Marble Raceway
Average Customer Review:
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Reviews (2)

lots of variety and fun
My son got this as a gift for his 3rd birthday.He can't build his own towers, but loves having us build them for him.It is durable and comes with 6 marbles, but you can use any marbles from the store if you use them.I wish it had more little connector pieces, but I saw a "booster set" in a catalog, so maybe Amazon will get that in too.He loves this toy!I would have rated it higher in terms of educational value if he was able to build, but he's too little to do that yet.

Bigger would be better
I had originally purchased this toy because it promised endless opportunities.I found that to be slightly misleading.Because this particular set only has 39 pieces (may I point out the fine print!), it is much more restrictive than the competitor's 100+ piece sets.There are only 4 pieces that can be used for a base and in the set I received, only 2 for marble-entering tops.In that way, two bases were useless. The majority of the remaining pieces were little stacking tubes, not action pieces such as slants, curves, or spinners.I ended up selling this one at a garage sale and purchasing a separate one that was sturdier, came with more action pieces, and had more options for building.Otherwise, marble raceways are fantastic to use with children as it can be used individually or as a group with minimal effort or parent intervention. ... Read more

Asin: B00005PJ5H
Sales Rank: 18879

Grow to Pro Basketball
Average Customer Review:
Toy
-- our price: $29.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Just about every child loves to dribble and shoot basketballs, but not every household with children has the right space for a court. This freestanding basketball hoop might be an ideal solution. Since the height of the hoop can be adjusted according to your child's height and skill level (the hoop goes as low as 42 inches and as high as 5 feet), this is a great investment for children as young as 3 years old. The large backboard (22 by 28 inches) helps keep the ball in play. You can make its heavy-plastic stand even more stable by filling the hollow base with sand or water. Wheels on the bottom make it especially portable. --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (74)

Favorite for 2 years
We bought this for our son when he was 2. He uses it EVERY day and he's now 4. Assembly was no problem and we adjust the hoop height all the time, so the little brother (now 2) can play, too. So easy, so low maintenance, everyone loves it! The net has finally given way, but that is to be expected. (You can still play with it......) I am stunned that ppl have had problems with it. This is the easiest, best toy we have!!

How many four letter words do you know????
I must have used more than 500 new and created four letter words to put this thing together and it's still not finished.I hope it's worth it for the 15 minutes that my son will probably play with it.I cut my finger and my boy actually cried while I was attempting to attach that impossible backboard.I had no idea it took a masters degree to put it together!!!

doesn't last
Just like D and A's mom and Dad - I found it very hard to remove the second post to install it but we did finally get it out and then back in.I had to replace the hoop strings with real ones the second year.The biggest problem was that when I filled the base with sand that did it - the post bent over from that addition.Now we can't even use it at all because it leans over so far and the cracks in the base - it is going to fall apart any day now. ... Read more

Asin: B00005OBCJ
Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Sports    3. Basketball    4. Sports Equipment   

Baseball Trainer Set
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Reviews (3)

This was a waste of money!
I bought the baseball trainer for my 4 year old.Within 24 hours the box it came in was in better shape.First of all, no matter what my son did he could not push the pedal to make the ball pop up.I could only get it to work if I stomped on it with my full weight.Then when the ball did finally come out it just fell to the floor.Unfortunately I bought it on clearence so I was unable to return it.It was definately the worst Little Tikes product I have ever dealt with.

good baseball trainer
My son loves this so much that we set it up in his bedroom in the winter.He got it at 2 years and now at 4 he still plays with it all the time.It grows with the child.He hits the balls to hard now to keep it inside anymore.

The no frills t-ball sets are much better!!
Our son is four and has played t-ball with other sets.His was a little worse for wear so we bought this one.He could not hit the ball like he used to.First of all it is not height adjustable. Secondly, one side of the bat is round and the other side is flat, and lastly the feature of the step pedal to move balls for you does not work.Sometimes you have to step on the pedal several times before a ball comes out and when it does decide to come out, it falls to the ground.We will be taking this back and getting the plain old t-ball set from Fisher Price that we had before. ... Read more

Asin: B00000J4I2
Sales Rank: 21070
Subjects:  1. Sports    2. Sports Equipment    3. Baseball   

Music Blocks Mozart Set
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Editorial Review

A sturdy, radio-like box; five colorful, sensor-controlled blocks; and one of several memorycartridges are included in the Music Blocks Mozart Set. Together, they create a unique learning product forinfants and toddlers that has earned several coveted toy awards. The objectives of this developmental toyare simple: to introduce babies to classical music, and to challenge them in identifying sounds andinstruments. Before children can even identify the instruments represented by the blocks' symbols(woodwinds, violins, a xylophone, trumpets, human voices, and a percussion ensemble), they will be ableto identify sounds and famous refrains by Mozart, such as "Night Music," which is included in this set.Each block activates a segment of the composition, and switching around the blocks creates a new song.

The quality of the sound is impressive. It's stereophonic, rather than synthetic, though it's all createddigitally. And, with that said, it's loud. Even at its lowest setting, the sound projects into the nextroomquite clearly. Included in the boxis Music and Your Child's Mind, an informative sourcebook forparents interested in exploring classical music with their developing children. --Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (115)

My 2 year old has enjoyed this toy for 8 months now
I purchased this for my just-turned 2-year-old son last Christmas.He enjoys moving the blocks and making different sounds.He mosts likes toys that he can put together (such as puzzles & wooden train sets) and things that have buttons that play music or make sounds.It seems that this toy combines physically putting things together with the blocks and pressing buttons to make music.Some people have complained about the durablility, but we have found ours to be very durable.

a terrific toy
This toy is the best!Our grandson absolutely loves it!He won't stop playing with it unless we distract him with something else and then put it out of sight.We have to do this so he'll have a variety of experiences when he visits with us, but we feel that this toy is very good for him.It helps him develop dexterity, we hope..an interest in good music, and it is especially nice on a day when he has a cold and doesn't feel like doing physical play.And this toy is fun even for older children and adults in the family.

I hope the company will come out with additional musical cartridges!

DO NOT BUY BREAKS INSTANTLY
Great idea, but the toy IS NOT durable.After returning one toy for not working, another one has broken.What a disappointment!!And the customer service is non-existant and when it is, they are rude!!!! Someone let me know when the class-action lawsuit will occur. ... Read more

Asin: B00000ISE2
Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Learning    3. Music    4. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    5. Electronic    6. Baby and Infant    7. Musical    8. Electronic Learning Aids    9. Reading    10. Writing    11. Phonics    12. Counting    13. Activity   

Jumpin Jive J Azz Cart.
Average Customer Review:
Toy

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Reviews (4)

JAZZ MUSIC BLOCK
THE TUNES ARE VERY SHORT AND DO NOT START UP IMMEDIATELY WHEN BLOCK IS TURNED OR BANGED ON.

I love this!
The music phrases on this cartridge are fun and the sound quality is great.I read in the description of the Music Blocks toy that it is all digital, but is actually sounds like a recording of a really good jazz band.
Our 19 month old got a Jumbo Music Block for Christmas.We listened to the stock music for a couple of days, then put this cartridge in it.It turned a toy that we were afraid was not worth the cost into one of her (and our) favorites.Her 4.5 year old sister likes it, too.

My only complaint is that the cartidges are a pain to change, as you have to unscrew the battery panel to change them.I'm afraid that with repeated changing, the panel screw with strip.

A little pricey but it is like making the Jumbo Music Block
A little pricey but it is like making the Jumbo Music Block a new toy!I like that the cartridge inserts into the block behind a screw down door and that it is very easy to get in and out of the slot.The entire process takes only a minute or two and results in an instant change in the block and how my son, who is one, reacts to it.I am going to purchase other cartridges for the Jumbo Music Block. ... Read more

Asin: B00004T71A
Sales Rank: 8856
Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Learning    3. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    4. Electronic    5. Baby and Infant    6. Music    7. Musical    8. Electronic Learning Aids    9. Activity   

Brio Elbe Wat Erway
Average Customer Review:
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Editorial Review

With 38 pieces, this is one of the simpler BRIO canal sets.However, adult assembly is still required for the translucent blueplastic canal sections that are 4 inches wide by 2.5 inches deep, thewatertight yellow connectors, and the accessories. When everything'sready, flood the canal with water, then launch the boats. The setincludes a crane, a waterway gate, a motorboat, and a sailboat, but,unlike other canal sets, does not come with a lock system. Once assembled, the42-by-25-inch canal can be moved without being dismantled. This fun,educational toy will delight preschoolers who love to play with water. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This is too cool
I picked this up for my son who is always splashing in any puddle he can find and he was thrilled with it.The assembly was simple.It is fairly leakproof and great fun.This item comes with 2 boats.And a wheel which you spin to make the current in the water so the boats float around on there own.The box says 3 + but with supervision my 15 month old adores this.He likes to push the boats around and also turning the wheel is fun.
It is educational teaching kids about currents and cannels.It is interchangable witht the other sets if you want to upgrade.Unlike some of the bigger sets in this line it doesn't have the locks and gates.The locks and gates would be more entertaining for an older child but much to difficult for a young chlid to work.This is perecft for little ones.I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Asin: B00004T194
Subjects:  1. Baby and Infant    2. Toddler    3. Activity    4. Learning    5. Hand-Eye Coordination    6. Vehicles   

Bundle Lp Garage
Average Customer Review:
Toy

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Reviews (2)

Not pleased, Not recommended
I got this toy for my son when he was 2 1/2.He is now 3. He has a lot of fun running the cars up and down the ramp and pushing the buttons. The elevator is very hard to move so my son puts his hands in the sides to try to pull it up and gets his hands stuck, so I have a screaming child with skinned knuckles. This happened for the last time yesterday, he picked it up and threw it in the trash himself. Don't waste your money.

Lasting fun for 7 months to 4 yrs
We got this garage when our son was 2, and it's been a big hit, one of the few toys which had enough play value to leave it out constantly ever since.The 'educational value' would be in the variety of manipulation targets - flip up ramp and car lift, raise the elevator and car lift, push the buttons, twiggle the car wash, put gas pump in car hole and reach for things through the little windows.After he outgrew the carwash/ramp part he was into playing pretend and he would take his Little People Schoolbus to the garage's drive-through window and each would carefully pick something different from the menu sticker.Now he's four and the mechanic person goes with him around the house 'repairing' things.He still sends his matchbox cars down the ramp too.
The toy seems pretty durable.Son #1 is a gentle sort who enjoys figuring things out.Son #2 is now a very active 8 months crawling around in dogged pursuit of his brother.He has loved the soundmaker buttons since he could lie on his tummy and whack at them (now he can push them individually and has learned to flip the lift ramp up & down too), and now he uses the garage to pull up to a stand, then stands patting at the roof for minutes at a time.I wouldn't really recommend this since it has corners, but 17lb little guy has only managed to tip it over once in the dozens of times he has done this.
I'm here writing this review because I'm about to buy it again for my 2 1/2 year old nephew.Highly recommended for my relatives and yours! ... Read more

Asin: B00005R6YR
Sales Rank: 25993
Subjects:  1. Pretend Play    2. Play Sets   

Robin Hood
Average Customer Review:
Toy

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Editorial Review

This action-ready toy makes it easy to imagine all kinds of wonderful adventures for the famous thief and his friends. The playsetcomes with four swiveling action figures: Robin Hood, Will Scarlett, Friar Tuck, and Maid Marian. Kids will love this foresty home that's made up of a series of tree houses, ledges, bridges, swinging vines, and rope ladders, with treetops as the ceiling and grass as the floor. And there are many other fun-filled touches: a tree stump that flips up (sending whoever's on it flying), a log that sways, movable ladders, and a catapult that launches plastic boulders and arrows. A coupleof problems, though: assembly is a bit complicated (due to many small parts),and many pieces have pointy edges, so adult supervision is advised. Smallparts are a choking hazard, so keep this toy out of the reach of youngchildren. --Elisa Murray ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Hours of imaginative fun
I bought this toy for my daughter's fourth birthday.She loves the Disney video Robin Hood, and we also have books on Robin Hood.She likes the fact that there is a forest stage and five very colorful characters with which she can use her imagination. "Snake attack," and "King John's ambush" are some games we play.The snakes slither down a plastic vine is a jiggly and funny way.I like the fact that Maid Marian, unlike usual docile depictions, is armed with a bow for self defense.

There are two caveats.The toy requires about thirty minutes of assembly.There are parts that need to be screwed together.It is not ideal to put this toy together in the presence of children under 3, as there are many parts that can be choking hazards.Because of the presence of weapons, there is a suggestion of violence.However, there are no guns, blood, or gore, and the characters are more charming than scary.For those with toddlers, parts of the game-- arrows and snakes-- need to be hidden away.They are choking hazards and have sharp, albeit plastic, ends.

very cute
This toy is very cute. The little figures that come with it are shaped and posed as if they are ready to take on the Prince, and some of them move a little. My 2 boys and 1 girl have had so much fun with this because there is so many little things that move or open. My husband got a kick out of the snakes "slithering" down the vines. It's very cute.

Robin Hood Treehouse
I was disappointed in this product. Usually, the Great Adventures series has excellent toys.I bought it for my 5 yr old son and he tired of it very fast.There's not as much "action" going on as other Great Adv. toys.The pirate ship is STILL played with after 5 yrs.It was purchased for my 8 yr old and handed down.This seems to bore them after a very short time.Just don't feel it was worth (the money). ... Read more

Asin: B00000IZYJ
Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Pretend Play    3. Play Sets