Activity Walker; The Only Activity My Grand Daughter Uses Is the Walker Part
Written: Mar 07 '07 (Updated Mar 12 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Works well as a walker
Cons: Poor as an activity center
The Bottom Line: This long lasting toy, except for stickers that detach, is a boring activity center but does well as a trainer/walker.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Activity Walker |
I have more children's toys, books, strollers, safety gates, baby seats, high chairs and such in my home than at any time raising five children. That's because grandma and grandpa babysit umpteen times a week and each grand child, we have five of them, all girls, come with their own special toys, books and such.
One piece of baby equipment is the Fisher Price Activity Walker. It's a triangular toy with four big wheels with a face with built-in activities for baby to play with. It also is designed for toddlers to hold onto as they make their way down the boulevards of our home. My latest grand daughter, not yet one, is the prime user of this teaching/toy.
The Activity Center
This thing comes out of a box and quickly snaps together with little effort. The plastics clean easily.
This is a pretty plain and boring activity center with just five activities and nothing all that cool. I usually like handling some activity center items when I first see them. Except for giving the large ball in the center a quick spin, nothing else attracts me. Well I do like the three flip things on the top. More important though , my grand kids aren't very attracted to this toy either. The fact is the ergonomic placement of the face board to a baby sitting on the floor is uncomfortable. Too much unbalanced leaning toward it doesn't make it conducive to easy use.
The toy can also be used on a coffee table top or whatever. From this position any playing with the activities drives the whole toy forward and eventually out of reach.
The activities are a globe in the middle that spins horizontally on its axis. That's good because the motion for most beginners is up and down. The toddlers will see a reaction to their efforts. To the top is a three piece set of flippers that spin. These are actually the most "fun" on the center because they spin easily. The globe has too much friction for easy spinning. Balanced on the bottom is another three piece spin action area with sort of wheels that also spin freely.
On the side face is a three piece interlocking wheel set up that is hard to grab and almost totally useless to my grand daughters. The other side has little flaps with stickers of dogs and fish. Some have peeled off, not good and it's very boring.
The Walker
This is to be used like one of the walkers some elderly people use for balance. The fact is I don't think any elderly people would enjoy any of the "toys" on the face of the activity center either, especially if they have an arthritis condition. I digress.
Like the elderly, a little one, who is not completely well balanced on their own, can use this as a device to stand behind and propel themselves forward by using walking motions. It works pretty well.
My grand daughter easily pulls herself up using the built in grip. At first she didn't "get it" as the walker pushed ahead of her and she lost her balance. After a few times she now knows she can walk with the activity center. She likes it. She really hasn't gained much knowledge in how to avoid table legs and such. That's when all comes to a stand still. She does let go with one hand at these times looking like a big shot saying, "Look, only one hand!!"
Final Thoughts
Because the toy is inexpensive and self contained I think it a good addition to my room of toys. It does get used as a walker but VERY rarely as an activity center. The fact is it would probably get attention in a play pen but I don't like putting such large pieces in with baby. My grand daughter will continue using this in our home until she can get around on her own.
Let me tell you, when I'm ready for a walker I'm going to design one with the coolest bells and whistles one could imagine. If I'm gonna slow down, I'm gonna do it in style!!
A few other baby reviews by pops
Fisher Price Cradle Swing
Graco Jumper
Fisher Price Take-a-Long Swing Thing This item Rocks!!
Safety 1st, Swinging Gate It does its job.
Leap Frog LeapStart Learning
Graco Leisure Sport Jogger a sporty stroller!
Light weight stroller
Kolcraft High Chair
Fisher Price Sweet Street Schoolhouse
Radio Flyer Wagon
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): gift
Age Range of Child: 0 to 12 Months
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