Activities and Learning Reviews

My daughters, age 2 and 3, have both sets of this Lego/Duplo - given to them last Christmas by friends.

The dolls are so cute. They are a large size - about 15cm high so easy to hold and play with. They have molded hair and moveable arms and legs (think other Lego figures - quite stiff-like but you are able to make them sit). Their clothes (underwear is part of the molded plastic body) are easily removed and put on again by toddlers without my help. They can stand alone and their "shoes" will also build onto a Duplo baseplate or blocks (sometimes our dolls become part of a tower creation).

Each doll comes with it's own "baby" but is like a normal small Duplo figure (arms and legs don't move, the clothes are painted on) and depending on which set you get, the babies have a bed, highchair or pram. The baby is perfectly sized for the mother to carry, push the pram or feed the baby in the highchair. All the "babies" and other accesories (cups, saucers, prams, washtubs etc etc) can be gripped in the dolls hands by pushing the Duplo pieces together. This is really easy to do - my toddlers don't need my help.

My girls love the dolls - they love to use them as dolls ... having teaparties and wash days and making dinner and going to bed. Other times they use the dolls, babies and accessories as part of their building structures. There is no end to the possibilities for play.

The set is in the usually bright Lego colours - green, red, yellow, blue etc. As with all Lego products it's extremely durable. We've had our sets over a year now and there is no way that the doll can be broken ... arms, legs or heads cannot come off no matter how hard you try. Everything can be cleaned when the need arises with warm soapy water.

Lego/Duplo is one of the few toys that I kept from my childhood and I had Lego passed down to me from older relatives. Some of the Lego in our house is almost 40 years old. It may be more expensive than other building blocks but it's a toy you'll be keeping for your grandchildren.

Highly recommended.

This was a gift to my grandaughter. Her older brother has Legos that he has gotten as gifts as well as a huge collection handed down to him from his Dad and Uncles. It is so fun for Hannah to finally have her own Legos to play with. It was one of the best gifts she received. I was impressed with the creative possibilities and durability of the set. I hope to build on the set so someday she can pass them on to her little girl. Legos are definitely a family tradition.

my daughters love it they are 2 and 3 years old, they enjoy pretending too wash the dolls clothes and bathing the baby.

This is a great toy! My son loves the Math Mat so much that when I challenge him to a game he shouts out the answers to the problems and occasionally tries to step on the buttons even when it's my turn to play! This is a great toy for letting the kids run off some of their energy as they review their basic math skills. My 5-year-old son runs around the mat as the computer voice says the equation and then he quickly runs to step on the answer. The mat has three games (number identification and sequence, addition, and subtraction) and two levels of play. Regarding addition and subtraction, the first level requires you to find the sum or the difference and the second level gives you the answer to the problem and the first number in the equation and you provide the missing number. We use level 1 as a warm up since it provides a good review and then we play level 2 for a challenge.

I'd give this toy more than 5 stars in the fun and educational categories if I could. Since most children are quite active and learn math at different rates and since repetition is good at this stage, most children would get a lot of good quality use out of this game. I think the durability is pretty good also but it's really too soon to know.

We just got this two days ago. It is a great toy. My 5 yr old was up at 7:00 this morning playing it! My 2 1/2 yr old even plays it because they have a number recognition mode. It's great for my 5 yr old and I to play together and see who can get to the answer first. He loves doing kartwheels while landing his hand on the right answer. Good Job Learning Resources! Two notes: this math goes up to the end of second grade (18 + what = 22 and 20 - what = 12) and as mentioned in a previous review, it is difficult to hear when there is anyone talking in the room, but the is a repeat button. Therefore I would say it is for 2 1/2 - 7 yr olds.

I am the mother of a very hyper 5 year old boy soon to be entering kindergarden. It has been very difficult and expensive to try and find ways to teach him without boring or frustrating him. I have bought many electronical educational toys and I'd have to say this is about the best one so far to date. I have many leappad products and while they are great in theory, they are not for my hyper child that just wants to "play" and not sit down with some reading pad or talking phonic treehouse. The only time he will sit for a period of time to learn is with his computer games.

I think this is so good for my son because he is hyper and it allows for and even encourages movement. Yet, this toy also requires listening and focused attention. Due to the latter fact, I will admit that at first it seemed like another waste of money. He was getting frustrated because he wasn't getting the right answers and didn't want to play. My son does not know all his #'s and that was my main purpose for buying this item. I did figure out the best way for him was to deivide up the #'s between us. He got the 0-5 and I took 6-10. It's been less than a week and he has almost mastered his side. All in only 10-15 mins of play each day. The fact that he will still play it is a major thrill for me. It's fun factor also comes from it being sort of a timed game so that after each correct answer its ticking will speed up and once time is up it will tell you how many you got correct. We have the highest score possible on the #'s and he is almost as proud as I am.
There are 2 levels and 3 activities: Numbers, addition and subtraction. We are just on numbers but once he learns all of them (my side and his)I know this will be a great way to help him with adding and subtracting as well. There are also some really great suggestions as for other ways to play using the mat included.
So as long as it holds up I'd have to say it's a wonderful toy and not just in theory.

I bought this puzzle when my firstborn was one year old and he has loved playing with it as has his little brother. There is something very appealing (and wholesome) about kids loving farm animals...even those living in the suburbs with no farm in sight.

As with all the wooden peg puzzles from this manufacturer, the quality is high and they are very durable. The key to this brand, unlike others in same price range, is that the photo is idential underneath as on the piece itself. This is key for one year olds and even two year olds to master using the puzzle. I have seen both my kids struggle when 1 or 2 with different puzzles that are blank underneath or worse, show a different scene under the piece than on the piece.

I think it is wise to start off right at age one with the wooden peg puzzles as a plaything. My kids also play with the pieces separately from just making the puzzle. After they've mastered matching the piece and fitting it in, usually when they are around 2 they can do the different puzzles that don't have the image underneath.

Doing matching exercises and fitting these pieces into their proper places aids with hand eye coordination and thinking skills. Every child should have several of these puzzles of their own to play with.

The puzzle holder by this manufacturer is very useful to store the puzzles when they are not being played with and I highly recommend that as well.

This is a great gift for any holiday!

The smallest piece is about 1 1/2"x2 1/2". The pegs are not removable even by hands of adults. The company guaranteed non-toxic and child-safe(age 2-4) on the back of this toy.
The board and puzzle pieces are thick and very durable.
The pictures are colorful and cute. Children show an interest in the farm animals in their early age. I think you can teach these animals to babies and show them how to fit the piece in the spot even they can't do it themselves. My son is 24 month old, and it's too easy for him. He still play but just to show me he can do it. I recommend to children, age 12 month and maybe younger with parent's supervision to prevent from choking just in case. The younger children will need your help to play with this toy anyway.... You might be able to find a bargain.

I got this puzzle for my girl's first birthday. She loves it. It is a very high quality toy that should last forever. The animals pictures are very colorful and well painted. She still chews on everything, but has not been able to damage this puzzle in any way. The pegs really help her pick up the peices and set them down (not in the right place yet), and the pegs are not removeable like I was worried about, but are buried deep in the wood and are very safe. I highly recommend this puzzle for all children over a year old.

Duncan is one of the little engines but his train shows him just as big as Thomas or Percy. These are great for little kids becasue you pull the trains by yourself without the use of any batteries. Great but I wish these weren't so expensive.

I can only say the thomas tank engine series is the only one my toddler plays for ever and again and again for the last few years, and for the future year as well, I believe. It worths the expensive money.

Like the other reviews I have written, we feel that ALL of the Thomas & Friends toys (engines, cars, track & accessories) are excellent. Yes, you can find cheaper items as Thomas things can get a little pricey, but it last and last. I hope to pass my boys stuff onto their children. The Thomas story line is pure. No junk going into our little ones heads from Thomas and NO BATTERIES REQUIRED! No lights, annoying sounds or running the batteries down. We LOVE Thomas in our home.

What I meant by my title is that I already had Rusty and I just wanted the Construction Cars. The cars sway from side to side and they can survive a lot of damage. I was suprised at how durable these were. The sets are a lot of fun because you don't need any additional things to go with it for immediate fun. These toys are really good for a car trip to keep a child busy when they are bored. I would higly recommend getting this set but don't buy Rusty first.

Rusty is great. i got him as a present for christmas one year he has 3 cars - rusty a dumper and a cement mixer you can use him with cranky or anything with a magnet. he is also in some episodes on a video.

The Thomas & Friends wooden railroad gives you Rusty and 2 Construction Cars. This set provides hours of fun for your children because they can use this set to recreate stories about Rusty and his construction fun. Its educational value shows children how man-made things are built and they will probably use this set with thier Lincoln Logs and other construction kits. This is also a very sturdy set, but sometimes the mixer's top will come off and will need a frequent fix-up! Other than that, it's a wonderful set and a great gift idea!

We bought this drum for our (now) 3 1/2 year old son about a year ago. He LOVED it!!! He played it every day, but after awhile, the drum head got a lot of little dents in it and it eventually just caved in. But, a year's worth of fun and music is well worth (...)

We bought this for our 2 1/2 year old Thomas fan. It's really cute and rather reasonably priced. My son loves to bang on his drum, and dance around the living room. He plays it quite often and we've had it for about 6 months, so far we've had absolutely NO problems with the drum falling apart or getting dented up like some of the other reviews have mentioned. Bottom line: great toy for any music/Thomas fan.

This is a great drum! It hangs comfortably around the neck of the child & comes with two drumsticks. It has a good tone for a toy drum, and so far it has held up well (6 months) having one small dent on the side. My son plays with it often. Buy the book, "hands, hands, finges thumb" to go with it and your child will be charmed. I will read the book aloud and my son will beat his drum to the rhythm of the story.

These toys are just the most adorable rattle-type toys I have ever seen. My 8-month old daughter loves to hold them, chew them, touch them and shake them whenever I give them to her (mostly in the car or on stroller walks). They are light-weight (great for packing in the diaper bag), colorful and easy to clean. I find myself picking them up and playing with them occasionally. Very well made. I highly recommend this set or one of the similar Tiny Love sets.

This is a great set!! My son loves to reach and grab these toys. They have helped him some more with his hand eye cordination as well as keep him entertained! We love these. It is an added bounus that they have little rings so we can attach them to his stroller so he can't throw them while we're out. We can attach them really to anything.

The black and white Gymini is highly recommended for visually stimulating newborns. After a while, however, the same old toys and colors began to bore my baby. At around 3 months, he went from contentedly playing in his Gymini for a half hour to screaming that he wanted out after only 5 minutes. I saw these toys and bought them, thinking that if they didn't bring the Gymini back to life, they would at least be fun toys for him to enjoy in another way (links can attach them to a shopping cart, the Baby Bjorn, stroller, etc.). He started enjoying the Gymini again the day these arrived in the mail and kept enjoying it for another 2 months. (Two months X 30 minutes per day = Priceless to a stay at home mom!) He would roll over and over, greeting his little friends with baby chatter wherever he ended up. Now we do link the toys to other things and he still enjoys them very much. He especially likes the bunny's crinkly ears and the frog's springy legs. The flower makes a good teether too and the flower's leaf is nice and crinkly so he gets the most bang for his buck with that one. I highly recommend these toys. You get a lot of use out of them and they're a great price.

Those are the noises my nephew, with some help from his father, was making with this kit after just a few minutes. We gave it to him for his 7th birthday and, though a bit young to go it alone at first, he is learning a lot and it is a great activity for him to enjoy with his parents, grandparents, etc.
It's a great toy AND educational tool.
He is at a stage where he wants to really figure out how things work and LOVES the kit and the oportunities for experimenting it offers.
While I was driving home from his birthday party he called my cell phone to let me listen as he talked into it and his voice came out on the radio.
It's a hit.

We purchased this for our daughter (8 yrs) and she loves it. It does a good job of explaining electronic concepts and allows for varying levels of experience to enjoy the projects. Everything you'll need is included and the experiments are flexible, progressive and "really cool".

Experimenter's kits are something of a dying breed. Electronics & hobbyists shops used to be almost everywhere it seemed, and carried educational kits like these. God, all the fun we had as kids playing with stuff like this. Every child should be exposed to these toys at as early of an age as possible imho. Helping a child get a head start on life, and sparking his or her imagination/desire to learn, is always a good thing.

My boys love Thomas and all his friends (and I like that Mavis is a lady engine but is really tough). Mavis gets played with often and in general she is, as most all of the Thomas line, durable. However, her black paint seems to chip off more easily along her edges than with the other engines - could be it just shows up more because of the color. I say it shows that she is loved when my sons ask why her paint is chipping, but you might warn your kids to be extra careful with Mavis. Otherwise, she's a lot of fun.

I was just looking at my 8 year old Mavis and I relized it only has four wheels. The one in the picture has 6 wheels. Of course Salty in the picture has eight wheels and our Salty has six but that made me wonder. Because of Mavis's sideplates she doesn't run very well but my little sister loves her anyway. I wish they'd make the magnets like the take along Thomas magnets that u can connect both ways but I guess we can't have everything.

Mavis is a diesel engine that works in the Sodor quarry. She sometimes is too independent for her own good. Mavis has sleek black paint, a cowcatcher, and buffers around her wheels. Her smiling face will be sure to brighten up your child's playtime. Choose Mavis or any of the fun Thomas products. They're great!

Starting around age 2 the "World of Thomas" and his train friends became the biggest part of my son's days of play. If you are as deep into Thomas as my family is then the Sodor Bay Bridge is a must have. Hours and hours are spend pushing the toy trains over and under the bridge. Your first three starter purchases should be the trains, the tracks and then this bridge. Good Luck it is an expensive "world" your getting into!!!

I ordered the bridge and then read the review that said the bridge didn't come with the ascending tracks. My trip to a local independent toy store confirmed the review. After purchasing additional tracks ... and driving 4 hours so that the tracks would make it in time for his 3rd birthday, he opened the box and I shocked to see the tracks he needed to connect the bridge to the rest of his set. I guess the manufacturer has addressed this issue....

I played with it (the bridge, figure 8 set with battery powered engine, and additional tracks) for a good hour before realizing I was enjoying it more than him! The tracks are extremely durable. My nephew and his brother and sister all loved it.

I bought this accessory for my 2-year-old son Sam, and he loves everything about it except the fact that there is not quite enough top clearance for trains to pass underneath -- You have to set the spans on blocks for that. I also agree that the set should include the ascending track, or at least a notice that it's sold separately.