Author: Debra Tiffany

No matter who you are, how old you are or where on earth you come from, Space will always hold a unique fascination. Whether that stems from a love of Science Fiction or Space films or you simply love to gaze at the stars in the night’s sky – you simply cannot help but be in awe of the infinite, always evolving Space.

While we don’t get to sit gripped to TV rocket launches or moon landings like in previous generations, Space is now more accessible than ever. Thanks to ever emerging advances by NASA and scientists, we are discovering not only more about the galaxies but we are able to digest this information and enjoy it whatever your age or knowledge.

Take for example the recent Blood Moon on 27^th July which saw Mars rising in the longest lunar eclipse of the 21^st Century. Prior to this jaw-dropping phenomenon, we were able to discover where to view the eclipse at its most mesmerising best. We could even pinpoint the exact time that we’d be able to see the Red Moon from our small spot on Planet Earth. People are now able to enjoy Space together sharing pictures of the Blood Moon or going in groups to the best viewing spots. It’s ironic that we find out about these rare occurrences via the internet and social media but when we are actually there witnessing these phenomena, we have never felt so connected to real world.

Our Brainstorm Toys collection of Space toys appeals to adults as well as children and in 2018 we introduced a Desk Top Solar System to complement our existing range of Space items which include, My Very Own Solar System, My Very Own Moon, 2 in 1 Globe Earth and Constellations and Deep Space to name just a few.  With the planets changing and more discoveries every day there is always something to learn.  And until the next Moon landing on TV (or Virgin’s first Space flight!) we’ll keep checking the internet for signs of life on Mars and dusting off our eclipse glasses whenever we can.

Spiders, Spiders, everywhere! Spider season is a time of year that many arachnophobes dread as we discover (what can seem) huge spiders in our home. How do they get in? And why do they arrive at the end of Summer?

Usually house spiders reside in their webs during the Summer months – so you will most commonly find them in sheds and garages. However, from September the male species goes on the hunt for a mate which means a trek indoors with spider season lasting from mid-September to mid-October.

There is nothing to fear from house spiders which are actually harmless and are a brilliant addition to our garden and indeed our ecosystem. However, if faced with a huge spider in your living room it’s hard to remember that. So what can you do to protect your home from Spiders?

• Keep your house clean and tidy. Spiders like to hide so give them fewer places to discover.
• Keep windows and doors shut (Spiders are adept at finding a way in though)
• Limit their food source – be sure to clear the home of any small crawling insects or dead flies.
• Remove any noticeable webs and when hoovering be sure to vacuum hidden spots….that’s right it’s time to move that sofa. Be sure to vacuum under cupboards too.

Of course you can try all of these things and resilient and determined spiders will still find their way indoors. As we have said previously spiders are an integral part of our ecosystem and so to exterminate them shouldn’t be an option. The Spider Catcher from Brainstorm is an eco-friendly way to rid your home of spiders and other insects quickly and humanely – it’s so gentle it can even remove moths. What’s more thanks to the long handle you don’t have to get too close. Simply squeeze the handle’s trigger to open the bristles and scoop up your uninvited guest. Once the bristles close around the insect you can safely release the spider back outside by pressing the handle again…..and say goodbye for now!

Have you ever met a child who doesn’t like dinosaurs? Young or old, boy or girl, prehistoric creatures have always held a fascination for children and adults alike. Parents are often taken aback by their child’s encyclopaedic knowledge of dinosaur breeds, habitats and behaviours…if only they would spend as much time learning their spellings? This thirst for dinosaur knowledge is a great way to teach children by stealth about lots of other subjects. Subjects that we bet they would show little or no interest in should you ask them.

Buy your child a book about geology and you would no doubt have an extra book to take on your next visit to the charity shop, but ask them about fossils or where dinosaur bones were discovered and you will be inundated with facts. Not only do they teach about geology but children can learn about lots of science subjects from dinosaurs including evolution. It’s not just products that children are interested in; dinosaur museum exhibitions continue to be some of the most popular attractions in the UK. The Natural History Museum alone welcomes 3.5 million visitors annually – Dippy the Dinosaur is even on tour! We are proud to collaborate with this famous attraction and our NHM Dino torches allow children to take what they experience on their cultural visits back home with them. The torches are a perfect product for brushing up on lots of prehistoric creatures.

Dinosaurs are also a great way to expand their imagination – anyone who has seen any of the Jurassic World films will understand how creativity can bring such awe-inspiring beasts back to life. The new addition to our StikBot Dino range is testament to this – one of the most popular SKUs in the range almost immediately after launch.

At Brainstorm we are huge fans of toys that educate and our own brand Brainstorm Toys reflect this. We have a number of dinosaur products and each one is ultimately designed to give a child lots of fun and enjoyment but we hope that they take away extra pieces of new information that will then stay with them a lifetime. And if by playing with one of our toys they are then inspired to go on to learn even more? That’s when we love what we do!