I am a firm believer in picking up gently used toys at local yard sales, and the Little Tikes Climb & Slide Playhouse is one of many garage sale finds I've come across this summer. My 2 1/2 year old son loves slides and has a larger Little Tikes play structure (the Little Tikes Variety Climber with Swingset Extension in our backyard. So, did he need this Climb & Slide Playhouse? No, he didn't. But whilst shopping yard sales he fell in love with it and when I asked what they wanted for it and said $7, I couldn't walk away. In all honesty, Little Tikes and Step2 large equipment is garage sale gold around here. So, I know that next year when he's outgrown it I can turn around and sell it for probably twice what I paid for it.

Assembly/Getting it Home
If you purchase this brand new, it will need minimal assembly with the assistance of a screwdriver. Once its put together its together and doesn't disassemble for storage or transportation purposes. Since I purchased it used I missed out on the assembly task, but faced the fact that this was going to be a challenge to get back to my home. I did manage to get it in the back of my Subaru Outback by putting down half of the backseat and putting it on its side. It would have been a lot easier if I'd had a van or truck, but alas I did not. To give you an idea of the size, put together it is 46"L x 46"D x 43.5"H - so its bulky.

Lifting and moving the slide (while put together) is mostly a matter of dealing with its bulky size. Because its made of heavy duty plastic its really not all that heavy and I have no problem moving it around my back yard to a shady or sunny spot, and on and off our back deck.

About the Climb & Slide Playhouse
Purchased new the Little Tikes Climb & Slide Playhouse carries a retail price of $60 but can usually be found on sale much cheaper than that at places like Wal-Mart or Toys R Us. This is a low end play structure meant for the youngest of toddlers who are new to climbing, sliding and exploring. It is available in a primary color scheme as well as the newer neutral scheme called backyard naturals. Ours is in primary colors, meaning the slide is blue, the roof portion is yellow and the steps are red around a grey house with a burst of green foliage.

Little Tikes recommends this play structure for children 1-4 years of age. Unless your four year old is very very small, you should pass this structure by for one of the larger ones. To give you an idea of the size, my son (2 1/2 yrs) is just over 3 feet tall and the slide is not much longer than he is tall. So, when he sits at the top of the slide it is a very quick trip to the bottom. He doesn't seem to mind as he loves slides, even if they are small. But I know that next year he will have outgrown this. Slide-wise this is best for 1 & 2 year olds, or a small 3 year old.

To get up to the slide there are 2 little stairsteps and one ladder rung which lead up to a small platform which is L-shaped. At the top of the platform there is an archway which is made to look like a roof. A slight problem is that this archway is low, so taller toddlers will bump their head. To give you an idea, my son's head is at the same level of the archway when he stands on the second stairstep. In order for him to pass through the archway he needs to duck down or crawl. He's very coordinated and has never hit his head, but this might pose a problem for some kids. The platform is only about 18 inches off of the ground so its fairly low, but early walkers will need close supervision as there is only a small lip as a guard edge, not enough to hold a wobbly tot up.

The archway is made to look like a small house, which is why they call this the Climb & Slide Playhouse. Its really not a playhouse in the traditional sense of the word so do not be fooled by its name. Molded into the plastic is a small mailbox and a plastic letter (like what comes with the Little Tikes Buzzz About Mailbox fits inside. This affords the structure a bit more playability into the realm of imaginary play if your child so desires.

Underneath the platform is a cutout and very small children might be able to fit underneath this. My son has never crawled beneath the slide, and if he did I am sure he would get stuck. This is a very small space and not very playable at all.

Our Experience
For under $10 dollars, we are thrilled with the Climb & Slide Playhouse. This is a small enough slide that it can easily be moved around our backyard or played with on our back deck during rougher weather conditions. In a pinch it could also be moved indoors - though we do not really have the space for it inside.

For younger children who enjoy slides this is a very sturdy and stable slide. It doesn't tip and it holds up to lots of abuse. Little Tikes plastic products last. Even if left outside in inclement weather conditions they weather well with minimal fading from the sun. I am very confident purchasing this product used and know that its safe and sturdy - and I'm picky when it comes to buying used for my son.

So, if you are looking for an entry level slide for your child and do not require the portability and ease of storage from models such as the E-Z Store slides check into this model. Don't be fooled by the playhouse name as this is really just a slide, and for little kids at that. If you want a structure which will grow with your child I suggest you looking into some of the larger structures such as the Variety Climber.

Other Recommended Little Tikes Outdoor Toys
Little Tikes Variety Climber with Swingset Extension
Little Tikes 2-in-1 Snug 'n Secure Swing
Little Tikes Turtle Sandbox



www.littletikes.com


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 7
Type of Toy: Other
Age Range of Child: 12 to 36 Months