Reviews (3)

Every child should have these!
These blocks are all you could ask for--and at an unbelievable price!! These are indeed "Standard Unit Blocks". They are just like what you will find in Preschool and Kindergarten classes. The selection of sizes and shapes is very, very good for a set with only 60 blocks total. That being said, if you can afford it I would strongly recommend buying 2 sets. When youngsters start building it's a shame if they run out of building materials for their creative experiences. The quality, weight, and workmanship of these blocks is outstanding. This is surely a gift that can be passed on for generations. In this day and age of pricey toys-so many being electronic and/or requiring only "one right answer or goal" it's incredibly refreshing and truely necessary to encourage children to be creative and explore learning through active free play. I purchased 2 sets of these blocks for my 3 & 4 yr old boys. I believe that the purchase of these blocks are probably one of the most valuable "toy" choices I have and will make.

Excellent price for unit blocks!
We bought these blocks for our four year old son. They were a hit! Our 7yod and 2yod enjoy them as well. They are extremely durable and have rounded edges. They are solid blocks and are actual unit blocks instead of small blocks. I was tickled at what I got for the price. We are looking to buy 1-2 more sets so that we have plenty for all of their creations!

The quintessential blocks
The craftmanship and detail approaches perfection while the variety of play becomes infinite. My son (4 years) continues to astound us with his imagination and engineering feats when he builds with the "Standard Unit Blocks." This will be his second box, allowing him to expand the existing set and enjoy his play even further. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Ask any child-development specialist to recommend the single most educational and creative toy for a toddler, and you're most likely to hear just one answer: a set of wooden blocks. BRIO, a trusted name in the world of toys, makes this set of 50 natural beechwood building blocks that have smoothly sanded surfaces and slightly rounded corners and edges for safety. The basic cubes, rectangles, arches, pillars, half-circles, and triangles can be combined in endless combinations to create anything from a doll crib to a castle. The cubes are the smallest blocks (1.25 inches square), and the 6-inch-long arches are the largest. The blocks are designed in incremental proportions--three cubes line up to the same length as one rectangle, and three rectangles stack up to the same height as one pillar. Such design illustrates why a well-engineered set of blocks is so educational: playing with blocks of related-but-different sizes teaches sorting, matching, grouping, balancing, and spatial relations in some subtle and very important ways. This set of blocks is a classic toy that belongs in every home with a young child.--Marcie Bovetz ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not as described!
The largest is not six inches long, it's only three inches. Some blocks were splintered and looked banged up. I returned immediatly, not safe for children of any age.

hours of fun
the best toy for toddlers, my godson spends hours playing with them! very durable and engaging.
in fact i used to have a set as a child and they had the same effect.

blocks are fun!
I got this toy recently because I felt it was important that my daughter begin to play with blocks. she has nesting blocks, but gets frustrated when the blocks fall into the "nest" and dont stack up. This toy is fun for her, she seems to enjoy playing with the smaller blocks, and her mommy seems to enjoy building more than she does! however, im happy with my purchase because I know this is a good investment, the blocks are durable, they will last me for future children, and im sure my daughter will love them when she sees how much i love them!! A worthwhile purchase.

Great Fun!
My child loves his Brio Blocks! These natural blocks are great because they have no paint so I am not concerned if he puts them in his mouth. They are also quite durable, and allows my son to build things that only his little mind can come up with. ... Read more

Editorial Review

For the toddler who's just discovering construction toys, theMega Blocks Wagon is a simple way to take building materials from siteto site. Topped with a sturdy plastic handle, the wagon is just over afoot high and runs on four 6-inch plastic wheels. Inside are 50 assortedMega Blocks. (These are mostly plain blocks but include a car and twopeople blocks.) The side of the wagon has a row of Mega Blocksknobs, so grand structures can be created right on the top of thewagon. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (26)

mega fun!!!!!!
this was a gift for my son last christmas and he loves it. he still plays with it to this day. he tries to build things it great for a childs develpment.

My 2 year old LOVES this toy!!!!!!!!!!!
My husband and I bought this for our son's second birthday and he has played with it for hours every day since then. We could have saved ourselves a fortune on other toys because this was a steal and by far his favorite toy ever. It is very durable, he drags it all over, throws the blocks in and then dumps them out! We have already purchased an additional set of mega blocks. I would HIGHLY recommend this toy!

Fun fun fun
I like this wagon because its so simple and fun for my daughter. She pulls the wagon around EVERYWHERE and even puts all her other toys in it, including dolls, and rides them around. My husband took the blocks out and put my daughter (29 months)in it and ran her up and down the hall! For [$$$] what a great buy.

Perfect for a younger builder....
These blocks are the perfect size for my littler builder who immediately made his first masterpiece moments after opening the wagon.... my only wish is that there were more blocks.

He also appreciates having a "handy storage" place for his toys... the little guy is fastidious... (yes, I am blessed!) We play "build" and then "throw the blocks into the basket".... so the wagon can double for lots of things.

The handle did fall off though it was easily reattached. I don't think its meant for "heavy duty" play.

Great Product
This was bought for my son last fall when he was 2 and he absolutely loved the wagon. While the blocks get scattered and we cannot find most of them, the wagon is a godsend out in the yard. When it comes time for him to pick up his toys, he pulls the wagon along behind him and puts them all in it. This wagon has been left out in the sun, rain, snow and whatever else mother nature throws at us and has yet to show any signs of sun fade. Nice product! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Magnets spur imagination in this building set from leading arts and crafts maker RoseArt. Fun and sharply designed, the set contains a series of brightly colored bars equipped with opposite polarity magnets at the tips. Small steel balls enable you to lock the pieces tightly together and assemble them into nearly innumerable arrangements. (RoseArt promises more than 500 possibilities, and provides a booklet suggesting some, including a miniature Eiffel Tower.) The set has 150 pieces and offers wonderful creative opportunities for kids. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Activity table 4 in 1
I bought this table for my 3 year old to play legos with and none of the legos stay attached to the table....wouldn't buy it again - i have a greeen lego plate that works much better and was a heck of a lot cheaper. A durable table but haven't gotten much use out of it except to store stuff on top of.

Great Table!
My son loves to play with his trains and cars on top of the table. It was easy to put together. If you are using for legos it's not easy to access under the board tops. When he wants his legos we have to pull them all out first then put the lego top on. It would be better to have storage underneath.

kidscraft 4 in 1 activity table
Just bought the table for my 4 y.o. son and I love it. The size is great, not as bulky as the bigger ones. On the board with the city streets I glued down the brio tracks just like they do at toysrus. When assembling it I also glued all the joints for extra reinforcement. For [$$$], I think it's a great buy--and after after 4 children, at this point, I can tell a good toy when I see one.
Thanks, "Mother of 4 from Boston"

Good for the money but not for LEGOS
I bought this for my son for Christmas. The sales person told me this would work with his LEGO blocks. The only problem I have found is that the board has too much flex to it and the LEGOS pop off real easy. If you are looking for a table to use LEGOS on I do not think this is the best deal. The price is great but what fun is it if you can't use your LEGOS?

A good value
I bought this table for my 2 children 2 and 5 because of the versatility of the table and the built in storage. It was much cheaper than other Lego tables and I thought the extra boards be an added bonus. My children rarely play with it. The boards are so big and heavy, they can't lift them out so they have to ask for help to switch between Legos, chalkboard and the town scene. Also since the boards need to be lifted up in order to get to the storage, they can't reach anything I store inside of it. I ended up putting bins underneath so they can reach the accessories. The scene on the town, scratched VERY easily. We have some huge gashes in the scene and since it hasn't been played with much, I wasn't impressed. Overall though it's a very sturdy table and a great price. Maybe your kids will be more interested than mine were. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Great box!
I love this toy box. I bought this box together with the chair. My son love it, he even went inside the box. I never have any problem with the lid. It works well! the padded material make it safe for my baby when he plays around it.

Great Toy Box - No Problem here
I purchased this toy box when my son was 2 months old I have had no problems with it at all. My son is now 10 months old and activly playing with his toy box all the time. Its durable, nicely cusioned and has all safety features needed for the little tots. I give this toy box two big thumbs up!!!!!

awful
it looks very nice, but the cover comes off every time i open it. if i would have a chance i would exchange it for a different one.

NOT a good investment
We got this toy box for our son because we thought it was cute, and it had the safety features we were looking for. What a waste of money! First, within 2 days of getting it, the cover popped off, leaving the pointy part of the screws exposed. I called the manufacturer, and they sent me a new lid, but it didn't last more that 6 weeks, the same thing happened. This is a HUGE safety issue, in my opinion this box should be recalled.

Big waste of money
This was the most difficult thing I have ever put together! It doesn't even stay together--the top kept coming off every time you opened it. The fabric got very dirty very quickly too. Waste of money! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Home to evil Lord Dragomont, this massive fortress sports a huge dragon's head centered above a set of swinging gates. Lights flash and alerts sound when the dragon's mouth opens. Turning a knob on the back makes "hot lava" flow to the right of the stone entryway steps. Further to the side rest two stone platforms, one above the other, equipped with a trap door that opens when a secret spot is hit. The toy's quality is decent but not mind-blowing. It comes with a 26-minute cartoon video, Fortress of the Dragon; also included are action figures of Lord Dragomont, a small red lizard, and a winged red dragon that shoots a missile out of its chest. (You just press a button above its tail.) Required are three AA batteries, sold separately. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Our favorite toy
My 2 year old son was first introduced to this toy at our Montessori class...he was hooked immediately!!! It was easy for him to figure out how to put the pieces together and attach the gears (he loved being able to do all of this himself as opposed to other gear toys where most of the building is already done for you) He sat and happily played with this fantastic toy for almost an hour before we had to leave. The learning possibilities of this toy are immmense as is the "fun value". With no "bells and whistles" this toy ranks very high on our list of toys due to the fact that our son has complete creative control...it's all up to him. All in all, it's a fantastic toy that we highly recomend.

Almost perfect...
My son received this toy for Christmas, and we gave one to our niece. The verdict is that it is almost, but not quite, perfect.

The toy is a set of interlocking squares of various colors that are perforated to hold a four-pronged hub that can support one of four sizes of gears. Everything is made of a durable plastic that has some flex to it. You can create systems of gears that spin around and even construct things like gearboxes. (The cover of the box--shown above--will give you a simple idea of what can be done.) There is a manual aimed at parents that helps them teach their child how gears work, too--a nice touch.

The quality of the toy is high: the colorful stickers for the gears are plastic coated, the injection-molded pieces are free from excess plastic, and the pieces fit together solidly. It's everything you would want from a European-made toy. (Quercetti, the manufacturer, is based in Italy and the toy is actually made there.)

It's a mesmerizing little toy and its variability is virtually endless. There are other kits in the Gear line that include such things as universal joints and 3-D parts, so it is highly expandable, even as your child ages.

My quibble? Our three year old niece adores the toy, but our three year old son only plays with it in fits. Truth be told, I play with it more than my son does. So as with anything, your mileage may vary.

It's nice that toys like this one are still being made. There's a lot of learning that can occur with it, too. Factor in the expandability and how can you go wrong?

Now if only I could get my son to join me more while I'm playing with it!

Bit tough for little hands to put together, but beautiful...
The base pieces of this toy are a bit stiff for my kids' little hands to put together. Also, the pegs that hold the gears onto the base are a bit tricky, but will build good fine motor skills if not discarded in frustration. I was just as entranced by this toy as they were as we played with it together for the first time. The brightly colored decals are trippy and fun. And learning that gears transfer energy they supply to move other gears of various sizes "on down the line" is... priceless. *grin*

we can go earlier
My daughter has always been drawn to visual spatial toys and loves playing with gears. She started getting independent with this around 3 years of age. I love the Discovery toy version as well.

Kaleido Gears Review
Originally purchased for our 5 year-old granddaughter, this toy is a little above her developmental stage, and apparently above her grandparents as well! She and we became frustrated in trying to fit the white gear connectors to the gear pieces, and then attaching the coupled piece onto the frame. Our 8 and 11 year-old granddaughters, however, love it and fight over playing with it! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Lincoln Logs is a classic toy that originated in 1916 and has been around for multiple generations—it may even have been a favorite of kids' great-grandparents. While the original sets built several variations of a log cabin, the current Lincoln Logs are sold as models to make specific buildings. However, kids can still use their creativity to construct buildings of their own design. This 150-piece set features logs and accessories to build the largest ranch in the west--the Big L Ranch. The tub contains 125 wood logs, three roofs, a chimney, three gates, a ladder, a barrel, five windows, two doors and frames, a rope, a trough, a flag, two horses, a steer, one cowboy figure, and one cowgirl figure. The logs are still made of real wood although all roofs, action figures, and accessories are made of plastic. The kit comes with a colorful instruction book that most older kids should be able to follow on their own; younger children may need some parental assistance. Kids can collect other Lincoln Logs models (sold separately) to set up an entire western frontier town. --Cristina Vaamonde ... Read more

Reviews (7)

LA
It's fun when you have a big imagiation, but I like the toys with more action.

Perfect for little boys with imaginations.
We gave the Large King's Castle to our 4 year old grandson for Christmas - assembled of course! He LOVES it!!! But DO allow yourself plenty of DAYS to assemble it. It is not difficult to assemble but, I would suggest the packagers get a better system for packaging the parts rather than the helter skelter packaging. I suggest all the parts to STEP 1 be packaged together, STEP 2 parts together, etc. Half the challenge was finding the parts to each step. Also, assemble it on a large board of some sort - a train board or low table. This toy lends itself to a great deal of imagination and creativity. He also received the pirates ship. What fun - the pirates invaded the castle and put all the knights in the dungeons and, of course, made off with the treasure chest. Despite the time it took us to assemble it, it was worth it.

playmobil is GREAT
I bought this castle for my ten year old son when he was four. He still plays with it. We have the baron battle tower, the western fort, the big pirate ship, and countless other small accessory sets. Yes, it is a delicate toy, and has to be played with carefully, somewhat like Lego sets, but the important thing is that it is probably the only toys that you buy for Christmas or birthdays, that your child will still be playing with a year later! Every winter, all of the playmobil gets set up and played with all winter long. My fifteen year old son is a "builder" and loves to put together all of this stuff. We have bought countless hotwheels, action figures, which we still buy, but playmobil and lego top them all for maintaining a childs interest and creativity. The fun part for me has always been to set up these huge sets with my boys the day after Christmas after the company has gone. Believe me, the price is worth it when it is a favorite with your child. This year my ten year old wants all the Viking stuff. Merry Christmas!

Great Creative Play!!!!! We Love Playmobil!!!!
I bought this set along with others for my boys two years ago. My husband complained about how long it took him to put it together---but the kids loved it! Unfortunately, it stayed together for a short time and then it ended up in pieces in the block drawer. But I will tell you---even though it is not put together in its intended form, my boys have been building and rebuilding forts, castles and dungeons. It is by far their favorite thing to do! It was frustrating to me to see it taken apart--but I have come to appreciate the fact that they will spend literally hours at a time building. Their creations look much more authentic than their lego buildings and they are not only building/designing structures...but they are role-playing and acting out as knights and pirates!!!!! What fun! Lots of little pieces---but they are pieces worth having.

This is a Surefire Hit!
I first realized the potential for Playmobil toys when my husband and I bought our 4 year old son a single Playmobil pirate figure (the "Admiral"). We thought he would like it because he was very into pirates. We had no idea that he would spend literally hours playing with this pirate and the ten or so miniture accessories (sword, hat, feather pen, etc.) that came with it. So, we went out on a limb and paid the steep price... for this castle for our son for Christmas. I couldn't be more pleased. This castle and accessories have already given more hours of enjoyment than if we were to have spent the same amount buying several less expensive toys. I am now a HUGE playmobil fan. When you put this castle together you know that it is QUALITY workmanship and construction. Every piece snaps into place... He plays with this castle every day, and his imagination has no limits. One cautionary note, the accessories to the Playmobil toys are very small--this is for some reason very attractive to every child who comes over to play--and for this reason we have our castle and all the figures we have gotten on a "train table". This is very nice because it keeps everything in one place and it makes it very easy for my son to manuever around the castle. Another note, if you have a son who likes to really be destructive/rough with toys, you may be pulling your hair out. I find this out every time other kids come over and play with the castle. While it stays together very well, it is made so that you can pull it apart if you want to reconfigure it. (This is obviously too advanced for a younger child, so we don't do this.) That means that if the kids hit it or pull it hard it will come apart---not to shambles, but enough to give you a headache. Also, if you do want to give this gift assembled (eg Christmas morning) give yourself a good 3 hours to put it together. There are literally hundreds of pieces to the castle. I had a good time doing it but would not have had nearly as much fun if it had been 3am. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Simple Pattern Blocks
Nice bright, simple patterns for my 2½ yr old to follow, and the cutout of shape makes it easy to place the thick wooden pieces. We're teaching her shapes and color recognition and this is a great teaching tool, and she really feels proud when she finishes each one (there's a pattern on each side of the wood board.) She even helps clean up afterward, made easy with the wood storage box. Can't say enough about the educational value and great quality of this set. I think we have just about all of Melissa & Doug's products! ... Read more

Editorial Review

As any parent knows, a strong, durable, easily cleaned piece of furniture canbe an incredibly valuable thing. This friendly plastic picnic table and bench set fromLittle Tikes fits the bill. With bright, friendly colors, it's big enough to fit up to foursmallish kids for a quick snack or art project. When you're done, it collapses flat for easystorage. It's light enough and flat enough to throw in the hatchback or minvan or tuckunder the couch. Since it's plastic, stains wash away easily. Although it comes in onepiece, assembly can be a bit tricky and is best left to grownups. --John Moe ... Read more

Reviews (46)

what a score!!
I bought this table based on the positive reviews it received and its very reasonable price. I am so pleased with it. It folds into a very flat space, and it takes a little muscle to pop the latches into place when unfolding--but that it what makes it so safe, sturdy and durable. The table is a PERFECT size for babies ready to leave the high chair. The attached bench seat prevents falls. The letter prior complaining of the lack of durability needs to realize this table is not made for 40 lb children to use as a trampoline, rather for young toddlers to eat, do activities, and climb on. It's only a ... table, and very, very well worth it. Best of all, my daughter LOVES this table!! Because of this the table earns a 4 star educational rating--she uses it enthusiastically for her educational activities, and to learn how to behave at her own little dinner table.

I have several of these for home and daycare
With 5 kids too little to sit at the table and now too big for their highchairs, this is a great thing! I can put 4 kids at each one and they have a place to eat (especially outside where I don't want them sitting in the dirt)

I've also got some of these at the daycare I own. With the preschoolers and older toddlers, they put use these for the kids to eat on

Get the larger version
Buy the larger version of this table. It has so much more leg room for when the kids get bigger and is SO worth the extra money!! Durability is excellent! Super easy to clean.

very handy little table, esp. if you have no room!!!!!!
We love this table, It gets used every day for many purposes. My son who was 2 when he got it for a gift, because we couldn't get him to sit in his highchair or a booster to eat. It was very frustrating. This table solved my problem. Our son now eats all his food at this table, colors, and races his cars on it. It folds down to next to nothing and can slide right under a couch. ( which we never do! ) Yes, it is also handy for the road. You can take it anywhere it fits right into a trunk of a compact car. We use it every holiday at my moms un-kid friendly house, to keep the kids busy for food and fun. I think it cleans up easy, I read a review that thought that the crayons stained it. Well no problems like that have occured for me. It has been marked with, pasta sauce, crayons, markers and even pens. It still looks like new. It cleans up with any kitchen cleaner such as 409 or fantastic. Just let it sit for a minute. If it still is stained, then use a softer scrubbing sponge. That should take care of the problem. Top sum it up I love this product and gets a ton of use. I will be buying one for my niece's 2nd birthday in a few weeks. Thank You!

PERFECT table!
We saw this table and had to run out and get it! Our son became very interested in coloring and puzzles and truly loves his own table. It's perfect for him and he is 1 1/2. He climbs right in it and sits. He just loves it! We appreciate it being one piece as my husband was afraid my son would be falling out of a small chair all the time. The little benches are very nice and the table area is nice for any type of activity...and it is easily cleaned. Just PERFECT....and so cute! ... Read more