I also write on dooyoo under the same name. I'm 20 and am currently at Newcastle Uni studying Speech...
I also write on dooyoo under the same name. I'm 20 and am currently at Newcastle Uni studying Speech and Language Sciences! Thanks for all your ratings!!
Member since:17.06.2003
Reviews:150
Members who trust:150
My niece is really likes the Cbeebies programme ‘In the Night Garden’ so when I saw this set of characters I decided to buy them for her 4th birthday which was in August. I’m sure everyone is at least vaguely familiar with the show. The In the Night Garden website states that the show is ‘best described as a modern televisual interpretation of a nursery rhyme picture book. It is about a magical place that exists between waking and sleeping in a child’s imagination’ It’s very popular with young children but most of the adults I know are quite confused by it all.
This set of characters is made by Playskool and there are six in the set. They characters included are: Iggle Piggle and his blanket, Makka Pakka, Upsy Daisy, and the three Tombiliboo’s. All the figures are bright and colourful and they all stand up (we needed to try a couple of times with Makka Pakka and
Upsy Daisy on the carpeted floor). They vary in size, with Upsy Daisy being the largest (about 3 inches) and Makka Pakka the smallest (about 2 inches). The box has a picture of the garden in the back ground so before the box is opened it looks like all the characters are in the Night Garden.
I visited my niece on her birthday, after she had opened her presents. After she showed me her presents, she asked if I would play with some of her new toys with her. Me being the big kid that I am, and wanting my niece to have fun on her birthday, I agreed. We looked at one of her new books then she asked me to open the box of In the Night Garden characters that I had bought for her.
Initially she asked what you had to do with them, but I told her she could do whatever she wanted with them as they were her toys. She decided that she would make them all go to sleep then wake them up one by one. The last one of the characters she sent to sleep was Iggle Piggle, which I thought was cute as he’s always the last one to go to sleep in the show.
She played happily with the toys for 5 or 10 minutes then she wanted to read her new In the Night Garden book. As we were reading the story, my niece enjoyed picking up the character that was appearing in the story. We also used the characters to retell the story after we read the book. We also made our own scenarios and had conversations through the characters about what they had been doing etc. My niece was quick to tell me if I was doing something wrong and she happily told me what I should be saying and doing with the characters!
I think these are really nice figures. They are a good size for little hands and are bright and colourful to attract the child’s attention. They can be used in a range of different activities, either while the child is playing alone or with others.
The figures are made from a tough plastic and I think they will be durable, excellent for children. It’s been a couple of weeks since my niece’s birthday and she is still playing with the figures.
The box tells me that they are suitable from 18months old. I think children a little bit younger than this will be able to play with them too and they will be able to be enjoyed for many years after that, for as long as the child is a fan of the programme.
The characters are £14.99 from Amazon which I think is quite expensive. I think they are quite overpriced for what they are, as they don’t actually do anything. I got my set for £7.99 in The Original Factory Shop in the town where I live, so it might be worth looking around and seeing if you can get them cheaper.
Advantages
colourful
good size for little hands
6 of the main characters
durable
provides stimulation for imaginative play
Disadvantages
expensive
they don’t do anything
Overall I would recommend these characters if your child is a fan of the show but if they’re not I don’t think they would get much enjoyment out of them as they do require imagination in playing with them. I would not have paid the full price of £14.99 for them so I’m glad I found them cheaper and that my niece loves them so much.
Thanks for reading!
Pictures of In the Night Garden Character Collection
In the Night Garden Character Collection
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
I don't have any kids myself and I'm not sure if my best mate's little 'un is 'into' Night Garden. It's a pity they're not poseable or anything and as expensive as they are! However, if I knew a freind's child liked them, I would buy. Thanks for reviewing! :o)
debmercury 11.10.2009 12:42
These look good we have a cuddly Makka pakka but will look out for this set :o) x
Get ready for some colourful adventures with this set of 6 in the night garden character ... more
figures. They are sized just right for acting out your own storylines, and slip easily into a purse or backpack for take-along Garden-friend fun! Includes Iggl...
Postage & Packaging: from £4.85 Availability: refer to website
Get ready for some colourful adventures with this set of 6 in the night garden character ... more
figures. They are sized just right for acting out your own storylines, and slip easily into a purse or backpack for take-along Garden-friend fun! Includes Iggle Pi...
Postage & Packaging: £4.99 Availability: Usually dispatched within 4-5 business days...
Get ready for some colourful adventures with this set of 6 in the night garden character ... more
figures. They are sized just right for acting out your own storylines, and slip easily into a purse or backpack for take-along Garden-friend fun! Includes Iggle Pi...
Postage & Packaging: £4.99 Availability: Usually dispatched within 4-5 business days...
Advantages: Bright and colourful, sturdy and durable, creates calm for a few minutes Disadvantages: Get bored after a little while as they don't do anything
Advantages: Bright and colourful, sturdy and durable, creates calm for a few minutes Disadvantages: Get bored after a little while as they don't do anything