Dora and Friends New Toy Range #Dorasingalong

You may have noticed that Dora the Explorer has had a recent transformation and now has longer hair, cooler clothes and new friends in a more 'grown up' Series, 'Dora and Friends.' My four year old daughter is a big fan of the new series and especially loves the song and music that play a significant part of it!

A brand new toy range from Fisher Price has just been released to accompany the series and we've been sent a selection of the new toys to try out...

We were sent a box full of goodies including a Magic Charms Bracelet set RRP £9.99, a Dora Magic Adventure Charms set RRP £7.99, the new Dora Smartphone RRP £9.99, and Dora and Alana dolls RRP £10.99 each. These ae all available to buy at Smyths toys.

Like most four year old girls, my daughter, Elizabeth absolutely loves jewellery of any sort, so she was delighted to see the Magic Charms Bracelet set. This set includes a plastic bracelet that has heart shaped charms displaying all of Dora's new friends, two coloured rubber bracelets and a selection of 6 charms, one of which is a mystery charm that comes wrapped up as a surprise. The charms can attach easily to all three bracelets, so you can mix and match between the and share them with friends, Elizabeth has spent lots of time rearranging then amoung the three bracelets and then proceeding to wear all three together! The charms re well made and very cute, depicting favourite animals and hobbies.

Dora Magic Adventure Charms set is a smaller version of this and is a lovely addition or would make a great gift on it's own, it includes a small Dora figure, a bracelet and 3 charms. These are also available in different colours, featuring other characters from the show. Elizabeth loved having the extra charms and the figure fits perfectly in her pocket so has been on some adventures with us this week!

The Dora Smartphone has been a huge hit, it rings, plays songs and phrases in both Spanish and English. I have to admit at first I thought it was a little loud but once it is removed from it's packing the volume decreases to a much more manageable level. The phone has been everywhere with Elizabeth this week an I thin she my be as attached to it as I am to my iphone! She chats away to it at her ear and the holding in front of her as if to type on the screen, the screen is a holographic display which changes from a touchpad display to images of Dora and her friends. My only negative with this that there sees to be no off switch, you just have to let it play out, which is fine for when it's being played with but not so great when you stand on it in the middle of the night!

Both the Dora and the Alana doll comes with it's own little doggy charm that is compatible with the bracelets in the other sets, they have removable shoes and clothing  and are really sweet.

Elizabeth loves her dolls so I wasn't surprised at how much she took to these Dora and Alana dolls, she has been playing a variety of roleplay and imaginative games with them and is delighted that they have their own charm bracelets just like her! She especially loves their clothes and playing with their hair, tying it up in a variety of styles.

From a parent's point of view I'm really impressed with the dolls in this range, they are shaped as children, not as unrealistic adults, their faces are simple, happy and make up free and their hair is good quality and perfect for little hands to play with, but most of all I love the clothes,  They are pretty children's clothes, modest and displaying images of puppies. unlike the very adult clothing worn by a few of the dolls Elizabeth has been bought, the shoes are flat and simple. I could see my child dressing like these dolls. The shoes do come off easily unfortunately and we've lost them a few times already but I find that's not unusual with dolls. 

All the toys in this range represent good value for money and hold really great play value. I cold see myself buying them as a gift for Elizabeth's friend's birthdays of as a special treat on a day out. Although not expensive they are good quality and hold a young child's interest well.

To celebrate the release of the new toy range, there will be a Dora sing a long booth touring around the UK to give your children the chance to sing along with Dora and in some stores there will be a special visit from Dora herself! The #DoraSingAlong tour visits our local Symths Toys in Bury next week and we'll be popping a long to have a go in the booth! Dora fans can even enter videos of them singing in either in the booth or at home in a competition with a chance to star on Nick Jr! 

Check out your nearest stop on the tour below:

Symths Toys

• Waterfields Retail Park, Watford (Dora Costume Character)  – 27^th July
• Westwood Cross Shopping Park, Thanet  – 28^th July
• St. David’s Retail Park, Swansea – 29^th July
• Crown retail park, Leeds (Dora Costume Character) – 31^st July
• Clifton Moor Retail Park, York (Costume Character) – 3^rd August
• Ravenhead Retail park, St.Helens  – 5^th August
• Halls Mill Retail Park, Bury – 6^th August
• Middle Engine Lane, Wallsend – 10^th August
• Glasgow fort shopping park, Glasgow (Costume Character) – 12^th August
• Beach Boulevard, Aberdeen (Costume Character) – 14^th August

Sky stands

• Brent Cross, London – 18^th19^th July
• Centre MK, Milton Keynes – 25^th– 26^th July
• White Rose, Leeds  – 1^st– 2^ndAugust
• Intu Eldon Square, Newcastle  – 8^th– 9^th August
• Bon Accord, Aberdeen – 15^th– 16^th August

If you have a Dora fan and fancy winning some toys from the new range, Why not join in with the #Dorasingalong Twitter Frenzy?

The Dora Sing-Along Twitter Frenzy takes place over on Twitter, tomorrow, 27th July, from 11am-12pm! Don’t forget to join in as you could win amazing prizes from the new Dora and Friends toy range! Follow @UKmumstv and #DoraSingAlong Download an activity sheet for your little one to colour in their own microphone here.