Kakaku：1999 saved$19.99
Learning Curve
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Various Issues...) 『As others eluded to, it states that you can switch into a freewheeling mode, but even following the directions on the Learning Curve website's FAQ page, 2 of these did not work. I returned the first one after speaking with Learning Curve. They told me that if it won't freewheel, then it is defective and to return it. Replacement unit did the same thing, click every time I push it.
Some off-brand wooden track also is not very compatible with this train. I had some Imaginarium track, and the grooves in the track are about a millimeter narrower than the Thomas and Brio track. Battery-Powered Thomas doesn't quite fit with all wheels in the grooves, so it derails on this track constantly.
I have had pretty good luck eliminating other derailments of this train (with Brio and Thomas track) by using SureTrack clips on areas of my layouts that tend to not stay very straight. These clips are pricey, but they help avoid a lot of frustration when a toddler is destroying the track layouts with every other push of a train. I bought 1 box, which is enough to keep key pieces aligned on most layouts.
Overall, it has been fun for the few days we have had it, but I am very disappointed that it won't enter free-wheeling mode. I guess I will have to buy the wooden Thomas now as well.』
(Breaks VERY easily) 『I've gone through two of them, neither lasted more than a few hours. Extremely frustrating. Advertised as being able to 'roll' when not turned on (so kids can't play with it manually) but I fear that might be causing the breakdowns. Internal engine is not very durable, despite external die cast metal being pretty solid. Not sure if I will return or tear it apart to try and find out why they keep breaking.』
(Small but powerful!) 『This tiny Thomas train is very powerful! It can move forward in spite of any obstacles. If you want this train run on the rail, you have to make sure that the wheels are clean. Clean wheels guarantee its fearless rush. What makes me amazed is it just needs single AA size battery and lasts quite a long time!!』
(Pretty Fun Little Toy) 『Bought this Thomas Train for my sons 3rd birthday. He can play with it for hours on end. After doing some research on similar trains by Brio I came to the conclusion that, while this one didn't have some extra features like the others, it was the most durable of the battery powered wooden engines. It has lasted so far and I don't change the batteries that often. I did purchase rechargable batteries so we could have endless hours of thomas circling his track.
It's not that expensive and it's easy to use, this is a fun toy!』
(Most-used toy in our house) 『Battery-powered Thomas has now replaced our 10-year old "Sit-'n-Spin" as the most-played with toy for our 3 daughters. We bought the new Thomas to replace our old one, which endured a trip through our daughter's hair (had to be cut out and was never quite the same) and a swim in the toilet. The old model went forward and backwards (cool!) but the switch was very difficult for toddlers' fingers to manipulate (not cool). The new Thomas goes forward only, but the on/off button is very easy to use. We have had problems with Thomas. Sometimes he just dies, and then miraculously begins working later. Also, since the new Thomas has a headlight (cool!), he's a battery junkie (not cool). It is common for us to go through a battery every day. I now keep rechargeable batteries at the ready, as I'm sick of funding Thomas' indulgences. Thomas does jump the track more often than he should, but that doesn't seem to upset our kids, and therefore I don't care. The problems prevent me from awarding Thomas 5 stars, but his popularity with our kids earns him 4 stars. That said, I'm going to follow through with one of the other reviewer's suggestions and buy a Brio engine next.』 『
This Thomas the Tank can run practically anywhere a youngsters imagination sees track thanks to its powerful four-wheel drive. Its easy-start button and auto shutdown feature make it super simple for kids as young as 3 years old to operate. It even has a light. All it requires is single AA battery.
*Thomas Wooden Railway vehicles, track and destinations are not compatible with Take Along Thomas items.
IPhone 3G used's review (Fish Puzzle review) 『It is a good puzzle. My 3 year olds can easily use the puzzle and the pictures under the pieces help very much!』
(Definitely Helps Learn Colors!) 『My 2 year old twins got this a few months ago and now they know all 10 of these colors! This puzzle is great because although all the pieces fit into any color, my girls would put the wrong color in and say, "noooooooo" and then put the piece into the coordinating color. They adore this puzzle and get so proud of themselves!』
(Fantastic Puzzle) 『My 15-month old son has had this puzzle for 3 months and plays with it all the time. He loves dumping the pieces on the floor and putting them back in. He is learning his colors and likes to mix and match the pieces (which he finds very amusing). This is the best puzzle we've found.』
(Great Puzzle for Toddler - snap it up!) 『I paid twice this price because we found it at the Aquarium of the Pacific gift shop. I'm fine with that. It is a great puzzle for a young child. All the pieces are the same shape/size, so you can mix&match the colors on each fish - this makes it great for a child trying to develop confidence with puzzles. My daughter was struggling to develop that fine motor skill&would get easily frustrated. This puzzle really helped. Once she had that down, it took no time at all before my 23 month old could recognize&name all 10 colors.』 『2 years&up. Each wooden puzzle piece has a full color picture underneath. Tell a story, play a guessing game, or find the hidden pictures. Mix them up to form your own creation. Easy to hold pegs allow children to develop fine motor skills. 12" x 9".』
Kakaku：18 saved$0.18
Melissa and Doug
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Very Chunky!) 『Warning! This puzzle does not fit in standard puzzle racks! Also small children who like to put things in their mouths will make short work of the edges and the pictures will start to wear off. Two years and up.』
(Perfect for DINO lovers) 『The beautiful thing about the Melissa&Doug puzzles is that they double as play blocks. We bought this for a friend's one year old boy and he loves playing with the dinosaurs and making ROAR noises for them.
The only down side is that the paint does chip on the corners. It says non-toxic on the package so we are keeping our fingers crossed.』 『This innovative puzzle features thick, chunky pieces that fit neatly into the puzzle board, and can also stand up to be used for pretend play. Remove each dinosaur piece to reveal a full-color picture underneath. Includes 7 dinosaur pieces. Measures 12" x 11" x 1".』
Kakaku：354 saved$3.54
LeapFrog
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Great DVD, Great Songs, Great Books) 『This is a top notch product. The songs on the DVD are great -in a variety of styles that are entertaining for the parent, also. If you enjoy listening along with CDs like "For the Kids" and They Might Be Giants' No! you'll love these songs - I only wish they included an Audio CD.
The video style is crisp, fun and modern. The elements of phonics are woven into the lyrics of the songs -like Power Puff Girls meets Electric Company. The video segments have a corresponding books that my son loves looking at when he's not watching the DVD. He's even asked to have the books read to him at bedtime.』
(Great Learning) 『My 4 yr old loves the video, she doesn''t read along too much with the books but she does dance and sing the songs. She even took it for share day at school.』
(Letting your kids watch TV guilt free) 『This DVD is the best of both worlds, it totally entertains my children while actually educating them. The DVD is broken into 12 segments (each with it's own book to follow along). Each segment has a cute little skit and introduces a vowel sound in a fun way. The songs are very catchy (with out being annoying) and the skits are short enough to keep their attention. Both my 4 year old and 2 year old are completely mesmerized when it's on. My 4 year old likes to follow along with the books and is starting to sound out words....what more can a mom ask for?』 『Ready to add a fun twist to reading time? You can motivate little ones to read on their own with 12 engaging music videos on DVD and matching books. Each music video brings a story to life through lively animation, songs and words on-screen; and the 12 matching storybooks reinforce the learning experience. Books are great for take-along fun, too.』
Kakaku：999 saved$9.99
Manley
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (This toy does NOT work) 『Very disappointing. Istead of spraying water out of both ears and the tongue as shown in the pitcure, water only managed to trickle out of one ear, and there was certainly no shaking. I would not recommend this product to anyone.』
(No better than a plastic sprinkler - difficult to put up/down) 『The sale price for this item is very good - I would recommend it only if it is on sale.
It is cute, and may be fun for small children; however I think those cheap spinning sprinklers (usually have the character heads) would be better.
It took about 5 minutes to inflate, and then 10 minutes to get the air in the ears to be just right so that they would move. Then, when they did move they twisted up quite frequently. If the ears were blown up all the way, water just shot straight up into the air (over the kids). My kids were frustrated. The tongue was the only part that moved without problems. Then, to avoid it getting popped when not in use you have to remove all the air from it and shake out the remaining water - that's a pain as the dog is quite large - bigger than my actual labs. So keep that in mind.
According to the instructions, lack of movement/wagging may be due to a problem with water pressure. I am not aware of being in a low pressure area, but if you happen to know you are - you may want to take a pass.』
(fun for summer) 『This sprinkler is a lot of fun. All you have to do is fill it up with air, which doesn't take long, and then attach it to a garden hose. The ears and tongue and tail are supposed to move with the water on, but they don't always move. It doesn't matter much though, because they still shoot water which is the main thing.』
Kakaku：6999 saved$69.99
Step2
In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served. IPhone 3G used's review (Play School for kids) 『This little desk has brought alot of enjoyment to my granddaughter.The little ones have all kinds of room for books,etc.It is good to have for all kinds of fun and educational projects.』
(We Love this desk!) 『I bought this desk for my daughter who is turning 3 and we love it! Let me start by saying that you can pretty much tell the size of this from the picture and I ALSO live in a small apartment, but my daughter has a Pink Twin Race Car Bed,a House(the ones people usually put out in their backyard),a Kitchen,a Tv Stand,a Vanity with a whole seperate 2nd Full Length mirror, a Disney Princess Table with chairs, Rocking horse, and Pink Camp Chair and I STILL was able to fit this in there nicely so if you have an apartment you CAN fit this in. The directions can be a little confusing at first but lets face it there is only a few pieces it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what goes where. And although it would be easier to have a drill to put the screws in, I however did not and I am a non-college graduate single stay at home mom of 2 kids.I just used my hammer to tap the screws in first and used a standard screwdriver, just make sure when screwing in they are going in where they need to go:), honestly some people will find any reason to complain! I bought an AC adapter for the light so I would not have to keep buying batteries and it works great and was easy to install.This desk has so much room and spaces for all you need so I would recommend it to anyone.It is also very sturdy!』
(Step 2 Company Customer Service) 『My son got the art master activity desk for christmas. When we opened the box, I initially thought it was odd that it came with no instructions. But it was so easy to snap together that I didn't really think much of it. Then I realized that it was also missing the orange shelf that sits on top (the part with the light attached to it). My first thought was that there was no way I was going to pack this thing up and ship it back to Amazon. So I went on the step2.com website where there is an 800 number to call for customer service. The Customer Service rep I spoke with was AMAZING. She immediately appologized for the error, took down my contact information and is shipping the missing piece to my home. I am so impressed with this experience.
The desk itself is fantastic. Really easy to put together. Lots of little holes and grooves to store art supplies. 2 cubbys along the floor to store coloring books and papers. My son LOVES this desk and loves to organize all his crayons and markers. there is also a little cup holder where we store a small cup of water for water color painting. Everything has it's neat little storage place and it is so easy to sit down and do an art project without the messy clean up. We set the desk up in our office right next to my desk, so when mommy or daddy have to work, our son can "work" right beside us.
Can't wait for the shelf to arrive! (I also found out that you can download the assembly instructions from the website as well)』
(You now need a drill!) 『You need a power drill to put this desk together now. I called Step 2 because I thought they forgot to pre-drill the holes. They informed me that now they do not pre-drill anymore. You have to do it yourself. What a pain. I had to wait for my husband and wait for the battery in the drill to be charged! Bad move, Step 2.』
(It's ok. **NOT A 5 STAR TOY**) 『Do not get me wrong, it is spacious and durable. However, I don't see the 5 start rating. The light is so dim that it lights up practically nothing. Just there for show really. The desk is very bulky and takes us lots of space. We are in an apartment, so the size was bigger than I expected. The kids really just scribble all over the desk and use it as a ladder more than anything. My children are 2 and 3 and a half, neither one really took to the desk. They still prefer to do the arts and crafts on the dining room table.
At IKEA a great option was available for half this price.
**We hope they use it more as they grow older.』 『Step2 Art Master Activity Desk
Inspire the artist in your little one with the ultimate activity desk. The Art Master Activity Desk features a large work surface with built-in compartments to store all your art supplies. The hinged dry-erase writing surface easily wipes clean and opens to a storage area underneath. The Art Master's raised shelf holds all the art supplies and features a push button light underneath to give ample amounts of light to your little one's masterpiece. The light requires 3-AAA batteries, not included, and automatically shuts off after 5 minutes. The activity desk comes complete with a 15" stool and requires minimal adult assembly.』
『If your budding artist has a tendency to leave paper, paints, markers, and other art supplies all over the place, this is a great way to encourage some organizational skills while letting your child know you support their creativity. The Art Master Activity Desk is made of super-sturdy molded plastic and has a white fiberboard drawing surface that measures 20 by 11 inches and hinges up to reveal three separate storage spaces. There are molded-in compartments for crayons, markers, and paintbrushes, and two side compartments to hold books, pads of paper, and other art supplies. There's even a built-in overhead lamp that can be powered by batteries or plugged directly into the wall (using the included DC six-volt adapter). A bright red top tray holds markers, glue, and other craft items. Complete with its own extra-sturdy desk chair in bright red plastic, this desk is ready to transform any corner of the room into a full studio for arts and crafts projects.--John Longenbaugh』
IPhone 3G used's review (John Deere Wheelbarrow) 『I found this product to be in good condition and was easy to put together. It is loved&well used by the 3 y.o. recipient.』
(Wheelbarrow) 『I bought this for my 3-year old grandson and he absolutely loves it. It's just the right size for him.』
(looks are deceiving) 『The product seems sturdy, although the picture is very deceiving. The size of this wheelbarrow is much smaller than it seems...not much room to put things in...my son will outgrow very quickly. This should be sized for two year olds at the most. Also, very expensive for what it is. Found much larger one at Lowes after purchasing this one and it was half the price. You pay for the name...Overall, not a lot of bang for the buck!』
(Useful and a FUN toy) 『The wheelbarrow was hard to put together but now that, this chore is done it is a strong and cute toy for our 3-year old granddaughter who loves to "help" in the garden.
』
(JOHN DEERE WHEELBARROW) 『This was purchased for our 3-year old grandson's birthday. He received it today and was absolutely delighted. It is durable, nice looking and easy to assemble. Overall a great product』 『The John Deere Kids Steel Wheelbarrow provides hauling fun for both indoor and outdoor activities. Your child can fill it with sand, toys, whatever her heart desires. Features a steel body, crafted wood handles and signature John Deere design and logo. Measures approximately 20" x 12" x 15" (not including handles).』
Kakaku：217 saved$2.17
Gund
Usually ships in 3 to 5 weeks IPhone 3G used's review (12" cookie monster) 『I love cookie monster..!!..bright blue color and big eyes but was a little disappointed with the size...Overall, it is a great toy for a small child.』
(My toddler loves it) 『My son is 16 months old and recognizes Cookie Monster and Elmo on sight, so I bought him both plush toys (I think Grover was out of stock; he's MY favorite). You know what's really sweet? Seeing him give these toys a hug. The texture is soft and comforting to him, and the eyes are very securely fastened (he chews everything right now). I'm very pleased with my purchase, and I think my son is, too.』
(Adorable!) 『We got this for our 8 month old daughter and he is so cute! A little smaller than we thought but adorable. His feet and butt are filled with beans so he has a little weight to him. Very cute and huggable.』
(very soft) 『This cookie monster is very soft and cuddly. With everything having batteries and mechanical parts inside of them this is a nice change. My son is almost two and loves it. We bought him the elmo too.』
(great plush version of Cookie Monster) 『I happen to be a 'big kid,' that is, someone who bought this for the sake of adding to my collection of items that remind me of my childhood when I'm feeling blue (and feeling perhaps bluer than Cookie Monster himself.) I can tell you that this plush delivers. It is extremely soft, which Gund toys are always famous for. It is of the feel of a bean bag, sort of cuddly and indeed under-stuffed in areas to make it that way, with some beans or whatever in the tush. The material is outstanding, sort of shaggy like we know of this character. It is not like other ones I have seen, where the fur lies close to the body. It's more keeping to the Cookie we see on TV. The colour is an exceptional one of bright blue. The eyes give the illusion of those famous google-eyes we all grew up seeing, one up, one sort of tilted down. The mouth is great, because it is partly open, like when Cookie speaks. This toy would probably be great for little 'cookie-parties' with your child. I can see a youngster giving a little cloth or plastic 'cookie' to him, and this is possible with that open mouth. The arms are great, because when positioned in just such a way, they sort of fold around your shoulder when you hold him. They are the lightest part of the design, I think, for that reason. A great thing for a child to hold. Overall, this is a fantastic item. I smile to think of the simple joys it will bring to children who receive it. For me, it does well to remind me of my own childhood years of relishing Sesame Street and this unforgettable character.』 『Introduce your little ones to the wonderful characters from your youth in Gund's Sesame Street Collection. At 12" tall, Cookie Monster is sure to become your little one's newest lovable and huggable friend.』
Kakaku：85 saved$0.85
Corolle
Usually ships in 1 to 2 months IPhone 3G used's review (carrier for doll) 『I bought this baby doll carrier for my granddaughter who is 18 mos. and I'm sure she loves it now and will love it in years to come.』
(Perfect little bed for dolls.) 『my daughter this bed , she loves putting her doll baby to bed at night and it fits her other dolls too, not just the tidoo we purchased to go with it, we are very pleased with this purchase.』 『Nighty-night, baby doll! This snuggly spot provides a soft place to lay your baby doll. If comes with a feeding bottle, changing towel, diaper, bib and pretend talc shaker. For 12" baby dolls (not included).』
Kakaku：6 saved$0.06
Melissa and Doug
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Must have puzzle for little ones!) 『Bought this for my nephew for his b-day, and he loved it. Hours of play time have already been invested. Great Toy!!!』
(Great puzzle!) 『This is a great puzzle. My 2 year old twins love it! The only glitch is that for this age, it was hard for them to put the pieces in until I wrote the corresponding numbers on the puzzle. Now they look for the numbers that match&can do the puzzle in no time! They really like it. I'd recommend it for 2-3 year olds. 』
(Melissa&Doug 10 piece magnetic towing puzzle) 『Melissa&Doug 10 piece magnetic towing puzzle is excellent! Not only do my own children LOVE it, but my students LOVE IT as well. It is educational as well as fun! I highly recommend it for any preschooler!』
(Good for 2 yr old, probably too easy for 3.) 『Our little guy got this puzzle when he was 23 months. It took some demonstration and help to get the idea of the magnet. When he first started, he finally ended up just placing the magnet on the car, without employing the "dangle method."
Now, at 25 months, this puzzle is a breeze. After a few times, he knew where the cars should go. Now he sometimes just feigns ignorance, giving me a sly look and grin as he places the piece on the wrong spot and croons, "Nooooo."
The addition of the magnet challenge adds interest. We can challenge him to get the blue car, or the pink one, etc. Helps him with his colors.
The recommended minimum age of 3 yrs is, I believe, may be too old. I'd suggest 2 yrs as a good age.』
(ITS A HIT) 『Any of the magnetic puzzles are great. My 2 grandchildren, 18 months and 22 months at the time I got them, love it. That is the first puzzle they grab for. They enjoy putting the pieces in place and then trying to retrieve them with the magnetic pole. These puzzles are one of the best investments I ever made. They play with them everytime they come to visit. Theres the ocean creatures and insects also.』 『Can you "tow" all these colorful vehicles, then put them back where they belong' Redesigned artwork brings new life to these much-loved, creative magnetic games. Includes beautiful board with 10 magnetic pieces and magnetic wand. Measures 11.5" x 8.5" x .9".』
