Activities for Kids!

Upgrade your Mud Kitchen this Pancake Day so little ones can create their ultimate Pancake Station!  It couldn't be easier to give your little ones their own Pancake Station Mud Kitchen... all you need for your pancakes are... Cornflour  Hair Conditioner  Water  Take a look at how the wonderful Issy from MummyScrummie upgraded her mud kitchen below!

There's a reason why playdough is so popular with children - it offers hours of fun and creativity and (we'll let you in on a little secret) is super cheap to make yourself at home! We've got an easy and quick recipe below along with a video on how to make it.  This recipe makes 1 coloured ball and takes around 5 minutes to make Ingredients: 8 tbsp plain flour 2 tbsp salt 50ml warm water Food Colouring - any colour of your choice 1 tbsp vegetable oil Method: 1. Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. In a jug, mix the water, a few drops of food colouring and the oil 2. Pour your wet mixture into your dry ingredients and mix 3. Dust a work surface with some flour and pour out your mixture. In the video below, our mixture was a little too wet which is why we've put more flour on the worktop.  4. Knead your mixture for a few minutes until you get a smooth and workable dough. 5. If you want your playdough to be brighter, you can add some more food colouring! 6. And that's it! You've got some playdough that your little ones will love to play with. Keep your playdough fresh by popping it into a plastic bag, squeezing out all the air and popping it in the fridge! Warning:  Keep playdough away from dogs and other pets. It should be made clear to a child using playdough that this is not food and should not be eaten.

Our top picks for crafts, games and activities are perfect for the festive period!

Who doesn't love Hot Chocolate and Christmas films during the festive season? We sure do - and we've got a great way to upgrade your Hot Chocolate game that's fun for all the family!  Hot Chocolate bombs are great fun, but can be expensive to buy - especially when the whole family wants one! Take a look at our super simple and cheap way of making your favourite festive drink.  What you'll need:  White Chocolate  Hot Chocolate Powder  Mini Marshmallows  Circle Moulds (Top tip, to save even more money we used a fillable bauble from our tree - they do the job perfectly, just make sure they're cleaned before use!)  Watch the simple video below on how to make these festive fun Hot Chocolate Bombs! 

Gather up your friends and family and take on our festive fun Christmas quiz! Can you get 10/10? It may be harder than you think...

Tye dying is such an easy and fun way to for little ones to make unique accessories and clothing! It's also a great cost-effective way for children to spend time whilst getting creative!  Tybo Dip & Dye studio is so easy to use. You can create marble dip dye masterpieces with your own accessories, or use the accessories included to get you started! The pack includes 5 brightly coloured dyes to use! Take a look at the super simple walkthrough below  If you're looking for a simple and exciting activity to do with the kids, this might be the one for you! Get creative and see what amazing designs your little ones come up with!

Our venture into spooky snacks to make with little ones continues - and this time we're making some seriously scary wafer snacks! These couldn't be easier to make and the best bit... they're yummy too, and perfect for a Halloween night in!  Take a look at the video below, plus everything you'll need to make your own!  Ingredients: Wafer Rolls  White Chocolate  Food Colouring Gel  Candy Eyes  Sprinkles  Almonds  Step 1: Start off by melting your chocolate in 30-second intervals in the microwave  Step 2: Grab your Wafer Rolls and start coating 3/4 of them in the melted chocolate. Then place onto baking paper to set.  Step 3:  When you've made all the plain white fingers you want, you can add some colouring to the remainder of your chocolate. We opted for green!  Step 4: Use the rest of the coloured chocolate to coat the remaining wafer rolls. Put these onto the sheet too!  For Witches Fingers... Whilst your chocolate is still melted, place a small almond at the top of each one for the witch's fingernail. Then pop them into the fridge.  Once the chocolate has set slightly, grab a cocktail stick and scratch some lines in the chocolate where the knuckles and bends would be in the finger. And you're done! For Monsters... Whilst your chocolate is still wet, coat each one in sprinkles of your choice. Then, grab some candy eyes and put them on your wafers. You can choose as many eyes as you like, it's a monster after all!  When you're done, pop them into the fridge to set  For Mummies... After the first layer of chocolate is done, set them in the fridge for about half an hour.  When they're set, melt another small amount of white chocolate and place it into a food bag.  Cut off a small section of the corner of the food bag so you can drizzle the white chocolate over your wafer, creating a "mummy bandage" effect  Pop some candy eyes onto the wet chocolate on your wafer and you're done - put them back into the fridge to set! 

The spooky season continues, and another snack recipe video is here. This time, we're making simple Monster Cereal Treats - and they couldn't be easier for little ones to make.  Ingredients:  Cereal Bars / Rice Crispy Squares  White Chocolate / Coloured Candy Melts Food Colouring Gel Edible Markers / Icing Pens Candy Eyes  Sprinkles  Method: Step 1 Melt your white chocolate or candy melts in the microwave in 30-second bursts until fully melted  Step 2 If using white chocolate and want to colour it, add a few drops of Food Colouring Gel until you get your desired colour. If using candy melts, you don't need to colour it.  Step 3 Unwrap your cereal treats and cover 3/4 of it with your coloured chocolate. Then place on a lined baking sheet until you have done all your cereal treats.  Step 4 Pop two candy eyes on the melted chocolate part of your cereal treats.  Step 5 Take the sprinkles of your choice and add them above the eyes to create some crazy hair! When done, pop them in the fridge to set for 1 hour.  Step 6 When set, add on the mouth with either an edible pen or use some icing to pipe it on! 

How much do you know about Halloween and all the spooky excitement surrounding it?! Round up your little monsters and take part in this easy and fun Halloween-themed quiz!

It's Halloween, and one of our favourite seasons here at TP Toys! Whilst the summer months may be behind us, there are still many reasons to get out and playing in the garden!  We challenged Issy from MummyScrummie to create a spooky and ghoulish Halloween outdoor play station using her TP Toys Mud Kitchen and we think it's fair to say, she's done just that! Take a look at the video below on what she used and how happy her little ones are when it comes to playing with it!  Take a look at the top tips and ingredients used below to create this exception Halloween-themed Mud Kitchen!  Goblin Snot, Mermaid Tears & Blended Dragon Scales: There are a couple of different ways you can create the spooky ingredients needed for a Halloween Mud Kitchen. The eco-friendly coloured Gelli and Slime used in the video are by Zimpli Kids, who make ready-to-mix play bases. Alternatively, you can create your own slime using this super simple recipe.  100ml PVA white glue (children’s craft glue or CE-marked glue) ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda Gel food colouring 1 tsp contact lens cleaning solution Biodegradable Glitter (optional) Pop the glue and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl and mix well. Add a drop or two of your food colouring gel (and glitter if you're using it) and mix - the more you add, the brighter the colour! Mix in your contact solution - it will start to become stringy and then come clean away from the bowl. Knead for around 30 seconds until you have a smooth and pliable ball of slime! Coloured dried foods Using household dried foods like Pasta & Rice is another great ingredient for your Halloween Mud Kitchen. To make coloured Pasta & Rice, all you need is:  250g of Pasta or Rice  65g of Rubbing Alcohol  Gel Food Colouring Ziplock food bag  Simply pop your Rubbing Alcohol and Food Colouring into the bag and mix well. Add your Pasta or Rice and shake until evenly coated. Let it sit until the pasta becomes the colour you desire. When done, drain the liquid from the bag and place Pasta/Rice onto some baking paper to dry out.  Bubble Bubble, Toil and Trouble It wouldn't be a witches' brew without some bubbles. The best way to achieve these? A small splash of washing-up liquid! It couldn't be easier.  What will you make? The possibilities for creating a spooky mud kitchen for your little ones is endless. There will be things in your cupboards and garden that will work perfectly - kinetic sand, pipe cleaners, dried flowers, lentils... anything you can get your hands on!  If you're looking for the perfect Mud Kitchen for your children, you can shop our full range here! Please note that the above recipes aren't suitable for mouthing babies, and should only be used by children who understand it's not a snack!

Ever wondered with Hocus Pocus character you are?! We've pulled together a personality quiz that will tell you exactly that. Are you a Sanderson Sister or someone else from either Hocus Pocus 1 or 2? Find out in the quiz below!   

The spooky season deserves some spooky snacks and we've got a great recipe that the whole family will love. These super simple spider biscuits are easy to assemble - even little ones can get involved in helping put them together. Did we mention, they're delicious too?! Take a look at the quick step-by-step guide below and see our handy video at the bottom of the page on how to make them.  Ingredients:  1 x pack of round sandwich biscuits. We opted for Chocolate Jammy Dodgers, but you could use any - as long as they're sandwiched together  1 x large bar of milk or dark chocolate  1 x bag of liquorice strips / liquorice wheels  1 x tube of Smarties  Method: Step 1 Break the chocolate into chunks and melt in the microwave in 30 second bursts until fully melted  Step 2 Cut up the liquorice into strips to make the legs. If children are helping make the biscuits, make sure an adult does this part.  Step 3  Coat half of the biscuits in the melted chocolate  Step 4  Place the strips of liquorice in between the two layers of the biscuit.  This can be a bit fiddly, but it's worth it Step 5  Place 2 Smarties on the top of the biscuits as eyes. You can use a blob of the left over melted chocolate for the pupils on the eyes.  Step 6 Repeat the steps until all of the biscuits are covered. Pop them in the fridge until the chocolate has cooled. Then enjoy!

As we enter the spooky season, one of our favourite things to do is give our homes a Halloween makeover. But this year, we don't need to stop at just our houses... We've got the perfect accessories you need to give your playhouse a ghoulish makeover too!  We've got some great stencils for you to use - simply print them out, colour them in and cut them out to make your own petrifying playhouse!  Download Pumpkin Cutout Download Ghost Cutout   Download Bats Cutout Download Witches Hats Cutout

This super simple and creative way to make your own paint brushes will offer hours of fun for little ones, not just in the painting - but in finding the leaves and flowers they want to use to make them! We've popped a simple step-by-step guide below on how to make them!  What will I need? Flowers/Leaves Paper Paint in various colours  Strong sticks to attach your flowers/leaves to Some scissors (either safety scissors for children or ensure parents use them only when needed) Sticky tape or elastic bands  Step 1: Find your materials  One of the best parts about making nature paint brushes for little ones is they get to head out into the outdoors to find what they want to make their paint brushes with! Encourage them to find flowers or leaves with different shapes and patterns!  Top tip: Once you've done it with flowers, you can even try making stamps using old fruit and veg but putting them on the end of your sticks!  Step 2: Making the paint brushes Once children have a variety of brushes, it's time to put them together. Grab your sticks and sticky tape and attach 1 flower to one stick. The idea behind doing this is to make the brushes stronger and less fiddly to use. Step 3: Get painting!  Grab a large piece of paper and pots of paint, and one by one, lightly put each nature paint brush into the paint and then onto the paper and watch as the flowers and leaves make great and colourful shapes! 

  This easy and delicious recipe combines two of our favourite things... Crumpets & Pizza! The perfect snack for the summer that everyone can get involved in helping to make.  These treats take just 20 minutes to make. The recipe below serves 6.  Ingredients 6 Crumpets 4 Tbsp Passata 4 Tbsp Ketchup 1/2 Tsp Oregano Toppings of your choice 75g Grated Cheddar Cheese Method Start by lightly toasting your crumpets, either by popping them into the toaster for a couple of minutes or by heating them under a hot grill. Mix the Passata, Ketchup & Oregano together in a bowl and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Now it's time to prep the toppings. Chop up your toppings of choice into small pieces so you can fit a variety of toppings on your crumpet. Pst - little ones can get involved in this step too - by tearing up herbs such as basil!  Line a baking tray with some foil or baking paper and lay out the 6 lightly toasted crumpets with the holes facing up. Spread some of your sauce mixture over the top of each crumpet, then top with a sprinkling of cheese Choose the toppings you would like on each one. You can choose to keep them all the same, or make each one different! Pop the topped crumpets under the grill for 3 to 4 minutes, until the cheese is golden brown and bubbling. When done, wait a couple of minutes for them to cool before eating. If you want to save them, they're also delicious when eaten cold. Wait for them to cool completely before putting them in a sealed container and popping them in the fridge to enjoy later!

Take our quiz and see whether you can guess if these are 'fake facts' or 'fact facts'! Some might just surprise you...   

What's a better way to spend some downtime than colouring in? We've got some brilliant colouring in pages for little ones to enjoy. Simply use the links below to download the page - then you can either print and colour in, or use a tablet to colour in virtually!  Playhouse  Check out the colouring in page below. You can download it here!

Can you identify these well-known brands? Take the quiz and see if you can recognise the 16 different logos... some may be harder than you think!   

Super simple chocolate chip cookie recipe, perfect for the summer holidays to make with the little ones!  These cookies take 40 minutes in total and make enough for 16 cookies - plenty for everyone! Ingredients 100g unsalted butter 150g soft light brown sugar 1 egg 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 200g self raising flour 100g chocolate chips Method Mix the butter and sugar together. You can either do this in a freestanding mixer, using a handheld mixer or by using a wooden spoon. Beat together until it's light and fluffy! Crack the egg into a small bowl and then add it into your sugar/butter mixture, then add your vanilla and mix it all together. Add in the flour and mix everything together. If you need to, use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl so it's all combined. Add in the chocolate chips and give it one last mix. Pst - you can use any chocolate chips you like. Milk, Dark or White Chocolate... the choice is yours! Using a small spoon or an ice cream scooper - add 6 spoons of dough mixture onto a lined baking tray (with baking or parchment paper). The cookies will spread out when you bake them, so make sure you leave enough space between each cookie as possible. Pop the cookies into the oven at 180c/170c fan and bake for 10-12 minutes. When they're ready the edges will turn a golden brown. Top tip - when you take them out of the oven, give the tray a tap on a worktop. This helps to create two textures in the cookie: a crisp outer edge, and a soft, gooey centre! Leave the cookies to cool slightly, then move them to a wire rack to cool completely. When cool, enjoy with a glass of milk!

The Summer Holidays are in full swing, and keeping the kids entertained for the whole summer can feel like a mammoth task. One thing many people love to do is pack up some picnic favourites and head out, to places like parks, woodland areas, the coast or even your own garden! It’s a brilliant (and cost-effective) way to keep children happy and busy this summer. We’ve got some top picnic ideas to brighten up the boring old picnic into something everyone will love! Flatbreads & Wraps Out are the plain old sandwich and in are flatbreads & wraps, the perfect picnic staple that is mess free! Fill with your choice of meats, cheeses, or salads, wrap tightly and off you go. There’s an option for everyone to make it their own. Scones Whether you opt for savoury or sweet, making scones couldn’t be easier and is great to add to your picnic. For savoury scones, pair with a simple butter or upgrade with various fillings like olive & tomato, chicken & bacon, or even cheese & marmite?! For sweet scones, keep it classic with jam & cream, or mix it up with blueberries & cream cheese, or even chocolate! How adventurous are you feeling? Whipped Feta The TikTok trend is taking over, and it couldn’t be easier to make. All you need to do is combine Feta and Greek Yoghurt in a food processor with a little lemon zest. As it’s mixing, drizzle in olive oil until the feta is whipped up to a smooth texture. You can then add your own seasoning, or even top with herbs and nuts! Paired with chips, pitta wedges or vegetable sticks – this is the perfect whipped dip for your picnic. Homemade sausage rolls A super simple staple to make and versatile to make them your own! Pick up some pre-made puff pastry and choose your filling. Keep them classic with sausage meat or make them vegetarian by choosing cheese & onion. Choose your own seasonings too – make them spicy with a bit of chilli, add some herbs or chutneys, there are plenty of options to make sure your little ones love them! Fruit Skewers A healthy and fun way to bring some colour and excitement to the picnic. Children can choose their favourite fruits and turn them into fun fruit skewers! Top tip – put a little lemon juice on the fruits to stop them from going brown straight away. Also, you can make them extra indulgent by covering them in chocolate and decorations of your choice! They’ll be a hit at any picnic. Vegetable crisps For a healthier alternative to a standard packet of crisps, why not try making your own vegetable crisps? Thinly slice carrots, beetroot, sweet potato or parsnips and spray with a little oil and seasoning of your choice. Then either pop them in the oven or air fryer to crisp up! The perfect side to any picnic. Milkshakes Blitz a fruit of your choice with some milk and yoghurt for the perfect summer milkshake! Store in the fridge until you set off and serve when you arrive. Little ones will love them!  Watermelon Lemonade A mixture of chunks of watermelon, lemon juice, soda water and a little sugar all whizzed together makes the perfect summer refreshing drink! Pour over crushed ice and keep it cold and fresh for when you drink it.

Valentine's Day Spot The Difference   How many differences can you find? Potting Bench Spot The Difference Can you find all the differences? Bug Hotel Spot The Difference There are 12 differences in the images below... Can you see them all? Answers...          Keep scrolling to get the answers for the above Spot The Differences         

Hero or Villain? It's time to find out. Take our quiz below!   

Round up your little ones and get together to play our word search below! Keep it on the screen, or find our printable version here. 

School's out for Summer!  We know keeping little ones entertained for the entire summer holidays can be difficult, but we're here to help! Get weekly newsletters filled with exciting activities and ideas for the whole summer, including competitions, quizzes, recipes, crafts and so much more!