Kids Toys UK | Kids Furniture | Classic Games

Buying for a child online means reading a lot of listings that say fun, durable and educational and not much else. This guide covers the facts worth checking before you buy a toy, a game or a piece of kids furniture: the age on the box, the parts, the batteries and the measurements.

Start with the age on the box

The recommended age is set by the maker. It reflects the size of the parts and how the toy is meant to be used, so treat it as a minimum and not a target. Our toy range starts at age 3, and where the maker states a recommended age we list it on the product page.

Small parts and children under 3

Play food, tool sets, dolls house furniture and board game pieces are small. Small parts are a choking hazard for children under 3, which is why these sets are marked 3 and up. If a younger brother or sister shares the room, pack small pieces away after play.

Batteries

Most of what we sell needs no batteries. Toy drills and pretend appliances usually do. The product page gives the battery type where the maker states it and says whether batteries are in the box. With any toy that takes batteries, check that the battery cover is secured with a screw and keep spare and used batteries out of reach of children.

Measuring for a kids table and chairs

Measure before you order. Sit your child on a chair that fits them now and measure from the floor to the seat. Their feet should rest flat on the floor with knees bent. As a rough guide, the tabletop should sit about 20 centimetres above the seat. Height adjustable sets give you a few years of growing room. Each product page lists the tabletop size and the heights in centimetres where the maker gives them.

Toy storage that gets used

Storage works when a child can reach it and see into it. Open baskets and fabric bins suit soft toys and blocks. A box with a lid hides the mess but is one more step at pack-away time. Check the size in centimetres against the shelf or the corner you have in mind, and check whether the box folds flat when it is not in use.

Pretend play sets: count the pieces

A set described as 40 pieces can be four pans and thirty-six pieces of cardboard food. Read the list of contents, which we print on the product page where the maker supplies one. Look at what the main pieces are made of, and whether the set packs into its own case or needs a tub.

Easels, paper and paint

A standing easel for children usually has a chalkboard on one side and a whiteboard on the other, and some hold a paper roll. Check the height range against your child, and check what is included. Paper rolls, chalk, markers and paint are often sold separately. A tabletop easel suits an older child or an adult who paints at a desk.

Choosing a chess, mahjong or backgammon set

For chess, look at the board size and the king height. A common rule is that the base of the king should fill about three quarters of a square. Weighted pieces stay upright when the board is bumped. A roll-up board travels well, and a folding wooden board stores the pieces inside. A standard Chinese mahjong set has 144 tiles, and tiles marked with English characters and numbers are easier for beginners. For backgammon, check the size of the board when it is open.

What we do not sell

We do not sell toys for babies or children under 3, magnet sets, water beads, ride-ons, trampolines or toys that fire projectiles. We do not stock licensed character toys. Our range is unbranded toys, games and kids furniture.

Delivery and returns

Everything we sell is held in UK warehouses, we dispatch within 2 working days and delivery then takes up to 7 working days by tracked courier. Delivery is free on orders of £100 or more and a flat £12 under that. If it is not right, return it within 14 days of delivery, unused and in its original packaging, for a refund. Your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 apply as well.

The short version

Check the age on the box. Read the list of contents. Find out whether it needs batteries. Measure the space and your child in centimetres before you order furniture.