Train table...for a 5 year old??

[mom2aredhead]

My son is begging for one, ever since his pediatrician's office got one which I would not let him play with after watching everyone sneeze all over it...especially since we were there for a "well" visit.

Do you have one? Which one? Do the kids play with it? Up to how old?

The Imaginarium Classic one looks really cute...

Thoughts?? He just turned 5 and is very into animals, blocks, cars and actual physical toys rather than video or computer games...so I think he would use it. But they're pretty pricey, so I'd rather not drop $200 on this for his big gift and have it on Craig's List in 6 months.

 

[tnd]

We got my 3.5 year old son one at Target a few months back as a Hanukkah gift. It was $80, which was easier for me to swallow than $200. If your son will use it for a lot of what he plays with, it seems like a good idea. I think anything that encourages more active, imaginative play is a good thing.

 

[ICan'tWait]

I'd just buy a train track set (not a table) and let him build to his hearts content. When DS was that age he loved to build the train track part over and over again on the floor. We bought a table and he didn't like it becuase then he was limited to what he could "create" (he didn't even use it). Just a suggestion. I recently picked up a train track set I saw over on slickdeals for $30 for a friend (really good deal). Of course if he really gets into it there are pieces to add, etc., then you really start to spend money. DS was really into his trains.

 

[mjkacmom]

We got one with our brio track, but ended up putting it in storage after a few months. With the tracks, the fun part is building, not pushing around the train, and the tables are just too small!

 

[rt2dz]

We've had one since DS7 (almost 8) was 2. Since then we've had two more boys. The "train table" is one of our most utilized pieces of furniture. We got some plans online and built it ourselves, modeled it after the one the (used to?) sell at Pottery Barn. It's solid wood, stained to match the rest of our furniture and has two huge drawers underneath where we store our tons and tons of trains, tracks, buildings, and other train accessories.

We do not have one track layout set up and nailed down like you see at many places (Drs offices, kid’s haircutters, etc). The track is taken down and rebuilt over and over. While the kiddos will build on the floor as much as the table, the table gives a more solid surface (we have carpeting in the room we keep it). When the trains are put up, it is used for board games, legos, cars, snacks for movie night, a coloring surface, and playing with action figures (Mickey Mouse Club House, Star Wars, Knights/Dragons, Play Mobile, etc).

I don't see our train table going anywhere. Whenever we pack up the trains for goods, I see blankets and board/video games being stored in the drawers and the table to continue to be used in other ways. Ours is much more a piece of furniture that the kids own. I HIGHLY recommend one. Kids who come over to play and don't have one, love the table. Even the older ones (2nd grade).

 

[MJAJmom]

I got lucky and found one at a consignment store. It was a Thomas the Train table with 2 drawers on the sides, it had a Brio trackset already nailed/glued on with bridges, overpasses and stations. It was awesome. I paid $90 for that. Then went on Ebay to buy some engines. DS6 really played with it a lot when he was 3 and 4yo. Less when he was 5 and very minimal now that he is 6yo. My DS3 loves and and playes with it more. It's in DS6 room but I'm thinking of moving it to DS3 room. I'd like to put in a Lego table in DS6 room.

The tables and trains are very expensive and I really didn't want to pay full price for everything. I'd check the children's consigment stores and used toy stores in your local area.

 

[Ephany]

We bought DD6 one for her 4th birthday. It's made by Kidkraft and has two big trundles underneath that roll out. One trundle is just for train stuff, the other is for misc. toys to help keep them controlled in the living room. Most large train creations are made all over the living room, but it's great for smaller play.

I also bought these huge lego type boards, they fit exactly onto the table (3 or 4 will completely cover the table) so she has a place to build her block creations since our floor is carpeted. Those are reversible so they fit her duplos and the smaller blocks for older kids.

We don't plan out getting rid of it anytime soon, it's seen pretty much daily use for the last two years.

 

[torinsmom]

I made one for my son when he was 3. Bought a wide coffee table at a thrift shop and used the outdoor carpet to make "grass". Glued the tracks down onto the carpet. DS played with it for a few days, but he really enjoyed the actual building part, and the table constrained his designs. The table ended up back at the thrift shop. The little boy I babysit for is 3 and loves trains even more than my son did. We build all over the living room.....

Marsha

 

[mom2aredhead]

Thanks everybody...

I kept looking at the tables, and aside from the price...they're GINORMOUS!! I guess in the vast expanse of the Doctor's waiting room, I didn't fully appreciate the size of them. I found quite a few "gently used" tables locally on craigslist and ebay, but I'm thinking we may just set up a train on the tile or carpet with a board underneath if needed.
After talking some more with my son, it turns out it was more the trains (and especially the bridge) that he loved, and could care less where it gets set up. And there is very likely no way one of those tables will fit in his bedroom or playroom without parting with quite a few other things...which I'm sure he's not willing to do...and we have no basement, and there's no way it's going in my living room on a permanent basis - trains yes. 4foot long table...no.

So I found a pretty cool train set on overstock for a decent price...

http://www.overstock.com/Sports-Toys/KidKraft-60-piece-Transportation-Toy-Set/3521753/product.html

...and it has the same bridge as the Doctor's office. Since it's the Kidkraft brand, I assume there are pieces I can add to it or get other sets if he decides he really likes it. (I assume it's compatible with Thomas and Brio?? Oh well - probably should have found that out beforehand)
I think 60 pcs is just enough to get him started...some of those sets have 150+ pcs

 

[Liberty Belle]

My son has the Thomas train table. He just turned 6 and still loves it. He got it for Christmas when he was 4. The stuff is pretty pricey, but very cool and if I'm not mistaken, it all has a lifetime warranty.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Just saw your update.

We thought we wouldn't need the table at first and just got a Thomas play mat (around $30) to put the trains on. It was okay, but the table is so much nicer and he started playing with it a lot more once it was put on the table.

 

[mom2aredhead]

Just saw your update.

We thought we wouldn't need the table at first and just got a Thomas play mat (around $30) to put the trains on. It was okay, but the table is so much nicer and he started playing with it a lot more once it was put on the table.

Thanks...we may still end up with a table, but we need to do some serious re-arranging and throwing out to make it fit where it needs to go. Lets see how much he wants to play with the trains first.
We're in a small townhouse and I already gave up my dining room to be the playroom...I draw the line at having a train table as a coffee table in the living room. His bedroom is a decent size, but he has a full size bed in there which takes up a lot of room. Not getting rid of that to make room for Thomas...
Bottom line, if we can't make it fit in the playroom, it's not going anywhere else.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Thanks...we may still end up with a table, but we need to do some serious re-arranging and throwing out to make it fit where it needs to go. Lets see how much he wants to play with the trains first.
We're in a small townhouse and I already gave up my dining room to be the playroom...I draw the line at having a train table as a coffee table in the living room. His bedroom is a decent size, but he has a full size bed in there which takes up a lot of room. Not getting rid of that to make room for Thomas...
Bottom line, if we can't make it fit in the playroom, it's not going anywhere else.

Our's was a coffee table for about two weeks after Christmas.

The playmat might be a good option for you. Or, maybe even a train rug?

 

[mom2aredhead]

Our's was a coffee table for about two weeks after Christmas.

The playmat might be a good option for you. Or, maybe even a train rug?

Hmmmm...didn't know there were train rugs. Good idea. We have a rug that he uses for cars...which I like because I can roll it up and store it in the closet. Time to shop for a train rug...Thanks!

 

[torinsmom]

If you're going with a bigger train set, how about this one? It is more than twice the pieces of the one you listed for less than $20 more.

http://www.overstock.com/Sports-Toys/Busy-City-145-piece-Train-Set/3521858/product.html

You may find track sets at Target after Christmas for 50% off as well. They all seem to be compatible. Or you might find a bin of tracks on Craigslist cheap. The more tracks, the better.....

Marsha

 

[mom2aredhead]

If you're going with a bigger train set, how about this one? It is more than twice the pieces of the one you listed for less than $20 more.

http://www.overstock.com/Sports-Toys/Busy-City-145-piece-Train-Set/3521858/product.html

You may find track sets at Target after Christmas for 50% off as well. They all seem to be compatible. Or you might find a bin of tracks on Craigslist cheap. The more tracks, the better.....

Marsha

I saw that one. Don't laugh...it's all about the bridge. We live in New York, and the bridge in the other set reminds him of the one near us. That's what started the whole thing when he was in the Doctor's office.

He's never been into Thomas or any trains at all, so I figured this set was small enough to get us started...and like you said, I can always pick up some more track and pieces...or even that whole other set after Christmas if the trains get enough "play time." He has lots of things he can use as accessories, like animals, trees, people, buildings from other play sets in the mean time.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Here's a car/train rug: http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Carpets-LC-142-Train/dp/B000F3PVAQ

I know we didn't pay that much for ours, but I can't remember where we got it.

Here are two Thomas play mats:


http://www.amazon.com/Take-Along-Th...e=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1229273110&sr=1-1


http://www.amazon.com/Take-Along-Th...e=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1229273110&sr=1-2

 

[CarlisleMom]

Here's an idea, if someone in the family is handy with tools.

When my DD was 4 (now 7) and was into trains, he took an old interier door, nailed/screwed on 2x2's (?) for a trim (so trains, etc will not roll off the table). He added hinged legs and even put wheels into the legs.

THe table is still being used 3 years later. Our playroom is also a guest room. We can fold the legs and roll it under the futon/bunkbed that there.

The table has been used for trains, puzzles, games, Knex, etc. Has even acted as an art table and eating table for the rare times when we allow her to eat in the room in front of the TV (great way to have dinner just us adults without paying for a sitter).

 

[labdogs42]

I got our train table on clearance at Target for about $50 two years ago. I love it, but I"m really glad I didn't pay $200 for it.

 

[susykt4]

My daughter was crazy into Thomas. We got her a train table from ToysRUs for ~$100. My husband would help her build elaborate tracks to fit the table and she'd play for hours every day. She was really into the characters and making up stories for them. My son is two years younger and he absolutely loved the trains, but preferred to play with them on the floor. Also, he always HATED the Thomas trains with faces, much preferring the much less expensive "off brands" that had more realistic engines and cars.

My son just turned six. We gave all the wooden track and all the Thomas trains to his 2-yr-old cousin last summer. I kept the train table for other uses, but will probably ask my sis-in-law if she wants it when I see her at Christmas.

I think the small set with the beloved bridge and NO table will be enough for your 6-yr-old.