I’m delighted to be joined again today by Dr Amanda Gummer. Dr Gummer is a Play Expert and child psychologist, who has a PhD in Neuropsychology, a postgraduate certificate in Higher Education and over 20 years’ experience working with children and families. She runs FUNdamentally Children and founded the Good Play Guide in 2012 to provide an independent, expert accreditation service for children’s play-based products. Amanda is also the Chair of the Association of Play Industries.
Dr Gummer is widely considered as the UK’s go-to expert on play, toys and child development and can be seen regularly in the media, including BBC News, Sky News, The Daily Mail and many more, offering advice on news stories and issues surrounding children, families and child development.
Dr Amanda Gummer returns to Early Years TV for her annual Christmas toy round-up, sharing the 2026 picks from the Good Play Guide, all tried and tested by real children and families. Amanda explains this year’s focus on tech with a purpose, set within a balanced play diet, and why the fun factor is the rating that matters most. She also offers practical ideas for easing pester power, managing children’s expectations and keeping Christmas magical without overspending, together with simple messages settings can share with parents about choosing toys wisely and reading the age ratings on the box.
In this episode you’ll:
- Discover Dr Gummer’s Christmas 2026 toy picks, from the Hue Animation Toolbox and Strider balance bikes to the Toniebox and Jelly Blocks
- Learn why the fun factor is the most underrated part of choosing a toy that children will keep coming back to
- Understand why a “3+” label on a toy box is a safety warning rather than a guide to play value
- Explore practical ways to ease pester power and manage expectations, including a give-back scheme your setting can run
- Find out about the new Thrive Digital Alliance and the free Good Play Guide Christmas Hub to share with families
Watch this episode to discover this year’s tried-and-tested toy recommendations and the simple messages you can share with parents in your December newsletter.
Episode Links:
- Thrive Digital Alliance: https://www.thrivedigitalalliance.org/
- Good Play Guide Christmas Hub: https://www.goodplayguide.com/christmas/
- Good Play Guide: https://www.goodplayguide.com/
- Balancing the Play Diet: https://www.goodplayguide.com/blog/balancing-the-play-diet/
- Hue Animation Toolbox review: https://www.goodplayguide.com/reviews/hue-animation-toolbox/
- Strider 12 Sport Balance Bike review: https://www.goodplayguide.com/reviews/strider-12-sport-balance-bike/
- Toniebox review: https://www.goodplayguide.com/reviews/tonies-toniebox/
- Good Play Guide on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodPlayGuide
- Good Play Guide on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodplayguide/
Episode Content
Episode Includes
- 1 Video
