Train Sets for 3 yo - need guidance

[ksjayhawks]

I would go with geotrax or the playtable set.

At 3, he wants to play with his trains, not just look at them and only be able to play when mom or dad can. Also, he is not old enough to understand the cost of the Lionels and to be careful enough with them. With the geotrax he can be as rough as he wants.

The geotrax will last him for years and then can be passed on to another sibling, relative, or will sell well at a garage sale. Plus, with all the add-ons, Santa and relatives will have ideas for many years!

Would love to see his face when he opens that present! If he gets that first, he may not want to open anything else!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

This appears to be the starter set I've seen around and it does come with the basics including controller.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0007YDEG6/qid=1134073032/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-0727299-0733566?v=glance&s=toys&n=507846

Now why couldn't things be this cool when I was in pre-school.

cardaway - I just looked at it and its perfect. It is inexpensive - should I buy assessories too. I am totally clueless about train set.

 

[becka]

Cindys' Mom - that is the set we started with but we also bought DS another remote train (the fire engine one - DH had to have one to play with too, ya know ) and some extra track - straights pack and a curves pack. The track that comes with the set you can make 5-6 layouts with but the extra track is nice to have and gives you many more options. Since last Christmas he has gotten the Mile High Mountain piece and some elevation track to go with it. The elevation track is pretty cool but DS still needs a little help to put the elevation sets together although he does a pretty good job with it. The regular track is really easy for him.

This Christmas DS is getting the drawbridge, the suspension bridge, the clock tower and the Oceanside Flier remote train plus some extra track. Pretty soon that train set it going to take up our entire living room when put together fully.

Do a search on TRU for Geotrax and visit the Fisher Price website for more info on what pieces are available. I would start with the base set, maybe one additional remote train and some extra track to start. If he loves it you can always buy more pieces later - plus as mentioned they make great gift suggestions for relatives, etc.. They can spend $10 or so on a new piece and he gets so much use out of it.

 

[pjlla]

My DS started receiving Brio Train pieces when he was about 2. He has received pieces and sets (not all true "Brio"... the knock-offs are cheaper and work well with it) probably every Christmas and Birthday since. He will be 8 in January, he STILL plays with it regularly and is STILL asking for pieces for Christmas!! Money well spent in this Mom's Humble Opinion!! ..................P

 

[chrissyk]

My friend's son lived and died for his Thomas the Tank Engine train table and trains around the ages of 3-4. I don't know how much that setup goes for or where you buy it, though. I know that several years ago, my friend had to go to the learning store to buy this stuff...I think it's gone more mainstream since, though.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

All 3 of my children (youngest is just turning 3) have LOVED BRIO trains far more than anything else. Thus, we now have many, many pieces. The Thomas sets look just as nice and cost a good bit less. Neither of my boys (or now my dd) have stayed interested in battery operated or electric trainsets.

 

[becka]

Just an FYI...the Geotrax trains can go with the remote control but you can also just push them and they come with trains that are not motorized as well. I think DS pushes his trains almost as much or more than using the remotes but I like that he has the option to do both.

 

[malibuconlee]

My suggestion if you get an "adult" train set is to go for a larger scale, maybe an H instead of the smaller N scale since your guy is so young. With trains and accessories that's what you always want to look for when buying thins to make sure you have the correct scale so everything is the correct size.

 

[ReneeA]

My son just turned 4, and has been a Thomas the Tank fan for a year or more. Target has "Take Along Thomas" which is heavy plastic, and very affordable.

I started him with the Roundhouse, extra track, and about 5 trains. It also helped with his imagination that he had seen the Thomas DVD's and re-enacts them all the time.

He now has about 40 trains, and a few different playsets that all work together. Santa is bringing the Brendam Docks, and he's getting some other sets from aunts and uncles for Christmas.

I've also seen the Geo-Track Sets, and they look really great, as well.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

OK< I thought it was going to be Geotrax.....now I'm leaning toward Thomas. DS loves Thomas the Tank Engine.....

 

[elismom]

The Brio sets are great
My DS got a basic set for his birthday when he was 3 he is 26 now
After he played with them they went to his cousins now 15 and 17
Then his younger DS now 11 used them and for 10 years they were in my daycarefor and were played with everyday.
They are in a box now waiting for grandkids on day.
They will even replace any thing that breaks. I took a piece of track to a store that sold the trains a few years ago they replaced it no questions asked.
They work with the Thomas trains which were a bit hit with the daycare kids.

 

[dcgrumpy]

We bought DS a train table and train set form Costco a few years ago that is compatible with the wooden Thomas trains. I think we paid $150, Thomas is the one thing he hasn't outgrown. We also have the HO scale Thomas set for under the tree and a take along set. he asked Santa for the Lego Thomas set this year.

 

[nhrenee]

My concern is that he will "grow out" of them. That's why we were kinda thinking of getting adult train starter kits. What do you think?

I speak from experience. You are probably better off getting an age appropriate set. Good luck!