child friendly transformers (cant believe i wrote that title...)

Hey guys,

been collecting the MP range for a short while now (and love them). Unfortunately my 2 year old also thinks they are awesome which is causing some breath holding moments for me.

Its only a matter of time until I have to accept the figure he has taken from the display shelf is going to get an "uh oh". As such, I was kind of hoping to find a more child friendly range of transformers which I could use as decoy's.... Im pretty much a G1 only fan. I have seen the reveal the shield line and they look ok.... but that's only on the net.. not seen one in real life.

If anyone could recommend a decent and non expensive (and preferably durable) transformers line i would be very appreciative.

Rescue bots. Maybe the AoE 1 step changers or buy some cheap loose tfs at a collector's fair event. Don't buy ko's only because of inferior plastic that may break from rough play and may cause injury.

+1 Rescue Bots. My son has been collecting them for the last year or two.

Reveal the Shield is essentially an extention of the Generations, Universe and Classics lines.

As others have said, Rescue Bots seems very good for very young children. As they get older, you could probably move them to one-step changers and eventually regular figures (like Generations). I easily transformed regular deluxe toys (Cybertron line, specifically) when I was about 4-6 years old.

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Originally Posted by Bidoofdude

I easily transformed regular deluxe toys (Cybertron line, specifically) when I was about 4-6 years old.

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Geeze, I was almost 30 then :D

I would also recommend Rescue Bots. The TV show is also really good for infants too, as it's pretty well written for that age group, and manages to provide action and adventure without violence. :) However, as your son gets older, you may want to also consider some of the previous preschool TF lines like Go-Go-Go-Bots and Tonka's 1-2-3 Transformers (which are like the MPs of infants' TFs ;)).

But in my personal experience, nothing beats just role modelling playing with Transformers with your child. My daughter's spent her whole life watching me play with my Transformers with care and respect, and she does the same thing now. Initially I just let her play with more kiddy TFs like the preschool TFs, Happy Meal TFs, Bot Shots etc., but since she's started Kindy, I've let her progress onto actually playing with vintage G1s and even MPs. Never had a problem with her being too rough with any of my toys (I have more of a problem with her losing toys :rolleyes:).

RescueBots, TF Hero Mashers, TF Mr Potato Heads and if you can find them Softimus Prime & Slumblebee

Transformers... for children? I'm not sure I understand the question.

:p

A lot of amusing posts here. Thanks guys. Rescue bots seem to be the answer. For the life of me i can't get him to pick them over the mp's though! 99% of the time he is really good. . But his attention is easily shifted and heaven help what is in his hand at that moment.

My 2 year old daughter loves the smaller legend line (bb, starscream and OP), she can even transform bb.
So now when I buy a figure for myself she usually gets one as well. She liked the bot shots as well.

^Good call. I would add Commanders with that too. :)

Another thing to be mindful of is child safety standards. Transformers toys that are intended for infants are also built with their safety in mind; e.g. less smaller parts that could become a choking hazard etc. Non-preschool TFs aren't designed for this, hence the Ages 5+ or 8+ thing. I would especially avoid giving Masterpieces or any other high end collectible Transformers to infants because TakaraTOMY engineer them explicitly for adults and in Japan they're marketed as "Ages 15+," which exempts them from child safety laws. MP Seekers' fingers come in mind in terms of parts which are easily detachable which could become a choking hazard for babies and toddlers.

I personally didn't let my daughter start playing with G1s and MPs etc. until she was four. Before then it was all the stuff that everyone's been recommending here; Rescue Bots, Legends, plushies etc. I don't know why, but she immediately knew that the PlaySkool TFs were "her" TFs and that all the other TFs were daddy's. I never had to tell or teach her this. One prevailing theory is that she might've been more attracted to the cuter designs and brighter primary colours of the PlaySkool TFs. <shrugs> :confused: But if your child is naturally attracted to your G1s and MPs, I'd recommend keeping them on higher shelves until you feel that s/he's old enough to play with them. :)

But what I used to do would be to play with my TFs and my daughter would play with her TFs alongside me. So for example, I'd be playing w/ my Voyager and Deluxe Class TF Prime TFs while she played with the Happy Meal ones. Or I'd play w/ my MP Optimus Priem while she played with her Rescue Bots Optimus Prime... etc. ;) At first, our toy campaigns were separate, but then they started joining together. Now she'll mix together Leaders, Voyagers, Deluxes, G1s, Rescue Bots, Power Rangers, Lego, Cinderella, Barbie etc.


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...ps61318dc6.jpghttp://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...psa66d551f.jpghttp://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...ps59439cb1.jpg
L-R:
* An example of how my daughter played with TFs at age 2. Optimus Prime vs Optimus Prime. Although back then she couldn't pronounce "Optimus Prime" correctly and kept on calling him "Apple Pie." :p
* Age 5 play: G1 x Happy Meal x Rescue Bot x Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe. It's an ice cream shop.
* Age 5: Playing w/ an MP

I just trained my Kids from Babies to now 6 and 9 year olds just not to touch them. I can leave things around and they still dont touch them. My son can have friends come over to play and he stops them from going near my bots. I keep my 3rd Party and MPs in the lounge room and not behind glass. And they are perfectly safe :D Problem solved ;)

I have 4 kids :o Yes I know what causes it :p

6yr
5yr
3yr
22mths

My eldest (now 6) when he was 2, had my Henkei Cyclonus (my wife didnt realise how much it 'was' worth) and he proceeded to rub his new teeth all over his wings :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

I have since then bought all of my kids various Transformers;

Animated Bumper Battlers - By far the best IMO, they have lasted the longest with vigorous play. The electronics are awesome and the correct voices. The kids love them and even though they are few years old now the kids love playing with them.

Legions (DoTM, TF Prime, Beast Hunters) - These are the worst for kids I found besides the figures that I have rescued all are missing arms, legs & weapons some are missing their body.

Commanders (TF Prime & Beast Hunters) Better but as same as above.

Bot Shots - Pretty good, the kids do love smashing them together and they seem (so far) pretty durable unless the step on one.

Rescue Bots - The kids love anything Rescue Bots anything from this line is good.

Mash 'ems - I just bought some for the kids, but they haven't played with them yet as they will be Christmas presents but they look really and have cool playability being able to swap parts.

AoE 1 steps/flip and change - I haven't actually bought any for the kids yet, but they do look very simple to transform, but I think that they wouldn't last to long with my kids rough play, but at the end of the day they are toys and meant to be played with, so the kids might find some in their stockings this year.

e gad it looks like i have started a how to parenting thread! Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

I know this is really old but my one year old enjoys the old Playskool First Transformers from back in the 80s.

I had the jet from when I was a little kid and when I dragged it out of storage and cleaned it up my 1 year old loved it. He can't transform it yet but enjoys the noise it makes when you move it across the ground and laughs when I transform it in front of him.

The joints are large and there are no small pieces. Great starter transformer for him I hope. I ended up tracking down the other 2 original ones on eBay for him.

http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/r...pstd8sqfjf.jpg

http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/r...pscmzz3saj.jpg

!@##$!@##$$#

My son finally got excited by the rescue bots show and loves the "fire truck". Why did no one tell me these things sell for $150+??????? Purpose defeated :(

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Originally Posted by maraach

!@##$!@##$$#

My son finally got excited by the rescue bots show and loves the "fire truck". Why did no one tell me these things sell for $150+??????? Purpose defeated :(

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Pop into Kmart and Target etc, they sell small rescue bot toys for +/-9, larger ones for $19 & an Optimus Prime with trailer for $39.

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Originally Posted by MayzaPrime

I have 4 kids :o Yes I know what causes it :p

6yr
5yr
3yr
22mths

My eldest (now 6) when he was 2, had my Henkei Cyclonus (my wife didnt realise how much it 'was' worth) and he proceeded to rub his new teeth all over his wings :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

I have since then bought all of my kids various Transformers;

Animated Bumper Battlers - By far the best IMO, they have lasted the longest with vigorous play. The electronics are awesome and the correct voices. The kids love them and even though they are few years old now the kids love playing with them.

Legions (DoTM, TF Prime, Beast Hunters) - These are the worst for kids I found besides the figures that I have rescued all are missing arms, legs & weapons some are missing their body.

Commanders (TF Prime & Beast Hunters) Better but as same as above.

Bot Shots - Pretty good, the kids do love smashing them together and they seem (so far) pretty durable unless the step on one.

Rescue Bots - The kids love anything Rescue Bots anything from this line is good.

Mash 'ems - I just bought some for the kids, but they haven't played with them yet as they will be Christmas presents but they look really and have cool playability being able to swap parts.

AoE 1 steps/flip and change - I haven't actually bought any for the kids yet, but they do look very simple to transform, but I think that they wouldn't last to long with my kids rough play, but at the end of the day they are toys and meant to be played with, so the kids might find some in their stockings this year.

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That is a detailed test regime. You should sell your toy testing services to Hasbro!

I gave my daughter Happy Meal Animated Optimus Prime to play with when she was about 3 yrs old. She's 7 now and the toy has been passed onto my son who is 4. For a toy that cost $2 to last 4 yrs and not show any signs of play-wear, that's unheard of. What more could you want ;)

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Originally Posted by 5FDP

I gave my daughter Happy Meal Animated Optimus Prime to play with when she was about 3 yrs old. She's 7 now and the toy has been passed onto my son who is 4. For a toy that cost $2 to last 4 yrs and not show any signs of play-wear, that's unheard of. What more could you want ;)

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Better paint apps! Moving tyres! More accessories! :p

To be fair though, he's one of the strongest of the Animated Happy Meal line. Especially compared to Megatron.

I feel your pain :)

Went thru the exact same problem around 2 years ago.

I went the CHUG way for him. It's a fantastic line for picking up all matter of G1 bots. My boys are also primarily G1 toon watchers with a little rescue bots also.

Definitely check out eBay and members sales here. Thanks to the kind ppl of the boards I have got a bunch of stuff misb for birthdays and Xmas at good prices.

My 6 year old is on his way to having the bulk of 84/85 characters. And we haven't gone near Daddy's toys for ages hehe

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Originally Posted by Lint

Better paint apps! Moving tyres! More accessories! :p

To be fair though, he's one of the strongest of the Animated Happy Meal line. Especially compared to Megatron.

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IMO, if we're talking about 'child friendly Transformers', the less accessories the better ;)

My 2 nephews (4 & 6) are nuts about Transformers and since I collect primarily G1/MP's it makes me anxious when they eye my collection. I did buy one of them the rescue bots prime for his birthday and he takes it everywhere. Last time they were here he kept pointing at Soundblaster asking to transform him and insisting he could do it.