Reviews for $100-250
If you’re thinking about getting your young grandchild a tricycle or small bicycle with training wheels, you may want to consider this Balance Bike, or training bike, as an alternative. Balance bikes have been popular in Europe for many years and have recently become popular in the U.S. They’re a really smart and safe way for children to learn to ride bikes, balancing themselves as they would on real two-wheelers, scooting around without pedals and chains getting in their way, and using their feet as guides. You can find balance bikes in different styles and price-ranges. This one by Kettler is a nice quality bike, yet more moderately priced than other brands and models. It has some nice features, such as a lengthened, padded, adjustable seat, Euro-style wheel and spoke covers (so shoelaces don’t get snagged), front and rear mud guards, and a patented “limited turning radius,” to avoid tipping. Great for children ages 2-6.
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Quadrilla Marble Railway - Twist & Rail$119.00 at Amazon.com |
Perfect for the child who already loves marble runs or construction toys, this set by Quadrilla takes marble running to a new level. Rather than the typical “follow directions to assemble and drop ball” experience, kids invest time and creative brainpower into designing challenging runs with multi-directional layouts. While most marble runs are plastic (and sometimes flimsy), this set’s 147 curved, straight and funnel pieces are made from solid wood. Although children as young as 4 can design with the Twist & Rail, in many cases, they’ll need help from a parent. However, there is enough challenging fun to keep mom or dad entertained. Older kids (up to 11, or even older, depending on interest), will also enjoy the set, which, in addition to the building pieces, includes 50 marbles, a “Smart Design Booklet,” and “Play Tips DVD.” The Twist & Rail is Quadrilla’s best selling set, and has won numerous awards, including the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award for 2006 and the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association’s “Best for Kids” Toy List for Holiday 2007. If you simply want to try the system out without making a big commitment, Quadrilla also sells the Marble Railway Basic Set for $44.99.
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This is a gift that keeps giving… all year if you wish! Different craft kits are mailed to your grandchild each month, based on the child’s age, gender, and interests. You can choose from standard or deluxe kits, and purchase 3-, 6-, or 12-months worth. The first shipment is sent 1-3 days after an order is placed (unless it is a holiday advance order) and subsequent shipments are made around the 1st or 14th of each month, depending upon when the initial shipment is sent. You can choose the kits yourself, have ChildCrafter select the kits based on information that you provide, or include a survey in your grandchild’s first shipment. Examples of kits include soap-making, candy-making, sewing, needlepoint, painting, coloring, jewelry-making, decorating, and more. Kit manufacturers include ALEX, Curiosity Kits, Quincrafts, and Dimensions, all reputable and kid-tested companies. Shipping cost is additional. Recommended for kids ages 4+.
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Melissa & Doug Victorian Doll House$94.48 at Amazon.com |
This dollhouse by Melissa & Doug is all about the details. Modeled after an authentic Victorian home, it boasts many of the dainty accents one might find in Victorian construction and interior design. It begins with the high quality wooden construction we’ve come to know and love from Melissa & Doug toys. You’ll also find two mahogony finished staircases, scalloped, peaked roofs, molded windows, and lots of tasteful floral and striped accents. The furniture and other accessories are sold separately, and can be found on Amazon.com by searching under “Melissa & Doug Doll House Furniture.” The house measures 26.5 x 28 x 18 when assembled.
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Thomas & Friends - A Day at the Works Set$150.00 at Amazon.com |
There are plenty of other fine wooden train sets available, but Thomas & Friends seems to be the favorite for the 3 to 5 year-old set, mostly because of the characters, like Thomas the Train, Sir Topham Hat, and others on the Island of Sodor. Kids (especially those who know the Thomas books and movies) essentially engage in two types of imaginary play with Thomas sets — the world of trains and locomotion, as well as the imaginary world that Thomas and his friends live in. Yes, these sets are expensive, but you can easily find generic wooden track that is compatible with the Thomas track, when the time comes to “add on” to your grandchild’s train set. This one comes with Thomas, Culdee, SC Ruffey and Tugboat, as well as Sir Topham Hat and the Engineer. It also includes “The Works” engine repair shop, a gristmill and waterwheel, Span of Sodor Bay Bridge, different pieces of straight and curved track, a track adaptor, engine shed switch track, 2 ascending track pieces and risers, road signs, trees, and a cloth play mat. You can also choose from plenty of other Thomas sets, engines, trains, train tables, and accessories by clicking on “Click Here” and searching under “Thomas Wooden Railway.”
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Star Wars Voice Activated R2-D2 $174.90 at Amazon.com |
This is certainly a crowd pleasing toy — for the grandchildren who’ve recently discovered the magnetism of the Star Wars films, to their parents (and grandparents!) who first fell in love with R2-D2, the little droid, and his hero pals back in ‘77. Similar to a real robot, this sophisticated 15″ voice activated mini R2-D2 droid robot toy will be like a companion to your grandchild. R2 responds to 40 voice commands such as “turn around,” and navigates rooms and hallways well. Ask him if he remembers Darth Vader and he’ll cower in fear. His sensor helps him follow behind you, or it can be set to detect motion. His lights, swiveling dome and happy and sad noises look and sound exactly like the real R2-D2. If he slips into his occasional “bad mood,” your grandchild will say a simple command of “R2, behave yourself,” and he will snap right out of it. And the little droid toy can replay sounds and dialogue from the Star Wars movies, answer yes or no questions, and dance as he did in the films. He does require some assembly, but comes with detailed instructions and a bonus poster.
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Levels of Discovery Musical Rocker$129.95 at Amazon.com |
We’ve fallen in love with this music-theme kids rocking chair and with all of the kids furniture made by Levels of Discovery. These pieces are excellent quality and are crafted to be given as special gifts. This 29″ x 12 1/2″ rocking chair has a mini five-note xylophone with wooden mallet attached to its arm. A keyboard and sheet music are painted on the backrest, and the tiles, also on the seat back, flip back and forth from “Do, Re, Mi” to musical notes. Each chair includes a special stamp beneath the seat to be personalized with your grandchild’s name, your name, and the special occasion for which the chair was given. And if that’s not enough, each chair includes a photo greeting card so that your grandchild can say “thank you” in a memorable way. Purchase this chair or browse other Levels of Discovery pieces, such as the school house, alphabet soup, all-star sports, and artist rockers, his/her majesty’s throne potty chairs, tables and chairs, entertainment center, bookcase and toy box bench, by clicking on “Click Here,” and searching under “Levels of Discovery Furniture.”
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Designed by four dads experienced in the baby product market, this beautiful new lounger, as well as the rest of this contemporary, fashionable line of products by Bloom, provide a more attractive and functionally innovative option to the typical plastic baby gear. The Coco Lounger, as well as Bloom’s high chairs and other baby furniture, fit right in with contemporary living spaces. Crafted in both stylewood™ and plexistyle™ versions, it has a smooth rocking motion, soft micro-suede™ or micro-leather™ seat pad, and 5-point safety harness. You can choose from different wood finishes and seat pad colors — simply click on the “Click Here” link, then search on Amazon.com for Coco Bloom under Baby Products. You can also search for Bloom’s other new products, including its Fresco High Chair, which has already won several awards, including an Iparenting Award for Excellence in the Furniture and Gear category.
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Another great HABA baby product! This “curtains rise” circus animals mobile is in gender-neutral colors and features adorable little animals. The mouse and bear are attached by magnets so that they can hang as acrobats or be taken down to hug or cuddle. The star has a small foil mirror, the donut has a small bell, and the green and blue ornament rattles softly. This is a wonderful gift that your baby will love.
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If your older grandchild has been asking for this hot new Nintendo DS Lite portable game system model, you should know there are, indeed, improvements from the original Nintendo DS hand-held model. First, it’s lighter and more compact. It’s also more interactive — in one game called Nintendogs, kids can say commands to their virtual puppies, and in another, they blow into the unit to create onscreen bubbles! Like the DS, the DS Lite features dual screens, wireless features, a touch screen, stylus, and microphone. And you’ll breathe a hugh sigh of relief over the fact that your grandchild will be able to use the old Nintendo DS model’s game cartridges on this newer model. The Nintendo DS Lite comes in Coral Pink, Polar White, and Onyx Black (shown here). Simply click on our “Click Here” link to find just the right color for your gamer. We also recommend the Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP — a great value for kids still new to gaming, and the Leapfrog Leapster L-Max for little kids (ages 4-7). Use the search box to find our reviews.
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