Conference moira::parenting

    As a matter of fact I was just at a great train store last night.
    It's at the Natick mall on the second floor in front of the main
    elevator.  I'm sorry if I don't know the exact name, but you can't
    miss it.  There is a train track all around the inside roof that even
    goes out into the outer area and a train that runs all the time.
    My kids were mesmerized looking at it.  Well we ended up buying
    my 2 1/2 year old nephew a train there.  The have from stuffed
    trains, to plastic to expensive metal.  For all ages.  They had
    this cute plastic train with about five little cars behind it
    that was remote control.  I'm sure this place has what you need.
    
    Rose

    Re: .1  
    
    Rose,
    
    Thanks for the information, it sounds like just the type of store 
    I was looking for.         

We bought my son a Fisher-Price (I think!) plastic train set for his third
Christmas. It has a plastic oval track with two turnouts for an interior circle
track, and I think 5 cars, with a motorized engine. It was reasonably tough and 
the track sections went together easily, although the plastic couplers kept
getting knocked off the cars. He also had some trouble getting the cars back on
track. 

The next year, we switched to Brio. These are non-motorized and very expensive,
but they are *extremely* tough, have very easy magnetic couplers, and are easy
to get on the track (my 20-month old daughter can do it). Since they are smaller
(a little bigger than N scale, Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars fit on the track),
you can fit a fancier layout in the same space. I wish we had started out with
the Brio, but I couldn't bring myself to pay the high prices at first. However,
there is not a kid around who doesn't love it (we would always have to drag my
son screaming from the ones they had setup in stores, and neighborhood kids as
old as 11 play with it), so I finally broke down. I expect my kids to get a good
10 to 12 years out of it. Then I can save it for the grandkids!

While motorized is nice, I think smaller kids spend more time with it when they
get to drag the cars around the track, over bridges and turns. Of course, the
more complicated the layout, the better. That was the problem with the
Fisher-Price set we got. After watching it go around the loop a couple dozen
times, it gets pretty boring.

    I second the Brio. My 4 and 2 yrs old just love the stuff. It is the 
    best loved toy. They love being able to create their on track set ups.
    It is very expensive, but again I expect it to last for years.  I get 
    nervous with the thought of them aound something that needs to be
    plugged into the wall (plus that would require my constant supervision)
    
    Also, you can buy or make your own wooden tree, houses, etc. Instead of 
    buying the very expensive brio houses and trees my husband made some
    out of wood and I let the kids paint them. This was a big hit!
    

    I had never heard of Brio trains until I read this note (mostly
    because nobody I know has any interest in trains yet), but I
    saw an ad in the Beacon yesterday for Brio trains at the Paper
    Store in Maynard for 39.95.  Is this a good price?
    I thought it would save an extra trip for the base-noter, who
    I believe works in Maynard...

    The Brio figure-eight set usually goes on holiday special for 39.95
    at this time of year. I was able to get that set at 20% off last
    week at Learning Express thanks to the noters here that alerted me
    to that sale! The regular price for that set seemed to be between
    $50 and $60 depending on where you looked.
    Sue

    Check out note 449 for an extensive discussion of BRIO trains...

    I also started buying Brio, but have added on with other
    brands that are compatible and cheaper: Thomas the Train 
    has a compatible set. I just got a battery operated engine
    from Lilian Vernon - haven't tried it yet, but it is supposed
    to be compatible. Other catalogs such as Oriental also have
    some other train accessories much cheaper.
    
    	Dirce
    
                  

    Does anyone have experience with TOMY trains ? My daughter will be
    getting one for Christmas from her godfather. We got it at a good price
    and don't have Brio expectations but I'm wondering about whether the
    plastic will hold up at all, adding on if she likes it, etc. It's
    battery operated.
    
    Also, do you have the trains "out" all the time or do they get put
    away ? Are they on the floor or a platform ? My friend's family
    tradition was to bring out the train ony at Christmastime. Does anyone
    do that ?

    I don't have experience with that train in particular, but with plastic
    trains/cars etc, your best bet is to try to mount it to a platform of
    some sort - take a piece of plywood, round it off, and glue or nail the
    track to it.  It's REAL aggravating to have to take the track apart and
    put it together again, and you'll find she'll want to use it (and need
    your help) at the most inconvenient times possible, and you'll both be
    frustrated.  
    
    I know that as soon as we put our race track sets on plywood (we had
    2), they got a lot more use, and were a lot more FUN!  
    
    To make it even simpler, you can drill holes through the plywood, and
    put some sort of "hooks" in the wall, and let the train set hang out of
    the way when it's not used.  Then when she wants to use it, you just
    have to lift it onto the floor, and *poof* it's ready.  When she's
    done, hang it back up.  It's *WELL* worth the effort.
    
    For our Brio/compatset, it's almost always out, though for the past
    week or so, and the chaos of trying to fit a tree in the living room,
    it's spent most of it's time in a large plastic bucket.  BUT, the brio
    "can't" get hurt if you step on it.  I wouldn't leave a plastic set out
    if it wasn't being used.
    
    Only 10 more days till Christmas!!
    

    I built a table similar to the incredibly expensive one you can buy out
    of 3/4 inch cabinet grade plywood. A table at kid height, with a lip,
    is ideal. The layout can be in any state of disarray or order, but it's
    in a nice, controlled spot, easy to reach. All the Brio goes into a
    plastic storage bin underneath. My table is 48"L x 30"W x 18"H as I
    recall. I should have made it a bit wider, though. I have worked out a
    plan for a double-size top that is hinged and fits inside the existing
    frame when folded. This would sit on top of the frame when unfolded, so
    I would not have the lip around the edges, but that would be ok.
    
    Whatever the size, though, this keeps it from getting scattered all
    over the floor. It is permanently out in the basement playroom (and if
    you don't have one of those, get cracking! Your sanity depends on it!).

    Even though the train string ended weeks ago and Christmas has long
    passed, I wanted to mention that I bought a TOMY train for my son when
    he was 2.  He is now 7, and it still runs, he still enjoys putting it
    together and playing with it now and then, and we have added on to it,
    but simply buying another train set from TOMY and combining the two.
    
    We do, however, keep it boxed between playing sessions, since we don't
    have a dedicated play area in our house.
    
    M.