Portable Jukebox *Part of the Don't Reference Yourself Write-off Challenge*
Written: May 20 '04 (Updated May 21 '04)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Durability: |
 |
|
|
Pros: Great toy. Volume is adjustable. Bright colors. Educational
Cons: Difficult to clean around circles and keys.
The Bottom Line: The toy is worth the retail price. It's colorful, durable, battery life is great and children love it.
|
|
|
| Annie_Crane's Full Review: LeapFrog See and Learn Piano Toy |
*How is this 'krissingene'?
;oP
One of the first things that Nathan, the youngest son in the family, noticed was the LeapFrog See and Learn Piano Toy sitting on a table at a yard sale. After picking it up he loudly stated, that he wanted and “ how much is it?” Now being 4 going on 5 you may not think he’d be concerned about the price. But see, little Nathan, when he goes on a yard sale hunt (with parental supervision of course), takes along his fanny pack and his $2.00 worth of quarters.
Price wasn’t an issue when the toy was thrust forward and upward toward this face. (had to update this sentence! see below)However, whether the LeapFrog See and Learn Piano Toy actually worked was an issue. So without hesitation, mainly because Nathan was so darn excited about the toy, it was examined as if up for presidency. Without a price tag on the actual toy, the assumption was the seller wanted quite a bit for it.
Pleasantly surprised, the toy was in excellent shape and the wonderful merchant/yard sale owner was only asking a dollar for it.
Now maybe you are quick to think that even a buck is to much for the LeapFrog See and Learn Piano Toy. But hold on a second before you ‘close your mind’, to the rest of this.
Retail cost of LeapFrog See and Learn Piano Toy is a penny shy of $17.00 according to the research done on the internet before writing this review.
With that in mind, LeapFrog See and Learn Piano Toy’s features are bound to be enough to win you over, so to speak.
^First off, the design^ It is kind of an awkward shape, but this is due to a ‘handy’ little carrying handle on the right side of the toy. This enables everyone to tote it around quite easily. The handle is not ‘attached’ to the toy. It is however a complete part of the structure. So there are no loose screws to worry with or wobbly handles.
^Second^ The speaker. It is strategically placed on the front of the toy. Not on the bottom or back like some toys we have. Placing the speaker just opposite the handle gives the child a pleasant listening experience while playing with his ‘new’ LeapFrog See and Learn Piano Toy. You are even given the ability to adjust the sound to low or high.
^Third^ Color. There are no pastels to this play thing. It’s colors are bright red, blue, yellow and green on a white background.
^Shapes^ That’s right. LeapFrog See and Learn Piano Toy even includes shapes such as a red circle, green triangle, blue square and a yellow star. These colorful shapes are located on the piano keys.
^Music^ The See & Learn Piano comes with ‘off mode, shapes-color mode, press key/song mode, piano mode’. With the exception of off mode, all modes enable the keys on the piano to work a specific task. In all there are 20 different tunes for your little one to listen to, create and pound out.
Example. Shapes-color mode will tell the shape and the color of design on the key that was pressed. With song mode, press any key and the Piano will play a melody for your child. Piano mode allows your child to ‘bang’ away, creating his own little tune.
^On/Off^ The on/off button is also part of the mode selection located just above the keyboard. It is a bright red music note that slides under little blue pictures of ‘shapes’ or ‘music notes’ or ‘a keys’ (as in keyboard). To turn it off, simply slide it back under the letters in blue that spell; off.
An extra feature that LeapFrog See and Learn Piano Toy added was that after about ten seconds you hear a reminder “Time to play with ……..” (whatever mode you have selected determines what the character will say to you.) Then, approximately 20 seconds on non-play, you hear a character say “Thanks for learning with LeapFrog. Bye – Bye.” The toy doesn’t actually slide to the ‘off’ position, but it does go into a battery saving mode.
(Hey, who’s in the mode for modes?)
;oP
^Lights^ Yes, LeapFrog See and Learn Piano Toy even has lights. Wonderful red lights that are synchronized to the tunes played as well as lighting up when your child plays in Piano mode.
^Reflections^ LeapFrog See and Learn Piano Toy included a non-breakable mirror right in the center of all this activity for your little one to see himself in has he is enjoying his masterpiece in the making. The fantastic red lights actually surround the mirror, giving both the mirror and the lights more appeal.
^Characters^ Surrounding the Lighted mirror are four circles. Within these four circles is one button each. Each button has a character playing an instrument on them. On the left/top side of the mirror is Lily the frog playing a flute. Under her is Casey the dog playing a banjo. Across from them, on the opposite side of the mirror is Leap, ‘the leader frog’ playing a saxophone. And under Leap is Tad playing the Piano.
In shapes-color mode, these characters state their names and what instruments they are playing. In song mode, each play a semi- brief solo with their instrument. When the piano keys are touched, the last circle you pressed is what form of instrument the keys will play. This is the same feature in Piano mode.
^Batteries^ The toy requires 3 AA inserted into the bottom of a toy through an access panel that can only be opened with a Phillips screwdriver. (Or in most quick to fix cases, a butterknife).
^Cleaning^ This can prove to be a little difficult seeing has how it is a battery operated toy and can not be submerged. With buying this at a yard sale, cleaning is a must. Suggestion: wipe clean with a wet sponge then follow up with alcohol. Always give toy air time to dry afterwards. The alcohol will not hurt the toy any more than the sponge will and it might just kill a few extra germs before your child gets the chance to put it in his or her mouth.
Whether you may see this toy as a ‘steal’ or not, Nathan sure does. And what is so great about the LeapFrog See and Learn Piano Toy is that it appears to be quite durable. Therefore, Korah the 6 month old now taking over the house will be the next in line to bang away at it. In truth, she already does!! Put her on the floor in front of it and she loves to see her self and the red lights when her fist comes in contact with the keys. But Nathan doesn’t have any real competition yet. She still has her own favorites!
*review ends here*
This is part of ‘challenge yourself ~ Don’t reference yourself write-off’. If interested, click here for details or visit my profile page.
Thanks for reading!!
~Ac
*update*
I got caught! I added (past tense) the word MY in the first paragraph! Told ya it wasn't easy....
*error # 2*
I said 'mom's face'!!! So I had to paraphrase it.
*looking around the corner*
Alright, who's next?
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1.00
Type of Toy: Baby Toy
Age Range of Child: 0 to 12 Months
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
Annie_Crane
|
 - Top 1000 |
|
Location: MT
Reviews written: 355
Trusted by: 186 members
About Me:
Bee Happy
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.