Reviews about Toys & Games

houdiniphile says "Something to do, a distraction" about Bee Bee Playing Cards, Club Special, Standard Size, 1 deck

houdiniphile — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:44:21 GMT

Bee Club Special Playing cards, standard deck are just playing cards. There is nothing great to say about them, except that they do not split or lose their lamination too quickly, as some playing cards do.

What you can say about playing cards is memories. While I was in labor, in a military hospital, I got aggravated with the tv and I was offered playing cards. It was interactive, It was distracting, it facilitated communication when I was in pain and lapsing into a different language-a language I learned in the army that none of the nurses could speak!

When my daughter was in labor, and waiting for the surgeons to get her paperwork done, we played cards, too! My grandparents used to play with their parents, their aunts and uncles, and take me along. I can barely remember their faces, but I do remember those cards.

That is a LOT to receive for a just a buck!

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Debby1105 says "Great dollhouse" about Fisher-Price Twin Time Dollhouse

Debby1105 — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:25:35 GMT

I bought this for my daughters for christmas last year and she absolutely loves it! It came furnished with quite abit of furniture but I also purchased what was not included so the dollhouse would be completely furnished. The girls play with this dollhouse almost everyday and set it up differently. I like that it folds up and the furniture can be stored inside. Have not had any problems with it except that when you close up the folding floor its kind of hard to open. I would recommend this dollhouse for any little girl. No little girl would be disappointed.

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houdiniphile says "Daddy's tool bench doesn't do this!" about Diego Talking Tool Bench

houdiniphile — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:46:34 GMT

Diego's Talking tool set features a string of exuberant characters that jump for joy when activated. It teaches children to sing, dance, and get moving.

I am familiar with Diego's character but not all of the toys. It looks fun, I cannot be certain of its educational value, but I would probably buy it for my grandbaby if I thought my daughter would tolerate it.

Kids love repetition but it can get old with the parents. Again, I am not sure how educational this one is compared to the other toys, but it looks waayyy more fun.

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houdiniphile says "That's some memories Right there!" about Little Einsteins Rocket Ride On

houdiniphile — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:02:53 GMT

Margita is a member of this community. She was so impressed by the Little Einsteins Rocket Ride On that she enthused for an hour over this for her daughter, Josephine. Josephine is a supported sitter NOW, but I may have to get this as a gift for Margita to hold for Josephine.

The Little Einsteins Rocket Ride On is the same or even less than the Pat Pat Rocket when it is on sale, but has the great fun of getting the kids moving. That is so important today now that we know healthy exercise must start early.

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houdiniphile says "Works for Boys AND Girls" about Fisher Price Diego Sea Glider

houdiniphile — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:02:50 GMT

Fisher Price has been a leader in kids toys for a long time. Recalls are few and far between, and I can't recall any offhand. They seem to be a leader in safe, colorful, easily manipulated toys.

The Diego Sea Glider is a vehicle. It can get kids into the bath, especially boys who may like to escape at bathtime. It is an action toy, but relatively quiet, comes with a Diego figure, can be used in and out of water, and starts science lessons. It can be used to communicate with some hard to reach children who like boats, fear water, or again, hide at bathtime.

You can't go wrong with Diego or Dora. All the kids love it, and under $14, it is so kind to the wallet!

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houdiniphile says "TWO FOR ONE! YAY!" about Disney- Handy Manny Fix IT Right Nailer & Jet Project

houdiniphile — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:02:50 GMT

Disney Handy Manny Fix It Right Nailer and Jet Project fills many needs at once. Because it is two toys, kids with different personalities will like it. The nailer teaches about safe repairs. The Jet that gets repaired becomes a new toy, doubling the value of your set!

There are 10 pieces to this set, so you get a lot of bang for your buck. This was on sale at KMart for $24.99. It is marketed to boys, but I have always felt some toys are great for both boys and girls.

It would be easy to do a theme with the other Fix It RIght kits, the boys' room decor, and make Christmas really great!

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houdiniphile says "Wish my kids could have had this!" about Disney VTECH Play and Learn Piano

houdiniphile — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:02:49 GMT

The Disney VTECH Play and Learn Piano is a toy that no home should be without. It generates the well documented "Mozart Effect" and stimulates brain development, critical thinking skills, coordination, and appreciation for art.

This toy is designed for children 3-6 years old, is a real steal at $24.99, and goes well with other VTECH toys. Instead of reading to children like Leap Pad, this toy engages your child in playing the piano! Good idea to make it fun now if you want them to practice later. It features Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, and Mozart. IF I were rich, I would buy a truckload and give one to every child this age.

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houdiniphile says "What are we teaching our girls?" about Baby Alive Whoopsie Doo

houdiniphile — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:02:47 GMT

Baby Alive Whoopsie Doo is a realistic doll that eats reconstituted "baby food" and soils diapers. We already have heels for babies, according to news anchor Meredith Viera. There are "nursing dolls" for girls 4-8, Now we see a renaissance of the Baby Alive that goes above and beyond the call of duty, no pun intended.

I had one of these myself, and it was not my favorite doll. I had enough imagination to regularly change the clothes of my dolls without the incentive of diapers. It seems we might be pushing our girls to grow up too fast. My own daughter suggests that crying, messy dolls be given to 15 year olds to encourage abstinence. Turns out, there is a program that does exactly that. A Baby Alive would be cheaper and serve the same purpose.

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shc-zach says "If your child loves golf, then he/she will love these clubs!" about Toys R Us Stats Golf Starter Set

shc-zach — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:31:00 GMT

The *************** Golf Starter Set shouldn't be called a "starter set," because if you want something for a 1-3 year old, then you should go for the Little Tikes TotSports Drive and Putt Golf Set.

This set, however, is the perfect 2nd set for your child, as they have more weight and feel more like real golf clubs. The Little Tikes clubs are plastic, these are stainless steel. (Warning: it feels a lot worse when your child hits you with the steel clubs vs. the plastic ones.)

As a second set, these clubs will really encourage hand/eye coordination and will help your child develop a swing. I highly recommend them.

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shonabond says "GIJoes aren't what they used to be." about Hasbro G.I. Joe action figure

shonabond — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:31:35 GMT

G. I. Joe is the boy version of Barbies. They are military oriented. My husband is a Marine, so when our son was born he was introduced to the Joes before he even knew what they were. We started him a collection and he gets one every year for Christmas and sometimes for other holidays. (Christmas is a standing tradition. It's not Christmas at our house without a Joe under the tree.) He's 20 years old. Kmart is the only local store within 30 miles or more that I have been able to find this item for probably 7 or 8 years. Way to go Kmart. I purchased 2 for him already this year for Christmas. I will be on the lookout for new ones between now and Christmas.

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luispierantoni01 says "My kid absolutely loves Thomas Trackmaster series!!" about HIT Thomas and friends trackmaster

luispierantoni01 — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:27:03 GMT

Thomas and his friends trackmaster series is a much larger version than the take along ones, they have the same variety of trains with the benefit that these are much more easier for the kid to handle, they come with different coaches and add ons that make for hours and hours of playtime, not to mention that the price ranging from $10 for a single train to $18 for the ones with 1 or 2 coaches is affordable and cheaper than the competition!. Ad to these trains a track set like Action Canyon or Spin and Fix and a movie like "Hero of the Rails" and your little one will embark in a great and fun journey to the island of Sodor.

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dhorock says "The teens in my Sunday School class LOVED the GI JOE figures." about GI Joe action figure

dhorock — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:55:30 GMT

We used the GI Joe action figures in my Sunday School class. We are studying putting on the Full Armor of God in Ephesians chapter 6. We are going to make the various items that complete the armor of god and dress the figures with the hand made armor. The boys (yes, I have nothing but boys in my class!) loved the action figures. Not only are they looking forward to taking the action figures home with them when they have completed their armor, they are learning about the different items the scripture is referring to and how to apply the concept of God's armor to their daily lives.

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SHC-StaceyW says "One of the funest games I've played in a monkey's age" about Zoo Tycoon 2 - Zookeeper Collection

SHC-StaceyW — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:42:54 GMT

Zoo Tycoon 2 from Microsoft is one of the funest games I have played in a very long time. You can play free form, campagns to unlock new features, challenge games and more. The animals you have to choose from is extensive. You don't know how fun managing your own little world is until you've tried. I have one complaint. Its Addicting! Staying up until 3 am trying to get my Panda to breed was probably not the best thing to do on a work night, but I couldn't help it! DARN YOU MICROSOFT!

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kjbeachsales says "The Tag Reading System is an innovative teaching tool!" about Leap Frog Tag Reading System

kjbeachsales — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:03:16 GMT

I purchased the Leap Frog Tag Reading system for my 3 & 4 year old daughters because I had a $10 off coupon for the game system and a $5 coupon for a book to go with the game. It is reccomended for children 4-8 yrs. old but both of my girls are having a very easy time learning the various ways to use it. It really encourages them to read more & they can easily share the book & tool between them going from page to page and alternating answering the related questions. They can choose playing levels 1-3 stars depending on their reading comprehension levels which is perfect for us.

My children attend pre-kindergarten at a private Christian academy which specializes in early learning to read, write & spell. The book matches the teaching methods used at their school almost identically. At the end of the books there are word and spelling games designed to help them recognize "blends" composed of consonants and vowels. I think we can use this tool for the next 3-4 years if they continue to add...

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AndreaEscobar says "trains are beautiful. Rail tracks are awful." about Learning Curve Thomas and Friends - Take Along Annie and Clarbel 2-Pack

AndreaEscobar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 01:27:09 GMT

Toys about Thomas are very confusing. Three different type of toys (metal, wood and plastic) make very difficult to create a consistent set. I have bought some of each one and now I have a collage of trains. I have my own assumptions about the reason the brand owner had to launch different type of toys, but it would be very useful to understand if there was any "safety" reason to stop producing the metallic ones and start producing the wood ones and/or the plastic ones. It is very likely to find all three type of toys simultaneously at many stores.

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gulicious says "The new toy shops at Sears are too small" about Sears Toy Shops

gulicious — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 01:24:53 GMT

I visited the grand opening of the Sears Toy Shops in New Jersey and was rather disappointed in the lower quality appearance of the section. I do not have anything bad to suggest about the toys themselves which are all high quality and look to be chosen with care. I even liked the selection but as an older person who still thinks toys can be cool, this did not leave anything desirable.

There were a lot of kids, and this catered to the 3-6 year old group which is okay but I think if there are going to be LEGO toys at Sears, they should at least stock a range and not just a few for toddlers.

The Sears Toy Shops have a good concept but poorly executed. It is a tiny corner of the store with a few hundred toys which I can honestly find just about anywhere else in retail. Nothing drew me there except the fact that I wanted to check it out - and was let down by the really sad small size of it. Nobody is going to travel all the way to the back of a Sears store to buy some toys like this when...

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jjodiekash says "Not bad, but probably better out there" about Fisher-Price Rainforest Gym Musical 1-2-3

jjodiekash — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 02:44:43 GMT

The attraction to this item was its bright colors, theme and name brand. I wanted something like this to begin belly time for my baby. Although I do like this, as my baby grows and moves, I will have to upgrade to something large enough to accommodate by baby's movements. This I knew going in so I wasn't overly concerned. But my only complaint is that there is a metal bar that goes across this item under the padding from one end to the other but it is quite hard even with the padding. I find myself concerned when laying my baby on his back or on his belly about his safely and if this is going to hurt him. I find that I try to position him in a spot that will not hurt him, but if he's on his belly and lifts his head, I'm worried that when he can't hold his head up any longer and if he's moved, he might plop his face down on this bar and hurt his chin, jaw, nose, anything. When he is on him back, I try to position the bar to between his head and shoulders around his neck area which isn't...

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sushi56 says "Burst its seams after 2 days of light use." about Summer Escapes Quick Set Pool 10 ft. x 30 in.

sushi56 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:27:49 GMT

In the past, I had purchased a similar pool that lasted 2 years with no significant problems, so I was sure I would love the pool but noticed as we were setting it up that the plastic seemed much more flimsy.(same size, same price) This 10'x30'' pool burst its seams after only 2 days of moderate, gentle use. (Adults lounging on rafts like walruses in the sun, not jumping bean kids).

My daughter is now sadly laying in the 3 inches of water left in the pool while we wait the "at least 7 days" suggested by the distributor's customer service rep for a replacement. I told her that my former pool was much sturdier to which she replied, "yes, they used to be made in the USA but now they are made by the Chinaman."

It's 87 degrees today.

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Metalbard says "Not the greatest move" about Casio 61 Key Personal Keyboard with MP3/iPod Connection

Metalbard — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:11:55 GMT

If you are a parent looking for a keyboard for your child to learn on this one has many drawbacks. Let me preface this review with some personal information. I am a Pianist. I spent many years trying different keyboards and doing my homework and then several years saving the money to buy my final choice wich ended up being a 1st generation yahmaha S90. For actual sound recordings of my yamaha S90 head to www.myspace.com/richlanemusic. All tracks there were played by me running a direct line from my keyboard to my computer using pro-tools LE 6.8 with no mastering.

So whats the first thing wrong with this keyboard? Its missing keys. A full sized piano has 88 keys. This one has 61. That may not seem like a big deal and it wont be for first year piano students. For second year and on though that becomes a huge issue. The keyboard wont have all the notes that the sheet music is asking them to play.

The keyboard is not touch sensitive. What that means is no matter how hard or soft the keyboard...

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bluelightgal says "Such a fun bathtoy!" about Sassy Counting Fish N Net Bath Toys

bluelightgal — Fri, 08 May 2009 00:25:59 GMT

The Sassy Counting Fish N Net Bath Toys was such a great buy! My daughter loves to play with it in and out of the tub. She loves to go "fishing". The fish float so they are easy for her to catch. Every time that she gets ready to go into the tub, she has to drag this toy out. The only downfall is that it seems to take a little bit longer then her other toys to dry off. Not the fish, but the net. I do like how the fish have the numbers 1,2 and 3 on them and they also have the same amount of holes.

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