion, go to http://www.facebook.com/DKL.Toys . Enter the competition by using one of the options on the Rafflecopter widget. No bulk or third party entries accepted. All entries must be received by 12am 1st July 2013. A winner for the prize will selected at random using Rafflecopter providing they correctly followed on of the available options. Entry into this promotion constitutes the participant’s consent to be contacted by DKL Marketing LTD regarding future promotions and related content. The winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of the giveaway closing. The winner must reply to claim the prize by 11th July 2013 (10 DAYS AFTER CLOSING DATE). Failure to do so will result in a new winner being chosen. Participation in the giveaway constitutes consent to DKL Marketing LTD and its agents use of their name, likeness, and opinions for promotional purposes in any media worldwide without payment or consideration. Facebook is not a sponsor of this contest and bears no responsibility or liability for the administration, operation, judging, or conduct of the contest, or for the fulfilment of prizes associated with this promotion. The promoter reserves the right to substitute the prize with a prize or equal or greater value in the event of unavailability due to circumstances beyond the promoter’s control. The giveaway runs from 12am 31st May 2013 to 12am 1st July 2013.The promoter of this giveaway is DKL Marketing LTD, NN3 6QD.
GUEST POST: We’ve just (Toad) tested the new Wonderworld Trix Track
The lovely Niki from The Toadstool has very kindly put the brand new Wonderworld Trix Track to test! She knows a thing or two about track and balls too, here is what she found…
When DKL asked us to be review the new Wonderworld Trix Tracks for their big launch, we were delighted. We love ball tracks so much, so we were thrilled to be the first retailer in the UK to have a play and last week we finally received the Wonderworld Trix Tracks Hammer Slammer and Spin and Swirl sets literally hours after they were unloaded from the container at the docks.
When we first saw the Trix Track at the Toy Fair in January, we were instantly impressed that despite the many ball tracks available on the market, Wonderworld have designed something inherently different and quite unique, in a style which is very much their own. These ball tracks are all about engineering, with a series of cause and effect type features and some really innovative designs
Boxing clever.
The 70 % recycled cardboard boxes are sturdy with a convenient handle and perfect for neat home storage and stacking. As stockists, we felt that the boxes are a bit bigger than is strictly necessary but we think they’ll make a superb package under the Christmas tree or a really impressive birthday gift.
Spin and Swirl.
Suitable for children ages 3 years +, the Spin and Swirl set comes with 4 innovative Trix (features), 2 straight and 2 curved sections of track, 45 easy to assemble, building brick parts (4 x 4 x 2 cm) and 2 x 3 cm wooden balls. What is a really important feature for us is that the plastic parts are all made from recycled wood and plastic. This is an excellent environmental choice on Wonderworld’s behalf although this type of plastic is not of a top end plastic toy standard.
It took me 15 minutes to set up the first time and the instructions are basic. And while it may present an interesting challenge for primary school children, pre-schoolers will need help setting up the first time. This set also includes a poster with details of other sets and suggestions for alternative set-ups with several combined sets, which was a real added a bonus.
The Spin and Swirl ball track is a track supported by a series of columns and at each Trix (or feature), the track drops to a lower lever level. Start the ball at the top and it whirls through the spinning turbine, swirls around a funnel type feature, tips up the see saw and comes out through the tunnel. These Trix are really what sets this track apart and are a wonderful introduction to science and engineering concepts.
Despite Trix Track being suitable for children aged 36 months +, our 19 month old helped out with putting the building blocks together. However she was a little too eager to get started so parents take note: whilst this is an awesome gift, do set aside time to help set it up, ideally without eager-to-play siblings around. Once it’s ready everyone can join in and our little tester loved putting the ball at the top, experimenting with the turbine wheel Trix feature and seeing how many balls the whirling feature could digest at one time.
Hammer Slammer.
With 4 multi level Trix and only 11 building bricks (4 x 4 x 2 cm) and 5 balls, this set is more difficult and took a bit longer to assemble, requiring a fair amount of precision. There’s only one possible set up and although the instructions are clear, there is no indication, apart small hollows on the tracks, as to where the 5 balls need to go. The balls also needed a steady, hand to put them all in place.
Once it’s set up, you trigger the first ball and watch as it sets off a series of hammers which knock all 5 balls up, down and around the track to the sound of clacking wood. The sequence is absolutely ingenious and this would make a fantastic addition to any other set.
Overall quality and value.
Both sets are brightly coloured, wonderfully tactile and undoubtedly, beautiful wooden toys which we’d probably give a 8 out of 10. We do feel that although described as suitable from 3 years, we don’t think a 3 year old could put either set together, especially the Hammer Slammer, so parent input is required.
But hey, we are perfectionists and in terms of educational value, fun factor, sustainability and something that makes a great gift, we have to give them a ground breaking 10 out of 10! The Spin and Swirl is a great ball track on its own or would make a fantastic addition to another set, as would the Hammer Slammer. One of the best things about these sets is that you can combine them with others to come up with so many different challenges, levels and designs, so the learning and fun goes on and on.
Will The Toadstool be stocking these items?
Yes definitely, we’ve got them in stock already. They clearly have great educational value as well as improving fine motor skills. Having been a fan of both Wonderworld and ball tracks for some time, we are impressed by Wonderworld’s sense of social responsibility and we love idea of the “Tree plus +” project. We firmly believe that all kids should have a ball track to enjoy and these Wonderworld sets are surely one of the best on the market and we think a really exciting addition to Wonderworld’s existing range.
In the upcoming week we will be blogging more about the educational value of Ball Tracks over on thetoadstool.wordpress.com, have a look and follow our blog to be kept up to date.
Blog brought to you by The Toadstool
DKL NEED TOP BLOGGERS! (Closed)
Our warehouse is bursting at the seams with new products that are dying to be put through their paces – So DKL are on the lookout for some top bloggers to put our new toys to the test!
We’re looking for people who are going to take their reviews above and beyond with honest opinions. Putting real thought into how they are going to review whichever toy they are sent… it could be a pinterest board of images, a video, a storyboard, a good old fashioned blog post, basically anything that will show our products off as best possible!
So if you think you are up to the challenge all you need to do leave the link to your blog in the comments below, and we will be in touch if we have a product to suit you 
P.S. It’d be great if you could spread the word by tweeting the link to our blog and tagging @DKLtoys or sharing our status over on Facebook, we have a lot of toys to go around!
P.P.S Check out our Pinterest board of past reviews ;)
Update (17/05/2013): Thank you all for showing such interest in blogging for us! We’ll be in touch soon if we have toys to suit you, but for now we aren’t accepting any more comments
Wonderworld ‘Tree Plus +’ Project is Back!
If heavy snow at Easter has caused you concern for the environment then there is no need to fear, Wonderworld are inviting YOU (yes you) to work alongside them to give back to our Mother Earth! Wonderworld are a fabulous brand producing beautifully crafted wooden toys using rubber wood from sustainable forests. Their strong eco conscious has led them to go to great lengths to do their bit for the environment and the ‘Tree Plus +’ Project gets everyone involved
Last year Wonderworld planted 17,200 trees and DKL’s amazing Social Media followers helped to contribute a whopping 651 trees to the Wonderworld Tree Plus project by Liking, Sharing and tweeting!
This year is Wonderworld’s 7th year of the ‘Tree Plus +’ scheme so to make it extra special they will be working harder than ever to plant 17,777 new trees! On top of this Wonderworld have given DKL the challenge to contribute an EXTRA 777 trees to this total… And this is where all of you lovely people come in 
To get involved its super easy… Simply Like our Wonderworld Facebook page & for every like, Wonderworld will plant 1 tree, you can Tweet with our hashtag #WonderworldTreePlus2013 and a tree will be planted for each occurrence of the tag on Twitter, and you will also plant a tree for every Share of our Wonderworld page statuses about the project.
It really is only a click away for you to make a difference and have a tree planted – So spread the word far and wide and get Liking, Tweeting and Sharing until the 5th July 2013.
P.S. Look out for some cheeky competitions along the way
Wonderworld’s Eco Friendly Production Process
Back to School!
It’s back to School this week after a fabulous 2 week holiday full of fun and frolics in the glorious sunshine… well that is what we had hoped for anyway!
To help you and your little ones make the most of being back to school we have given our back to school pinterest board a little update with a host of fun things you can get up to at home, and revisited some reviews of our own educational products!
English was always my one true love, I was the ultimate book worm from such a young age… I went from the Hungry Caterpillar, to Mr. Majeika, and onto Roald Dahl in no time! I love the cost effective idea of this story telling jar; put words into a jar on coloured paper, pick out different words, and make up a story!
Storytelling Jar
Source: mwaldron13 via DKL on Pinterest
Of course there are lots of storytelling aids you can buy, the Wonderworld ABC Blocks come with great colourful pictures correlating to their letter of the alphabet and a handy fabric bag for you to muddle all the blocks up so you don’t know which ones you are picking!
Wonderworld ABC Blocks
Science was my next passion, mostly because I liked getting my hands dirty with an experiment! There are lots of home science experiments that are so simple and can be done using things around the home, like this simple Celery science.
Celery Science!
Source: kiboomukidscrafts.com Via DKL on Pinterest
Placing sticks of celery in glasses of coloured water and gradually watching the colour of the Celery change. For me it’s all about ‘Seeing is believing’ carrying out quick experiments always engages kids and promotes questions of ‘How’ and ‘Why’ it’s all happening… (best to know swot up on your science knowledge before the kids catch you out though!)
The Miniland Science tins are lots of fun for the budding scientist, which is what Bloggomy found! What’s great about the crystal growing kit is that it comes equipped with goggles, tweezers, a magnifying glass (and of course all of the other ingredients needed to grow crystals) so your little one can really pretend to play the part of mad scientist!
Miniland Educational Crystal Growing
Onto my arch nemesis, Maths. No matter what I did (and still to this day in fact) I could never seem to get the hang of it, so I truly believe in any method that could possibly help. One thing that I’ve never had a problem with is food so I love this idea of making a yummy pizza and teaching about fractions or subtraction – what better way to learn maths than to mix it with pleasure!?
Maths? Food? Both?… Yum
Source: Math- Fractions Via DKL on Pinterest
The counting ball from Wonderworld offers more than just 1,2,3… the novelty of having to flick the ball onto the shelf and turn the button for the balls to fall back down is so amusing, it won’t take long for your child to realise the concept of adding and subtracting when using this! I think theprincessandthepickle had a similar experience
Wonderworld Counting Ball!
The Miniland Educational aptitude range is great for children as young as 2 as Being Mrs C found! The buttons are in primary colours and each have a different number of holes in them to lace, the game cards encourage counting in different sequences and the lacing improves motor skills (Now if that’s not play value I don’t know what is!).
Miniland Aptitude sets
We’d love for you to share what home activities you use for educating, so leave your comments below
Buy Wonderworld or Miniland from these lovely retailers;
http://www.playmerrilytoys.co.uk
@DKLtoys Have reached 1000 Twitter Followers!
We were so overly excited this morning when we saw that we had reached 1,000 followers . So excited in fact that we have decided to launch a mini giveaway over on our Twitter page to celebrate with all you lovely people who got us there!
So the rules are very simple just Follow and Retweet @DKLtoys: ” We’ve got a fabulous Wonderworld Cash Register & Fruit Basket to give away! Follow and RT for your chance to #WIN! ”
Good luck to you all
Terms and Conditions:
1. UK entrants only
2. One competition will run from the 8th April – 12th April 2013 at 4pm.
3. Winners will be notified within 24 hours of the competition closing, only one winner will be selected at random.
4. No purchase necessary.
5. Items cannot be exchanged for monetary value.
6. If for any reason a prize is not available, a prize of similar value will replace it.
7. The promoter of this giveaway is DKL Marketing LTD, NN3 6QD.
DKL Easter Egg Hunt – Winners Announced!
It has been lots of fun hosting this Easter egg hunt, but a struggle not letting word slip on how many there were to find or where they were hidden! But I managed to keep tight-lipped and now I’m going to reveal where those pesky eggs were and draw the lucky Winner!
In total there were 4 eggs hidden in our Corolle, Hama, Miniland and Wonderworld 2013 albums, many of you found them all however there were a few who didn’t (I won’t mention names)…
Well done to those who managed to find them all, and without keeping you in suspense much longer… The winner of the fabulous £80 bundle of toys is….
LUCY MAYER! *HURRAYYY*
Further congratulations to the 2 runners-up SAMANTHA FERNLEY and JO CLARKE who will receive a Miniland Magic Drawing Board!
We hope you enjoy your prizes, and for those who didn’t win we hope you enjoyed taking part! There will no doubt be another competition soon so watch this space
If you are interested in any of the wonderful DKL toys you have seen why not check out our where to buy page :)
The DKL Easter Egg Hunt Competition!
It wouldn’t be Easter without a competition Get involved in our online Easter egg hunt to win a bundle of Easter fun toys worth over £80 RRP!
We know our followers enjoy a competition and have been a wonderful help in expanding the awareness of our beautiful toys so here’s how to enter;
- Go to the DKL Facebook page and searching through the Hama, Corolle, Wonderworld and Miniland 2013 albums find the Easter eggs that have been carefully hidden in some of the photos!
- Once you have think you have found all of the Easter Eggs enter the competition using the Rafflecopter widget below by describing the toys you find with an Easter Egg hidden in it as clearly as you can. Make it so we can’t possibly mistake your entry !
- After you have made your first entry you can make additional entries by liking DKL on Facebook, Following @DKLtoys on Twitter, leaving a blog post comment or tweeting about the competition.
Prizes
The stunning prize of the £80 toy bundle (sure to wash away Easter boredom) will be allocated to the first drawn winner to have correctly identified all the egg pictures inside our albums!
Two further prizes of a Miniland Magic Drawing Board will be awarded to people also picked with correct URLs of the Easter Egg photos. Don’t forget your URLS will be attached for every additional entry you claim by tweeting and following so the more of those you do, the better your chances!
We’re hoping you’ll enjoy looking through the lovely pictures of our brand new 2013 ranges from Corolle, Wonderworld, Hama and Miniland.
Click on this image to go to our albums.
Terms & Conditions.
This competition is open to all residents of the UK and ROI over 18 years of age, excluding employees of DKL and their affiliates, agents and families of such employees and any other person connected with this competition. Entry into this competition confirms that eligible participants are in acceptance of the terms and conditions set out below. To take part in the promotion, go to http://www.facebook.com/DKL.Toys . Look through the albums Hama 2013, Corolle 2013, Wonderworld 2013 and Miniland 2013 and see if you can find the hidden Easter Eggs! Entrants then go to the DKL blog http://dkltoys.co.uk/ and submit your answer through the Rafflecopter widget ,describing the toys you find them in. Once you have made this initial entry you can make additional entries by liking or following the DKL Facebook or Twitter. The prize is an Easter Hamper of DKL toys with an RRP of over £80, for extra entries made through liking or following DKL on Facebook or Twitter 2 people will receive a Miniland Magic Drawing Board. Prizes cannot be returned or exchanged and no cash alternative is available. No bulk or third party entries accepted. All entries must be received by 11.59pm 1st April 2013. A winner for the main prize will selected at random using Rafflecopter providing they have found all of the correct URL’s. The 2 other winners will be selected at random via Rafflecopter also. Entry into this promotion constitutes the participant’s consent to be contacted by DKL Marketing LTD regarding future promotions and related content. The winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of the giveaway closing. The winner must reply to claim the prize by 11th April 2013 (10 DAYS AFTER CLOSING DATE). Failure to do so will result in a new winner being chosen. Participation in the giveaway constitutes consent to DKL Marketing LTD and its agents use of their name, likeness, and opinions for promotional purposes in any media worldwide without payment or consideration. Facebook is not a sponsor of this contest and bears no responsibility or liability for the administration, operation, judging, or conduct of the contest, or for the fulfilment of prizes associated with this promotion. The promoter reserves the right to substitute the prize with a prize or equal or greater value in the event of unavailability due to circumstances beyond the promoter’s control. The giveaway runs from 7pm 21st March 2013 to 11.59pm 1st April 2013.The promoter of this giveaway is DKL Marketing LTD, NN3 6QD.
Miniland Educational: What To Look Out For in 2013!
Many of you may have seen pictures of the exciting new toys we have for Miniland Educational, but here is a brief overview of the star products! 2012 was a brilliant year for Miniland with the ever popular aptitude sets and science tins spreading knowledge far and wide, but the 2013 range has some brilliant toys that put so much fun into learning, your children won’t even realise it’s educational (SCORE!).
Two of my favourite new products this year are the Pairs Game and the range of Mini Puzzles. Now I’m sure you’ve all played a game of pairs with a pack of cards (never fails sometimes on a rainy day) but this gives the classic game a brand new lease of life! It comes with 12 different double sided game cards and a nifty holder with counters to cover up the pictures… What’s so special about that did I hear you say? Well the game cards are nothing less than brilliant, there are 4 different categories from animals, to the human body, to funky patterns, and all are in fun unique designs that are sure to keep you on your toes! I love that this is a great stress free game that a parent and child can enjoy, or children can play amongst themselves without needing much supervision once they get going!
The Mini Puzzles are a favourite of mine as it can be difficult to find something as simple and enjoyable as a puzzle for very young children, but this lovely collection is suitable for kids from 2 years onwards. Each puzzle comes with 6 of the cutest designs and all of the pieces are made of plastic so can be wiped clean when sticky little fingers get hold of them!
Dragy is the new plush baby range from Miniland and the whole DKL office are extremely excited about this! The adorable dragon mascot is found on all of the products and there is a wonderful collection which includes everything from an activity cube, a travel cushion, a hand puppet (which David has become quite fond of ha) and even some dragy slippers which rattle!
But the headliner is Dragy Fasteners, apart from being exceptionally cuddly and soft he helps to develop nimble fingers and teaches about different fasteners and how to use them! He has so many features to play with including a zip, buttons, poppers, and laces that your little one will always find something new to be fascinated with.
Last but by no means least is the Miniland Plastic Vehicles. Miniland have gone all out with this range and have some fantastic great quality vehicles that are perfect for play in the house and during the Summer months (here’s hoping that we get some) in the garden! The Mini Vehicles come in 3 different sizes 9cm, 12cm and 18cm which are good for all types of play, but the bigger vehicles take my fancy most. In 3 different designs the 18cm vehicles are nice and chunky for little hands to get around and sturdy enough so will withstand any amount of play! They feature moving parts which is great for the imagination and the vibrant colours that go across the range make the vehicles fun and engaging. For ultimate plastic vehicle play there is the brand new Dumpy Transporter – for some reason I am lead to believe this is every young boys dream every time I look at it, it just screams ‘boy heaven’. At 43cm in length and 23cm tall the Dumpy Transporter, equipped with two 18cm Dumpy’s is really is a force to be reckoned with. The Transporter comes with a moveable ramp to store the two vehicles and so they can be moved on and off.
That’s just a few of the great Toys Miniland Educational have to offer for 2013! Check out our Facebook page for more pictures (Don’t forget to like us ).
