Editorial Review

What's the No. 1 group dance for the pre-school set? Hint: it's not the "Electric Slide" or "Cotton-Eyed Joe." You guessed it, and so did Elmo: the "Hokey Pokey." Though Elmo doing the "Slide" would be a sight to see, he masters the Pokey quite convincingly, to the probable delight of his toddling fans. After loading his foot with four "AA" batteries, press his hand and he performs the popular jig. He sticks out both his right hand and foot, shakes his body all about, then smoothly spins in place, thanks to a rotating platform under one foot. Elmo even spices up the beat, and sporadically speeds up the action; both innovations crank up the fun factor. The only downside: he was de-plushed, presumably because of all the mechanisms needed to help him dance and maintain balance. The result, still, is an impressive performance. He's just not very cuddly. --Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (98)

oh my gosh!!!
Can we say neverstop!! - she ran this thing into the ground!! played with it alllll the time and still does - highly recommend

My todler loves it!
I bought this for my son about two months ago. And I believe I must have gotten the most durable one. My 20 month old son was only dancing with him the first two weeks, until he discover that it's more fun to squeeze him, while he shakes, then throw him against the floor or wall. So far it has been over a month, and the Elmo is still singing, dancing, and saying oops or thank you. I would recomend this toy to any one.

Good times for kids
My 2 year old has this and loves it. He's already a huge fan of Elmo, so I'm sure that helps. The toy itself is rather neat since it pretty much does the hokey pokey. Elmo puts in his hand in, his leg in and he shakes all about, then he turns around in a circle. Doesn't work so good on carpet, better on smooth surfaces. The sound it good and lucky for us parents, the song doesn't last too long. If you tip him upside down he says "whoopsie!", and something about needing to be turned back upright. Cute toy. My son thinks Elmo is dancing with him. ... Read more

Subjects:  

Reviews (31)

Broke within 1 week
I bought this toy for my son.The toy broke within 1 week.The pond sticks and keeps saying the same thing over and over again, the blocks, when put into place, sing the same song, one short verse, over and over again.Unfortunately, the little birds get stuck saying the same things as well.It wasn't worth the money for us.My son does like the shapes though.Hope this is helpful as a lot of reviews have been for me.Thanks.

Another toy my baby loves
My daughter received this when she was 7 and a half months old, and still plays with it every day at over a year old. She lves the bee that circles around- I hear "bzzzzzzz...bzzzzzz...bzzzzzzz" quite often! She also loves to "splash" and hear the numbers (you press the "water" and the toy counts up to ten, one number at a time, each time you press it)....she also loves pressing the birds and hearing the baby and mommy bird talk to each other- they each say 3 phrases. You can also switch from learning mode to music mode.

My baby plays with this toy a lot and the batteries seem to last a long time for all that she plays with it, I'm not replacing batteries all that often. She likes this toy better than some other ones that are bigger and do more amazing things.

It seems like at over a year old, she is going to continue to play with this toy for awhile, so that gets the Seal of Approval from me, like I always say, read my other reviews, I have a Big Thing about getting my money's worth out of toys, and skipping over toys that will lose baby's interest in a short period of time. I like that my baby has played with this toy every day for 5 months and still loving it. For example, she played with her Dancing Bandstand for about a week before she got bored with it, and never goes to it any more.

Toy with lasting value!
I got this toy when my baby could sit up and boy, did she love it! She smacked that water so many times, she couldn't get enough it. She liked to pull out the "flowers" and bite them, bang them together, throw them, you name it.

She then learned to walk shortly after buying it and I thought the toy would get no more use. But now she has learned to put the shapes back into the holes and loves to dance to the music.


It is also so sturdy, she sometimes picks it up and walks with it. And we've only changed the batteries once in 5 months. LOVE IT! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baby and Infant    2. Learning    3. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    4. Electronic   

Features

• Two-sided play table
• One side is sturdy building base (blocks included)
• Other side is real-working piano
• Features fun melodies, flashing lights, movable beads and button
• For ages 9 months and up

Reviews (10)

Great Investment!Activities for many levels and interests!
I'm a mom that has to buy one toy that will serve multiple purposes.So you can imagine my joy when I came across the Music n' Play table!On the top side, it's split between a piano and activity center, then flip it over and underneath is a miniature "lego" building table.Plus, it has storage for the lego pieces!I was looking for an activity table for my 8-month old son because he likes to stand and pull himself up on things.We've had absolutely no problems with its stability. Actually, he uses it like a walker, pushing it all around the kitchen.And it easily entertains more than one child at a time.I was hoping it was available at stores in my area, but even with shipping and handling, it was well worth the price.I highly reccomend this toy, I know Colin will enjoy his Music n' Play Table for a long time.

Fun, but what's with the music?
Our 13-month old enjoys this table a lot.However it sounds like all the preprogrammed music was done in Shanghai.Vaguely American pieces are played with distinctly Chinese instruments and arrangements, basically comprising a sad-sounding fiddle, xylophones, and drums.It's some of the strangest music I've ever heard from any kids' toy (and unfortunately it's somewhat scratchy due to poor sampling or tone generation).Also be aware this item takes two sets of batteries: one for the activity area and the other for the music area.Pros: easy assembly, lots of items for the toddler to play with, and unlike many of their other toys it's one they can play with standing up.

Awsome
I'm 11 years old. I went to my cousins house and played with this toy. I couldn't stop playing. It was so much fun. When my cousins got a real keyboard they told me to play with that. I told them I didn't want to. Then they threw it away when their son stoped playing with it. I threw a tantrum ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Blocks    3. Learning    4. Baby and Infant    5. Toddler   

Editorial Review

When it comes to musical instruments, the drum is arguably one of theeasiest to play: just give it a smack. Fortunately, LeapFrog has created a drumthat's sure to provide ongoing delight. It's an electronic instrument with fourdifferent settings. When set to "ABC," each pat of the drum displays a letter onthe drum's top while a friendly voice says the letter out loud. The letters aresequential, so the drummer learns the alphabet. The "123" option works in asimilar way. There are also options for musical notes and a traditional drumsound. An off control and two volume settings will be welcomed by parents whoare sure to hear this drum being played with repeatedly. If the young drummerpauses for a while, the friendly voice plays a little song or asks to be playedwith again. --John Moe ... Read more

Reviews (360)

great drum!
our little munchkin started to play with this drum on his own immediately (he's six months). i love that it's easy for him to play with, it lights up, counts numbers and the alphabet, simon says, etc. so worth the money (although i payed $25 at buy buy baby in nyc).

Leapfrog Songs
Yes, they're all the same.Once you have one toy, you have all of them.All the Leapfrog toys have the same songs.I would spend your money in one of the more expensive Leapfrog toys, and forget buying the rest, unless you love listening to the songs over and over and over.However, I do like the Leapfrog learning toys.Please, Leapfrog, invest your money in more/different songs and sounds!

Good for those learning to sit
We received this as a gift for our son when he was around 5 1/2 months and starting to sit alone. He really enjoyed it initially and I like the fact that it would respond to his thumping even if it was upside down or on it's side.

However, I do agree that it turns itself off way too quickly and it is a tad repetitive. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    2. Electronic    3. Musical    4. Electronic Learning Aids    5. Learning    6. Preschool    7. Musical Instruments    8. Drums    9. Music    10. Percussion    11. Baby and Infant    12. Toddler    13. Activity   

Editorial Review

This interactive learning toy will grow along with your infant. There are two modes: one for infants and "lie-down" play and the other for older babies and "sitting-up" play. Lie-down play consists of a musical mode and a learning mode. In learning mode your baby can listen to the "Hello World Song" sung in five languages while watching the bright primary colors of the motorized mobile whirling away. In music mode your baby will hear over 10 minutes of music from around the world. For sitting-up play, detach the mobile and your child will be ready for some of the following hands-on learning activities: spin the world ball to hear "hello" in five languages, play peek-a-boo with the mirror, spin the animal roller to hear animal names, colors, and counting. These same buttons will play songs in the music mode, the most impressive of which was the world vocal chorus we heard when we opened the mirror. Thoughtful and engaging, this toy should hold your child's interest for a long time. Requires four "AA" batteries (not included). --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (87)

My 2 month old loves it!
My 2 month old daughter just loves this. We also have the Baby Einstein Activity Gym, however, it doesn't really interest her. This Gym keeps her attention and she just loves the different songs/tunes.I would highly recommend this over any of the activity mats.

My 9 wk old daughterand 2 yr old nephew love it.
My daughter love's this. She and the dog love looking up at the mobile. The music keeps her attention and I love that it has all the different languages.My 2 year old nephew loves this also. It coverts easy for a toddler and he loves the touching, spinning and button pushing.All in all I think it is a pretty good learning toy.

Mama's Other Little Helper
We bought the Leapstart Gym for my now 19mo when she was about 6 months old.It took her a little bit to be interested in it, as it does with some toys, but when she finally 'got it' she loved it!Easy to move into the sitting up mode - though I had no idea what to do with the mobile then - ?It was great to sit her in front of it and be able to do something without worry of her crawling over to me.She used it to pull up on when learning to stand and it stayed in place - didn't topple over as some toys for that age will.When she started walking she didn't seem to be very interested in it for awhile (at 1 year), but the last couple of months - (17-19) now that she is getting more verbal she is playing with it again.
I like the different languages and the ability to control the volume.I think I've only replaced the batteries twice in just over a year?But I've always turned it off at night. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baby and Infant    2. Toddler    3. Learning    4. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    5. Electronic    6. Music    7. Hand-Eye Coordination    8. Electronic Learning Aids    9. Activity    10. Musical   

Editorial Review

I have to admit that I am no fan of kids' electronic music makers--hearing the same bleeping and blatting tunes for hours on end is a sure-fire way to drive me crazy. But the Sing With Me Magic Cube has a number of charming features that set it above the fray. First of all, the 5-inch cube itself is a pleasing object, ruggedly constructed, with rounded rubber corners that invite the hands. Then there's the music: "Old McDonald," "Itsy Bitsy Spider," and other standard kids' songs played on five instruments (piano, guitar, drums, tuba, and flute). The innovation here is that as each tune plays, instruments can be added to or taken out of the mix with a push of the matching button. It's a clever trick that might help develop a child's ear for the different parts of music. One minor complaint is that the Orchestra button behaves differently from the instrument buttons: when you push it, the song that's playing stops and a new one starts. This is one of those toys that claims to be based on the latest brain research and promises to stimulate your child's mental development through music, but even if it's not much more than a glorified rattle, it will amuse your child without driving you too crazy. Requires three AA batteries (not included). --David Stoesz ... Read more

Features

• Features favorite songs and musical instrument sounds
• Winner of Dr. Toy and Parents' Choice awards
• Song book and instructions included

Reviews (23)

My child loves it! I love it!
This is a great toy. It is really durrable, easy to work and safe. It has been dropped a lot. It's even been dropped on cement and down wooden stairs. I got it from a garage sale and her 3 kids were really rough with it she said. And it isn't cracked, scuffed or broken in any way. I'd recommend this toy for every child!

A very nice musical toy
I've been very pleased with my purchase of the Sing with Me Magic Cube.I gave it to my niece on her 1st birthday.Her father is a musician and her mother is a singer, so I wanted a gift that would help promote musical interests.She loves the Baby Einstein videos (e.g. Baby Mozart) which feature classical music, so I decided to get her something that would teach her many of the songs that she is likely to sing when she starts school in several years.

She loves singing and dancing to all the songs on this cube.(BTW, the toy is purely instrumental only ... no vocals ... she has learned the words from others around her who sing the words to the music.)I don't think she understands exactly how to turn the individual instruments on and off yet, but she has lots of fun hitting all the buttons trying to get it to play her two favorite songs -- Old Macdonalds Farm and Itsy Bitsy Spider.

This toy is sure to last for a very long time, as it has thick rubber knobbie corners that cushion it when dropped.

Excellent even for adults
I bought this toy for my one year old nephew, but am having a hard time letting go. It is soooo cute and I find myself singing along with it and choosing the instruments I want to hear. I know I have to let it go... but it's going to be hard. This toy is as great as other reviews indicate. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Musical    3. Preschool    4. Learning    5. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    6. Electronic    7. Baby and Infant    8. Music    9. Electronic Learning Aids   

Editorial Review

Centered around a rotary circling a fountain, this colorful little village is home to a schoolhouse, where Kathleen teaches class; a grocery store, manned by grizzled shopkeeper Sam; and a grassy town square, where a little boy, Eddie, rides around on a skateboard. Any of them can hop onto the xylophone, guitar, or saxophone stand and perform a music concert in the park. The roadway and sidewalk spin, allowing Sam or Kathleen to cruise around in a car. This toy offers toddlers lots of colors, sounds, movement, and fun, with numerous accessories. Three C batteries are required (but not included). --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Reviews (14)

My 2 1/2 yr. old loves it!
This is the kind of toy that brings out the imagination in children.Our daughter loves to play with it everyday.She liked the video when we first got it but doesn't ask for it anymore.This toy keeps her busy enough to forget about the TV.I like that!

Great for kids of all ages.
My three-year-old and my eight-month-old both love this toy.My baby loves putting things on the road and watching them/trying to get them back off as it spins.My older son loves role-playing, especially with the school portion.It is a very big set.I underestimated how much room it would take up.The volume is a little loud.I also wish they would have made more than one song for when the road is spinning.Gets a little grating after a while.Still well worth it.

Wonderful!
Yet another great by Fisher-Price. My son gets hours of enjoyment out of these toys and his imagination goes beyond all boundraies when playing. All Fisher Price People items are wonderful for children. Hands down. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This classic is still spinnin' after all these years--and now it's better than ever. The Sit 'n Spin we all know and love has been spruced up for the new millennium with flashing lights and fun tunes. Just press any of the four buttons on the handle, and you're spinning to one of six classic tunes. Sure, it may be a little snazzier than you remember (thanks to the new colors), but the goal remains the same: hours of dizzying enjoyment. Your kids will love taking this whirling wonder for a spin just as much as you'll enjoy watching them. Requires three AA batteries and a Phillips screwdriver for assembly (not included). --Melissa Wilson ... Read more

Reviews (172)

We like this toy
We got this for my daughter as part of her Christmas this past year at 3 years old and she loves it. My son had one of the old ones...we liked it too, but it did not have the lights and sounds. It is very durable too. I think it is a good choice.

They ruined a great classic toy!
I didn't think it was possible, but the manufacturer made the Sit N Spin worse when they added lights and sound. It USED to be a great toy! First, the music is the most obnoxious rockabilly-ish stuff I've ever heard.Second, its way too loud for the children's ears, in my opinion.Third, there is no "off" button for the lights/music (every parent's nightmare).We bought this for our daughter for Christmas, and I took the batteries out after the first day.What a relief!!

can be hazardous
Our 15 month old daughter loves her sit and spin, LOVES IT!.We didn't put batteries in it because we read the complaints about the music.She used it every day.The problem is that whenever we go to move it, the top hand wheel pops off, so you have to pick it up by the entire base.Lesson learned, easy fix, just use more care.Until last night, when she was gleefully smiling and spinning, the hand wheel popped off, and she banged her head on the floor.My baby's not much of a crier, but boy did she cry after that!I may try the liquid nails that another person recommended, because she loves this toy sooo much.Just be aware of the hazard! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ride-Ons    2. Musical    3. Preschool   

Editorial Review

Toddlers love to hear their favorite nursery rhyme songs, and of coursethey love anything with sound effects and flashing lights. This electronicmusical toy is 45 inches long and 11 inches wide, with a large, one-octavekeyboard sporting a plastic handprint on each key and a red button above thatflashes when the key is played. The keyboard can be played in five differenttones: piano, bells, doggie barks, kitty meows, or birdie tweets, and in severalmodes: complete songs, free-play mode, or preprogrammed mode. The preprogrammedmode is an interesting feature that will help preschoolers (or their parents)learn to play the eight familiar songs. The tiny red light flashes, you playthat handprint, and follow along until--hey, you're making music! The musicalmat has a wipe-clean plastic surface, and it requires two AA batteries (notincluded). --Marcie Bovetz, mother and former children's librarian ... Read more

Reviews (10)

No Good
I bought this for my daughters birthday and when we got it, it was a piece of junk the buttons worked for one day then the next day when you tried to push a cerain button it would give you a different noise or it would not work at all, the things are hard to push you have to really push hard on them, this toy is not worth it not even the amount they are asking for to be honest I think it is worth fifty cents, I am very disapointed in it.

Fun toy
This was given to my 18 month old son last Christmas. He enjoyed playing with it daily for awhile. I recommend not putting this in the toy box. Now a year later it has some problems - it only plays when IT wants to. I do like this toy, but it needs to be well taken care of to last.

Musical Hands mat
This toy does not work.I do not recommend it.There is no quality to the workmanship.A total disappointment ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baby and Infant    2. Preschool    3. Learning    4. Toddler    5. Activity    6. Music    7. Musical Instruments    8. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    9. Electronic    10. Hand-Eye Coordination    11. Musical   

Editorial Review

This colorful car collection develops motor skills and hand-eye coordination while your child makes important discoveries about sorting and strategy. There are four vehicles, numbered 1 through 4, of graduatedsizes: a rattling green sports car, a blue police car with a revolving roof light, a yellow school bus with an opening sunroof, and a red fire truck with an adjustable clicking ladder. The vehicles can be rolledacross the floor, and then stacked--ever so carefully--atop each other, and finally all nested inside the fire truck. Vehicles only nest or stack completely when arranged in proper order of size and number. Made of sturdy plastic, these toys can be dipped in warm sudsy water for easy cleaning. --Kathryn Gustafson ... Read more

Reviews (138)

Great Trucks!
We bought these trucks for our 15 mo. old daughter and 4 mo. old son- We love them!They are nesting which is fun for our daughter to look underneath the trucks to find the next one or they can stack one on top of the other to make a tower.Perfect first trucks!And they aren't too big- a perfect size!

MOMMY loves this toy.
I saw these on sale at a discount store and couldn't pass up the price. I bought them for my 8 month old daughter. She plays with them frequently. I like them because we can play peek-a-boo by putting items underneath them. Because they are built open underneath, she can grab them easy. She likes the activities on each little car. They also pack very easily for taking some toys out of the house because they nest. I know that she is going to really play with these for years. When we take them places, other kids are very attracted to them. One little boy, age 2, played with them for 30 minutes in the church nursery, stacking them and rolling them. Another boy was 5 years old and he was really into stacking them and identifying the numbers on them. My only concern is that the wheels are held on by a plastic pins and I'm hoping that they don't break. However, you can usually count on FP to make toys that last. My husband is happy because he didn't want me to get one more thing that takes batteries and makes noise!

Maybe the perfect toy
This toy is terrific.It stacks, rolls, and the cars fit inside each other neatly.The three largest cars have a simple moving part on top; the smalles car rattles.No noises, no batteries.Just simple activities a young child can do his or herself.It's marvelously elegant. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Nesting    3. Stacking    4. Vehicles    5. Cars    6. Baby and Infant    7. Learning    8. Toddler   

Reviews (67)

Phonics Radio is great!
I purchased the Phonics Radio for my daughter because she seemed interested in learning her letters & loves music.When she first started playing with it, she was only pushing buttons to hear the music.Now that she is in preschool, she is making the connection to the letters in the radio with her ABC's.She loves this toy & takes it in the car so she can have her own music.That's a little annoying since I'm way over the ABC's song, but she's happy!We use this together with the Phonics Fridge Magnet set.

Fun Toy Radio
I bought this for my daughter when she was two years old and she immediately loved it.She loved the blinking lights and the songs for each of the letters.It also identifies each letter with an example word and plays a few other tunes, like "Old MacDonald Had A Farm".There are two volume settings, loud and soft, and soft is pretty reasonable, while loud isn't super loud either.The toy is very durable.Even a child who is rough with toys would have a hard time breaking it.

The only thing my daughter doesn't like about it is the games.I think the only minus for parents would be they the tunes might get stuck in their heads.It's awfully embarrassing to find yourself singing "The letter B really swings/It's the song it sings!" while at work.Other parents might understand, but everyone else will look at you funny.

Overall, I would recommend this for parents with toddlers.

Not a good toy for phonics
My son got this toy for Christmas just before he turned 2.He loves listening to the few songs that are at the end, but otherwise, the toy is useless.It is very hard for me to understand the differences between some of the letters- I have to hear what word it's using as an example.It's a fun toy to tote around and listen to the songs, but as a learning device, it just isn't as good as other leap frog products. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    3. Electronic    4. Music    5. Baby and Infant    6. Musical    7. Electronic Learning Aids    8. Reading    9. Writing    10. Phonics    11. Counting    12. Activity   

Editorial Review

Learn Thru Music Early Learning System The Learn Through Music interactive early learning system helps teach preschoolers fundamental lessons through the magic of music. The rhythm, rhyme and repetition of musical sounds and lyrics are time-honored and time-tested tools that capture children's attention and imagination and help them to absorb and remember basic concepts. Because music engages a child's entire self - mind, body and soul - putting lessons to music makes it fun and easy for children to soak up new information. Each Learn Through Music software cartridge features: Specific, age-appropriate learning lessons, A wide range of lyrical & rhythmic devices, A variety of visual & audio content and Diverse curriculums based on beloved characters ... Read more

Reviews (154)

Learn through Music really teaches!
My mother in law got this unit with Elmo's Scavenger Hunt cartridge for my son when he was 1 1/2.While one of the other reviewers says it's too loud it does have two volumes.My son had mastered this cartridge by his 2nd birthday. So for Christmas we got him Elmo's numbers and Blue's Clues colors....he has excelled with this toy.
He know's how to mix colors now at 2 1/2 and can tell you exactly how to do it.How many kids his age know that green and yellow make Chartruse?And with Elmo numbers he knows how to count in English and Spanish.
It's an excellent toy...annoying at first because there is something new to learn on each "page" and the songs are great for kids but hard on parents.
As for durability..the only problem we have encountered in 1 1/2 years of use is that anything that falls into the cartridge chamber can harm it...in our case cat hair.But it's worth paying the price....it's excellent and it's a learning tool that can be used for so many things.

Great Toy!...worth the money
I bought this toy over a year ago for my now 2-1/2 year old daughter and she still plays with it.I now have a 19 month old daughter too, and she loves the toy just as much. The youngest bops to the music, and the oldest sings away in the microphone. I have not yet changed the batteries, the "pages" don't stick, the volume is a good volume since it can be adjusted with the "high/low" switch on back. I find the toy to be plenty durable since my youngest seems to stand on it quite a bit and has not damaged the screen or any part of it yet. I also plan to buy more cartridges this weekend for them since I just still have the one it came with. I'm hoping the others are just as fun for my kids as the Sesame Street one. I gave the toy only 4 stars because of the colors on the screen...it would be nice if they were a bit brighter and bolder for the kids.

A whole lot of fun..... UNTIL IT STOPS WORKING!
My 18 month old daughter loved this toy soooo much in the store that I just had to buy it for her. I also picked up two extra cartridges for it. I thought the price was a little high, but for such a great toy I felt that it was worth it. Well, we got it home and she loved it! We played with it together (at all times, other times it was put up) and had so much fun with it... until 3 days after buying it when it stopped working. We didn't have any trouble with the microphone, but the pages would stick on every single cartridge. I changed the batteries, thinking that we probably just played with it too much, but that didn't help. I ended up taking it back to our Toys 'R' Us and exchanging everything for another. Okay, second toy worked really well for about 3 wks, then not only did the pages start sticking but the microphone started cutting out as well!! There was NO REASON for this! My daughter never threw it, stepped on it, hit it, etc. I took it back AGAIN (thank goodness for saving boxes and receipts!! The 3rd one worked a bit longer, almost 2 months, and then the same things started happening again. After putting new batteries in the 3rd toy and having the problems continue, I finally had my partner try to fix it himself! We ended up getting so fed up with this toy that we threw it, along with ALL THREE cartridges, in the trash. BIG, BIG, BIG waste of money!! I am extremely disappointed! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Learning    3. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    4. Electronic    5. Alphabet    6. Music   

Reviews (36)

perfect gift
My daughter received this piano for her 1st birthday and she absolutely LOVES it!!!She will play with it every day and she and her daddy take turns singing into the microphone.She even carries it with her when she goes to another room.This piano is my daughter's favorite toy!I don't know who likes it more, my daughter or my husband (and we've had it for 6 months).

Great toy!
This is one of the best toys ever.We bought this for our son for his 1st birthday.He is now 18 months old and STILL loves to play with it.Not only that, but it seems like he finds a new feature on it every time.My husband loves to play with it, too, so it keeps them both busy!haha!

Drives me insane...but my son loves it
Personally, I hate this toy.Of all the toys my 8 month old son has that make noise, this is the most obnoxious.When I finally can't take it anymore, I have to shut it off and lure my son to another toy.

My son, on the other hand, LOVES it.He's not old enough to be coordinated with it yet, but he loves the lights and constant music/noise.It is only because he seems to love it so much that I haven't thown it out the window.

If you're looking for a piano for your child, get a different one.This isn't a piano as much as it is just a music machine.If nothing else, for your own sanity get a different one!Not to mention the microphone broke after about 2 months....

... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Music    3. Musical Instruments   

Reviews (10)

Great Toy
Baby Jordan got this tow for christmas when he was just two months old, now it is his favourite.He can sleep with it and he now knows how to make it play.

Love the caterpillar!!!
My son has been watching the Baby Einstein DVDs since he was 7 weeks old.He absolutely goes crazy when the caterpillar appears on screen..he laughs and kickcs like crazy in his swing.The caterpillar toy is great for reinforcing things he's learning about.He just loves it!Plus, between the DVDs and the toy it gives me a little time to straighten up=)

Confusion
I bought this toy for my 4month old.I thought that it would be a great toy for him to learn shapes, colors, and animals.The only problem is that the purple section of the caterpillar says that the color is orange.This will definetly confuse my little one when he is able to learn things.Please don't buy this item.Only buy it if you want a confused child in life. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Teaching Toys    2. Learning    3. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    4. Electronic    5. Music    6. Baby and Infant    7. Musical    8. Stuffed Toys    9. Activity   

Editorial Review

Simply put the Move ‘n Groove Dance Mat on the floor and let your child dance the day away. The keyboard makes six different notes, the instrument icons play various tunes, and when the picture of Barney is stepped on, he will issue instructions to step on the blue footprint, step on the red footprint, etc., and even congratulate the child when she steps on the correct spot. The furry, inflatable Barney figure spins around when music plays, an effect that would be better if he didn't tilt weirdly to one side. Nonetheless, Barney is still a nice bonus with this mat since, being removable, he is a fun toy in his own right. True, the combinations of things you can do may be limited, but the physical and interactive qualities of this toy are a big plus. --David Stoesz ... Read more

Reviews (33)

TRICIA LYNNE MAY
I LOVE BARNEY HE IS THE BEST EVER AND MAKES MY DAY EVERYDAY INCLUDING SUNDAY GUYS SERIOUSLY INCLUDING SUNDAY!

How to stabilize barney....
ok - if you've made the mistake of adding this to your toy collection you can try stabilizing Barney by sliding a pair of chopsticks down the right side of his right leg (but not all the way down - just under his arm to about ankle length)and a little baby spoon (or something that size that won't puncture the inflatable plastic) down the inside of his right leg. You still have to keep him inflated to the max and he still tilts to one side slightly. We will see how long the interest level lasts with our one year old and our 3 year old and then we will toss it!
One other piece of advice - just accept the fact that there is nothing that "teaches" dancing here - there is no instructional foot stepping directions from Barney. He just asks to find things on the mat - not to any song or rythym or any pattern at all. So, this could have some "fun" value if your child loves jumping around on the mat with Barney to all the music and sounds the mat makes when danced on.

Fun for a range of ages!
I have 4 kids from 1 to 6 and they all loved this toy!We haven't had any problems with it falling over.The only problem I have noticed is that it seems to go through batteries if you don't turn it off when not is use.I think this is a great item especially for the price! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Toddler   

Reviews (11)

Good for parents and kids
Jack in the Box is a great toy for older children or for parents and kids to do together.My 18 month old cannot turn the handle in the correct direction and gets easily frustrated that "Jack" doesn't pop out!But when we do it together or my older son does it with her she laughs and loves to play with this toy.

My Son's New Favorite Toy
My son LOVES this toy.He is 2 1/2 and it only took him a time or two to figure out how to get Jack back in the box by himself.He plays with it all the time, and never fails to get excited when Jack jumps out at him.You don't have to completely finish the song to get jack back in, you just have to make sure the song finishes the "pop" note.The music is a very traditional music box sound, and not annoying in the least.We suspected he would love a jack in the box, and had trouble finding one that worked well.This one is fantastic.

Love it and leave it
This is a great toy...for a small amount of time. After a minute or two my son gets bored of it because it only does one thing and only plays one tune. Not great for younger kids because jack is hard to get back into the box and I think the young ones will have a hard time (sometimes I have a hard time...lol). Not worth the money I spent on it, but still a fun toy...and a classic. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Pretend Play    2. Puppets    3. Wacky    4. Activity    5. Learning    6. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    7. Electronic    8. Music    9. Musical   

Reviews (15)

Great Toy
My DD got Blue for Christmas...two weeks after she got it...Blue stopped working...come to find out it has an on/off switch. She had somehow turned it off. She loves singing and dancing with Blue. We just had to put more batteries in it today. So the toy goes for a while with the batteries that come with it.

It's cute, and my son loves it
Blue dances, sings, and teaches your child the dance.It comes with the video "Blues Room"which is great if you happen to like the new version of Blues Clues.I personally cannot stand Blues Clues anymore and think it has lost most of it's educational value since Steve left and ESPECIALLY since Blue's Room was added.
Anyway, the dancling and singing blue itself is great, the batteries lasted surprisingly long and my son had a blast with it!

Great
My 2 year old daughter got this for her birthday. All three of my children love it. The dance is very cute, the phrases are fun, and it keeps them entertained for as long as a 2 and 3 year old can be.
When blue won't sing anymore, check the batteries, that might help.The video is a plus. My two younger kids love the videos, any Blue's Clues videos. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Elmo may not be on the cutting edge of pop culture with this incarnation, but he still makes playtime fun. Instead of mimicking the latest hit, which always seems to drive kids wild, he sings and dances his own version of a 70s classic: "YMCA." It never dies, does it? The 13.5-inch Elmo sings out letters to a catchy rhythm while dancing what can only be described as pseudo-Egyptian. It's quite a feat, actually, to see what he does with his arms and legs: standing on one foot, bobbing his head, moving several limbs at once. His cute, familiar voice hasn't changed, either; kids can hear it with each press of his upheld hand. Required: 4 AA batteries.Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (30)

An above average toy from a picky mom
My daughter does not pay ANY attention to Elmo on television, she isn't yet (at one year old) watching Sesame Street. In stores, we have tried playing with her with the other Elmo dancing/moving plush toys out there and she has never paid too much attention- we just figured she doesn't like Elmo. Then for Christmas she got the Elmo learning table and played with it daily, along with the plush toy that comes with it. She still didn't seem too interested in Potty Elmo or Chicken Dance Elmo or some others, so we didn't think she'd be crazy about this one.

Wrong assumption! My daughter LOVES to dance and she dances along with this E-L-M-O. She'll crawl right up to him and sway and bounce to the music. She's still a bit young for this toy but yet she plays with it when we press his hand and get it started (she hasn't yet mastered the art of squeezing his hand to make him dance). This toy is not her favorite but is well made, Elmo dances without falling down, and my daughter does like this toy and will spend time throughout the day be-bopping along with it. I'd recommend it especially if your child is older and likes Elmo!

A friend's daughter is over 2 years old and likes Sesame Street and is scared of the toy when it moves so you never know....my 1 year old is fine with it, and not interested in Sesame Street on tv. Go figure.

And finally, my own opinion, this toy is just cute! And durable. I don't see where it's educational, just fun.

Does ELMO really know how to spell??
The chear part of the ELMO dolls preformance sings E N M O instead of ELMO.Pretty sad expecially when your 20 month old is learning how to say his ABC'S Something should be done about this. The part when the doll makes the letters with his arms is really cute.

Another Elmo Hit and Only Paid $7 at WALMART
I was going to purchase this for my soon to be 2 year old for Christmas but decided to wait.Every time we go to a toy store she would run right to ELMO and press his hand.She would even spell E-L-M-O at home everytime she saw a commercial or played with one of her other ELMO toys. She loved it, but I hated to spend (...) on yet another ELMO toy.Well I just purchased it for (...) on clearance at WALMART.She hasn't stopped playing with it and dances right along with him.It is very cute (a little annoying after a while for Mom and Dad).Well worth it for a bargain price of (...). ... Read more

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Reviews (47)

My 3 year old still plays with this toy!
I bought this toy for my daughter when she was a year old and she immediately took to it.She loved pressing the keys and looking at herself in the mirror.It's two years later and she still plays with it regularly.Now she likes turning the lights off and seeing the light bar around the mirror light up to the sound of the tunes.She also likes hearing the different musical instruments and singing to the tunes.It's held up very well.It doesn't look new, but it also doesn't look beat up either.Even though she knows all her shapes, she still likes pressing the keys and hearing how the shape's name is pronounced.Also, it shuts off by itself if not in use and the batteries last an extremely long time (I think I've only changed them once in two years).

There might be two minuses, though they don't bother me in the least.If your child likes kissing his/her reflection, expect to clean the mirror regularly.Also, some people might think it might be a little loud, though compared to some toys, and in my opinion, the volume is not that bad at all.

All in all, I would recommend this toy for parents of infants who want something durable and will keep their child's interest for years to come.

Great toy!!!!!
I bought this toy for my daughter when she was 4 months old.She loved it!!It has a wide variety of songs and the mirror is very entertaining for little ones.She is now 13 months old and still plays with it.This is one toy she hasn't lost interest in!!
Strongly Recomend!!

Great Toy!!
My son got this when he was four months old.At that age, he liked to watch us play it for him, but at five months he started playing with it himself.The keys are easy for him to press and he really likes looking at himself in the mirror.

There are three different learning modes (colors and shapes, songs, and free play). There are also four different instruments to choose from (banjo, flute, sax and piano).Each instrument plays several different songs which are selected by pressing the instrument buttons surrounding the mirror.The mirror has four flashing red light bars around it that light up when the keys are pressed.

The only complaint I have with this toy is the volume.As with some other Leap Frog toys we own, the sound is too loud on the lowest setting. The speaker is on the upper left side and I find it easy to hold my palm over it to lower the volume when I am helping play with the toy, but I am considering putting some tape over the speaker for times that my palm is not available. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Music    3. Musical Instruments    4. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    5. Electronic    6. Baby and Infant    7. Musical    8. Electronic Learning Aids    9. Activity   

Reviews (7)

Sturdy but out of tune
After taking my 8 month old to a friends house where he loved their kids xylophone and especially the full sized piano we got this toy for our son.

Yes the strings are short and a little one doesn't know how to hold the mallet handles on their own, but I can position the mallets in his hands properly and he does just fine.They are just long enough to be able to strike all the surface of each bar with the end just fine.

It is very sturdy.My 8mo old likes to bang on it pretty hard and so far we've had no problems with it coming apart.

My big gripe with it, though, is that two of the bars are clearly out of tune (the 3rd and 8th from the lowest pitch).It looks like they just cut the bars using an evenly increasing size rather than properly sizing them to match a major diatonic scale.I know this probably isn't a big deal, but I'm really sensitive to things being in tune, and besides do you want your developing kid to get used to a musical scale that's out of tune?

Xylophone frustrating
We bought the caterpillar version and while the piano part is cute, the xylophone the very, very frustrating for my 3 and 1 1/2 year olds.I realize the strings are short to prevent them from getting wrapped around their necks, but these are so short that even if I hold the mallet perfectly, I can barely reach the end bars.For a toddler, who doesn't always hold the mallet the correct way, this toy is very frustrating.
Even if you hold it just right to reach the furthest note, the head of the mallet is so huge that it hits the sides of the instrument and the note sounds dull and not pretty at all.
This toy causes more frustration than pleasure.

Despite mixed reviews...
We bought this toy for my 19 month old son for Christmas and he loves it. I agree that the strings are a little short but I guess that's how life goes. He doesn't have any problems with the keys...toys are so individual as far as kids go. Some kids will love it and some kids won't look at it twice. He hasn't broken it yet and it seems pretty tough, so I guess we'll cross our fingers. I think that it was totally worth it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Music    2. Musical Instruments    3. Electronic