Editorial Review

This toy will make you want to take a nap. Equipped with straps that attach it to a crib, this play aquarium and music maker is the perfect thing to amuse a child or soothe them to sleep. There are three settings, depending on what kind of stimulation is needed: music only; music plus soft glowing lights; and music plus lights, bubbles, and moving fish. There are also three music options, the best one offering soft and melodic New Age fare, the other two somewhat odd, spacey versions of familiar lullabies. The music combined with the lights creates an instantly peaceful, soothing ambiance. There are a couple of buttons and doodads for baby to bat around that make the fish react in various ways. If these buttons were a little more responsive, this toy would be near perfect. --David Stoesz ... Read more

Reviews (659)

My little one goes to sleep everynight w/ this toy
We really like it. I had the older one for my 6 year old. Now my 7 month has had this one for 6 months, and has listened to it everynight before bed. He has now learned how to turn it on and off himself. I would highly recommend this toy.

Second baby still loves it
I love this aquarium. We first had the older version of it with my first son (broke it when he got older). Then we got this one for my now 6 month old. I change his dipes in the crib sometimes or let him play there and I just turn it on for him to watch. He loves it. I LIKE that it can be loud because when I lay him down for a nap, I want it to drown out the noise in the background... like of my almost 3 year old racing through the house. <br /> <br /> It definitely keeps him entertained and even moreso as a newborn.

ok toy
This is just an ok toy. My 9 month old son likes it ok but it not one of his favorites. The motor is loud and it's kind of creepy music. I would recommend getting a different toy to soothe your little one back to sleep. My child just mainly likes to play with it a few minutes or so.

Not quite what I expected
The ocean waves sound really soothes my son to sleep, but I have to keep the volume turned down all the way. I can't believe how loud the volume is for a nightime toy. Also, I can't turn the bubbles on because the motor is so loud if it doesn't keep the baby awake, it keeps me awake over the monitor. The bubbles are the major reason I bought it, so I'm not exactly thrilled with it. I just feel like there was probably something else out there we both would have liked better.

Helps her learn to go back to sleep on her own
I bought this for my daughter when she was just 1 month old, she is now almost two and she still loves it. You can adjust the how low it hangs down in the crib so I have never had a prblem with her head getting hurt. She loves to push it by herself, and when she wakes up in the middle of the night she just sits up and pushes the button and goes back to sleep. The Bubbles are a bit to loud to use when she is older though and the music is also a bit loud for a crib toy. But the running water noise saved us when she was a baby. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This is a happy, noisy toy that should amuse most toddlers. Everything that can be touched reacts in some way, from a trombone-playing frog to a book that sings the alphabet. Our favorite is the colored keyboard that sings each color you press. The tabletop can be placed on the floor for those still in the crawling phase, or can sit on the included legs for a sturdy surface and leaning spot for little ones who are new to walking. If there is any fault with the Learning Table, it may be that it has too many features: each element of the table reacts in two different ways, depending on whether it's in Learn Mode or Music Mode. (Modes are switched by flipping the page of the book mounted in the center of the table.) Though this means more fun stuff for kids to hear, the mode concept is not one that they can be expected to understand, and the effect of the toy's inconsistent reactions is likely to be confusion. --David Stoesz ... Read more

Reviews (511)

Well worth the money!
Bought this for my daughter at about 6 mos and she just turned one. She still plays with it! It is well worth the money. Also, it is fun to put little goodies in the open/close compartment. I put cheerios in there and she loves it!

Great toy!
This is a must! This was given to my daughter before she could walk. Not only did we take the legs off so she can play with it while sitting up, but this toy helped her pull up! We love this toy! She is a toddler now and still enjoys it and I am sure when our newborn gets older she will enjoy it the same. ***We use to put surprises in the little purple compartment!

Love this!!!!!
Wow!! We got this for Christmas for our 4 month old and she loved it from day 1!! She loved holding herself up and standing by it and playing with it. I thought that there didn't look like very many activities but when you turn the page in the middle it makes all the gadgets do new things. Our daughter is now 1 and still plays with it all day. My husband has even caught me playing with it and singing along a few times!! I love it too!

Great For Learning to Walk
I bought this for my son when he was first starting to crawl. After I bought it he was pulling up on it and cruising/ walking around it at 7 months. He interacts with it by learning how to open the little purple lid, how to press, push, pull and how to flip the page. It is very heavy and he can push it and bang as hard as he can and it will not flip. It is also very durable, although, the purple lid can be pulled off but it is safe and it snaps back on easily. It is funny because my son cannot stand for me to reattach it because the first thing that he does is pull it back off. Highly recommended.

Best table toy ever!
My kids and any other kids that come to my home LOVE this toy. It's the first thing they got to. We've had ours for about 2 years now and when ever any one I know have a baby I get this for them as their Happy six months old gift! This is a MUST have for any kid! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Baby Tad is a wonderful interactive toy that makes early learning fun andeasy. Baby Tad (short for tadpole) helps your preschooler learn shapes, colors, activities,and songs. When your little one presses a colored light-up button, Tad identifies the colorand shape indicated on the button. With his cheerful demeanor and infectious laugh, Tadoffers support and encouragement and will quickly become a close and trusted friend.Besides various greetings,a squeeze of Tad's hand brings forth favorite children's songs, sung in a squeaky, high-pitched voice. --Alison Golder ... Read more

Reviews (310)

better then expected
My 2 year old daughter got this last Christmas. My first thought was she was to old for it,I was wrong. She plays with Tad, regularly and is now 3. She love to sing to the songs. I love that it turns it self off. The batteries are still going strong.<br />

leapfrog tad
My 18-mo. old received this gift for his first christmas. He loves it so much. it goes everywhere with him!

Baby Tad is a lifesaver!
My daughter got Baby Tad as a gift when she was 6 months old.At first she ignored it.Now she loves listening to the nursery rhymes during playtime.I would sing along with Baby Tad first then eventually my baby would hum along with us!Most helpful is the 6 minutes worth of Lullaby/Classical songs.When it's sleep time,I would just have Baby Tad play the lullabies and usually in 6 munutes my baby is asleep!We bring Baby Tad during long car trips too.The nursery rhymes keep my baby occupied when she's bored with her other toys and the lullabies help her settle into a nap when she's tired and sleepy.A true lifesaver!

We all LOVE TAD
I love this toy. It has two volumes (loud/soft) and it plays sleepy music (you can set the minutes) and it is easy for little kids to push. My daughter got this gift at age 10 months now she is almost three and still loves to play with him. She really loves the kiss noises he makes (lips on his cheek). This was worth the MONEY!!

Learning to hug
I love this toy for the fact that it taught our 8 month old daughter to hug everything in sight. Her's makes kissing noises and says "I love you" when you press the kiss on the cheek. She was a hug enthusiast after just a few days of playing with it! Now that she is 16 months old she is starting to understand the reward system for playing with the light buttons and has learned about turning it on and off by using the hands and foot. The tunes it sings are all her favorites now. My only regret is that I didn't buy it for her sooner. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Music stimulates the brain and encourages early learningskills. This interactive cube lets children choose from any combinationof five different instruments--harp, French horn, piano, flute, andviolin--to collaborate on eight Mozart tunes. A solo flute might playan excerpt from "Ah! Vous Dirai-je, Maman (Twinkle, Twinkle)," or aFrench horn intone a theme from The Marriage of Figaro. Otherchoices include "Country Dance #5," "Come Sweet May," "Der Vogelfanger"(from The Magic Flute), "March in D," "Landler," and "L&agrave;Ci Darem la Mano" (from Don Giovanni). Press the "orchestra"button and hear all the instruments play together. As the songs play,each selected instrument button flashes to the beat. The sound is notorchestral quality, but you get a fair electronic approximation of eachinstrument. Operates on three AA batteries (not included). --TamiHoriuchi ... Read more

Reviews (107)

fabulous for babies and toddlers
My daughter loved this toy when she was six months old, and still loves it at 18 months. I have had no durability issues, and when I noticed the instruments playing out of sync I replaced the batteries, which solved the problem. I love that she can select different instruments to listen to, and that it exposes her to more than the usual canned electronic baby music... she now has a love for instrumental music! This is a fantastic addition to her toybox.

Great music, but it doesn't hold my son's interest.
I seem to be more interested in this toy than my 8 month old. There are lots of beautiful songs and the music is very high quality for an electronic toy. It's too bad my son doesn't like to play with it, because the music is so much nicer to listen to than any of his other toys!

BEST toy we have, by far!
This toy was given to me for my 1 yr old daugther. She is almost 2 yrs now, and she still LOVES playing with it. It is very durable, considering how much she tosses it (and that another baby played with it before they gave it to us). Also, we have only had to change the batteries once. We take it with us every where we go, and it has served us very well in the car - especially in those moments when she just doesn't want to be put in the car seat. It has been very educational as well, in that she can now identify each instrument by name and picture, and presses the appropriate button. She will keep playing the instruments over and over - and yet we don't get tired of it either. This is one of the best toys we have, by far.

He loved it- while it lasted
This toy gets my son's attention- and did since he got it for his first Christmas (9 months)- but unfortunately, it is NOT DURABLE. You cannot let the child actually play with the toy- if they throw it at all, it's history. And guess what- most babies throw things when they get excited. They tend to drop things, too- the toy is heavy for a small child. He loved the lights, and he loved pressing teh big buttons- the music is not too bad, either- but for the cost, you want it to be durable so the baby can play with it.

Best toy yet!
My parents gave this to my daughter when she was three months old, and she seemed to like the musical sounds as we pressed the buttons. She is now eight months old, and she STILL loves it! It is her favorite toy. At 5 months, we would put it between her legs for balance while she learned to sit up, and she would make the music play. Now she's learning to crawl, and she always goes for this toy! The music is NOT annoying, and we enjoy listening to it as much as she does. We feel like she will enjoy this toy for a long time to come! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Toys that grow with your child from infancy to toddlerhood are well worth their cost. The Classical Chorus Gym is one such toy, allowing your child to explore music at every stage of his development. As an infant, your child can lay on his back and bat at the hanging toys while the keyboard plays 10 different classical or nursery melodies, some with a children’s chorus. You can set the music to play continuously for up to 10 minutes, or only when your child successfully hits a toy, teaching him cause and effect. When your child learns to sit, the keyboard adjusts with him to the proper height, and then adjusts one more times to accommodate a standing or walking child. At these stages, you can set the music to play part of a song when your child presses a key or let your child experiment with scales and individual notes. The keyboard’s "singing" stars light up as music plays to further delight budding musicians. The Classical Chorus Gym requires three "C" batteries for operation. --Cristina Vaamonde ... Read more

Reviews (110)

Extremely Versatile
We bought this toy when our son was just two months old and he loves it. We are at five months now and he still gets a huge kick out of it.
There are so many ways to play! At first we'd lay him on his back an he would swat at the dangling rattles. They are bright and attention-getting. When he'd hit one, music would play and the lights would flash; it kept his attention. It didn't take much effort, and helped develop his coordination. There aren't many toys a two-month-old will play with. Then he learned that he could push the buttons to play and change songs.
The toy is re-positionable, so it can be used when the baby is laying down, with the rattles hanging. Tilt it at 45 degrees and sit him in a bouncer or car seat under it. At 90 degrees when he's standing (we still have to help him stand). And with a switch in the legs' configuration, it can be positioned so that he sits and plays.
There are (at least) 6 sound modes, ranging from one button playing a whole song, through pressing buttons that prompt a song to continue, to one button being a single tone (like a keyboard).
We love this toy and so does our son. It is good for just about everything except tummy time. We expect to get at least a year out of the developmental value.
Just another two things about it: it is very sturdy construction, but not a good toy to balance or lean on, and it is EASY to reconfigure.

It Grows With Your Child !
Another must have for every new parent !

We bought when dd was several months old, however we were still able to get some use out of the hanging toy feature. She loved it because she could control the music when it stopped. We also found that she would try to reach beyond the hanging toys and press the piano keys.

Then as she got older, we would sit her in front of the piano inside her boppy. She loved the fact that she was playing upright and would constantly watch all the colors. The keys on the piano were nice and big for her to hit as she gained more control of her hands.

Then as she got to the standing age, she would use this tall piano to stand up with. We never had a problem with it tipping over because the legs seemed to be positioned just right to prevent this from happening. As the months went on, she would push the piano throughout the house when she didn't feel like using her activity walker. Several months ago she began to press keys on setting 2 and she would dance to the music. Now at 20 months she tries to sing along with the songs (ie Twinkle Twinkle Little Star) and also recites the colors as they light up.

The variety of songs is great. You don't really get tired of them. Also, we've had for almost 18 months and have never needed to replace the batteries yet.

We very seldom use setting 3 (the one that lets you play it like a real piano) because we have a real piano that she tries to play.

The entertainment and educational value on this toy cannot be compared. It's so nice that it grows with your child. We definitely feel like we got our monies worth ! It has proved to be extremely durable!

A couple minor complaints that I have is that there is no volume control. Sometimes it does seem as though it's a bit loud. Also the orange plastic piece that snaps in above the keyboard doesn't really seem to provide any value. DD just kept pulling it off and found that the force of pulling would cause her to fall backwards to the floor - - after several times of doing this, we decided to just not put it back on.

Great toy - great value ! !

A great beginning toy
We got this toy as a gift and my daughter has loved it ever since she was just a few weeks old. She started out watching the lights on the mirrored attachment and has loved every feature; the dangling toys, the keyboard, the music. I was even able to turn it into a kicking toy. She loves to kick the keyboard and make it play. It keeps her attention for LONG spans of time.

My daughter's favorite toy!
We bought this toy when my daughter was 5 months old. She is now 16 months old and STILL loves it. It was one of the first toys that she played with when she was an infant. It helped her to learn to control her legs. It's not a "battery hog" either, even if you forget to turn it off, like we do. It also breaks down for easy travel.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this toy!
My son loves this toy. We've had it since he was 4 months old and he is now 9 months old. He plays with it everyday. It entertains him for hours on end. I would say this is the best toy we have. ... Read more

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 (73)

We hokey pokey right along!
Since my 1-year-old is an Elmo freak, we bought this for her for Christmas. She loved it from the first beat! It was hard for her to turn on at first, but once she got him going, she danced right along! And I have to admit, it's kind of a catchy jig! Our only problem was that the batteries ran out pretty fast. But other than that, we love Hokey Pokey Elmo!

It is an awsome toy!
I love Elmo and so does my niece. My co-worker had it, and I thought it was neat. Now I would like to buy it for my niece for her birthday and i can't find it any wheres in syracuse New york.

great toy elmo
i bought this elmo for my 6 month old elmo he loved it and we as adults thought it was ahoot i wanted one so did some of my family it is so sweet

Our kids LOVE Elmo!
My daughter got this for her first Christmas this past year and she is going on 7mos now but she absolutely LOVES this toy. She giggles and squirms whenever he's singing and dancing. Her 2 yr old brother dances with him too and loves when he falls over because he asks you to pick him back up. Granted he doesn't sing the whole song but who cares? It's the fun of dancing with Elmo. So far Elmo has survived 2 kids and a curious cat. The entertainment value and watching what your kids do when he dances and sings far outweighs the noise and not singing the whole song. I recommend this if you want to have a great time with your children.

LOVE IT!
My Greatgrandmother got this Elmo for me for Christmas, and I can't stop bouncing when he dances. I'm still pretty little, so I like to eat Elmo's fur, but when Mommy and Daddy play and dance with me, it's SO much fun! ... Read more

Editorial Review

This gentle, whimsical toy provides gentle stimulation and interactive play for a baby or toddler. There are three balls, each with a different colored fish inside, that the child can place inside the fishbowl, prompting soft music and happy, bubbly sound effects. The music and sounds also play when the balls are moved around inside the bowl. The unit has a rounded bottom so it can be gently rocked, and there are two volume settings; a feature parents are sure to appreciate. Requires 3 AA batteries (included). --David Stoesz ... Read more

Reviews (115)

Makes Me Want to Dance :)
This toy was great when dd was learning how to control her hands. The whole that you drop the balls into was large enough that she didn't have troubles "missing". The balls where just the right size for little hands to hold on to.

It is extremely durable - dd dropped the entire fish bowl several times and the balls have been dropped, kicked, stepped on and who knows what else - they all still work just like the day we opened the box. Even though dd is now 20 months old she ocassionally still pulls this toy out to hear the fun music and see what other treasures she can insert into the bowl. Also, we like the volume feature.

She didn't seem to pay much attention to the "floating/spinning" items inside the translucent balls. Also we would bring this along to grandma & grandpa's house frequently - and since they have a dog, we found it difficult to easily get all the dog hair out of the fishbowl. And finally we wish that it played a few more toons. The one song it does play is definitely upbeat and doesn't seem to get annoying as quickly as a lot of the toys out there.

A great toy to have!

One of our baby's favorite toys
Ever since our son was 2 months old, he likes looking and listening to the fishbowl. Now at 6 months, whenever he is near it, his eyes are glued to its direction. He loves grabbing for it and watching the lights and movement. You have to move the bowl three times in order for the music to start. The first two times, it makes a bubbling sound and the lights turn on. My husband and son now have a routine: Our son moves it and watches the fishes move and the lights flutter. On the third time when the music starts, my husband dances around the nursery with our son in his arms - It's really cute and always makes our son smile! I can't imagine him being bored anytime soon with this toy. He has yet to discover the flutterballs inside. Highly recommended!

Disappointed
My son loved this toy, until it stopped making noise and lights, and it wasn't the batteries. Very disappointed, since it seemed to be a huge hit with him from birth until it stopped working.

not to great after 12mo
This toy kept my son entertained for a while when he was 9-12 months. After that he was more interested in stacking or pushing buttons. He does still play with the balls, throwing them at everything he can!

Great Toy, Lots of Fun, Still Gets Lots of Use After 2 Years
I got this toy for my twins when they were around 6 months old. The sounds are soothing, the water, fish, and glitter are appealing, and this sucker is built solidly! The flutter balls are also a big hit to take in the tub. Even though my almost-3-year-olds are well past the Put In, Take Out stage of playtime interests, they still like to play with this toy now and then.

It still looks like new after 2 1/2 years of being rolled around, dropped, and sat upon. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

My son loves it, but its a little wobbly
My son just loves this toy. He is 13 months old, and he returns to it several times per day. That said, his interest is almost entirely in the piano portion, which is detachable. So far, he has no interest in the "lego-like" things. He does play with the other half (little creatures which move and make noise), and enjoys them, but not as much as the piano. Of course, he has many music toys, and comes to this more often because it is raised, and as a pre-walker, he prefers to stand.

Problem: he loves to climb, and tries to climb ONTO this table all the time. It is way to wobbly (spelling?) for that, so I'm constantly telling him not to do that. He does seem to be learning, but I still have to keep an eye on him. However, I wouldn't trade this toy for any other he has right now. Not a day has gone by that he hasn't spent 30-60 minutes at it throughout the day since it arrived. ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Great for a sitting baby
When I first read the reviews for this before buying it there were a lot that said that a downside was that it was too heavy for the baby to really manipulate, but I bought it anyway because I really liked it and because it was on sale. For the first few months we had it my son really wasn't interested because he couldn't play with it on his stomach or back, but when he turned 5 months and learned to sit it quickly became one of his favorite toys. He plays with it everday for 10-15 minutes at a time, a long time compared to his other toys, and hasn't shown any signs of tiring. The music is wonderful and the colors are bright and attractive. The heavy weight of the toy, I have found, is actually a plus because it helps it to stay sun side up while he is playing with it. I would highly recommend this toy, but just wait until they are sitting and can really play with it

Great for babies and toddlers
My daughter loves this toy and so do we! We also enjoyed the fact that it played music from Peter and the Wolf. This is a great toy that I would definitely recommend!!!!!

great buy
I bought this for my grandson when he was born and took it to the hospital for him.He was premature and had a few health problems among them acid reflux. From the very beginning the music has had a very calming affect on him. The nurses even let my daughter keep it near his bed and played it for him quite a bit. Now at 3 months he still loves it and it works like a charm to calm him down when he's fussy. LIke one of the other reviewers, I to thought it would be larger than it is but---its still a good size toy. It is brightly colored, has flashing lights to get the baby's attention, each sun ray has something different for the baby to do, there's a sound adjustment and the music is the clearest I've ever heard on an infant toy. This is absolutely worth the money (I now have one at my house to) and I would advise anyone to purchase this--(...)

Great toy for the price
my 6 mo. daughter really likes this toy. It has two volume levels and can be set to be motion activated or to play continuously. The classical music is supposed to stimulate baby's mind. She cried the first time she saw it (a couple of months ago) but really enjoys it now. If it scares your baby, try again later. I really like the teether on it because at this age she wants to put everything in her mouth. Also,one corner crinkles, one feels like a beanbag and one squeaks.

My nephew loves it
I bought it for him even though I thought the music and the face were kind of wierd, but he loved it from 1 month & he still loves it at 1 year. My sister says the music is not too loud, and that it's soothing. & Now this is the first toy my husband wants to get for our baby. ... Read more

Reviews (163)

Has its flaws
My daughter really enjoys the ball but it has a few flaws: one, when you have it on the music function, you can play different tunes by pressing the letters. It carries its own tune if you roll it. But if she presses the letters for a song -- and moves it even slightly -- her tune stops and the "stock song" comes on. On the alphabet function, if she doesn't roll it again fast enough, the alphabet keeps starting over instead of letter her play the whole song.
For parents, the musical tones can really get on your nerves.

A fun, sturdy toy
A great toy. It comes out of its stand and rolls like a ball, or on its stand it spins. When turned on, it does letters, phonic sounds and music. Has a volume control (YEAH!!) and my 14 month old hasn't get tired of hearing it talk to her! She quickly figured out how to work it, as you don't have to push the buttons too hard, and spinning or rolling it gently starts it singing too. Great bright colors, and it washes off easily.

Fun for a range of ages
My then 3 month old son received this for christmas. I would sit with him on my lap and we would play with this and it would capture his attention for quite awhile. Now that he's older, he's spinning that ball like crazy and when i take it off the stand he pushes it around and crawls after it. The combo of lights and songs really captures him. My 5 and 3 yr old both like to play with it too, they sing along with the alphabet and like all the songs. Very good toy. I would definately recommend it.

Very Good Educational and Fun Toy
My daughter recieved this toy as a gift from Santa. She was 9 months old at the time and really enjoyed it. She is now 15 months old and still plays with it but not as much. She loves to push the letters and hear the different sounds. She also LOVES the music. All in all it is a good toy and well worth the money.

My Son Loves This Toy!
This toy was given to my son as a 1st birthday gift. He just loves it! By far it is his favorite toy! ... Read more

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 (287)

My Daughters Favorite Toy
When my 6 month old daughter got this toy for Christmas from her uncle, we really didn't think it looked any different than the other 500 battery operated toys she got.Boy, were we wrong!Skylar looooves this toy.When she hits the drum(banging things seems to be the favorite amusement for most babies this age)each letter from A-Z or numbers 1-10,depending on the setting, show up in red lights and is yelled out by a child's voice, each time it is hit.This teaches her cause and effect,and also, the alphabet and numbers visually and vocally.This toy also has 2 more settings for instrumental sounds,so a child can experience playing their own drum.Cute childrens' voices provide songs and words of encouragement when your little one is drumming away.A really interactive,educational,and entertaining gem of a toy!

An absolute must
This drum is my daughter’s favorite toy. I like it for the educational aspect. She likes it for the sounds and lights. Still, she started recognizing the alphabet and numbers around 6 months of age...turning her head toward the person, toy or TV doing the reciting. For mom's sanity, it has a low volume switch AND the ability to change sounds. (The default song for ABC's can drive you nuts). It has a wonderful FOLLOW ME drum program similar to the game SIMON. It teaches 1 through 10, A through Z, and rhythms. It automatically turns off to save on the battery after a set period of time. (In 4 mouth of daily use, I'm still on the original battery). I can't say enough good things about this drum!

My 7 month old LOVED this toy!
We first gave this to my daughter at 6 months and she was a little scared. Soon enough, though, it became her favorite toy. She would sit and play with the Learning Drum for 15-20 minute incriments many times throughout the day. She is now 14 months old and still enjoys playing with her drum. There are many different settings, which is like having a new toy each time you switch the setting. The music is catchy and not at all annoying. My daughter LOVES this toy!

My daughter stills plays w/ this toy...8 mo. later
We bought this toy for our daughter after she played with it for hours while at a friends house. Our friends daughter who was three, absoulutely loved this toy. When we bought it, our daughter wasn't skilled enough to push the buttons, or slide it to change the "game", but she could definitely hit it. She actually got more enjoyment out of tossing it or picking it up and dropping it , b/c it would say a letter/number or sound everytime it got bumped. Also, I can say for a fact, that this toy is very sturdy. My husband accidently left it on top of the car while we were packing up to go on vacation, and a couple minutes later we saw it fly off the car through the rear view mirror. Amazingly, it still worked, which we're grateful for, b/c now that our daughter is 15 months old she still loves to play with it.

Yawn!
I bought this toy for my son when he was 6 mo old, he's turning 9 mo soon and still doesn't love this toy. I thought he'd enjoy it because he enjoys all his musical toys. Well he doesn't enjoy this musical toy. I try to get him to interact with it at least a few times everyday, sometimes he'll tap the drum a few times then go onto another toy, other days he pushes it out of the way as to say I'm not interested! The only thing I really like about it is that it shuts off after 30 seconds of not being used! I'm sure some kids like this toy but mine sure doesn't. ... Read more

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 (124)

A neat, fun, little set of cars.
This was one of the first presents my son recieved after his arrival. Since then, they've been off and on hits with him. It has only been in the last few months however, (from about 15 - 18 mos.), that he's really spent much time with them. He enjoys stacking them up more than nesting them together, I think because he likes to knock them down once they're stacked up. Sometimes he can get a little frustrated by them since they aren't exactly easy to stack for a toddler even. With a little guidance and help though, he enjoys playing with them most of the time.

I think that they lose some appeal for him, as they're not as realistic looking as other toy cars. My son gets a lot of enjoyment out of pointing out real cars and trucks, and other toy cars he has that are more realistic looking get more of his attention.

I think what he most enjoys about the cars themselves are that each one has a different little feature that makes noise or does some action, or both. For example, the fire engine has a ladder on top of it that ratchets up and down, making a clicking noise in the process, and this is one of my sons favorite things about this toy.

Your child's mileage may vary, of course, but overall these little cars are well designed, educational, and enjoyable toys.

My 6 month old loves his cars!
This is a wonderful toy that is fun, educational, and affordable! The cars are different colors, and each has a different number, 1 - 4, to help a child learn counting and colors. They also stack on top of each other and nest inside of each other.(The nesting feature is great for storage too). Each car has a neat fun feature for little ones to explore (e.g., the small car is also a rattle, the large fire truck's ladder moves, etc.) The cars are also very sturdy (as has been proven by my son repeatedly banging them together,) and they are easy for little hands to grab onto. At 6 months of age, my son really enjoys looking at the toys, passing them from one hand to the other, banging them together, and, of course, putting them in his mouth. I imagine this toy will remain one of my son's favorites as he learns to stack them and roll them on the floor. I would highly recommend this item.

Very nice toy!
These are such nice cars to teach little ones numbers and the stacking value. Ours have been scooted across the floor, cat's tail, into walls, you name it and they've always come back for more. It's just a nice change from the nesting blocks and it's fun to hear all the vehicle sounds that children make with these guys. I'd buy them again for sure!

Great toy
I bought these for my nephew when he was 6 months old, he is now 2 and still uses them everyday. Since they stack, they are easy for my sister to cart around in her bag to restuarants, doctors, etc. They still look brand new. A must for any infant/toddler who loves cars and trucks!

Great Toy for Younger Children
My son got these when he was 6 months old and has loved them since. He'll play with these everyday and for a while at a time. There aren't many toys out there that can hold his interest for more than a few minutes, but these can. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Love this!!
my daughter rec'd this as a present when she turned one. She is now 14 mnths and is still enthraalled with it. it is a very sturdy toy and has great educational value. I would definitely recommend this toy.

Doesn't hold attention
My twins got this when they were 18 months and loved it the first day then got bored. They are 2 now and still won't sit and play with it. I'll try it again in a few months to see if it will hold their attention and help with their ABC's.

Boring toy
My 2 year old daughter played with this toy exactly 5 minutes and has not picked it up since. It was a Christmas gift and I almost returned it and I wish I had. She would much rather use her imagination or sing the alphabet than use this. It has no learning value except repetition.

Can't leave the house without it!
My son is now 16 months old, but he received this toy as a gift a couple of months before his first birthday and he plays with it all of the time. When he's fussy in the car and won't get in the carseat, I hand him the radio and he sits right down and plays. It's been dropped in the van countless times and is still working fine. I also received the Leap Frog Alphabet Pal (catepillar) and we keep it in the house (which is also a 5-star toy) and the radio is kept in the car. We also have a "Melissa and Doug" alphabet board; with all of these educational toys, he's already learning his letters. He picks up the 'P' and says 'pa' and picks up the 'D' and says 'doggy.

Excellent Educational toy!
After reading the reviews I had to purchase this for my year old son. Not only does it withstand the 5 foot throw, 2 foot drop, and the walking on all that happen daily.. it is a great learning toy and I do not regret the pruchase. I highly recommend this to everyone. On another note.. it has been on every day since receiving it and on the same batteries...I wish more electronic products would be this reliable! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Get ready to learn shapes, colors, numbers, letters, face parts, animal sounds, and more with Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and the rest of the Sesame Street gang! This Sing & Teach Table features tons of buttons and other interactive gadgets that prompt fun lessons for babies and toddlers, all in the wacky, weird voices of the Muppets. (Presumably, tots are familiar enough with the characters to understand all the squeals and growls.) The semi-circular shaped plastic table stands 12 inches high, not counting the waggling Elmo head that presides over the action. Children sit or stand at the table, lifting the Cookie Monster head to learn about "open" and "closed," spinning a drum for the alphabet song, or picking up a cell phone to hear The Count soliloquize about numbers. Bright, cheerful, and noisy--just what the toddler ordered! --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Teacher 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 (7)

good fun
My daughters(4year old, 2year old and 9 mos) love this toy. The keys are a little hard to hit but they seem to really enjoy it. The baby enjoys trying to play it but likes watching her sisters play it more.

A good example of a young child's keyboard
This is pretty good. It is one of those plastic - roll out type keyboard, which allows it to be both a very big toy and easily stored at the same time. The sounds are not brilliant, and as I assume they must have used samples this cuold easily have been improved (the quack only just sounds like a quack for example). The keyboard could also have been made better by including two octaves, and some black notes. If the makers want us to treat these toys as educational, then they must assume that they are a prelude to a child working with a piano type keyboard, so some sharps and flats would help. These two niggles aside, this is a fun item, and very easy for little ones to use.

GREAT FOR PRESCHOOLERS!
THIS PIANO IS EXCELLENT FOR LITTLE HANDS TO PRACTICE ON AND FOR LITTLE EARS TO LISTEN TO. MY 2 LITTLE GIRLS (17 MONTH OLD AND 4 YEAR OLD) LOVE IT. I ALSO TEACH MUSIC TO A GROUP OF 3-5 YEAR OLDS AND THEY REALLY ENJOY PLAYING IT. VERY EASY FOR THEM TO OPERATE AND GREAT FOR FAMILIARIZING THEM WITH MUSICAL SCALE AND DIFFERENT SOUNDS.

Not what I expected
This is not really a practical toy. My son gets discouraged, because you have to press on the keys really hard and in order to follow the music you have to be rough. It's like playing musical chairs with 5 bullies and a moving floor.

not worth the price
i bought this for my 2 year old son. the sounds are tinny and overly loud. and it's confusing to use for any child under age 3. he only played with it for about 15 minutes, then that was it. so not worth the...price tag in my opinion. ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Bought it for the long haul
I took a chance buying this toy. I felt it was expensive, but reasoned that although my then 6 mo. old baby would not use it for more than a teether, he'd later be able to play it himself at age 2+. My son liked it initially, but beyond grabbing it and eating the handle, legs and tassles, he was not able to play it except by accident or with his feet by 8+ months. I (and other adults) play songs or notes for him, which he likes, and am hoping that in the future he'll play with it rather than use it as an expensive teether. He tries, but it's hard for him to play notes right now. I did not know that the toy was scented and thought it was from the strong-smelling odors of the store from which it was purchased. I do not like artificial scents, but it doesn't bother me now. If you like long-term toys, this is a nicely colorful, non-electronic purchase that encourages interactive play. I use it to also teach colors and or general play. I would give it 5 stars once my baby can play the notes.

Fun with Octotunes
I bought this for my son and when I took it out of the package and played it for my two month old son, he could not keep his eyes off of it. The colors facinated him, the sounds amazed him and he just wanted to stay focused on it as long as possible. He looked at it for hours, smiles at it and finds great enjoyment. I feel he will get plenty of use out of this fun, educational toy as well as being durable to take everywhere with him. I would highly recommend this for any baby to encourage thier visualization & listening skills, then motor skills later.

Great for everyone
We brought this toy for our son when he was 4 weeks old. Although we doubted he would be able to operate the legs on his own for a while yet it has prooven to be a fantastic way for adults to interact with him. He started by watching and smiling or just staring when we played the leg's. It then became something of interest for him to reach out for and then chew on. He's just about five month's now and when he see's it on the ground gives it a big smile and tries to wiggle around to grab at it. We love to sit down with him and squeal the legs while he mouths any part he can get to. I think it's a fantastic investment for those parents that really want to enjoy and be part of their children's lives.

more fun for me
We got this toy when my daughter was three months old. I figured she was a bit young and hoped she would enjoy it when she got a bit older. My husband and I had a lot of fun with it, and she liked it when we would play with it. For the most part, it sits untouched on the bed. It is quite cute, but when our daughter does try to play with it (she is almost two now), she has a hard time squeezing the legs hard enough to make the sounds. Not one of our best purchases, but maybe one of the cutest.

A Fun Interactive Toy
My middle daughter received this toy when she was a year old and just loved it. She loved the to look at the colors and patterns on him. She also liked to listen to the tunes that I played for her.(she didn't mind the mistakes) It is now two years old and we passed it on to my youngest daughter and she loves him too. The best part is you can still smell the vanilla fragrance. It soothed my three year old when she played with it and now its doing the same for her baby sister. ... Read more