Thomas the Tank Engine Christmas Items

Thomas the Tank Engine Christmas items are very popular in homes that include kids who are big fans of Thomas and his friends.  Between the joy of the Christmas season and the joy that kids get when watching Thomas or playing with a Thomas toy in their Thomas the Tank Engine bedroom, Christmas and Thomas the Train go hand in hand.

Thomas Christmas Movies

One of the easiest ways to welcome in a Thomas the Tank Engine Christmas is with a movie.  A quick search on Amazon shows that there are winter and Christmas themed Thomas movies available.  Many people look forward to watching the Grinch and Charlie Brown to ring in the Christmas Season, and with a Thomas the Train movie, your kids can get that same feeling.

Thomas Christmas Toys

Another way to welcome in Christmas with Thomas the Tank Engine is with one of the battery-powered Thomas train tracks.  You can actually buy a track that is set in a winter theme with a snow covered landscape.  Of course, with a train table you can have a large wooden track and be able to store away the pieces very easily.

Thomas the Train Books

Be sure to set the Thomas the Tank Engine Christmas mood with your kids with a series of Thomas the Train books.  Whether it is simply a collection of the original books written by the Revered W. Awdry or a collection of winter-themed Thomas books, your kids will know it is Christmas time when you bring out their favorite books about their favorite television character.

Thomas the Train Stockings

And of course, one of the happiest ways to bring Thomas into your home during Christmas is with a Thomas the Tank Engine stocking.  They may seem hard to find at first, but if you look on eBay or Etsy you can eventually find one you like at a price you want to pay.

Thomas the Train Advent Calendars

One thing I have not been able to find is a Thomas the Tank Engine advent calendar.  I would love to find one for my son, but have not had any luck as of yet.

Thomas the Tank Engine Christmas items can be fun for kids, and fun for kids many times means fun for parents.  How have you mixed Thomas with Christmas?

Thomas the Train Inflatable Jumpers

When you are planning a Thomas the Train party there are a lot of things that you need to get.  Invitations, plates, cups, and party hats are just the beginning.  If you really want to make a splash for all the tiny party goers, you can take a look at buying Thomas the Train inflatable jumpers or bounce houses.

Kids Love Bounce Houses

Anyone who has ever been near a bounce house knows how addictive and fun they are for kids.  As soon as children see the bounce house, they want to go jump around. Inflatable jumpers don't take up a ton of space, and they are easy to inflate.  And despite their size when inflated, they are not extremely large when deflated.

When it comes to a Thomas party, you can have a bounce house included in the fun.  There are several style available, and if you look around long enough, you should be able to find one that you like.

Where to Find a Thomas the Train Bounce House

The key to finding a Thomas the Train bounce house is looking in the right place.  Amazon is a place that many people go for Thomas the Train materials, but in my last look, they did not have any bounce houses.

eBay is another place to look online for inflatable jumpers, and there are several there.  For a good bargain and an ability to get the bounce house quickly, search around Craigslist.  People nearby will probably have one for sale, and you can negotiate for a good deal.

There are also stores that specialize in bounce houses and some sell Thomas bounce houses.

And of course, if you just want to rent a Thomas the Tank Engine bounce house, there are lots of people that rent out those types of things.

However you find the bounce house, rest assured that your child's party guests will have a blast bouncing around in Thomas the Train.

Thomas and Friends Spin and Fix Thomas

There are many different Thomas the Train railroad tracks for your children to play with.  There is the great Zip, Zoom, and Logging Adventure, Thomas' Busy Day, and many others.  But when it comes to the ultimate Thomas the Train track, nothing beats the Spin and Fix Thomas track.  With this track, kids can get the full experience of being a train conductor on the Island of Sodor.  It is a very interactive toy-much more so than other toy train tracks-and it will keep your kids engaged during the time they are playing.

Where to Buy Spin & Fix Thomas

 

Online

Spin & Fix Thomas can be found many places.  A lot of people like the convenience of shopping online.  If this is you, Amazon is a great place to start.  You can find several sellers of the toy and look for a great price.  You can also read reviews to get a feel of the experiences that others have had.  eBay is another great place to look.  You can place bids against others and perhaps get your items at a lower price than you otherwise can find.  And don't forget about Craigslist.  Kids can have a tendency to grow out of Thomas very quickly, and their parents need to find something to do with all of the Thomas toys.  Craigslist is where they go.

In Stores

If you want to look for Spin & Fix Thomas in an actual store, you can do that too.  Toys R Us has lots of Thomas merchandise.  You can typically find whatever it is that you want Thomas-related at Toys R Us.  Walmart and Kmart are also good suggestions.  Even if you cannot find what you need in the store, they usually will have it in stock online.

What Makes Thomas and Friends Spin & Fix Thomas So Cool?

Spin & Fix Thomas is basically gives you all of the features of the various Thomas tracks all rolled into one.  Kids can use a claw to pick Thomas up.  There is a repair pod that where Thomas can be spun around.  There is also a cool welding tool with lights and sounds.

The train that is included in the set is battery powered, so Thomas chugs along all by himself, without help from your child.  This gives kids a way to focus on all of the neat aspects of Spin & Fix without having to push Thomas around the tracks.

Some of the feature might be a little difficult for younger children, but with a little parent involvement, they can pick it up fairly quickly.

All in all, the Thomas and Friends Spin & Fix Thomas is a very fun toy that can be a great addition to your kid's Thomas the Train arsenal.

Cool Thomas the Train Bean Bag Chairs

One of the fond memories of childhood is lounging around in bean bag chairs.  These soft, cushy pieces of furniture are great for laying near the floor while watching tv and movies and playing video games.

Today, with the love that kids have for Thomas the Train, what better way for them to watch their favorite tv character than by sitting in a Thomas the Train bean bag chair?

Where to Find Thomas the Train Bean Bag Chairs?

Thomas bean bag chairs can be found in several places.  Online can be the easiest place to shop, and Amazon is probably the best place to look. But if Amazon doesn't have what you want or the price you are willing to pay, other outlets such as eBay might be a good place to take a peek.  If you want something easy, cheap, and don't mind it being a little used, check out Craigslist.  There might be something on there for you.

If you want to take a look at the bean bag chairs ahead of time, several stores sell them, including Walmart and Target.  You can have your child sit in them to see if they would be a good fit for your home or their room.

If you are feeling crafty, find some Thomas the Train fabrics and do it yourself!

What are the Specifications of this Thomas the Train Bean Bag Chair

The bean bag chair shown above is 100% polyester.  It is easy to clean with soap and water, which is a necessity for any chair that is used primarily by kids.  It is lightweight which makes it easy for everyone to move it from room to room.

Children's Character Make Fun Chairs

Kids' bean bag chairs are terrific ways to help spruce up a child's room.  The kids like it, and if the parents like it, it can be a sneaky way to decorate your home in your own style.  Whether it is with tv charaters or even animal print furniture, there are a multitude of ways to style up your kid's bedroom.

If they are into Thomas the Train, Thomas the Train bean bag chairs could be the way to go.

Experience with Morgan's Mine of Thomas the Train

So the other day my son saw Thomas at Morgan's Mine and wanted to get it.  Of course, we didn't get it for him then, but we did put it in the back of our mind to possibly get it for him for his birthday or Christmas.

He has several different Thomas the Train toy train tracks that he enjoys playing with, and Morgan's Mine would just add on to the existing tracks.

However, after looking around online we saw that some people did not have much success with this addition to their Thomas the Tank Engine collection.  Several people thought it was too small for the price and was a waste of money.  It seems that the kids like it, but they are not the ones that had to pay for it.

Thomas the Train toys cost enough as it is, and if it is a good toy that my kid will play with, I don't always mind shelling out the money for it.  However, I'm not interested if the toy turns out to be small and cheap, and some people have cast Morgan's Mine as just that.

Do you have any experience with Morgan's Mine?  If so, what was that experience like.  It is worthwhile to buy, or should we look for other Thomas the Train gift ideas?

Wooden Flying Scotsman for Thomas the Train Toy Train Tracks

The Wooden Flying Scotsman is a terrific addition to your Thomas the Train wooden railroad selection.  The Flying Scotsman is hard to miss as he rolls down the tracks with his two cars trailing behind.

The biggest challenge with this Thomas the Train accessory is that he is very hard to find.  In fact, all I could find after a quick search on the Internet were used examples of the wooden Flying Scotsman.  No matter if it was Amazon or eBay, used examples were all that was available.

The cost of the Flying Scotsman can also become astronomical by some standards.  However, that does not mean that you have to give an arm and a leg to acquire him.  Maybe you can get lucky and find one at a garage sale or an antique store.  Crazier things have happened.

The Flying Scotsman that can be used on wooden Thomas the Tank Engine tracks is 11 inches long and he has a wink on his face to add a little personality.  It is a lot of fun for kids to be able to add to their toy train tracks, especially other characters from the books and movies.  Adding the hard-to-find wooden Flying Scotsman will just add to the excitement.

Do you have a Flying Scotsman for your wooden Thomas the Train tracks, and where did you find him?

Thomas the Train and Father's Day

With today being Father's Day, I was thinking back to the times I would spend with my son watching Thomas the Train.  I never was a huge fan of the show, but after all, it wasn't for me.  My son absolutely loves Thomas and Friends, though, and that means that we've spent a lot of time watching the show.

And it doesn't end with the show.  We also seem to have collected a way-to-big collection of Thomas the Train books.  But of course, those books have been a great way to spend quality time together at the end of the day.  My son has always enjoyed a good book at bedtime, and many times it was Thomas the Tank Engine books that helped finish the day.

As much as the whining of those trains drives me crazy, and as predictable as every episode is (Thomas messes up, he gets in trouble, then saves the day) I will always have fond memories of Thomas the Train and spending time with my son.

The time goes by too fast, and before long kids are moving on to do things all on their own.  So with today being Father's Day, I'll take some time to appreciate the time I've spent with my son doing all of the things he enjoys, including watching and reading Thomas the Train.

Thomas the Train Baby Clothes

With a new baby on the way (a baby girl), we are of course being inundated with new baby clothes.  My son, who loved Thomas the Train as a toddler, has been wanting to get Thomas the Train baby clothes for his new sister.  The problem is that we haven't had much luck finding stuff that fits the profile.

There is some stuff online at Amazon, but the selection isn't very huge.  There are also plenty of onesies and other baby selections that have regular trains, but we have been looking specifically for Thomas the Train clothes.

Do you have, or did you have, Thomas the Train baby clothes for your child?  Where did you get them and how did they work out?

Thomas the Train Cookies

Have any of you ever tried to make Thomas the Train cookies?  My wife was asked by a friend if she could make some cookies for a birthday party with a Thomas the Train theme.  From looking around on Amazon I've seen some Train-shaped cookie cutters.  I've also seen cake toppers, but they are a little big for something as simple as cookies.

I figure if you are going to make cookies with a Thomas the Train design, you should make some cookies of each of the characters on the show.  Thomas, Percy, Sir Topham Hatt, etc.  But that might be a little difficult, so maybe it is just easier to decorate them all as Thomas.  After all, all kids know who Thomas is, but those that do not watch the show or read the books might not know who the other characters are.

So have you ever made Thomas cookies?  How were they and what would you do different next time?

Thomas the Train Bathtub Toys

My wife and I have our second child on the way and due in the next few weeks.  It's going to be a girl which will be a new experience for us since our other child is a boy.  So, I'm interested to see how she will respond to Thomas the Train.  My son loved him when he was 2-3 years old, and we have a ton of Thomas toys, books, and movies.
I got to thinking, though, that we do not have much in the way of bathtub toys.  I took a quick peek on Amazon to see what was available and saw a couple that looked like they might be fun.

First, there are these bathtub squirters.  For some reason, my son thought bathtub squirters were the funniest thing on the planet when he was a toddler.  All of his though, were ducks.  He would have enjoyed these as well, I'm sure.

Then there is this neat looking Thomas and Bulstrode Bath Buddies set.  The boat float and can hold Thomas so they can sail across the bathtub together.



What has been your experience with Thomas the Train bathtub toys? And for those of you with girls, are they as interested in Thomas the Train as boys are?

Don't Need Thomas The Train Gear Anymore - What Do You Do?

So you no longer need your Thomas the Train gear anymore.  No more Thomas toys, tracks, and clothes.  Now what to do?  The great thing about Thomas and Friends is that there are so many options to choose from when your little Thomas fan wants to be surrounded with items from the show.  The bad things is that kids grow out of Thomas the Train very quickly.  But finding a new home for all of that stuff can be a challenge.

There is so much money invested in the Thomas the Tank Engine merchandise, that you certainly don't want to just throw it in the trash.  Probably the easiest thing to do would be to give the stuff away to a friend or family member that has a child that would enjoy the toys and clothes.  But if you do not have anyone that needs these things, then I suppose selling the toys/clothes/games/etc. would be a viable option.

Craigslist and eBay are full of Thomas the Train gear.  Craigslist can be a little easier because you can usually sell to someone local.  eBay might require shipping and all that goes along with that.  But if you're just looking for some cash, these places would be good places to start.

If you want something a little simpler, include all of your child's Thomas stuff in a garage sale.  You won't get as much for it, but you can at least find a new home for everything and clear some clutter out of your house.

Finally, there are always places like churches and day cares that could use some toy donations.  They would be happy to take your Thomas things off of your hands.

What about you?  What have you done when poor Thomas was no longer needed in your home?

Thomas the Train Fold-and-Go Playsets

If your child wants to be able to take Thomas the Train wherever they go, the Thomas the Train fold-and-go, or take-and-play track sets could be a good option.  The basic concept is that the set folds up into a box that can be carried around.  When it is time to play, you simply open the box, and the track lays right out for the young Thomas fan.  The Thomas engines and cars have their own compartments for storage.

They make a great birthday or Christmas gift, and you do not have to shell out a whole wad of cash.  Many can be had for $20, and smaller sets can be found for under $10.  For example, this tote-and-play carrying case can hold several Thomas characters and can be played with in the car or at grandma's house.



There are many different Thomas the Train track sets, but a problem is that many of them are large and cannot be taken to other places.  With Thomas the Train fold-and-go tracks, your child can take the fun of Thomas and Friends everywhere they go.

Cranky and Flynn in a Fun Thomas the Train Trackmaster Set

An exciting and fun Thomas the Train Trackmaster set is the Cranky and Flynn Save the Day Playset.  This track is different from the other Trackmaster sets in that it features a remote controlled Cranky the Crane.  Cranky is 29 inches tall and can rotate 360 degrees.  By remote control, the child that is playing with it can lower the crane to the track.  A cool trick is that if there is a "fire," Cranky can lower a crate loaded with Flynn the fire engine.  Flynn is able to drive out of the crate and put out the "fire."

The Cranky and Flynn Save the Day Playset includes a small track, but that is just secondary to the real attraction, which is Cranky the Crane. 

Thomas the Tank Engine Blankets

If you find yourself looking to furnish a Thomas the Tank Engine bedroom you can make a big splash by using a Thomas the Tank Engine blanket.  There is a lot of bedding that can be found online, but if you want to find blankets, there are a few that will work fairly well.

This fleece throw is 100% polyester and is 50" x 60".



Another throw blanket that is 100% polyester and 50" x 60".



The Ready Set Go fleece throw blanket has a photo of Thomas that makes it seem like he is bursting through the blanket.




With these and other Thomas the Train blankets, your child will be warm underneath one of their favorite tv and book characters. Do you have a Thomas the Tank Engine blanket that your child loves?

Thomas the Tank Engine Christmas Movies

With Christmas just around the corner you may find yourself in search of Thomas the Tank Engine Christmas movies.  While there is a large selection of Thomas the Train movies overall, there isn't a huge selection of Thomas Christmas movies to be found on Amazon.  Here is a list of what you will find when you click on over there.

Thomas the Tank Engine: Ultimate Christmas Collection

This Christmas collection consists of 9 Thomas episodes, 2 sing-along songs, 4 DVD games, and a read-along story.  The episodes are:

"Snow"
"Thomas's Christmas Party"
"Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree"
"Terence and the Tractor"
"Thomas and Percy's Mountain Adventure"
"Special Funnel"
"It's Only Snow"
"Jack Frost"
"Toby Had a Little Lamb"

Thomas and Friends: Merry Winter Wish

4 episodes that find Thomas and his friends getting caught up doing what they want to do instead of their assignment.  There are a lot of negative reviews about this one, however, on Amazon.

Thomas and Friends: Holiday Express


Another set of episodes that feature Thomas in winter themes.  None of the episodes are new, so your child may have seen them already.

So there you have it.  That is all I found on Amazon.  Do you have any Thomas the Tank Engine Christmas movies that you would recommend?

Thomas the Tank Engine Tracks on Craigslist

Like anything, you can find Thomas the Tank Engine tracks on Craigslist.  I have never bought one, so I am interested if anyone else has done that.  How was your experience and how nice was the quality of the books, movies, toys, or games that you bought?

One of the nice things about Craigslist is that you can search for anything you want and wait for the price you are looking to pay.  Even if you can't find the price you are willing to pay for a Thomas the Train item, you can bargain for it. 

I have thought about buying a battery-powered Thomas the Tank Engine train track on Craigslist but I am a little leery about buying a toy with so many pieces.  The bigger tracks are so expensive that I would like to find a track that is a little less expensive.  I just worry that such a big track might be missing pieces, and I will not know about it until I get home and start assembling the track.

Do you have any experience with Thomas the Tank Engine tracks on Craigslist?

Thomas the Train Thank You Notes

Make sure that you do not forget about the Thomas the Train thank you notes after your Thomas the Tank Engine birthday party.  There are several that you can choose from, and looking online is a great place to start.

On Amazon you can find a couple of different thank you cards.  The prices are set up a little goofy, so I'm not exactly sure how it works.  One set of 8 is listed for $22.99 and the other set of 8 is listed at $3.59.  My guess is that the one at $3.59 is per card, and the $22.99 is for all 8.  The prices work out if that is the arrangement.  Both cards are what you would expect from a Thomas the Tank Engine thank you note.  A picture of Thomas and an area for you to thank the person who gave a gift.

You can also find Thomas the Train thank you notes on eBay.  One that I recently saw was a set of notes in which the front of each had a different picture of a Thomas and Friends character.  I guess the favorite guest gets the thank you note with Thomas on the front?

And of course, if you are feeling crafty, you can always make your own thank you notes.  Nothing wrong with that at all, but after finding all of the Thomas the Tank Engine party supplies you might not feel like creating your own thank you note.

Do you have any experience with Thomas the Train thank you notes?

Thomas the Tank Engine Advent Calendar for Christmas

One of the things that I have been searching for for a while is a Thomas the Tank Engine advent calendar.  I have found that it is not too difficult to decorate your home with Thomas the Tank Engine Christmas decorations, but I have not seen anything that has to do with an advent calendar.

The reason I am looking is that my son is a huge Thomas the Train fan, and my wife and I thought that would be a good way to introduce an advent calendar to him.  Unfortunately no luck.  If anyone knows a good place to get one, it would be greatly appreciated.

One thing we have found is a Thomas the Tank Engine Christmas stocking.  We had to look at several places to find ones we liked, such as eBay and Etsy.  My wife even considered making one herself, but decided against it. 

But with the Thomas the Tank Engine advent calendar we haven't had as much success.

Thomas the Tank Engine Costumes and Christmas Items

Thomas the Tank Engine is a big player at Christmas and Halloween.  First of all, if you need a little Thomas in your life during the holidays (and come on, who doesn't....don't answer that) there are plenty of Thomas the Tank Engine Christmas items and decorations for you to buy.  A quick search online shows that you can decorate your house with Thomas the Train stockings and Christmas ornaments, and you can stock your home with Christmas-themed Thomas books, movies, and train tracks. So if you have a child in your home that is in love with Thomas, you can bring Thomas home with you at Christmas in a variety of different ways.

And you can do the same at Halloween.  Lots of kids want to dress up as Thomas and fortunately, Thomas the Tank Engine costumes are not hard to find.  You can find costumes that fit an infant, toddler, or a child that is a little bit older.  In fact, if you just need a Thomas conductor's hat, Amazon sells those as well.  So there is no shortage of Thomas costumes if you are looking for one.  And that is just what is for sell online.  You can probably find costumes at Halloween stores as well.

How have you decorated your home with Thomas items at Christmas?  And has your kid ever gone as a Thomas character at Halloween?  How did that work out?

Thomas the Tank Engine Beds and Pajamas

Without a doubt, the coolest thing that a young Thomas the Tank Engine fan could have in their bedroom would be a Thomas the Train bed.  And there are a couple of Thomas the Tank Engine beds that would seem to be a lot of fun. The first is a bed in which the siderails, headboard, and footboard are all painted with a Thomas the Train theme.  It would go great with any room that has other decorations of the little blue train, such as tables, chairs, games, and toys.

A bed that would really make a splash is another bed that can be found on Amazon.  It is a bed that actually looks like Thomas.  What fan of Thomas wouldn't want to sleep in this bed?  I like the fact that the area above the train can hold things like books and toys.  My son does not have this bed so I have no idea how easily it can be assembled, but it looks cool, though.

And if you have a Thomas-themed bedroom, the next logical step would be to make sure your child has some Thomas the Tank Engine pajamas.  There are pajamas for all seasons, easily found online.  If you look in the right places you can find them in an actual store as well.  I know I have before.

Have you bought either of these Thomas beds?  How easy (or difficult) were they to assemble?