Checking Our List #1: Little Tikes Neighborhood Market {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Texas Type A Mom!}

If you asked a group of parents to name the top toy brands that their children play with, chances are that the majority of them will list Little Tikes as one of the most loved. Seen in playrooms, toy boxes and backyards across the country, kids all over have enjoyed the fun and playtime that Little Tikes toys have been providing for 40 years.

From small, simple figures to a large outdoor playhouse, my girls can easily be counted as big fans of Little Tikes. So, when we heard about the company's focus on toys that encourage kids to "Get Up and Grow!" and be active while playing, I had no doubt that we were going to be provided with hours of imaginative fun with the Neighborhood Market.

With the ability to be multiple markets in one, the Neighborhood Market can be quickly changed from a fruit stand to an ice cream shop to a bakery (or any other type of shop that your child dreams up) with a simple change of the sale items. With features like clear sliding doors on the display case, a pretend cash register with play money and a credit card, a chalkboard marquee and an awning that can be pulled down when the store is closed, the creative play will last for hours for sellers and shoppers alike.

Big Sister E and Little Sister B were understandably excited for me to get this put together for them, so, after laying out all of the pieces, I was ready to tackle the construction process.

The instructions were slightly vague and the pieces weren't labeled, so there was a time or two that I had to guess which was the front or the back, but in the end every screw successfully went in place. I popped in the second sliding door and dropped the provided food into the case and Big Sister E and Little Sister B crowded right in to make this toy their own.

The verdict? Lots of laughter and giggling. This market is a great size for kids and the fact that it can be utilized from both sides easily allows cooperative play... and twice the fun. The mound of cute accessories that come with it made both girls' eyes light up and they couldn't wait to buy and sell the lemons, oranges, bananas, cupcakes, ice cream, cones and scooper.

The storage baskets inside the case are plenty big enough that all of the food easily fit inside with room to include more of our own and Little Sister B couldn't get enough of sliding the doors open and closed to make her selections. The fact that the doors are clear and move easily in the slots meant that no help was needed - something that she definitely enjoyed.

The cash register doesn't light up or make noise (no batteries to buy!) and most of the buttons are just there for show. However, it does have one that makes it pop open - which is all that really matters - and space for the money to be tucked right inside. And, as kids these days are growing up in a world where cash isn't carried around as much as it used to be, there is of course the ability to slide their credit cards down the side and charge their next ice cream or bakery purchase.

I would trust that a face this cute would have good credit, wouldn't you?

My kids have spent quite a bit of time shopping with their Little Tikes Neighborhood Market and I love the way that they can do so together or individually. They know to take turns on each side and have come up with all sorts of ways to fill, empty and shop for just about anything.

When it comes time to clean up, it's no problem for them to simply stick the items into the display case and pull the awning down to indicate the store is closed. Patrons just have to come back tomorrow when the shop reopens!

With the included handle and two wheels, this market can easily be shifted to different locations inside and outside and I don't see why it couldn't really be used as a lemonade or cookie stand for young entrepreneurs. A name or prices could be written right on the chalkboard marquee at the top!

Little Tikes has come up with another fun toy with their Neighborhood Market. It is sturdy, a great size for kids of a variety of ages (it has all rounded edges and no small parts, so pretty young children can be involved), storage and clean up is built right in (and, in fact, part of the entertainment) and the imaginative role play and cooperation that it encourages is something all parents can appreciate.

A great holiday gift, the Neighborhood Market retails for $99.99 and I recommend setting it up in advance to have it ready for the big morning so that there won't be any waiting around to get the creativity started. Plus, from now until December 31st, 2010, enter the coupon code moms2010 and receive 10% off of your purchase at Little Tikes!

And, thanks to their generosity, one person will be able to see the surprise and excitement register on their child's face when they first see this incredible toy, because...

One lucky person will win a Little Tikes Neighborhood Market
of their own!

To enter to win: Visit Little Tikes and tell me which other of their amazing toys you would love to own.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you head over to A Mom's Balancing Act and enter to win this amazing Little Tikes Neighborhood Market there as well!
1 Extra Entry (per method) if you sign up for the Little Tikes newsletter (found in the lower left of their homepage, follow them on Twitter and/or Like Little Tikes on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave the following message on their wall: The Little Tikes Neighborhood Market looks like so much fun! I just entered to win one at Thanks, Mail Carrier! http://bit.ly/bdnj3W
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the Holiday Gift Guide giveaways (Checking Our List giveaways ONLY) running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Checking Our List 1: WIN a Little Tikes Neighborhood Market ($100) for imaginative fun! http://bit.ly/bdnj3W #thxmailcarrier #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you have our Checking Our List {Holiday Gift Guide 2010} button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Little Tikes. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on November 26th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to Little Tikes for providing a Neighborhood Market for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.