Are toy trains safe, or is lead a concern?

Thomas trains were recalled in 2007 due to high amounts of lead, and in a California Watch article (where the photo at left comes from), a dad tests his son's Thomas trains for lead. Fortunately, the trains all tested to be safe -- although they did have trace amounts of lead in the paint.

It's a pretty interesting read if you've ever wondered how experts test for lead or if you're interested in toy safety in general.

GeoTrax coloring pages

If your train-loving kids also like to color, check out the GeoTrax coloring pages you can print out from the Fisher-Price Web site.

I can just picture an image gallery of colored pages decorating a child's bedroom walls!

The Lion of Sodor

There's a new Thomas & Friends movie out: The Lion of Sodor. It's been at certain cinemas around the United States since Oct. 2. I had heard of it but didn't realize it was a new movie; after all, the last movie (Misty Island Rescue) came out on DVD just last month!

The Lion of Sodor is playing at a theater about 20 minutes from my house, so I could take my train-obsessed son to go see it. I am still not sure if I will, but I have to say, for the price of tickets for him and myself, I could buy the Lion of Sodor DVD brand new when it comes out later on Dec. 7.

What do you think about seeing movies like this at the cinema?

Free Chuggington episode download -- and a review

The Chuggington Play Date at Toys R Us today was fun! My kids played with the Chuggington toys set out for 20 minutes before I tore them away. My younger son liked the roundhouse play set (which had been sold out at the store we went to), and my older son just like coupling and uncoupling all the Chuggington trains and pushing them along the tracks.

My first impression of the toys was OK. I like that they aren't expensive, compared to other train sets. However, the roundhouse kept coming apart, and little plastic pieces that stuck to it also came off easily. I had a hard time reattaching the roundhouse, so a Toys R Us employee put it back together. I think the magnetic method of coupling trains is easier for young children -- my preschooler could do it, but my toddler couldn't. The tracks have almost tongue-and-groove prongs that I don't think either of them could put together -- but maybe that means once a track is laid out, the kids also couldn't take it apart!

At the play date, I was surprised to receive not only a free DVD with two Chuggington episodes on it, but also a free Chuggington wall poster and coupons.

You can get the same free Chuggington episodes from iTunes from now through next Saturday ... maybe. I tried the link and got an iTunes error message: "The item you've requested is not currently available in the US store."

Chuggington has a "play date" at Toys R Us

Tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 16, Toys R Us stores will have a special Chuggington program, 12 pm - 2 pm.

New Chuggington toys will be available for the first time. Kids can participate in storytime, coloring and giveaways. They can even supposedly play with the Chuggers!

I hope to go with my children and if so, I'll post a review.

Playing with Hiro

Send your pictures of kids playing with trains to kidslovetoytrains@gmail.com.

Imperfect track layout

Send your track layout pictures to kidslovetoytrains@gmail.com.