Teletubbies are back with Big Hugs! (Plus a Twitter Competition!)

Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po are back in an all new DVD entitled, Big Hugs!

The lovable foursome return today (Monday 16th January 2017) with some all new episodes.

For those of you who somehow aren’t familiar with these characters, firstly, where have you been?! And secondly, let me fill you in…

Teletubbies is a British pre-school TV series by Ragdoll Productions. The show revolves around 4 main characters, Tinky Winky (Purple), Dipsy (Green), Laa-Laa (Yellow) and Po (Red). The general idea is that each of the characters has an antenna on top of their head which acts like a TV aerial. This glows when it receives a video message from a child and the lucky chosen Teletubby has the clip shown on a TV in their tummy! They live in Tellytubby land (over the hills and far away…I am just, sadly, over the hill) and they indulge in fun, frolics, silliness and Tubby Toast.

The clips shown in their tummies are always from children and can be from anywhere in the world. They often show normal day to day activities and experiences that our own children are familiar with such as going to the shops, going in a lift, washing a baby, watering flowers, etc (Sidenote: I haven’t seen a, ‘mummy goes mad because the child has drawn on the wall wither permanent marker’, episode yet though. I might suggest that to the producers). My little one’s favourite clip is of some kids playing hide and seek in a park. He literally thinks it is the best thing ever and is always giggling at it. He does love to hide does Ben, especially when he has been naughty.

Yes, I too thought the show was a bit of an odd, and perhaps even a slightly bonkers, idea when it was released back in 1997 (I know, I cannot believe the show is 20 years old this year either!) but do you know what, the kids LOVE it (and I secretly think they’re pretty cute too). I vividly remember my cousin being little watching this and she was absolutely spellbound by it. She barely blinked. Meanwhile, all the parents hovered around at the back of the room wondering how anyone that wasn’t drunk could dream something like this up.

I always have the best ideas after a G&T, ’tis true.

The Teletubbies communicate by using jibberish and basic words, a bit like our own toddlers do. This makes them resemble young children and means our little tots are able to relate to them easily. I know my toddler thinks they are hilarious and he LOVES to sing along with the theme tune (and show his belly off like a Teletubby because, well, why not when you’re 2?!) http://lifeisknutts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_8603.mp 4

The show was revived again in 2015 with the voices of Jane Horrocks as the voice on the tubby phone, Jim Broadbent as a trumpet and Fearne Cotton also as a trumpet (nope, I had no idea about that either!) New voices joining the show for this 20 year celebration are David Walliams and Rochelle Humes!

To further mark the 20 years since the start of the show, we will see a brand new song for the Tiddlytubbies (Mi-Mi, Daa Daa, Baa, Ping, RuRu, Nin, Duggle Dee and Umby Pumby). These little rugrats are baby Teletubbies. They’re pretty cute and seen as a lot of young children have baby siblings, it’s a wonderful way for them to understand how to interact with them.

Having now aired in 120 different countries in 45 different languages, I think it is pretty safe to say that Teletubbies are now part of Children’s TV history.

Slightly surreal, imaginative, curious, educational and magical. Sit down with your little one for a watch, I am sure you will enjoy it!

You can buy your copy of Big Hugs today via Amazon!

To find some wonderful Teletubby related activities to do with your little one, head over on the CBeebies website! Win one of 3 copies of Big Hugs by entering my twitter competition!

To be in with a chance of winning one of 3 copies of Teletubbies Big Hugs DVD’s I have up for grabs, simply head on over to my twitter page, give me a follow and re-tweet the below tweet – that’s it!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER ON TWITTER!

3 winners will be chosen at random.

All entrants must have followed @lifeisknutts on Twitter and re-tweeted the competition.

Competition closes on Monday 23rd January at 10am. Winners will be contacted via direct message on Twitter.

Copies of the DVD’s will be sent once the winners names and addresses have been received.

This is a sponsored post. All words, thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Book Corner: A review of, Spot Goes on Holiday

Image from funwithspot.com

Growing up in the 1980’s, I was a HUGE fan of the Spot ‘lift the flap’ books and watching the animated version on TV.

Written by Eric Hill over 35 years ago, Spot has become a firm family favourite all over the world. The books have been published in over 50 languages and are now also available in sign language and Braille editions.

His toddler-like behaviour, getting up to mischief and exploring the world around him resonated with children and parents alike, making him the superstar pup he is today.

I vividly remember sitting with my Nan at her house and her reading the book, “Where’s Spot?” to me as I sipped a cup of warm Ribena and chomped on a packet of Quavers (we only ever got a treat like Quaver’s at my Nan’s house…). In fact, when I think of Spot, more often than not, I think of my Mum and my Nan. Precious memories.

The novelty of having a flap to lift on a page, to encourage you to investigate and find out what was hiding behind it, was always so much fun. I was a very careful child and I always ensured I was gentle with my books. I liked things ‘just so’ and that’s something that hasn’t really changed. My youngest cousin however, well, she was a bit different. When she came along, I can recall one of the flaps getting ripped out of the book and having to be stuck back in with sticky tape. I was very upset, she thought it was funny. I still love her though and I suppose I will let her off now after over 20 years…

Teaching children how to handle books is a very important life skill in my opinion. To be careful with the pages, to treat the book gently, to learn the fine motor skills required to turn the delicate pages over without tearing them. A life the flap book is another, fun way of teaching the children how to do this.

When I was offered an opportunity to review a re-release of a Spot ‘lift the flap book’, I jumped at the chance.

We don’t actually have any Spot books (all my childhood ones are lost somewhere in the abyss of my parents loft) so I took this as a wonderful opportunity to pass my childhood love of these books on to my youngest boy, Ben. He’s 2.5 and the perfect age to enjoy a Spot story.

The book we were sent was, Spot goes on Holiday. Again, this is a book I remember well from my childhood and it’s delivery was timely as were were due to go off to Wales on a Camping holiday that same week. Perfect! It would help explain to Ben what we were going to do and what he might see on our trip to the Welsh seaside.

Every night that week, me and Ben sat down together at bedtime and read the book. He loved it as much as I recall loving it.

We also ended up taking the book with us camping as a bedtime read because he loved it so much and he even recognised some of the pictures in the book from our own days out.

He turned the pages carefully, he was excited to see what was hiding under the flaps on each page and was actively seeking out the part on the page where the flap might be after just a couple of pages. He was repeating the names of things back to me as I said them and he also began pointing at Spot and saying his name on each page when he found him. It was just adorable.

The story lines are simple, the characters are lovable, the illustrations are really colourful and child-friendly and there is a kindness about the books that I can’t quite explain but I know is there. Like seeing a friendly face, someone familiar, someone you know.

The book simply tells the story of Spot being told he is going to the beach for the day by his Mum and Dad. It shows them getting ready for their day out and it also shows what adventures Spot has at the beach. Ben thought it was really funny when Spot took the wrong persons towel near the end, this part has him giggling his head off most nights at the moment, accompanied by some mummy sound effects of a disgruntled hippo of course

I cannot recommend the Spot books enough if you have a little one. I would hazard a guess and say any child up to the age of 5 or so would love these books, and then, even once they are 6 or so and reading for themselves, I am sure they will still enjoy it to a certain extent. My middle one did, because the books are fairly simple language with bold print, he was more than capable of reading it to his little brother by himself. He then prompted his little brother to lift the flaps, to seek out the characters in the pages and loved sharing the story with him and was really proud of himself afterwards for being able to do that on his own.

Image from funwithspot.com

Spot has had a bit of a rejuvenation online too and now has his own website!

We didn’t have that in the 1980’s!

You can find the link to the new website here.

Once on there, you are able to download and print off some Spot colouring sheets, play a dressing up Spot game and find out more about the world’s most lovable puppy! My middle one loved playing the online game and we took some of the colouring sheets away camping with us.

If you are local to Cheltenham, UK, there is a Spot event being held at the Cheltenham festival in October 2016. Details can be found here. *Competition time*

If you would like to get your hands on your own Spot ‘Lift the Flap’ book, just enter my competition!

All you need to do is enter this Rafflecopter!

Competition closes Friday 19th August.

Winner will be announced on Saturday 20th August on my Facebook page so do swing by to check out if it was you who won!

I will then be in contact to organise sending the prize to you.

Spot says good luck! Woof!

Image from funwithspot.com a Rafflecopter giveaway

Do follow me over on Facebook to see if you’ve won!

Something (kind of) Special

The toddler is literally obsessed with Mr Tumble, Justin, whatever he’s called, at the moment.

He gets more excited when he sees the jolly dude with the honking red nose than he does when he sees me I think. Justin is also, possibly, a genius. He probably has one of the best jobs ever. Whatever idea for an episode he dreams up, they have to make happen. No questions asked. He could demand the most elaborate day out and the powers that be would have to bow down to Saint Justin to make it happen.

For example, “Today, we are going to make and eat ice cream!” He says – nice one Justin! I could do with a bit of ice cream scoffing myself. What a great idea. And then maybe we could go to a distillery to watch and learn how they make Gin and have some of that?!

Another one, “Today, we are off to a football stadium for a tour!” He says – again, nice one Justin! Why not suggest going for a tour of your favourite football team’s stadium and get to sit in the dug out and dressing rooms?! Maybe next week we could learn how to be physiotherapists and I could give the England rugby team a bit of a rub down??

And another recent one, “Today, we are off to a music festival!” he tells us. Of course you are Justin. Backstage passes for the Foo Fighters is it?! Nice one!

I like this mans thinking….

My brain is literally brimming with potential episode ideas!

Top of my list would probably be the episode where we learn to be pilots and I fly my plane to the Maldives for a 3 week stopover…

What would your episode ideas entail?

Here is a little clip of my toddler singing the goodbye song along with Justin this morning. He has his cute moments…sometimes!

IMG_9152 Club Tropicana…

What the actual chuff is going on with dolls for kids at the moment?!

They pee themselves, poo themselves, break dance, one even poos out surprise toys into is ‘diaper’ (or nappy as us Brits call it…). Mind you, if Ben fancied pooping out a few solid gold bars or a diamond here or there that I could cash in I wouldn’t complain….

I’ve just seen an advert on TV for a kids doll which comes with a bracelet that the child owner wears in order to tell you when the baby has been out in the sun for too long…

The 4 year old mother of the baby in said advert has clearly done a very bad job of looking after her baby. Shame on her. Shame.

She has clearly spent too long sipping a Mojito under her parasol and shades, whilst chatting with her friend about how amazing Pedro’s (her personal trainer) six pack is and how pert his bottom is looking, to notice her baby has now got a tan George Michael would’ve been proud of in his Club Tropicana music video and has floated away by itself in the pool…someone call Social Services for gods sake!!!!! “Club Tropicana drinks are free, fun and sunshine, there’s enough for everyone! Including that Baby over there, do you want some of my Coconut Tanning Oil?!”

Here is the offending doll, someone, please have a word….

Advert: Club Tropicana Toddler, available now in all good toy shops. Comes with the “Club Tropicana Gift Pack” of oversize Ray Bans, Coconut Tanning Oil, skintight neon swim trunks, cocktail umbrellas and hair bleaching kit. George Michael Junior…

When, will I, will I be famous?

Well, who’d have thought it…Ben made it onto TV yesterday!!

Seriously. I’m not making this up in a hungover and sleep deprived stupor.

I uploaded a video to my YouTube channel a few weeks ago of him falling asleep in his dessert and somehow it’s been found by a Channel 5 programme called, The Saturday Show, and he was on it yesterday! I had no idea until a friend text me saying she had just seen Ben on tv (I instantly assumed it was ‘CBeebies does crimewatch’ or something like that because of his behaviour of late, but to my surprise, it wasn’t!)

Luckily they all seemed to find the clip relatively amusing but the male presenter did mock my ‘Top class weaning’ choice of chocolate mousse.

You try telling a toddler, “No! You can’t eat that chocolate mousse your brothers are eating right in front of your face, have some blueberries and rice cakes!!!” without it resulting in a complete meltdown for the toddler and myself…

And I’ve already been reprimanded by a lady who felt the need to comment by saying I was silly for letting him use a metal spoon to eat with because it was, “too clunky and made a noise against his little teeth. It should be a plastic spoon”.

Silver spoons only round here don’t you know ma’am