Editorial Review

Most painters have to clean up after they're done, but with this set of five bright finger-paintsoaps, you can paint and get clean at the same time.Squeeze a dab of each color into the enclosedhand-shaped artist's palette and you're all set to turn your tub into an impressionistic masterpiece.When it's toweltime, wipe the pigment away using the included fish-shaped sponge. Don't forget to wear a beret in the tubfor the right effect. Paints are orange, blue, yellow, green, and purple.They are not heavily scented, and thepigments are child friendly. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Great idea, but you can't really see the paint
Well, my daughter LOVED the thought of painting in the tub. This product looked like just the ticket. Cute colors, sponge to clean up, what more could you ask? Well, the only problem is that you can't really see the colors! I'm sure if she used half of the small bottles of paint, it might show up as a darker color, however with the small amount of paint used to fill the holder, you can barely make a mark. Cute idea, but disappointing in reality.

Weak colors make it frustrating for toddlers
My daughter likes to play with this, but she often gets frustrated that the colors don't show up well. As other reviewers have said, the colors are runny and very soapy, so they don't stick well to the wall unless it is totally dry, and they don't show up as bright colors. The palatte idea is nice because the child has a place to store the colors while she's painting, but the space to put the colors is so small, that there's a need to refill often. My daughter usually ends up painting on herself more than on the wall, which I guess is ok, but she's not really drawing, just smearing colors all over herself. This means there's a lot of rinsing off time needed. If the colors were brighter and stuck on better, she could actually draw a picture and get into the pretend play more. This was a gift that came with extra paints, and I'm just happy to use it up so I can try something else. The bath crayons, for example, are much more satisfying for a child to use.

Paint is lightly colored shampoo- Don't Buy!
Good idea, but it doesn't work. The "paint" was lightly tinted shampoo, it didn't show up at all. Don't these people test this stuff before they sell it. Another big waste of $$.

Concept sounded good....
but the quality is lacking on this product.
Spending a little time browsing for interesting tub toys to entice my then15 mo into the tub, I found this set. Unfortunately, this toy wasn't a winner. The "paint" is more like slightly-tinted shampoo (same consistency and level of opaqueness) which makes "painting" very unsatisfying. My son spent a few minutes playing with the fish sponge-- that's been the extent of it. A better alternative has been the foam alphabet letters (several months playing and still going strong) and plastic containers for pouring water-- who knew?

Falls below expectations
Pass on this one - it's a great idea but the colors are runny and not very vibrant. The soap also stings when it gets in the eyes and gave my child a rash. ... Read more

Features

• Wide selection of art supplies
• Open-ended set promotes creativity
• Sturdy, waterproof portfolio with carrying handle
• Includes materials for drawing, painting, and collage

Reviews (1)

Just wonderful!
This has to be one of the best possible art case available for the budding artist. The supplies and the case are of extremely high quality (no cheap vinyl here -- but that's why the price is, unfortunately, nearly forty dollars). The case is also very roomy and versatile. There's enough space to slip an additional book or two (or other small toys) inside at the last minute, so the contents always seem "fresh". We take this case with us everywhere (without the paints, of course), and it keeps our four-year-old daughter very contented while waiting in restaurants, airports, etc.

One problem, however, is the lack of a pencil sharpener to accompany the colored pencils. Granted, this is a minor fault, but, since Alex Toys has a reputation for creating excellent products, this omission seems somewhat inexplicable. ... Read more

Features

• No tools needed for assembly
• Working door
• Front and back curtains

Reviews (3)

Fun, Colorful and Durable!
I bought this last year for Christmas and my girls use it virtually every day. They have put on puppet productions, used it as a lemonade stand, a club house, a shop and a thousand other uses. As you can see, it is extemely colorful and surprizingly durable. This was money well spent. I highly recommend it.

Great imaginations at work!
This is a great puppet theater, sound stage, restaurant, play house, etc... My daughter was 4 when she received this from Santa. He only wished he had found it sooner! My daughter continues to love it, and will now be sharing it with her younger sister. Many hours of pretend have been spent inside and outside this theater. We especially love it because it is large enough inside for two or more children. All the others we researched were too small for our needs. The colors are so vibrant and fun, we get tons of compliments from all our company. All the kids gravitate towards it!

Playhouse sparks imagination!
This playhouse theater is an excellent way to spark your child's imagination. My son received this as a Christmas gift last year and it has not only been a theater, but a house, cave, secret hideout, restaurant, and schoolhouse. Very colorful and the front chalkboard is excellent for strenghtening writing skills! The only downside I have with the theater is that it is not very durable. The theater is made of some sort of flimsy plywood and it is not secured with screws, etc. It slides together and a child can easily disassemble it. The front panel that the child rest's his/her arms on broke after two weeks of having the theater. Other than the durability factor...great product! ... Read more

Editorial Review

For the sleuth in every kid. The Under Cover Detective Activity Kit is a great choice for curious youngsters. Watch as your kids build academic skills through observation, creative reasoning, and imaginative play. Amateur sleuths can use items such as rearview glasses, code wheels, and composite drawing materials in a variety of imaginary detective scenarios. A colorful Spy Guide provides easy-to-follow instructions for activities such as taking fingerprints, documenting "suspects'" moves, and deciphering coded messages. The kit also includes a magnifying glass, a small flashlight, an ink pad, fingerprint powder, secret marker pens, a red message filter, file cards, and a special agent I.D. card. "Don't forget," the Spy Guide urges, "observe everything, look for clues, put pieces together, go undercover, take a lot of notes, and have fun!" (Parents with low tolerance for black powdery messes may want to remove the fingerprint powder.) Flashlight requires two AAA batteries, not included. --Joan DeClaire ... Read more

Editorial Review

At last, your collection of hand puppets can get the home--or rather the workplace--it deserves. Sturdily constructed from wood, this traditional Punch and Judy puppet theatre requires no tools for assembly. You can write the time, or other relevant information, on the chalkboard panel just below the stage. The facade is held in a vertical position with simple red wooden feet. The theatre measures 58 inches high, 29 inches wide, and 15 inches deep. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Not as Advertised
I am sort of shocked that this toy is still being described as a theatre with a clock and two puppets. Amazon had assured me that they would change the item's description.

I ordered this item and was surprised that the picture on the box was a different theatre than the one I had ordered, I opened it and found that it is a theatre with no clock and no puppets. I contacted amazon and they said that the description was wrong and that it would be changed immediateley. They sent me a returned merchandise authorization. But it was a day before my Daughter's 5th Birthday and she had been staring at the box for days and decided she wanted it. So we kept it. We found puppets elsewhere.

As for durabillity and fun, it has stayed together with 2 rough and rowdy kids. They rarely use it for puppets though, it's a fort and a lemonade stand and a store and the DMV (LOL)!

My daughter uses the little chalkboard to practice writing a lot and the tear away curtains delight my son. One word of caution, the little star toggles used to keep the curtains pulled back come off with minimal effort and do pose a choking hazard. My son is 2, so I pulled them off and hid them till he's older.

All in all it's a good theatre, and well made as all the Alex toys are, it gets used every day.

My daughter still says that she wishes it had come with a clock though. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

highly recommended
I have a 3 year old son who has autism. This desk makes it so much easier for his therapists to work with him. It is also very sturdy and appealing to a little one's eye. Plus, you can install the desk top the opposite way for lefties! Trust me, you and your child will love this desk.

Best Buy Ever
I bought this for my niece for her birthday now I need to get one for my son they fight over it constantly. It gives them a place to do their crafts and homework. It is great to bring outside on a nice day to paint, practice writing on the chlk board, or to do a worksheet for school. It is so easy to clean and it is very sturdy. They even use it to sit and watch TV. When my nefews come over they love to use it also. I have purchased two other desks for my kids in the past, this is by far the best for space and versitility. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

great for art class
I bought this for my daughter to use in her 1st grade art class 2x/week. We are very happy with this product. It is easy to slip into and out of. It is durable and protects her clothes from the paint. The sleeves have elastic around the cuff which stops her shirt from slipping out.

apron
I didnt care for this item to much, the sleeves were to tight, and they are plastic, which made it very uncomfortable for my 7 year old to wear. ... Read more

Editorial Review

There are a lot of dollhouses on the market, but most of themneed to be assembled, furnished, and outfitted with a doll family. Thishigh-quality dollhouse set offers a complete turnkey environment, witheverything included right down to the baby and the baby carriage. Afamily of five felt dolls is included, each with a colorful felt outfitand flexible wires inside its body so it can be positioned to sit orstand up. The three-story house is made of laminated interlockingfiberboard panels that fit together quickly, with one large room oneach floor and one side completely open for play. The inside andoutside walls and the floors are decorated in bright primary colors,with cheery yellow outside walls and open windows on each end. Thenicely made hardwood furniture includes 28 pieces, with items for theliving room, kitchen, parents' room, and the third-floor nursery. Thenatural wood furniture has accents of red and bright blue, and many ofthe pieces have working drawers or doors. A few accessories areincluded, too, such as lamps and a tiny wooden TV or computer. Anexcellent choice for a preschool girl's first dollhouse, and a handy,complete gift package that will be welcomed by busyparents. --Marcie Bovetz ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Entertainment for play & imagination
"My Dollhouse" cured my granddaughters cabin fever during the northeastern icy winter snows! This is a great toy for developing a child's imagination and creativity. They have spent countless hours playing with dolls, moving the furniture around and adding a few of their own creative decorations. They always make up a different story about the dolls and the house each time they play with it. Also, their friends from their kindergarden class always want to come over to play with the dollhouse.

Years of Fun!
We purchased this for my daughter when she was 2 1/2 years old. She continues playing it with almost daily at 4 years old. It's amazing and a great value.

The dolls are a little odd, but other brands (like Loving Family) fit just fine in the furniture. And my daughter (and her friends that flock to this house) don't seem to mind the cloth dolls.

I was initially concerned about the durability of this house, but it has endured many many hours of play from different kids--boys and girls. It's a hit with both. We've had such a good time with this and hours and hours of fun. It's definitely been one of the best toy purchases we've made--well worth the money!!

I have mixed feelings about this dollhouse...
I bought it for my daughter last year for Hanukkah. I really like the design of the house itself: the three completely open floors are easy for a young child to play with, and I like the bright colors and simple assembly. But I don't like the felt dolls that come with the house. They're flexible, but they don't hold a sitting position, so you can't sit them down in the chairs. And, frankly, I just think they're weird-looking!

The furniture is OK, not great--it's not as smoothly finished as similar products from well-known makers of wood dollhouse furniture, and not as well constructed--one of the chairs fell apart yesterday when she was playing with it. It's also scaled a little smaller than most other dollhouse furniture, so if you replace the funky felt dolls with standard plastic dollhouse figures, they may not fit very well. Our replacement dolls are always falling out of the chairs.

Still, the whole package is not a bad deal for the amount of money. If I were buying a new dollhouse today, this wouldn't be the one, but my daughter still likes it just fine.

My Doll House
This doll house has proven hours worth of fun and imagination. The furniture pieces are easy for little hands to maneuver, and the "family" members are flexible. There is enough room for a child to move things around, and the open floor plan allows for room changes.

This doll house that is suitable for a child as young as three, yet it has an heirloom quality to it. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fun to make but not built to last
My 6 year old daughter had a great time painting this umbrella.

Unfortunately the paint is the kind that stays just sticky enough even weeks later that if the umbrella is folded up for any length of time and then reopened the paint pulls off.

We eventually threw it away. A shame really but it just became a big mess.

Girls love it!
My 8 year old was busy for 3 days with this fun rainy day project.

I bought 2 more! One for my 6 year olds birthday and her friend. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This colorful plastic briefcase, packed with paper-craftsupplies, is perfect for the child who adores art projects. The case,which measures just over 9 by 12 inches, has tuck-in tab closures and apurple carrying handle. Open it up and you'll find a whole host ofmaterials, including colorful construction paper, shiny metallic paper,geometric-shaped tissue paper, dot stickers, doilies and doily hearts,pipe cleaners, color-and-cut cardboard animal masks, origami paper, andcreative origami folding instructions. The set also comes with an ideabooklet that will teach you how to make several different paperprojects, from doily tiaras to fancy paper fans to finger puppetfriends. There's enough here to keep the most ardent arts-and-craftsenthusiast busy, and it all stows neatly in the plastic case forconvenient cleanup and transport. --Elisabeth Fredrickson ... Read more

Reviews (3)

My kid loved this item
My 6 year old and I spent a great rainy afternoon making masks and then putting togeather little skits that we performed for his Mom. I liked that there were many options that helped my son bring out his creativity. Something different from the usual action figure stuff. He also liked the carrying case.

very disappointed
I bought this kit because i love to do paper crafts, but when i opened it I was very disappointed, it was not what i expected for the money i paid. The cut and color masks are a little scary for smaller children, there is only 2 in the package that is acceptable for young children the rest are scary dinosaur faces. I was expecting cute animal faces. I did get glue and scissors in the package which isn't stated in the picture and description. Overall the purchase was a big disappointment, I won't be purchasing it again.

Doesn't give good value for the money
We ordered two of these for christmas gifts and when we got them we turned around and sent them right back. Inside the vinyl holder was a very small pack of materials, it just looked like very little for [the money]. We didn't open the small package of materials because we knew it was going back. When we spend [money] on a gift it has got to be more substantial than this. ... Read more

Features

• Everything for the supersleuth
• Includes rearview spy glasses, binoculars, fingerprint powder, flashlight, and more
• All contained in black nylon bag

Reviews (1)

Pretty Cool
I liked the rearview glasses the most. However they aren't as durable as they should be. Spy University by Scholastic is more educational toward the field of espionage for kids. It's an 11 month program where you get a booklet and gadget every month.
~Anyway this toy is REALLY good at FINDING clues. THe binoculars and the magnifying glass worked well. THe finger print powder doesn't last long...but Spy University teaches you how to make your own in the booklets. Each booklet contains cool spy information, a mystery story, and cool spy activities. You have to go to scholastic's website to find out more.
~Yeah so while this toy does not offer the most advanced spy toys for kids, it will help you solve a mystery. Not too much fun when it comes to playing Spy Kids though..... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Worth the Money!
My 3 year old daughter loves art. She found this in a toy store and I did not want to buy it because it was a little pricey for art supplies. But she has really enjoyed this. It has a little bit of everything in it. She has used up almost everything in it. But she still uses it to organize her other arts and crafts stuff. ... Read more

Editorial Review

It looks like a rectangular lunch box made of yellow nylon cloth, but rip open the sturdy Velcro fastener and this cleverly designed art pack rolls out flat and becomes four zippable, see-through compartments for 50 felt-tipped pens. The first two compartments contain 28 simple stick pens in colors that cover the basics, but also include pink, gray, and several different shades each of purple, brown, and orange. The third compartment has eight stubbier, thicker markers. Best of all, the fourth compartment has a dozen "brush tip" pens so flexible they can make a line vary from very fine to almost a quarter-inch thick. A lot of color for your money. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Features

• Nylon box with 4 compartments
• 48 markers
• 4 different types of markers

Reviews (1)

Won't Wash off!
My daughter received this as a gift for her 3rd birthday. She loves it. There are thick markers and think markers. The variety is endless. However, the ink will not wash off of clothes. Be warned. I would love to find a similar set that is washable. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Set of Crayons!HIGHLY Recommended!
This set of crayons is very durable & colorful!It comes in a cute organized pouch which has 4 zippered compartments that fold togehter and velcro shut.The crayons are EXCELLENT quality, comparable to Crayola.Young kids and adults will enjoy hours of fun with crayons.Create things to your hearts desire.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED PRODUCT and Great for Travel Too!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Who's up for a Clay Party? If you want to keep up to a half-dozen little folks busy and entertained, look no further. Inside a fairly sturdy bucket you'll find five 7-ounce packages of bright, nontoxic modeling clay, 16 plastic clay cutters (shaped like stars, houses, and more), four dinosaur clay molds, a rolling pin, safe cutting and modeling tools, and a plastic mat to make cleanup a snap. The clay is easy for small fingers to work and the tools make it simple to turn out cool, colorful characters in minutes--then ball 'em up and start over! --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Fun! Fun! Fun!
I purchased this for my 9 year old grandson's birthday, and he loved it more than most of his other gifts. He comes over to my home some weekends, and brings it along in the bucket that the clay comes in. The only problem is that his sister wants to play too, so I am online to purchase another one. I recommend this for any child.

Keeps them busy!
I love this product! I purchased it for my 5 and 8 year olds, and it is a great way to keep them out of my hair while I get housework done. Highly recommended! The best part is that when they are done, everything can be thrown right into the bucket - easy clean up.

Too Difficult
The clay in this set is so incredibly hard to work with. My kids were very frustrated. The clay does not soften. The cookie cutters and molds with the set are great and we use them with Play Doh or Crayola modeling clay. I do not recommend spending your money on this at all.

Impossible to soften this clay!
The Amazon reviewer claimed this clay was easy for little fingers to work - not true for my nearly-four-year old, and not true for me! It was hard as a rock. You'd have to work tiny bits at a time to make it workable. My daughter quickly got bored and gave up and I can't say I blame her. A big disappointment ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Cute Kitchen
this is a cutie kitchen.the colors are bright nice.you should buy this because of all the kitchen tools.they are really great!

Completes the play kitchen!
I looked at many play kitchen accessories, and I purchased this set because of all the included items in the set. The set I purchased had all of the items listed above, but Bella's set also had a Pressure cooker pot! Talk about having everything for her little kitchen!

I wanted the translucent colors shown in the picture, which is not only more gender neutral but cooler, but opaque yellow, pink and aqua was the only option I had. Overall, I'm pleased with the purchase and so is my 19-mos. daughter. ... Read more