Easy Bake Oven and Hot Wheels Wall Track Age Appropriateness?

My kids had an Easy Bake Oven at around 5 or 6. Honestly, I was disappointed in the quality of this toy. I remember having a "Holly Hobby" oven when I was a little older that worked much better. The hardest part was that this was not a toy they could handle by themselves. If you get one, plan for it to be something you will always do together. I'm sorry to be a downer, but I didn't feel it was worth the effort and mess, for what the toy could produce. More fun just to do real baking together. I agree with the 8 and up recommendation. The real fun for the kid would be when they can 100% do it themselves.

I have an 8 year old son....personally I'd wait awhile before you enter Hot Wheel Hell! He's likely too little....get him a more age-appropriate car/track set for now.

2 might be a little young, he might pull it off the wall. But a floor track could be a good place to start. My boys have loved hot wheels and tracks as long as I can remember. When they were very little we got them rugs with streets on them (can't break apart like tracks, so better for the 3 and under crowd) and they still play with those rugs today (at 6 and 7) in addition to the regular tracks. You can get a small streets rug at most Walmarts for around $25.

I loved my Easy Bake Oven when I was little. It's too bad that it's for older kids, isn't it! I thought I had it when I was younger too - maybe they've jazzed it up so much that it's for the older crowd now.

Anyway, you might want to take a look at the following thread of opinions, in case it will help.

I never had a Hot Wheels track for my boys - sorry.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=2008092513453...

Dawn

I got an easy bake oven when was six and I loved it. It's probably recommended for ages 8 and up because it's electric and you need to be able to read the directions.
Instead of the hot wheels track take a look at the Darda race tracks (just google it.) I love the hot wheels cars but I always found their tracks a huge waste of money, cheaply made and never worked like they were advertised. The Darda tracks are well made (Germany) use no batteries and the cars are super fun and super fast. We had ours for several years!

My daughter got one when she was 5...of course she needed moms help to use it because it does get REALLY hot, the stove and the pan! She is now 7 and I let her use it alone under my supervision.

I bought the wall tracks for my 4 year old son for Christmas, yet to see how they are, hoping they really work!

My daughter got one for Christmas when she was 5. She's now 8 and fine to work it by herself, and my 4 year old son helps her out. As long as you're there supervising and doing the pushing in and out of the hot oven part, I think she'll be fine. :)

My 4 y/o son wants that Hot Wheels track too, and I read some reviews that said it didn't really stay on the wall that well. I'm going to wait on that this year, and do something different. Mine has received Hot Wheels tracks that go on the floor before and he plays with it for a few months, then is over it. ha ha

no and no
No on the easy bake because at 4 likely can't do it by herself.
and
No on the wall track you will be FOREVER building and taking down track. hot wheels also have tiny pieces.

I picked it up the other day for my 8 year old, but she's been asking for it for years.

As long as you watch her it's probably fine.

Not sure on the Hot Wheels track but I see a lot of no's :).

Hot Wheels Wall Track: no, I wouldn't get it for a 2 year old. Choking hazard among other things. And it will probably get broken.
I have a son that is 5. At his age, yes I would get it for him and am actually of thinking of getting it for him.

Easy Bake Oven: well, my daughter at 4 years old, was already helping me cook in the kitchen. My son at 4 years old, could cook his own eggs on the stove, with my watching.
So if your daughter is fine... then sure.

Instead of the hot wheels wall tracks, I would suggest the Chuck Truck stunt park sets for a 2 year old. They were all the rage last Christmas. Very easy for little ones to set-up, pieces are big and chunky for little hands, very durable, the cars are adorable and they do such neat tricks! Got it for my 3 year old's birthday and not only does he love it, but his 5 year old brother loves it as well. They have a whole series of sets so you can build on them and I have already seen them in the Black Friday ads for less than half of what they cost last year.

As for the Easy Bake Oven, we got all boys so I have no good advice. = (

They have reasons on why they put ages on the packaging. Mostly because of small pieces young kids can choke on or the item can easily be broken or various other reasons. I always tried to stick to the appropriate ages for these reasons. Good luck.

My daughter is going to be 4 in December and I've also been thinking about the Easy Bake oven. She loves to cook and bake with me in the kitchen, and I loved mine when I was little. I read an article about the changes made to the Easy Bake Oven this year, as the end of the 100 watt bulb is nearing. It stated that having to figure out a new cooking method, other than a light bulb, they have put an actual oven heating element in it. It stated that it can get up to 375 degrees, but should stay cool to the touch. I'm not sure I want her to have access to something that can get up to 375 at 4 years old. She's really trying to be more independent and I'm afraid she would try to do it herself at some point. I'm still debating. Good Luck!

My daughter got an Easy Bake oven at 5 and hated it, she preferred to keep baking with me in the kitchen, and didn't care for the "mini" treats at all. She gave it to a neighbor friend after 3 weeks.

I'd wait a few years on the Hot Wheels track, my guy will be 3 in April and there's NO way, lol : ) I bought him a Thomas and Friends carry tote that opens up into a playmat and some engines today, the recommended age is 3 to 5, he'll do fine.