PLAYPARTY Shelly Kids Snail Tape Measure

Fun little tape measure

I use this as an actual tape measure too! Easy to use. Lightweight. Cute design. Toddler approved and durable through play.

0:28

Retractable gets stuck

While cute the retractable button gets stuck. Sometimes it pulls it back sometimes it doesn’t. Annoying when I bought it to keep my son occupied and away from real measuring tapes. It’s possible I just got a bad one.

As a mom, don’t get it unless you’re okay having your kid constantly bring it to you because it won’t retract back easy.

Tip: just need to have it level, pull some more out, and press the button again. It usually works.

0:18

Great Little Measuring Tape

Fun, little measuring tape. Perfect for the little ones and the larger ones,as well.

Retracting device is strong and smooth. Doesn't pull back so much that it slaps your hand.

Recommended

Fun learning toy

My son loves it! He uses it to measure everything and it helps him learn his numbers. Worth every penny!

Broke after a month of play

Adorable toy and very well liked. After a month of play, clip at end of tape broke off and has rendered toy useless. Emailed Playparty today and awaiting a response.

Kids Lifelike Tool

The kids snail shaped tape measure is a great lifelike tool for kids to use. My daughter loves to help with projects and now she brings her very own tape measure. I honestly even like it better than the one from michaels I bought to measure for clothing. It is very sturdy and for the price you cant beat that!

Bought two but only one works

Only one works and the other one seems to only work occasionally. Bummer because I had these saved to give my kids for Valentine’s Day, so now I’m outside the return window but I can’t give these to my kids or one kid will be frustrated that theirs doesn’t work like their sibling’s one. Super disappointed.

0:35

A Gibbs

January 29, 2026

Durable + edges aren't sharp, great for little helpers

My family owns a lot of tape measures- probably nearly every tape measure made for kids- and I really prefer this one in comparison to others! I have a 3yo who enjoys construction with his dad and a curious 1yo who is in to everything, so this poor tape measure puts in the work at our house!

I did not read the features before purchasing it so a few things stuck out to me and made it even more fun than I expected:

1. The top green part is an eraser- genius

2. The end (beginning?) of the tape measure is a tie so it looks likethe snail is wearing a bow tie- adorable

3. A caribeaner attaches to the back so my 3yo now has a tape measure attached it himself at all times- genuis AND adorable

Pros

**Biggest pro** the measuring part is not rigid like an actual tape measure so it doesn't snap or scratch when it gets let in. I feel comfortable with my toddlers playing with/stretching this tug of war style because it's not going to cause a giant cut when the button is pressed to let in

- comes with caribeaner to attach

- button is easily pressable for little hands to retract the tape in

I have no cons! It is a great little tape measure and an affordable price. I purchased this as a stocking stuffer but it would also be great for every day use, a birthday present (enjoyed by age 1+), easter basket, etc! I would buy again.

0:44

Fun, kid-safe measuring toy that holds up to play

I bought this as a fun and safe introduction to the concept of measurement for young kids, and it’s worked well for that purpose. The design is cute and engaging, which helped hold my children’s attention while they played with it.

It’s held up well to regular use by a 2 and 4 year-old, so it seems durable and not flimsy or thin like some cheaper plastic toys. The tape itself is easy for kids to pull out and retract without much effort. Its a decent size, not too small. See picture with tea box for scale.

One small missed opportunity is the design — it would have been fun if the measuring tape extended from the snail’s tail like a slime trail, but that’s more of a novelty detail than a functional issue.

I haven’t checked the measurements for precision, but accuracy wasn’t the main reason I purchased it. I wanted a safer alternative to metal measuring tapes for kids to play with and explore measurement concepts, and it fits that role well for the price.

Cute, Educational, Great Quality

So cute for kids. Especially ones who are learning about measurements & data. 10 out of 10.

What’s with the weird sticky tape

It’s cute, my kid likes it. But one of the antennas was off the second I opened the box. Not the biggest deal. Now two weeks after opening it, the weird yellow tape at the end of the measuring tape is sticky and sliding off.

Safety issue

Safety issue!!!!!

We got this for my 4 year old for Christmas. He has been able to open it and pull it apart a few times which was fine, not a huge issue as it is cute and functional; however this time he opened the metal wire was exposed, he brought it to me to fix it and as I was trying to remove it I completely sliced my finger. I’m just glad he knew to bring it to me cause had he tried to take it out himself it would have been a trip to the urgent care.

DO NOT BUY!

Do not buy this toy. Literally 5 minutes after my nephew started playing with it, It broke. DO NOT RECOMMEND!

Don’t trust your kids with this one

The retractor mechanism was broken within hours of my toddlers playing with it. I turned around and they managed to take the whole thing apart! Wound not recommend this one for kids…especially ones who are curious.

I asked my 4 year and 2 year olds to show me what happened and they popped the head off of the second one and then proceeded to try and take apart that one too! Into the trash! Both of them.

Doesn’t work as it should.

It doesn’t work from day one, the measuring tape won’t retract back causing a meltdown every single time.

We bought two and it happens with both

0:55

Didn’t recoil

This is super cute, however the measuring tape did not recoil at all. I’d recommend saving your money and picking something else if you, too, don’t want a disappointed kiddo.

0:12

Great stocking stuffer

Cute & fun

SH

December 27, 2025

Tuff tape

Flexible and tuff for young kids we have a two and three year-old that are having great fun with it. The only downside is a two-year-old did chew/pull off the antennas

Cutest stocking stuffer ever!

Okay, this is the cutest and most functional tape measure. My son got it for Christmas and loves it! It’s easy to use, has multiple uses, and is just fun. My favorite part? The eraser on the top to erase those annoying pencil marks. Would absolutely recommend this.

Must buy!

Our 7 year old daughter loves it! She’s been measuring everything in the house

Perfect for 6 year old!

This measuring tape was as described and perfect for my child who is learning about measurement at school!

Easy to read

My boys loved it. Very wonderful idea

Merry Christmas

Jessica

December 25, 2025

This snail measures up!

I purchased 2 of these snail tape measures for my kid’s stocking stuffers. They are super cute and totally worth the price. Great quality, work well, and easy to use. Highly recommend.

0:19

Kids will like this.

Purchased for my grandson for a Christmas gift,as he is always wanting to use his grandfather's meyal tape measure. It is very cute and definitely safe to use. I probably should have purchased one for his sister.

0:20

Second purchase and neither work.

Second one we’ve purchase and does not work, will not retract.

0:12

Snail tape measure

Fun toy for kids. The tape doesn’t always go in right away.

Excellent toy (or is it a tool)?

Our grandson loves to help measure things with my tape measure, and if you have a kid, you know, they like to press the button and watch the tape retract. The only problem is that most tapes are metal, and you don’t want to put your hand there… But they do. This is so cool! There’s no danger of cutting yourself, you can still measure, and you can still push the button to retract. This makes a great Christmas gift!

UPDATE: Got a replacement and the new one works as it should 5 Stars!

After reading other reviews I was excited about this tape measure for kids and ordered it for my son for Christmas. Upon receiving the item I got it out of the box to test it and I was very disappointed. The retractable tape only retracts about half the time. It seems if you pull it out too little or too far it doesn't work anymore. You have to keep fidgeting with it to get it to retract the tape. At first I was going to ask for a refund, but then I checked the reviews again and told my husband "maybe we just got a defective one and we should ask for a replacement instead." He said "Either that or our standards are too high..." And that's definitely a possibility. I did request a replacement and I will update this review if the new one works how I would expect. But for now I'm uploading a video of my item not working, and I'm giving 2 stars simply because it is still a tape measure and after enough times trying it eventually will retract. I'm sure if I gave it to my son anyway he'd fidget with it until it does what it's supposed to...

0:18

Cute and functional - must have!

My 2 year old loves this adorable snail measuring tape! It even had a level! He is always taking his daddy’s and now can help dad measure! My 9 month old even loves to get her hands on it. Bright fun colors and good quality. Also the little d ring is perfect for little helpers on the go! As you can see in the video my son immediately wanted it when I grabbed it :)

0:07