Preschool Toys

Preschool Toys!

the Review Source

k'nex
www.knex.com

Cookie Monster
Swim-Time Ernie
Ages 2-5

Favorite Features -

14 pieces per set

colorful illustrated step by step instructions

play and learn activity sheet

encourages imagination, creativity, hand/eye coordination, fine motor skills and following directions

colorful, plastic storage containers

    For the next step beyond simply stacking blocks/building pieces, these sets help growing toddlers learn as they have fun with their Sesame Street friends! Extremely well done!

Elmo's
Cowboy Adventure
Building Set
Ages 2-5

Favorite Features -

14 pieces

colorful illustrated step by step instructions

play and learn activity sheet

encourages imagination, creativity, hand/eye coordination, fine motor skills, thinking/problem solving and following directions

    Fun set - children will love building Elmo and the horse! Great toy for parents to play and interact with their child. Extremely well done!

Building Zone Buddies
Ages 3+

Favorite Features -

30 pieces

colorful illustrated step by step instructions

play and learn activity sheet

encourages imagination, creativity, hand/eye coordination, fine motor skills, thinking/problem solving and following directions

    Great building set for toddlers - large, colorful pieces with easy assembly allows toddlers to feel a sense of accomplishment and that "I can do it" feeling! Finished buddies are fun to play with as well! Tremendously well done!

MGA Entertainment/Little Tikes
www.littletikes.com

Dirt Diggers
Ages 2+

Favorite Features -

we reviewed the Dump Truck, Excavator and Front Loader

easy to clean

each vehicle has a detachable part for fun in the dirt - Dump Truck has a bucket, Excavator has a shovel and the Front Loader has a sand scoop

good size for lots of fun

encourages imagination, role-playing and large motor skills

    I'd have liked to see the dump truck designed a little differently - it tips over very easily - the bucket portion is difficult to keep in place when a little one is pushing/driving it around, but little ones with big imaginations will find these three trucks great fun to play with - particularly in the sand box! Very nicely done!

Rubbabu
www.rubbabu.com

Planes, Trains
and Automobiles!
Ages - 2+

Favorite Features -

We reviewed the large Cleanupper the Dump Truck, Bully the Bulldozer and Charles the Airplane in the large size, two boxes of assorted small vehicles, several educational balls and a puzzle set

encourage imagination, role-playing and fun

soft, colorful, fun designs and unique

smaller sizes make great stocking stuffers and gift exchange items

    I found these vehicles to be truly unique with their soft, squishy, rubber and bright colors! Children love the way they feel and how easy they are to play with. Perfect as a "take-along-toy" for long trips in the car or just a quick drive to the store or grandma's house, these soft cars provide a safe items for playing with in the car. I like the affordable price points - these make great gifts! Tremendously well done!

Ravensburger
www.ravensburger.com
www.wowtoys.com

Mix 'n' fix Mike
Ages 1 1/2 - 5

Favorite Features -

no batteries required

includes truck, construction figure and removable barrier

friction-powered cement truck with revolving mixer

realistic engine sound

encourages gross/fine motor skills, hand/eye coordination, interactive play, role-playing and imaginative play

    Colorful and full of sounds this cement mixer truck is sure to delight a little boy with hours of fun and imagination! Extremely well done!

Signals
www.signals.com

Foreign Language
Alphabet Blocks
Ages 3+

Favorite Features -

high quality, handcrafted wood blocks with embossed sides and beveled edges

made in the USA - in Michigan - from kiln-dried basswood

colored with nontoxic, child-safe inks

each set includes 24-32 blocks (alphabets, numerals, and animal pictures) and measure 1 ¾" - you may choose Arabic, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Japanese, or Korean. We reviewed Chinese

    Impressive blocks - quality and design are apparent! I love the unique style and fun way to help children learn something new! The Chinese blocks we reviewed have the Chinese character on two sides, one side shows stroke by stroke how to draw that character, another has a picture/drawing of the item, another has a Chinese number and the final side has a portion of a puzzle of the land of China, it's flag and a dragon. Tremendously well done!

Mattel
www.mattel.com

Matchbox Big Rig Buddies -
Stinky the Garbage Truck
Ages 3+

Favorite Features -

says over 90 phrases and sounds

includes a DVD, "Meet the Big Rig Buddies" with two episodes

space to store small matchbox cars or other smaller items

truck and robot all in one

encourages moving, playing, imagination

    Stinky is a fun truck and friend for little ones that can roll on four wheels or "stand up" and talk on two wheels. Children will be laughing at some of the silly things Stinky has to say! Fun first "robot" for little ones! Tremendously well done!

Disney PIXAR
Toy Story 3
Buddy Pack
Ages 3+

Favorite Features -

Variety of packs available

works with the Action Links! playsets

encourages imagination and role-playing

    Fun as a stocking stuffer or gift exchange item little ones who love Toy Story 3 will like these small, take-along friends! Extremely well done!

Hasbro
www.hasbro.com

Wheel Pals
Animal Tracks
Playsets
Ages 18m +

Favorite Features -

available in three playsets - we reviewed Rolling Acres Farm, Jungle Journey and Polar Party

each set includes 2 wheel pal animals

sets connect for more fun

encourages fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, imaginative play and fun

    Preschoolers will love being able to connect these sets for more rolling fun! Colorful and creative these sets make great gift exchange gift items and are an affordable gift option sure to be enjoyed! Extremely well done!

Alphie
Ages 3+

Favorite Features -

activities to help children learn their letters, numbers, shapes, animals, colors, directions and more

includes 30 two-sided cards with more than 350 questions, challenges and activities for preschoolers

encourages cognitive skills, phonics and learning

booster cards available

includes batteries

    Children will find this little robot engaging with music and information - much of it presented with music. Alphie combines learning and fun to help little ones get ready for school in an engaging and interesting way. Tremendously well done!

Tonka Chuck and Friends
Rumblin' Chuck
Ages 3+

Favorite Features -

truck says more than 50 sounds and phrases

includes a storybook about Chuck

encourages large/small motor skills, imagination and fun

includes batteries

    Little boys are sure to love Rumblin' Chuck not only because he talks, plays games and has lots of funny things to say, but because he is a "sturdy" friend they will be able to play with for years to come! I'd like it if there was more room in the "bed" to hold things, but this truck is sure to become a favorite "friend" of any boy who receives it! Tremendously well done!

Tonka Chuck and Friends
Power Playard System -
Chuck's Stunt Park
Ages 3+

Favorite Features -

set includes play set, vehicle, some batteries and storybook

encourages imaginative play, moving, thinking and fun

    Boys - and their dads - are sure to enjoy this stunt park as they set up the track and then let Chuck go! Additional sets are available to add to the Power Playard - parents and grandparents could each get a set for a system sure to delight a preschool boy! Extremely well done!

Infinitoy/ZOOB
www.infinitoy.com

ZOOB Jr.
Ages 4-6

Favorite Features -

nearly 2x larger than the regular ZOOB building pieces - easier for small hands to build and learn with

bright primary colors

encourages thinking, find motor skills, hand-eye coordination, imagination, creativity and fun

30 ZOOB pieces in a storage container

includes eight instruction cards with directions to build 20 creations - no reading necessary

    Unique building set moves in unexpected ways allowing children to play with the things they create! The young child I had try these out was truly delighted to see the different ways their "creation" could move. Fun and unique ZOOB makes a great gift - give as a family gift for a unique way for families to play and create together! Tremendously well done!

Mega Bloks
www.megabloks.com

Pull Along Musical Pirate Ship
Ages 1+

Favorite Features -

set includes 20 pieces with a "working" cannon, two pirates and one shark

makes three sounds and plays two songs

pieces store in boat

works with other Mega Bloks sets

encourages hand/eye coordination, fine motor skills, imagination, language development and fun

Colorful and fun this Pirate ship is a toy little ones will enjoy and play with for years! Creatively designed with options for use it is clear Mega Bloks designed this to be a toy children would want to play with making it a great choice for parents or grandparents to give the little ones on their list! Extremely well done!

Thomas & Friends
Adventures on
Misty Island
Ages 3+

Favorite Features -

set includes 101 pieces and Thomas & James as well as a full color instructions with step by step directions

encourages hand/eye coordination, fine motor skills, imagination and interactive play

This is a building set that takes little ones to the next level of more advanced building! Not only will preschoolers enjoy building the Misty Island play-set, but they will have great fun playing with Thomas and James on their island! Great gift for little ones! Tremendously well done!

Christmas 2010

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Copyright © Lynda Freeman

Last Updated Oct. 31, 2010

Web Page by Lynda Freeman

Send an e-mail to Lynda at LyndaFreeman@thereviewsource.net

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