Trash Wheels Junkyard Playset & Litter Bugs #Review

My boys loved the Trash Packs from Flair that I brought home from the Toy Fair in London. So they were really excited to hear that we were going to be reviewing the Wheels Junkyard and a pack of (2) Litter Bugs. My 6 year old knew all about the fact that the Gross Gang were on the move, with this latest Trash pack instalment, as he had seen it on the television. There’s nothing better than seeing his face light up with a smile, when he knew he too was going to have a ‘wheely’ gross time racing Trash Wheels vehicles.

Toys are so important and we all know that, the young especially, do a lot of learning through play. The toys we provide for our children can also give them messages about how the World works, and how we expect them to behave in it. One of the things that is really important to me that my children learn about  is rubbish – or Trash as they often refer to it. They were really surprised when we did a community litter pick at how much rubbish is just left on the ground. At home we recycle as much as possible and the children have had to learn what goes where (we have 2 different food waste bins, a recycling bin (well 2 one upstairs and one down but they are the same type), and a landfill bin).

The Junkyard is the place to go when the Trash Wheels need wrecking or repairing! It is compatible (and connectable) with other Wheels playsets (Burger Flip out/Gas ‘n’ Go) and comes with a Police car and a Toe car (a pink one). Whatever people might like to believe about how boys and girls are not different, believe me they are! The pink car went by the wayside (apart from in the demo as it’s the first car he picked up), and the police car was firmly held in my youngest’s hand even whilst he helped put the Junkyard together. It is nice to see that this product seems to have been designed to appeal to both boys and girls though, and not stereotyping that only boys need to learn (and play) with trash.

The Junkyard came as a main body and a few pieces that could easily be put together by the child (or in my case it was a lovely team effort by the children). There are instructions but it is pretty straightforward and the ramps and roads do not have to go in a particular place. This means you can always have a change of how you play. It is all well-made and resilient to the tough hands of my boys pulling it apart and redesigning the layout.

It also comes with a Collector’s Guide, with over 83 in the series to collect. We received the Litter Bugs and I thought this was a fantastic play on words. They are designed to look like trash bugs (with wings) but also meant I could explain the term “Litter Bugs” to my boys. As I say they were very surprised to learn that people actually just throw rubbish (or trash) on the floor.

“Burst through the gates of the Junk Yard and up the bridge! Then pick up your Trash Wheelie with the crane and crush ’em up! Send ’em down the rubbish ramp and turn ’em into scrap metal!”  

This is my 10 year old’s first play on his first vlog. He did struggle with a few things on his very first play but soon mastered it. He calls the compacted car a crane too, again he was nervous as it was his first Vlog. I think he did very well.