2008 Holiday Gift Review Toys for babies and preschoolers!
the Review Source
Hape
Zig Zag Zoom
Spring-A-Ling Bead MazeAges 6m+
Favorite Features -
encourages hand-eye and fine muscle development/coordination, color, size and shape recognition, counting, visual tracking, language development, spatial concepts, imaginative play, follow directions, group/patterning, listening and counting skills
includes a sheet with ideas for play and learning
portable size makes it a fun, any-time toy
I love these bead/wire mazes! Great toys encourage learning and fun! Tremendously well done, Hape!
Zig Zag Zoom
Tunnel Mountain Bead MazeAges 2 - 8
Favorite Features -
encourages visual tracking, hand-eye and fine muscle coordination, color, size and shape recognition, spatial concepts, follow directions, counting and imaginative play
bright colors and fun shapes add to the fun
big enough for more than one child, or for parent and child to play with together
wood and wire - will captivate and engage children . . . and adults!
includes sheet with ideas for play and learning!
Unique and fun children and parents will love this toy! Quality and imagination clearly went into the design of this toy! Tremendously well done, Hape!
Beleduc
Animalmix
Favorite Features -
soft, plush hand/glove puppet
machine wash
bright colors
encourages imagination and interactive play
I love the duck! Unique and fun puppet - great way to help children begin to develop language skills! Extremely well done, Hape!
anamalz
Ages 3+
Favorite Features -
wood and fabric animals - cow, sheep and elephant were reviewed by us
encourages imaginative play
movable legs and trunk
Unique, portable fun - clearly much attention was given to quality and design! I love the simple wood and fabric look to these toys and appreciate their portable size for fun on the go! Tremendously well done, Hape!
Mega Bloks
![]()
CAT Workbench
Ages 1+
Favorite Features -
50 pieces including a hammer, wrench and screwdriver
large plastic yellow and black box for storing and to build on- pieces build on this to make the workbench
made in Canada
encourages fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, creativity and imagination
Little boys, particularly boys whose dad has and uses tools, will love this first tool bench! Easy to clean, large size for easy building, this is a great first building set! Tremendously well done!
Dora Buildable Boots
Treehouse Adventure
Rainbow Rock
AdventureDora Backpack
School AdventureAges 3+
Favorite Features -
each set includes Dora, Boots and at least 23 additional building pieces
Rainbow Rock Adventure includes Discover Adventure cards so little ones can build and follow Dora on an adventure
Backpack School set includes a backpack to keep the pieces in
encourages fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, creativity and imagination
Little fans of Dora will love these building sets! Extremely well done!
Hasbro/Playskool
Cherry Blossom Market
Ages 3+
Favorite Features -
includes market, cash register and play money
19.5"x44"x38" - just the right size to be a special play-place
colorful fabric completely covers plastic frame
step by step directions to assemble market
lightweight and easy to move
encourages imagination, interactive play and role playing
What little girl wouldn't absolutely love to have their own Cherry Blossom Market? Colorful, creative and fun, this is a toy children will love to play with for years to come! Tremendously well done!
![]()
Cherry Blossom Market
Scoop 'N Smile Ice Cream SetAges 3+
Favorite Features -
includes scooper, cone, menu, milkshake cup, three scoops of ice cream, banana and ice cream boat
soft fabric ice cream scoops
encourages imagination, interactive play and role playing
The perfect accessory for the Cherry Blossom Market - who doesn't love to go out for a treat of ice cream from the local ice cream stand? Tremendously well done! I love how the ice cream is made from soft, colorful fabric!
![]()
Easy Dunk Basketball
Ages 3+
Favorite Features -
includes a hoop and ball
hang on a doorknob or handle for easy set-up
spring-loaded rim
encourages moving, large muscle coordination and imagination
Fun first basketball set for children - easy to use and at a height little ones can make "baskets"! Extremely well done!
Manhattan Toy
![]()
skwinkle
Ages - 3 months +
Favorite Features -
colorful wood beads that move and "clack" together
soft, colorful, plastic to chew on
encourages hand-eye, chewing and tracking of moving things
Unique and fun this is a rattle little ones will be able to grasp and play with! Tremendously well done!
barnyard shape set
Ages - birth and up
Favorite Features -
three soft animal shapes - circle, square and triangle
each shape is one farm animal - sheep, cow and chick
variety of textures and sounds - chime, rattle, squeak and crinkle
encourages grasping and initial playing
I love this soft set of animal friends! Perfect portable fun for little ones! Tremendously well done!
![]()
Puzzle Block Set -
Acrobat and FarmAges - 18 months +
![]()
Favorite Features -
each set includes 13 blocks with characters, colors, shapes, words and animals printed on them
encourages matching, recognition skills, hand-eye coordination and imagination
Fun, colorful and a great way to encourage imagination and interaction with your child these blocks make a great gift! Extremely well done!
PlayHut
Cars Mega Garage/Car Wash
Dora Mega Tree House
Ages - 3+
Favorite Features -
both sets include colorful designs and detachable flags/characters to add to the fun
ez set up/take down design PlayHut is known for
5' tall each set holds up to six children
storage/travel cases included
encourages imagination, interactive play and fun!
Children love PlayHut play spaces and these sets with their "friends" from Cars and Dora are sure to be a hit with children and a favorite place to play for years! No rough/hard edges make these play places very "kid friendly" and a great gift option for siblings to share! Tremendously well done!
Step 2
All-Star
Sports Climber
Doorway
Playhouse
Ages - 1 1/2+
Favorite Features -
both sets made in the USA
Sports climber includes slide, basketball hoop, soccer goal, football toss and climbing wall
Doorway playhouse fits doors 28" and wider and has a dutch-door, mailbox, doorbell, peep-hole, mouse hole and shelves
durable plastic construction - some adult assembly required
easy to clean
encourages imagination, interactive play, role playing, fitness and fun!
Children love Step 2 play environments and these sets are sure to be a hit with children and a favorite place to play for years! The sports set encourages moving and fitness while the doorway playhouse provides a "playhouse" without needing lots of space - makes any child's room a special place! Either of these sets provide a great gift option for siblings to share! Tremendously well done!
Little Tikes
Two-in-one
Dollhouse/playhouse
Cookin' Sounds
Gourmet Kitchen
Ages - 2+
Favorite Features -
both sets made in the USA
Dollhouse/playhouse is every little girl's dream gift! A dollhouse for 12" fashion dolls attached to an actual playhouse big enough for little girls to play in with their baby dolls! Dollhouse has three floors, big front porch, storage drawer and fold-out whirlpool tub. Play house has baby doll high chair, table, stove, doorbell and phone - everything is styled in a Victorian look with lots of pink!
Kitchen set has the sounds of water running, dishes clanking, food cooking and more for hours of fun!
durable plastic construction - adult assembly required for the dollhouse/playhouse
easy to clean
encourages imagination, interactive play, role playing, fitness and fun!
Children love to play in the spaces and places created by Little Tike! Built to provide interesting and fun places for children to play and grow for years either of these Little Tike items make a great gift option for siblings to share! Tremendously well done!
Return to
2008 Holiday Gift Review
Go to
the Review Source
The Review Source
Copyright © Lynda Freeman
Last Updated Nov. 1, 2008
Web Page by Lynda Freeman
Send an e-mail to Lynda at Lynda@thereviewsource.net