I love these Build It Nuts and Bolts toys - there's something very satisfying about playing with something you've put together with your own fair hands.

• Click HERE to take a look at the Build It Nuts and Bolts Create set*

There's this Build It Nuts and Bolts Create set for girls - although I suppose boys could play with it, if they didn't mind the pastel colours - which is £12 instead of £40, and explains why it's flying off the shelves faster than you could build a helicopter with all the bits and pieces.

The Build It Nuts and Bolts Create set includes 25 construction pieces, 54 nuts and bolts, 1 screwdriver, 1 spanner, 8 flower shaped foam washers and a sheet of stickers to customise your creations with.

As you can imagine, with all the small parts it's not something that's suitable for youngsters under the age of three, but for those older than that it's going to be great.

I do wish the ELC would hurry and come to the 'free collection in-store' party, because at the moment you're going to have pay an extra £2.95 for standard delivery if your order is less than £50.

Thanks to simba1981 at HUKD

When my son was a pre schooler, we got a My First Trampoline. It was fabulous, and I do think it was really worth getting. But if you have a small garden, I'd give the Plum 6ft Trampoline and Enclosure* (£159.99)  a consideration now. One of my best friend's bought this for her children for Christmas, and even though the weather has been awful they've been out in it nearly every day.

It is supplied flat, and while assembly isn't that easy, it took just about an hour for her and her husband to put it together.

The 6ft trampoline frame is made from steel galvanised inside and out for rust free protection and increased strength. The trampoline enclosure is designed to keep the user within a safe area whilst using the trampoline, thus reducing the risk of falling.

The children tend to bounce against the netting, using it for leverage, and it is holding up well so far. Unlike my trampoline, this one has waterproof wrapping down the poles. My trampoline had foam covering for this, and while that's OK, the cat ripped it to pieces in a very short while. I think this is a much better option.

However, I think the padding on my trampoline is better, around the outside. The padding here is adequate, but I'd have preferred it to be more substantial myself.

I think this is a great option for a small garden, but I would question the price tag and would definitely wait if you can until it is reduced or a discount code comes along.

The Early Learning Centre have taken up to 50% off ALL HappyLand toys - whenever they do this, things tend to fly off the shelves pretty quickly so I'd get yourself over there pronto!

• Click HERE to take a look at the HappyLand Toys *

Even though I'm a wooden toy fan, I'm rather fond of all things HappyLand - they just look so happy and cheery, and will help kids to develop various skills and encourage imaginative play.

There are some really good deals to be had and, at the moment, there seems to be plenty of the HappyLand bits and pieces still in stock.  There's all sorts of things for various young ages - simple little toys for the very young, through to larger play sets for slightly older children.

If you've got a little one to present buy for but are a bit stuck for ideas, then something HappyLand will always get you out of that particular hole.

Now, if you order through the ELC website you'll need to pay for delivery (standard delivery is £2.95) but if you'd rather collect your HappyLand items for free, then order them Mothercare (they're matching the ELC prices) and arrange to collect them in-store.

Thanks to kaz14783 at HUKD

The Mega Bloks Blok Squad Ocean Adventure has been reduced from £34.99 to £10.50, that’s a massive saving! You can get this great deal at the Early Learning Centre where they also offer free delivery on orders over £50.

• Click here to get this cool Mega Bloks set from the Early Learning Centre

If your kids love the sea and building with Mega Bloks have a look at this. The kids can build their own adventure with the Blok Squad Ocean Adventure by Mega Bloks. Ready the scuba gear and pull on the flippers, Blok Squad is heading out to explore the darkest depths of the ocean.

The Blok Squad Explorer's Dock is a state-of-the-art floating dock with some of the most powerful computers in all Bloktropolis. It can coordinate deep water searches with the Explorer Cruiser and controls the Submarine without having to worry about the hungry shark that lurks in the water.

The set includes a shark, two Blok Squad Explorers and a Blok Squad Diver figure, have fun!

Now this HappyLand Store and Play looks rather nifty - it's a play mat and storage box all rolled into one (zipped into one actually, but we'll get to that in a minute!).  It's also been reduced down to £11 from £22.

• Click HERE to take a look at the HappyLand Store and Play *

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, and not for the last time either: you can never have too much storage!  Whether it be for kid's toys, or shoes, or just general 'stuff', storage is the key to keeping everything tidy and you'll always seem to be running out of it!

This HappyLand Store and Play unzips and folds out into a play mat - the lid becomes a play tray - and when you're done playing you can just zip it all up again, leaving everything nicely contained on the inside for next time; marvellous.

It's made from water-resistant material, is easy to wipe clean and it's dimensions, in its different guises, are as follows:

• Playmat approximate size: 99cm (W) X 89cm (L)
• Storage box approximate size: 45.5cm x 36.5cm (L) x 29.5cm (H) 

You can't arrange to collect your HappyLand Store and Play from an ELC store, but delivery will only cost you an additional £2.95 and will take up to four working days.

Thanks to sapphire1 at HUKD

Argos has a sale on Early Learning Centre's HappyLand Village Playset, which they've reduced from £49.99 to £19.99. I've checked my area and there's still okay stock. I'l have to drive a bit further than normal, but at this price, it's pretty worth it. You can check icheckstock.co.uk to find where they are in the 35 branches nearest you.

• Build a whole village*

This playset Village from HappyLand just seems like such good value for money to me - three in one, essentially. It consists of a chapel, complete with wedding couple in a horse and carriage, and a priest, a bakery with Granny Bonnet, a baker and a delivery driver and van and a postoffice, with the postman and his cat.

That's three buildings, three vehicles, two animals and seven people, which I think is a pretty good haul for £19.99. The set requires 2 AA batteries and 4 LR4's, for sound effects and so on, and these are not included.

Thanks to Bunnyhop at HUKD

It is January. You probably already noticed that. Hard to miss it when all the telltale signs are there. Grey skies, dark afternoons and empty bank accounts. Another clue is all the signs up announcing January sales. Although that's not quite as much an indicator as it used to be. Nowadays, the January sales seem to start in December.

However, for many of us snapping up sale bargains is hard as everything goes on Christmas and we're left staring at brass tacks until payday comes around again.

There is still hope though. As we come to the end of the sales anything that is left may be going in the super clearance bargain basement! Also, there are stores that refresh stock in the sale section each week, and others that don't start their sales until further into January.  Here's a roundup of the big retailers of baby stuff who are still running sales.

ELC's bumper sales continue with the Bumper Craft Box from Mr Maker, selling at half of it's original £20 - £10, for those not so hot on the maths! There's free delivery to UK addresses too.

• Get crafty with Mr Maker

Actually, Mr Maker bugs me a little, because he'll mix a whole pot of glue just to use a few dabs, or mix a whole bowl of glue he doesn't use, and similar bad for the environment excesses.

There are five fun filled craft kits in a handy storage box. The five sets are 3D Foam Models, Colour and cut Jungle, Finger Puppets, Playstick Pets & Make a Face, which can be used to make over 30 craft projects. It also contains peel and stick EVA foam shapes, felt, card, chenille stems, pom poms, wiggly eyes, craft sticks, glitter glue, felt tip pens, glue, PVA glue. According to the blurb, the contents would retail for £24.95 if it was retailed separately.

Mr Maker sets come with full instructions for the craftily challenged.

Thanks to Arriaga at HUKD

The ELC, or the Early Learning Centre as it used to be known, has reduced the price on this interactive baby toy, the VTech Little Singing Alfie. It was £9.99, and it is now £7.99. Use the code we posted HERE and you can get another 20% off making it £6.39. Plus standard UK delivery on the site is free, so if you can wait four days to receive the toy that's all you have to pay. Fabulous idea for a baby gift.

• Click here for your VTech Little Singing Alfie at the ELC

VTech Little Alfie is the little bear that likes to sing to you. There are three interactive buttons, and these are just the right size for little fingers to press. Hopefully the real singing and talking will captivate your baby. I know my son just loved that sort of thing when he was tiny. The toy is suitable from babies three months and older.

Cheerful melodies add to the fun of this cute little companion.

You can easily attach Little Alfie bear to most prams, pushchairs and even cots using the soft strap at the top of him so he can go wherever your baby goes.

Thanks to cassap06 at HUKD!

I do like offers like this 2 for £10 Mix and Match Toys and Books currently going on at the Early Learning Centre - if you get in early enough you can pick up some fabulous bargains.

• Click HERE to see everything included in the 2 for £10 Mix and Match Toys and Books offer

A grand total of 179 items are included in the ELC's 2 for £10 Mix and Match Toys and Books offer, so there's bound to be at least a couple of things that take your fancy - this, and I'm sorry to be mentioning the C word again (that's twice this month, shame on me!), is the perfect time to pick up a few things to be put away until Christmas.

There are lots of puzzles for different age groups - I'm really drawn to this Lift and Look Alphabet Puzzle.

This magnetic fishing game also looks like lots of fun, I loved this sort of thing when I was little - I still do, truth be told - and this Touchy-Feely Farmyard Tales 'Animal Hide and Seek' book looks good too.

There are a few of the well-known and much-loved books from the 'That's Not My..." series and this Calm Down Boris! hand puppet book could raise a few laughs at bed time.

The discounts are all applied at the checkout and there no delivery charges to pay - there's only one problem that I can foresee...picking just a few things from the 179 you have to choose from!

Happy Mixing and Matching!

Looking for one of those little tricycles with a handle for your budding toddler? The Grow and Go Trike has been massively reduced at the Early Learn Centre. The ELC has this trike for £29.99 instead of £59.99. And by entering the promotional code CROCODILE in the Shopping Basket page, you can further reduce it down to £23.99.

• Click here for your Grow and Go Trike at the ELC

The Grow and Go Trike is a 3 in 1 trike that adjusts as your child grows.

Stage 1 (10-18 months) Includes footrest, steering handle and pedal lock for parental control, adjustable sun shade, surround bars and seat belt to keep little ones safe.

Stage 2 (18 months – 3 yrs) Retractable footrest as little feet begin to reach pedals, option of removing surround bars, steering handle pedal lock and sunshade as child grows.

Stage 3 (3+ years) Parent handle can be removed as child becomes independent.

Surround bars to keep little ones safe, high back seat for extra comfort, seat belt for safety, storage bucket for toys & essentials, multi-position seat, retractable footrest that can be stowed when child's feet can reach pedals, adjustable sun shade to keep sun off sensitive skins, steering handle and pedal lock for push along mode for when parents need to be in control.

Thanks to vickijh32 at HUKD!

Use this ELC promotional code to get 20% off your order. It doesn't work on items already in a special offer or on sale I'm afraid. At the moment there's free delivery on the site, although I'm not sure how long it is for. Worth taking advantage of it to make the most of this code though!

Click here to use your ELC promotional code

• Discount: 20%
• Promotional code: CROCODILE
• Expires: 25th July 2012

To use this code, go to the View Basket page, and scroll down. Enter it in the Promotional Code box. The code is applied automatically to your order. You will see it appear in red.

I tested it on a Spider Man costume, costing £16. The ELC promotional code took a further £3.20 off the price.

Or you could use it on this, the HappyLand Royal Wedding set, full price £15. I love this set, in fact I liked it enough to actually buy one for a friend's child. More as a bit of a laugh really. She's not going to care that it is Wills and Kate (with Wills grandparents) as she's just two years old. But I know my friend will find it hysterically funny.

Thanks to kexas at HUKD!

There’s something a little odd going on at ELC, with selected items showing up as doubly discounted using the code below.  The HUKD member that posted it waited until receiving confirmation of items dispatched before posting it, so as far as we can tell there’s nothing with the deal and it’ll go ahead. By the way, if something is 20% off, you’ll get 20% off the original, then 20% off the new total, not double 20, if that makes sense outside my head!

Get a double discount at ELC

• Discount: Double 20%
• Expires: Unknown
• Discount Code: Monkey

So, for example, if you were after a Pink Sand and Water Table, which we have been, you’ll be looking at £45. Use the code above and it seems to reduce it to £28.80. It adds £4.95 for delivery, but apparently once you go through to order, it gives you free next day delivery as an added bonus.

There are a number of items from ELC that are giving a double code at the moment, so have a look around and see what it works on. Apparently it’s also working on the double story play house,  pink junior trampoline, the pink bouncy castle and the bounce zone.

Thanks to rainbow123 and adds03uk at HUKD

Use this ELC promotional code to get 20% off your order. The best thing about this code is that it works with sale items. However it ONLY runs until midnight tonight so be quick!

Click here to use your 20% ELC promotional code

• Discount: 20%
• Promotional code: LoveELC20
• Expires: Midnight, 18th March, 2012

To use the code, go to the Your Basket page and enter it in the Promotion Code Box. If it won’t work with the items in your basket, it will simply say that the promotion code has been applied, but it wasn’t valid for your order.

When it does work, you'll see listed on your order. I tried it out on the Blue Art Centre. This had already been reduced from £45 to £30. The code took another £6 off. Keep in mind that the delivery on this site is £4.95.

Thanks to lagop5 at HUKD!

Early Learning Centre’s 8 Pack of Plasticine is half price at Amazon, selling for just 50p instead of £1, and free delivery to boot.

• Shape and mould for 50p

Actually, I’m terrified of this stuff – if I look at how much playdough our sofas have absorbed over the last six months, I can just imagine adding plasticine to the mix and needing a new sofa in the next six months, but I do re remember having tons of fun with plasticine as a child myself. I must ask my mother if she ever had fits over the armrests of the furniture being covered in the stuff.

The Plasticine 8-pack contains basic colours like white, black, red, yellow, green, blue and purple and but don’t worry too much about that – it’ll soon be a big grey mess!

Suitable for ages 3 – 8 years, the up side to this over play dough, is that it apparently never dries out.

Thanks to linny13 at HUKD 

Amazon are having a bit of a sale on Early Learning Centre arts and crafts bits and pieces - there are 75 individual items included in the sale and plenty of them have, or are close to having, 50% off their full retail price.

• Click HERE to take a look at the art bits and pieces over at Amazon

The thing with arty bits and pieces is that they often need replacing - paints and felt tipped pens run out, pencils get broken so you are forever sharpening them (which is pointless because the 'lead' inside has been shattered into a million pieces from being dropped on the floor), paper gets used and scissors (at least in my house) have the disappearing skills of Houdini!

Taking advantage of arts and crafts sales, like this, makes sound economic sense - especially when you can have everything delivered for free.

Pens, pencils, paints, paper, chalks and chalk boards are included in the Early Learning Centre arts and crafts sale, along with painting aprons (in both red and blue for boys and girls) and scissors for the right-handed masses and the minority 'lefties'.

Some things are selling out quite quickly, so if you have plenty of things to stock up on then I suggest you go over to Amazon sooner rather than later.

Thanks to wishihadadonkey at HUKD

It is January. You probably already noticed that. Hard to miss it when all the telltale signs are there. Grey skies, dark afternoons and empty bank accounts. Another clue is all the signs up announcing January sales. Although that's not quite as much an indicator as it used to be. Nowadays, the January sales seem to start in December.

However, here we are coming into the tail end of the sales, and anything that is left is going to go bargain basement. Also, there are stores that do GASP start their sales in January, and others that refresh the stock in the sale section each week. Here's a roundup of the big retailers of baby stuff who are still running sales. Boots, for example, have finished their sales so we've not included them here. Likewise, JoJo Maman Bebe still has its sale section, but the winter sale with up to 75% off seems to be finished now.

The same with the Mothercare Clearance shop, although the usual reductions you'll find year round are in there so it is still worth having a look. Such as the 50% Off Top Products section.

Click here to read more...

Amazon have 50% off the Early Learning Centre Electronic Cash Register and Scanner, which normally sells at £22 but is now reduced to £11. It's the same price at ELC, but you'll have to pay postage too.

• Build an empire starting with an ELC shop

According to the blurb, this cash register is the perfect inspiration for playing shops, pretending to be the customer or shopkeeper and enjoying real-world imaginative play.

This version has a beeping scanner (for which you need 3 AAA batteries), a chip and pin machine and a working microphone with which to drive the family crazy make important announcements.

The Electronic Cash Register and Scanner comes with 12 pieces of food, play paper money and coins and a play credit card, card reader and of course, the till and microphone.

Reviews on it are generally positive, though some complain that the drawer jumps out too enthusiastically.

One reviewer (at ELC) says, “We've used it's calculation capabilities to teach some basic adding and subtracting whilst she plays which is great too. The play money resembles real notes and coins which is helpful. The scanner generates random numbers which won't teach value (when it can cost £7000 or £7 for the same item) but it is good fun.”

She felt it was money well spent.

Thanks to retail_therapy at HUKD

The Wonderland Castle is half price at Early Learning  Centre, reduced to £42.50 from £85.  Delivery takes 4 days and costs £4.95.

• Get lost in a magical Wonderland of imagination

The Wonderland Castle has three towers, a royal balcony and a garden all around.  It’s the ideal place to create magical fairy stories, full of fairy tale creatures.

The Castle is a good size for sharing too at 78cm high, 88cm wide and 64cm deep. It does require some assembly and comes with 30 screws and instructions.

There’s really little limit to the add-ons you can bring in to the game with this. Unfortunately none come with the set and you have to  buy them separately or use what you have.

Customers have rated this 3.4 out of 5,  with the lowest score being 2.3 for durability, but a good 4.3 for fun.  The main complaint from reviewers is that it is quite difficult to assemble. Another reviewer says that you can’t really move it very easily once assembled as the base isn’t solid.

Overall, however, they all agree that it is beautiful and that the children absolutely love it.

We were given the Waterslide Playset as a gift because my daughter loves bath time and has a bath full of toys, but nothing with slides and gadgets, so we were thrilled to receive it. The person who bought it had clearly not read any of the reviews on it, and I’m afraid I’m in full agreement with the reviewers – it’s the worst toy we’ve ever had.

On paper is sounds great: “Watch the bath time friends whizz down the slide and make a splash in the tub. Pour water in the wheel and watch it spin. It comes with suction cups that attach firmly to the bath.”

What I can say for it is that it looks like it’s going to be fun, and that the suction cups do attach firmly to the bath.

Unfortunately that’s about it.  The whole thing comes apart really easily, but isn’t as easy to put back together.

Every time one of the ‘bath time friends’ comes through the flap at the bottom, it falls off, needing to be reattached. (Can you say annoying??) And that’s if the friends get that far. There’s little to no whizzing as they  pretty much get stuck all the way down.  It’s clearly a design flaw as the most important part of the toy is the fact that the ‘friends’ slide down it.

The waterwheel works well, and if you pour water into it, it tips out and the water runs down the slide, but that’s not enough to make the hippos on tubes slide down.

Overall, this is a very disappointing bath toy and I wouldn’t bother with it at all. If it worked it would still be pricy for what it is (at £14) but without working it’s an absolute waste and definitely not the quality you expect from ELC.