Here's our regular weekly roundup of what's new for families. This week the accent is on fun, but if you're a little stressed out we can help with that too.
For children aged 5 and over
Earlier in the year we brought you the launch of Lego Minifigures, and this week sees the release of Series Two in the range. What's lovely about these toys is the entirely random nature of the sixteen figures - this time round you get everything from a vampire to a Spartan warrior to a disco dude.
These figures have been a runaway success since their release, though some parents expressed disappointment with the unexciting female figures. Well, series two almost redeems itself with a fabulous Wizard of Oz style green-faced witch. A great pocket money toy or alternative to party bags.
Lego Minifigures Series Two launches on 1st September at retailers including Tesco and Toys R Us - look out for the blue packets. RRP £1.99. Each pack contains one figure - last time some websites printed the bar codes for all the various figures, so look out for that again if you're completing a collection.
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For expectant mums
Hopefully your pregnancy will be a lovely happy, calm time, when you focus on taking care of yourself. But it can also be a stressful time as you adjust to the enormous mindbomb that is the realisation - Oh my giddy aunt I'm m
aking a person.
Now midwife and author Zita West has released a relaxation CD designed to help anyone who's experiencing pre-natal stress. You can use it from the first trimester, as Zita's voice guides you through a simple step by step programme.
Relaxation for Pregnancy by Zita West costs £14.95 and is available online here
For children under five
For younger children who want to unleash their inner centurion, take a look at Armouron from Bandai. It won best role-play toy in the Toy Fair Best New Toys for 2010 Awards - and it's a British product, hailing from Bristol.
You won't have seen anything like these in the dress-up box before - Armouron is a suit of armour made of a lightweight high density foam. Tougher than it looks, it's built to sustain active play. You can swap and change and customise the sections to make your own unique costume
Armouron is available now, with a suit of armour like the one here priced around £29.99. So it's not cheap, but it is built to last through the battles of several children
For film fans
If you have a few rain-soaked days to fill in before the return to school, check out the movie remake of the popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series of books. It's just been released all over the UK - unlike the stick figures in the books, the film features real kids enduring real life school traumas
Here's a trailer, it looks hilarious: