***Disclosure:I am a Step2 Test Drive Blogger. I received a product in exchange for my review and opinion. No other compensation was provided.***
Since I have both a little girl and a little boy, I don't force any kind of gender stereotypes. Sophie is 3 and Xander is 2, and it is just so much easier to let them both engage in whatever type of creative play they'd like. So if Xander wants to play Princess Dress-Up or dollies with his sister or Sophie wants to race cars or play with tools, I am perfectly content with that. It means they learn to play well with kids of either gender, and are well-rounded kids, altogether. That makes this Mama happy!
Sophie loves doing things that are very hands-on. She is also a total Daddy's girl. My husband is a "car guy", and while he is now a service manager, he did spend many years as a mechanic. So of course, Sophie sees Daddy using lots of tools, both on vehicles and around the house. (It's very nice to be married to a man who can literally fix anything....Except dinner, of course. The man cannot cook to save his life, haha.) Anyway, my little girl loves getting her hands dirty and helping Daddy whenever she can.
Sophie loves doing things that are very hands-on. She is also a total Daddy's girl. My husband is a "car guy", and while he is now a service manager, he did spend many years as a mechanic. So of course, Sophie sees Daddy using lots of tools, both on vehicles and around the house. (It's very nice to be married to a man who can literally fix anything....Except dinner, of course. The man cannot cook to save his life, haha.) Anyway, my little girl loves getting her hands dirty and helping Daddy whenever she can.
Of course my favorite company, Step2, offers tons of hands-on toys that please both Sophie and my little man, Xander. We received one of their new products, the Handy Helper's Workbench to review. This adorable workbench comes with everything needed to create some handy projects!
This toy comes with a 22 piece building set. This includes several tools like a hammer, a saw, a wrench, and a screwdriver. The tools can be conveniently stored on the realistic looking peg-board. (I wish I had a peg-board like that in our garage! Maybe then Dan would be a bit more organized!)
There are also tons of bolts and 4 "Durafoam" wood pieces to create wooden projects from. The bolts, screws and wooden pieces can be stored in an underneath storage bin, so it's very easy to keep the Handy Helper's Workbench organized and neat.
There are also tons of bolts and 4 "Durafoam" wood pieces to create wooden projects from. The bolts, screws and wooden pieces can be stored in an underneath storage bin, so it's very easy to keep the Handy Helper's Workbench organized and neat.
There is also a cute little drill that kids can use! (This does require 2 AA batteries, which are not included.) The drill can be used to screw the bolts into the work-table, since there are plenty of pre-drilled holes that they fit into perfectly.Of course these bolts also fit into the Durafoam wooden pieces to secure them together as well. The possibilities are endless!
Another great feature of this workbench is the working vice. This is super-realistic, and will make little ones feel like they're working in the shop, just like Daddy or Grandpa.
Sophie and Xander both really enjoy building with their Handy Helper's Workbench. They really have a blast pretending to build birdhouses, race cars, and so much more. As a mom, I love the fact that this toy helps develop not only a big imagination, but also fine motor skills.
Check out Sophie being a pro-builder in this brief video! Who says girls can't use tools?!
Check out Sophie being a pro-builder in this brief video! Who says girls can't use tools?!
Overall, we are definitely impressed by the Handy Helper's Workbench. It was so easy to assemble, and it keeps my little ones engaged in creative play for hours at a time. Now I do need to mention that this workbench is very compact, and will fit into small spaces with ease. This makes it perfect for bedrooms, play areas, and even apartment living. Due to the smaller size, it's best suited for individual play, in my opinion.Thankfully, we also own a Step2 Real Projects Workbench, so there's no fighting over who gets to build. I would definitely recommend this great toy for the upcoming Holiday season!
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