You would be hard pressed to find a parent who has not heard of Little Tikes and its reputation for durability. Many families have either purchased a Little Tikes product at the store, have had one passed down to them from family or friends, or picked one of these "built to last" creations at a garage sale or thrift store. Recently, we had the pleasure of test driving a few of their wonderful products.

Tikes Patrol™ Police Car

Price range: $50.00 - $60.00 (U.S.)
Age range: over 1 1/2 - 5 years
SKU: 4029
Dimensions: 32.25"L x 17.50"D x 32.25"H

The policeman is our friend, and he has a pretty nifty car to cruise around in... that is, if he has one of these! As sturdy and dependable as the well known Cozy Coupe, the Tikes Patrol™ Police Car is built to last and chase down even the sneakiest of criminals.

Mom or Dad can assemble this ride on in about 35 to 45 minutes with minimal tools, from first opening the box to watching your tot scoot away in it, says Amanda Formaro, who put one together for her little squad at home.

fig 1

This car comes equipped with a handheld radio (figure 1), that runs on 2 AA batteries, and it's attached right to the car, so your little officer can't lose it! Any parent can attest to how their children pretend to be a police siren, and how that sound is enough to send you right through the roof. Never fear, this police car comes with its own siren that is much more soothing on adult ears than the screech of small children!

Mrs. Formaro noticed that the wheels seem tighter that that of the Cozy Coupe, which made it a little harder to push, yet it seemed sturdier and more solid as a result. This also seemed to make it easier for her child to steer the vehicle. She highly recommends this toy for children ages two to five. Children older than that might have a tough time getting in and out, as it is not a convertible.

Pooh Rumbly Racer™ Car

Price range: $60.00 - $70.00 (U.S.)
Age range: 1 - 5
SKU: 4924
Dimensions: 31"L x 21"D x 26"H

"Someone was really thinking when they designed this little gem," says Amanda Formaro. The Pooh Rumbly Racer™ Car, is a multifunctional car with a push handle. It has staying power with even the most easily bored children. There's a platform at the bottom so that a child as young as one year old can sit in it, much like he would in a wagon. His little feet can't go through and touch or drag the ground, either. A larger person can push the tot around in it for loads of fun, without nagging bag strain due to the length of the push rod. However, it's also a convertible car, meaning it's harder to outgrow for the older kids.

Realistically, this toy works well for a child between the ages of 1 and 8 years of age, with varying use, of course. That's an excellent age range for a toy, considering most toys range no more than three years.

Amanda says it's the most played-with toy she has right now, and she even uses it for the little ones when it's time to walk her older children to school. "It's easy to push, which is great when you have other things to mind, like traffic, kids, and bookbags,
and it turns easily at corners with one-handed maneuverability."

fig 2

Talking Little T™

Price range: $45.00-$60.00 (U.S.)
Age range: 2 years and up
SKU: 70280

This little cutie really interacts with your child! He's designed to be attractive to little boys but offers loads of fun for little girls, too. Flip him upside down, and he'll tell you that he can see up your nose. What child wouldn't giggle over that! Place him on his back and he'll tell you he's ready to wrestle. He comes equipped to be a fireman, a construction worker, and even a baseball player with his reversible hat (see figure 2).

He comes with a cute little toolbelt that includes a drill, walkie-talkie, hammer, and flashlight (see figure 2). This toolbelt Velcros™ onto itself but not his body, so those pieces might get lost as a result.

Amanda Formaro's children really enjoy him, but her six-year-old daughter enjoys him the most. "I think it's her age rather than her gender. She enjoys playing with interactive toys. When he says to find his drill, she finds it, attaches it and begins drilling! It's very cute." She's old enough to manipulate the tools and place them in his hands. Using the toolbelt was difficult for her three-year-old son, and he consequently lost interest in it, so a grown-up would likely need to get involved here to help with a child that age.

When left idle for a while, he turns himself off. But watch out if you walk through the room in the dark and kick him by accident! He'll let you know he's there, and you might not be ready to hear his voice!

Amanda recommends this toy for a child who is four to seven years of age, mainly because they could handle the tools and toolbelt without the aid of an adult. The doll would be enjoyable for a child ages two to three, but an older child's attention would be held longer with Talking Little T™.

Be sure to check out WalMart.com for all your Christmas toy needs!

We give Little Tikes and its amazing variety of toys and activity centers a 5 star rating. Not only are their products of high quality with long lasting durability, their customer service is impeccable. Wonderful products from wonderful people that our product testers highly recommend.

You can purchase Little Tikes toys and their other products from most discount stores such as WalMart, Kmart and Target as well as toy stores like ToysRUs. You can also visit Little Tikes online to check their store locator to find a Little Tikes retailer near you. Special thanks go out to Mia Cronan of Main Street Mom for her assistance and contribution in this review.

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