Vilac Vintage Pretend TV

You know that moment when you genuinely cannot get a word in edgeways because your child is mid-broadcast and absolutely cannot be interrupted? That one. This is the toy that makes it happen on purpose, and honestly, it is one of the most joyful things we stock. The Vilac Vintage TV is a proper little stage disguised as a telly, and once it's set up on the table, the shows do not stop. You will be summoned to watch. You will applaud on cue. You will not be permitted to leave until the credits roll.

We love it because:

• The retro 1980s shape is genuinely gorgeous. Colourful knobs, rounded edges, that instantly recognisable boxy silhouette. It looks brilliant in a playroom and even better on a shelf.
• Children get behind the screen and completely transform. Newsreaders, comedians, chat show hosts, weather presenters doing extremely dramatic forecasts. The wooden glasses and moustache are the detail that tips everything over into pure theatre.
• It does something really lovely for confidence and speech. There is something about having a "frame" that helps even the shyest child find a character and run with it.
• The wooden remote control is a very serious prop and will be treated accordingly.
• It is endlessly replayable. New shows, new characters, new formats. Your child is essentially running their own production company, and they will be taking it very seriously indeed.

What's in the box:

• 1 wooden tabletop television (80 x 60 x 15 cm)
• 1 wooden remote control
• 1 wooden pair of glasses and moustache

Great for:

• Ages 3 and up
• Children who love performing, narrating, storytelling or being the centre of attention (and those who secretly want to be, given the right props)
• A gift that gets used every single day rather than sitting in a cupboard
• Building confidence, speech and language, imaginative play and storytelling
• Quieter screen-free afternoons that don't feel like a screen-free afternoon at all

Important to know:

• Recommended for ages 3 and up
• Dimensions: 80 x 60 x 15 cm
• Made from wood by Vilac, a French toy maker with over a century of craft behind them
• Wipe clean with a dry or slightly damp cloth
• No batteries required, which is a genuinely beautiful thing