One of my favourite toys as a child was my trusted fuzzy felt box. Everyone had them and many an hour was spent making different shapes and pictures.

For any poor souls that never possessed these delights, let me explain what they were all about. The box contained felt shaped coloured pieces, to which you created your own patterns and shapes on a plain rough textured board, roughly A4 size.

Nowadays the fuzzy felts have become more modernised they have now replaced the shapes idea with theme boxes, such as Thomas the Tank Engine which contains pictures of the engines and scenes and many more of today’s favourite characters. Only last week I used the excuse of the two children I have to go into Early Learning Centre and pick up a box which was titled “Christmas Felt Set”. I am Christmas mad I love the build up to Christmas and around this time of year I am beginning to think of what I am going to buy for people and looking forward to the shops being decorated with all the Christmas lights and arrangements. You can imagine my delight when I spotted this fuzzy felt box.

The box itself really caught my eye with all the pictures of Father Christmas, trees, sleighs, stockings, presents and many more. There are 100 Christmas pieces in the box and now they include two boards to use which is a great idea having two children, at least now there will be no fighting over the boards except I will not be able to have one!! The box also contains little compartments so you can separate the items when you have pulled them out of the big felt square that they come in.

The many pieces come in different sizes, the trees and houses are made out of a stronger material than felt and do not stick to the board as well as the smaller pieces. Luke is four years old and he loves playing with them and makes really good pictures. He decorates the trees using the stockings and puts the felt present shapes under the tree and adds
Father Christmas on his sleigh outside the house. Charlotte, who is nearly two, seems to enjoy them as well. The box states it’s for age’s three years upwards but I feel that Charlotte is old enough for them. Not once have they entered her mouth, which is a pleasant change. Obviously she is not at the stage of creating pictures but she certainly has the idea of how is all works.

The Christmas Felt Box was bought for £5 which I think is a good price considering they will get many hours of play out of them. Its also a good way nearer Christmas to get them into the spirit of it all and I think it also helps them to use their imagination and be really creative.

Well I hope that gives you an idea for a present and remember the most important fact that you can have five minutes piece and quiet whilst they are playing with them.