Advantages: Great stories, good engines, educational experience
Disadvantages: The new stories aren't as good

...I am now 17 years old, but I do still love watching the odd Thomas The Tank Engine story very ocassionly. I grew up watching it and I had, and still do have, most of the videos and story books. I was pleased to discover that the programmes and concept is still going strong. They are continuing to make new stories and introduce more characters, both of which have some positive and negative costs. I will write everything that I know about Thomas The Tank Engine and try and gives those of you who haven't seen it before, a good idea of what it all involves. Thomas The Tank Engine (and Friends), is a childrens programme about the trains that operate on the island of Sodor. It follows them through their ups and downs and also their funny moods and strops that they get into. Each story tends to have a message at the end... Read review

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Advantages: Great for small hands
Disadvantages: So many to collect

...This is where it all started. The starter set was my son's first exposure to Thomas the Tank Engine - First things first - there are at least 5 different styles of Thomas toys - none which interact with each other so sticking to 1 type would be recommended. This is a My First Thomas range which are ideal for children aged 1 and above.The toys are brightly coloured and accurate copies of your favourite Thomas characters. There are plenty to collect! The trains all have non marking rubber wheels, are hard wearing, dishwasher safe and most importantly are battery free. A great and affordable gift for a 1 plus year old boy - My son, now 2 cannot get enough of his collection - he has 35+!!!! You can also purchase a track which the trains will interact with. So to conclude - an ideal purchase for any young boy... Read review

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Advantages: Very sturdy unbreakable toys., Quite inexpensive., Easy to clean.
Disadvantages: none that i can think of

...Before my son Callum's first birthday, he is now 2 1/2 years old, we bought him the My First Thomas range of toys. These are chunky plastic engines and carriages etc. They are unbreakable, Callum throws them so hard sometimes and also they have been stood on and not broken too! The prices start at £4.99 and i think they are well worth every penny, seeing as he still has them all in working order. My son has all the main engines, Thomas Edward, Henry, Gordon,James and Percy and also he has Toby the tram engine and Harold the helicopter as well as a troublesome truck, Annie and Clarabel (Thomas's Carriages) an express coach, Bertie the Bus and a lorry. There is such a good range and you can even get a nice plastic track for Thomas and his friends to go along. You can obtain all these toys from mothercare, Toys R us, Tesco... Read review

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Advantages: Many ways to play, suitable for little 'uns and bigger little people
Disadvantages: Gets a bit grubby after a while

... THOMAS TANK AQUADRAW One of the Boy's forgotten favorites but I'm sure it'll be dragged out again soon once the novelty wears off all the Christmas stuff. We bought this quite some time ago for the reasonable sum of £25. Is readily available from various stores but I would recommend a search online to see if you can't find a cheaper deal than the RRP of £35. In the Thomas adorned box you will find your big aqua-draw mat with a nice blue border featuring Thomas pictures- which measures up at a fairly large size: 105x90cm. You also find a pen, Track-Roller and of course our faithful friend Thomas the Tank Engine (who needs 2x AA batteries which are NOT included) Fill up the pen and Roller and let the fun begin, once Thomas has been switched on that is. The pen and roller are easy to open and fill, the ends unscrew and you... Read review

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Advantages: Likeable little characters, Simple stories
Disadvantages: Only really appeals to children 6 and under...

...BACKGROUND: As a teenager, I financed my more costly kicks by babysitting, and eventually found myself looking after a small throng of unmanageable children, dispersed across several households. Most unmanageable of all, however, was a plump little boy of two, called Charlie.