Thomas the Train Battery?

Posted on 26. Jan, 2012 by Toy Expert.

Thomas & Friends – Battery Operated Track Rider Train – someone gave this to me and it comes with a charger, I cleaned up the house and laid down the tracks ready to charge and go and I cant for the life of me figure out where you connect the charger?

they gave me a manual but my kids were playing with it and i cnat find that either. someone please anyone. If you own this where and how do you charge the little train so the kid can ride it.

I would ask the person who gave it to me but it happens to be my boss and i dont want to bother them. or tell them I already lost the manual.

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Developmental delays with my 4 year old?

Posted on 21. Aug, 2011 by Toy Expert.

Firstly, yes I plan to make an appointment with my child’s doctor about these issues. I’m just looking for opinions until we can see a doctor.

My son is 4 years old (also my first and only child), and while he seems overall "up to speed" on things, I’m concerned he may be experiencing developmental delays.
1. He’s just now starting to get potty trained. I’ve been trying since he was 2 year old, and things just never seemed to stick. Currently, I try to put him on the toilet every 2 hours or so, and he urinates almost every time, but still has bowel incontinence. Also, he often does not tell me when he needs to use the bathroom. He only says "Need to use the big potty" maybe 2 out of every 5 times he needs to go.

2.) My ex has decided that he is behind in his speech skills, and has threatened to take me to court if I don’t make my son see a speech therapist. This, I don’t think, is an issue for my son. He sometimes refers to himself in the third person, such as "Logan needs to play a game", but he does this less and less with each passing week, and has increased his frequency with addressing himself in the first person just as much. He knows his basic colors, can count to ten, and is starting to learn his ABCs. I read to him on almost a nightly basis, and when he plays with his toys (Thomas & Friends trains are his favorite) he makes up little stories for his trains to act out while he plays. He also says "I’m hungry" or "I’m thirsty" as needed, or will say "I need juice/milk/etc." The only thing I can think of that may be a sign of a problem with his speech development is that sometimes he can’t think of the word he needs to request what he wants (for example, if he didn’t know the words for chocolate milk, he’d say "I need the brown one".), but for the most part, I think he has a pretty average vocabulary for a 4-year-old.

Has anyone out there experienced something like this? Any tips or thoughts on things I could be missing?

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Do you think this is a good birthday gift for a non-verbal two year old boy?

Posted on 17. Jul, 2011 by Toy Expert.

http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Genius-Krinkles-Building-Set/dp/B002V6STR2/ref=sr_1_4?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1310400419&sr=1-4

His current favorite toy is a GeoTrax remote control train set. He puts the tracks together (not always in a loop), puts the train together, puts the train on the track and runs it. I am pretty sure he could build things with these. I would just buy him more GeoTrax stuff, but we have so much already.

If you think this is a poor gift, I would love some gift ideas!
@ question mark lady–We actually just had him evaluated a few weeks ago….he is now working with a speech therapist weekly. I would be quite interested to talk to you some time though, as he has no "diagnosis" as of yet. His father and I both have Asperger’s though and are seeing a lot of those traits in our boys.

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I'm feeling suicidal. I don't want to die, but I don't know how to live?

Posted on 11. Jul, 2011 by Toy Expert.

I’m 19. In college. I still live with my parents. My dad & stepmom want me to socialize more with people my age. I never talk to teenagers or adults. I only talk to little kids. People say that I’m immature for my age. Besides going to college, I’m never around teenagers or adults. I’m basically a 7 year old in a 19 year old body. When family & others come over to our house, they always make fun of my room. I have Toy Story posters on my wall. A Toy Story bedspread. A fish aquarium. & a train set. I like my room, but others just make fun of it. I feel like I’m mature in a lot of ways. I’ve always made good grades. I’m well-mannered. I do chores around the house. I paid for all my college tuition on my own. My stepmom doesn’t understand why I have no friends my age or why I’ve never had a girlfriend. I have girls tell me I’m good-looking all the time; mainly because I work out. I just don’t want a girlfriend right now. To me, the world is a screwed up place. I can’t wait until I die, but I don’t want to kill myself. Most people don’t believe in heaven, but I do. My goal in life is just to work & go to school, & just get through each day the best I can. I’m feeling suicidal, but I really don’t want to kill myself. Any advice?

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What is the best wooden railway set for Thomas trains?

Posted on 27. Jun, 2011 by Toy Expert.

My son has the Learning Curve Thomas trains (slowly expanding collection) and the next step is to buy him a railway set. He has played with the Roundhouse Thomas & Friends set in a store and liked it, but it is kind of expensive. I’m trying to figure out what sets are compatible with the Thomas trains- I’ve read online that the Imaginarium sets are NOT compatible, but the old Brio wooden track sets are. I want to be able to expand the track set with Thomas items, like the hospital and Cranky, etc. I would also like to get a set that has bridges, tunnels and a shed for the trains.

Quality is important- I don’t want something that will fall apart with general use. Please let me know from your experience which sets you liked and which ones didn’t work. Thanks!

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How do I take this about my son's birthday about my MIL & FIL?

Posted on 12. Jun, 2011 by Toy Expert.

My son will be 2 on the 18th. He is having a Thomas the Train birthday theme. My MIL & FIL told me today that it was stupid and crazy to have a birthday party for our son. They just left (well I asked them to leave) I got about 30 Thomas the train balloons for a friend. She told me that all of this was a waste of money and not got go forward with the party.

Here is what gets me… She told me that she was not going to buy my son and in her words "a Damn thing". I told her that was her choice. Then she said Why in the hell should I buy him things if there are 10 kids coming to his party? …. She said then because it is a 3 hour party… I will come watch him then we (MIL,FIL) will go…. What should I do? Should I still let her come if this is how rude she is going to be? She gets so upset about this party EVERY TIME she sees something about his party or if we say something. HELP!!!!!!

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Who knows what the numbers are on the bottom of the wooden Thomas Train engines?

Posted on 09. Jun, 2011 by Toy Expert.

My son has outgrown his Thomas train engines (all wooden and one metal). I’ve noticed that almost all of them have a number printed on the bottom of the train. I have also been told that these trains are collectible.

What do the numbers on the bottom of the trains represent? Also, how can I find out which of these trains are retired and what they are worth?

Below is a list of some of the trains we have:
MaterialTrainNotes
———————————————————————————————————————-
WoodenThomas2003; no number on bottom.
WoodenDiesel2003; 217 5 OW00
WoodenJames (Lights & Sounds); Lights & Sounds James’ Tender
2003, 2 pieces, has a flashing light. 2106OW00
WoodenPercy2003;2325 OW00
WoodenToby2003; 2345WJ00
WoodenSalty2003;1925WJ00
WoodenSodor Fire Crew2 pieces; Hook & Ladder and Water Tanker. No number.
WoodenEmily & Emily’s Tender2003, 2 pieces, 00996WJ00
WoodenDennis2003; 2555WJ00
WoodenHarvey2003; 2275WJ00
WoodenTidmouth Shed / Roadhouse2001
WoodenChinese Dragon2003; 0175WJ00
WoodenSodor Line Caboose2003. No number.
WoodenBox Car2003; doors slide. No number.
WoodenBrio MilkBrio Sticker. No number
MetalAruthur2004; 154 5 SR00
WoodenSir Topham2001; Wooden Figure
PlasticLady2006; Wind-up; small.

Thanks in advance for any help!

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Anyone else's toddlers obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine?

Posted on 30. May, 2011 by Toy Expert.

I think I’m looking for a little sympathy more than anything else! LOL, my son talks about Thomas CONSTANTLY and begs to watch movies all day long. Today he’s not feeling 100% because of his allergies so I caved in, but this guy can play with those trains all day long! He sets up his tracks, he recites lines from the movies, he makes the trains talk to each other. It’s really cute & I know he’s using his imagination playing with his own trains, but it’s kind of making me batty!!!
This is my 2nd time around with Thomas also! My brother, who’s almost 20, was also obsessed with Thomas. Not to the point of my son, who cries out for "Thomas and Percy" in his sleep! That’s very funny, I have to admit! After almost 20 years of Thomas, I’m burnt out!!!! LOL
And he is absolutely NOT allowed to watch Barney!!!! I’d sooner slit my throat!!! No Yo Gabba Gabba either! I’m convinced that show is going to cause early drug usage in most children!

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Why do so many parents STILL discourage their sons from playing w/ dolls,kitchen sets,& other nurturing toys?

Posted on 16. May, 2011 by Toy Expert.

Over the past 20 years, I’ve noticed an enlightened trend taking hold in regard to little girls and the toys with which society, as a whole, has been encouraging them to play. While baby-dolls, kitchen sets, and Barbies are still staple ‘girls’ playthings- toy cars, trains, & trucks, along with building-blocks & legos are now considered ‘must-have’ items for the toy-chests of all ‘well-rounded’ little girls. And, in addition to having dress-up boxes full of princesses’ ball gowns, tiaras, and high-heels, today’s little girls are prompted to explore their more rugged sides- with dress-up attire in the form of uniforms for the armed forces, and police and fire departments. Also,in these modern times,no little girl limits her play-identity to that of a nurse, instead of a doctor; or a para-legal, when she can be a lawyer. So,if play prepares children for real-life,it would seem that we’re preparing our daughters to ‘bring home the bacon & fry it up in the pan’, but… what about our sons?

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What is the best way to potty train?

Posted on 24. Apr, 2011 by Toy Expert.

My son is 3 yrs old and we haven’t been very successful in the potty training department. I’ve tried a few different ways and had no success with them. But I did find that wearing undies or being naked does seem to get the best result than any other method. I’ve done reward systems (Tattoos, stickers, potty chart, M&M’s, toys) and they only work for a day or two before he loses interest.

We don’t use a small potty because he didn’t like it. He used it as a step stool so he does use the regular potty and does it pretty well. I’ve set the timer and gone to “try” to use the bathroom every 45 mins. (Not sure if that’s too short/long a period of time). I’ve limited his liquids before bed and he wakes up dry.

The mornings aren’t really a problem with using the potty as we’ve made it part of our routine. At times, yes, he will fight me on it. He’d rather go watch cartoons to which I tell him he can’t do that until he pees on the potty. (Kicking and screaming and tantrums are likely to happen at any given time)

Daycare is willing to help with potty training and I suppose my only chance is to send him in undies and just let him figure it out. (??) This morning at daycare they told me they are splitting up the 2 and 3 yr old kids. The 2 yr olds are non-potty trained and the 3 yr olds are all potty trained. Or, in my case, my 3 yr old son will be in the 2 yr old room until he’s potty trained. (And 2 other kids will be also)

My husband is furious about this but I have to say while I don’t like it, I understand it. A teacher won’t have time to stop class and change diapers when all other kids are able to get up and use the potty on their own. It takes up time. So instead, they’ll stick these kids, like our son, with the teacher who stops to change diapers as part of their day/routine.

A) Do you think it’s fair that they have now split the potty trained kids from the non-potty trained kids? (Just curious as far as my husband and my debate goes)

B) What was your best kept secret with potty training your child? What absolutely did NOT work for you and your child and what worked best for you and your child?

I could use all the help I can get right now!

Thanks!

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