Reviews (22)

So far so good
My son received this easel for his birthday.He really loves the white board and his markers.The chalk board is also very usable.I like the deep wells for storing utensils.My one complaint is that I cannot get a whole pad of paper to stay under the clip but a few sheets do.Overall, a good product.

waste of money
At first my daughter loved this and always used it.Three months later and the blackboard can't be used.The chalk won't even write on it any longer.Now I have to purchase another blackboard.This was not worth the money.

piece of plastic junk
We received this easel as a gift for our daughter when she was 1.5 years old.Now, a little over a year later, the blackboard side no longer accepts chalk -- it's been rubbed smooth from use.

Invest in a real blackboard, not a sheet of blackboard-like paper pasted onto plastic. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Furniture    2. Toddler Furniture    3. Easels   

Editorial Review

Toddlers love to hear their favorite nursery rhyme songs, and of coursethey love anything with sound effects and flashing lights. This electronicmusical toy is 45 inches long and 11 inches wide, with a large, one-octavekeyboard sporting a plastic handprint on each key and a red button above thatflashes when the key is played. The keyboard can be played in five differenttones: piano, bells, doggie barks, kitty meows, or birdie tweets, and in severalmodes: complete songs, free-play mode, or preprogrammed mode. The preprogrammedmode is an interesting feature that will help preschoolers (or their parents)learn to play the eight familiar songs. The tiny red light flashes, you playthat handprint, and follow along until--hey, you're making music! The musicalmat has a wipe-clean plastic surface, and it requires two AA batteries (notincluded). --Marcie Bovetz, mother and former children's librarian ... Read more

Reviews (10)

No Good
I bought this for my daughters birthday and when we got it, it was a piece of junk the buttons worked for one day then the next day when you tried to push a cerain button it would give you a different noise or it would not work at all, the things are hard to push you have to really push hard on them, this toy is not worth it not even the amount they are asking for to be honest I think it is worth fifty cents, I am very disapointed in it.

Fun toy
This was given to my 18 month old son last Christmas. He enjoyed playing with it daily for awhile. I recommend not putting this in the toy box. Now a year later it has some problems - it only plays when IT wants to. I do like this toy, but it needs to be well taken care of to last.

Musical Hands mat
This toy does not work.I do not recommend it.There is no quality to the workmanship.A total disappointment ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baby and Infant    2. Preschool    3. Learning    4. Toddler    5. Activity    6. Music    7. Musical Instruments    8. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    9. Electronic    10. Hand-Eye Coordination    11. Musical   

Reviews (34)

Lots of fun!
My 3 year old loves this, as does his 6½ year old step sister.Highly recommended!!!

Love this game!
As the mother of a 5-year old who has difficulty with small motor skills, I absolutely love this game.Yes, sometimes the game doesn't allow for the human factor in tracing a shape or a letter, but overall, I think this game is very beneficial for my son.I would certainly buy it again.

Wonderful Fun!
I bought this for my 5 year old daughter as she loves playing with her Leapster and she also loves to draw.What a combination!She loves the mazes and especially loves the Double Doodle, where she draws a picture and Mr. Pencil mimicks her drawing. I find it very educational and extrememly entertaining to any children who love to draw.Also, I haven't heard her complain once about having to try a little harder and I don't mind Mr. Pencil being a little strict with her either. I highly recommend this game. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    3. Electronic   

Reviews (15)

RE: bad rebound
UM it's NOT the 1800's anymore! And if a women doesen't wanna dress in some turtle neck and grandma pants, than whatever!!!
So you are saying that these dolls are BAD role models??? LET ME CLUE YOU IN--DOLLS AREN'T ROLE-MODELS!
You 1 star reviewing, Christian mothers are just flat out hags!

I mean, ACTORS wear stuff like this, too! (I am taking acting next year and I'LL be wearing stuff that that, and im 12!!)

My mom dresses in tank tops, short skirts, and sandles, because it is NOT THE 1800'S ANYMORE! DUH! Fashion's changed over the past 200 years!


Right now, in my school, (and I go to an Elementery school) make up, and knee high boots are the popular trends from grades 4-6! I wear dark make up, long, dangling earrings, leather bracelets, black boots, and short skirts because i dress how i feel like(my parents also think it's okay, because we are only young for a while)


Fashion for all ages has CHANGED. It is NOT like we're reacting little house on the prarie!!!!


this is a nice doll, i like it, i recomend it!!!!!

M~

Kid tested and approved!
My husband and I took our 3 1/2 yr old niece to the toystore Barbie isle and let her pick any toy she wanted and this was the one. She absolutely LOVES it! She hesitated between this one and another Fairytopia doll but since pink is her favorite color I think she chose this one in particular.

I gave 5 stars simply because of how much she loves it, 1 star because it's not educational at all as far as I can see. 3 stars for durability and 4 stars overall.

A big hit at my house!
One of my daughters got this from her grandma for Easter and the other HAD to have one too!We got it and they both love them.More than a month later the wings are still lighting up...amazing!

My daughter's favorite part about this Barbie was the little Bibble doll that came with it. ... Read more

Features

• Soft velour fabric with padded seat cover; wooden hand and foot rests
• Seat is approximately 16” from ground
• Import

Reviews (1)

My daughter loves her new friend!
My 18mth old daughter received this as a gift from grandma. Very high quality, looks great. She can easily get on and off and "rock, rock, rock" all day long. She loves watching a movie and riding her horsey. This is a heirloom toy that will be in our family for years. ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

This little wheelbarrow is the tool of choice for hauling flowers, grass clippings, toys, and other treasures. Not only does it look like a real wheelbarrow, it is a real wheelbarrow, with a red steel tray, a black triangular steel undercarriage, and finished hardwood handles. The tray has no-scratch edges and is 20 inches long, 16 inches wide, and 4 inches deep. The black plastic molded wheel is 7 inches in diameter and 1.25 inches wide. The wheelbarrow stands 11 inches from the floor and is 32 inches from the front of the tray to the ends of handles. The whole thing weighs a little more than 7 pounds. --Louise Carter ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Wonderful wheelbarrow
This is a sturdy, usable wheelbarrow scaled for a child.My son has loved to help his dad in the yard for years with this, hauling dirt, branches and leaves.

Great Buy
This is so much better than the plastic wheelbarrows.My son has it all - toy blowers, weadeaters, mowers, etc. and this is his favorite because it actually looks just like daddy's!He hauls dirt, flowers, and of course, toys everywhere.We have had this since Christmas and it has lasted well.

good hard to find toy
When I gave this to my 4 1/2 year old nephew the first thing he did was pile his toys in it and give them a ride.I don't agree with the reviewers who think this is small. It looks like my nephew has alot of growing to do before anyone could suggest it was too small for him.My only problem was putting it together which is surprisingly difficult.That is more of a two person job. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Wood    2. Pretend Play    3. Gardening    4. Occupations    5. Tools    6. Outdoor Play   

Editorial Review

Sally, Stevie, Stanley, Sophie, Stewie, and Sid are six colorful, lightweight bowling pins--each with their own personality--that talk to kids while they bowl. Taunts such as "C'mon!Roll the ball already!" get kids started, and phrases such as "Whew!That was close," keep them aiming for the pins. Bells, whistles, and cheers are heard if a spare or strike is bowled. The tan plastic base has six colored circles to hold the pins in place, but it is not required that colors match up for a game to begin. Silly 6 Pins only keeps score one frame (two balls) at a time, so keep a pad of paper nearby if you're playing as a family. Three AA batteries are required, but not included. --Pam Lauer ... Read more

Reviews (81)

Fun for the whole family!
My little boy got to open this on Christmas Eve, his grandparents got it for him.My little boy was so shocked and excited when he saw the game!He had wanted this game for several months but I was'nt sure he'd like it as much as he wanted it but it was one of those games that I was wrong about- He loves it!I have to admit it is really a fun game.Thebowling pens shake and talk to you as you play and they say funny, cute phrases.My little boy who is almost 4 can set the game up him self and play it without anyone else or if he wants we can play with him.I like games that he can understand and be able to play without having a second player all the time.It makes this game even more a good purchase because being an only child there is'nt many games that are like this.He loves this game and still plays it a lot even 3 1/2 months later.I would reccommend it!

FUN FOR ALL AGES
I was reluctant to purchase this toy for my son's third birthday simply because he has never been bowling or knew anything about it.However, based on your reviews I decided to try it out.My son is not easy to keep busy and this was the trick!This toy is a blast!He loves to set the pins up just as much as he loves to knock them down.He plays it with his 12 year old sister and it seems to be the only time that they don't bug eachother.They have a ball!we all do, the voices are cute, but I wish it was louder.Easy to clean up, and just plain fun!I think we will get lots of milage out of this game.

FUNNY game
My girls were given this game a couple years ago. . .ages 2 and 3.They crack up over the voices and play it still.I like it also b/c it's so darn cute! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Games    3. Preschool    4. Party Games    5. Wacky    6. Tabletop Games   

Reviews (33)

My SON wouldn't stop playing with the store's floor model
We went to Toys R Us to find some sort of play equipment for our back yard.I had looked at things online, and we were pretty much going to get some sort of climber/slide combo, but then when we got to the store he saw the house and made a b-line for it!My husband wasn't too excited by the house because it's not "cool", but after seeing how much he loved it we knew we had to get it.Now, you should know that there were about 4 or 5 different play houses and the same amount of climbers/slides set up in this store, but even though he played a little on the others he always went back to the Naturally Playful cottage.So, we thought about it for a day or two since we still really want something for him to burn energy on (that will have to come later) and I went back by myself to get it.I learned through others reviews on play equipment that sometimes the boxes are just enormous.Good thing I did.We have a Lexus GX470 (their medium sized SUV) and even though I removed the third row of seats, the car seat, flipped down the second row, and was by myself, this thing would NOT fit in our car.We took the pieces out of the box and even then had to do some manuvering to get it in.So, just a warning!It is worth all that trouble though.My husband put it together in no time, and our son was immediately trying to play with it while he was assembling it.The only thing he had trouble with was the fact that he put one of the walls on backwards at first (that's what happens when you skim over directions!).Our son now wants to go outside all the time and play in his house.He even ate his breakfast there this morning because I couldn't get him inside!I was able to fit inside the house with ease and watch him eat.I am 5'9, weigh about 145lbs and I sat on a Step2 folding chair we bought to go with the house since there are no chairs inside it.Those little folding chairs are great!They felt so sturdy I wasn't worried about it buckling beneath me.Anyway, you need to buy chairs if you want some inside.Outside on the little 'patio' there are two built in seats that are attached to the little side walls.These don't seem as durable, and both tables have a sort of kick stand support that isn't so great.The tables can fold down if you want, but when they are up if your kid leans on them you can see it bend a lot.A previous reviewer said their kid broke the table, and I can see how this would happen.That's why I gave it four stars.Inside is a cute telephone that he loves, he constantly goes through the escape hatch in the fireplace, loves the clock inside, and likes to spin the nozzle on the faucet in the kitchen sink.My biggest piece of advice to you is think carefully about where you want it (inside vs. outside), because wherever you decide is where your child will always want to be!Definately worth the money.

Great Toy!
My parents bought this playhouse for our 18 month old son for Xmas 04', and it is the best gift he's ever gotten by far. Two of his little friends came over to our home and all three of them played inside for a long time. They were having such a blast!They kept going thru the front door and then crawling out the back door, over and over. I almost felt like joining them! The house is big enough to fit me, my husband, and our son inside. We keep this inside our house even though it takes up a ton of space, but it's worth it for now. My parents actually got lucky since they saved $50 off a sale for this playhouse.

got the cottage
I researched and pondered a great deal and recently ended up buying this one for my 3 year old. Three adults put it together fairly easily. I also bought the Step 2 play mats to use as a floor and put lots of toy food and cooking utensils inside. My daughter seems to enjoy it. It is attractive; nice natural colors. The fireplace is cool. We put a potted flower beside the front door as her garden. Cute. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Outdoor Play    2. Pretend Play    3. Baby and Infant    4. Toddler    5. Activity    6. Furniture   

Reviews (27)

Fun Toy For Mom and Baby
I love this Sesame Street bath toy and so does my 15 month old daughter!It is so neat with the puzzle feature, something that helps us tidy up when it's time to get out of the bath.We make a game that the different toys must be put back on the island before my daughter gets out of the tub.What fun!As she gets older she will get more adept at it, right now I help her.She likes to make a waterfall with the tree and make Elmo zoom across the water.I love this toy so much I've given 2 as gifts!!!

THE Best Tub Toy out there!
My daughter Riley received this toy for Christmas(I'm just a little late)I had to write this review because it truly is a great toy for the tub!It is great for imaginative play and was well thought out!No holes in figures so they can't get water inside and mildew like most tub toys. I highly recommend this for everyone's child!

Never cry at rinsing hair again
I bought this for Christmas for my 16-month old son who HATED having his hair rinsed.He loves Elmo, so I thought I'd give this bathtub toy a try.INSTANT SUCCESS!I use the tree to rinse his hair and guess what, NO MORE TEARS!He happily plays with Elmo, Ernie and Lou and lets me rinse away.This toy is a must have for any toddler who loves Elmo.My son even takes the bathtub Elmo and Lou to bed for naps and nightime.We've had it for several months and no mold will grow on this thing.FANTASTIC!We dry each character off while drying my son off too and they just make bathtime, drying time and life happier for my little boy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baby and Infant    2. Toddler    3. Bath Toys    4. Preschool   

Reviews (2)

great toy for over 4
My son go the big bubbler from the easter bunny and we have used it just about everyday since. He loves the huge bubbles, its really a lot of fun. It is to long for a 3 year old to use alone. My son is 3 1/2 and he can pull the wand out from the holder by himself, its just to long and akward. I hold the case though and he can easily put the wand in and pull it out for the huge bubbles. I would buy it again!

IF YOUR CHILD LOVES BUBBLES...THEN THIS IS A "MUST"!
I have two boys 4yrs. and 7yrs. old...And this easter...They got this item in their baskets. I MUST SAY IT IS THE COOLEST TOY! And of course being new...I had to see "just how it worked" before turning it over to them...

Well it was hard to give over. I was having such a blast with the large bubbles that it makes.

My 4 yr. old needs NO assistance in using this item. Though the area that holds the bubbles doesn't stand...And he is sort of small to hold it and enjoy the full effect of the bubble/sword maker. That I just tucked that part on a lawn chair. And they both were outside for over an hour! I was so thrilled when they found something else to do. For it left the bubbler open for mom to have her fun!

My 4 yr. old also went in a circle and made a unique bubble that looked like a donut! I wish I had my camera out for that momment. So...next time we have them out...Camera will be waiting a SWEET momment to capture.

... Read more

Reviews (10)

Great Buy!!
When we were in the market for a sandbox, I saw this one and fell in love!I thought it was pretty expensive though.However, when I started pricing sandboxes and a table/chairs/umbrella set separately - this Naturally Playful Set was actually a reasonable price.It only took about 15 minutes to put together, and it is plenty big.We couldn't be happier!

Having fun in the sand
Our California yard, though larger than most, was not layed out for a child.Now that our beautiful daughter is 3 years old she wants to play in the yard while I'm cooking dinner.After all our calculations of the yard and its planter beds, a swing would not fit, our first choice for fun.She was very happy to learn about this sandbox and so was I.It was easy to put together and screw together.We have many meals and snacks out on the table since purchasing it.Our daughter gets great joy from opening and closing the lid not to mention the hours of fun playing in the sand.For the price, the dual function of this sandbox is effective for small yards.We were told by the store that none were in supply and we were expecting to purchase 2 items, the sandbox and the table seperate from each other.It was a pleasant surprise to find the item was in stock.It works very nicely in the planter bed that was the only space for it. One can see it from our dining room door and kitchen windows.It is pleasing to the eye.All that really matters is that our daughter plays happily with this sandbox.Brings back memories of my days playing in the sandbox...happy ones!Enjoy this product.

Thanks for nothing.
Toys R Us, how do you stay in business?You advertise toys and claim to offer them, but when someone wants to go buy one, it isn't in stock in any of the 13 DFW metroplex locations.So I should just order it online and pay $80 in shipping, right?Is that what you are saying?That I shouldn't bother visitng your stores because your stores are not properly stocked.And further more that you are not concerned with the inflated shipping rates and whether or not an ordinary family can afford to pay them.VERY VERY VERY dissapointed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Outdoor Play    2. Toddler    3. Activity    4. Furniture   

Subjects:  1. Ride-Ons    2. Motorized   

Editorial Review

Sibling to the award-winning Explorer Globe, this junior version can help children become interested in geography before they even start school. The Junior Explorer Globe is jam-packed with fun facts, trivia, and useful information about every aspect of the geographical world. It has four modes of interactive play, ranging from having kids search for certain pictures on the globe to playing regional music from each continent. The globe sits on a sturdy base, which features a dial to the four play functions, an on/off switch, volume control, and the attached penlike stylus. This stylus is the key instrument: kids use it to touch virtually any point on the surface of the globe to hear information and answer questions. --Pam Lauer ... Read more

Features

• Four modes include Explore, Music, Search the World & Adventure Raps
• Kids will learn about our oceans, continents, animals and landmarks
• Offers a taste of regional music and foreign phrases
• Volume control
• On/off switch

Reviews (13)

great learning and entertaining toy
My 4 years old LOVES to play with this globe and has been learning a lot from it. Yes, it doesn't say much about countries but let's not forget this is the JR version. I think it is great that they give emphasis in animals since kids like them. Also, all different languages and typical music that it includes. I think it is great that kids learn the continents at least they are aware that USA is not in this world alone. PULEASE... they didn't pay for someone's furniture to be cleaned... Don't get me wrong but this person must go around the world a bit. People have to know how to take care of themselves for a change instead of blaming someone else everytime. Gosh!
I recommend this toy. This is not a Geography professor substitue just a way to get kids interested in other areas and cultures. I suppose the more advanced version may bring the countries. I don't know. I am sure there is only so much they can fit inside this toy and as parents we can't expect to relay on a toy to teach our kids everything they need to know. We think this toy is awesome.

Watch out for stains on furniture
The toy has little rubber feet on the bottom which will leave little purple circle shaped stains on wood furniture.My son's brand new furniture was damaged and Leap Frog will not pay to have it cleaned.They were aware of the situation, however, they did not issue a recall.They simply changed the rubber feet on the toy for the new production runs, but they left all of the old ones on the store shelves.So which one will you get - the new or the old?This toy isn't worth the trouble.Leap Frogs' customer (dis)service is horrible.I will never buy another leap frog toy again.Watch out for this company - all they care about is making a buck.

BETTER THEN I THOUGHT
When my brother bought this for my 3 year old daughter I thought he had wasted his money, there was no way my daughter was going to pay attention to this globe. I was wrong! My daughter loves it and within 5 minutes she was telling me about the Statue of Liberty and the Great Wall of China. She and I love it so much that I am buying one for my neice's birthday present. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Geography    3. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    4. Electronic    5. Math    6. Alphabet   

Reviews (17)

Very Disappointed (Esp. for the $$$)
After a few months with this walker, I am heading out the door to buy the $20 Little Tikes walker at Toys R Us. The Leap Frog walker is USELESS. The wheels move & spin WAY too easily... the walker can easily get away from your child; plus, any tiny bump or nudge and the music either starts or resets. The "piano keys" are not interactive at all, and neither is the spinning wheel... so basically, there is NOTHING for your child to play with here.

Another Great Leap Frog Product !!!!!
This is a great walker. Our daughter is 9 months old and almost 22 lbs all the others walkers we tried out were flimsy and light weight , this one is super sturdy !! Just what she needed, the music and lights keep her occupied for quite awhile !! I read some of the other reviews of this product being too "fragile" I don't know were that is coming from because this is one of the sturdiest one I have ever seen !! Great product , a must have !!!

Good, solid toy
My 11 month old weighs 22lbs, so I really needed something that would be solid and strong as he tries to learn to walk. Some of the walkers we'd use at play group or at friends' houses were too light, and when he'd push on them, he'd go flying forward. So I really, really appreciate this toy. It remains stable as he stands up, and moves at just the right speed when he pushes it. The music on it is pleasant, it has an on/off switch with volume control, and it has different settings. It isn't really a toy forhim to just sit there and play with it for a long period of time, because like some of the reviewers wrote, it has to be moving to really get it going and do a lot. I still give it 5 stars anyway, because I really appreciate it as a walker. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baby and Infant    2. Learning    3. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    4. Electronic    5. Music   

Reviews (16)

Worth every penny!
Because this was such an expensive item I did my homework before purchasing the table. I looked at some cheaper tables to begin with but found that they couldn't come close to the Thomas table by Learning Curve. This table is made of solid wood and took me about 5 minutes to put together. I was able to get the playmat for free with the table through a promotion Toys R Us was having at the time of purchase. Another thing that sold me on the Thomas table was that this is the same table they have at Barrnes and Noble and you can imagine how many children play on that day after day. We have the table set up in our son's playroom since it is such a large piece. Unlike many other toys we have purchased in the past, this is one that we will save for years to come. They are expensive, but they are also made well and come with a lifetime guarantee. If you have a problem with one of their products you simply send it to them with a letter and within about 1-2 business weeks they will send you a brand new item. If you are looking to buy a train table I would highly recommend this one. Though it is more expensive, it is worth it in the long run. Why spend $80-$100 on a table that is only going to last a year or so when you can spend a little more and save it forever? One other hint...Michael's Arts and Crafts and A.C. Moore Craft Stores also carry a decent amount of the wooden Thomas toys. Look in your local paper for their 40% off coupons. They apply to Thomas and Friends which makes it a lot more affordable. :)

$$$ TRAIN TABLE PRICE IS EXTREMELY TOO HIGH****
Hello, my son is 3 and just was newly introduced to Thomas, he loves it, there are so many trains to collect from 2004 and past years. This table is so over priced, we decided also to build one $60 for materials (all oak) and a few hours and its done, personally its beautiful and stained it looks like an expensive piece, (thanks to my brother-in-law builder and my husband), if you are not as lucky to have someone in your family build it for you here is a suggestion..get in touch with your local school, or the woodshop teacher and see if you can get one of the students to build it as a project (they get graded for this) and your helping that student learn, or get plans and build it yourself, dont have the saws? your local home store may cut the wood for you. Its just a suggestion because thomas stuff is great but I would rather spend my money on the trains (which is the REAL enjoyment. Hope this helps

Time For Thomas
The Thomas train sets are great modern versions of the classic indestructible wooden train sets.Simple enough to avoid the toddler age frustrations of getting the cars to run on the track yet complex enough to engage a wide range of ages (up to and including Grandpas).All the stories help with the imagination part....the books & videos provide an endless source of adventures that can be acted out, although most kids are perfectly capable of inventing their own episodes.

Here is my advice, if you are trying to work your way through the maze of start-up options:

First of all, you can spend a fortune on a huge set....even if you can afford it, I would start with something small and give the child the joy of receiving a chain of small but intriguing presents over a long period of time.It fosters the joy of giving/receiving and helps teach them to come back again and again to the same toy...watching it grow, asking for specific items from the stories they hear, etc.Several reviewers suggest painting an old coffee table and this is a great idea.

I suggest the Figure 8 set (the most popular one) or if you want to spend a little bit more, the Conductors Figure 8 set.Both are complex enough to be interesting, but simple enough to give lots of room for growth.Almost immediately I would add a new present of one of the inexpensive engines (you can ask the child which story they like best and get that engine for them....or buy the engine to go with the video or book in the same gift)....these would be Percy The Small Engine, Bill The Yellow Engine, Treavor, (or a bit more $ for:) The Lady Engine, James The Red Engine, Gordon The Express Engine (he's one of the best stories, I think), or Henry The Green Engine.

Now for the good stuff!Give it a month or so, and then reward the child with something really cool like the Barrel Loader or Rusty the Construction 3 Car Set.

I honestly can't see the point in the huge multi hundred dollar system sets.If you want to impress the neighbors or something, go for it, but I'm telling you.....most kids will enjoy a large number of small thoughtful gifts, not a "keep-up-with-the-Jones" effort on your part.

Good behavior can be rewarded with a pick-your-own trip to the store (there are sometimes when a real time shopping trip can't be beat)

By the way, the Thomas stories are based on real restored engines that run in England on the Mid-Hants Railway Watercress line near Winchester (you can read about them an even plan a trip to ride on the real Thomas trains by checking outwatercressline.co.uk).They are a day trip from the London rail stations, although I recommend using a B&B in the Winchester area and staying overnight if you decide to go.Winchester was the center of the old Saxon kingdom of Wessex of King Alfred as well as a major early medieval site (the Cathedral has the tombs of many of the Saxon Kings as well as Jayne Austen and Izaac Walton and it was where Richard the Lionhearted was crowned.)

... Read more

Subjects:  1. Furniture    2. Wood    3. Train Set Accessories    4. Preschool    5. Vehicles    6. Trains    7. Train Accessories   

Reviews (17)

Great kitchen to grow with your little girl!
This was a gift for my little girl's 1st birthday.She is about to turn two and this kitchen is still played with everyday!She now makes the sound of water coming out of the faucet and cooks for me on the stove.Perfect size!I think that she will be able to use it for a few more years yet.

My daughter loves it and so does my wallet!
I did alot of research before purchasing this kitchen. I did not want one that made numerous sounds (I want my daughter to use her own imagination). This kitchen is perfect. She loves the full size frig. She is tall for her age 2 1/2 and this kitchen is perfect. I read reviews that it is small and it isn't!!! The dimensions are listed. If it were any bigger your child might as well just play in the kitchen with their parent... :-) This play kitchen is sturdy and doesn't have a bunch of tiny places for dirt and bacteria to hide.LOVE IT! Highly recommended it...
(also I found it very cheap on the walmart website)

Great Kitchen Set!!!
My 2 year old girl LOVES this kitchen. She is always opening and closing the doors. It's held up great considering she is really rough on her toys. There are no nooks and cranies for the dirt to get into inside, so it's easy to clean. She drew with crayon on the outside, and I just used some cleaner and washed it right off. I purchased this about 3 months ago, and it was twice the price it is now. I wish I knew it would go down that much, but oh well. She loves it and it occupies her while I'm making dinner. It's small enough not to be intrusive in my kitchen, either. I thought it might be bigger, but it's just right. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Pretend Play    2. Cooking   

Editorial Review

The Pixter is like a personal digital assistant (PDA) for kids. But instead of storing boring appointments and phone numbers, they get to draw, do puzzles, and learn a little, too. The Pixter is about the size of a small book, and has a pretty solid weight to it. It's made out of brightly colored and durable plastic. The main action of this toy is drawing with an attached stylus. The Color Pixter offers much better graphics then the black and white version, which comes in handy with activities like Paint-by-Numbers and Connect-the-Dots. You can draw a picture free form, or you can use one of the starter backgrounds. There are tool buttons, like on a PDA, that give you access to fun stamps, special effects, and the eraser button. You can also save your creation in the Pixter's memory. There are some boppy tunes playing along with all this creative activity, but luckily for parents, there's also a jack for headphones and a volume adjuster. An expansion slot on top of the Pixter accepts ROM-based expansion cards that contain additional software and games. Requires 4 "AA" batteries. (Not included.) --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Don't buy Pixter...Go for a Leapster
My 3-year-old loves her Leapster and plays with it in the car on long trips as well as in the house when I have to do things that leave her on her own. That's why, when I saw what looked like really fun and educational games for the Pixter, I put it on her wish list for her birthday. It'll be twice as much fun when there are more games from which to choose, I thought. But it's turned out to be a major disappointment. The screen is grainy, the interface is not intuitive, and one really has to press hard to get the screen to recognize the stylus. It's not easy even for an adult! The drawings skip and you can't drag items once they're placed: You never know where they're going to be centered before you place them. The games are not as educational as those on the Leapster, either. We bought Global Passport, Creative Genius, Barbie Fashion Show, Pet Shop, and Symphony Painter (that one is the worst!). She's using the Pet Shop a little, but that's it. Don't waste your money. Go for the Leapster...It's elegant and fun with a clear picture and sound. Now I wish I'd taken to heart the previous reviewer who bought the Leapster instead because I'm stuck with all this expensive useless nonsense. I had also bought the math, Barbie writing and Clifford cartridges, but I'm going to return those because they were bought in a brick and mortar store and haven'tyet been opened.

Great fun!
How cool is this?! A color computer for little hands. It is a great set.The game cartridges that go along make it just as exciting as any gaming system.The basics to it are drawing and other artistic works such as stickers, shapes and fill-in colors.My son got one at the age of 4 and loved it.He broke the first one by falling on the screen, but we bought a new one because of the use of the first one. Now, nearly 2 years later, he is expanding his artistic talents by drawing with different styled lines, creating his own coloring themes and the like. Works great, day or night, as the screen is lit.We often take ours in the car because of the headphone option and volume control.

Get a Leapster instead
I was very disapointed in the Pixter. We returned ours and got a Leapster. The graphics and controls are so much better on the Leapster and the games are much more fun and educational. Also the Leapster is much more intuitive, a child can pick up a Leapster and figure everything out - there is even a "hint" button if the child gets stuck. A child that gets stuck with the Pixter can only look at the grainy screen and wonder where they went wrong. This toy is not worth the money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Wacky    2. Activity    3. Electronic    4. Games    5. Handheld    6. Learning   

Features

• Appliances make realistic sounds
• Includes 27-pc. accessory set
• Plenty of storage space
• Designed to match today's home décor
• Realistic frying pan and boiling pot

Reviews (69)

GREAT KITCHEN
We needed a play kitchen for our, at the time, 12 month old twin sons to play with at grandmas. We knew we wanted a lifestyle kitchen, but dream or deluxe? Well we couldnt see spending $300 on toy kitchen for grandmas house, so we bought the dream model. I really love this kitchen and my now 21 month olds do too!

AT TRU this seemed to be very well made, the decals were adorable and there were just soo many fun features. But we relly loved how it wasnt pink and covered with flowers, why can't boys cook too? Well the dream kitchen solved that problem! We had also planned on puting this toy kitchen in my mothersactual kitchen, and these colors wouldnt clash too much with the decor...

Well this kitchen took my husband and his brother about an hour to put together, but the directions were easy for us to follow. Our sons took to it imediatly and we were just in love! Although it doesnt have as much room as the Deluxe, it has plenty! There are 7 cabinets and a basket, plus the storage in the refriderator, oven, and microwave! There was also some counter space, so we didnt really need another table, but we got one anyway... We loved the little scenes, but put the stickers on BEFORE putting this kitchen together!!! We were actually missing the important sticker (the fall one in the window) so we called Step2 and they sent us ALL the stickers very promptly with no questions asked! That means I will have stickers to use to "touch up" the kitchen in later years.

The kitchen is extremely sturdy and my boys really give it some abuse!! Their favorite feature is the telephone, but what toddler doesnt like telephones? The interactive aspects to this kitchen are the ones with the controll panels (microwave and oven)It is very fun for our boys, and its one of their favorite toys at grandmas (along with my 9 other nieces and nephews ranging from 4 years to 12 years!!)

We love this kitchen and my mother cant believe how much fun our sons have in it, but at home we have the deluxe model which can accomidate more children, has more storage, comes with more food, has more interactions, has a dishwasher, and a double sink, but they are both really impressive. I would recomend you getting this kitchen if you dont have much room, if you dont have more than 1 child (unless you have 2 children close in age) or if you cant handout $300 dollars for a toy kitchen... But we love both and they are both great quality by Step2... we couldnt ask for anything more...

Mother of 2
My in-laws had bought this kitchen for my daughter who was 18 month old Christmas 2003.My daughter still loves it and has tons of tea parties.My younger daughter who will be 2 loves playing with the kitchen also. So much so we are buying her, her own kitchen.The batteries on the light above the sink runs out to fast. And it is a little disappointing that the sink does not make running water sounds. My daughter actually puts one of the pots on the burner to make the running water sound. One of our neighbors has a 9 year old that sometimes comes over and she enjoys playing with the kitchen also. It is also very sturdy.We just purchased the kitchen with the washer and dryer for my other daughter and I hope they love that as much as they love this kitchen and I hope it holds up as well.

Just bouth for my 20 Month old...really nice but...
What is the deal with the pot and pan that this comes with..ours are flat bottom and they do not activate the noises on the burner.The burner has little buttons that need a pan with a rim or something underneath to activate the burner...but ours do not.I read the other reviews but no one else seems to mention this.What's up with that?Now I need to go figure out if we were given the wrong pans with our set.

It is a great little kitchen overall and my daughter is loving it big time.It's only the grownup that notice the water faucet and fridge not making any noise! But hey, we paid for it so we should voice our complaints!

Again, overall a great kitchen.Pretty expensive considering no running water noise and the pots and pans don't activate the burner noise.You have to buy the extra food..it's a must to get the value out of this. Ours came with no food...even though the advertisment showed that it came with at least a few items...not in ours! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dolls   

Reviews (97)

Long Life
I bought this bike for my eldest daughters 1st birthday ,when they first came out, about ten years ago! My youngest children, 4 and 3 love to ride it and it is still in great condition. It is so easy to ride and fun to push the kids when we go for walks. My son just got a fancy trike for his 3rd birthday and he still prefers to ride this one. His other one has heavy rubber tires making it harder for little ones to learn to petal. I am going to by one for my nephew for his 2nd birthday!

Years of use
We bought this for my first son four years ago. He is now five and still rides this. He even rides it together with my younger son (almost 4). This plastic tricycle is very durable, it has been thru a LOT. It rides very well on the wooden deck.

My little Devyn loves this toy...
I could not beleive how much Devyn who just turned 1 loved his new little toy.. ... Read more

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

Features

• Molded plastic fire engine toddler bed
• Holds standard crib mattress (sold separately)
• Working night-light
• Includes mattress support
• Minimal adult assembly required

Reviews (32)

She loves it :)
We bought this bed for our little princess and she adores it. She loves turning the light on and off, peeking through the windows and climbing all over it. I read the reviews and wasn't sure how the assembly would be but it went smoothly and was pretty quick. I've even slept in the bed with her for a couple hours and found it to be most comfy:). The high sides are great, she did fall out a couple times in the first week but we put a pillow on the floor under the sidestep so it was a cushioned landing and she went right on sleeping. We're very happy with our little fire engine.

Great Bed, but hard to understand instructions
My son will be 2 in a couple of weeks and we bought the bed for his birthday. I spent 3 hours trying to put it together. With the exception of telling you what and how many screws to put in, the instructions are only pictures. Not everyone can just look at a picture and be able to put something together. My son loves the bed, especially the light. I laid in it tonight with him and I'm not a small person, and it held up just fine.

Finally stays out of my bed!
This bed is straight from heaven! My twenty-month old son finally started to actually stay in his own bed. He never liked his crib and he is so tall that even with the mattress on the last notch he could still tople out of it. So, he slept with us. Needless to say, he loves his new bed so much he stays in it when he wakes up in the night. I know that if he does wake up quietly, he won't hurt himself trying to get out. The nightlight on a timer is a great idea, turning off after five min. Our older three sons love it too. It holds up to all of them playing in it during the day. ... Read more