Educational Toys > Leap Frog Educational Toys > Thomas the Tank Engine > 5 GBP to 24 GBP

Advantages: Learning essential skills while playing
Disadvantages: Expensive

I bought the Click Start computer for my son for Christmas ( I have reviewed that also) So when people asked for ideas for pressents the games seemed like an obvious option. There are three different games on this cartridge, each teaching different skills. Each with two levels of difficulty, depending on the age of the child. "Really useful Engine" Help the Fat controller - Using the mouse, First the child must choose the correct crates by recognising ...
...the crate using phonics, pick one crate to complete the three letter word. In level two the say the letters name, and also spell longer words. Thomas then moves on and the child must help him pass some obsatcles by working out the correct tool for the obstacle ahead. Click on the correct picture and Thomas can move on. "Making tracks" Direct the engines - Using the mouse The train enters the screen where the track splits into different directions. ... Read review

Advantages: Lots and lots of games..lots and lots to learn...loads of fun
Disadvantages: Not being a Thomas fan..?

...books for the My First Leap Pad are "two in one" flip books with one story side and an activity side on the other. The cover is fairly thick shiny card with a big Thomas picture. The pages of the book itself are thinner but still durable. The cartridge has a matching picture of Thomas, so it makes it easy to find the right one to go with the book. The pictures on and in the book are cartoon-style but done well. All the favorite Thomas engines and ...
...for the narration is just like the one on the Thomas and Friends series and the voices of the characters are all 'right' as well, very well done not forgetting the Thomas theme tune too. The story is basically school children come to visit the train-yard Thomas leaves to get his work done and hurries to be back in time to take the children home. Thomas stops to help out Bertie the Bus and ends up taking the children home. Happy ever after...What ... Read review

Advantages: Hours of fun
Disadvantages: Lots of small attachments

My nephew loves this toy. Its the kind of thing that if you want peace and quiet just take this out and turn the tv off and you get what you want. I bought one i think for £60 and thought of it to be a bargain. The one and only thing that annoys me is all the seperate attachments to it, you dont want to be standing on them with your bare feet. Ive also found my dog chewing on bits he's found under the sofa. Its great fun, i sometimes even find myself ... Read review

Advantages: I got it free
Disadvantages: not very good

Fisher Price Peek-A-Blocks 2 in 1 Activity Wagon.... This was a hand me down from one of my friends for Jack and because her kids seemed to enjoy it so much I really thought Jack would too. Jack has a lot of the Peek A Blocks range of toys (some of which given by said friend) and he really enjoys playing with the blocks and using them with the different toys. The wagon itself is fairly large and after a brief look on the internet I found out that ...
...are plenty being sold as second hand and at a far more reasonable price. The Wagon comes with eight individual Peek a Blocks that are small plastic cubes with different things inside to look at or to shake, turn or just to look at. The blocks themselves are very hard wearing and because there are so many different toys in the Peek Block ranges, the blocks can be used with a multitude of other toys in the collection. We seem to have these blocks ... Read review

Advantages: teaches colour, imaginative play and fine motor skills, strong, durable, well made
Disadvantages: None

...old boy who is both Duplo and digger crazy. He has only recently become able to build independently with blocks and we thought we would add some interest to his set. Duplo is suitable for ages 2-5. The digger came in individual pieces to build together. We had the base wheels and treads then fixed the main rotating plate to the base. Then the cab. Finally we attached the digger arm which comes in 3 pieces. The set also comes with a builder, various ...
...with his digger and moving Duplo blocks and other things around the carpet. He has not taken it apart to build again just yet but that is another option as he grows. In the summer we hope to get the digger out into the sandpit for some 'on-site' construction! For older or more imaginative children (us included) you can add more blocks on to the actual digger itself. We have also built many garages to keep the digger in, as well as many building ... Read review