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 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 (69)

My baby LOVES this!
This learning gym is awesome! I love that it's versatile enough so my baby can use it now, at 3 months, and continue to use it as he grows and learns to sit up. My son is a cranky baby because he has acid reflux and this is one of the few "toys" he has that he thoroughly enjoys!! He spends lots of time on the floor kicking his legs and arms about, chatting and smiling away at the blinking lights. He loves the music and really enjoys watching the spinning globe. I've read reviews of this toy with parents complaining that it's no good for an infant because they can't reach the buttons and such, but if you just invest the time in your child and help them play with it (spin the globe for them, push the buttons, etc) you will see their little faces light up with pure joy. I highly recommend this product!!!

A new mom
This toy was mildly entertaining for my daughter when she was about two-three months old. She was interested in the spinning mobile. Now that she can sit up independently, she really enjoies it. There are many buttons to push and flaps to roll and open. I can expect her to play with the LeapFrog gym for 10 to 15 minutes at a stretch. For a six month old, I would say that is an incredible feat! It keeps her busy just long enough for me to switch the laundry or make a quick phone call. The toy automatically stops after a few minutes of being idle.

Fabulous Learning Toy!
I give the Learning Gym 4 1/2 stars! I may be a bit prejudiced (I love LeapFrog products) but my son adores this gym. In the beginning he was content to listen to the songs and watch the mobile. He cracks up laughing whenever we sing the "Hello!" song to him. As a bonus, his big sister also enjoys sitting with him, playing and singing along. It's given them another way to bond. As he's grown, the mobile encouraged him to reach and excerise those tummy muscles. Now that he's sitting up it's as if he has a new toy since you change the learning mode. The only reason I didn't give the product 5 stars is because if you have a very active baby this product may not hold their attention for as long as you'd like. However, we made sure to purchase an activity gym for that purpose.

NOT FOR NEWBORNS!
My son wasn't to excited about this just lying under it. He loves it now that hes learning to sit up though. I would definately recommend it if your baby is sitting up! GREAT BUY :)

We like it but...
I bought this when I was pregnant with my first baby and couldn't wait to use it once my son arrived and was willing and able to play with it. It was useless for us until he could sit up on his own though. Even though it adjusts and is supposed to accomodate younger babies too, my son would get frustrated within seconds of not being able to touch anything before he was able to sit up. I pushed, pulled and did all the 'mechanics' for him but he really wasn't interested. So I didn't push it on him. At about 4 months old my son was starting to sit up (with help) and to encourage him I pulled this toy back out and adjusted it to the sitting position and used a boppy to support my son. YOU DO HAVE TO PLAY WITH YOUR BABY SO YOU CAN SUPERVISE! It's not a babysitter, at least not until your child has very good head and upper body strength because they can and probably will bump their little head on it. My son did but he absolutley LOVES it! He is now 5.5 months old and still loves it. He can sit all on his own now (working on crawling) and he really enjoys pushing, pulling and playing with this toy now that he is able. I hope this helps, I WOULD RECOMMEND PURCHASING THIS TOY! I love the idea of introducing different cultures to my baby through music, language and playing. ... 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

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

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

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 (127)

I think this toy is a bunch of crap & false advertisement
My son received this toy the other day on his 2nd birthday. I think I was more excited than he was about receiving it. I had always wanted to get him one, but never got around to it. All I can say is I'm glad I didn't waste my own money on this. What really gets me is that it says from 18 months to 5 years old. Yeah...RIIIIIIIIIGHT. There's no 18 month old that can understand the concept of how to turn this thing. It took me awhile to figure out why the wheel wasn't turning. Come to find out, it's like the teacup rides at Disney World. The wheel doesn't turn, everything else turns around it. Well I wish they had said that on the box rather than "Turn the wheel to start the spinning action". What a load of crap. Also, like I said, my son just turned 2. He's a big 2, but he's no bigger than a 4 or 5 year old. So there's no way that a 4 or 5 year old can get on this comfortably. I have to agree, the music IS annoying especially cause I had to disassemble it to get the music to stop. It really upsets me that I have to take this back to the store because I was so excited for my son when he opened his gift. This is definitely a toy that I would avoid buying if your kid is less than 2 & a half years old or over 4 years old. Oh wow, I guess then it would really only be good for 3 YEAR OLDS!!! WHAT A PIECE OF CRAP!!! DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY...PLEASE.<br /> <br /> P.S. I only gave it one star because it wouldn't let me give it negative stars.

Still fun after all these years!
Sit N' Spin is still a great toy! Durable, easy to clean, and fun for a wide range of ages. My daughter got this as a gift at age 4 or 5, and she still plays with it at age 6. Yes, the "rockin' tunes" are annoying for parents (my husband HATES the music), but we solved this by making Sit N' Spin "basement or outside only" toy. Ours has even survived getting wet on the light panel.

fun toy, annoying noise
Our 23-month-old daughter got hers. As a number of reviewers noted, the music is loud and annoying and does not come with an off switch (though it'll turn off after a while, and one can just not press the top of the Sit 'n Spin which turns it on, but the child of course WILL press it). She didn't seem to like the music either--she asked me to take the batteries out. But I found a nice arrangement: I cut one of the wires leading to the speaker (they're easy to see when you open up the battery compartment) and now it has flashing lights, which she likes, and no noisy music, which everybody dislikes. (Why they couldn't put a in slider switch for it, I don't know--it would probably add two cents to production costs.) A bonus is that I assume that with the speaker wires the 3 AA batteries will last for a long time--four red LEDs don't take much power!

Anyway, it took her a bit of time to get the hang of spinning herself, and she does like it. She's not utterly enthusiastic, but it clearly IS fun and looks good for motor development. And today she was entertaining her toy puma with it, so it looks like she can use it for imaginative play, too.

All in all, decent but not outstanding. It probably all depends on the child's interests.

It's an okay toy.
I bought the rockin' tunes sit and spin for my son and he loves. He was 17 months old when he got it and it took about 2 weeks for him to figure it out. He's now almost two and this is still one of his favorite toys and he plays with almost everyday. He loves to push the top to make the music and lights come on. I do not like this toy much myself. Amazon describes it as playing 9 different songs but it only plays 6. The songs it does play are not any of the ones in the description. The music is very loud and annoying after a while. I think Amazon put the same description from the classic sit and spin on this one. (...)

Love it!!
I purchased this for my 23 mo. old girl for her "new room", and this is her favorite toy she has EVER had! She spins by herself for a bit, then she wants me to spin her so she can go a little faster. When she edges off to the floor, she giggles and says "more". It's usually the first thing she runs to in her room. It's also fun for my 5 yr old boy to spin on. Another game with it is to put dolls and animals on it and spin them (not very fast) to see who stays on the longest. I don't think my little girl cares about the lights and maybe even the music right now. She just likes to go, go, go. It does seem a little easy to tip. Give ample clearance from the wall. Good price for spinning fun. ... 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

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

Product Description

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 (81)

Great Interactive Toy for Toddlers!
I love the Learn Through Music! You can adjust the volume on the back (where the on/off switch is located). There are two volume levels. My son is 22 months old, and he received this gift last Christmas. He loves the Sesame Street characters, and he will "rediscover" it every couple of days and sit and play with it by himself. However, I have had a hard time finding the Elmo Counting Cartridge. If you invest the money in buying this product, you should buy additional cartridges so they don't get bored with the one that comes with it. Hope this helps!

Great toy but TOO loud
This is a favorite toy among my children ages 2-6. I thought it would be a great toy to bring in the car so they could play with it while waiting. BAD idea, it is so loud, I can barely hear anything else. Otherwise, it's very durable (we have 7 children), it's lasted through being dropped, stepped on, fought over, etc. I put a pc of tape over the speaker, which has helped a little, but now the younger one can't play with it (she eats the tape).

a little loud and good for two and up
My daughter rec'd this toy when she was just over one years old. she has issues with using the mic, you must hold the button down to make the mic work. i also wished that the volume was able to be adjusted.

Pages don't correspond w/the Songs
I'm just glad we didn't have to spend our money on this toy. The Sesame Street version was given to my 2yr old as a gift. The pages don't advance like they are suppose to. She is trying to learn the alphabet starting w/A and it's on Y. Elmo pops up to sing at all the wrong places. The music is great though and she follows along w/the singing of the alaphabet and sings right into the microphone but as far as the page being in the right place when talking about the letter its not. Main problem is the songs don't correspond w/what the page is showing. I've replaced the batteries twice thinking that was the problem but it turns out it's not.

lots of fun
My son doesnt spend more than 2 minutes on each toy, except on
this one. He loves this toy. We bought him all the cartridges,
and we rotate them. He doesnt use the microphone.. but everything works great and has endured lots of hits.
I would recommend this to everyone (from 18 months- 3 years) ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Jam packed w/ fun and learning
This is the only electronic toy you need! My 10 month old just got this and she plays w/ it for at least 30 min at a time, a couple times a day. The 3 modes, five piano type keys, 4 directional joy-stick, drum, microphone, guitar playing dog, and 15 LED lights provide a smorgasbord of musical and educational fun.

Counting/Colors/Animals Mode: tap the drum and hear the beats being counted. Press the keys for the color and/or animal name featured on the key and a short tune in the instrument featured on the key.

Listen Mode: each key starts a new classic or nursery song; add animal noises by pressing the keys, drum beats by tapping the drum, puppy noise by pressing pumpy's head, and 4 other funny noises by moving the joy-stick. Swirl the joy-stick to speed up the music and hold it down to slow the music. Sing along using the real microphone.

Play Mode: make your own music using the keys, drum, and joy-stick.

Practicallity: uses easy to find, always on hand AA batteries. Features auto shut-off after inactivity to preserve battery life, but can be switched off to prevent accidental activation, etc. 2 volumes (I think the lowest is loud enough, and could be just a bit quieter, but still, I haven't gotten annoyed yet because of all the variety.)

Bottom Line: This is the most action-packed electronic toy out there and at a very good price too. It is the only one of its kind that you will need, and you do need it.

Great way to learn to love music !
My daughter got it as a gift for her 1st birthday and she instanly fell in love with it.
She likes the songs best, as soon as she hits one of the keys, she starts dancing. The music is fun and we both like the animal sounds as well. She learns the colors as you ask to hit the keys or the animals at the same time.Whenever it's on, there is dancing and laughing in the house.
It's a terrific gift !

Like mother like daughter
First I bought this great gift for my little girl, she is so into all the sounds that this can make. My wife has been trying to pluck out songs like, Mary had a little lamb, and Twinkle twinkle little star, to show her. She's been singing them as she plays.

As a result I bought her a singing lesson CD kind of as a joke "Voice Lessons TO GO" by Vaccarino. She actually has taken it seriously and is now belting out. My daughter is playing along (very proudly and badly) as they sing together. It is hilarious to watch and listen to! I have a feeling I have many years of music lessons to pay for ahead of me, for both of them.

1 for her and 1 for ME!
My daughter received two of these for her 1st birthday. I'm contemplating if I should return the 2nd or keep it for ME! It's so much fun and the music she accidentally composes with the sound effects and the karaoke mike is truly hilarious. This is the first time I'm submitting a review (that's how much I love it).

Fun toy
This was a great toy. My son loved the microphone, but when he would "talk" into it, the speaker would crackle. Finally, the speaker went out and just crackles when turned on. So that was it for that toy. But, while it lasted, he did enjoy it. The sounds and music are fun, cute puppy dog dances, and it has some educational qualities about it. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

My son loves it!
My son really loves this toy - he can't push the buttons himself yet but he loves to chew on it and we push the buttons for him. My one complaint is that if you have to take the battery pack out to change the battery, you can never get it to stay back inside the toy. Mine keeps falling out. Otherwise, it is a nice educational toy that isn't too expensive.

not overly impressed
I bought this toy for my 3 month old grandson, Levi. It is really cute and colorful and he likes looking at it. Its a larger plush toy. The body is made of different bold colored blocks and it does everything that the ad says, however, You have to push the colored blocks very hard in order to activate it. Its way to diffcult for a small child to do. My 9 month old grandaughter Jamie isn't able to do it yet. I think its important for parents to play with their children but its equally important for a small child to be able to entertain themselves. So, while it does entertain Levi because he loves to stare at it and he loves the music when his mommy pushes the blocks on it,I don't see where it would do much for an older infant. I have to say though that I would purchase it again for a very young infant because the colors to seem to captivate them.

Not a Good Learning Toy
I just bought this for my daughter who is 15 months old. She just likes to press the buttons to hear it play music and see it light up. The buttons are easy for her to push. She loses interest very quick though. There are a few things I do not like about the toy. One of the pictures on the front is a frog, but when you press the coordinating top button, it says dragon (which kids don't really know). Then when you push the yellow star on the pink part of the caterpillar, it says orange. So some of these things can be confusing. Our daughter loves the Baby Einstein videos, so I thought the toys would be great too, but I don't think this one is worth the money. There are better learning toys out there.

Cute and entertaining
I bought this caterpillar for my daughter when she was 2 months old. I would hold her on my lap and press the buttons for her which would mildly entertain her. Now two months later she is very interested in the caterpillar and holds onto the antennas while I push the buttons.

There are 3 different modes: colors, shapes and animals. Then there are 4 types of each colors (red, orange, blue and green)shapes ( triangle, circle, square and star) and animals (bird, lion, goat and dragon). When you press the buttons a childlike voice says the choice you have pressed with flashing lights. And when you havent pressed a button after a minute or so it says "bye-bye".

This is a cute, inexpenisve learning tool that is somewhat disguised as a loveable little stuffed animal. My daughter seems to enjoy it more each time we play with it.

If you want something that will grow with your child and that wont break the bank this is it. I plan on getting the ladybug that goes along with it soon. ... Read more

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 (22)

wow im 25 and i still like this
this thing is so much fun it teaches people to dance move n groove barney is off the fisle fashisle dawg. so buy this thing for yourself and experiance the fun and joy of barney. barneys fun fun fun

Barney Dance Mat, not so Super Duper
The Barney doll is a blow-up doll and does not stand up properly on the stand even when it is at filled at capacity with air. It just turned out to be a big noise-making mat that our toddler dances on.

Fun, but Barney Deflates
We may have purchased a defective one then because Barney will either deflate while trying to spin or he will come out the base (I even tried to double-tape the bottom of his feet to the base, but that didn't work either). My 2 year old loved this toy, but since Barney doesn't stay put (or deflated), it made her upset, so we ended up throwing it out. I didn't realize that not everyone had this problem (from the other reviews I have read). Maybe, we just purchased a "bad" one or something.

Great toy for a two year old who likes to dance!
My 18 mnth old loves this toy. She loves to dance with him even though she can't understand the steps yet. She especially loves to pick Barney up and run off with him! It's one of her favorite toys and my 6 mos old laughs when he hears Barney talk. He thinks it's really cool that Barney is in our house. (:

Don't understand all the bad reviews!
My 2 year old just received this toy yesterday and she and my 3 year old can't stop fighting over it!! They both just love it. The people who complained about blowing it up must have never blown up a beach ball before!!! It took me maybe 5 or 6 breaths to inflate it. And after hours of play.........Barney's still standing. This is the first toy review I've written and the only reason I wrote it is because I strongly disagree with all the poor reviews. It may not be the most educational toy but it's great exercise for the kids!!! ... Read more

Reviews (32)

If you get one baby toy, get this one
We bought this toy piano for my son when he was three months old. He is now 10 months, and it is still his favorite toy. At three months, he loved gazing in the mirror and watching the lights flash with the music. Now he can turn it on and off by himself, and he laughs and bounces up and down with delight. He drags it by the handle wherever he goes. He plays with this toy more than all of his other toys combined. I definitely recommend it.

Impatient Toy - 6 Months???? I dont think so
At 6 months old it takes kids a second to get there hands to the keys. If you dont hit a key within 2 seconds this toy starts talking "hit a key" or plays the song depending on which mode your on - and then if another 4 seconds passes it shuts off. Literally were speaking seconds here. Even if the fact the toy is impatient doesnt drive me bonkers enough _ I bought this toy to help her learn cause and effect - well she isnt learning that if the thing makes sounds and talks even when shes not touching it. Ive tried to give it the benefit of the doubt but my daughter ends up ignoring it too she likes to make things happen and grab at things and see the effect so she just ignores this toy. When she does actually touch it she touches the mirror if anything as that is the easiest part to reach and the only thing of interest to her. Im starting to think they dont test these toys with actual children

My son LOVES this little piano!!!
Wonderful toy!! Covers a broad age range, too! A definite must-have!!

Great Musical Fun
Our daughter loves this toy beacuse she can create her own music or play musical games with this toys and she REALLY loves the different instrument sounds it makes. Right now the flute is her favorite. This is a great toy for those what to expose their children to the wonderful world of music!

Fun Fun Fun!!
This toy is great! My son who is now 3 got this when he was 1. Loved it then and loves it now. My other son is 18 mos. and also plays with it!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

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 (1)

too cute for words
This Elmo is the cutest one that I have ever seen. By daughter loves to dance with Elmo. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Great "old style" toy.
Thought the toys I had as a child were lost forever, however this one comes very close! Solid tin box with very happy looking clown and the obligatory "pop goes the weasel"! My daughter loves it.

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.

Great, Old Fashioned Fun!
This toy has a beautiful look and is very sturdy---made of metal, not plastic. The music sounds wonderful and both our sons love it! So do we---Mom and Dad! We are very happy with this toy, there is no other like it. Made the old fashioned way---to last. Bright colors and such a cute clown. I have not seen one like this since I was a little girl---many years ago! Well worth the money spent. Get one!

there is a trick to getting it to "reload" that is too hard
In order to put jack back in the box it must be in between songs. If you try to relatch it once the music has begun it doesn't work. That is clearly stated in the instructions but is very difficult for a one or a two year old to understand.

I feel that the kids who enjoy this the most are babies through age two. The sad thing is that the "reloading" of Jack is nearly impossible for these aged children. Even when they "get" how to push Jack down, hold him there, close the lid and snap the tiny latch, they have difficulty stopping the music at the exact point in which "reloading" is possible. All kids I've seen use it love to continue to wind the crank and make the music continue.

Perhaps they could redesign it so that the music won't play until Jack is back in the box. Then the kids would understand when to put Jack back in the box.

I bought this when my first born was one year old and he loved the toy but became frustrated with putting Jack back in the box.
The challenge with "reloading" extended to my second child and for every child-visitor. Frustration abounds! The only way to successfully use this with the very young to avoid tantrums is for the adult to sit with the child and help them as they need it. When they were very young and most-upset about this, I put it on a high shelf until the next time.

When my first turned three he finally "got it" and was able to play with it by himself.

The beauty of this is that it has a classic look. Other jack in the boxes I've seen have TV characters on them or other non-traditional characters. Also I like the "Pop goes the weasel" tune. I have seen others with different songs and even with electronic sounding music---YUCK!

We've owned this for over 4 years and it has not broken yet. The paint is in very good shape, it is not peeling from some defect (as others have reported). Most times now it is not stuck on a high shelf, so it is played with often. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great Toy & Lots Of Fun!!!
I bought this for my child 6 months ago at the age of 16 months. She LOVES it and continues to play with it daily. I highly recommend this toy for children who love watching the wiggles and dancing to music.

Burn Some Calories!
The Wiggles Dance mat has everything a parent wants in a game... and everything a kid could want!- loud bouncy music from their favorite T.V. show for the kid, kid getting exercise for mom, bright colors and fun pictures for kid, educational and stimulating for mom. The Wiggles Dance mat is great fun and young kids will love bouncing around to the music... for about ten minutes. The only problem with this product is that young children who have low attention spans don't like using it for a long period of time because lets face it... jumping around gets rather boring after a while! It is lost of fun though and a great rainy day activity that will get your kids up off the couch. It is a great toy for two or three kids and they'll have a blast! This is a great gift idea for any Wiggles fan and tons of fun for parties and play dates.

Dancing with The Wiggles
We're a Wiggles Family here !!
I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old and they LOVE to dance with the Wiggles & sing. They enjoy the dance mat and so do I. The smiles I see on my girls faces are priceless.

Thanks again to the Wiggles for all the smiles & laughter!!
Keep the Wiggles toys and new products coming TRU !!! Still waitng for the Capt Feathersword doll TRU!!!

It is not Greg Singing!!!
While this toy has a great premise and is fun for my son to play with, everytime he starts playing with it he asks me "where is Greg Mommy?". This is because the person singing the songs on the toy is not Greg but someone else. I think that it is important to note that before buying this toy. Now this toy is fun and entertaining for my son, it would have been far better if it was performed by the wiggles. This toy is slightly disappointing because of that. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The perfect Barney toy
My daughter is 18 mo. old. She is just starting to really love Barney. SHE picked this toy out, herself. It's very plush and cute. When Barney sings his song and says "a kiss from me to you", she kisses Barney. I didn't even know that there was a velcro closing in the back for the batteries, so therefore, it must not be so bad. I recommend this toy to every parent that has a child who loves Barney.

Just another singing/talking toy
These are cute and fun and my daughter loves Barney and loves the Barney song. She plays with this every once in awhile but this is by no means one of those must-have toys.

Wonderful!
I bought Barney for my two month old. She loves him. This toy has helped sing baby to sleep plenty of times. She already loves to hold him tight! He goes where "we" go..and she loves to hold on to him when we go for rides.

We love anything barney!!
THis is the perfect size barney. It is cute as could be. The sound did not last through the wash. It had to be put through! It is still a favorite though. I have found cheaper in other stores. Shop around.

LOVELY TOY
I bought this toy for my 6 month old daughter on Dec 4, 2003 and when it arrived she was totally thrilled.
I would press the heart and let it sing her to sleep.
Barney is adorable. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

My daughter loves this toy
My 8 year old son won this toy at a dance contest in shea stadium and gave it to his 4 year old sister and she has not stopped playing and dancing with it .Very entertaining for this age group ... Read more