Editorial Review

A train you can ride on? That moves by itself? It's hard to imagine any child not being excited by this prospect. The Santa Fe Train offers an amusement park experience in your own house. Assembly is a snap, literally. The track pieces click together with no problem, and it's so obvious how to assemble the train, you almost don't need the manual. If you feel prepared to take it on, this train set can make for a spectacular birthday or holiday present. In the interests of instant gratification, however, be sure to charge up the battery the night before. Some other considerations for parents: This toy takes up a lot of space: at a bare minimum, 12 square feet. It may have limited replay value, since you can go around and around a track only so many times, even if you are 4 years old. And it requires a bit of maintenance in that you must keep the battery charged up. --David Stoesz ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Keeps him Safe and Busy
My son received this when he was 18 mos for X-Mas.He is 2 now and still rides it nearly every day.This is one of his favorites and it keeps him busy 10-15 minutes at a time, a few times a day.You have to wipe/dust the tracks off a few times a week.The dust prevents the train from gliding on the tracks smoothly.I have had NO problems with it jumping the track.I have another one on the way and I expect this will be in great condition for him as well.

Great Fun
When we were given this as a toy I was doubtful it would have a big place in our house. I really aim for toys that encourage creative play, exploration of the world, that are not loud. This train, I was expecting would not do this. Was I wrong?!

This is a fun toy and very exciting. We have had it for several years now and my children still play on it. They can use it without the track which only makes it that much more fun.

It is fairly easy to steer and has not broken down yet. It is sturdy and has lasted through three children playing with it. It really does lend to creative play- my children have pretended they are delivering mail, visiting family, and so on.

Much fun. Throw in a few fun books such as Mailing May and this would be an excellent toy to encourage creativity, find and large motor control, and many more skills.

Enjoy. Well worth the money.

Great fun but a little tippy
We bought this train for our son Christmas 2003 when he was 1 1/2. He loved it and still does but I agree with others that the extra car tends to derail alot. Also, if he leans over on it then it will all come off the track. It doesn't hurt or scare him. We have begun to teach him how to put it on the track by himself. Overall, he gets alot of enjoyment from this train. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Ride-Ons    3. Motorized    4. Trains    5. Preschool    6. Games   

Editorial Review

Fully equipped for looting and plundering across the high seas, this pirate ship sports a massive wooden hull powered forward by six sails, three adorned with skulls and crossbones. Triple-firing cannons lay above and below deck, while a sword-wielding captain commands two crew members. A parrot can rest atop the captain's shoulder. There's also a working wench for hauling up all that misbegotten treasure and a removable dinghy for one-off raids. Other elements include a deployable anchor, a walking plank, and a yellow guard rail that circles the deck. The boat measures over 2 feet long once assembled, and can be put together in several ways, outlined in the accompanying booklet. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Reviews (26)

FUN - BUT ONLY IF YOU DON'T ACTUALLY PLAY WITH IT!
I BOUGHT THIS TOY FOR MY 5 YEAR OLD, TOOK A BIT TO PUT IT TOGETHER, AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WILL SPEND MOST OF YOUR TIME DOING...PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER. SO, IF YOUR KIDS DON'T ACTUALLY WANT TO PLAY WITH IT, JUST PUT IT TOGETHER, OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IT'S GREAT. BUT IF THEY ACTUALLY WANT TO HAVE THE "PIRATE ADVENTURE" , IT COMES UP A BIT SHORT.
SAME GOES FOR THE ISLAND.

great for imagination
My son got this for xmas and absolutely loves it, we are now moving onto the knights and castle.He(4) and his sister(3) spend hours having pirate wars and finding treasure. GREAT toy, LOTS of little pieces,so just be careful of younger siblings.Would definately recommend to anyone whose interested in pirates.

This one's for Momma!
Well - we have the entire Medieval line and most of the Pirates.This ship I saw and had to have!! She's a beauty!So, my wonderful husband made sure that it was under the tree for me.The kids are drooling!

We have had battles and voyages for cargo with the smaller ship and then the skeletal crew attacks!Great fun.Again my family is two girls two boys and two parents.We range from 38 to 4 years old and ALL love Imanigext. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Boats    3. Construction    4. Building Sets   

Editorial Review

Just like any great artist, your little one should be preparedfor that moment when creative inspiration arrives. Featuring a largechalkboard on one side and a blank pad of paper on the other, thisDouble Easel will ensure that your pintsize Van Gogh can capture amoment of inspiration before it passes. The Double Easel is made ofdurable plastic and comes with wide trays on both sides for storing artsupplies (not included), as well as a large piece of chalk and aneraser (included). A large plastic clamp on one side of the easel holdsdown a 50-sheet pad of paper (included), and the two storage trays areremovable for easy cleanup. Designed for use by one or two children ata time, the Double Easel folds together for compact storage. Measures43.5 inches tall. --Chris Burns ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Great for your little artist!
We just got this easel for our 20 month old daughter and she LOVES it!!! It comes with a piece of chalk and a large writing tablet and didn't take too long to put together. I would definitly recommend this easel to any one with a child who loves to color.

grandkids activites
I took my grandkids to a play group and they had this item they had so much fun that I went to buy one.they keep busy with all the online pictures you can copy keeps them


I loved it!!!

Entertaining Easel
My 2 year old son recently received this easel as a birthday present.I put it together, and he has been using it ever since.Even at 2, he takes his artwork very serious and thoroughly enjoys it.He has fun using the chalkboard side; drawing and then erasing.On the paper side, he has fun with his Crayola crayons, washable, of course.He picks out a crayon, tells me what color it is, then hands it to me and I write the first letter of the name of the color so that he can start associating colors and letters.A great educational and fun item. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts and Crafts    2. Art Supplies    3. Easels    4. Toddler    5. Activity   

Reviews (14)

Great fun for a three year old!
This is a fabulous gift for a little boy.Our son awoke Christmas morning to this gift, after looking at it for months on the computer.He was extremely delighted!It is pretty durable and he continually has all his other Christmas toys piled in the loader portion and will dump everything out and put it back in.The directions were a nightmare.It is just little pictures and a one sentence written direction, but it requires a lot of common sense and referrencing to the picture.Give yourself some time to put it together!It was well worth it as the joy of our son overpowered the hour of putting it together.

watch for thieves
This toy was so great and appealing that 2 grown men stole it from my 3 year old grandson.I would strongly recommend that you not leave this toy out in the open for the horrible people that will steal from a baby.

Heartsick Grandmother.

Does the steering wheel actually steer this tractor?
I don't know where else to post this question so I'll ask it here. I know the pedals move the tractor but does the steering wheel move the front wheels left and right? Seems like an obvious question but you wouldn't believe how many toys don't have steering! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Ride-Ons   

Features

• Preschooler soccer game
• Rewards soccer players with sound
• 2 levels of play: beginners and advanced
• Movable target adds to the challenge
• Comes with goal, net, target, score keeper and ball

Reviews (1)

This toy scores a G-O-A-L!
We bought this toy for our 2 year old son and it has been a huge hit.He had never played soccer before, so I was impressed at how quickly he learned to score a goal.We first set it to the beginner stage and he was able to get the idea very quickly because every time the ball hit the net the sounds were set off.Then he learned to aim for the target and is getting quite good at this.I have to say this is a very educational toy because it teaches that physical exercise can be very fun and the immediate rewards are very reinforcing.My husband and I have had almost as much fun with it as my son! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Our little 19 mo. just love it!
I BOUGHT THIS BALL NOT KNOWING HOW MY LITTLE 19 MO.ONE WAS GOING TO RESPOND TO IT... WELL GOT, THIS WEEK HOOKED UP THE WATER HOSE AND SHE HAD A GRAND TIME!!! SHE LOVED IT!!!

COOL SPRINKLER
GREAT FOR ANY AGE IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE 2 OR 22.WELL I'M 11 AND I LOVE IT.IS THERE A PROBLEM??? THE ANSWER NO!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Outdoor Play    2. Swimming Pool Toys   

Reviews (18)

**A great leapster game!**
Santa brought this cartridge, the Leapster and some additional Leapster cartridges for Christmas to our little boy who is almost 4.Each game we have for the leapster my little boy has really liked but he does have his favorites and this is one of them that he will play longer than some of the other cartridges he has.It is full of learning games and the little carnival and little monster you get to build is so cute!You would have to play this game to understand, but it definately is worth every penny!If you are looking for something for your child to keep playing with after 3 months and to keep learning from daily- then purchase this cartridge!

Can you say ten stars
There is not much to say about this reinforcer, You have to buy it to see what We are talking about. An the game it comes with is ok, but not hours play like this. It keeps my son occupied for about an hour (because I encourage him to do other things and I want to keep this exciting for him) But I love it. I hear him go, oh, mom, Just a little bit more. I am like five minutes. His brother is always over his shoulder, we will get him one for his birthday. :).

The Leapster is BEST $ Spent
My daughter got a Leapster for Christmas along with the Dora cartridge....she was 3 1/2 years old.She has played with it every day.We have never had any problems with it and just changed the batteries for the 1st time at 7 months.We got her this kindergarden cartridge for her 4th B-day in May.It is amazing what she has learned!!!!!! We also just purchased The Letter Factory cartridge for our last trip....it has taught her all her letter phonics...and in such a short time!!!!!!Thank you Leapster for such an awesome educational toy!!!!! ... Read more

Features

• Two-sided play table
• One side is sturdy building base (blocks included)
• Other side is real-working piano
• Features fun melodies, flashing lights, movable beads and button
• For ages 9 months and up

Reviews (10)

Great Investment!Activities for many levels and interests!
I'm a mom that has to buy one toy that will serve multiple purposes.So you can imagine my joy when I came across the Music n' Play table!On the top side, it's split between a piano and activity center, then flip it over and underneath is a miniature "lego" building table.Plus, it has storage for the lego pieces!I was looking for an activity table for my 8-month old son because he likes to stand and pull himself up on things.We've had absolutely no problems with its stability. Actually, he uses it like a walker, pushing it all around the kitchen.And it easily entertains more than one child at a time.I was hoping it was available at stores in my area, but even with shipping and handling, it was well worth the price.I highly reccomend this toy, I know Colin will enjoy his Music n' Play Table for a long time.

Fun, but what's with the music?
Our 13-month old enjoys this table a lot.However it sounds like all the preprogrammed music was done in Shanghai.Vaguely American pieces are played with distinctly Chinese instruments and arrangements, basically comprising a sad-sounding fiddle, xylophones, and drums.It's some of the strangest music I've ever heard from any kids' toy (and unfortunately it's somewhat scratchy due to poor sampling or tone generation).Also be aware this item takes two sets of batteries: one for the activity area and the other for the music area.Pros: easy assembly, lots of items for the toddler to play with, and unlike many of their other toys it's one they can play with standing up.

Awsome
I'm 11 years old. I went to my cousins house and played with this toy. I couldn't stop playing. It was so much fun. When my cousins got a real keyboard they told me to play with that. I told them I didn't want to. Then they threw it away when their son stoped playing with it. I threw a tantrum ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Blocks    3. Learning    4. Baby and Infant    5. Toddler   

Reviews (10)

Made for "Little Guys"
Bought this as a First Scooter for my 6 year old boy.Picture shows a boy that appears the same size as my son, however, once we got it, just before Christmas, and opened the box to set it up under the tree, discovered that it is quite small.Although it appears well made and sturdy, it is more appropriate for a 2 or 3 year old.

Mom of 2 boys
Our 4 year old received this for his birthday and he has not stayed off it..he absolutely loves it!! Our 20 month old also tries to ride it, but he is a bit too little, so we are going to go find him one suited a little more to his size. We are very inpressed with the quality, considering how inexpensive it is. We highly recommend this to anyone who has a very active child!! Our son has been riding it around in the house since it is a bit cold out still. We also need to purchase some safety gear before he rides it outside. Great scooter!!

Amazon shipping = highway robbery
First of all, this scooter is great! My 4 1/2 year old son loves it and it has helped with his balance and coordination. In addition, he loves playing outdoors even more than he used to.

I am disappointed at Amazon's attempt to charge $11.00+ in shipping in handling! The item is priced $24.99. IF Amazon would charge only one penny more...shipping would be free! Sure, $24.99 is a great advertised price, considering everyone else is selling this exact same scooter for $29.99, but as a matter of principle, I refuse to pay outrageous shipping costs.

Sorry, Amazon...you lost a sale.

Albert ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Scooters   

Features

• Varying play levels
• 2 slides
• Bubble window and crawl-through tunnel
• Cutout shapes and sturdy climbing surfaces

Reviews (13)

Great fun for all.......
We have had this playground for a couple of years now and it is still a big hit. We have three boys ages 2 1/2, 6 and 10 and they can all have fun on this. The 10 year old is getting a little big for the tunnel but the big slide, which is bigger and taller than most slides on other climbers, is still lots of fun for him. The small slide is perfect for smaller kids, too. When we first got this the youngest was too little for the big slide but we loved that there was also a small slide for him. And he has now mastered the big slide just like his older brothers. All the kids like the bubble window on the top level, especially the littler ones who are not yet tall enough to see over the sides. They also like to climb and hide in the spaces underneath the climbing area. It is lots of fun for all three boys and their friends and cousins love to come over and play on it too. We have several climbers and slides but this is the biggest and everyone's favorite. This climber is also designed for a few kids at once so it has a higher weight limit which is good for the bigger kids.

Great toy-Overpriced though!
I received this today with much fuss with Yellow Freight over my driveway. (Their 18-wheeler was too big for my driveway) I thought "Wow my son is going to love this toy. Look at the picture!There are 5 kids on it.It's going to be huge!" Wrong! The picture is an illusion. For the price, you are better going with the 8 in 1. I was upset about the size. $600--I'd want it to fill up 1/4 of the yard :) If you can get this second hand, I DEFINITELY recommend it. It's durable and the kids will have a lot of fun. One final note: The only directions you are going to get with this is a set of 26 pictures with NO WORDS. They are really dark so you may want to have a phone handy to call Little Tikes consumer service. (Also needed for set up-another person, a screwdriver, a hammer and a block of wood--NO KIDDING)! I think this toy will last forever. THUMBS UP FOR QUALITY-THUMBS DOWN FOR PRICE.

awesome
Both my children, ages 17 months and 4 years old, LOVE this. The smaller slide is perfect for my little one and the bigger one is fabulous for my older son. All I can say is AWESOME. The only thing I wasn't pleased about is the cost of shipping and that Little Tikes now only distributes this to online stores so you'll always have to pay the shipping. Luckily, I was able to find this used at a day care that was closing down, otherwise the price is definitely worth it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Outdoor Play   

Editorial Review

Getting young children interested in toy trains is a wonderful way to teach as well as to have a lot of fun. By playing with train sets, young minds learn how to fit things together, how transportation works, how cities and communities are created, all the while enhancing their imagination through pretend play. This sizable and table kit features a smooth, easy to clean melamine surface on the top with convenient storage compartment underneath. The 83-piece train set sports a wide variety of train cars plus buses, police cars, dump trucks, and other vehicles to operate on the pieces of road, which are included in addition to the track. Filling stations, gates, buildings, bridges, and other modular components add to the magic. Since all the pieces fit together so handily, young train enthusiasts can spend hours designing their own sprawling networks and configurations. We liked how complete this set is and how handily it all stores when playtime is done. Compatible with Thomas the Tank Engine and Brio train sets. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Reviews (19)

table and train set ... a great value
We priced the expensive name brand tables and train sets well into the $500 range.This table and train set is really great.Besides being reasonably priced, it comes with everything that is pictured.Within 1/2 hr. we had a great sturdy table, with a track set up and a small village to go with it!We have kids ages 3,5,9 and they all enjoy it.Grandma and Grandpa are pitching in a few Thomas pieces to inhance it, but it really isn't necessary.This is a really great value, good quality, easy assembly, don't really have any complaints.I'm sure it will provide many hours of fun for our gang!

My 2yo's favorite toy
We got my son this set after many meltdowns when we would leave toy and model stores.He usually played with Thomas but it was just too expensive.When we found this one hidden behind a bin, we knew we had to get it.However, we lost the directions after one week but still had the picture from the box.I searched and searched for directions online about how to put the tracks back together - but couldn't find any.Using the picture and my memmory - this is what I came up with.I don't know if its right - but it works.There are a total of 28 pieces.
4 short curves; 8 long curves
2 short, solid rams; 2 long ramps
2 switches; one rail road crossing (with flashing lights and sound)
2 short, straight; 4 medimum straight
2 long, straight; one overpass
Start with the cirle that goes over the lake.Place the switch on the long side near the lake, large ramp (up and on the red things), long curve,(these connect on the second red thing) long curve,(connecting large red things)large ramp, short curve long curve, small ramp (up), overpass, small ramp (down), medimum strait, medimum straigt, short curve, switch, long straight, long curve, long curve, short straight, short straight.You are now back to the switch you placed first and will begin with the inside circle.long curve, rail road crossing, long straight, short curve, short curve, medium straight, medimum striaght.You are now back to the second switch.Now your kids can take it apart again.

k.young
After pricing train tables for the last month I am so happy to have found this one. I put it together myself in less than a half hour. The price was great and it came with a bonus set of train pieces. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Train Set Accessories    2. Vehicles    3. Trains    4. Train Accessories   

Reviews (49)

My 9 year old son LOVES these toys!!!
I ran into Toys R Us on Christmas Eve last year to find another toy for my son (I wanted him to have a certain amount) and saw these on an end display. I bought a box, wrapped it, and put it under the tree.
He absolutely LOVED playing with these. So did his siblings. They spent hours and hours for weeks making all kinds of cool concoctions. We have since added several more sets to our family.
I came here today to buy a set for a birthday this weekend for a 13 year old family friend who still enjoys building things.
Great toy!!

magnetix is roseart!
100 pieces is a perfect way to build stuff but mixed with the magnetix magnetic building set 70 pieces It's a extreme perfect way to build stuff!When i opened the magnetix magnetic building set(70 pieces) i was shocked.When i opened the magnetix x-treme combo carying case (100 pieces)i was shocked even more!
With the magnetix i can build a sword a boat a 3d triangle a 3d dimond a 3d sqrare a house a dinosar a crazy design a trap and a big playset. If we didn't have roseart we wouldn't be creative!So be smart think roseart and buy magnetix today.

magnetix extreme combo 150 pc. case - where is it?
I have to agree with sbrown.I don't beleive Toys R Us ever had this product.I too, went to the store every day for four days.I was told that this was a "TOYS R US" exclusive and could not be purchased anywhere else.At least I got a rain check for the advertised price but here it is four (4) days after Christmas and still they have NO magnetix toys availabe.I got mine from Super Target the day before Christmas. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Building Sets    3. Activity    4. Blocks   

Reviews (15)

My kid loves being top dog!
I got this for my 8-year old and she instantly got on it and started running over other kids!
she loves it!
she is the master of our street and if you mess with her you get run over!!
so any other people who get this,my Little susie wants a piece of you!

Great 1st timer
We bought this for my daughter's 1st birthday which was yesterday.She loves to climb on and off of it just after 1 day.She can't push the button herself yet but likes for us to push it so she can ride. She did accidently push it once and laughed when it started moving. After she realized the button made it move she pushed it and let off several times and laughed about it.I think she will really enjoy it this summer when she knows how to make it go on her own.

Excellent ride for the money
We purchased this for our 1 year old daughter on her 1st birthday. & she already was able to figure out how to manuever it. I was very impressed by the product for this age group. Reverse might be nice but at this age I dont know that she could figure it out. My only concern is the seat comes off fairly easy if the lock isnt just right. Excellent purchase for the 1 year age group!She loves it ! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ride-Ons    2. Motorized   

Reviews (20)

GREAT Butterfly Kit!
I have been rasing butterflies for 5 years and I LOVE this kit! It's so cool to see them chow down on their nutrient and then change into a chrysalis. I have a suggestion:DO NOT move your caterpillars around a lot, they are delicate and when moved too much, it kills them. Keep them in a quiet, warm place and watch and learn! I have chrysalids right now and they are almost ready to hatch! Tip: mist your chrysalids every other day. This increses the chance that they'll emerge healthy!

Wonderful--Raise generations of butterflies!
My son (age 5) got this from his grandparents for Christmas and it has been terrific fun for all of us.The first set of ten caterpillars grew visibly day-by-day, then pupated and emerged as butterflies in a few weeks.There is a lot of great information about painted lady and other butterfly species online and having this project got my son very interested in how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly so soon I found myself showing him multi-colored pictures of imaginal discs (the larval structures that produce the butterfly wing, leg etc. during metamorphosis) online at websites I found--a great way to get him interested in developmental biology.The first time we talked about this he decided they were actually "magical discs", given what these groups of cells can do...the whole process has been very entertaining for the whole family....It is also really fun to have butterflies flitting around and caterpillars growing in the pavilion in the kitchen when it is gray and wintery outside.

How to raise more than one generation of critters inside:
Since we sent our coupon for larvae out immediately after Christmas, we had butterflies dancing around the pavilion and mating in February when there were no plants outside to collect for the next generation of caterpillars to eat.Anticipating this, I ordered a mallow plant and some additional larval food from Carolina Biological Supply Company at about the time when our caterpillars turned into chrysalises:there is an online store and the stuff to get is the L918 culture medium (144040).This will feed about 80 larvae.(Unfortunately the Insect Lore company, which makes the Pavilion, only sells caterpillar food in small quantities along with additional larvae, which we certainly didn't need).

How to do it:We set the mallow plant in the pavilion and the butterflies laid their eggs on the leaves where we could watch them darken and emerge as very tiny 1mm long new caterpillars.After 4-5 days of watching the caterpillars eat the mallow plant (making little tracks on the leaves) we prepared them new homes in caterpillar media.To do this, you can use either the original plastic containers that the first generation larvae are shipped in (clean them out and dish wash them) or use another small clear-sided plastic or glass jar with a lid.Clean the containers well (I wiped the inside with a paper towel with isopropyl alcohol on it after dishwashing to kill bacteria, which will contaminate the food and make the larvae sick).The food will come in two plastic containers (nearly full).One of these can be frozen for subsequent generations.Transfer the contents of one container to a covered microwaveable container and heat on medium in the microwave (swirling every 10-30 seconds to mix and avoid overheating) until it is a solution.Pour media into the bottoms of the larvae containers to a depth of about a quarter inch (this will make 4-5 new containers).If there is a lot of condensation on the sides after the media has hardened, you can wipe this away with a paper towel--I did this, but then again alcohol-wiped the inside solid surfaces and lid above the media.Cover the containers loosely (leave the lid slightly ajar) and put them somewhere to dry.I laid a clean paper towel over the collection of covered jars to keep dust/dirt from drifting in given the activity level of the children here.After a couple days of drying, these were ready for larvae.If necessary (ie., if not using the previously shipped containers) make very, very small air holes in the lid.Then use a toothpick or matchstick to collect each 2-4 mm long larva off of the mallow plant leaves and tap to drop them into the new container.Put a clean paper towel over the top of the container (under the lid) and re-cap the jar--now the paper will serve as a scaffold for new chrysalises to hang from and will allow air in while preventing the tiny caterpillars from escaping.Try to be relatively aseptic about this.

It appears that we're going to get about 20-30 new caterpillars from the first generation, which I should be able to accommodate with the larvae cups made above...hopefully by the time we've run out of this food and been through a couple more generations it will be summer and warm enough to release all of the butterflies we have outside.The pavilion is well made and sturdy enough that it should accommodate many other projects involving insects.All in all, we've been entirely pleased with this--a great gift that's had my son on the phone describing his butterflies' recent development to grandma and grandpa several times!

One more tip:the adult butterflies seem to become upended on the floor of the pavillion at times while they are flapping around and have trouble gaining traction to right themselves on the slick nylon surface.This shortened the lives of several of ours until I saw it happening and put some packing material (like easter straw) in there for them to stand on.

Wonderful for child and parent
My two daughters, ages 5 and 8, each received one of these as a Christmas present.We sent away for the caterpillars and they arrived in one week.I have to admit that even I, as an adult, really enjoyed watching the progress of the caterpillars as they transformed into beautiful butterflies.My only compaint is that we weren't prepared when two of the butterflies became entangled in the webbing surrounding the cocoon.There was nothing in the instructions about what to do so we had to watch the butterflies suffer until they finally died from exhaustion.We told the kids that it was simply part of nature.Other than that, what a great experience! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Science    3. Bugs   

Reviews (47)

Excellent toy for girls
We opted for this one instead of the classic because I have twins and this one had a ton more room than the classic. Although after I applied the million stickers I seen there was a crack in the house so now I have to return it for a new one. Otherwise it is great the girls love it. I didn't care much about the sounds though because they use their imagination.I would buy it again, I really wish I could afford the Limited edition big one that is huge!Go for it.

Where are the furnishings?
I bought this doll house for my daughter over a year and a half ago and now that she turned three she can actually appreciate it.Her appreciation will have to wait, however, because the furnishings for it are absolutely unavailable anywhere.Fisher Price customer service reps have given me conflicting information. It is really frustrating to buy a doll house and fear that by the time the furnishings are available, my daughter may outgrow it.

A Great Gift
I bought this dollhouse for my daughter after much research.I read many reviews.I have found the "adult" complaints are only shared by the adults.For example, the rooms are small.The fixed furniture can't be moved and gets in the way at times (especially in the kitchen/dining room).However, none of this bothers my 3 1/2 year old.Her complaints have been "Mom, where's the steps to get upstairs?" and "where's the garage?".I must agree; there should be steps to move from floor to floor.I decided to buy the talking dollhouse but really didn't need to.My daughter rarely turns it on.She makes up her own dialogue and uses her imagination to play.However, I don't regret getting the talking version because it does play music and has some cute sayings.
I bought this in December (It's now February), and my daughter has played with it everyday!She loves it.For a month, she thanked me everyday for getting it for her.It also has so much growing potential.I can see her playing with it for years.
It was definitely worth the money and adding new furnishings to it is great. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dolls   

Reviews (2)

Fun for a little girl!
This is a great set of costumes for a little princess.As one might expect, everything, from the plastic jewelry (a couple of the earrings don't stay together well) to the sheer dresses, is pretty cheap, but I wasn't terribly disappointed with the quality in light of the variety of items included.What's nice about the set is that there is a variety - not just one outfit to try on then discard.My 2 year old daughter tried on 5 different "looks" upon opening the box and mastered the "glass slippers" in minutes.

The castle top of the box is a bit flimsy and I don't expect it to last long, but it added to the excitement of opening the package the first time.

Value for the money?Well, with price plus tax and shipping, I think it's a bit overpriced, but it is significantly cheaper than the Disney set, and my daughter doesn't know the difference.If it's a light blue dress, it's Cinderella, whether it's Disney or not!

My daughter loves this!
My daughter is 3 years old, she got the Dress-up Trunk for her birthday. She loves it! The clothes smell a little weird when you first open the Trunk, but it goes away soon after. I would say it's worth the money. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A palace among playhouses, this elegant monster just might fitthe entire family in a pinch! With exterior dimensions of 58 by 68 by67 inches, it's tempting for parents to sell the real house. Theinside is equipped with a foldout table, sink/stove with cupboard,cordless wall phone, and clock with movable hands. It even featuressnazzy features like a white-framed bay window and a skylight. The endwalls have shuttered windows, and there's a full-length (46-inch) frontdoor. The roof is teal simulated tile and the walls are a pale tan.There's even a plastic welcome mat. Because of its size, the playhouseis suitable for large playrooms or yards only. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Wonderful Playhouse
My husband and I searched for the perfect playhouse for our 20 month old daughter and found it. The only problem my husband had putting it together was trying to keep our daughter from playing with it before it was done.The playhouse has even become a hit with our neighborhood kids (ranging from 2 years to 13 years old).It is large enough for 4 kids to play in it comfortably and for me to be able to almost stand up in it.I highly recommend it.

Not as HUGE as its described!!
This is a nice playhouse, but its not as HUGE as its described!I wished I would have taken the dimensions and marked outside where it would fit, to see how small it really is!I have a huge backyard and wanted a huge playhouse for my daughter.I was disappointed.
I would say its pretty standard size.Just know that it's not like it can fit the whole family...like it's described.
The doorbell and the phone are fun, but there are alot of playhouses that have more "bells and whistles."
Overall it is fun and cute.

this looks great!
i'm 13 now and never actually had one of these when i was younger, but parents, please buy this for your kid. They'll have a blast. i do have a fort (that i still even play in now) but this would have been a DREAM for me when i was little. When i'm a parent i'm going to buy one for my kids. every kid should have a playhouse. tons of fun, please buy it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Pretend Play    3. Outdoor Play    4. Playhouses    5. Furniture   

Reviews (57)

JUST GREAT
My son is only 2 1/2 months and he loves this puppy!!! he just look at it and laugh a lot!!! it's just a great toy that helps to stimulate the babys sense

Great DOG!!
I love this toy, the only thing that I have a problem with is that some of the features are too close together.But other than that I highly recommmend it.

Daugher Loves Her Puppy
We bought this for our 15 mo. old daughter and she really enjoys her puppy.It's one of the toys that she goes back to throughout the day. We've had it for several months and had no problem with the ear breaking as some other reviews have stated.There are many different songs/games- I see this as something she willplay with for a long time.It's not her #1 favorite toy (That's the Laugh and Learn House- it is THE BEST!) but she does really like it and plays with it quite often. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Stuffed Animals    2. Animals    3. Teaching Toys   

Reviews (65)

Not what I expected.
I have a 19 month girl and purchased this toy for her 1st birthday. She loves to push things around. However, this toy does not steer, so she won't push it. And it is too wide for her to really scoot around on. She has way more fun with the $8.00 stroller I bought for her baby doll. I would not purchase this toy again.

Multi-friendly
These parents of twins are happy with the hippo as a first birthday gift.Even though they were 11 weeks early (which makes them about 9 1/2 months size), they are trying to walk.The hippo does not get ahead of them while pushing in the walker set up.Other walkers we tried at friends' homes would roll too fast and they would fall forward.The gobble action works on carpet or hard floors.The wheels work well enough on carpet for my daughter to continue pushing when my son crawls on top.Any toy that can stand up to these two day after day is a good buy.

"IPPAUW" works WONDERS
** This gobble n' go hippo or my sons way of saying it, "IPPAUW" (This is Pronounced IP and then Ow (like what you say when you get hurt ;) )...is their favorite new toy. Our sons are just starting to stand up (8 months old) and they LOVE peek-a-blocks (we have the wagon, giraffe, hippo, dumptruck, circus set, incrediblock, and shape sorter! they LOVE them ALL). But this hippo is one of their (and my) favorites!
** They squeal when ever they play with it. But I dont really recomend it for wobbly babies, mine are but I have a little technique. My twins seemed very fustrated that they couldnt run and walk like every one else. So they hold onto the couch and then sort of push it alon (with me holding their waist) I think with this help that they are really improving.
** They even love to watch "IPPAUW" gobble the blocks, which I have to say he does surprizingly well, maybe I just got lucky with a good one! I also like that the inside of his mouth is very soft so I dont have to worry about curious hands getting "gobbled" and then hurt.
** What I really love about this is that its stable, (although it doesnt turn too well), yet as another reviewer said, having swivel wheels may just make it harder for a new walker to start taking those first steps. It will be a great and fun way for my babies to learn to walk. I can see no way that this toy could be harmful, it moves well on our carpet, and it doesnt move too fast on tile for a shakey toddler. Its a very stable ride-on too, but I would NOT suggest you ride it outside
** Even my 3 year olds LOVE "Mr. Hippo". They love to ride him all over the house because "Mr. Hippo" is one of the few riding toys allowed in the house. My 3 year olds also think its a lawnmower ever since they saw one at a friends house, and since we only have one shopping cart they use it for that too, and, its so great to see their little imaginations at work, they pretend that they are taking their pet hippo on a walk!All the neighborhood kids LOVE him, even my twins daycare cot one!
** This hippo also gobbles more than peek-a-blocks wich all my kids think is even MORE hilarious, he gobbles other blocks, balls, and whatevers in its path, my 3 year olds say that his tummy is always very full!
** Since we have DOZENS, and I mean dozens, of peek-a-blocks, its a great place to store them other than the toychest (where they always end up on the bottom).
** But what really surprized me was that this hippo excited my sons so much that after hearing us reapeat the word "hippo" over and over again, they said "IPPAUW"!. I was SO excited, (even though they still didnt say "mommy" lol). This is an amazing acomplishment being that they could only say daddy, yummy, and "nehmo" (elmo).
** Its great to see all 4 of my kids enjoying a toy, and I know this will be a key factor in walking because my friends 13 month old gave it a 'spin' and whenever she ended up in a corner, wall, or piece of furniture, she would just stand there and look at us and say " uh-oh"... so cute. (she couldnt walk alone yet)
** Bravo for the Gobble n' Go Hippo for teaching cause and effect, walking (eventually), riding and SPEACH!
... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Blocks    3. Ride-Ons    4. Preschool