Dear mummy, we’ve only recently discovered these fantastic life-like animal toys from Schleich, we reviewed one of their Farm Life sets earlier this year and enjoyed them so much that we have decided to add to our collection. I have the intention to create a Noah’s Ark with all my animals!!
But how to play with them all? I’m quite used to free play where I make up stories in my head and play on my own with them, however how do my folks keep my attention with my Schleich toys and prolong their shelf life in my toy chest?
Well, the answer is a new brochure that has come out which is jam-packed with fun ideas to keep children engaged with their toy animals. Not only is it full of games and play ideas for little ones it also has great tips for big folk too to help them interact with their children more through fun play ideas. My mummy loves imaginary playing with me, so this is right up her street.
The brochure is part of the ‘Educational Play the Schleich Way’ campaign just launched and Schleich they have created a 16-page brochure which is like a guide-book for big folks to help prompt them and play with their little ones by actively instructing with bright pictures and great useful of information.
It covers topics such as a balanced play diet, encouraging imagination and early language skills, the guide also comes with helpful hints and tips on how to get the best from your child’s playtime and how you can incorporate Schleich products. We’ve had a sneak peek of this great Schleich brochure, so are using what we learn from this guide to help me play with my toys.
So what is a balanced play diet? Is it food? No, just like having a well-rounded food diet, kids also need to be exposed to certain play groups and make sure they are getting enough of all different types of play. The brochure splits it done to Active Play, Creative Play, Social Play and Free Play. Everything in moderation too as too much of one type of play means that your child can get side tracked and miss out on other fun activities. As a family we keep it varied with structural play and time left alone to get up to my own devices.
Its also important to play with friends and learn to share toys and ideas. Our favourite has to be Creative play by exploring playing with toys in new surroundings, using different materials, toy, locations and situations. Schleich are great toys to engage with all these different types of play. Even my nursery has sets of Schleich toys, as they recognise a huge educational value of these little models.
My mummy is very good with turning the telly off, and starting a play scenario especially with Schleich toys. Even by placing an animal in our jungle of a garden and shouting “I’m lost” is enough to engage and get me participating in creative play. I usually take the play scenario and run with it.
We took inspiration from the brochure to play outside and used natural materials taken from our garden. We used our tuff spot to create an animal play wonderland in our garden using grass clippings, ivy from our fence and little stones to create a pathway. We used tinfoil to create a little river and tree logs to make a little house. I absolutely loved it.
My mummy refers back to the brochure, which is full of great play prompts if I get bored or get distracted, she also helps me to keep the play going with my Schleich animals. We’ve taken my animals out with us on our adventures, most recently to Northern Ireland on holiday with my Grandma. They are the perfect size to fit in my backpack and great for keeping me occupied at restaurants.
The brochure is really useful and we’ve printed it out and it lives in my toy chest, so my folks and I can make reference to it. We found the game ideas helpful and daddy in particular is never stuck for ideas now!
Schleich products are very educational and great for teaching children more about the animal world. Even a little snail came to say hello to us while we were playing! The attention to detail and quality of this miniature life-like toys is unbeatable and we’ve not seen anything come close. The best toys are the ones I love playing with like these and I’m learning without realising. My mummy helps me learn too by talking about the animals habitats and where they come from. Playing encourages language and speech development too, so I repeat what she says and mimic the animal noises. We’re impressed with the range of toys from the animal kingdom and at this rate I will have a Noah’s Ark of them but the time I’m fully grown.
So for now I will continue to play in my jungle of a garden with my miniature animal toys..I hope we don’t get lost! You can see a wide range of Schleich toys online at www.schleich-s.co.uk or pop into a local Smyths Toy Store retailer to see an amazing range!
Love Bella x
Disclosure: We received these toys and a copy of the brochure from Schleich in order to write an honest review.
dearmummyblog.com 
We have some of these and my little girl loves them too. I will probably have to buy her these ones as she is really into animals at the moment xx
I love the way you have set out the tuff spot my daughter would absolutely love this! We hope to get a tuff spot very soon, it’s on our wish list! The animals are so detailed I’ve always loved these as I’ve worked in early years settings. I must say your Blog is very impressive I’ve only been blogging for 3 months now and still learning but I love the way you’ve set things out 🙂
These look really fantastic. We used to have lots of animals when Sylvia was very young and they are educational. I totally agree.
When I first seen your post, I thought you had been to the zoo!! They look so real!! Lovely review and pictures 🙂
I love the realistic animals, they look like fun!
I really need to get a tuff spot, you have made a great wildlife area in yours. We love how schleich are so life like
They are great little models! Really fuel the imagination 🙂 Tuff Spots are fab too!
I love this, my nephews love their farm and zoo animals and spend hours making noises with each one x
Beautiful looking toys. My daughter would love these.
Oh wow these look amazing, we are home educating our little ones and I love the tuff tray set up it looks perfect, I’m going to check the animals out, I also love that they gave a broucher with ideas for play. Marie
The brochure is a really great idea, we’d definitely recommend a read of it!
Loving the collection! Looks like;s fab for educating as well as playing with so really good toys – maybe my niece would like them 🙂 its her bday coming up x
Alina | DIY blog
Wow look at what you created. What a fun thing to do with them. These toys look great x
I Don’t know much about schleich play but it looks loads of fun.
We love our tuff tray and this is such a great play idea and looks like a fun way of learning.
Love these farm animals. My daughter was so much into them. Luckily, my husband saved his own farm set and that’s what she played with. x
My little ones all loved playing with animals, especially farm animals. These look like great quality ones x
What a great idea – Schleich do such gorgeous figures, I know my daughter always makes a beeline for the animals in toy shops, but how lovely to have suggestions of how to play with them too.
It’s a handy brochure full of tips, just download it from the icon link in the post 🙂
ooo ive never seen these before or heard of this brand actually. They look really well made thou. Will have to keep an eye out for them x
Really enjoyed reading this post, sounded like you had lots of fun x
We love Schliech and have lots of their animals! I find them more expensive than most but they are really well made and pass from one child down to the next. Looks like you had fun! xx
Totally agree that they are well made, we’ll be passing them down and sharing them with young relatives too 🙂
I’ve never heard of Schliech so thanks for sharing! This looks like fab small world play. x
I should buy this for my niece as she love animals at the moment and love making animals noise. So cute. xx
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First off loving the outdoor photoshoot and secondly the schleich animals are so cute. I am glad that the brochure is helpful!
Thanks Ana, we played with our outdoor adventure set for hours! It was great fun creating a play scene 🙂
It’s so cool that you’re playing outdoors! I feel like kids don’t get to do it so often now. And the animals… omg, so cute!!
Whenever we can we’re outside 🙂
What a wonderful idea! The brochure sounds great and the animals look so real! I hope you keep having loads of fun xx
Oh they are very realistic. A friend’s little boy was obsessed with these a while ago.
Looks like you had great fun with your toys. We are a huge fan of these animals too
These are such good quality – we see them a our local farm attraction. Lovely post. Kaz x
I’m loving the little spot you made for the animals. Seems like those little animals are such an educational and fun thing for little ones to play with.
such a lovely activity, Emily loves her tuff spot.
I seriously love Schleich toys. I started my daughter off on her first birthday with Mommy & Baby giraffes, elephants and zebras. (They’re not ‘play toys’ until she gets older…they were actually decorations on her 1st birthday cake). Anyway we’ll add to the collection each year as they are such special little toys. I love the farm you set up! Lucky you getting such beautiful toys to review!
Sounds like a great idea to use as decorations as well! That are so pretty to look at!
These are awesome! Simple but educational. Kids looks they really enjoyed it. 🙂