Our Lil’ Ocean Explorers adventure with Little Tikes

Last week saw Taylor and I take on our biggest adventure yet when we were invited to go and play with the new Lil’ Ocean Explorers range from Little Tikes at the lovely Maggie & Rose in Kensington, London.

Whether by sheer excitement or knowing we’d be up early I had the changing bag packed the night before with Taylor’s snacks all prepared and our clothes laid out. As we were taking the train from Manchester, we left the house at 7:30am and arrived in London just in time for the event at 1:30pm. It was going to be a long day for us!

When we arrived, we were greeted by the lovely Little Tikes team and spotted a few familiar faces within the blogging community. Taylor didn’t need to be prompted or encouraged in any way. The moment I set him down he immediately crawled over to other babies near the toys and started to play.

The Lil’Ocean Explorers range consists of 8 different sea creature toys aimed at three stages of your baby’s physical development, sitting, crawling and standing. As Taylor can now crawl; at the speed of light might I add, he was able to enjoy all elements of each toy and he certainly had some firm favourites amongst the selection.

The 3-in-1 Adventure was Taylor’s favourite. He played with it the most and it was perfect for his current obsession with crawling through tunnels. The tunnel also featured elements of the other toys in the range.

What could be more exciting than rambling your way past a dangly jelly fish, standing up tall with a ball throwing octopus and playing peek-a-boo through a submarine door? Taylor loved exploring every element of this toy, I could see myself having to drag him away as the day came to a close. This is one we’ll certainly be putting on his letter to Father Christmas!

We also spent a lot of time playing with the Stand ‘n Dance Starfish. A great toy for little ones to stand and play. Taylor loved activating the lights and sounds with the stepping platforms and watching balls roll down the track.

One of my personal favourites is the Dunk ‘n Juggle Seal with ergonomic plastic balls, the perfect size for tiny hands to grasp and hold. Pop a ball into the hoop and his fins clap before releasing the ball back onto the floor.

Although Taylor cannot walk, he loved playing with the Pull ‘n Chatter Lobster. If I pull the Lobster along the floor for him he will excitedly crawl after it all day long – it’s ridiculously cute to watch!

Each toy in the range caters for the sitting stage whilst some also encourage crawling and standing. I love how they’re categorised on the Little Tikes website to match the stage your baby is at, making shopping for your specific needs easier.

Little Tikes worked with child development and play expert Dr. Amanda Gummer whilst creating Lil’ Ocean Explorers ensuring all of the toys met the developmental needs of Little Tikes worldwide.

Once everyone had spent some time playing we had the pleasure of meeting Amanda who gave a talk about the different elements of the range, which was fantastic. She certainly had a tough crowd of noisy explorers to contend with, but I thought she did very well. This was followed by a lovely lunch of sandwiches and fruit, which we enjoyed.

Not only is the entire range of toys engaging and fun for our little ones, they have been designed with child development at the forefront. Aiming to enhance the experience whilst playing both independently and together.

Taylor really enjoyed being a Lil’ Ocean Explorer for the day and is officially a fan of Little Tikes!

The Lil’ Ocean Explorers toys retail for as little as £8.99. Making them perfect for Christmas and Birthday gifts. We’ll definitely be investing in some for ourselves! You can explore the full range of toys Little Tikes have to offer at www.littletikes.co.uk