Educational Toys > Early Learning Centre Educational Toys > Building Sets, Blocks & Models

Advantages: lots of different routes to build, lights, sounds,
Disadvantages: pieces don't always fit togother properly,

I bought the marble madness set as a xmas gift for my daughter with a voucher given to me from a previously useless ELC toy! I was really keen to get this toy out on xmas day thinking that my husband and i would have great competitions in making the best marble run, i have to say i wasn't that amazed by it. Granted it is a childs toy but the pieces dont stay together after putting them together so after building a lovely tall marble run you look ...
...the place and then when you try to fix it the whole thing crumples and you have to start over again. The concept and design as a whole is great, the pieces are brightly coloured and there are plenty of them to make countless desgins. simply build them together as you like there is even a piece that works like a corkscrew to wind the balls up to the middle or top of the structure (it is a bit stiff to ge t going and sometimes you end up knocking the ... Read review

Advantages: make a good circuit
Disadvantages: none

...have started to build a Lego electric 5v train set buying him a train and some rail enough to make a small circuit. Amongst the items we bought was a pack of curved rails. This pack includes 8 pieces of track and costs £11.99 from http://shop.lego.com/Product/?p=4520. These curves are 5 inches long and will make half a circle when joined together. . Each piece has 5 sleepers between the rails and are 5 inches long.The tracks will conduct electricity ...
...are compatible for the newer Lego RC trains. These train tracks are fairly easy to put together the rails just slide together and clip in place. To undo the tracks will just slide away from each other when pulled lightly. They are fairly robust would not enjoy rough treatment but should survive many standard play hours. The trains run smoothly on these tracks when they are fitted together with other pieces of tracks. Curves are really a good ... Read review

Advantages: Learning tool that keep children occupied
Disadvantages: Takes 4 batteries

We brought the IMax for our eldest daughter when she was 4 ,She is now nearly 7. The L Max is a handhand games console designed for the younger child as a educational toy and is aimed at children 4 to 10yrs. The console and cartridges can be brought from most large stores / toy shops. You buy games cartridges but it does have some preprogrammed games already so you do not have to but extra cartridges. Helps children with spelling. numeracy tasks ...
...cant get it away from her little sister. Our youngest has been playing it since she was 2 1/2 shes now 3 & abit. She loves the painting programme. She can access it and get to the paint option by herself. Takes 4 AA batteries but they last a while. We did buy the adapter but youngest keeps tripping over the wire so we have had to go back to batteries. This goes every where with us shopping, holidays, car etc. You can always find deals on the cartridges ... Read review

Advantages: great for protecting console and storing games
Disadvantages: not much room for games

if you have a leapster it is well worth investing in the case. it is lovely padded protects the leapster ours has been dropped down a full flight of stairs while in the case and came out completly unscaved!! to my suprise. the only thing i would say as a negitive is that there is not much room for the games and they end up sqashed int the back. lovely case lightwieght easy to use the leapster or the l max fit in this case. the case comes in a deep ... Read review

Advantages: fantastic value addictive
Disadvantages: uses a lot of batteries

the leapster l max is a very good quality console. my daughter now aged 6 years has been playing on hers for the past 2 years before that she had a leapster and i would rate the leapster l max much higher. plug it into the tv and play on the big screen. a huge variety of games avalible nearly all focused on the childs learning and development. there are a lot of extra avalible i would recommend buying an adapter for the electric as the l max runs ...
...worthwhile investment. the l max is suitable from children from 4 years up to about 8 years it has an education focus the games vary in the area of development they are aimed at improving some han eye co ordination, maths reading etc. i would recomend this concole for on long care journey, holidays etc ... Read review