LEGO Duplo Basic Bricks Review

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(More customer reviews)We had a really difficult time finding a decent starter set of Duplo bricks. They just don't sell the simple sets in the stores anymore, which makes no sense because they are the BEST sets. So we ordered this set from Lego. For about half what they're asking here. I've noticed a trend of Lego having the fairest prices of all the stores selling their products. Odd. Anyway, for anything Lego, I would definitely do some comparison shopping using the company website first.
With this set, I was concerned beforehand that there might not be a wide enough variety of pieces, despite the generous number (80 pieces total). This was due in great part to the fact that I couldn't seem to find any photos of the side of the box where they give the detailed information and really this is the only information you're wanting before making a rather sizable Lego purchase, right? Since no one else has mentioned this, I'll show what a total geek I am by publishing these details.
Here's the breakdown of the pieces by size:
56 2x2 peg square pieces
20 2x4 peg rectangular pieces
2 2x4 peg pieces (1/2 thickness of regular pieces)
1 2x6 peg long rectangular piece
1 2x8 peg ex-long rectangular piece
And by color!
14 red
13 each of green and yellow
12 blue
8 each of light green and orange
5 each of black and white
2 transparent blue 2x2 peg pieces
The transparent pieces were an immediate source of tension between my two daughters; they both love them. The entire set is fantastic. It's just the right amount of pieces, and I didn't feel like Lego was as stingy with the rectangles as in the previous 'My First Lego Set' we'd bought. Or maybe it's just that we now finally have enough Legos to really build something! I do wish there had been a couple more large rectangles, and maybe a couple more transparent pieces, but that's not really a gripe.
I think if you're starting out with Duplos, there isn't a better set out there with the right amount of creative, open-ended pieces and affordability. We would have started with this one had it been sold in stores. Another point in its favor, at least as far as I'm concerned, is that it was not made in China or Mexico, but rather in Denmark, Hungary and the Czech Republic.


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The fun never stops with these colorful LEGO Duplo bricks! Duplo bricks are sturdy and safe for a toddler's hands and imagination. Includes 80 basic bricks in different sizes and bright colors.

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Viking 15-Piece Chubbies Bucket Review

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(More customer reviews)We bought some of the slightly larger chubbies at a store and I've been looking for more. I took a leap of faith based on the above reviews and was rewarded. The tub contained:
2 boats
2 planes with propellers and wheels
1 helicopter
1 train
2 train cars
1 wagon
1 bulldozer
4 truck/cars.
It is more similar to this picture: http://www.grandrivertoys.com/images/products/N5615_L.jpg
So, they are not all the same car! Thanks Kaplan Learning Center! Another fabulous selection. My two year old will have an exciting easter! (I think we'll hide them instead of eggs!)

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12 months & up. 15 Chubbie vehicles are practically indestructible. Dishwasher safe and little enough for small hands. Each vehicle measures 4" long. Comes in assorted colors and a variety of vehicles.

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Playmobil 1.2.3 Playground Review

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(More customer reviews)I got this for my 23-month-old twins along with some other Playmobil 123 sets, and they play with them every day.
From a parent's perspective, the three figures are the best part of this set. My kids carry them around everywhere, and they offer lots of opportunities for imaginative play. The three figures have eaten all kinds of "food," ridden toy horses with Play-Doh "saddles" holding them on... oh, and also slid down the slide & rocked on the dino!
I think my twins might say they liked the flower best, surprisingly. They love snapping the top of the flower on & off the stem, and then snapping the stem onto the "grass" base. They also snap the bench on & off the grass base.
The first thing they learned when they got the set was how to make the figures bend at the waist to sit on the bench. It took some coaching to help them understand how to let go of the figures at the top of the slide so they'll slide down. Once they understood, they had fun with that for a while. They can't snap the figures onto the dino rocker by themselves yet, but that will come. Once the figures are on the rocker, they like to spin the dino around and make it rock. They also like to "feed" the dino.
I definitely recommend this for anyone with kids who are a little too young for regular Playmobil. I'm glad we have a couple of other Playmobil 123 sets, though, for more opportunities for interaction & imaginative play.

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Plan Toy Geometric Peg Board Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this pegboard as a safer, less-toxic puzzle-like activity to replace our recently weeded-out Melissa & Doug puzzles.
My daughter, just turned two, is less enthusiastic than I had hoped she would be about it. It's not a great challenge to her since she's well versed in colors and shapes (not the puzzle's fault). The challenge enters when somewhat clumsy little hands knock some of the already standing pieces over when she tries to place new pieces, which clearly frustrates her. Because the puzzle-board is rather thin, and thus the holes shallow, the pieces are very easy to overturn when you add successive pieces. And, of course, you can't carry the completed puzzle anywhere, because they will all overturn. The easy solution to this would be a thicker board and deeper holes for the pegs, but I imagine the amount of wood required to make this minor amendment would jack the cost up to far more than would be worth paying considering the practical uses of this toy.
My eldest daughter, 4 years, who has far more dexterity, is able to put the puzzle back together carefully without upsetting the pieces, but as far as the challenge of the puzzle, it is far beneath her skill level, so she's not driven to play with it a great deal either.
The pieces are often integrated into general block building. The girls both like adding a little color to their natural wood block buildings. And the base has been flipped and used as a surface for little projects. So it's not completely without use. If I sit with my youngest daughter and help her right the overturned pieces, she will put the thing together and talk about he shapes and colors whilst doing it.
However, this hasn't been the most impressive of the Plan Toys line, and I would absolutely recommend the Geometric Sorting Board, which we also own, over this one.

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These 16 geometrical pegs (4 different sizes, shapes and colors) can be sorted, counted, and stacked on a sturdy wooden base.
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The Geometric Peg Board can teach multiple concepts (shapes, height and color) through fun activities like stacking, sorting and counting.
Children will have fun stacking the wooden pieces in the appropriate place on the sturdy wooden base.
The wooden shapes can also be used as building and stacking blocks.
Apart from teaching shapes, colors, height, and counting, the toy also develops hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

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PlanToys Plan Preschool Croquet Set Game and Puzzle Review

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(More customer reviews)Its spring and we got this toy for BBQ days. well since we havent been able to go out et for a BBQ, we have strated playing with this toy inside and it is a lot of fun. My daughter who is three years old is able to play it at short distances. her younger sister also tries to play and is able to hit the ball from time to time.

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This is a favorite family game with very friendly design. The bright-colored wooden Croquet Set can be played in several adjustable setting. Includes 2 mullets, 4 wooden balls,4 colorful wickets, and 4 wooden wicket stands.

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PlanToys Plan Preschool Bee Hive Preschool Review

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(More customer reviews)Overall the toy is very cute and good for developing fine motor skills but, unfortunately, the tweaser is very wobbly and is difficult for my son to put the ends together even without a "BEE" in it's grip.

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This toys help develop fine motor skills by matching a bee to hive by using the pincer grasp or forceps.
Playtime Ideas:


Match the bee with the hive using the pincers to grasp.
For advanced play, children use forceps to get the bee into the hive without it falling down.

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Gotz 15" Brunette Bath Baby Doll Review

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(More customer reviews)We gave this doll to my daughter for her 4th birthday last year. While it is a lovely doll and she plays with it often, calling it a "bath doll" is something of a joke. If you want a doll your child can take in the bath, then dry off and play with, this is not the doll! It takes lots and lots of prolonged squeezing and drip-drying before she can come out of the tub and be played with (otherwise water keeps dripping out of her joints -- legs, arms, neck, eyes) It is usually several days before ours can be played with dry, and that is only after an adult has vigorously squeezed and shaken the doll several times to get all the water out of her head, arms, legs etc. I thought a bath doll would be solid or sealed plastic, so the water couldn't get in. If I were buying a bath doll again, I would not buy this product.

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Brunette Bath Baby - 15" Bath Baby features brown sleep eyes, brunette rooted hair and a vinyl body. She comes complete with a bath towel and water squirter. 3+

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