Reviews (9)

Excellent motivator and great fun
As a child I used to play with K'nex a lot. I just dug up an old model I built to hold my poker chips today that I'd made years ago, and I decided to look around for the biggest set I could find.

As a college student now, I can see the value of playing with the K'nex set as a kid: creativity, problem-solving, even common sense about the laws of physics (big stuff that falls down tends to go boom, for example), all have been boosted thanks to this toy, I think. It's no wonder I'm able to learn new techniques and ideas so quickly now (as opposed to some of my friends).

All you have to do is show your child how to connect the pieces in different ways, plop a models book in front of them, and let them have at it with your encouragement. Just don't let them put anything in their mouth: some of the pieces are less than an inch long.

What a GREAT simple toy
I bought a 22 piece set of these for my 5 1/2 yr old daughter. She played with those 22 pieces for over an hour just ditting there.

I can't say enough...they are easy to clean up since they are magnetic. The only things I'd say as a caution are that the metal balls hurt if they stray away and you step on them so keep it contained.

My sons favorite toy!
I have a 6 year son that was bored with legos and licoln logs, but loved to try and build things. So, we got him this set for Christmas. He loves it! You are not limited to what shapes you can make with the other building sets. he will go to his room and build things himself from looking at the directions. Since christmas we have bought him a few of the smaller sets to go along with this set. My husband and I like to play with it to. I would recommend knex to everyone! They are worth evey penny! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Puzzles    2. 3-D Puzzles   

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   

Editorial Review

Executing a clear and comprehensive crossover strategy between a board game and a set of familiar characters can be a tricky enterprise. But this synthesis of familiar Disney and the increasingly popular board game Scene It works exceptionally well, relying on DVD technology and the familiar faces of Disney's beloved characters to form a consistently entertaining family play experience. Included in the set are a game DVD, a game board, four category reference cards, 30 "buzz" cards, and 160 trivia cards with special sets for kids and adults. The game's designers thoughtfully included some Disney classics for Mom and Dad but there is more of an emphasis on Disney properties of the last fifteen years or so, The Lion King, George of the Jungle, the live action 101 Dalmatians, in order to appeal to the youngsters. Game play between the physical board and the action on the DVD is well executed and we found it easy to understand the rules and have fun. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Scene It Disney Game Review
The name of ths very exciting game is called Scene It Disney. This game to me is very ''interesting''. I think this game is very interesting to me because I like the thing's that they have in their cartoon movies that I'm interested in like the kind of clips that they play that are on nickelodeon. This game has lots of colorful objects that will make you want to play;Like the game board that we play on and the dice has little pictures on it to be able to tell us what to do. The movie clips are colorful, but I think theres only one cilp that is Black and White.
This game promises you family trivia game cards with magical Disney Clips! It also promises that you willhave fun and I thought the same thing. This game also promises a DVD and a boardgame. I think the rules are kind of easy because some of the questions I might not know and there are to much. Scene It Disney is more fun when you play with a group because it's more ''EXCITING AND FUN''. There is alot more action then just playing with 2 people because it makes the game more boring This game has movie clips like, Lion King, Flubber, Rapunzel Finding Nemo etc. That's why it's also interseting.
This game has a remote, two dyes, that are diffrent.I had fun plyaing because it had action in it because we was plying in groups.This game did build skills for me because I learned from the questions that I didn't know. If I had brought this game I would get what I payed for because it came with all the materials.
I would play this game again because it has fun and excitement in it. I hope all the people that hear of this game willlove to play this game because it is vey interesting.

Disney Scene It?The DVD Game
I think this game is a very fun and energetic game.Iplayed it once and lved it.It is the BEST game I have ever played.

A. M. T.'s review for disney Scene it
I couldn't wait to get this game I was so excited when it was finally in stock at Toys R Us. I got the game and played it right away. I was rather disappointed when the game started repeating clips and questions. It started repeating them the 4th time I played so that is a bad point about the game, that the fun didn't last as long as I had hoped. There are good things too. I hadn't seen some of the movies it mentioned and seeing the clips about them prompted me to see the movie. I also think this is really a game for all ages. I have a lot of cousins and we all played it together. Everyone had fun even the adults. The funniest part of playing with my whole family was that my grandpa had the most fun. Overall I think this is a pretty great game to have and I am looking forward to sequels of the game to come out.
~*~A.M.T~*~ ... Read more

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   

Features

• Timing Action Commands help you dodge or inflict damage, and impress the crowd to give you power for super attacks.
• Fold into a paper airplane and take to the air, turn sideways to slip through narrow passages, and roll into a tube to bounce to safety.

Reviews (121)

A kiddy game that adults will actually laugh at? Wow.
Back in the Nintendo 64 days, Mario, Nintendo's mascot, was in the uber-successful Mario 64. And pretty much since then Nintendo's been trying to have it's "sequel" or successor. They did that with Mario Sunshine but it probably wasn't what we had in mind. Paper Mario was released then and it had Mario and Co. as 2D characters in 3D backgrounds so Mario was essentially paper-thin literally. We now have the "sequel" to the original and it vastly improves on the original.

Story: One would be pretty stupid to try and think the Mario storylines were deep or original. Princess Toadstool is kidnapped and Mario must save the day by beating Bowser. Well Toadstool has been kidnapped only it's not Bowser's fault. This apparently ties into a treasure map and the mysterious Thousand Year Door.

Graphics: Basically with these kind of games like Wind Waker is that they're beautiful only on a different level. Nowhere near the brightness of Mario Sunshine, the realistic ultra-detailed Resident Evil 4 or the brilliant level design of Metroid Prime but it more than captures the essence of the game.

Sound/Music: Maybe they learned that Mario Sunshine's voice acting was pretty bad so Nintendo isn't even bothering. You still get Mario's "let's-a go!" or "oh yea!" and some other voice samples but nothing full speech. The music isn't immediately catchy but it fits.

Gameplay: All games come down to this. Paper Mario's "gimmick" is that it revolves around, yes, Mario as paper form. In this form he can fold himself into a plane and fly to a far platform, squash himself and launch himself into the air or squeeze through tough spaces.

The battles in Paper Mario unfold on a stage with it's own audience. This probably one of the most unique ideas to come in a long time. Basically battles are like Paper Mario and Superstar Saga with timed presses and dodges and you get a cast of characters to be your battle buddy.

The audience however plays a key part in everything. Let's say you're not showing off your extra damage attacks or not using cool moves then the audience goes down and some members will even through rocks at you. However, if you're the fan favorite they'll throw goodies on stage. There is also stage elements like the stage can collapse or these spiky guys can randomly fall from the ceiling. This isn't a press A constantly RPG, you'll be busy.

One of the big pluses is the dialogue. The dialogue in Paper Mario 64 was downright horrible. Here, it can actually be downright funny. My ever favorite Bowser line: "Crystal Stars you say? They sound like world conquering tools, I want them!". And Luigi doesn't join you on the quest but he has his own quest to tell you about should you go chat to him.

It's sad that games like this get past over for others which is a shame cause this is one of the Gamecube's must-play titles.

SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS GAME ROCKS LIKE ANYTHiNG!!! I love all of the chapters!!!! I could play this game a thousand times!!!!!

The Best Mario Game Yet!
This game is a ton of fun if you are into platform games.
There are loads of partners (7 to be exact) to choose from and each partner is unique! You have to collect 7 crystal stars and a long journey has to be taken for each one!

The problem is that when you are talking to someone who is telling you what to do, it takes for ages!

You get different abilitys such as Plane, Roll etc. and they are all briliant!
I think the best bit is the battles, you have to fight bad guys when you bump into them on the field mode! Each crystal star gives you a star attack and they are all fabulous!

If you like platform games and/or fighting games then this is the game for you! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Gamecube (Game Cube, Game-cube)    3. Action    4. Adventure   

Features

• Scooter Suspension: Front --Allows for smooth turns and absorbs the bumps in the road.
• Brake Type: Rear Wheel Friction Brake--Allows you to stop the scooter smoothly by applying pressure to the back fender.
• Adjustable Handlebars--Height of handlebars adjusts to accommodate any rider.
• Wheelie Bar--An extended bar that allows you to pull manual wheelies.
• Wheel Size: 98 Millimeters

Reviews (2)

it sucks
you should definitely get a motor or electric scooter man this sucks do not get this razor is a bad manufactuer and needs to shut down....foreverrrrrr!!!muahahaha lol

THIS SCOOTER IS FROM HEAVEN
It's EXTREMELY good. This toy has really good brakes. It goes really fast.It jumps really high. I LOVE THIS SCOOTER!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Scooters   

Reviews (17)

Portuguese mom
I bought this lovely doll for my mother,who is Portuguese.She was thrilled. I ended up having to buy several more for the grandkids, as she won't let them touch hers! She is one popular and beautiful doll and everyone that has recieved one has been delighted.

This doll is ugly!
Omg! This doll is sooo ugly when i saw her i got freaked out but her dress nice. But her face is soo ugly her make up is yuck(barf)i gave this doll a one. She deserve it!

Portuguese Princess
The Portuguese princess is overall a lovely doll. There was nothing that jumped out at me that was postive or negative about this doll. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dolls    2. Fashion Dolls    3. Collectible Dolls   

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   

Editorial Review

Let's face it: Lego is the standard by which so many toys these days are measured--and fall short. In a world where creativity seems to be going out the window, replaced by step-by-step instructions for proper construction of toys with pre-determined stories, Legos are basically stackable blank slates. This particular bucket o' blocks features 1,000 small elementary pieces. A pamphlet with 13 instructions (and 28 ideas) is included, inspiring young builders to create anything from clowns to dinosaurs, but most children will probably do their own thing anyway…flying tractors, anyone? Parents and kids will love the big, sturdy blue storage tub with space enough to hold far more than 1,000 Legos. A true classic. --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Legos
This bin contains 1000 Legos(Legos are VERY fun and safe!!).If your child likes building Bionicles, Star Wars, Clickits etc. then they will like this!Legos are also very educational.They teach kids to use their imaginations.But, if your child is under the age of about 4, dont worry!There are also bins containing Duplos, and Quatros, wich are made for youner children(they are like Legos only bigger).Legos make a great gift.

Great Value
I'm not sure if we just timed our purchase right or what, but the price we paid for this Lego bucket was great.After we ordered it on here and were shopping in stores for other items, we realized we had gotten a deal!LEGOS are always a great toy, who could go wrong, especially at such a reasonable price!

Great Value but You'll Want More
I bought this for our four year old, and he really enjoys playing with them.I like this generic collection of mult-purpose bricks better than the sets that are designed to build one unique item.For the price, you really get a lot of stuff.On the down side, there are a lot of the smaller bricks (1 x 2 and 1 x 1), but it is still a good value.After playing with this for a few days I found that my son wanted more plates, bricks (2 x 4 and 2 X 8), and wheels (my son loves to make cars).I went to lego dot com where I was able to buy more of these specific things.

In summary, buy this set first from Amazon and then go to lego dot com to buy additional wheels, bricks and plates. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction   

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 (3)

GARBAGE!
This is a piece of junk. For starters the track will not stay together. We were constantly putting pieces back together. We'd snap one piece back and on the other side of the layout another piece of track would come apart. When we did get it together it was almost impossible to keep the cars on the track. My son and I attempted to play with this for about an hour and if we made it around the track twice without the cars coming off it was a lot.Like most hot wheels racing sets this one falls far short of expections.

My Three Year Old Daughter Even Loves This Slot Car Set
Yes, I taught my three year old daughter to race this set and she loves it!

These cars are very tough and despite numerous crashes while learning the best throttle position to take the tight twisting corners, these is no perceivable damage or scatching on the bodies. The trick is to balance the throttle in the corners but have enough drive to make the loops.

I noticed that there is a slight decrease in speed when both cars are racing at full throttle. Anyway, I ditched the battery pack for a mobile phone charger to power the set, which has made a huge difference. I still reckon it will perform better if I build a power pack with a regulator to smooth out the voltage, but it is heaps of fun anyway.

You can experiment with all sorts of track layouts, but the trick is to have a figure eight so that the cars have the same track length to cover. I am searching for accessories, but finding them hard to come by. Maybe someone else knows where I can get extra track pieces and spare cars?

Now, I played around with the cars to test performance and roughed up the rear tyres on one of them. This helps with traction as they are constantly spinning the rear wheels and oversteering when using full throttle in corners. Changing the slot pins makes no difference since they are at the front of the car. I even took out the taction magnet to see what difference it would make, but then had to tippy toe around all the corners at low speeds as it just would not stay on the track. Once I had some momentum up, the cars travelled at phenomenal speeds, similar to the Tyco Turbo Trains from the mid 1980s.

In summary, this is a great electric racing set from Mattel Hot Wheels which is fun for all ages. I was so impressed that my daughter was able to understand that she had to slow the car down for the corners!

Be sure to have someone handy near when 1st used!
This track was exactly what my nephew described, the cool twists and turns -- I thought I had found the ideal track.Once it was put together (~1 hour and no written directions), it was put to use for the first time and the green car flew off the track.The peg which holds the car is too short and can't keep the cars on.A handy dad can repair and have the track operational.Good luck if you decide to give it a go. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Vehicles    2. Play Sets   

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   

Editorial Review

Design your own soccer ball with this simple kit. The kit includes a size five(regulation-size) all-weather soccer ball, a pump, a set of six paints (in red, blue, green,yellow, black, and white), a specially formulated paint medium to help the paints stick,and a couple of brushes. The process is simple: Pump up the ball and then paint the whitesections in any color scheme. The instructions suggest using team or school colors andpainting on names of friends or team members. Allow each part of the ball to dry for twoto four hours before rotating the ball to paint the next part. Once the entire ball is painted,another 36 hours of drying time is required to ensure that the paint adheres well. Theresult is a fun, personalized soccer ball that's perfect for practice games or familyoutings. --Elisabeth Fredrickson ... Read more

Features

• Kit includes synthetic leather ball, paints, brushes, pump, needle, and instruction sheet
• Hand-sewn soccer ball you paint and design
• Ball is all-weather and regulation size
• Paints are non-toxic
• Air dry paints adhere to ball surface

Reviews (16)

Surprise
I bought this for my niece two years ago and never thought about it or heard about it again.Recently, I went to her soccer game and while she was playing, her brothers were playing with this decorated ball.She had fun decorating it and they all love to play with it!!I was pleasantly surprised.

Cool Look, But won't Last
This seems like a lot of fun, but at the same time most people nowadays are looking for the new cool-looking Adidas or Nike. Plus it probably won't last very long because of the material.

Coming from a kid
Coming from a kid, I must say that this is a wonderful item to have. I got it for my birthday last year and I loved it. I played with all the time. I painted it my own way, and it tought me to be more creative. It looks still liked new, after a year of playing Traveling Soccer. I had my friends sign my soccer ball and now everyone wants to play with it! I love it and if your kid is sporty and has fun painting and stuff...getting this for your kid is a great idea. I loved getting this and so will you! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts and Crafts    2. Craft Kits    3. Painting    4. Painting Kits    5. Sports    6. Sports Equipment    7. Soccer   

Features

• Personalized Training Programs: Maya, the Yourself!Fitness personal trainer, will create a customized health and fitness program focused on your unique needs and individual goals.
• Dynamic fitness routines: To assure that no two workouts will ever be the same, each day Maya will build your personalized routine based on your progress and commitment level.
• Over 500 unique exercises: Maya will coach you through training sessions featuring Yoga, Pilates, Cardio Fitness, Strength Training, Flexibility Exercises and Targeted Weight Loss routines.
• Equipment Integration: Maya will integrate the fitness equipment you already own into your workout experience.
• Customized meal planning: As part of the Yourself!Fitness program, Maya offers nutritional advice with over 4,500 recipes, preparation instructions and shopping lists to make eating right an easy part of any lifestyle

Reviews (30)

Pretty Good Game
I purchased Yourself Fitness this January after my son got an x-box for Christmas.Overall a good fitness video game, but I do have a few problems with it.The trainer asks you what home equipment you have - and I don't have a step - but her cardio routines seem to be suited for the step.I do find most of her cardio warmups somewhat repetative and boring.She should work in some kickboxing type moves to get your heart rate up, but instead it is a lot of marching and side stepping.

The second issue is the whole rewards thing.I use this video to supplement my routine- it is not my regular thing.I have done many, many workouts, but because I don't schedule them I have never gotten a new workout space or new music.It would have been nice if you could have chosen a way to earn your rewards.So a good game if you use the whole package, not so great if you are looking for a supplemental video.

Meet Maya your personal Trainer!!
I've been using this game for almost four months now and have completed 60 workouts.(...)

As I'm always looking for something to inspire me to exercise it didn't take me long to come across this little gem. Yourself!Fitness is an Xbox "game" geared towards physical fitness. You are introduced to Maya who will be your personal trainer.

Maya starts you off by having you do a physical assessment where you are taken through a series of exercises and your resting and elevated heart rates are measured. You put in your height, weight and sex and from there Maya will customize a workout plan for you. Based on what your results are Maya will recommend a goal for you such as Weight Loss, cardio and other selections.

If you own hand weights, a balance ball or stepper, Maya can also incorporate those into your workout as well but you don't need to have those things to do it.

Y!F lets you set up a calendar to record when you want to exercise and for how long each session. For your initial fitness evaluation, Maya will recommend to you a weekly schedule but you can customize that for yourself. For instance, Maya recommended weight loss for me and had me scheduled every other day for 15 minutes to start. I am very overweight and I think "she" didn't want me to overdo it in the beginning. But I thought I could handle more and I adjusted the calendar to add in some 30 minute workouts. I'm entering my third week of workouts and have been doing five to six workouts a week at 30 minutes each.

Each time you go to workout, you are greeted by Maya. Maya will ask you how you are feeling. You are giving three options for an answer. Paraphrasing here but here is an example: A. Nothing can stop me, B. Feeling okay today and C. You're lucky I'm here!

Now, based on your answer, Maya will set the intensity of the workout before you even start. As you are working out, Maya will again ask you how you are doing. You can than chose if you think the workout has been too hard or too easy and Maya will then adjust accordingly.

This is so much better than a dvd or video just for the above mentioned customization but there is also some more neat things. Like you can zoom the camera in and out and pan all around Maya to get a better look at how she is doing the exercises. There is also a tutorial that you can exit out of the workout and you get more detailed instructions on how to do the workout. When you are ready you can rejoin Maya! There are different work out settings and music to chose from so less chance of getting bored.

Each day, when you start your program, Maya will suggest a daily focus - Weight loss, Cardio, Upper body, Lower Body and Flexibility. She varies these so you aren't doing the same thing over and over again. Weight loss is my main goal but I do the other workouts too and they are geared more to help me lose weight. You have a warming up period in the beginning and then you do the targeted workout for the day and a few minutes of stretching near the end.

Y!F also has a "Meditation Garden". This is a "place" to go and do yoga exercises. I haven't tried this part out yet but others have really enjoyed it.

There is also a reward system. After you've completed three scheduled workouts, Maya will reward you with some bronze dumbbells, a new location and a new music choice. There are two more sets of dumbbells to earn after this and more locations and music to unlock.

The workouts use Yoga, Pilates, Cardio, Strength training, and flexibility exercises.

After a set amount of workouts, Maya will have you do another Physical Assessment to see how far you've progressed.

There is also a great support system at the Yourself!Fitness website where you can keep an open journal where other members can encourage you and you encourage them.

There isn't much negative I can say about this except maybe a better selection of music or music you can download into it would be nice.

The graphics for Maya are excellent! She looks almost like a real person and moves pretty realistically too. Sometimes her arms look a little funny or she seems to be floating a bit but other than that, she looks great. The background graphics could be a little better but maybe the next version will address that.

I own a ton of exercise videos, dvds and very expensive exercise equipment that I just don't use. I'm starting my third week with this and I feel almost addicted to the program. There's something about being greeted and asked how you are doing or being told you're doing a great job meeting your commitments. It also keeps you on your toes not knowing exactly what to expect because each workout is different. There are over 500 exercises and Maya usually adds one to two each workout.

There is also a meal plan for those who are looking for that sort of help. I haven't done the meal plan but folks on the Y!F website who have really like it. You can download recipes from the website that you will find on the game.

This also comes in a PC version and a Playstation 2 version as well.

I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a home