Supermarket Aldi is launching a new product range at the end of January, aimed at improving the wellness and mental health of young children.
With recent studies revealing one in six children experience issues related to anxiety, Aldi have developed new products to help support children’s emotional development, as well as helping start conversations within families about mental wellbeing.
The range begins at just £2.99, and the most expensive product is just £19.99. Sensory play is at the heart of two of the offerings, the LED Sensory Ball (£2.99) and the LED Ball Pit (£12.99).
The supermarket explains: “With sensory play being an important part of children’s development, particularly with emotional awareness, Aldi’s new range will help little ones explore their sense and discover how these can be calming.”
The LED Sensory Ball features light up balls within a larger inflatable ball. As the larger ball is rolled, bounced, or hugged, the inner lights flash in a captivating display of alternating colours to create a fun and exciting playtime experience.
Meanwhile, the LED Ball Pithas 50 glow in the dark balls, surrounded by multicoloured lights running through the inflatable outer ring. There is also a LED Colour Change Light Pillar (£19.99), which features 360-degree illumination with flowing light effects to help create a calming environment.
Children can choose from warm white, single static colour, or colour change functionality, all controlled from the included remote.
There are also plush toys on offer that are weighted to help children feel calmer, Aldi explained: “Proven to help ease anxiety and stress by reducing cortisol levels and calming the nervous system, the gentle weight of the plush toy can help promote a sense of security.”
Children can choose from an adorable teddy bear, dinosaur, or rabbit, all of which retail at £12.99, making it the perfect companion for bedtime or moments of distress.
There’s also the Worry Monster (£5.99)plush to help cope with anxious feelings. Featuring a zip up pouch disguised as a mouth, the plush encourages children to let go of any worries by writing them down and placing them inside the Worry Monster to eat them away. Available in blue, pink, or purple, it’s a great way to help kids learn how to express their feelings.
Finally, there’s also the The Wellness & Mindful Note Pad (£3.99) provides a space for children to express their emotions. They can write, doodle or journal, and the notebook even features fun repositionable patches perfect for recording thoughts and drawings.
The Aldi’s Kid’s Wellness range will be available in stores from January 26, but shoppers need to be quick, as with all Specialbuys, once they’re gone, they’re gone.