Editorial Review

Designed for children in preschool through second grade, and easily portable, the Leapster multimedia learning system offers educational games, reading exercises, art tools, and interactive videos in one electronic device. Atop an ergonomic silver body sits a 4-inch, 12-bit color backlit display protected by a blue rubber shield. Slide a Leapster cartridge into the slot, and learn letters, sounds, colors, shapes, numbers, and more, using the touch-screen stylus and multi-directional control pad. This unit comes with a bonus cartridge of six learning games; other Leapster cartridges are sold separately. Control knobs let you adjust volume and brightness; there's also a stereo headphone jack. Required are four AA batteries, not included. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Reviews (293)

Best $$ ever spent-just bought 2nd
I wouldn't be able to praise this toy enough. We gave it to our oldest daughter last Christmas when she was 3 1/2. We were concerned because of the price but compared to a GameBoy we prefered the educational aspect. We have never regreted the purchase. She loves playing with it and has even mastered basic math skills well ahead of time. We had a problem with the screen not responding after about 6 months but it only took a quick email to Leap Frog and they replaced it with our only expense being a few dollars to ship it to them. They have excellent Customer Service. We would have even invested the money to buy a new unit if they hadn't replaced it. <br /> <br /> We have just purchased a unit for our 19 month old daughter because she always wants to share big sister's. I know the age is 4-10 but our little one just loves the characters and even though she doesn't totally understand what to do, she still loves playing. It has helped her to master control of the stylus and she is now much better at coloring too. We have a few extra cartridges and plan on expanding for Christmas. <br /> <br /> We haven't had a problem with battery consumption. This toy definitely hasn't eaten batteries nearly as quickly as others and my older daughter plays with it almost every day. She would play with it more if I would allow it. But we still plan on buying the recharging system too.<br /> <br /> I highly recommend the investment in the carrying case also.<br /> <br /> You just can't go wrong with this toy.

my grandson
I purchased the LeapFrog Leapster for my grandson as a Christmas gift when he was 2 years old. His mom gave it to him when we was 21/2, he absolutely loves it and has learned so much. I like the durability, educational theme and the add ons, it just keeps getting better and better.

Love It
My son was given this on his 4th b-day, he absolutely loves it and so do I! It has taught him alot and the only reason I rated a 4 and not a 5 is because of the battery situation!! Ouch!

Battery Eater!
My son got this toy for his 4th birtday. He truly loves it, but it's a battery eater! I cannot believe how quickly this toy drains 4 AA batteries. Thank goodness they are coming out with a recharging unit soon or we'd go broke!

BEST $ EVER SPENT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've never written a review before, but feel I have to about this product. It is the BEST money spent on my daughter ever!!!! My daughter got this for Christmas when she was 3 1/2 years old. She has played with it every day. At night we read books to her and then let her do her Leapster for a little while. We just purchased The Letter Factory for our last trip....and she already knows ALL the letter phonics....it is just amazing!!!!! We have never had a problem with it in 7 months...and we just put new batteries in it for the first time. I so highly reccomend this toy!!!!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Be it a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away or right here at home in the 21st century, Mr. Potato Head never fails to reinvent himself. For generations this spectacular spud has wowed us all with his ability to keep up with the times. Now he throws us all for a loop once again to reveal that even he has a Dark Side, taking up the role of the most menacing movie villains of all times: Darth Vader. Donning the trademark black helmet, mask and cape, our favorite tuber wields the infamous red lightsaber to become his own Darth Tater. Of course you’ll still find all the classic accessories like the googly eyes, red nose, and silly tongue we’ve come to love but now with an added twist of Star Wars. As always, all the pieces still fit away inside his body for easy storage.--Chip Quinn ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Together they shall rule as father and spud...
At 42 years of age, I never thought I would find myself seeking out a Mr. Potato Head.But one look at Darth Tater and I was gone. Darth Tater now has his place on my desk at a respected law firm, but rarely can someone enter my office without playing with him.He sits on my desk, glaring menacingly out the office door at all those who dare to pass by.Generally, once he is spotted perched on his corner of my desk, he is greeted with a smile and his light saber arm is raised up and down.OK, so one coworker called me a dork, but that's OK.She's young and has much to learn.....My advice?Get Darth Tater if you can!!

REVENGE OF THE TATOR!
This is great toy...I always loved Mr. Potato Head & now Darth Tator is my new favorite toy!

Make sure you get your hands on this one while you still can, I know they still have them in stock at other sites.

Oh & one more thing in reference to the guy from Lodi who openly admitted he hates Star Wars...its a shame that he owns one of the Tators & I hope his Tator seeks his revenge & breaks!

I taterly love this toy
my teacher brought this in to school and he isnt even a star wars fan. when i saw it and read the darth tater name i thought it was hilarious and got one myself and i hate starwars i just love darth tater tho

Sure to be a mashing success with "Star Wars" fans...
Okay, I really wish I had come up with "Use the Forks, Luke" first, because no one is going to be able to top that one when it comes to the Mr. Potato Head Darth Tater.But I bet you cannot stop at just one when it comes to riffing on this idea (e.g., Luke and Leia are now Darth Tater Tots and the story takes place "in a grocers far, far away").Not since somebody decided to dress up Barbie in costumes from famous movies has a childhood icon benefited from a commercial tie in to a major motion picture.But not even Barbie as Eliza Doolittle from "My Fair Lady" comes close to the high level of Midi-Cuteians with this toy.

In addition to the "Potato" with it storage space in the back, Mr. Potato Head Darth Tater comes with helmet, mask, cape, feet, arms (right one holding a light saber), eyes, nose, mouth, tongue, and two ears.The mask makes the nose, mouth and tongue incompatible (the mouth and tongue are either/or choices to begin with).Consequently, you can experiment with other looks besides the obvious: lose the mask and cape, put a face together, and the result is pretty cute.Of course, everything works just as well on a real potato for those of you who want to go real Old School on this one.

If the words Mr. Potato Head Darth Tater does not sell you then the picture of this toy has got to seal the deal.There are obviously limited opportunities for companion Potato Heads in this series.Princess Leia's original cinnamon hair buns would work, as would Yoda (albiet with a green potato), but neither of those is ever going to be as cute as this one unless they use some sort of Jedi mind trick.That is because the farce is strong with this one...

I LOVE DARTH TATER!
This is the coolest thing ever!He sits on my desk and watches me with those glaring eyes.He sometimes uses the force to manipulate me.Someone please help me!You are my only hope! ... Read more

Editorial Review

LeapFrog is well known for their interactive learning toys and now they've paired with Disney for a princesses' tour of language and math. Cinderella and Belle will help guide your child through various learning activities, such as: letter hunt, spelling games, addition and subtraction games, and number find. Both Belle and Cinderella tell jokes, sing songs, and are generally encouraging with sweet and cheerful voices. If your child decides to stop playing and doesn't turn the laptop off, the princesses ask, "Would you like to play some more?" and if there is no answer, the computer shuts itself off. An LCD screen displays letters, numbers, and other pictures during all the activities. Moms and dads will be glad to note that there are two volumes and virtually no set-up. Requires 4 "AA" batteries (included). --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Best toy in the house
My 2 1/2 year old received this toy as a gift. She ABSOLUTELY loves her "puter". I fill my house with fun and educational toys and this one is hands down the best. She has been playing with it for a few weeks now and can sing her ABC's from A-K. All her friends want to play with it as well. I only wish they had a "boy" version so my son could have one of his own.

Another good one from LeapFrog
My mother and I were having a garage sale and I very much wanted to clean out and get rid of some toys. After explaining the concept to my daughter that if she sold some toys, she could buy some new ones. Well with her money, she picked this out of everything in the huge toy store. She loves it, she takes it in the car on trips, plays with it at the kitchen table while I am cooking. It's great, educational and something to grow with!

A fun "umputer".
I love it and I am 34yrs old.
My 4yr old loves it. And, as far as I am concerned that is all that matters. The sound, the colors, the characters and the keys all all conducive to the purpose that it was intended for.
I bought it for my daughter so she could use it when I was on our family computer.
The only thing (and its not a big thing)is that I wish the screen was bigger.
I would highly recommend it or buy it as a gift.
d

Disney's Laptop by LeapFrog
My daughter Lily got this for her 3rd birthday. We have always loved LeapFrog products. This was her favorite present, hands down. My 6 and 9 year olds even love it! I am really impressed by how many things it does. After playing with it for a day Lily can identify some letters and numbers. The music is great, and I LOVE that there is a high low switch, making it a quiet toy as well as a learning toy!

A perfect laptop for your Princess!
Our 3.5 yr old got this for Christmas and LOVES having "my own 'puter". It is easy for her to open for herself and she loves to hear her favorite characters speaking to her! She likes the activity that sounds out words as you type in letters, and gets so excited when she actually makes a word! She also really likes the counting activity. This laptop has been banged around and dropped several times and it is in perfect working condition. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The three-wheel Preschool Scooter is a good solution for toddlers who,watching older siblings, have contracted a bad case of scooter envy. In front,two 4-inch urethane wheels are placed eight inches apart for stability; at theback, there's a 3-inch wheel and a "spoon" brake just like on those metal "bigkid" scooters. This vehicle is mostly plastic, but sturdy enough for the job,with comfortable foam grips. A cleverly designed "lean-and-steer" mechanism atthe front axle makes it significantly easier to control than some three- orfour-wheel toddler scooters. This one resists the tendency to tip over whengoing around corners. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (73)

BEST SCOOTER!!!
I bought this scooter for my 3 year old son 3 years ago and it is still the most popular scooter in our neighborhood! All the kids, ages 2 to 9 like to ride it. It is much easier to ride with the two wheels in the front. It is an excellent first scooter and I highly recommend it!

I completely recommend this toy!
We purchased this scooter a couple of months ago for our 2-year old (he will be 3 in August), and after his 2nd try, he was zipping, executing turns and stops all around our cul-de-sac, just like his 10-, 11- and 12-year old siblings on their "big kid" scooters! I was amazed! This is the ONLY scooter I found anywhere with the 2 wheels in the front, instead of in the rear, and it has made a tremendous difference. Educational value comes from the fact that it has improved his large motor skills, coordination and self-confidence! I read the earlier review where someone had problems with the durability of theirs, but we have had no problems at all, and he gets pretty rough with it, at times.

The best preschool scooter around
My 4 year old son has been using this scooter since he was
2 years old. He has had a great time with this scooter.It
really turns well and is very stable for young riders.Most
preschool scooters have the two wheels in the back but this
scooter has the two wheels in the front making it easier
for the young rider to scoot.My little guy can keep up
with his older friends when they are on their two
wheel scooters. This scooter provides a smooth ride and
is very durable.This is the best preschool scooter around.

We love it!!
My son got this scooter for Christmas at age 2 1/2. Right away he had no trouble balancing and quickly learned to turn. We had tested other "little kid" scooters with the 2 wheels in the back and they were much harder to balance. He loves this and rides it every chance he gets, he has learned how to control it very well which is why I gave it 3 stars for educational value. I would have given it 5 stars for durabilty, but he has 2 big brothers that also want to ride it. When the kids over 50 pounds get on it, I can see the wheels bow, so they are not supposed to ride it.

Great toy!!
My two year old received this for Christmas. We just got it out since it is just warming up(April)and he loves it!! I never would have thought he would be able to ride it as well as he does. Very fun and a great introduction to a real scooter. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Radio Flyer’s Pathfinder is the SUV of little red wagons, sporting a rugged plastic body and offering tikes a luxurious amount of towing or riding space. The wagon’s convertible seats fold down for maximum storage capacity and then flip up to comfortably accommodate two children. Webbed seatbelts ensure that children don’t bounce out when riding over rough terrain. The Pathfinder’s interior also has four built-in drink holders to keep sippy cups and juice boxes secure during the ride. The extra-long handle has a large, loop grip that even kids can control and that folds under the wagon for more compact storage. Like all Radio Flyer wagons, this one has heavy axles to handle a lot of weight, heavy-duty casters for making tight turns without tipping, and durable rubber tires that provide a soft, quiet ride. The Pathfinder measures 39-1/4 inches long, 19 inches wide, and 16-1/2 inches tall. --Cristina Vaamonde ... Read more

Reviews (43)

#1 Wagon
My parents bought this for my son last year for Christmas. We searched and searched for the right wagon for two toddlers. After receiving this one I would recommend no other. The heavy duty RUBBER wheels (not plastic)are great on any surface. We have a huge property and it's great to go to the garden, to the beach, and for walks. The seatbelts are a must with little ones and I don't know what I would do without them!!! This item is a must have for children and parents alike!

Best Wagon Out There
This wagon is great! My 22 month old and 8 month old love it! There are seat belts so we can go across busy roads without anyone escaping! The wheels roll beautifully and the cup holders are perfect. I would recommend this wagon to anyone looking at all the different ones out there! My older son can pull my younger son (with supervision of course) and feel like a big boy. The wagon is sturdy and smooth so there is no worry about the little one!

Best Wagon
We bought this wagon for my son for christmas last year and he was only 4 months old. Once he learned to sit well on his own we would take him for walks in it and when it was time to go inside he would cry. He absoulty loves it. Very easy to put together and wheels turn great. Easy to pull. Highly recommended.

The BEST Wagon!!
I just bought this for my grandson and it is AWESOME! Like one mom said the seatbelts are wonderful - I have not seen another wagon with seatbelts and being 11 months old and learning to walk he is always standing up! Now I don't have to keep turning around to check on him. Everything about this wagon is perfect - the handle is long enough to pull without having to bend over; the wheels make pulling SO easy (one review said they had problems with the wheels getting stuck- not me!) and we go off road adventuring too!! - neat cupholders for his bottle - cool storage compartment for all his neat little finds along the way - WE LOVE IT! You have to go get one - you will not be sorry! It is the best investment yet as far as toys are concerned. THANK YOU RADIO FLYER!

Best Wagon Ever!
I was searching for the perfect wagon for my daughter's 2nd Birthday. We decided to purchase this one. I love the fact that it has rubber wheels for a quiet ride. I also love the fact that the seats fold down to make a flat surface. That made it great for towing all of our gear into the zoo, such as our coolers, bags, etc., and then when my daughter fell alseep we layed a blanket on top and it was a perfect place for her to rest. While she enjoyed her ride in the wagon, we were able to strap her in with the seatbelts so she wouldn't try getting out while pulling the wagon. Great price for a great wagon! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

AWESOME TOY!!!!
I bought this toy when my son turned one. By far has been the best toy we have bought yet!! Finally a toy that is fun, teaches, and keeps them entertained at the same time! Worth every penny.

Good for learning and keeping kid occupied
My son loves this. I bought it for him when he was 9 months old and he is now 12 months and still has a blast. My nephew who is 24+ months old loves it too when he comes over. Every item has a function and there are even toys that you can buy to go with it. Like a birdhouse and a phone.

The mom who only buys fisher price
I found the Toys R Us near me carried this toy so I went to get it, my 11 month old daughter really enjoys it, she likes to dance to the music, and crawl through the door, and open in and close it, over all this toy is really neat, but the problem I have with it is my light does not stay on when you turn the light swith to on, it sometimes would blink, but now it doesn't work at all, so I probably will have to return it and get a different one.

Great bang for your buck! So many activities!
Wow! This is a new Fisher Price toy that I hadn't heard of before - but knew I had to have it when I saw it. My daughter loves to crawl in and out of things, so I thought this would be a great floor level toy that might keep her interest. This was purchased for her first birthday and I think we are still discovering new buttons and such! There are so many activities and interesting things on this toy that I think the price was a real bargain! The house numbers, the rain gutter, the radio, the clock, the window, the mailbox, etc, etc! There are sounds for nearly every activity, and even the sounds can be changed depending upon what setting the radio is on. My daughters current favorite place in the "house" is the mail box. She loves putting the mail in and out of it. She gets very excited and just chatters away at this toy - crawling in and out of the door and listening as it "creaks" open and then "slams" shut. The toy overall seems to focus mostly on the concept of opposites (night/day, up/down, open/close, etc) and numbers.

There are two volume settings - the lower one being just loud enough for her to hear it while she is playing (thank you Fisher Price!) and the other much louder. On the lower setting, I cannot hear it unless I am sitting at the toy with her.

I just can't say enough about all the activites - I expect that this will be a toy she can play with for a long time without getting bored of it! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Baby Tad is a wonderful interactive toy that makes early learning fun andeasy. Baby Tad (short for tadpole) helps your preschooler learn shapes, colors, activities,and songs. When your little one presses a colored light-up button, Tad identifies the colorand shape indicated on the button. With his cheerful demeanor and infectious laugh, Tadoffers support and encouragement and will quickly become a close and trusted friend.Besides various greetings,a squeeze of Tad's hand brings forth favorite children's songs, sung in a squeaky, high-pitched voice. --Alison Golder ... Read more

Reviews (310)

better then expected
My 2 year old daughter got this last Christmas. My first thought was she was to old for it,I was wrong. She plays with Tad, regularly and is now 3. She love to sing to the songs. I love that it turns it self off. The batteries are still going strong.<br />

leapfrog tad
My 18-mo. old received this gift for his first christmas. He loves it so much. it goes everywhere with him!

Baby Tad is a lifesaver!
My daughter got Baby Tad as a gift when she was 6 months old.At first she ignored it.Now she loves listening to the nursery rhymes during playtime.I would sing along with Baby Tad first then eventually my baby would hum along with us!Most helpful is the 6 minutes worth of Lullaby/Classical songs.When it's sleep time,I would just have Baby Tad play the lullabies and usually in 6 munutes my baby is asleep!We bring Baby Tad during long car trips too.The nursery rhymes keep my baby occupied when she's bored with her other toys and the lullabies help her settle into a nap when she's tired and sleepy.A true lifesaver!

We all LOVE TAD
I love this toy. It has two volumes (loud/soft) and it plays sleepy music (you can set the minutes) and it is easy for little kids to push. My daughter got this gift at age 10 months now she is almost three and still loves to play with him. She really loves the kiss noises he makes (lips on his cheek). This was worth the MONEY!!

Learning to hug
I love this toy for the fact that it taught our 8 month old daughter to hug everything in sight. Her's makes kissing noises and says "I love you" when you press the kiss on the cheek. She was a hug enthusiast after just a few days of playing with it! Now that she is 16 months old she is starting to understand the reward system for playing with the light buttons and has learned about turning it on and off by using the hands and foot. The tunes it sings are all her favorites now. My only regret is that I didn't buy it for her sooner. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Music stimulates the brain and encourages early learningskills. This interactive cube lets children choose from any combinationof five different instruments--harp, French horn, piano, flute, andviolin--to collaborate on eight Mozart tunes. A solo flute might playan excerpt from "Ah! Vous Dirai-je, Maman (Twinkle, Twinkle)," or aFrench horn intone a theme from The Marriage of Figaro. Otherchoices include "Country Dance #5," "Come Sweet May," "Der Vogelfanger"(from The Magic Flute), "March in D," "Landler," and "L&agrave;Ci Darem la Mano" (from Don Giovanni). Press the "orchestra"button and hear all the instruments play together. As the songs play,each selected instrument button flashes to the beat. The sound is notorchestral quality, but you get a fair electronic approximation of eachinstrument. Operates on three AA batteries (not included). --TamiHoriuchi ... Read more

Reviews (107)

fabulous for babies and toddlers
My daughter loved this toy when she was six months old, and still loves it at 18 months. I have had no durability issues, and when I noticed the instruments playing out of sync I replaced the batteries, which solved the problem. I love that she can select different instruments to listen to, and that it exposes her to more than the usual canned electronic baby music... she now has a love for instrumental music! This is a fantastic addition to her toybox.

Great music, but it doesn't hold my son's interest.
I seem to be more interested in this toy than my 8 month old. There are lots of beautiful songs and the music is very high quality for an electronic toy. It's too bad my son doesn't like to play with it, because the music is so much nicer to listen to than any of his other toys!

BEST toy we have, by far!
This toy was given to me for my 1 yr old daugther. She is almost 2 yrs now, and she still LOVES playing with it. It is very durable, considering how much she tosses it (and that another baby played with it before they gave it to us). Also, we have only had to change the batteries once. We take it with us every where we go, and it has served us very well in the car - especially in those moments when she just doesn't want to be put in the car seat. It has been very educational as well, in that she can now identify each instrument by name and picture, and presses the appropriate button. She will keep playing the instruments over and over - and yet we don't get tired of it either. This is one of the best toys we have, by far.

He loved it- while it lasted
This toy gets my son's attention- and did since he got it for his first Christmas (9 months)- but unfortunately, it is NOT DURABLE. You cannot let the child actually play with the toy- if they throw it at all, it's history. And guess what- most babies throw things when they get excited. They tend to drop things, too- the toy is heavy for a small child. He loved the lights, and he loved pressing teh big buttons- the music is not too bad, either- but for the cost, you want it to be durable so the baby can play with it.

Best toy yet!
My parents gave this to my daughter when she was three months old, and she seemed to like the musical sounds as we pressed the buttons. She is now eight months old, and she STILL loves it! It is her favorite toy. At 5 months, we would put it between her legs for balance while she learned to sit up, and she would make the music play. Now she's learning to crawl, and she always goes for this toy! The music is NOT annoying, and we enjoy listening to it as much as she does. We feel like she will enjoy this toy for a long time to come! ... Read more

Editorial Review

This game is sort of like Twister meets Simon Says. Lay the Hullabaloo pads around on the floor about two 'kid's feet' away from each other. The pads are different shapes and colors and have pictures and words on them. Turn on the game console and the cheerful music begins, a happy voice welcomes you to the game and then gives the simple directions you'll need to play. "Jump on a square shape," "Slide over to a red shape," "Hop to a shape with an animal on it" and so on. Then it might tell you to freeze, or to put a body part on one pad, and then a different body part on another. Then, it'll tell you that if you are on a particular pad at the end of that round, you are the winner. We found it to be fun, and easy to understand--though we did wonder how long it might hold a child's interest. --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Non-Stop Fun
I bought this for my two year old's birthday. We played it with her 5,6,11,12,& 13 year old Uncles and cousins. The older kids played it all that night and all day the next day. My two year old thought it was fun to run around on the pads, but she was able to point at her nose when they said "nose" and point at her knee when they said "knee". Even some of the adults got in on the fun. Very fun game for all ages.

IGNORE any bad review! This is AWESOME!
My 3 year old daughter got this game as a gift and she LOVES to play! My 7 year old also LOVES this game! It is really cute and anytime they play - someone is giggling. (...). It is a good oppotrunity to teach children about being a good winner/loser no matter who wins. That said- this game is just plain fun! I've even played this one with my kids and we all have a good time. You can't go wrong with this!

"Winners"also means there are "losers"!
I bought this for my two 4 1/2 year-old grandchildren. They really liked it at first until one child "won" several times in a row and the other hadn't "won" at all. The idea is basically very good, but I don't like the "winners-losers" aspect at all. It's totally inappropriate for this age, and even for older children, there is nothing they can do to "win"- it's all random. In addition, I would have liked it to be a little slower paced for pre-schoolers (more time to "skip to the square" or do a dance between games, etc.). I wouldn't buy another one or advise others to do so.

We love this game!
My children, ages 6 and 3, got this for Christmas and are still playing it regularly. As a mom, I really love it, too, because it's one of very few games they can set up, play and put away all by themselves (great for them, and even better if I need to get something done!).

The battery-operated box was very easy for them to learn, and they get a kick out of the silly things it instructs them to do. Many, many thumbs up from our family! :-)

Very Fun Toy
My kids loved this toy. Even my 2 year old could play. It is a really great family game and changes everytime you play. Lots of fun! ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Sand & Water Fan
Please read all reviews very carefully as most of them pertain to the "Easy Store Sand and Water Table" (which is 2 pieces). The Kingdom Table is great as it is one table with 2 areas of fun. This table provides hours of fun for the young children (and older ones as well - even me!) The plastic cover is great as it covers the entire table where the hard covers just "sit" on the box leaving room for bugs to sneak in! This is a must for those who love the beach, sand and water but not all the hassles that come with it!

Caution: Reviews in this section apply to wrong product
Read these reviews carefully. Some are talking about the Friendly Toys Kingdom sand and water table; others refer to a two-piece Little Tykes sand and water table that is not as well-designed.

Regarding covers: I prefer the soft cover on the Friendly Toys Sand and Water table to the hard cover on Little Tykes sand products. The elasticized cover keeps bugs out better than the hard cover.

Awful construction
In theory, this is a great table and my kids like playing with it. But putting it together is nearly impossible. The two sides have to link (because the water table has only two legs) and really don't. The table has crashed on my son's feet several times. When I contacted Little Tykes, they said "Yeah, that's hard to put together." The water side needs four legs or it needs to have a metal dowel that the water side can turn around. I would NOT recommend this product unless they fix this HUGE design flaw. I'm disappointed; Little Tykes products are not usually like this.

Great product just one small set back
My 2 year old loves this table. It's a great size, easy to assemble, easy to clean. Be careful with the flag inserts on the corners. One time she bent down to pick up a toy next to the table and one of the flags almost poked her eye. We were lucky it just poked the side of her eye. We still use the table, just without the flags.

too hard to hook together
My son loves this table, but I don't love trying to hook the water part to the sand part. It always seems to come apart, and the water side goes crashing to the ground. ... Read more

Editorial Review

If you grew up with a Radio Flyer wagon but lost it along the way, here's your chance to own abrand new one. The body and sides are made of finished wood. Painted bright red, the stake sides simplylift out, leaving you with a natural-finish flatbed. Steel wheels with big, inflatable pneumatic tires rolleasily on pavement or rough terrain. At 33.5 inches, the extra-long handle makes turning easy. The wagonbed is 36 inches long, 15 inches wide, 9 inches high, and 21 inches from the ground to the top of thewagon. The durable-tread rubber tires are 10.5 inches in diameter and 3 inches wide. If you're lucky, yourchild might let you borrow this wonderful wagon. --Louise Carter ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Very satisfied
This wagon was my second pick, but has ended up being my first choice! The wooden wagon bed stays cool even in the hot summer sun (unlike a metal bed), and the tall wooden sides keep "exploring" babies in their proper place. My son loves riding around in this wagon, and it has room enough for all of his favorite toys too. Walks are smooth and quiet (no rattling parts) and the large tires really make this wagon a pleasure to pull.

Great Wagon for Growing Families
We bought this wagon when we found out that we were expecting our third child. Since our oldest had just turned 2 when we found out about baby 3, we figured that we needed a way that we could safely transport three small children to and from the park, around the zoo, etc.

This wagon has been great. We've brought it to the zoo lots of times, and it fits right into the back of the minivan once you remove the siderails. The kids absolutely love to ride in it, and are looking forward to getting the cooler and the wagon trailer.

Wagon Canopy
... It looks like it cames from the horse and buggie era LOL but it covers the entire wagon definately worth it. I love this wagon but i am some what worried about the paint flaking off as i have read, but will make sure to cover the paint with car wax as told on the radio flyer site. We love this radio flyer! Its big you can fit everything in it!

Great #29 Wagon
I can't say enough good things about this wagon, but I also wanted comment on finding the correct wagon pad that will fit it. The pad sold through this site does not fit. You need to find the pad made specifically for Radio Flyer model #29, which I easily located through other online merchants. It is worth the effort to get the pad as it seems to make the ride much more comfortable and makes the wagon a good napping locale too.

GREAT GREAT GREAT
My daughter just turned 1. She got this as a present and loves it. It is a smooth ride on all types of terrain. We go to the park, the beach and around the block. There is plenty of room for all the extra stuff you want to take along. There is even enough room for a friend and their stuff too. I would recommend this wagon over the steel one to anyone. It is a quiet ride and there is no chance of rust since it is made of wood. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Aquadoodle isn't a pool or tub toy, but without water it's no fun at all. It's just a drawing mat after all, but kids will like the novelty of its disappearing colors. The 81 by 53-inch drawing mat is large enough for several kids to doodle on at a time, using the included magic marker pens that do not transfer color to other surfaces (to our knowledge …). Color from the pens appears when water touches the mat; it then fades out without a trace in 60 seconds or so. That's it: no ink, no paint, and no mess.Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Love it!
I bought this today at target for my 2 year old daughter. We absolutly love it! She can doodle and draw to her hearts content and never run out of paper.....or be told to be careful to not color on the table. It is just water.....no mess what so ever! The drawings took about 2 minutes to completly disappear. What a great invention! Highly recommend!

What a great idea!
I recently bought an Aqua Doodle for my 2 year old nephew, and it was a huge hit! He was immediately drawn to the mat, and understood how to use the pens right away. The best part was that his 3 year old cousin was able to sit with him and they both had a blast. This is a great toy, because there is absolutely no mess.

I would NOT recommend this toy
I am a frequent buyer/reviewer for toys online and I am generally quite happy with them. This toy has a great concept, but I really wasn't thrilled with it. As the other reviewers have stated, it is a great toy...that is, until it's all wet. I found that the manufacturer SAYS, "image disappears in approx. 20 seconds.". This is where they are wrong. My kids LOVED playing with it, until they ran out of room to write stuff. It took so long to dry to become clear again, that I had to bring it in and put my hairdryer to it for an additional FIVE minute to dry it in order to continue using it. And this toy wasn't even drenched, just regular use. The idea of this toy is great, but has a big inconvenience. Maybe when it's a hot day it'll be better....I hope! I bought two, one for my daughter and one for my niece. I'm returning the unopened one.

Happy Mom
This toy is awesome....Hats off to SpinMaster....I saw this toy online a month ago and went to Toys-R-Us to purchase it and they did not carry it yet...I was just there today and was so happy to see it on the shelf....My kids just opened it and they love it....They are 4 and 19 months old and this is something that they can play together and enjoy....My 4 year old loves to trace the alphabet...If anyone has preschool aged kids or younger this toy is a true winner!!!! Definitely worth the money....

Very Special Toy - Highly recommend
This is a WONDERFUL activity toy for children of all ages - even adults! Several kids can play together on the large size mat and it is very neat, easy to store,very educational,provides hours of fun. The unique technology allows for children to draw with water so you never have to clean up or replace any pens etc. The images disappear after a few minutes so you always have a new writing area. I highly recommend this toy to everyone!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Did you know that painted ladies (the butterflies, that is) taste with their feet and have 10,000 eyes? You and your kids will be fascinated by all you learn about these beautiful creatures with the Butterfly Garden from Insect Lore. The kit comes with a relatively easy-to-assemble observation chamber; supplies for feeding the butterflies (you provide only sugar and water); an informative booklet of clear instructions and butterfly facts; and a certificate for three to five free painted lady caterpillars. The metamorphosis from larva to butterfly takes about three weeks from when you receive the caterpillar larvae (which arrive in a small container with all the nutrients they need). Your children can watch the larvae increase dramatically in size, form chrysalides, and finally emerge into full-fledged painted ladies (it's suggested that they release the butterflies after a few days of observation). This would make a wonderfulactivity for families with kids of any age, but younger children will need help assembling the observationchamber and reading the instruction booklet. (Note: The manufacturer recommends that butterflies should not be set free in temperatures lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.) --Rachel Radway ... Read more

Reviews (62)

So fun I Bought My Own!
I bought one of these last year for my nieces. I also got one for me, and I'm in my 30's. I waited until the spring time to send in my caterpillar certificate. They came in their own little container with just enough food. So you don't need to feed them anything. I tried to put some real food such as leaves from the plants they like to eat in the wild, but they preferred the food that came with them. I think I received 6 caterpillars and they all turned into butterflies. I let them go a day or two after they emerged. Kids are completely fascinated by the process from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. One word of caution, it may not be the best thing to get for Christmas since you may have to wait until spring to get your caterpillars. They will send them in the winter, but I didn't want the butterflies to die on me or freeze to death if I let them go.

Our kids loved this
Our daughters received the Butterfly Garden from their grandfather. The whole family really enjoyed the entire process from catepillar to butterlfy. Very educational for the kids. Unfortunately, though we had three cocoons, only one of the butterflies actually survived. Nevertheless, this is a great gift and one I just bought for my nephew.

Tons of Fun and Educational too!
My daughter received this toy from her cousin. She is 5. At first my son was a little grossed out by the worm looking caterpillars but once they grew and I pinned the paper disc with the attached chrysalides to the netted garden, it was worth it. My 2 kids just sit there and watch. It's better than TV. One caterpillar died but 3 have already emerged. My daughter has named the three butterflies and she loves watching "Crystal" balance herself on the orange wedge that she placed in the hut. I find myself checking on them at least 4 times a day because it is so interesting. We are waiting for the last one to emerge before we set the other three free. My daugher doesn't want the last one to be lonely.

A wonderful combination of fun and education
My daughter had a wonderful time learing about butterflies and watching them emerge. This is a fantastic teaching tool, with clear instructions and easy to use equipment. I can't rave enough about this toy!!!!

WOW! This thing is cool!
I recieved my Butterfly Garden yesterday and boy, was I excited! The pop-up mesh butterfly habita is so neat. I've always wanted one! I sent away for my caterpillars today. If you want to give something or get something GREAT, the Butterfly Garden is a good idea! :) ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Lots & Lots & lots of fun
We got this table for our son for his 2nd birthday and he loves it and I'm glad we did. It was a hit at his Birthday party!
After reading all the reviews for other sand and water tables, I said this ones is the best and i'm right!
as for educational value, I rated it 4 starts, because It taught my son how play along with others and to share.
For durabilty, I definately can say it holds well.
My Husband had no place to sit and sat on top of the table and it held him!!Please don't misunderstand I did yell at him to get off, but it did hold him.
I would recommend this table to anyone!!!

GREAT FOR PRICE
this item was purchased for my 3 and 6 yr old. i got rid of the traditional sandbox as it killed all the grass and most of the sand ended up in the yard. I liked this one for the umbrella and for the fact that it was at kid friendly height. not as sturdy and durable as most step 2 products but great for price. There are little holes on the legs that i filled with water prior to putting together to give it more stability. the kids love it so that means i love it too.

hours of fun
We bought this for my 2 1/2 year old son so he would have something to play with in the backyard! I read reviews on all the different sandboxes/sand and water tables and ended up picking this one! After hours and hours of playing with this table and seeing other tables and playgroups etc. I know I made the right choice! The umbrella is a wonderful idea too!

Up, up and away
We purchased this table for our 3 year old daughter and she loves it. It was a smash with all the kids at her birthday party, not so much with the parents of the sand coated kids. My main reason for wanting a table was to prevent killing the grass underneath as a traditional sandbox would. I chose this one because it has an umbrella (which is very stable and adjustable) and because it has a hard cover. The cover attaches very securely thus keeping additional water, bugs, worms, leaves and various other things out...including my daughter, which comes in handy. My daughter is very pleased with the sand/water combo, rather I should say, the sand "in" the water combo. :o) Having a sandbox at her waist level seems to be very convenient for her. She scoots back and forth most of the time but can sit on a little chair and play too. I intend to bring it into the basement in the winter and fill it with rice (uncooked of course) so she can enjoy it year round. The drawback is the legs. They are attached with screws that can easily tear out and are not enough to keep the legs stable. Ours have not torn because I am very watchful of the position of the legs and prop them back up whenever I see them go askew. Other than that, I would highly recommend this table.

We use just water in this and LOVE it!!!!
I purchased this table a bit over a week ago and we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!! I have twin 2 1/2 year olds and they can't get enough of it. We are using is as a water table only so I drain the one side and then just tip it up to dump the other, no problem. I love the umbrella to reduce their sun exposure. The nice stone color is great too, it blends in with the house rather than the red/blue/green of other molded plastic toys.

A couple things other people had concerns about that I found helpful to know-

Don't cut the black cords holding the lid on, these are elastic and just pull off so you can put the lid on tightly between uses. The instructions are inside so some people have cut it.

Someone mentioned not being anywhere to store the umbrella?!? I just put in back into the table before I put the lid on like it was when I purchased it.

As for the legs not being sturdy I think some people have over loaded with sand (only holds 40 lbs) and the other thing is when you install the screws keep turning until the plastic on the legs doesn't buckle in but is pulling back tight against the table frame.

Enjoy, we sure love it! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful Item for Babies and Moms!
I can't tell you what a lifesaver this play tent is! It keeps baby safe and happy while we're on the beach or at picnics, and it's FUN FUN FUN for her! The material is durable, and it sets up and stores away in a snap! There should be one of these in the car trunk of every parent of an infant or toddler! It's perfect for changing baby too! ... Read more

Editorial Review

This takes the plastic playhouse to a new technological level. Impressed by the hipped4-foot-8-inch roof, red-shuttered windows, and doorbell with 20 different sound effects? Wait for the kids toget inside. First there's a complex, multi-buttoned wall phone. Then there's the motion detector. That'sright--as kids move around, the house senses where they are and responds with different sounds. Otherfeatures include a table that flips over to turn into a stove, and a back wall with a crawl-in hole. Theplayhouse requires two C batteries, not included. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (14)

so much fun
We bought this for our two year old daughter and she absolutley loves it. Not only does she play with it but my five year old loves it to. I even caught my eight year old in there with her friends .It is tall enough for the big kids to stand up .I looked over many of them and this one was the best choice I could ever make it is nice and roomy at least four kids are able to fit at a time and the telephone really rings and so does the doorbell .It is a great choice.A++

Great for indoors and outdoors
The grandparents bought this house for my 16 month old at Christmas (she's 22 months old now) and she absolutely LOVES IT! We have a small living room and we originally put it up in the house so she could play with it in the bad weather. It didn't take up too much room. The only "problem" we had with it being inside our house was the fact that our daughter would run inside and hide from us when it was time for the diaper to be changed. Good thing for the large window which allowed us to get her out of the house. Now the house is outside and I think it's a great value. (...) and I say buy it now if you are thinking of getting this house. It is well worth the money!!!

Brooke loves this little house
We purchased this house for my 22 month old daughter. One of her favorite things has been to ring the door bell outside of our house and now she has her very own, which she loves. I planted some flowers outside of her house which she is responsible for watering. One of the things that I was concerned with was that my daughter would outgrow it quicker than a larger (and more costly) playhouse. However, we purchased it on sale (...) so it was a no brainer!

We bought our daughter her 1st house at 2 years
We bought our daughter this house for her 2nd birthday last spring. We were hesitant at first, as this it an expensive gift, and money is tight with me staying at home with the kids. Looking back, it was an exceptional purchase(even better if you can get it on sale at Toys-R-Us, like we did). If you can splurge on only one big toy, this may be the one to get. There is lots of room inside for both kids and a parent. Because there's such a large window in the back, it's easy for poor old dad to get in and out. It's marketed as an outside toy; but we keep ours in the basement so the sun doesn't fade it. The only drawback(this only really bothers my husband)is that it takes up a lot of room. But, my girl LOVES her house, and so do we.

Great Playhouse
Santa brought this playhouse for Christmas for our 21 month old daughter. When we pulled the sheet off of it on Christmas morning her eyes lit up brighter than the tree. We have it in our playroom right now and she goes in it for hours. She loves all of the sounds it makes. She even has a mini couch in there and sometimes her tv/vcr combo is in there and she will watch her videos in there. It is roomy enough when we have our playgroup for at least 4 kids. My brother put it together on Christmas Eve in 1/2 hour. This was the perfect house for the money. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Outfitted in orange and purple, this electronic learning system for preschoolers plugs directly into a television, and at first take looks a lot like a video-game console. Insert any of Vtech's "Smartridges" into the unit for lessons on language, math, phonics, problem-solving, music, and more. Children can choose between two difficulty levels. Included are a large joystick, adjustable to right- and left-handed kids, and an Alphabet Park Adventure cartridge; other cartridges are sold separately. There's also a storage compartment on top that holds up to six cartridges. The system can run on either three C batteries or an AC adaptor; strangely, neither are included. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Reviews (11)

your gonna need batteries
the ac adapter is extra, and the unit runs on 3 c batteries! otherwise it is perfect for the school age child...the controller and joy stick is large enough for small hands.. the games may requier parental help at first, but they are quickly learned...my kids love it.

little kid friendly!
my 2 boys (ages 3 & $) received this as a gift and they are fascinated by it. I did find the additional control at Target and bought it along with the SpiderMan cartridge. It is fairly easy to use and very kid friendly for tough little boys who like to use their feet and hands! The cartridges are by age and the levels are very easy. Once they master one level they can move up to more difficult levels. What I really like about this toy is that it is educational and not violent like most of the other video games out in the market today. I like it so much, I'm giving it to several on my gift list for the Holidays. Another retailer (online) is $10 cheaper but you have to pay shipping.

Not impressed
I have two boys, 3 and 4 years old. We also have many video game systems, XBox and Playstations 1 and 2, I was originally going to get the boys a used Super Nintendo, but I saw V.Smile and thought it was more created for their ages and less likely to end up broken as quickly as any other console.<br /> I was upset that the 9 Volt adapter didn't come with the system, I actually think it is because V.Tech is a "rookie" when it comes to game systems like this.We expect to have to buy another remote,like all other game systems make you do, but most game consoles come with the accesories needed to make it run properly. It is designed to be a learning video game system for Preschool age to age 8, but I couldn't imagine a normal 8 year old or 7 year old enjoying it as much as other game systems. <br /> I also was upset and returned the first V.smile I got, because the learning system would shut off and I would play with the batteries replace the batteries and blow in the game and game slot, I noticed sometimes the game would come on even though I pulled it out and it would make my TV screen all disarray. I exchanged it for another and the new one does the same thing. VTech should be more on top of things. I even called the company at 1-800-521-2010 to ask if they have had many complaints. I do not know why VTech would sell the V.Smile without the adapter if it doesn't work properly alone on 3 C batteries. A parent should not have to go in there every 5 minutes or everytime the child changes games. If it is designed to run mostly on an adapter it should say so and include this feature with their product. I do not think it is worth the price, and hassle, but its okay as far as the activitie sthe games play. <br /> All I know is if you think you are going to get your kids to leave you alone for a minute while they play, then you are mistaken, lots of "mommy come help me" because the game has shut off. Even my husband who can fix anything gets annoyed when he plays with it for a while. One of these days, probably after their 90 day warranty expires, the system will probably shut off and never turn back on. Other then that, it is OK, my kids love it, and the games are nice because they are made similar to the Nintendo games, that won't break or scratch like a CD.

Good but.......
The system is great, but......<br /> The extra controller is no where to be found! IT IS NOT AVAILABLE through V-Tech even though the customer service rep said they had 1000's in the warehouse. They can't sell me one because they have no way to take payment. <br /> Try explaining that to twin 4 year olds who argue over the controller and whose turn it is. The adapter was also very hard to find. <br /> Why would a company even consider merchandising something as awesome as this before making all the necessary items readily available? If you have as much trouble as I did locating the adapter, buy yourself a ton of batteries!

extra controller
I haven't actually used this product yet (with the exception of the display in the toy store....loved it!), but I did stumble upon an extra controller in Target. I grabbed it up because I haven't seen it sold anywhere else (and it was the only one on the shelf) and I knew if I waited, chances are I wouldn't get my hands on one until January. ... Read more