Best Building Toys
When playtime is over, zip the blocks up in an environmental-friendly bag and stash them in the toy box until the next adventure. The practical storage bag keeps all of the pieces securely in one place and comes with a hand-strap to make carrying the blocks a snap!Ideal for children 1 year old and up! Compatible with all Mega Bloks sets for endless building possibilities.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"i bought these blocks in preparation for my growing baby!"
"You cannot go wrong buying this block set!"
"The blocks are large and easy to build."
"After I get a quick hug, my grandson comes in from his toy chest carrying the bag of these mega building blocks so we can build a tower."
"My girls love making castles with them and they will play with their dolls inside of their block creations."
"So while he is a bit young to be building things, he loves to play with this big pile of colorful blocks. It is interesting to watch him look at the pieces with great curiosity, we don't think it will be long when he starts putting them together."
"As an individual product, it's great for small kids, but I can't get over the fact that they don't work with other colored sets."
"Lego has been the leader in this arena and I'm sure they have the experience to make more solid building blocks....as for this, ehhh - nice try, no cigar."
It's never too early to start developing kids creativity at a young age, Picasso Tiles inspire youngsters learning by playing, children will acquire a strong sense of colors, geometrical shapes including 3D forms, number counts, magnetic polars, as well as the creativity which is the key factor to success in today's ever changing environment. Children can acquire strong sense of color, geometrical shapes including 3D forms numbers counts, magnetic polarities & architectural design at early age. CREATIVITY BEYOND IMAGINATION - Magnet Building Tiles Clear 3D color Magnetic Building Blocks Playboards for preschool, pretend play and more.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The colors are beautiful and the magnets work well enough to hold most structures together."
"My granddaughter received her first magnetic building set (the Magna-Tiles brand) a few months ago and she enjoyed building with them so much that I bought an additional set."
"I actually own a larger set for playing when grandchildren come to visit."
"Contained inside are: 4 large squares. 24 small squares. 18 small equilateral triangles. 8 right-angle triangles. 6 large isosceles triangles. This 60 piece set has allowed us to build a number of designs and is the perfect size for our 2-year old to play with. She has been able to easily attach the magnetic tiles to eachother to make designs and detach the tiles with ease."
"Our public library has a set and they will sit for over an hour playing various games with these blocks."
"We bought this to add to our magnatiles, and they're working out perfectly."
"We have magna tiles and decided to buy these to build on our set."
"Since this has now happened for the second time with a different tile, I will need to return these, as they are a safety concern."
Designed with builders of all ages in mind, this classic toy with its collection of LEGO bricks in 35 different colors will encourage open-ended building play, and inspire any imagination. LEGO Creative Brick building toys are compatible with all LEGO construction sets for creative building.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"When all is said and done, you are left with a lot of extra room in your storage box. For us, this was okay, but if your little builder wants to build a house, you may want to check out the Lego Education Basic Brick Set."
"I am planning on saving it for their Lego themed birthday party to set up paper plates or silverware in. I am a fan of Lego in general, I like their kits because they allow my 5 and 3 year old to create trains, cars, etc that look cool and are fun to play with. Right now we are getting these classics sets to bulk up my kids collection for free building. I have read that you shouldn't pay more than ten cents per Lego (accounting for differences in variety of sizes). Getting more Legos can never be wrong, especially when they build your child's imagination and keep them busy for hours!"
"If you're looking for a great kit of classic blocks with a nice selection of more specialized blocks to get you started or build on your existing collection, look no further."
"The quantity is a good amount for a boy his age, it's just enough for him to build the projects in his book that are at his skill level."
"As some people say, Legos keep their value, and it's better to get them now at a lower price than later when the price will of increased."
"Other than being overpriced for what you're getting, there is nothing inherently wrong with the product, just not what was expected from a box boasting the number of pieces and the creativity of it."
"this classic set of Lego blocks is the perfect gift to give to a child whose toy preference you're not totally familiar with."
"First of all, if you expect the box to be full, you will be disappointed, but this is a good variety of pieces to get started and the box will accommodate additional sets or assembled projects."
Best Toy Building Sets
Designed with builders of all ages in mind, this classic toy with its collection of LEGO bricks in 35 different colors will encourage open-ended building play, and inspire any imagination. LEGO Creative Brick building toys are compatible with all LEGO construction sets for creative building.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"When all is said and done, you are left with a lot of extra room in your storage box. For us, this was okay, but if your little builder wants to build a house, you may want to check out the Lego Education Basic Brick Set."
"I am planning on saving it for their Lego themed birthday party to set up paper plates or silverware in. I am a fan of Lego in general, I like their kits because they allow my 5 and 3 year old to create trains, cars, etc that look cool and are fun to play with. Right now we are getting these classics sets to bulk up my kids collection for free building. I have read that you shouldn't pay more than ten cents per Lego (accounting for differences in variety of sizes). Getting more Legos can never be wrong, especially when they build your child's imagination and keep them busy for hours!"
"If you're looking for a great kit of classic blocks with a nice selection of more specialized blocks to get you started or build on your existing collection, look no further."
"Since I "found" a local resource we can satisfy our Lego hunger in 30 or so minutes ."
"I added a big bag of generic Legos and a Lego Idea book to the gift mix so they should be happy for sometime...."
"First of all, if you expect the box to be full, you will be disappointed, but this is a good variety of pieces to get started and the box will accommodate additional sets or assembled projects."
"Such a great gift because it encourages Lego builders to use their imaginations to build whatever they wish AND it allows them to build onto any set they already have."
"My 8 year old daughter is obsessed with Legos, but the sets can be soooo expensive!"
Best Toy Interlocking Gear Sets
Bright colors and easy-to-assemble pieces encourage children to create moving masterpieces. The turning gears in this colorful set offer hundreds of 3-D construction possibilities. Encourage Problem Solving and Perserverance This engaging set features plastic gears, cranks, connectors and interlocking base plates for endless construction possibilities! The included experiments encourage them to notice interesting movements and connections, and explore the fascinating action that can be created with gears. While your child engages with his favorite construction toy, he's developing hand-eye coordination and handwriting muscles. He thinks he's playing but he's also learning colors, cause and effect and the concepts of push and turn. Gears Cranks Connectors Interlocking base plates Activity guide. Different every time you build, this versatile, interconnecting gear set fosters imagination and provides opportunities to experiment with simple mechanics and science. 96-piece set includes 48 uniformly-sized gears in six colors: red, orange, yellow, green, and purple, 8 interlocking square base plates, 19 square pillars, 8 pillar extenders, 12 six-way axles, and Activity Guide.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My son loves these!"
"It wasn't in the original box but a plain brown box. I opened the box and put the gears in a plastic file folder container."
"I had thought about buying the gears monkey set, but only being able to put it together one way made me change my mind."
"My husband was really into building things when he was little, so when we saw this set, we knew it would be the perfect gift for a little boy who's birthday our baby girl had been invited to attend."
"My kids lose interest after a while, but they have busted it out again to make a "Cranky the Crane" on their Thomas train table."
"My three year old hasn't stopped playing with these since Christmas morning."
"He thinks it's great to see how you can connect different things and it turns all the gears at once."
"We love the quality of the pieces."
Best Marble Runs
See-Through Pieces -. One of the most interesting features of our Marble Run is our translucent pieces that allow you to see the Marble as it goes from the top of the set to the bottom. 8 solid bases including 3 large bases to ensure maximum stability (large base designs vary slightly per included pieces image).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Let me first start by saying I went and bought one from the store which was a few bucks cheaper, but had to return it because it was not well made and it was flimsy, definitely cheap. My son who is only 3yrs old enjoys playing with his Marble Run for hours and won't stop talking about it."
"Excellent Marble Run Set. Note: This is TWO "Super Sets" combined."
"This set is awesome, Love how they are clear and you can see the marble as it goes, has 3 Large whirlpool, and the muiltply pin wheels are cool, plus other pieces i have never seen with my original marble machine. I was worried at 1st because the regular pieces seemed small compared to the old marble machine i grew up with but after assemble and playing with it the supper set gives many options for building.. Love it!"
"Must be done by an adult, and even then it was not structurally sound. 2) Not the highest quality plastic so it tips over easily."
"Bought this for my 3yo son, and his 6yo and 8yo sisters love it just as much as he does."
"Got this as a Christmas gift for my kid."
"The tall towers can be a little bit unstable if not supported underneath, but for the most part it's a very good marble set."
"I had serious problems with some parts of this set staying connected."
Best Toy Stacking Block Sets
Children can let their imaginations run wild as they build towers and towns with this 60-piece standard unit block set. Ideal for ages three to five, this block set stimulates children for hours as they engage in imaginative play. Each set features a large variety shapes and sizes including arches, columns, squares, rectangles, triangles, cylinders, and circles, as well as basic, half, and double unit blocks. Best of all, when the child finishes constructing their masterpiece, all the pieces store neatly into a wooden storage box. An essential for any child's toy box, these blocks are sturdy, durable, and beautiful enough to put on display. Enter your model number to make sure this fits.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"They use these blocks every time they visit and it is the one toy that they use together without a fuss. I'm posting those photos here, because I refer to them every time we put these blocks back in the sturdy box that they came in."
"Initially, I planned to order more, however, as I played with the blocks with my son, I noticed a significant problem. Just understand that roughly 20% of the blocks may be far less useful because they've been improperly cut to the wrong length or finished at bad angles."
"Best of all they facilitate play with other toys, such as building a house for the doll or making a car ramp, so they never get old for your child."
"Well made wooden blocks -- like the old "kindergarten" blocks we grew up with."
"I will say that if your kids wanted to build something big, there may not be enough blocks. I think that these blocks will be something we will always keep- I will keep them for someday when I have grand kids as they are classic, all kids love blocks!"
"We've purchased 2 additional sets throughout the last few years and he wants even more for Christmas this year, so I'm going to get him another set or 2."
"Beware though, if you have younger kids, these blocks are heavy and if a fight breaks out, you will have to remove it for fear of injury as I have had to do on occasion."
"All in all, great investment for years of building."
Best Pretend Play
When you adopt this special elf and name him, he receives his Christmas magic and can fly to the North Pole—but only when all girls and boys are sound asleep. At the start of each holiday season, the elf returns to his family’s house to be Santa’s eyes and ears, and every night he travels back to the North Pole to report in. While some like to hide in the freezer (probably because it reminds them of the North Pole) and others prefer to sit on the fireplace mantle or hang from the chandelier, these elves love to play hide-and-seek with their families. At the start of each Christmas season, the elf appears to serve as Santa's eyes and ears, traveling back to the North Pole each and every night to make a detailed report of the day’s activities. This keepsake gift set includes a light skin, blue eyed boy North Pole pixie scout elf and a hardbound watercolor picture book. HIDE AND SEEK - One of the best parts of getting an elf is waking up each morning and trying to spy where they’re hanging out for the day. SANTA’S LITTLE HELPER - Every night this Scout Elf will return to the North Pole to say whether your family has been naughty or nice.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Yes, I spend about 20 minutes a day every other day or so making the elf do the silly things but I laugh hysterically the entire and my child thinks it's magically so I've had 2 of the best Christmas's ever so far..."
"This was our first year doing Elf with our 4 year old."
"The book explains that Santa has sent an elf to watch over the children and the elf reports back to Santa each night. Rules: * The children cannot touch the elf or he will lose his magic. * The elf can listen to what the children tell him, but cannot talk back, that's Santa's law. * The elf flies back to the North Pole each night and tells Santa what he has seen - when he comes back he goes to a new spot in the house."
"He comes with a book and you can go online and register your elf and get a birth certificate and a letter from santa."
"The book the elf comes with is a plus and has a page to further personalize the book and the elf."
"The Elf on the Shelf very awesome item!!"
"I'm a blogger and online influencer and it worked great for the posts that I used it for."
"Exactly as pictured."
Best Dress Up & Pretend Play
Sized just for kids and built to last, the broom, mop, duster, dust pan, and hand brush are comfortable to use and easy to store--just hang them from the sturdy cords onto the included stand for neat, compact storage. Includes broom, mop, duster, dust pan, brush, and storage stand.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"When my sister-in-law told me to buy my nephew cleaning supplies, I thought we may have a potential child labor crime happening but she said he likes to help clean the house. Guys, I felt like I was walking into the lion's den where tons of judgey parents would see that I bought my nephew a mop, broom and duster. Not going to lie, I can't believe this is a thing or that kids want to play with it but my nephew seemed ecstatic and that's all I was going for so 5 stars!"
"The only reason that I knocked off a star is because the pole that they hang on arrived warped and has gotten worse over the last few months, but that doesn't impact the fun my son has with them so it isn't a huge deal!"
"Perhaps with a little more self control it would be fine but until then it will remain unplayed with or else we'd be cleaning up little yellow yarn bits off of the floor eventually leading to just a wooden rod for a toy."
"Every time my daughter uses it pieces of yarn shed off, and sometimes whole pieces of yarn fall out."
"I like that there is a hanging center for the equipment because then he can keep it all in one place."
"My grandson (almost 2) loved this and started to use it right away."
"I tied the string loops on the handles of the mop and broom smaller so they wouldn't touch the floor as much, seriously not a big deal."
"I've come to trust Melissa & Doug products over the years for their quality and educational basis."
Best Preschool Toys
Early learning center has 5 piano keys that play music and encourage creativity; wheels work on carpeted and hard floors.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I saw the issues about the wheels sliding on hard floors, being too light to support a child while standing up, going too fast and kids falling on their face... Wheels sliding on hard floors... False, there is a rubber seam on the rear wheels that prevents side to side motion. My 12 month old (recieved this for his birthday) uses the locked setting on the main floor where it's hard floor and the free spinning setting on the carpet."
"Let me also clear up any confusion on why my LO likes this walker - My LO likes this as a toy, loves the music and sounds. - There are two settings to control the speed of the walker (however, we have never used more than one which is the slowest - We have used this walker on hardwood floors - you might want to use the faster setting if using on carpet). - The musical unit will keep your LO entertained for hours! We have had a couple falls, not really bad ones, and while I understand that kids fall and hurt themselves, its not fun when your LO is attempting to stand with the walkers help and the walker slips and runs away. All in all, this was much better than the other walkers we tried. The other name brand walker we purchased was no where in comparison to this walker. Please note - pediatricians now recommend not using a walker, I feel if you are constantly watching over your LO this is probably the safest walker and the most fun walker out there - minus the differences in the older and the newer models."
"A few days later, still a little sad that I couldn't find anything else, a friend of mine posted a video of her kiddos (she has twins) playing with the same toy I wasn't buying!! If your baby is ready to start walking then this toy is absolutely wonderful but please know that if your baby cannot stand on their own, then they are not ready to be walking with this toy so just get it for them to press the buttons since it can be easily removed until they can stand and walk with it. That is what it is made for. I gave the educational value a four because while there are a million things on it that baby can learn from, they probably are not going to because they will be so busy wanting to push a million other buttons."
Best Baby & Toddler Toys
Early learning center has 5 piano keys that play music and encourage creativity; wheels work on carpeted and hard floors.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I saw the issues about the wheels sliding on hard floors, being too light to support a child while standing up, going too fast and kids falling on their face... Wheels sliding on hard floors... False, there is a rubber seam on the rear wheels that prevents side to side motion. My 12 month old (recieved this for his birthday) uses the locked setting on the main floor where it's hard floor and the free spinning setting on the carpet."
"Let me also clear up any confusion on why my LO likes this walker - My LO likes this as a toy, loves the music and sounds. - There are two settings to control the speed of the walker (however, we have never used more than one which is the slowest - We have used this walker on hardwood floors - you might want to use the faster setting if using on carpet). - The musical unit will keep your LO entertained for hours! We have had a couple falls, not really bad ones, and while I understand that kids fall and hurt themselves, its not fun when your LO is attempting to stand with the walkers help and the walker slips and runs away. All in all, this was much better than the other walkers we tried. The other name brand walker we purchased was no where in comparison to this walker. Please note - pediatricians now recommend not using a walker, I feel if you are constantly watching over your LO this is probably the safest walker and the most fun walker out there - minus the differences in the older and the newer models."
"A few days later, still a little sad that I couldn't find anything else, a friend of mine posted a video of her kiddos (she has twins) playing with the same toy I wasn't buying!! If your baby is ready to start walking then this toy is absolutely wonderful but please know that if your baby cannot stand on their own, then they are not ready to be walking with this toy so just get it for them to press the buttons since it can be easily removed until they can stand and walk with it. That is what it is made for. I gave the educational value a four because while there are a million things on it that baby can learn from, they probably are not going to because they will be so busy wanting to push a million other buttons."
Best Learning & Education Toys
Early learning center has 5 piano keys that play music and encourage creativity; wheels work on carpeted and hard floors.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I saw the issues about the wheels sliding on hard floors, being too light to support a child while standing up, going too fast and kids falling on their face... Wheels sliding on hard floors... False, there is a rubber seam on the rear wheels that prevents side to side motion. My 12 month old (recieved this for his birthday) uses the locked setting on the main floor where it's hard floor and the free spinning setting on the carpet."
"Let me also clear up any confusion on why my LO likes this walker - My LO likes this as a toy, loves the music and sounds. - There are two settings to control the speed of the walker (however, we have never used more than one which is the slowest - We have used this walker on hardwood floors - you might want to use the faster setting if using on carpet). - The musical unit will keep your LO entertained for hours! We have had a couple falls, not really bad ones, and while I understand that kids fall and hurt themselves, its not fun when your LO is attempting to stand with the walkers help and the walker slips and runs away. All in all, this was much better than the other walkers we tried. The other name brand walker we purchased was no where in comparison to this walker. Please note - pediatricians now recommend not using a walker, I feel if you are constantly watching over your LO this is probably the safest walker and the most fun walker out there - minus the differences in the older and the newer models."
"A few days later, still a little sad that I couldn't find anything else, a friend of mine posted a video of her kiddos (she has twins) playing with the same toy I wasn't buying!! If your baby is ready to start walking then this toy is absolutely wonderful but please know that if your baby cannot stand on their own, then they are not ready to be walking with this toy so just get it for them to press the buttons since it can be easily removed until they can stand and walk with it. That is what it is made for. I gave the educational value a four because while there are a million things on it that baby can learn from, they probably are not going to because they will be so busy wanting to push a million other buttons."
"Little tip: If you have hard wood floors they can get going kind of fast especially when they are first learning to control their walking."
Best Puzzles
Flip, twist and spin Perplexus to move the ball along the numbered path. With gnarly new obstacles that require a whole new level of concentration and finesse, Epic is here to humble you. Its impressive 125 barriers are certain to entertain, challenge and frustrate you to Epic proportions. Perplexus Epic is the original challenging 3D Labyrinth contained within a sphere!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Well it’s just what I expected saw it at a friends house and couldn’t beat it there he didn’t let me borrow it so I bought it so I could beat it myself I still haven’t completed it the four stars it’s not easy or hard it’s a quality rating I’ve read a lot of reviews of the ball getting stuck and I recently did but I banged around on it to get it unstuck wasn’t that hard bottom line yes it’s a puzzle and yes sometimes it gets stuck but easy fix."
"Was really impressed with how much both kids (boy 11, girl 13) liked it and tried to outdoor each other!"
"Great product."
"Bought it for my husband and month ago, he's still working on it!"
"The numbers are too small for him to play well but guests will pick it up and play so we keep it around."
"Talk about a challenge!"
"This is infuriating in the most fun way."
Best Stuffed Animals & Plush Toys
GUND is proud to present Flappy the Elephant - an adorable singing animated plush with two different play modes. Press the left foot to play an interactive game of peek-a-boo, and the right to hear the song "Do Your Ears Hang Low" in a cute child's voice. Flappy Elephant animated plush plays peek-a-boo and sings Do Your Ears Hang Low.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My 5 month old grandson is still too young to enjoy it but it was a huge hit with the grownups."
"Both the peek a boo & floppy ear song, along with the fact that a child's voice was used, are incredible."
"Oh my gosh, got one for my grand baby and my great niece."
"First time buying baby toys in a long time ... the Gund brand assured me of great quality for the newest member of our family!"
"This is the most precious toy ever made."
"Gift for our 14 month old grandson and he loves it."
"This is the sweetest little toy."
"Our 6 month old Great Grandson isn't sure about it yet."
Best Sports & Outdoor Play Toys
FOX TOYS Play tents are a magical adventure for indoors and outdoors activities. FoxPrint Princess Play tent creates a kingdom in any corner of the house with this magical castle for kids. This charming castle has two side windows for ventilation and enough room for 2-3 little princesses to play. THE PERFECT PLACE TO RELAX AND DREAM THE DAY AWAY: FoxPrint Princess Play tent creates a kingdom in any corner of the house with this magical castle for kids. GREAT FOR A BACKYARD ADVENTURE: Your child will have hours of fun with this colorful play tent decorated with hearts and glow-in-the-dark-stars! With the fold down door and peep through window, it's great for encouraging role play, adventure and fun. The Poles are inserted from the bottom of the tent into concealed sleeves making them hidden and untouchable while in use for maximum safety .When assembled, the castle tent size is 41.5” x 41.5” x 54” and when it's time to clean up, the castle folds down flat to fit a lightweight and portable zipper carry bag just 17" in diameters.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The tent is well-made and can be folded and stored in a small bag, so it is very easy to be carried around. All four tent rods need to be set up from the inside of the tent, so I had to crawl in there; However, It is not that easy for a 5'11 adult. Anyway, this tent is perfect to take to beach and park too, since it is very light and easy to pack into a small bag, Overall, I am very happy with this purchase, so I give it 5 stars based on the cheap price and portability. It is little difficult to set it up because all four tent rods need to be set up from inside the tent, so I had to crawl in there."
"I was concerned that the poles would make it annoying to set up and break down but honestly it is not a problem. We have had it up and down at least 5 times in the last 2 weeks and it takes no time to pop this thing up. The whole thing is just precious and cute and I look forward to many years of using this thing all over the house with my two girls."
"I have had children in it ages 5-13 and an 85 pound dog that loves it, as well as two cats that believe it's for them lol."
"Hopefully it can handle a little girl and possibly her other princess friends for a long while to come!"
"The stars don't really glow on the outside but we have a star nightlight that looks awesome shining on the top of this castle."
"The tent has Velcro to keep the flap shut and little pink ribbons that secure the poles inside to keep them securely in place."
"I love that the stars glow in the dark on it. This is absolutely adorable and a great purchase!!"
"Perfect for enhancing play imagination and again makes the perfect gift!"
Best Hobbies
Package Includes: 1 x Quadcopter. 1 x 2.4G Remote controller (AA batteries not included). 1 x 3.7V 350mAh Li-ion battery. 4 x Additional blades. 1 x USB charger. 1 x Screwdriver. 1 x User Manual. HEADLESS SECURITY SYSTEM Enables players of any level to fly the drone easily.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"When I got my drone, it flew itself into a wall within the first couple minutes of flying (because I didn't know I had to calibrate the gyro (what I talked about above)) and one of the motors got all screwy. I wrote them with hopes that they would maybe send a new motor to replace that one, and they wrote back in a few hours saying "We'll send you a new drone."
"I was surprised to get a call on a Friday night at 7pm from a local number in La Puente, CA (626) 465-7134. He states he will be happy to send me a new drone and transmitter, if I could "help him out" by filling out more reviews. Then, he states he will email me a link to the Holy Stone company website, where I can post a review about his excellent customer service. I emailed him back, b/c all the links he sent me were to Amazon's website, none to Holy Stone's. I told him I revised my original 4 star Amazon rating to a 5, based on customer service thus far. He said he thought we agreed that if I posted excellent reviews, then he would ask his "finance" dept to send me a new drone and transmitter. Honestly, even if he does send me a new drone in good faith --> I am revising my review to 1 star based on the fact that the product stopped working after 10 minutes in normal flying conditions, and because the customer service, while promptly responsive, was geared solely on getting as many 5 star reviews for their products, regardless of whether they were bonafide, genuine, ethical reviews or not."
"Minor things to note would be 1) winds do disturb this little guy, but it is that - little and light weight - so not a real surprise. One could argue that the commoditization of gyros and brushless motors would lead an intuitive economist to expect prices to drop to the levels of this toy, but that same person could argue that with the commoditization and the increasing demand for these products, that performance would be employed as a differentiation strategy...but I digress. I'm not sure where to go with this experience for my own benefit (attempt to return it to Amazon, hope that the manufacturer takes note, etc). But I feel it is my responsibility to notify you, the readers of this product review, of this issue - and hope that you pay attention while charging, lest you discover a small incredibly brilliant fireball alight where you tiny LIPO battery once sat."
Best Puppets
Style: Puppet Theater. Wooden puppet theater where kids can tap into their imaginations to put on a show.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I took one star off because: The rod that the red curtain hangs on was not working and after checking each piece (making sure it was not assembled upside down or backwards) my husband found that one of the holes the rod sits in was missing/not drilled."
"Gave it to grand kids this morning ... then spent an hour (no, I didn't time it) putting it together."
"It's pretty great!"
"We purchased a puppet theater and the puppets from Melissa & Doug company for a Christmas present and the young children went wild having plays!"
"Well-built and sturdy puppet theater!"
"This is amazing!"
"Bought 2, For my 4yr old son & nephew."
"Priced competitively and arrived pronto."
Best Toy Figures & Playsets
Drop a colorful rock into the top of this cute toy dump truck, and watch it tumble into the bucket. Once the rocks are in the bucket, the push toy or pull toy can be moved along to see the rocks rumble around inside.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"He is too young to know how to pop the rocks into the bed of the dump truck but he puts them in the hole, turns it over and spins the wheels -- he loves wheels. He has the laptop, remote control, sit to stand (all time favortie - love love love this one), Iphone, etc. Today I put some of his other little toys in the back of the dump truck with the rocks."
"Got this for a baby for her birthday because she loves balls and this game with 3 little balls / boulders."
"My almost 2 year old loves this truck."
"Its now helping develop the motor skills to drop the ball in the top hole and how to pick them out of the dump truck bed."
"We gave this to my 1 year old nephew for his birthday last month and he loved it!"
"Truth: a couple of the songs it plays are fairly annoying, but it does have two volume settings."
"Got this for my nephew who was about 10months at xmas, i figured he could grow in to playing with it but he loved it!"
"Cute toy- purchased as a gift for a friend's baby."
Best Games
Unlike most of the party games you've played before, Cards Against Humanity is as despicable and awkward as you and your friends. - Mike "Gabe" Krahulik, Penny Arcade "Uncontrollable laughter." Over 150 new cards since the last version.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My Husband and I have played it with our son quite a few times and it made us all sit together and just laugh so hard that we snort and end up having some very interesting conversations. Anything that keeps my teenager talking to me and feeling comfortable speaking with us about odd or uncomfortable things is a win in my parenting handbook."
"There are Black Cards and there are White Cards. Players have 10 White Cards, which they use to complete the Black Card's question(s)/blank(s). After each player (besides The Judge) has chosen the best White Card in their hand to go with the Black Card, all players turn their White Cards in to The Judge. From here, The Judge reviews the White Cards and decides his/her favorite pairing of the White and Black Cards. After everyone has chosen their White Card, the Judge reviews the responses: "Smallpox Blankets", "Drinking Alone", "A Can of Whoop-Ass", and "Take-Backsies". (Before you read these and think I'm an awful person, these are actual White Cards that I have seen played on the aforementioned Black Card). 4."
"This game has got to be the funniest game I've played in awhile..."
"As more of your subconscious fights to unleash the trauma, you'll find yourself uttering "nipple blades" and "mouth herpes" in the most unacceptable of times. They'll bring new friends in to freshen up the game...you will feel a rush as the look of shame crosses their innocent eyes as they win a round by playing "Amputees" against your "White People Like _____". A team of rescue workers will find you you weeks later in your closet, frazzled, emaciated, and stinking from "Soiling Yourself", because you just couldn't stop with playing Cards Against Humanity against yourself. The light of day will strike your eyes and you'll gaze up at your saviors with pensive anticipation... "Wanna play?""
Best Kids' Electronics
Style: Cozmo. ; 1 Cozmo robot; 1 USB charging platform; 3 power cubes.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Those hopes were rewarded when I finally set him up on the dining room table and woke him up. the word "cute" is over used, so I will try to avoid that cliche', but this little fella is pretty darn close to adorable. Set up was easy, but keep in mind, you must download and install the app on your phone first. He connects via Wi-Fi, so emails and status updates on your phone will have to wait until playtime is over. I had to be in a well lit area before his face recognition system kicked in, seems he couldn't get a good look with a ceiling light directly behind my head. The phone also seemed rather warm, but that could be because I do own a Samsung, and one of their features is the comfort of excess heat. Lack of hearing might be a good thing since I don't want him getting any ideas when I am watching Westworld. Yes, he is a little on the expensive side, but you do get quite a bit, and there is the "Wow factor" and the unmentioned "cuteness"."
"So I saw this little robot and did some comparing with others... long story short if you're going to buy a robot for a smart kid get them this one."
"Forgot a dog, this little guy doesn't poop and still does tricks. I’m a soul-less red-headed 40ish year-old single American male. I’m not living in my parent’s basement with a shelf of full of unopened action figures in pristine boxes. I’m looking forward to my self-driving car leaving at night to get it’s own oil change, drones that deliver pizza, and teleportation that can beam the poop directly out of my colon to the toilet….this is the only plausible reason they don’t have a single bathroom on the Star Trek. Apple’s Siri and Alexa’s voice recognition are slowly improving past asking them for a fart sound, but nothing has knocked my socks off. It looked nice in the box and after slicing a few pieces of tape, I opened the box and flipped through the manual in a few seconds and then tossed it in the trash. The packaging release plastic thing that secured Cozmo to the box was tricky to release (this is why I'm not a mechanical engineer) and the cord around the USB was tied like a knot rather than twisted….it’s the small things. He seems a bit drunk when you first ask him to do a new task…it takes him a while to figure it out."
"I bought this robot about a year ago and everytime that I have turned him on and played with him up to this day makes me feel so excited."
"For the money I could have gotten my kid a variety of toys for her birthday instead of this heart breaker."
Best Collectible Card Games
100 Assorted Pokemon Trading Cards Lot [Toy]. Enter your model number to make sure this fits.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"There weren't enough energy cards to actually play a battle, but for a five-year old who is just getting interested in the pictures and making up his or her own game, it was great."
"We only received a handful of duplicates and there were a large variety of Pokemon types."
"Of the 100 cards, 25 characters were repeats."
"There were other duplicates within the pack as well, but getting 22 Baltoys is just ridiculous."
"Out of 100 cards, 62 of them were duplicates of other cards, many had 4, 5, and even 6 of the same card. As I continued to sort the cards the same 4 or 5 cards would continue to appear in the same order."
"Horrible."
"Very disappointing!"
"We received 15 legal cards out of 214."
Best Dolls & Accessories
Critter cottage toy includes over 10 pieces, such as ladder, bed, stove/sink combo, Bell Hopscotch Rabbit and more.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Perfect for close quarters combat training."
"After a few missteps in our initial foray into Calico Critterdom, it became clear that it's easy to spend a good amount of money buying things that make no sense: I bought my daughter the Cherry Cruiser; guess what - no critters! Then, I finally got critters, but it was a family of chipmunks; cute, but their tails made it hard for them to sit properly on either chairs, or the car, and they tend to roll over and off beds. I am absolutely delighted to see the amount of imaginative play this toy has fostered in my toddler, and the language development she displays in narrating the little stories or conversing with the critters is pretty astonishing."
"She can play for hours just opening the front door and greeting all her visiting friends whether they are other critters or Mickey Mouse."
"The perfect way to start off our calico critters collection."
"Purchased for gift for a child I chose from a giving tree."
"Love Calico Critters."
"Perfect gift."
"I suggest buying the darling critters and set up the rooms on a shelf, table top, or in a cardboard box they come in from amazon."
Best Kids' Party Supplies
JUNIOR - the board game - Kids can test and train their visual memory skills and have a blast doing it! Includes image cards, game board, sand timer, playing pieces, die and more..... Individuals or teams stare at an image on a card for 30 seconds (more challenging games can be played by shortening the time) and then answer questions about what they saw. It's not easy--just try to remember what color socks the person next to you on the bus was wearing this morning, or how many people were reading magazines. Includes 160 fun image cards with 960 questions, game board, sand timer, playing pawns, die.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Then you roll the dice and another person asks you a question on the back of the card that corresponds with the same number you rolled. You keep rolling and answering questions until you either get an answer wrong or you roll the same number you already rolled in that turn. One thing i didn't like is that your turn is over if you roll the same number you already rolled."
"The pictures to observe were fun and unusual with many details and the questions were not too difficult but not too easy."
"They enjoyed the concept of the game and persisted in reading and understanding the question and answer cards even though most of the words were not familiar to them."
"Great product to get children to help them pay attention to details."
"We teamed up as a family putting each kid with an adult as it can be somewhat difficult for a Junior Version."
"My kids really enjoy playing this!"
"We played this last night with adults and were glad to not have the regular game."
"A fun game for the whole family."
Best Kids' Furniture & Décor
FOX TOYS Play tents are a magical adventure for indoors and outdoors activities. FoxPrint Princess Play tent creates a kingdom in any corner of the house with this magical castle for kids. This charming castle has two side windows for ventilation and enough room for 2-3 little princesses to play. THE PERFECT PLACE TO RELAX AND DREAM THE DAY AWAY: FoxPrint Princess Play tent creates a kingdom in any corner of the house with this magical castle for kids. GREAT FOR A BACKYARD ADVENTURE: Your child will have hours of fun with this colorful play tent decorated with hearts and glow-in-the-dark-stars! With the fold down door and peep through window, it's great for encouraging role play, adventure and fun. The Poles are inserted from the bottom of the tent into concealed sleeves making them hidden and untouchable while in use for maximum safety .When assembled, the castle tent size is 41.5” x 41.5” x 54” and when it's time to clean up, the castle folds down flat to fit a lightweight and portable zipper carry bag just 17" in diameters.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The tent is well-made and can be folded and stored in a small bag, so it is very easy to be carried around. All four tent rods need to be set up from the inside of the tent, so I had to crawl in there; However, It is not that easy for a 5'11 adult. Anyway, this tent is perfect to take to beach and park too, since it is very light and easy to pack into a small bag, Overall, I am very happy with this purchase, so I give it 5 stars based on the cheap price and portability. It is little difficult to set it up because all four tent rods need to be set up from inside the tent, so I had to crawl in there."
"He is a tall guy in the 98th percentile for height, but when he stands up, his head is a few inches from touching the top of the castle. I didn't notice any funky smell as I usually do with these kinds of products, so there was no red to air it out."
"This should easily fit two or more little girls at a time and will provide a fun play time!"
"The zipper moves with no catches or snags. The directions are clear and easy to follow. The only thing i needed to check on was the positioning of the poles in the top. We have a princess and knight playing in it today. That is unusual for toys unless they are made for Child Care."
"When the product came in it was packaged well in a little tote bag made of the same material the tent is made of. Inside the tote bag was the tent and 4 tent poles."
"Cute tent, the kids love it but it breaks apart easily."
Best Toys & Games Activities & Amusements
Fun time : Playmags 100 Piece Value Set includes Eight different shapes so that kids can now stretch their imagination to the next level. Better Learning: Playing with Playmags not only gives your child an opportunity for greater fun, along with that some basic fundamentals of different dimensions like Physics, Geometry, Math, Spatial reasoning and Architecture, STEM, STEAM, are being griped by the them. 100 PIECE MAGNETIC TILE PLAY SET – This Playmags Classic Set Lets Kids Build, Play & Learn for Hours of Educational Entertainment; Recommended for Ages 3+.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I currently have 4 different sets of magnet tile toys: - 32 piece set Shape Mags (Purchased Dec 2016). - 2 Shape Mags 12X12 stabilizers . (Purchased March 2017). - 100 + 18 piece set Playmags . (Purchased March 2017). Our first set was the 32 piece Shape Mags. Playmags had mixed reviews so I opened the set and examined the pieces before showing them to the kids. Price. Playmags 100 piece set + 18 click-ins (not magnetic) sells for $69.99. Shape Mags 120 piece set, including 16 fences and 2 people figures sells for $69.99. Magna-Tiles 100 piece set sells for $119.99. Magnet Strength. Playmags, wins, hands down. Color. Playmags and Shape Mags have the same vibrant colors. 2nd place: Shape Mags. The magnets are not as strong, but still strong enough to make whatever your child imagines."
"We have a set of Magnatiles that my son loves so when I saw these Playmags for much cheaper than Magnatiles I was very interested. Similarities Between Playmags and Magnatiles: -magnet strength is comparable. -sets are compatible and interchangeable. -durability seems comparable (time will tell...but so far they seem the same). Differences Between Playmags & Magnatiles: -Magnatiles have a small metal rivet in each corner of the tile (Playmags do not). -colors are different (I actually like the variety of the Playmag colors better). -Playmags offer a more diverse variety of shapes and building pieces. -Playmags are much cheaper. Overall I would buy these Playmags again."
Best Tricycles, Scooters & Wagons
The sleek, innovative design of The Original PlasmaCar features a patented safety seat, polypropylene wheels, and is kid powered; kid approved! PlasmaCar is adult-friendly too: it doesn’t require an expensive power source that needs constant replacement, it provides kids with plenty of exercise, and it is quiet, the only sound you’ll hear is the sound of the wheels. A MULTIPLE AWARD WINNER including the prestigious Oppenheim Portfolio Platinum Seal Award 2006, and Gold Seal Award 2005, Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Winner 2005, TDmonthly Top Seller 2007, recipient of the 2016 Totally Awesome Awards Seal, 2005 TNPC Seal of Approval, and 2007 TOTY Nominee.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is very impressive at first when you see a little one riding down the slope with a hysterical scream of joy, so just to make it safe have them wear a helmet and some bike protections, this soothes anxious mind :-) actually the rider looks very stable and well balanced even in sharp turns."
"What amazed me was that he figured out the steering inertia with just a very brief introduction and spent most of his birthday riding around on the concrete with a huge grin."
"Purchased this for my son's second birthday, and it was his absolute favorite gift by far!"
"It gets beat on pretty good and the neighborhood kids love riding the thing."
"I wouldn't expect the kids to keep up with me if I were going for a quick walk around the block. Pretty sure these additions to the wheeled fleet at grandpa's house will be around and played with for a long time."
"The plasma car was the solution: the smaller kids (by which I mean average sized 3 and 4 year olds) love it- some ride on it like a standard walk while sitting ride on toy, and others are big enough to swivel it to make it go- and my son (who is closer in weight and height to an average 5 or 6 year old) can make it go fast!"
"Also, be aware that these work best on a hard surface, not carpet or rubber interlock floor coverings,"
"I also wanted to mention that the other two of these that we own broke after a few months of use so that small kids could no longer steer them."
Best Toy Remote Control & Play Vehicles
The car is easily maneuvered and the buttons are made simple to press, rendering it perfect for small children. Lightning Fast Cartoon R/C Police Car for Children.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My one year old has figured it out and giggles while it soars backwards in circles. The race car driver makes noise when you click him into place..."
"On the remote there are two buttons- one that makes it go straight and one that reverses it in an arc, so it's pretty much impossible for the car to get stuck in a corner, which is great."
"He loves to chase the car when Mommy is driving it (which I have way to much fun doing), he loves to be the driver (although he hasn't gotten the concept of holding down the buttons on the remote."
"I like that you can change the volume so the sound isn't blaring, just don't show the kids were that button is otherwise the music will be burned in your brain a lot sooner."
"It took them about a total of 15 minutes to get the hang of it, and for the rest of the night the race and crashes were on."
"His older brother has several remote control cars which Michael is 'forbidden' to play with on most days, so he loves having a remote control car of his own."
"Hopefully it holds up well as the control will undoubtedly be dropped, but it feels strong enough to take a beating from a toddler."
"Bought this for my 2 year old grandson."
Best Arts & Crafts Supplies
Since it was first introduced in 1965, Spirograph has made it possible for aspiring artists of all ages to create beautifully intricate designs, originally developed as a drafting tool, by a mechanical engineer named Denys Fisher, the distinctive wheels and rings of the Spirograph cleverly combine, the principles of art and mathematics in a way that has inspired and delighted generations. 45-piece deluxe set includes 19 wheels, 2 rings, 1 rack, spiro-putty, 3 pens, 14-page guide book, design paper and carry-along storage case.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"i bought Felt tip pens with the design set, and works great, you can try it too."
"I bought a pack of multiple colors and am having so much fun experimenting with the endless number of patterns. I tried gel pens on navy blue paper and the ink smeared due to the rotating spirograph wheels."
"It went from dozens of companies making gel pens and black paper to only a handful. This generation of gel pens has made a great comeback and we see a lot of companies getting back in to the business of making gel pens and black paper. For gel pens on black paper the best are the Sakura 38176 10-Piece Gelly Roll Assorted Colors Blister Card Moonlight Gel Ink Pen Set and the ink glows in the dark but if you really want to add to your Spirograph fun I recommend also getting what I call "The Castle", the TEKwriterUSA Gelwriter Gel Pen Set with Pop-up Case, 100-Count (27104-D), it has every kind of gel pen you could imagine and great for every shade of paper from black to white but the ink does not glow in the dark like the Sakura pens. For black paper I recommend getting both the Wausau Astrobrights Heavy Duty Paper, 24 lb, 8.5 x 11 Inches, Eclipse Black, 500 Sheets (22321) and the Black Page Journal, Black Cover, 36 Qty/case, you get three sizes, 12 each, I'm guessing around 5, 6 and 8 inch size with about 50 pages each, a fantastic value at less than a dollar a notebook."
"I cut the strip into 6 equal pieces (we needed a couple to first adhere one of the 20 included 8 1/2" x 11" pieces of white paper to the plastic, built-in work surface... the paper fits relatively securely horizontally, but the work surface is 9 1/2" vertically rather than 8 1/2", so the paper would move up and down if it wasn't secured with a piece of putty at the top 2 corners.). I attached the other 4 strips underneath one of the rings and secured it to the paper, then placed one of the wheels on the inside of the ring to begin going around... but the wheel slid right underneath the ring, since the putty raised the ring up too high. Since there were no instructions, I had to go back and read through some of the Amazon reviews - which I hadn't taken time to read when ordering - finally finding one that talked about using only very small pieces of putty so as not to elevate the ring too high for the wheel. Once I'd spent 10-15 minutes reading reviews and got the ring secured, I tried to explain how he needed to keep pressure against the inside of the ring as he went around with the wheel, but whether it was because I wasn't explaining myself well enough or he just didn't understand what he needed to do, he started getting frustrated and said, "Can we please just do something else, Grandma?" Not having instructions isn't a good thing, and in reading through reviews, it sounds like many people have received packages with missing items (we had everything intact except instructions.)."
"Bought this for my daughter who loves to create things."
"My youngest loves being creative so with the addition of gel pens this allows her to expand her creative side!"
"Also, you have to use sticky tack to hold the outside stencil down and I wish it came with a piece that actually holds it in place like the ones when I was a kid."