As a mom of three, I know how important play is for little ones — playing with toys gives kids a chance to flex their imagination, work on their fine and gross motor skills, boost their independence, and so much more. When it comes to finding the right toys for my kids, I always want to find things that are going to keep them engaged and entertained. It can be hard to know which toys will be a perfect fit for little ones, but every so often I come across a toy I know will be a huge hit. When I saw the Octonauts Octoray Transforming HQ Playset immediately knew my three-year-old son George would love it. Not only is he a fan of Octonauts, but he also really enjoys toys that have a lot of fun features like lights, sounds, and moving pieces!
For anyone who doesn’t know, The Octonauts are a team of adventurers who explore the world, rescue creatures, and protect their habitats. Responding to a range of dangers across the globe due to climate change, the Octonauts expand their mission to explore, rescue and protect onto land in Octonauts Above & Beyond streaming on Netflix with exclusive snippets on YouTube.
The Octonauts, led by Captain Barnacles, Kwazii & Paani, deploy a fleet of vehicles (Gups & Terra Gups) and mobile HQ’s (Octopod & Octoray) to embark on missions around the globe.
From the moment I opened the toy, I was already impressed. I had mentally prepared myself to spend at least a few minutes setting up the playset, but it all came completely ready! You don't have to spend any time setting it up — which is amazing as a parent. “No assembly required” are my favorite words. Because there was no set up time, George was able to start playing right away.
In all honesty, every single feature of this playset captured George’s attention. He loved giving each of the characters roles and tasks; Kwazii went up and down the elevator over and over again and Dashi spent a lot of time on the slide. George’s eyes lit up when he realized the HQ transformed into a jet — he immediately started flying it around the room and rolling on the ground. He even recreated some of his favorite scenes from the show with the creatures inside. He thought the removable Mini-Ray vehicle was super cool; Kwazii went on several adventures around the room looking for lost animals.
As if that wasn’t enough excitement, the Octoray Transforming HQ Playset also has over 25 sounds and phrases, which make playtime very fun. "Octonauts, let's do this!" was George’s favorite phrase, which he repeated at least 50 times throughout the evening.
No lie, the playset kept George busy for 45 minutes straight (a HUGE win for mom). After dinner, he went back to play with it for another 30 minutes! My six-year-old daughter Margot even got in on the action — she thought these were such cool toys! George and Margot loved playing with the other toys available, like the iconic Octopod</a>; taking turns launching the Octo-net to rescue the creatures. As a mom, there’s nothing better than seeing your kids play together, and I’m so glad the Octoray Playset gave them that opportunity!
Octoray Transforming HQ Playset
$69.99
from
Amazon, Walmart, Target
The Octoray Transforming HQ Playset is a seven-piece set that includes the Octoray, removable Mini-Ray vehicle, 3" Captain Barnacles Figure, and 3 Creatures (Chinese Sturgeon, Giant Panda, & Chinese Giant Salamander). The Octoray has an opening ramp, a moveable lift, and spinning engines, as well as over 25 sounds, phrases, and lights to keep kids entertained!
