It didn't take long for the boxes to be ripped open and the tracks put together. Hamsters in a House is recommended for ages 4 and up, but my 3 year old had no issues helping set it up. Each set can be played with individually, or the tracks can be connected, making a larger world for your hamster to explore. Once set-up, the battery operated hamsters just needed to be switched to on, and then set-off on the tracks to explore their little world! There is a guide on the tracks that helps keep them moving in the right direction.
The Ultimate Hamster House features two levels of fun! Hamsters slide down the ramp and scurry around the first floor before finding their way to the child-operated elevator. Once back on the second floor, the process starts again. Just as you would find in any home, there is a miniature bed and bathroom facilities for our little furry friends which are "hotspots" for fun. Just flip on the sound on the bottom of the house, and these areas will produce fun phrases when they're activated. The Ultimate Hamster House also produces 16 additional sounds. No hamster house would be complete without a hamster wheel! Place your hamster inside and watch your little friend exercise! For kids who are on-the-go, a handle is attached at the top making this easy to transport. The Ultimate Hamster House retails for $29.99.
A great starter set is the Little Hamster House, retailing for $12.99. This is a miniature, sound-free option. The furry little hamster moves in a circle, in and out of the house through the manually operated doors. These come in a couple different color options and are a great option to expand the hamster world!
The Super Market is another larger option, although we didn't receive this set to review. Priced at $19.99, it includes a shopping turntable which drops fruit into the hamster's shopping cart and interchangeable walls.
A track or Hamster House isn't required to play with your hamster! We discovered they work great just on the floor or a table. Hardwood or a flat solid surface is the best option (hamsters don't operate well on carpeting or on a table cloth). Just turn them on and let them go! When they hit a solid surface, they're able to redirect themselves. Keep in mind that the hamsters are very small! We have a couple of hard to reach areas under furniture where the hamsters could easily scurry under and my boys thought it was pretty funny watching me try to help the hamsters find their way out. FYI, yard sticks are great for this!
To liven up the "off-the-track" experience, accessories are available! With the Scurry Car, just place the hamster behind the "wheel" and watch him go! Again, this works best on a solid, hard flat surface. Keep in mind that the ability for the hamster to redirect himself doesn't work as well when using the car, but it does make for great hamster races! We received the blue car, but a pink option is also available. If you have a little one who loves to pamper his or her toys, the Styling Studio accessory pack is also available. Both sets are priced at $9.99 and include a hamster friend.
All in all, my kids loved Hamsters in a House! The ability to use the hamsters both in the houses and on the track as well as separately on their own was a plus. We liked the fact that our boys could connect the playsets and play together or, when they wanted to do their own thing, they could break them apart and still each have a complete set.
If you'd like more information about Hamsters in a House, check out Zuru Toys online or on Facebook. Be sure to follow them on Twitter for instant updates!
Please note, I received product and compensation in exchange for this review. All opinions expressed, however, are my own.
