We have put together a list of awesome toys that are greatstocking filler ideas for kids. These wonderful wooden toys will provide hours of entertainment, and will not break the bank either! Which one are you hoping Santa will bring?

Learn how baking cakes is great for developing kids' numeracy, ecology, and even geography skills!

It is that time of year again Bigjiggers... where we announce our 'Top 10' toys for Christmas 2013. Each year it gets harder and harder to choose from the hundreds of favourites we have available! This list has been compiled by you the general public, our retailers, toy industry experts and by us, the wooden toy experts. All of the toys that have made the top 10 have been selected on the following criteria:

• Fun Factor
• Play Value
• Developmental Properties
• Value for Money

So without further or do, in reverse order, here are our Bigjigs Top 10 Xmas Toys for 2013: 10. Marine Baby Walker This highly decorative Marine Walker will help little young sailors get their sea legs quickly! This sturdy and tactile toy will help with mobility development, whilst aiding mental and physical stimulation with plenty of activities including a bead frame, shape sorter and matching blocks.

A recent addition to the Bigjigs Baby range - this marine themed activity walker was chosen because it has been tipped as a best seller for 2014. Priced at £54.99, this activity walker will last for years to come: http://shop.bigjigstoys.co.uk/p/marine-baby-walker 9. Cord Rocking Horse Saddled up and ready for action, this carefully crafted wooden rocking horse is softly upholstered in tough corduroy. With two handles that are ideally sized for little hands, no youngster will be able to resist hopping on for a ride! A great way for children to enjoy creative role play sessions, this toy was a recent winner in the Toy Shop UK Awards which meant it had to be in our top 10.

This beautifully crafted rocking horse is perfect for youngsters aged 1 years+, is £49.99 and can be found grazing here: http://shop.bigjigstoys.co.uk/p/cord-rocking-horse 8. Pirate Skittles Ahoy me hearties! This set of brightly coloured 'friendly' pirates will entertain youngsters for hours. Little ones will enjoy knocking down the six highly decorative pirates including the captain with the brightly coloured ball. Their size makes them perfect for indoor and outdoor play, whatever the weather! Just Don't miss them all otherwise you might have to walk the plank! Available for only £7.99, this Bigjigs Best Seller is a great stocking filler: http://shop.bigjigstoys.co.uk/p/pirate-skittles 7. Candy Floss Patisserie Stand A recent winner of the Loved By Parents 'Best Wooden Toy 3-6 Years+' - this delicious Patisserie Stand has made number 7 in top ten Xmas Toys. Cute as can be, this cake stand comes complete with a birthday cake, cupcakes and biscuits, ensuring you are well stocked for a surprise visitor or to compliment a spot of afternoon tea! There's a sliding cover on the bottom shelf to keep the cakes fresh, whilst the birthday cake comes with candles, a cutting knife and a plate. All of the cakes and biscuits can be assembled and disassembled using velcro, allowing youngsters aged 3 years+ to be creative through roleplay. Deliciously delectable and available for £49.99 here: http://shop.bigjigstoys.co.uk/p/candy-floss-patisserie-stand 6. Red Balance Bike This timeless classic is well worthy of a place in our top ten! Suitable for children 3 years+, this red balance bike with sturdy wheels and an adjustable padded seat is the perfect started bike when learning to ride one. This bike encourages youngsters to develop their balancing and co-ordination in a fun and stimulating way. Perfect for inside and outdoor play, this bike is a sure winner for this Christmas. Ride away on this bike today for £54.99 from: http://shop.bigjigstoys.co.uk/p/my-first-balance-bike-red (Also available in pink and blue). 5. My Tools Bench What little handyman would not be delighted to wake up to this on Christmas morning? Complete with wooden clamps, nuts and bolts, wrench and screwdriver are all made of high quality wood so are completely safe, allowing a youngsters to spend hours discovering how to make models (or even fix the kitchen sink!). Suitable for children aged 3 years+, this My Tool Bench will allow youngsters to solve problems whilst developing hand-eye coordination and dexterity skills. The My Tool Bench is long lasting and will keep children entertained for hours! It has a RRP of £96.99 and is available: http://shop.bigjigstoys.co.uk/p/my-tool-bench 4. Blossom Cottage A Christmas list would not be complete without a dolls house! Blossom Cottage is our most decorated dolls house with over 4 awards including the Gold Seal/Best Toy from Oppenheim and a Practical Pre-School Award. This pretty wooden dolls house opens out to reveal four fully furnished rooms including a bathroom, lounge, bedroom and kitchen; this dolls house also comes with a pull out garden/patio area. Youngsters will love using their imagination to create the perfect family home for the four piece doll family, and is great for building those all important social interaction skills. This dolls house also folds away and comes with a unique carry handle to make the perfect portable play set. With an RRP of £64.99 this dolls house is a must have this Christmas: http://shop.bigjigstoys.co.uk/p/blossom-cottage 3. Village Shop The Village Shop has been one of the most sought after Christmas presents ever since we can remember! Vibrantly decorated and ready to be stocked with fresh produce and treats this shop is the ultimate roleplay toy! This wooden shop comes complete with chalk board to display the opening times and special offers, a clock with moving hands, plus a handy canvas side basked for the store managers use. A terrific toy that allows youngsters to build confidence in a social environment, they will love role playing with friend and family! A recent winner of the Practical Pre-School Awards this gorgeous village shop is suitable for children aged 3 years+ and has a RRP of £119.99:http://shop.bigjigstoys.co.uk/p/village-shop 2. Fire Station Play Set This 'red hot' Fire Station is being launched just in time for the festive season! This gorgeous red-brick Fire Station and Engine is perfect for 'igniting' the imagination of youngsters. This beautifully crafted station opens out to reveal the firemen's sleeping quarters, pole and somewhere to store the fire engine. Children will love using the fire tower for fire training, whilst using the fire engine with rotating ladder and removable hose to help save the day!

This playset is a real statement piece and would look fantastic under the tree! Suitable for youngsters aged 3 years+, this playset is £79.99: http://shop.bigjigstoys.co.uk/p/fire-station-play-set 1.Around the World Train Set The Around the World Train Set is a number 1 toy for this Christmas! A mini sized adventure with a big personality, this 78 piece train set will take you on a journey past some of the most iconic landmarks including Big Ben, The Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, Sydney Opera House and even the Great Pyramids of Egypt. Not only can youngsters take a journey past the landmarks, but they can also get involved in building them as they assemble and disassemble using velcro. Suitable for train enthusiasts aged 3 years old and up, this wonderful wooden railway set will delight and enlighten curious minds as they explore and learn about the world around them. What's more... this set is compatible with other leading wooden railway systems making it simple to expand your set for further adventures!

This fantastic train set is £49.99 and available: http://shop.bigjigstoys.co.uk/p/around-the-world-train-set So that's it! What is your favourite? What has not made the top 10 but you think should have been included? What one are you hoping will be under your tree this Xmas? You can find all of these gorgeous toys here: shop.bigjigstoys.co.uk! And finally, we will be hosting some very exciting Xmas competitions (wink, wink!) so make sure you are liking/following/pinning our Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest pages.

Over a month and a half had elapsed since we sent off our sponsorship proposal to Boris Johnson, the TfL and the London Assembly. Alas, we got a response from the main man in London. [caption id="attachment_934" align="aligncenter" width="154"] Boris Johnson ready to travel the Jigadilly line.[/caption] Unfortunately we are not able to show you the map we sent as we have been censored by the TfL but the re-design of the London Underground map included the renaming of the lines: Whilst highlighting areas of particular importance through person of interest including her Majesty the Queen, David Beckham and Richard Branson. The Zone template was also removed and replaced with the iconic Bigjigs puzzle piece, resulting in a more organised and fairer zone system. Boris liked our vision to see the ability of our network to move people both physically and emotionally - something we completely agree with. What do you think of his response?

We have today launched an audacious bid to secure the sponsorship of the London Underground, its lines and its stations. A few weeks ago, a report by The Conservative Party on the London Assembly said that the Transport for London (TfL) should consider the renaming of the London Underground lines and stations in order to fund a freeze in fares. The report, called Untapped Resource: Bearing Down On Fares Through Sponsorship, claimed a poll of 531 Londoners showed 82% supported more sponsorship across public transport, such as renaming existing tube stations, entire tube lines or bus routes. Gareth Bacon, the report's author. champions the idea of sponsorship and describes the TfL as 'well behind the curve on this one'. whilst stating that the "TFL must follow in the sponsorship footsteps if London's transport network is to remain one of the best". We here at Bigjigs Toys decided that this sponsorship opportunity would be to good to pass on. So, we have tendered a sponsorship proposal to the TfL to become the first sponsor of the London Underground system, implementing a number of initiatives that will become a part of 'Making Travel Fun!'. Our sponsorship bid consists of general sponsorship:

• Full sponsorship and renaming of all lines to fit in with the Bigjigs Rail theme including Bakerloo to Bigerloo, Metropolitan to Metropolijigs and Piccadilly to Jigadilly.

[caption id="attachment_933" align="aligncenter" width="709"] Do you fancy a trip on the Jigerloo & City line?[/caption]

• The re-design of the London Underground tube map to fit in with the renaming of lines and highlight areas of particular importance through persons of interest including her Majesty the Queen, Boris Johnson and David Beckham (we are not allowed to show this as the TfL have said it is against their intellectual property rights) - but can you guess who is who?

• The Zone template has been removed and replaced with the iconic Bigjigs puzzle piece, resulting in a more organised and fairer zone system.
• Introduction of a new Bigjigs Underground logo that adorns the motto of 'Making Travel Fun'.

The sponsorship proposal will not only invigorate the current London Underground system but will also help change the current 'rat race' atmosphere into a more positive experience through the sponsorship initiatives outlined below:

• We will launch our own Oyster Card system for children called the 'Bigjigs Explorer Pass' offering children under 16 FREE tube travel around London, encouraging them to explore London and its surroundings.
• We will replace all the current seating (which is often dusty and covered in gum) with Bigjigs Loco Ride-On's allowing commuters to play and enjoy their ride on the tube.

[caption id="attachment_943" align="aligncenter" width="300"] New Bigjigs Loco seating - commuters can partake in activities during their journey via the shape sorter, train slider and coloured discs![/caption]

• Underground themed puzzles positioned around each station to encourage commuters to take their time and enjoy their surroundings, rather than feeling the need to rush all the time.
• Carriages that dispense 'B.O. Jigstick' to tackle the 'problematic pits' many commuters endure on a daily basis.
• A 24 hour service to ensure that no more passengers fall asleep on the night bus and miss their stop!

George Poole of Bigjigs Toys claims "Sponsorship is a win-win situation for both us and the tube as it will bring in additional income, appease tube travellers with capped fares and will enhance and improve their commute considerably through the initiatives outlined above. We have carried out some of our own research and 98% of Londoners want to travel on the Jigadilly and Metropolijigs lines - so it is now up to the TfL to give the commuters what they want". Do you think Bigjigs Rail should become the new sponsor of the London Underground? If so, show your support by tweeting: We support @bigjigstoys sponsorship bid for the #LondonUnderground ! We want to travel on the Jigadilly line @TfLOfficial @Assembly_Tories

To coincide with our launch of new toys for 2013, we have decided to give away over £100 worth of toys to one lucky 'Pinner'. To be in with a chance of winning simply head over to our Pinterest page and pin your favourite 3 new toys. Simple. The toys featured in the hamper are as follows: 1. Jenny Doll 2. Battery Operated Engine 3. Xylophone 4. Wooden Dominoes 5. Candy Floss Smoothie Set 6. Dressing Boy Puzzle 7. Farm House Sorter 8. Lion Pull Along For T&C's head over to our competition page.

Bigjigs Toys are delighted to announce that they are sponsoring Sussex Mummy and Being Mrs C to represent the brand at this year's BritMums Live! event. The two Play Patrol agents will descend on London to take part in the UK's largest two-day social media conference and blogger event which will see over 500 delegates hit The Brewery, London on the 21^st and 22^nd of June. The agenda allows plenty of time and scope for networking alongside sessions that help bloggers improve their skills, increase their social media profiles and work better with brands. Sarah said "I am thrilled to be heading to Brit Mums Live again this summer, and so proud to be representing such a quality brand as Bigjigs Toys. I love their toys, especially their wooden sets and their Green Toys line, and its always a pleasure to deal with them, either as a customer or as a new member of their Play Patrol. I am really looking forward to working with Bigjigs Toys this year and promoting them at Brit Mums Live to the 400+ attending delegates as well as the thousands following on social media. Bring it on!" Penny stated that she is "I'm both excited and proud to be sponsored by Bigjigs to attend BritMums Live!. They're a brand I feel very passionate about and I'm looking forward to telling everyone about their fantastic toys." Marketing and PR Coordinator for Bigjigs Toys, George Poole says, "We are thrilled to be working with both Sarah and Penny for this prestigious event, promoting and championing the Bigjigs brand. This is our first foray into BritMums Live! and is compliments our Play Patrol scheme really well." You can follow Sarah's and Penny's progress at BritMums Live! 2013 on their blogs: http://sussexmummy.co.uk/index/ http://www.beingmrsc.com/ Alternatively you can follow their progress right here!

Archaeologists have discovered a 220-year-old railway tunnel believed to be the oldest in the world.

So it is week 2 of the Easter Holidays...this is the week where everybody starts becoming a little aggy with each other, so us creatives at Bigjigs HQ have come up with some superb colouring sheets to help everyone mellow and to pass some time... we are also giving you the chance to win one of our delightful Junior Arts Easels! Simply download the sheets below - get your little ones to colour them in and then post them on our Facebook page! Remember to leave a little comment of your childs name and their age! You have until Monday 15th April to post your entries on our wall! We will be marking on creativity, originality and use of imagination. We have three wonderful scenes which are perfect for adding to or to be coloured in just as they are: Download here: BigjigsRail CityScape_ColouringSheet Download here: BigjigsRailHills Background_ColouringSheet Download here: BigjigsRailVillage_ColouringSheet Arts and crafts is a great way to encourage creative play developing both mental and physical skills :-) So get your pencil cases at the ready... and GO... get colouring! Good Luck Bigjiggers - we cannot wait to see your masterpieces!

As you know, we had over 100 hundred entries for our Play Patrol scheme and it was a really difficult decision just to cut them down! Alas! We managed to whittle it down to just 12 lucky hopefuls. Each of the 12 applicants were asked to submit a review on our gorgeous new Farm House Sorter: We sent each Play Patrol hopeful one of our Farm House Sorter along with an Top Secret letter detailing what they had to do next to try and secure Play Patrol Agent status. All we wanted was a honest review that showcased all aspects of the Farm House sorter from its play potential through to its developmental abilities. Remember we are always after honest assessments, so have a look at what our Play Patrols hopefuls had to say:

• Petit Moi Big World - http://petitmoibigworld.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/big-jigs-farm-house-sorter-review.html
• Being Mrs C - http://www.beingmrsc.com/being_mrs_c/2013/03/review-bigjigs-farm-house-sorter.html
• Emmys Mummy - http://www.emmysmummy.com/2013/03/bigjigs-farm-sorter-play-patrol.html
• Edspire: Then There Were Three - http://www.edspire.co.uk/year_2013/03/26/big-jigs-farm-house-shape-sorter-a-review/
• The Ramblings of a Formerly RockNRoll Mum - http://www.rocknrollmum.com/2013/03/Bigjigs-farm-sorter-review.html
• Gifts from the Pirates - http://www.giftsfromthepirates.com/2013/03/classic-wooden-childrens-toys-done.html
• ChelseaMamma - http://www.chelseamamma.co.uk/2013/03/bigjigs-farm-shape-sorter.html
• Mama Geek - http://mamageek.co.uk/2013/03/26/review-bigjigs-toys-farm-house-sorter/
• Inside the Wendy House - http://insidethewendyhouse.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/bigjigs-farm-house-sorter.html
• Monsters Fun House - http://www.monstersfunhouse.com/bigjgs-farm-house-sorter-review/
• Ramblings of a Sussex Mummy - http://sussexmummy.co.uk/index/2013/03/bigjigs-farm-house-sorter/
• Mummy, Not Big Milk Thing - http://blog.bigmilkthing.co.uk/?p=1323

As you can see - each blogger has approached the task in hand from a different angle which is great... just makes it hard work to pick the top 5. Play Patrol Agents will be announced on Monday 8th April 2013 - good luck all!

Hello Bigjiggers, Some of you may, and some of your may not know that Thursday 21st March 2013 is world poetry day. We thought that we would share some of our favourite poems from the staff in the office. Enjoy! My Cousin Fred by Gareth Lancaster He came, he saw, he trashed my room, He pushed, he shoved, he broke a broom! He sniffed, he snarled, I stood stock still, He biffed, he bashed, my drink did spill! He mumbled, he grumbled, he kicked my door, He grunted, he groaned, he stamped on the floor! He's evil, he's mean, but I like him this way, It's funny when my cousin Fred comes to stay! He's trouble, he's bad, but it works out for me, His thrashing and bashing just fills me with glee! As my mum and dad think that Fred's the bad egg, So I can be naughty and blame him instead! Food Fight by Ken Nesbitt We'd never seen the teachers in a state of such distress. The principal was yelling that the lunchroom was a mess. It started off so innocent when someone threw a bun, but all the other kids decided they should join the fun. It instantly turned into an enormous lunchroom feud, as students started hurling all their halfway-eaten food. A glob went whizzing through the air, impacting on the wall. Another chunk went sailing out the doorway to the hall. The food was splattered everywhere the ceilings, walls, and doors. A sloppy, gloppy mess was on the tables and the floors. And so our good custodian ran out to grab his mop. It took him half the afternoon to clean up all the slop. The teachers even used some words we're not supposed to mention. And that's how all the kids and teachers wound up in detention. I A'int Been to School by Robert Pottle I ain't been to school, not never before. That's all changin' now as I run through the door. I drool on my worksheet then chew on a book. I eat off the floor and growl at the cook. I drink from the toilet. I spill all the glue. I lick my new teacher and leak on her shoe. The principal says that I broke every rule. I just learnt the reason dogs can't go to school. Attack of the Vegetables by Gareth Lancaster Clouted by sprouts, And harassed by carrots! Poked by the beans, And screamed at by salad! Poisoned by cabbage, And pinched by the peas! Tripped by the spinach, And peppered with seeds! Hair pulled by parsnip, And bruised by tomato! Glared at by swede, And thumped by potato! Battered by beetroot, That pinch, punch and poke! Slapped by the onions, And Arti, who chokes! We hope that you and your little ones enjoy these as much as we did :-)