Archive for the ‘Active Play Toys’ Category

This workshop and tool set is a big deal for little workers. It includes plastic parts: nails, screws, washers, a place on the bench to hammer nails and screw in screws. Batteries can be inserted to activate a circular saw on one side, drill press and vice on the other, and a hand-held jigsaw. Hooks attach to the back to hold a saw, a hammer, and a screwdriver, and a slanted shelf has compartments for the faux wood pieces.

The set and all the parts are plastic, so while this makes for safer and lighter equipment, this work bench and its pieces are a little on the flimsy side. The bench is best used against a wall for support.

On the cool side, the bench and pieces look real to little kids. In no time at all, my three year old handyman was moving about - tools in hand - and “fixing” everything from the couch to the coffee table.

And the tool sounds for the saw, drill press, and jigsaw are impressive, though a bit loud (plan on wanting to remove the batteries from time to time). Included are pieces that look like wood that fit together with velcro and screws to make a bird house - a fun project for kids.

The neatest thing about this toy set is that the parts work together and really are quite similar to the way real tools work. The screws really fit in other pieces, and the screwdriver is really used to screw them tight. I think the materials could be sturdier on this set (especially for the price) but it is a great tool for learning and pretending.

Buy Black and Decker Junior Power Tool Workshop Online:

• at Amazon.com

Now here’s a classic toy. Everyone’s gotta have a Sit n Spin, right?

It’s too bad I couldn’t enjoy this toy much when I was a child; turning around and around on the flat wheel made my stomach well, turn around and around. But my little boy has thoroughly enjoyed this toy’s features since he could barely stand. And there’s nothing like a toy that lasts through several developmental stages.

He loves hitting the handle to play the music that goes through a round of tunes and stops, only to be started again when touched. As he got older, he learned how to spin properly: holding on to the handle while pulling himself in a circle with his lower body.

Then one day last fall, he laid down on his stomach and spun himself around - legs stretched and toes pointed - while pushing off the floor with his hand for speed. His daddy and I are certain it could be a new Olympic event.

The Playskool Sit n Spin was used when we got it, and it hardly has a scratch. It’s durable, lightweight, and I’ve yet to change the batteries after owning this toy for over two years.

Spin on baby, spin on.

• Sit N Spin at the Hasbro Website

Buy Sit N Spin Online:

• at Amazon.com

This may be a fairly basic toy, but for a young boy wielding a hammer the Pound-A-Ball is the ticket.

The hammer that comes with this toy is used to literally pound balls down through holes and onto ramps quickly taking the ball to the bottom. Each ball can be watched in the see-through screen as it rolls down and comes out onto a detachable tray. I purchased it for my son so he could bang something other than the furniture.

I like the fact that it requires physical action and hand-eye coordination, as well as the opportunity to match the balls with the corresponding colored holes at the top.

I think it would be a little more interesting if the ramps were placed so the balls would roll down at a slower pace, but hey, it makes him happy enough to hammer in all four balls as fast as he can, then place them back on top to do it all over again. I’m pleasantly surprised at the toy’s durability and the fact that, after owning it for over a year, he still enjoys playing with it

Although I’m a big fan of wood toys, this pound-a-ball makes considerably less racket than its wood counterparts. Less racket = happy parents.

• Parents.com

Buy Pound-A-Ball Online:

• at Target

This John Deere riding tractor has been great fun for my little farmer boy from the time he first sat on it - barely able to move it along with his tiptoes. Let me tell you, he has put the mileage on this baby and there’s plenty more miles of fun left for him and little brother.

The tires roll fast and well on hard surfaces such as wood floors and laminate, and the whole thing handles the rough surface of a well-worn driveway.

The accessories that come with this tractor vary. Ours has three farm animals that - when placed under the opening seat lid - play “Old MacDonald” along with the respective animal’s noises (the pig oinks, the cow moos, etc). Kudos to the toy makers who used volume control for the song, as well as the horn and ignition noises located in the center of the steering wheel. Both features can be turned off and on by parents or caregivers with the switch on the bottom of the tractor (until a kid figures out how this works, that is). There are places for the animals or other characters to sit in front of or behind the “driver.”

My son used this as a push toy when he first started walking, but since there was nothing to keep it from going too fast, he shot off down the hallway and just missed getting some air under his feet. It’s probably best to use it in this way on a carpeted surface and under scrupulous adult supervision until a child can walk well and control the speed!

I love that this is a classic toy - no trendy characters or silly pictures. And it’s pretty exciting for my son that his daddy uses the same brand of tractor to mow the lawn!

• Learning Curve Website

Buy the John Deere Sit ‘N’ Scoot Activity Tractor Online:

• at Amazon.com
• at Target

There is very little in this world more amusing than watching a 3-year old play the role of Darth Vader to his 5-year old brother’s Luke. Imagine, if you will, a miniature Vader lisping “Luke, I am your father!” and Luke lisping in kind “That’s impossible!” Seriously cute stuff there. This adorable scene was all due to Small Person #1 receiving a Darth Vader Dress-Up Suit for his 5th birthday. Since he loves Luke and already had a Luke costume from Halloween (actually, 2, but who’s counting?), he was thrilled that his brother could use the Darth Vader suit to join him in some Star Wars role play.

The suit includes a jumpsuit with molded collar and chest, mask, cape, and belt. If your kids plan on reenacting scenes from the movies, you’ll probably also want to purchase some lightsabers, as the suit doesn’t come with one. As with any costume based on a movie, the quality isn’t great, but it’s adequate. Small Person #2 has a giant head, but the mask seems to fit fine; the costume is listed as fitting ages 3-10, but it’s pretty big for the 3 year old.

Of course, you’ll have to provide your own cute lisping Darth Vader and Luke as well - ours are a bit busy chasing each other over couches and around the Christmas tree. I don’t quite remember that scene in the films, but I’m sure there was a Christmas tree somewhere….

Buy the Star Wars Darth Vader Dress-Up Suit Online:

• at Amazon.com

We all know that money is going to be tight this holiday season. So, to help you maximize what you have and get the kids some toys they’ll enjoy, I’ve put together a list of the Top 8 Cheap Toys That Don’t Suck.

1. Board Games

When I think of a classic board game, I immediately think of Monopoly. But, of course, it is far from the only one out there. From Life to Candy Land to Chutes and Ladders, there’s a game available for every age group. Even better, when it comes to prices, the classics we’ve loved for years tend to be quite reasonable. You can get the classic Monopoly pictured above for $10; the classic Candy Land is only $5. Stick with the classic versions rather than the updated ones to save money, and enjoy the time you get to spend playing with your little one!

Buy Board Games Online:

• at Amazon.com

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Expecting your first baby? Or maybe you’re trying to think of an appropriate gift for a friend or family member who’s expecting. With all the toys out there marketed for infants, you might be overwhelmed; after all, you may wonder what exactly a small person who can barely do more than eat, sleep and poop could possibly find entertaining. Well, I’m here to help. After taking care of more infants than I can count, I’ve come up with a short list of the best must-have toys for ages newborn to 6 months.

1. Rattle Socks

An often overlooked but well-loved toy among infants, these slip onto their feet, providing them with limitless (well, until they manage to yank them off) entertainment as well as keeping their cold-prone feet warm. The perfect gift if you’re looking for something small with a high cute factor which will actually get some decent use by the baby.

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Like most kids their age, Small Persons 1 and 2 absolutely love those big bounce houses you find at local fairs and events. As soon as they get in they go crazy, jumping around, falling down, and acting like little idiots in general. Of course, I’m standing on the sidelines yelling at them to avoid the big kids and wondering exactly how many disgusting bare feet have been all over the floor before them. When I saw this smaller version advertised, I immediately started lobbying for its purchase.

Ultimately, we got this as a Christmas present for the boys, and to say they were happy would be the understatement of the year. “When can we put it up? When can we put it up??” We finally cleared out space in the (small) living room and inflated the house. I think there were actually tears of happiness in their eyes.

Depending on what you see and/or read, only one child can use the trampoline at a time. The instructions say one, but there are pictures showing two kids, so I’m not sure what the real deal is. The weight limit is 70lbs, but we’ve let both kids on at one time and they don’t seem to have done much damage. The only unfortunate thing is that the bounciness is not nearly as good as the commercial versions - kind of what you’d expect from something as relatively inexpensive as this. They can certainly bounce a little, but they’re not going to achieve any great height… then again, you probably don’t want them to if you’re using it indoors.

The mesh sides are helpful to prevent the kids from completely flying off the bounce area, but don’t expect them to protect from sharp edges or hard surfaces; it gives way very easily.

I’m not ecstatic about the durability - we’ve already had trouble keeping one of the two arches inflated and the leak seems to be centered around one of the inflation valves. Admittedly, that could have something to do with Small Person #2 trying to “help” reinflate it by biting around the valve as hard as he could. Still, it’s very easy to inflate (get an electric pump) even if you have to do it several times a week.

All in all, I’m pretty happy with the toy, and if you have the space and some whining kids who need an outlet for their energy, you should definitely consider it.

Buy the Bounce House Trampoline Online:

• at Amazon.com