Cluedo is a classic board game and a perennial Christmas classic, perhaps only second to the obvious number one, Monopoly.

I read today in The Telegraph that Cluedo has had a major makeover to bring it into the 21st century. So out go Colonel Mustard, Professor Plum and Reverend Green and in come Jack Mustard, Victor Plum and Jacob Fixer.

Jack Mustard for example, is an ex celebrity footballer whose age has finally caught up with him. He’s now a sports pundit relying on his failing good looks and popularity.

The murder victim is now an un-named multi-millionaire media mogul - so Dr Black is no more. And the murder victim now gets done-in by a baseball bat or a dumbell in the spa!

The company now behind the game Hasbro, have introduced a few other tweaks in their attempt to revamp the game as they believe Cluedo was too stuffy for todays game players. The game was devised by Anthony Pratt, a Birmingham solicitors clerk back in 1944.

I’d expect the classic version of the game to still be available along with the new version which is due for release this Christmas. You’ll find Cluedo, Monopoly and many more board games here in Amazon.

The Early Learning Centre summer sale starts today with some great savings on popular childrens toys. You’ll find deals like:

• Whizz Down Mountain - was £30 now only £21. Take a look.
• My First Kitchen was £20 now only £14 right here.
• Dungeon of Doom was £40 now only £30 here.
• Save up to 20% on garden games

No discount code required for these deals.

Our two children absolutely loved their Cozy Coupe cars (we had one each because they were never out of them!). One the things that they liked best was the fact that they could open and close the door - just like Mum and Dad! At that time the Princess Coupe (pictured) wasn’t available - they would’ve loved the princess theme!

As with all Little Tikes outdoor toys, the build quality is very good so they’re made to last. One tip …don’t leave them out in the rain as it saves to having to dry the seat before the next playtime. I’m not sure if it’s still available but if you can get the petrol pump from somewhere your children will be able to make up some great games and will enjoy the sound effects too.

From the 16th June until to-be-confirmed, Woolworth are discounting the price of the Princess coupe down from £49.99 to just £29.99 - click here to see if the offer is still available.

Also, pay amazon a visit too because they’ve got a wide range of Little Tikes outdoor and indoor toys.

High School Musical is absolutely massive, proving to be a major hit with younger girls everywhere! My wife tells me that Disney are planning to film High School Musical 4 already when HSM 3 hasn’t even been released.

As character bedroom furnishings are very popular with children it’s no surprise at all that HSM products are available too. We’ve spotted that amazon have a few different High School Musical duvet covers in stock and eligible for free delivery.

So if your daughter wants a duvet cover with pictures of Sharpay and the gang hop on over to amazon today.

Actually, I say daughter on the assumption that HSM pillow cases and duvet covers won’t be popular with boys. But when we’ve had family friends around and the children sit down to a High School Musical DVD (available here) the boys seem to know all the words too and enjoy singing along just as much as the girls do.

Other stockists include:

• Childrens Rooms for a range of character products including Hannah Montana
• Next for High School Musical pyjamas, socks and vests

For toddlers who are a bit young to ride a bike unaided there’s an alternative to trikes and stabilisers! Balance bikes as they’re often called are becoming really popular - especially wooden ones. Inspired by the premium brand LikeABike (available here), wooden balance bikes are now available from a range of brands and retailers.

But what’s so good about these wooden bikes? Here’s just some of the typically listed features:

• encourages your child to develop their sense of balance whilst having fun
• you child uses foot power and will lift their feet as confidence grows
• no pedals to get in the way and bang little legs when they want to put their feet down
• pnuematic tyres don’t leave marks on your carpet or wooden floor (unless your little darling has rode in something outside of course!)
• adjustable seat height
• some brands have a single brake
• wooden bikes are typically sourced from sustainable forestry sources (FSC)

Of course the bikes aren’t entirely made of wood - they have metal bits too. There are metal varieties too like the LikeABike Jumper. Here’s a list of models to consider:

• The Puky stocked by BouncyHappyPeople at around £85.00
• The Hudora Joey (pictured) from Evans Cycles at around £50.00
• Sesame Street range at around £50 from amazon.co.uk
• This one with a brake at around £35 from John Lewis with free p&p - looks a bit boyish perhaps?
• Tesco Direct have a couple online - simply search within the site

So there you go, happy riding!

Little ones can get mobile on the Little Tikes Trike. This fun trike features a rear storage basket for carrying all their little essentials and has a parent push handle for added safety and tired legs.

Suitable for ages 18 months to 4 years

Features:

Robust design
Parent push handle
Rear storage basket
Chunky pedals

Currently in stock at Woolworths.

Leading toy retailers Early Learning Centre running their Get Ready For Summer promotion, offering saving of 20%

Woolworths are currently running a great £10 off promotion on the Chad Valley Tiger Bouncy Castle. So you can get one for only £19.99

Just enter the voucher code: TIGER10 at checkout. Offer expires on Tuesday 13th May. The voucher code can only be used once per customer.

Description:
Kids will love jumping around in this Chad Valley Tiger Bouncy Castle, plus you can slide down the tiger’s tongue into the ball pool!

Suitable for ages 3 years+

Features:

Tiger’s Jaw bouncy castle
‘Tongue’ slide
Ball pool (balls sold seperately)

Click here to see the offer - but hurry!

Under new rules approved by the European Commission last week, toys containing magnets will have to carry compulsory safety warnings.

This is as a result of the product recalls of 2007 and including such popular toys as Polly Pocket, Barbie, Batman and Doggy Day Care. Small magnets used in these toy sets could fall out and then be swallowed by young children. Mattel did undergo a full product recall last year to address the problem (source) with their own product ranges.

Popular toys and gift site Hawkins Bazaar are selling the Emu hand puppet exclusively!

These superb hand puppets are smaller versions of the real thing, with the trademark yellow beak, soft blue fur and long neck. It’s large enough that most adult hands fit in as well as children’s, allowing all of Emu’s expressiveness and madcap antics to be enacted in your own home - prepare to see the feathers fly!

You can grab Emu at a great price of just £12.99 with free P&P too!

We’ve also got a discount code you can use to get £5 off an order of £30. Use the code hawkinfiver at checkout. Offer expires 30th April.

Click here to start shopping.