Matchbox Big Boots Blaze Brigade Set

Product Tested By Fay Wheeler – Samuel 3 Years 9 Months

Fay Awarded The Matchbox Big Boots Blaze Brigade 4.6/5

This is a colourful and durable toy from a quality manufacturer; perfect for little boys! The Blaze Brigade Fire Truck was well packaged in a colourful display box. It came complete with three Big Boots figures which could be seen through clear plastic. My son was thrilled when he saw the box as a number of his friends already have Matchbox Big Boots products and he loves playing with them. The Truck is a fairly substantial size (34cm x17cm x 16cm) and is made of robust plastic. The figures can be launched from different areas of the Truck by specific actions e.g. pushing down a side section catapults a figure from the end of the ladder and pulling the back bumper springs the front of the truck open. My son has certainly enjoyed playing with this toy and keeps coming back to it. He particularly enjoys flinging the Big Boots figures from the Truck and launching the missile from the front. There are also some small pieces of equipment provided, such as a walkie-talkie and pick-axe, that he likes placing in the figures’ hands and play-acting. The toy is branded as being suitable from age 3 years and I feel this is appropriate as there are some small parts which would not be suitable for youngsters. I suspect that this will continue to be played with for some years to come so would be suitable for 4, 5 or even 6 year olds too. I feel there is limited educational value to the toy but it has certainly stimulated imaginative play.  My son likes to set up scenes where he needs to ‘fight fires’ and he also brings in other toys which have a fireman theme e.g. Fireman Sam, into that context.  In essence the toy is very simple;  a toy truck with figures; but it has some added extras that really do keep your child’s attention. It is a good quality toy; tough and durable. However, the small tools are really tiny and likely to get lost quickly! Likewise, the toy comes complete with one missile but I suspect that this will be lost soon too (as these things always seem to do in our house!). I would have liked a couple of extra missiles with the set.  I’m sure this toy will last a few years so I do feel that it offers value for money.  I would definitely consider buying it as I highly recommend it. It is a tough anddurable toy with some added extras to keep your child’s interest!  Fay Wheeler – Samuel 3 Years 9 Months

Product Tested By Lisa McNeil – Hugh 3 Years

Lisa Awarded The Matchbox Big Boots Blaze Brigade 4.9/5

This toy is sturdy and bright with intricacies to entice little ones in imaginative play whilst sticking with the familiar fire engine toy. I liked the idea that you could see and touch the product before purchase as you can see the quality and value of the product at the hands of younger children. The size and style of this toy was excellent. It was sturdy and excellent for a heavy handed toddler and even the smaller and moving parts were extremely well thought out and made. The little toy men were great as they were weighted to land well and not fall over. I would rate the entertainment value higher if I could! I found it appealed on two levels; basic and advanced. Hugh found the product very fun in the basic mode of just being a fire engine for his imagination play. Then he was starting to grasp the concept of catapulting the figures (which I feel extends the life of the toy to match the durability) and yet never tired of it just being a fire truck sometimes. It offers excellent entertainment value. I feel that this toy was very age appropriate as Hugh enjoyed it as both a fire engine and beginning to better grasp the concept of a more interactive toy. There is nothing worse than getting a toy that they outgrow within a short period of time because it becomes too babyish. Hugh loved the basic imaginative play of the fire engine before he realised that the toy was much more interactive than first evident. I like that although an advanced toy, it appealed on a basic level and could be used as an imaginative toy.  The imaginative play helps build social skills and interaction with others. The more advanced aspect of the toy is more of a motor and cognitive skill which is also why I think it is very age appropriate. The toy is multifaceted and therefore two toys in one which holds interest twice as much as most other toys. Hugh uses this toy as a simple fire engine and will use other toy characters to go up the ladder to put out fires. The quality is excellent; very sturdy for excited children and the moving parts are very durable. It could have been a little cheaper for what it is but this toy still offers excellent value for money due to the quality and interest levels. I would buy this product again. I would also consider buying this product as a gift for another child.  I would recommend this product to other people with 3 year old boys.  It is a bright and sturdy dual aspect toy that is fun and also beneficial to a child’s development. Lisa McNeil – Hugh 3 Years

Product Tested By Joanne Lewis – Callum 3 Years

Joanne Awarded The Matchbox Big Boots Blaze Brigade 4.7/5

My son loved this toy as soon as he saw it. The packaging was great as you could see what the toy was like inside. The size and style of this toy was perfect for him to play with. He has an older cousin who also enjoys playing with this when he visits. The entertainment value is excellent. He especially loved the way the figures landed when launched.  He found this hilarious. I had no concerns at all with him playing with it. The recommended age of this toy is perfect. It definitely kept his attention and helped stimulate his imagination. He played a lot of role play games with this along with some of his other figures. It definitely helped him to interact with others. This is very easy to play with without losing interest. The quality is excellent; a really well made product from a trusted manufacturer. It offers excellent value for money and I will certainly be purchasing another one of these from their collection. I have already recommended it to others at the Nursery as I think it really is a great toy with plenty of entertainment value. My son loved this product and has now become one of his favourites to play with. Joanne Lewis – Callum 3 Years