Editorial Review

This takes the plastic playhouse to a new technological level. Impressed by the hipped4-foot-8-inch roof, red-shuttered windows, and doorbell with 20 different sound effects? Wait for the kids toget inside. First there's a complex, multi-buttoned wall phone. Then there's the motion detector. That'sright--as kids move around, the house senses where they are and responds with different sounds. Otherfeatures include a table that flips over to turn into a stove, and a back wall with a crawl-in hole. Theplayhouse requires two C batteries, not included. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Great Toy!!!
My husband and I bought this house for our sixteen month old for christmas.He loves it!!We have a little couch in it for him and he'll go in there and sit on the couch and talk on the phone or to his stuff animals.It's great for the imagination and it's big enough for my husband and I to go in it and play with him.The only downside is that it gives him a place to hide when bedtime comes around!

My girls totally love this!
After looking at about 20 playhouses and reading about a million reviews, we bought this for our 3 and 1 year old daughters. It's a good thing, because they LOVE it! It was very easy to assemble, my husband and step-son put it together in about a half hour. It's in our living room! All of our kids (from ages 1 to 11) LOVE to play in it. We put our daughter's play kitchen in it too and now it's even more like "mommy's house" We don't use the phone feature too often, but the kids don't mind. They read stories in there, play "house" and just about anything else you can think of. It can fit my 4 kids in there, but then nobody can move. However, for just two of them, it works out fine. They also play "McDonalds" with the stove/table feature. It's so cute! I absolutely recommend this play house for anyone who's not sure which to get. It's sturdy, easy to assemble and fun for all ages.

Great Playhouse
I purchased this playhouse for my 2 year old daughter and she absolutely loves it. She loves to pretend play with Mommy.She loves the doorbell/play phone and loves to play house and "cook supper" with Mom.It is sturdy like most Little Tikes products.The only complaint I have is that there is no floor to keep it dry inside.It is a little pricey at $199, but my daughter plays with it every day. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Outdoor Play    2. Pretend Play   

Editorial Review

Did you know that painted ladies (the butterflies, that is) taste with their feet and have 10,000 eyes? You and your kids will be fascinated by all you learn about these beautiful creatures with the Butterfly Garden from Insect Lore. The kit comes with a relatively easy-to-assemble observation chamber; supplies for feeding the butterflies (you provide only sugar and water); an informative booklet of clear instructions and butterfly facts; and a certificate for three to five free painted lady caterpillars. The metamorphosis from larva to butterfly takes about three weeks from when you receive the caterpillar larvae (which arrive in a small container with all the nutrients they need). Your children can watch the larvae increase dramatically in size, form chrysalides, and finally emerge into full-fledged painted ladies (it's suggested that they release the butterflies after a few days of observation). This would make a wonderfulactivity for families with kids of any age, but younger children will need help assembling the observationchamber and reading the instruction booklet. (Note: The manufacturer recommends that butterflies should not be set free in temperatures lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.) --Rachel Radway ... Read more

Reviews (65)

DEAD BUGS
I purchased this for my 7 year old daughter for christmas. I was guarenteed 3 live larve.They are all dead and I can not get ahold of the company. I would rate this a big Zero

Butterfly Garden
My sister gave this to my 8 year old daughter for her birthday.I also have a 4 year old daughter.This is one of the best gifts my children have ever received!From the start, both of my children were enthralled with the metamorposis from caterpillar to butterfly.The bonus is that there is very little that is required of parents except to make sure the instructions are followed.The caterpillars come in a plastic container that has all the food they require to grow and change.Even though one of the chrysalides fell off the paper disc under the lid, it still was able to continue metamorphosis at the bottom of the butterfly observatory.We just released our three beautiful painted lady butterflies yesterday after three weeks of wonder and excitement.Luckily my daughter's birthday is in July so we could release our butterflies when the weather is warm and the flowers are in full bloom.I recommend that you keep your butterflies safe in their observation chamber for at least two days.Two butterflies emerged before the third one did and I was afraid they weren't eating the food I provided (sugar water).Not wanting the first two to starve, I had my daughters release all of them less than a day after the third butterfly emerged.That third butterfly didn't seem ready to fly off yet and stayed in the garden on a post unmoving for a long while. I watched it to make sure it was unharmed and breathed a sigh of relief when it finally flew off.I couldn't have asked for a more fun and educational gift!

Excellent
I purchased this for my daughter's 4th birthday. The caterpillars arrived on her birthday, which she loved even more. They are now in chrysalide form and she is so excited because she can see them grow and grow every day. This is an awesome toy and have reccomended it to everyone with and with out kids. I also bought a book called "From Caterpillar to Butterfly" and it describes the metaphorsis excellently to her. 2 thumbs up. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Learning    3. Science    4. Bugs    5. Butterflies   

Editorial Review

If you grew up with a Radio Flyer wagon but lost it along the way, here's your chance to own abrand new one. The body and sides are made of finished wood. Painted bright red, the stake sides simplylift out, leaving you with a natural-finish flatbed. Steel wheels with big, inflatable pneumatic tires rolleasily on pavement or rough terrain. At 33.5 inches, the extra-long handle makes turning easy. The wagonbed is 36 inches long, 15 inches wide, 9 inches high, and 21 inches from the ground to the top of thewagon. The durable-tread rubber tires are 10.5 inches in diameter and 3 inches wide. If you're lucky, yourchild might let you borrow this wonderful wagon. --Louise Carter ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Paint Chipped
I only had the wagon a month and all the stain and paint started to chip off. It is a durable wagon, but was not happy with chipping.

Best buy for 2 kids close in age!!
My mom bought this as a present for my then four year old daughter, but I began using it for her younger brothers aged NB and 18 months and bought her a smaller version to haul her dolls. It fit an infant car seat and toddler perfect, is versitable enough to last and on long outings allowed the older room to move unlike a tandum stroller. That was ten years ago. Now I've started a "second family" with a large 21month old son and another son due in 5 weeks. This item was a natural choice, due to my childs size (32pounds). Most tandum strollers allow only 40pounds per seat, so he would quickly out-grow it. With the wagon he can be in it longer and when both boys outgrow it they can use it to haul all their treasures. It also lasts almost forever (we lost our last one in a fire a year and a half ago after having it for 8 years). It was a little weathered but still sturdy (we did have to replace two brackets on one side due to stunt riding!). I can enthusiasticly say this was the best child purchase I've ever made!!!

Great Design, Very Poor Materials and Paint
Hard to believe we are all reviewing the same wagon. While the design is very good, the materials and finish are awful. The wood used in its contruction is too thin - a piece on the bottom was cracked out of the box. The side panels feel as if they are made from balsa wood - I am concerned they will not hold up over time. Two of the panels are also very loose in their mounting brackets. The paint shows drip marks, missing spots, and globs on both the red panels and black metal. The red paint rubs off on our child's hands and clothes. I could have done a better job with a can of spray paint. I am seriously thinking of using the metal hardware as a base for a wagon that I build out of more substantial materials. We also have the Radio Flyer Walker Wagon and the materials and finish on that one are much better. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ride-Ons    2. Wagons    3. Wood    4. Preschool    5. Push and Pull Toys    6. Outdoor Play    7. Baby and Infant    8. Toddler    9. Activity    10. Ride Ons   

Features

• 2-in-1 sand and water activity table
• Includes 8-pc. accessory kit
• Subtle faux wood-crafted finish
• Secure lid with elastic tie-downs
• Detachable legs for use at ground level

Reviews (43)

Sagging Center
I haven't read all 42 reviews so this may be a repeat.We have found it necessary to shore up the middle of this wonderfully entertaining toy.We've had it on our patio since early spring of 2004 and it has had a lot of use but the center started to sag.We found a large flower pot that measured the exact height and just pushed it under the center.Works like a charm and we should get many more years of fun.

Where can you buy??
Can someone please tell me WHERE they bought theirs??I am in in Chicagoland area and have checked TRUand meijer's with no luck.
Thanks

We Love this !!!
I bought this for my 3 1/2 year old son and he loves it . Actually we all love it ! My 10 , 8 and 5 and 3 year olds had more fun with this than I think anything we have ever bought . This is much better than a typical sandbox which they love but can't all play in at the same time. All four of my kids pulled up a chair around the table and had a blast and plenty of room !They played for at least 2 hours and didn't even want to come in then . It was a bit messy but what can you expect . Anything can be put in here to spark imagination .You don't have to just use sand and water .The possibilities are endless ! This is going to be a life saver this summer . This was money well spent . I would recommend this to anyone .
It was easy to put together and I feel the legs were very sturdy . I didn't even put the screws in it because I like the idea of being able to take them out to store it over the winter unless we bring it in for the winter.I just made sure I pushed them all the way in. Ialready cleaned it out and tipped it over to rinse it and had no trouble with the legs coming loose or out or anything . I am saving the screws just in case I need them later !
This is an awseome , awesome table !! We love it !!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Outdoor Play    2. Toddler    3. Activity   

Reviews (9)

Worth every penny!
My daughter got this when she was three yrs old. She's 5 and half now and still has a ball playing in it with her girlfriends. They play house and sit at the table and eat lunch or play with Play Doh and just generally have a great time with it. We've had it over 2 yrs and it's holding up beautifully. We love the fact that we can see in and watch what the kids are doing and that it has a floor. I'd buy one again if I ever had a need for another playhouse.

Still waiting for my son to like this.....
We bought the cottage for my son for Christmas, he was 20 months at the time. I thought he would just love it, but we are still waiting for him to catch on. The only thing he will do with it even now is go inside a play "peek" through the windows. My son tends to be a bit of a climber, and this is definitely not a climbing toy! I guess we will know better next year! One great point about this cottage is the floor! Most cottage/house toys don't have a floor and this one does, which makes it real nice to have on any type of surface without worrying about your little one's feet.

My toddler can play all day in the cottage
We purchased the cottage for my daughter's first birthday and she loved it!While her uncle was assembling it she sat on the chair and played with the phone.She's now 17 months and plays in it until she has to come in the house.Its very durable, safe and just the right size for her.She and my 5 year old nice play for hours inside together.I would recommend this item. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Outdoor Play    2. Pretend Play    3. Furniture   

Editorial Review

What's the No. 1 group dance for the pre-school set? Hint: it's not the "Electric Slide" or "Cotton-Eyed Joe." You guessed it, and so did Elmo: the "Hokey Pokey." Though Elmo doing the "Slide" would be a sight to see, he masters the Pokey quite convincingly, to the probable delight of his toddling fans. After loading his foot with four "AA" batteries, press his hand and he performs the popular jig. He sticks out both his right hand and foot, shakes his body all about, then smoothly spins in place, thanks to a rotating platform under one foot. Elmo even spices up the beat, and sporadically speeds up the action; both innovations crank up the fun factor. The only downside: he was de-plushed, presumably because of all the mechanisms needed to help him dance and maintain balance. The result, still, is an impressive performance. He's just not very cuddly. --Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (98)

oh my gosh!!!
Can we say neverstop!! - she ran this thing into the ground!! played with it alllll the time and still does - highly recommend

My todler loves it!
I bought this for my son about two months ago. And I believe I must have gotten the most durable one. My 20 month old son was only dancing with him the first two weeks, until he discover that it's more fun to squeeze him, while he shakes, then throw him against the floor or wall. So far it has been over a month, and the Elmo is still singing, dancing, and saying oops or thank you. I would recomend this toy to any one.

Good times for kids
My 2 year old has this and loves it. He's already a huge fan of Elmo, so I'm sure that helps. The toy itself is rather neat since it pretty much does the hokey pokey. Elmo puts in his hand in, his leg in and he shakes all about, then he turns around in a circle. Doesn't work so good on carpet, better on smooth surfaces. The sound it good and lucky for us parents, the song doesn't last too long. If you tip him upside down he says "whoopsie!", and something about needing to be turned back upright. Cute toy. My son thinks Elmo is dancing with him. ... Read more

Subjects:  

Editorial Review

Over 10 feet long from end to end--with portholes, doors,ladders, slides, nooks, and crannies galore--this molded-plasticplayground promises years, if not decades, of entertainment before allof its possibilities can be exhausted. A 2-foot-long climb-throughtunnel connects two separate, open-topped towers (one is 4.5 feet tall,the other 5.5). The shorter tower has a swinging door and windows, thelarger one has two separate levels and two smooth-plastic slides (one is 3feet long, the other 4). It's the perfect investment for bigger andsmaller kids to play with together. But best of all, the playground canbe disassembled and rebuilt into eight different configurationswhenever the current setup loses its charm. With Little Tikes' typicalrock-solid, kid-friendly construction, you can bet this sturdyplayground will be around long enough for that to happen.--Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (107)

Note for Husbands
OK, here is a review from a guy who bought this thing for his daughter and nephew, and I think I ought to just make a quick comment to those husbands out there looking at this.On a side note, the one they sent me is not nearly as colorful as the picture in Amazon.com, no hot pinks or anything like that, mostly blue, dark green and tan.Fine, but not the color explosion it appeared to be.As far as assembly - crud.Give yourself 2 hours, have a hammer or rubber mallet and you would be best off with at least two good sized friends.This thing is just hollow injection-molded plastic pieces and the parts barely fit together.You basically need to press and bend the plastic pieces into one another while forcing them together to make the thing work.That seems to be what then keeps the thing "durable". I ended up having to literally stand on and jump up and down on some of the pieces to get them to fit into one another.Even then, one or two minor parts just do not fit tightly. On a pain in the butt scale, I give it a 7.5, maybe an 8.Be warned.

Not in wasp/yellow jacket territory!
We got one of these when we bought our new home.It came with the house.We love it as do my boys (4 and 16 months) but unfortunately, the wasps love it too.The bright colours attract them and the gaps left where the pieces join together are apparently considered prime real estate for wasps to build their nests.I'm allergic to bees so I am in fear whenever we go in our backyard.I do a walk-around the structure every day, but between morning and nap there have been industrious wasps and so we can't play outside till my husband comes home and gets the nest down and sprays the living daylights out of the wasps or whatever these nasty things are.We are looking into getting either a metal structure or a wooden one...something not as bright and cheerful looking and something without all those little holes.

Adjustable, but not easy to adjust
For the most part, it was easy to assemble though there are quality control issues with some of the plastic seams.I had to shave off some of the xtra plastic on two of the panels connecting 'locks' when they snap together. But most of it was pretty to assemble withone person. DO follow the directions when it comes to attaching the'tunnel' because it is a VERY tight fit, for safety reasons. The reconfiguring of the slides is very easy to unmount, but the 'tunnel' is a different story, you pretty much have to disassemble the panel from one of the towers to get it off.One other thing that that you can do with this playground is that you can just keep it separate, it is very stable, and have 2 towers and one slide on each one without the tunnel attached in which they could have marketed it as a 10-in-1.I actually had only one of the towers assembled with the slide attached in the livingroom for my 2-yrs daughter to play with since it rained all weekend and we couldn't set it up outside. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Outdoor Play    3. Tunnels    4. Playhouses    5. Toddler    6. Pretend Play    7. Gadgets   

Reviews (5)

Worth every penny.
Bought this for my 3 year old daughter who gets a new toy just about every other day.As a result, she is really spoiled and will typically discard her old toys for the latest present.Not so with the Leappad.She loves it!It really is neat.The books that come with it are great -- one asks you questions, like your name, favorite food, favorite color, etc.; you talk into the microphone; and then it uses your responses throughout the story.The other book is about a frog (the Leapfrog?) and it has a story and games -- like rhyming games -- and helps out with your letters (something she is very into right now).She also has a PowerTouch system, and while she will tote that out from time to time to play a song from Blues Clues or Elmo, she never had much interest.I have a feeling this is something that she's not going to lose interest in or outgrow too quickly.A steal for $20!

leap frog microphone is AWESOME HERE!
This is a DEFINATE MUST HAVE!My kids LOVE the fact that they can hear their voices reading what is written.... I have bought like 3 additional microphone abled books. They are a BIG HIT in this house hold.We buy lots of leap frog products, and this one is my children's favorite.They could play and play and play.... I love the fact that they like this item so much!It is suppose to help with fluency and it does, my daughter absolutely loves reading and is doing wonderfully with this item.... To give you an idea what products we have from leap frog: My first leap pad, original leap pad, leap pad with microphone, and quantum, and the leap pad plus writing, turbo twist, spelling and a brain twist one, 2 leapsters which my kids love too! 40 some leap frog books......imagination desk, leap frog princess computer....This one is my families FAVORITE other than the leapster!Hope they come out with more microphone type books...A+++ leap frog! Keep up the AWESOME job!!!! :)

BEST TOY MONEY CAN BUY!
This is by far the BEST toy I purchased for my children this Christmas.I actually purchased it in exchange for the InteracTV that I was very disappointed in.Boy am I glad I did.All four of my children, ages 2, 3, 8, and 11, have fun playing with this Leap Pad. And I love that it will last them for years, and is also compatible with the Quantum books.
I bought my 11 year old his first Leap Pad when he was 5, and paid over $50 for it, but he used it for years.The Leapfrog company even sent me a new stylus when the original no longer worked. Unfortunately, after years of being banged around, our old leap pad now doesn't read cartridges, and I decided to purchase a new one.This particular Leap Pad with Microphone is worth every penny!When your child points to a red dot, it asks a question like, "What is your name?""What is your favorite food?""how old are you?", etc etc... and incorporates your child voice into the story.Easy enough for my 2 year old, but fun enough for even me!I'm so glad I returned the InteracTV and bought this instead.(Same price at my local Toys R Us!) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Math    3. Reading    4. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    5. Electronic    6. Alphabet    7. Preschool    8. Counting   

Editorial Review

It may not feature any loop-de-loops or terrifying hairpin turns, butpreschoolers will likely find this 10-foot-long roller coaster every bit asthrilling as grownups find the amusement park version. Molded in brightlycolored plastic, it's built for years of wear in either the backyard or theplayroom. The set's components fit together to form a downhill ride with anothersmaller hill about halfway through. What we loved most about this set is thefact that the individual parts are just as much fun as the fully assembled kit.The car, bright yellow with a sturdy handle, could just as easily be used aroundthe house if the child is too young for the coaster. And the ramp system isplenty of fun to roll cars, balls, or anything else. Perhaps our tiny toy testersaid it best: "Wheee!" --John Moe ... Read more

Reviews (74)

This is a toy that grows with your child
We bought the roller coaster for our grandson when he was just over a year old. He's now three and a half and still loves it.

It has been out in the backyard for all this time; it is somewhat faded but otherwise still going strong.

Hours of Fun
My 20-month old absolutely loves this toy. It took me only 3 minutes to assemble and then he was riding down the ramp.After helping him push the Coaster car back up the ramp twice, I taught him how to do it himself.My son pushs the car up backwards then runs down the ramp and around to go up the step to get on.Then he rides down the roller coaster and starts all over.He played for hours and hours the first day and it is the first thing he does every morning now.He also uses it to roll balls down, play with his cars and trucks, etc.He loves it.The toy is true Step 2 quality and will last for years.

Big Smile
My son received this Up and Down roller Coaster for his 2nd Birthday. He LOVES it! I think the age they recommend is spot on (although we've had 7 year olds play on it as well, but at that age their legs get a little to long for it). My son can use this toy all by himself, once he was shown the proper procedure. It does take up a lot of space, but is very easy to assemble and take down. My son ask's to play with it fairly often "Ride Coaster Mommy". I'll leave it up for the day and he'll play with it on and off all day long. Be prepared for the HUGE smile your child will give when they ride it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ride-Ons    2. Preschool   

Reviews (25)

Great multipurpose walker
This walker is helping our 8 month old twin boys to learn to walk. Its very safe and very cute...
* It only goes straight, perfect for a beginner
* Large basket, we use it to hold peek-a-blocks usually, or it can hold my twins!
* Small and low to the ground, wont tip over
* Very durable, nothings breaking this wagon!
* The wooden slats come off so my kids can ride in it
* It wont tip over
* If its on hardwood, it doesnt ruin the floors
* Rolls well on carpet too

Its just a cute and great walker for those first few steps, my twins love this one just as much as the Gobble n' go hippo, great toy...

The best!Well worth the $$$$
We bought and returned several "walker" toys before I found this one. We bought it when our son was about 10mos old and just beginning to venture out on his own.It is very stable when many of the others would fall over when he tried to walk behind them.The handle is also very wide compared to other push toys. Because of the clickers it takes a little effort to push, which I like because the others would fly away from him.

I agree that initially it was hard to steer but give it a time ...our son is now a pro. Plus many of the other push toys would just fall over when he tried to turn them. He can take this wagon around the tighest corners with no problem. We also had to replace our clickers.I called radio flyer and they sent them out ASAP and they were a snap to replace.

Even with those two issues,I would buy this wagon again.We are going on 8 months of use now and it is still the favorite.I am a super picky toy buyer and this wagon is at the top of my must have list!!!

Cute to look at but NOT DURABLE!!
We purchased this wagon for our 18 month old son for Christmas.After my husband nearly pulled out his hair putting it together, our son was ready to walk with his new wagon.Unfortunately, in three short months of use, one of the side wood panels has broken leaving a nail exposed (thankfully, that piece is removable and I could throw it away), several of the lugnuts have come off, and my son managed to take the pushbar off.I called Radio Flyer directly about this and they apologized and told me the side panel should not have broken like it did and that the push bar should have never come off.Those are the least of my concerns.I caught my son a few days ago right as he was going to put one of the lugnuts that have come loose again, in his mouth.That was the last straw for the wagon.I grew up with a Radio Flyer and I will give them another chance but not until my son is older and next time maybe we will buy a good old fashioned wagon.I do not recommend this wagon for any toddler. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Push and Pull Toys    3. Ride-Ons    4. Outdoor Play    5. Wagons   

Editorial Review

If your child (or your budget, or your yard) is too small forone of those monstrous cedar outdoor play structures, check out theHide & Slide Climber, a miniature version of the same idea. Itsbrightly colored (yellow, red, teal, and purple) plastic sections snaptogether quickly, and they won't rot. A red 40-inch slide leads downfrom a platform 26 inches high; underneath there's a crawling andhiding space. It's very stable--the two large "feet" on the side panelsmake the unit almost 60 inches wide. Requires adult assembly, but not asecond mortgage. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A good, basic climber and slide
My in-laws purchased this slide for my son's second birthday.He has enjoyed it quite a bit already.It's durable and not too big if you have a small space.

Great slide and climber
I bought this for my twin girls who are almost 2.5 years old and they simply love this slide. I was trying to decide between this Hide and Slide Climber and the Kangaroo Climber and I chose this one, and I am glad I went with this slide. Six months ago my girls played on the Kangaroo Slide at a friend's house and loved it, but I found the Hide and Slide Climber to be better for older toddlers as they have to climb two steps to get on to the slide, and then the slide is higher and of greater length, so they can slide faster and longer. I would not recommend this slide for young toddlers (less than 2 years) but certainly for preschoolers, I think this slide is a great buy.

Happy Dad
I just purchased this for my daughter which will we turning two in a couple of weeks.She loves to slide and climb on things so I think she will like it.It took me along time to pick one of these out,I really liked the age range on this toy.I think you get more for your money this way. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Outdoor Play    3. Toddler    4. Pretend Play    5. Gadgets   

Reviews (7)

AGES 18mo at least
This toy was a gift from my father for my son's first birthday and he could have cared less.At about 18 months, he started to pay good attention to the toy, and by 20 months, we have had to re-tighten the screws from all of the use!He glides down the hall and across the family room.The rubber wheels haven't left a mark on our hardwoods! The wood has cracked in under the handlebars, but doesn't seem to affect the over all performance.I say this thing would be better for 2 year olds and maybe just a few months before, but not a good 1st birthday gift.

Fabulous Toy!
I bought this trike as a replacement after a plastic trike broke.My daughter LOVES it. It's really sturdy, well built, and fun.She is 2 now and has just as much fun riding it as she did when she was 1.Even my 5 year old rides it around the house and it holds her as well.It is so much better than the other "classic trike" they have with the high handle bars...that one tips over and falls apart.Get this one for sure.It's worth EVERY penny!

Assembly required, but 12 month old LOVES it.....
It did not state assembly was required, but was easy for someone who is not good at such things. Gave it to my nephew for his first birthday. Loves it, especially ringing the bell. A great gift for a 1st birthday. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Push and Pull Toys    3. Ride-Ons    4. Outdoor Play    5. Baby and Infant    6. Toddler    7. Tricycles    8. Wagons   

Reviews (12)

Great present for 1st Birthday
The retro rocket is a fun toy for our son who just turned one.Before we even had it out of the box he was pressing the sound buttons.We were even more amazed that he was able to ride it from the start.I was initially concerned when I read that the wheels did not turn but like another reviewer stated that keeps him from running into the wall, etc.We are very pleased with this purchase and would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a memorable 1st Birthday present!

Stellar Toy!!
From the moment my son first set eyes on this toy at 11 months, it was love at first sight. Six months later, it's still his favorite toy. When neighborhood kids come over to play, it's the one they all want to play with.

Initial assembly was a bit of a challenge, and I had to get my husband to help coax a few pieces together. It doesn't scoot well on thick carpeting, either.

Other than a couple of very minor faults, it's hard to get my son to leave the Retro Rocket alone. He loves pushing it around the room, and hiding his blankie in the seat compartment. His face lights up whenever he rides it. He especially loves the countdown to blastoff and the lights and vibration.

I was talking with the owner of our local children's consignment shop, and she mentioned that she seldom has the Retro Rocket come in, and when it does come in, it doesn't sit for more than a day before someone buys it. I believe it!

wonderful toy
I read all the reviews on this toy before purchasing. The rocket was a gift for my one year old son. He loves it and so does our three year old daughter. The size is perfect for him at this age and will still be good for him to grow into over the next couple of years.We like that the wheels don't turn, it keeps him from getting upset when he can't push it because the wheels won't stay straight like some of the other ride on toys. The rocket may seem expensive, but it does seem very durable and I know we will have it for years. This is truly a great toy and I'm glad I got it for my child. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Push and Pull Toys    3. Ride-Ons    4. Outdoor Play    5. Baby and Infant    6. Toddler    7. Wagons   

Reviews (29)

Great Toy
I had read a lot of reviews on this toy. My husband and I purchased this for our 4 year old daughter. It took us awhile to finally decide. What a great toy and made very well. The battery last very long. I just let her play with it and the end of the day we take in the battery and recharge it. She loves it! It does spin wheels are certain surfaces,but she has figure it out back and it up a little and move forward again. We are glad that we decided to get it and it made her birtday complete.

go go power-wheels, Power-wheels power makes 'em go!
We love this truck, my daughter just got this Barbie Jeep for her 3rd Birthday and she is just thrilled with her new toy. Assembly was a bit more work then the reviews made it out to be. My first thought was to let the store put it together but after reading the reviews on this website that said it was "quick+easy" my husband and I decided to give it a try. It took about two hours (we took a few break's.)
We took our daughter to abig field where she could practice her steering and get a feel for the gas pedal.
This toy also has great developmental benefits such as eye-hand & eye-foot coordination. It also helps to stimulate their imagination.

great fun for all kids
I loved this jeep it fit's two kid's witch is great so if your child has a friend over they will not feel left out my daughter drive's her 2yr ols brother around in this jeep all the time they drive it every wher. My 2yr old climb's on it all the time is very durable I have even drive it. It is alot of fun and it help's my daughter how to pay attention to wear she is going sence she has to watch where she is driving. I would recomend this jeep to anyone it is well worth the money
... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Ride-Ons    3. Motorized   

Reviews (8)

So far, no real complaints
We bought this swingset a couple of weeks ago, on sale, and finally got around to putting it together this weekend. I was anticipating problems, after reading the other reviews, but we had all the necessary parts and hardware, and other than the hard to follow directions, the set went together pretty smoothly.

My 3 year old loves the slide and swing, and we put up an infant swing for my 10 months old and she loves that as well.

Instead of trying to put in anchors as the directions state, we just sunk the entire thing in concrete in the ground about a foot deep. That is holding up well, even with both kids swinging at one time.

All in all, we're happy with the purchase.

Putting it together
Well, I've read all of the reviews and I gave it a whirl.This set comes with the WORST set of installation directions I have ever seen in my life!It is a literal photocopy included in the box.I downloaded a copy to my computer so that I could get a better copy and be able to see some of the illustrations.The directions breeze through set up not reminding you to put the arm for the slide on the right and the see-saw on the left rear.So, I had to take it apart- twice.All in all, it is what it is.It's a metal swing set.My daughter loves her swing and slide.She is learning what the other pieces are and how to ride on a "big girl" swing.The only downfall is that it doesn't come with anchors for the ground and I am having a hard time finding them.

Happy with swingset
I read all the reviews and warned my husband of possible problems before we bought it. My husband drilled his own holes in the piece with wrong placement holes to save us time.Plus to prevent rusting he painted each piece with epoxy paint before putting the swingset together.(extra two hours but well worth it)

Also ToysRUs gave us a form to complete and mail, email or fax into the company as they are aware of the part with the wrong placement holes and will send a new one to you immediately.I faxed paper and got the part in eight days. As mentioned before we had all ready drilled our own holes but we are saving the repalcment piece for possible problems in the future.

The grandchildren love the swingset and we are happy we had read the reviews so we could bypass any possible problems.The epoxy paint has held up and so far no rust. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Excellent!!!!
The table is the perfect size for little ones, it easily fits six pre-schoolers.I bought this item for my two children (2 and 3 yrs old) and they absolutely LOVE it.We have the matching sand-box, which I also highly recommend.

The table surface is a rough, simulated-wood finish, but wipes clean easily.The table is very sturdy, the benches can support an adult, and the umbrella fabric is much better quality than I expected.

Assembly took about 10 minutes and is easier with two adults, one to hold the table in place, and one to install the (12) screws.I installed all the screws without pre-drilling any holes and used a manual screwdriver.It was not excessively difficult, although assembly would definitely have been easier had the batteries for my cordless drill been charged.I would not recommend attempting to assemble the table by yourself, although it can be done.

This is a great product for little ones and I would recommend it to anyone with a pre-schooler.

Best table
This is the best kids table I've ever seen. The plastic won't give splinters like a wood table would. It is heavy duty so it won't tip over. The umbrella is tall and wide. This picnic-style table is perfect for small kids because there are not individual chairs for them to have to pull in and out and fumble over. They can easily step in and sit down without tripping or falling. It is comfortable seating for 4 small kids. But by the time they turn 6 years old, they will be too tall for this table. Buy it for your small ones. I'm extremely happy with ours!

LOOOOOVE IT!!!
I just bought this for my kiddos and WE love it. As far as coloring goes and getting food or what not off the surface it really doesnt seem like a big deal to me. The groves arent so deep that you cant clean it off. Besides if the child is coloring from a coloring book i dont see an issue. Even if it where one page there are always ways....**rolls eyes at other comment**
The umbrella is an awesome size, i thought it was going to be the really small cheap fabric flimsy kind...its really good quality. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Furniture    3. Outdoor Play   

Editorial Review

Raise the roof with Dora the Explorer! This huge dollhouse not only talks--it's bilingual! Unfold the sturdy plastic house to reveal several rooms, plus a second story upstairs. Press the picture frame to hear Dora talk about her family, or open the fridge to hear about how hungry she is. Six different accessories can be manipulated to produce more than 20 phrases or songs in both English and Spanish. The house is only partially furnished with built-in kitchen appliances and table, boom box and picture in living room, phone on one wall, mirror in bathroom, and miscellaneous illustrations of shelves in the bedrooms. Dora, her Mama, her Papi, and their couch are included. Also, this Toys "R" Us exclusive version comes with three bonus figures--Diego, Boots, and Swiper. Additional accessories and furniture must be purchased separately. Still, from the ringing doorbell to the oven that lights up and talks, la casa de Dora es espléndida. When open, the house is three feet wide by one and a half feet tall. --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (84)

Dysfunctional Family House
Bought this for Christmas for my then 2 1/2 yr old, I bought it in early November so I found the house, bonus figures and some extra furniture easily at TRU. Although my daughter does play with it now and then, I have 2 major complaints: #1 as others said - the figures don't fit the furniture well, and slide off too easily. (They should be more rubbery and pliable, and smaller!) My daughter puts all kinds of other toy characters in the house, but her favorite thing is to try to lower the roof- which she can't do since the buttons are on oposite sides of the house. This function is the most desirable to her yet it's made in such a way that it is only a source of frustration, even now at 3 yr's. I also think the price is high for what you get, especially since the "talking" house doesn't really talk much, and the furniture sets don't have talking features at all. The only other set I might purchase will be the pool set since my daughter is a big fan of the pool.

Missy
My daughter got this as a christmas gift.We were finally able to get the furniture for it by April.The doll figures are too big for the kitchen table and the bathroom.The bathroom furniture barely fits in the bathroom. Dora's Mom's legs do not bend at the knees, only the dad's.She cannot sit at the kitchen table right and most of the figures fall off the chairs -it takes some skill to get them seated.Dora's mom cannot sit good on the living room couch either.The figures are too big for the accessories.It is cute, but I would not have bought this for a doll house.

Great Toy
If your child loves to watch Dora the Explorer this is the toy for her.My daughter loves to push all of the buttons and she repeats the Spanish that Dora says.It's a great toy and I recommend it to Dora loving children! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dolls   

Editorial Review

Guess what! Dora the Explorer has jumped on the royal bandwagon! This intrepid explorer is now a fairy tale princess with magical hair that grows when the jewel in her crown is pressed with a wand. Dora talks and sings, too, in both English and Spanish: "Vamanos! Let's go to fairytale land! Will you brush my hair?" The 14-inch-tall plastic doll is not designed to be cuddled so much as played with and groomed. She is attired in a satiny yellow gown trimmed in pink and purple, and has a brush, barrettes, and magic wand. The magical tresses emerging from the hair-growing tube are quite realistic, although grownups, at least, might be a little unnerved at the sleek brown hair oozing in and out of Dora's head. Still, children are experts at suspending disbelief and accepting weirdness in the world, so they probably won't mind a bit. Four AA batteries required (included). --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Not as happy as I thought!!!!
We bought this for our daughter Brittney (39 months), she wanted it so bad, then after a few days she just stopped playing with it. I don't think she's into the hair brushing and that sort of play just yet. She still loves dora's house, and her other dora dolls which include star catching dora, cowboy dora, buenas noched dora, magic surprise dora and some other ones.

A review for my Sister
The first day my sister ever saw this item, she wanted it for her birthday, but she got it for Christmas. Thanks to our best friend, Pat, now living at Bethel Retirement Home. When my sister got this, she thought that Dora looked cute in the box. My sister really likes the song that Dora sings. One time, my sister combed Dora's hair too much and too hard. Then it didn't work. My father fixed it on the day he got batteries for my MindMania Spelling Clip. Last, my sister doesn't play with Dora oftenly. Dora uses 4 "AA" batteries (included.)- Cristian and Alejandra Mojica.

3 yr old likes maybe too much
Dora is still doing okay considering what she has been through since Christmas.Her pretty hair do was taken out of its rubber bands fairly quickly.She has gotten an unrequested hair cut, luckly not much was cut because I caught my daughter in the act.She gets played with somewhat often even by visiting children.I do sometimes have to take Dora away when the kids start fighting over her.She doesn't look as good as new anymore, but well loved. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dolls    2. Fairies    3. Princesses    4. Toddler Dolls    5. Ethnic   

Reviews (46)

Hard to Pedal and Steer
This tricycle is not worth the money, especially for younger kids.neither of my children could steer or learn to pedal on this, we bought the plastic bikes, and off they went!Maybe this is a good bike for the child who know how to pedal and ride, but definitely not worth it for a first bike!!

This thing rocks!
Bought this trike for my 18 month old daughter.At first she would not ride it, because it was not like her stroller (in her words "not stoller").After running into another kiddo cruising through the neighborhood on one, she quickly changed her mind.

Now we can't keep her off of it... woe is me when we go through the garage to get to the car!There is no glue stronger than my daughter's grip on the handlebars of this trike.

She is now 26 months old, and we've twice made the requisite adjustments to the trike (very quick and easy if you take the safety handle off and flip the trike over).She has become very confident riding it with "no touch the bar, daddy" supervision... even with the occasional two-wheeled turn while going down the neighbor's hill.(Don't buy the hype... sharp turns at speed will cause this trike to overturn, just like any other trike will.)

Best of all, a few spins around the block gets her tired, and with good timing, that means more time for daddy and momma to be together ;-D

difficult to assemble, broke
This trike was complicated to assemble.The handlebars keep breaking loose from the front wheel due to a poorly designed attachment mechanism.Some of the plastic assesories quickly broke off but they were not much use anyway. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Ride-Ons    3. Tricycles   

Reviews (31)

Broke within 1 week
I bought this toy for my son.The toy broke within 1 week.The pond sticks and keeps saying the same thing over and over again, the blocks, when put into place, sing the same song, one short verse, over and over again.Unfortunately, the little birds get stuck saying the same things as well.It wasn't worth the money for us.My son does like the shapes though.Hope this is helpful as a lot of reviews have been for me.Thanks.

Another toy my baby loves
My daughter received this when she was 7 and a half months old, and still plays with it every day at over a year old. She lves the bee that circles around- I hear "bzzzzzzz...bzzzzzz...bzzzzzzz" quite often! She also loves to "splash" and hear the numbers (you press the "water" and the toy counts up to ten, one number at a time, each time you press it)....she also loves pressing the birds and hearing the baby and mommy bird talk to each other- they each say 3 phrases. You can also switch from learning mode to music mode.

My baby plays with this toy a lot and the batteries seem to last a long time for all that she plays with it, I'm not replacing batteries all that often. She likes this toy better than some other ones that are bigger and do more amazing things.

It seems like at over a year old, she is going to continue to play with this toy for awhile, so that gets the Seal of Approval from me, like I always say, read my other reviews, I have a Big Thing about getting my money's worth out of toys, and skipping over toys that will lose baby's interest in a short period of time. I like that my baby has played with this toy every day for 5 months and still loving it. For example, she played with her Dancing Bandstand for about a week before she got bored with it, and never goes to it any more.

Toy with lasting value!
I got this toy when my baby could sit up and boy, did she love it! She smacked that water so many times, she couldn't get enough it. She liked to pull out the "flowers" and bite them, bang them together, throw them, you name it.

She then learned to walk shortly after buying it and I thought the toy would get no more use. But now she has learned to put the shapes back into the holes and loves to dance to the music.


It is also so sturdy, she sometimes picks it up and walks with it. And we've only changed the batteries once in 5 months. LOVE IT! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baby and Infant    2. Learning    3. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    4. Electronic