~~BOB THE BUILDER COUNTING HAMMER~~CAN WE BUILD IT? YES WE CAN!
Written: Aug 28 '02 (Updated Feb 03 '03)
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Pros: Helps preschoolers learn to count both forwards and backwards to and from 20.
Cons: Expensive in price; requires batteries; lots of "hammering" can get annoying to parents.
The Bottom Line: Preschoolers do not have to be a fan of Bob the Builder in order to enjoy playing with the fun yet educational Bob the Builder Counting Hammer.
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| melissasrn's Full Review: Bob the Builder Counting Hammer |
Back in June 2002, my son Tristan turned 2 years old, so of course he received many gifts at his birthday party. One special present he received from my sister-in-law was the Bob the Builder Counting Hammer. Up until then, he had never seen the popular children's television program, Bob the Builder, that airs weekdays at 9AM (Eastern/Pacific) on NickJr. But since he loves to hammer on anything within his reach with an old plastic yellow hammer he already owned, this new interactive electronic toy instantly became one of his favorites. From experience I know that it's just a matter of time before he discovers the TV show as he plays with this hammer almost every day and seems fascinated with the repetitive phrase: Can We Build It? Yes We Can!
~~~The Toy~~~
The Bob the Builder Counting Hammer is a unique interactive electronic toy recommended for ages 2 and up. Requiring three "AAA" (LR03) batteries (which are, by the way, included!) and measuring approximately 7 inches in length, this counting hammer features two modes so that preschoolers can learn to count forward from one to twenty or backward from twenty to one. Easy to grip by small hands and constructed of durable plastic materials, the counting trigger will count numbers in sequence every time it slowly hits a firm surface while "hammering." During counting with Bob the Builder's authentic voice, children will hear words of encouragement like, Can We Build It? Yes We Can!, as well as Bob's laugh. The handle is brown and textured like real wood and features a picture of the main character as well as the Bob the Builder logo. The hammer head is silver in color and contains yellow plastic speakers on each side as well the clear yellow counting trigger. Containing both a yellow mode switch to choose forward or backward counting as well as a red "On/Off" button, the Bob the Builder Counting Hammer not only helps preschoolers learn to count in the electronic mode, but it also keep young "builders" busy as they hammer every object in sight even when the interactive feature is turned "off."
~~~Price & Availability~~~
I have no idea where or how much my sister-in-law paid for the Bob the Builder Counting Hammer Tristan received for his second birthday, but it may be purchased online at the following site for a surprisingly expensive $24.95 (thanks jnbmoore!):
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/kidsmall/bobbuilcounh.html
Now to be honest, I seriously doubt I would have purchased this interactive electronic toy myself for this price had it not been a gift, but perhaps it can be purchased at other stores that also sell Bob the Builder merchandise at a lower cost. So far I've had difficulty locating this Bob the Builder Counting Hammer, so quantities and availability may be limited.
~~~How To Play~~~
To play with the Bob the Builder Counting Hammer in the interactive electronic mode, young users must first press the red "On/Off" button for the power to come on and then choose either "forward" or "backward" counting by moving the yellow mode switch. Players will then hear Bob say "Hello! Can We Build It? Yes We Can!" and then either "Lets Count Forwards" or "Lets Count Backwards", depending on which counting sequence is chosen. With each stroke of the hammer, Bob begins to count. This must be done slowly though as fast hammering will not result in fast counting. To conserve battery power, after about a minute of idle time, Bob will then say "Goodbye!" and the hammer is automatically turned off. Then if players wish to continue, the Bob the Builder Counting Hammer must be turned back on again. Parents will be relieved to hear that the stroking section is quite soft and pliable, which will not damage most surfaces unless an extreme amount of force is used during the "hammering" process. Because of this likely possibility, however, I suggest play (especially indoors around expensive furniture) with adult supervision only.
~~~Overall Recommendation~~~
Budding Bob the Builder fans are sure to love the Bob the Builder Counting Hammer as it would make a great gift for the upcoming holiday season. The electronic interactive feature with its repetitive counting sequences help to familiarize preschoolers with numbers during play. So not only is this toy fun to play with as youngsters actively hammer everything in site while they "build" things, but it also provides additional educational experience to promote learning at the same time. Even though Tristan is currently only two months past his second birthday, he is already using numbers in his rapidly expanding vocabulary and actually attempts to count right along with his talking hammer. So look for the Bob the Builder Counting Hammer the next time you are shopping in the toy department of your favorite store and give it a try for yourself. For chances are, your preschooler will enjoy playing with this unique learning tool just as much as you will!
Happy Toy Shopping :-)
Tiger Electronics
A division of Hasbro, Inc.
980 Woodlands Parkway
Vernon Hills, IL 60061 USA
www.tigertoys.com
Where Technology Comes to Play!
For more information on the Bob the Builder television program designed for preschool aged children, check out the following website:
www.nickjr.com
Very popular already in many other countries around the world, Bob the Builder premiered here in the United States in January 2001. This is an animated show that focuses on team work, friendship, problem solving, and cooperation. People and machines work together in a world where they respect each other, resolve conflicts and play and work together in harmony. "Can We Fix It? Yes We Can!" is this popular show's theme song.
Young Bob the Builder fans may also enjoy the following interactive website featuring fun online games:
www.bobthebuilder.com
UPDATE: 09-29-02
Tonight I saw this Bob the Builder Counting Hammer at Wal-Mart for $14.97, which is $10 cheaper than what it can be purchased online for. Great deal!!
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Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): GIFT/$14.97
Type of Toy: Educational
Age Range of Child: 12 to 36 Months
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