Gund Best Friend Elmo Review
Sesame Street - Elmo Magic Ball Zone Review
Fisher-Price Elmo Live Review
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 Elmo's always appreciates a hug. View Larger. |
 Interactive gestures bring Elmo to life. View larger. |
We found him very easy to play with -- just press his buttons to get him going. Press Elmo's foot and he will sit down on his stool to tell you a story. He even gestures to act out parts of his stories! Squeeze his nose, and he'll make a variety of silly sounds; he'll even ask you if you "have his nose" and ask you to give it back to him. Squeeze his hand, and he'll dance. Elmo even blows kisses, asks for hugs, and says he loves you. He tells jokes, acts ticklish, and more.
When he's laid on his back, or if your child doesn't play with him for a while, Elmo will go into a battery-save mode. He'll yawn, say he's tired, and shut down. Just press one of his buttons to get him going again.
Interactive Fun for Kids of Many Ages
We particularly enjoyed that, unlike some other "talking" toys, Elmo Live! doesn't just spout programmed phrases. Instead, he asks for interaction, and he responds as if your child is responding to him. For example, when he will ask for a hug and then say "thank you" as if he's received one, or he'll say he's ticklish and then will "respond" as if your child is tickling him. This makes an almost magical experience for your child, as if her toy is really coming to life.
The wide variety of things that Elmo Live! can do makes him a great toy to grow with your child. Younger children can engage in cause-and-effect play by simply pressing Elmo's buttons to see what he does. Our two-year-old tester was especially delighted with the silly sounds Elmo makes when his nose is squeezed. Understandably, her attention meandered during the somewhat lengthy stories. However, an older child will have the attention span and comprehension skills to appreciate them, as well as the silly jokes that Elmo tells.
Tips on Playing with Elmo! Live
Elmo makes lots of fun movements and gestures -- the only slight drawback is that his movements generate a somewhat loud, mechanical sound that sometimes interferes with being able to understand what Elmo is saying. He also has to be on a hard, flat surface -- otherwise he has a tendency to fall over. This in itself has a fun effect, however. When he falls over, Elmo asks you to help him back up again, and when he's put back upright, he'll say "thank you." Also, since his nose has to be squeezed with a bit of force to activate him, our two-year-old tester sometimes needed assistance with it.
Elmo Live! comes with 6 AA batteries. A Phillips screwdriver is required to replace them.
What's in the Box
Elmo Live! doll, with 6 AA batteries included
Is it live or is it Elmo Live? For the first time ever, in this truly life-like creation, Elmo really appears to be speaking as his mouth opens and closes just like a muppet. His mannerisms are right on target and his head bobbles back and forth as he speaks. Elmo waves his arms, sits and stands, and even crosses his legs while telling stories and jokes, singing songs and playing games. Children can activate the magic with a tickle or a squeeze of Elmo's foot, tummy, back or nose. Requires 6 "AA" batteries, included. Measures 12" tall.
Sesame Street Count And Crunch Cookie Monster Plush Review
The SESAME STREET COUNT 'N CRUNCH COOKIE MONSTER lets your child treat him to his favorite "food" and hear him counting up to three. Put one of his three cookies into his mouth and it will slide right into his red backpack. He also loves to be tickled--press his foot over and over again to hear him giggle. Soft and cuddly, Cookie Monster is ready for hugs and kisses. He loves them almost as much as he loves his cookies!
Cookie Monster is a fun and hungry friend. Decide whether he's in the mood for chocolate-chocolate chip or regular chocolate chip, and feed him his three cookies one at a time. And don't forget--he's keeping count. When your child slips a cookie into his open mouth, it moves into his backpack so he'll never run out of his favorite snack.
When he's done eating, treat Cookie Monster to a tickle session and hear him giggle and laugh. His soft fur is great for cuddling time. Your child can take him everywhere- just don't forget the cookies!
Cookie Monster toy, three cookies, backpack, and four AA batteries.
Sesame Street Count 'N Crunch Cookie Monster
Cookie Monster just loves cookies. This Cookie Monster plush comes with an assortment of cookies that preschoolers can put in his mouth and watch as he gobbles them up. Cookie Monster will count the cookies as you put them in his mouth and will ask for more or less along the way. Cookie Monster will also sing a song and squirm around when you tickle his feet.
LeapFrog My Pal Violet Review
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 An ideal companion for a young child, My Pal Scott sings, talks, and can even learn your child's name. View larger. |
 Using the doll's USB port, you can personalize Scott to suit your child's preferences. View larger. |
Your child can chew on this sturdy toy's ears or toss it around. My Pal Violet is light enough for even the youngest child to hold and carry. The handy Velcro closure keeps the battery compartment, USB port, and power/volume switch securely inside the toy. The switch has three settings: normal volume, quiet volume, and master off. In the "master off" mode, Violet will not operate when the paws are pressed, so only parents will be able to turn the toy back on. My Pal Violet's speakers are also inside the toy and provide balanced sound.
Advice for parents: when My Pal Violet starts to sound distorted, parents will need a screwdriver to open the battery compartment and change the 3 "AAA" batteries.
Music, Words, and Lullabies
Each paw on My Pal Violet is embroidered with a different symbol that, when pressed, turns on a special feature. The right arm paw with a ball symbol provides snappy sentences designed to help your child learn different emotions, colors, and words. The left arm paw features music notes; when pressed you hear a 15-second, upbeat song. The songs rotate randomly and include seven vocal songs to teach skills and three fun instrumental tunes.
Younger infants will be attracted to the melodies, while older toddlers can sing along. The right foot has a stars/moon symbol for five different selections of soothing music for naps or bedtime. Press it once for two minutes of music, or press it twice for five minutes of songs. If your child wants a little extra time with My Pal Violet before falling asleep, you can press the paw three times to hear ten minutes of music.
Parents can use the songs that come pre-loaded on My Pal Violet or change the songs by connecting to the LeapFrog Connect application. It's easy to turn off My Pal Violet by simply pressing the left foot's on/off switch; push any of the other paws to resume play mode. Personalize for Your Child
A special feature of My Pal Violet is the ability to customize your child's experience. The instruction booklet will guide you through the easy process to connect My Pal Violet to a computer with the USB cord and download the LeapFrog Connect application. All it takes is 25 megabytes of free space on your computer and about 15 minutes to personalize the toy with your child's preferences. You'll be able to search for your child's name among a database of thousands. When selected, My Pal Violet will use your child's name in phrases such as "I love you" and incorporate his/her name into songs.
The application also allows you to choose your child's favorite color, animal, and food to personalize Violet's phrases to your child's favorite things. There's a resource section for printing activity sheets that your toddler will enjoy. Also, you can switch up the songs and lullabies so they're constantly fresh and different. The database is updated regularly with new songs.
The only drawback: if your child has a very uncommon name, there's a slim chance that it will not be in the LeapFrog database. However, you can choose one of many nicknames that you may call your child, such as "Munchkin" or "Peanut."
What's in the Box
One My Pal Violet toy, three "AAA" batteries, one USB cable, Quick Connect Guide and Parent Instructions booklet.
Give learning a personal touch with this soft, cuddly puppy named Viloet!
Violet connects to the computer so you can customize the music and personalize the learning with your child's name and favorite food, animal and color. Violet comes with 5 pre-loaded songs, or you can select and download your choice of learning tunes and lullabies from an online list of 30 songs.* Press a paw to play music, learning songs or games! Parents can connect to the online LeapFrog®Learning Path for customized learning insights and ideas to expand the learning.
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Sesame Street Fun Face Teether Toy Review
Munchkin Sesame Street® Fun Face Teether
Sesame Street Fun Face Teether fun rattle sounds with multiple surfaces. Cool in refrigerator or freezer. Easy-to-grasp; sized right for little hands. BPA free
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Sesame Street's favorite little Ballerina Zoe is the perfect addition to any little girls stuffed animal collection!
LeapFrog Scribble and Write Review
Light the way to early writing with Scribble & Write! Children trace the lights to get practice drawing simple shapes and pictures, then graduate to learning upper- and lowercase letters with step-by-step guidance. Fun learning games help reinforce letter recognition and pencil control skills. Best of all, Scribble & Write uses a single retraceable surface for ease of use and portability. Parents can connect to the online LeapFrog® Learning Path for customized learning insights and ideas to expand the learning.
Learning Skills:
-The alphabet
-Phonics skills
-Early writing skills
-Pencil control
Recommended Age: 3 years and up.
Requires 3 AA Batteries (Included).
