Two Chester mums have gone back to basics with an innovative idea to help children learn while still having fun.

Best friends Lynne Rees and Pippa Miln have this month launched Wannabee, a range of brand new kids toy packs that rely on practical methods of play, rather than electronic devices.

Their first two packs ‘I want to be a teacher’ and ‘I want to be a doctor’ provide everything a child needs to play at being a teacher or doctor for real, including an A4 bound pack full of exciting forms to fill in and stickers - a perfect gift for youngsters who love to play at being teachers or doctors. The teacher pack features registers, timetables, lesson planners and lunch lists, while the doctor pack contains ward layout plans, eyesight tests, growth charts and prescriptions.

Pippa, from Manley, said: “As parents, we are now so used to our children playing on a variety of electronic platforms that we felt they were missing the enjoyment that was to be had from stripping things back to basics and simply using their imagination.

“All of us can relate to our younger years when we used to spend many a happy hour just ‘pretending’ and it was those happy memories that inspired us to create a toy that encourages ‘playing for real’.

“Our Wannabee range provides everything children need to ‘pretend’ to be the profession of their choice. They contain forms, stickers and certificates that children will need to feel like they truly are ‘playing for real’. Our range is constantly growing and we have plans to roll out further fun and exciting professions so hopefully there will be something for every child to choose from!”

Pippa and Lynn, who both come from corporate backgrounds and hope to run Wannabee as a side project, hope many will relate to their story - two mums trying to juggle work with a busy family life.

“We’ve had many a conversation over a glass of wine or a cuppa about ideas to launch our own business but a year ago, sat in our local café we had that light bulb moment - the moment where we realised we finally had an idea that we believed in enough to invest time and

energy in making it real.

“We had an idea that we believed in because we knew it was something our kids would love. And from that moment as the product has developed our enthusiasm has grown and our passion for the product. Both of us are marketeers, so this should be the easy bit from

here! The fact we are also best friends has made our journey fun along the way!”

To find out more or to buy a pack, visit www.wannabees.co.uk or www.amazon.co.uk