CREEPY CRAWLIES
Explaining the arrival of spring is made easy with a batch of seasonal products from Active Designs. Embroidered mats of natural settings, such as Tree for All Seasons (29.50 plus VAT) and In the Garden Habitat (33.95 inc p&p) come with animals, fruits and leaves that can be attached anywhere on the mat with Velcro. Foldaway Flower (18.50 plus VAT) teaches children about the parts of a flower and is a tool for Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. Life Cycle Bags (26.50) show the growth of a variety of creatures including frogs, chickens and butterflies.
Foldaway Flower and the Life Cycle Bags are also available in Welsh, while Tree for All Seasons has a French version.
* For further information and products visit www.activedesigns.co.uk or call 01327 858 522.
WHIZZ KIDS
As children often seem more adept with new technology than ourselves, it makes sense to provide them with equipment suited to their own size. Puters for Kids offers a personalised service by fitting tailor-made computers for over-threes into children's desks. The base model at 697 consists of a pine desk and chair, a 1GHz processor, a 256Mb memory, a 40Gb hard disk, and accessories. These are essentially mini-adult computers with pre-installed games picked by you. Accessories, such as mini keyboards and mice, are ergonomically designed for young hands.
* For more information visit www.putersforkids.co.uk.
QUIET TIME
A solution to disturbed naptimes and restless wrigglers is provided with comfortable off-the-ground beds from Step by Step. The dips mean that once the children are asleep they stay asleep, without disturbing others around them. These separate units also stack neatly away, saving nursery staff both space and time. Easy Stack Rest Beds are now on special offer - buy ten at Pounds 249.50 and save 50. Step by Step also supplies Sleep Mats, priced at 125.70 for six, that come with a holdall for storage.
* Step by Step can be contacted on 08451 252550, by email at orders@sbs-educational.co.uk or online at www.sbs-educational.co.uk.
STEERING AHEAD
Most children start out with stabilisers on their first bike, but a LIKEaBIKE does something different by removing the bike's pedals and encouraging a rider to develop the balance and co-ordination needed for cycling. German company Kokua has launched two new models, Jumper and Mountain, available in a range of colours. Built from varnished birch plywood and priced 135, the Mountain's reinforced pneumatic tyres and rear mudguards make it ideal for outdoor pursuits, while leaving no marks on indoor floors and carpets. The Jumper is made from aluminium, has adjustable rear suspension and seat heights to suit different children's weights, and costs 110.
* Visit www.likeabike.co.uk or call 01937 530 303.
THE BIRDS AND THE SEEDS
Get something seasonal in time for spring with some exciting outdoor activities from Reflections on Learning. The company's gardening products are a wonderful way to get children interested in nature and let them have fun getting their hands dirty. Wooden planters and flower seeds to plant indoors will brighten up halls and windows as well as teaching the art of nurturing seedlings. Other seed packs will produce delicious herbs and vegetables. Starter packs for bird feeding kits cost 24.96 plus VAT and include a bird table, a ground feeder, a tub of mealworm and some wild bird seed.
* Call Reflections on Learning at 01732 225 850 for a free four-page Outdoor Explorers brochure.
DIG IT!
ASCO Educational Supplies has come up with a constructive toy for over-threes with its Sit on Digger. This mobile excavator lets children control the digging arm with one hand while turning the bucket end with the other. Both boys and girls will love to create a mess in the outdoor play area with this. It measures 100 x 42 x 50cm and is priced at 96.
* Call ASCO Educational Supplies on 0113 2707070 or visit www.ascoeducational.co.uk.
ON THE PANEL
Wanda is a unique wooden activity system made-to-order by ASCO Educational Supplies and would be a serious investment in play for any nursery. The product offers both physical and creative play for one-to seven-year-olds, as well as building up children's spatial awareness. The package comes complete with a tidy panel of wooden dowel rods and the set of jumbo building blocks and costs 1,750. It dismantles into individual components and packs away easily into storage.
* Call ASCO Educational Supplies on 0113 2707070 or visit www.ascoeducational.co.uk.
HIGH-LEG FASHION
Environmentally-friendly nurseries may be looking to get the most fashionable nappies on the market from the new Modern Baby 2007 collection.
Its fitted cotton nappies, voted 'best ethical cloth nappy' by The Guardian, come in unisex mint and lemon designs in the company's signature gingham print. Made from terry towelling and covered in soft brushed cotton, the nappies provide comfort as well as style. Elastic lining around the legs and tummy allows for easy movement and there are adjustable Velcro fastenings for different sizes. Absorbency is enhanced by a sewn-in booster pad that opens out for washing. 8.99 buys a shaped nappy, with the cotton waterproof nappy cover at 7.50. Pre-folds come in a pack of six for 10.99.
* Modern Baby nappies are available at selected Waitrose stores and nursery outlets; alternatively, visit www.modernbaby.co.uk.
RULES OF ATTRACTION
Reflections on Learning has released four new magnetic sets that challenge children's curiosity and construction skills. Jumbo Mag Set contains 100 straight and curved chunky pieces designed for small hands to create magnetic structures. Magneblocks Giganta Set has 157 pieces that provide opportunities for investigating shapes and patterns, predicting and problem solvingd. Stored in a handy carry box, the First Experiments Magnetism Set contains wands, marbles, a floating ring and compass. The kit encourages children to explore magnetism with 16 different experiment instructions and is linked to the QCA science curriculum for Key Stage 1. Magnetic Materials Testing Kit is a collection of magnetic and non-magnetic objects with wand.
* These products are listed in the Reflections on Learning catalogue, free to order on 01732 225850 or via the website www.reflectionsonlearning.co.uk.
SITTING COMFORTABLY?
If you feel the need to spruce up your reading, reception, or even play area, this updated range of the Trenton + Seating could suit it. The education furniture provider Morleys has added easy-to-clean vinyl upholstery to make its seats and sofas suitable for any part of the nursery - they are even solid enough for adults. Buy individual seats (69.75), corner units (Pounds 139) and two-or three-seater sofas (159) to create an original seating area for your setting. Adding one or two arms to a piece of equipment will cost extra, while square tables are priced at 49.25 and rectangular ones at 59.25.
* For more information visit www.morleys.co.uk and order a free catalogue.