The Discovery Ball toy is the perfect example of why reviews can be misleading to shoppers. Parents read the reviews and they think, “WOW, this toy is developmental, it will teach my kid the alphabet, and letter sounds. My kid’ll be a genius by 2!” To be honest, had I reviewed this toy soon after my son received it, I would have given it 5-stars and gushed about its developmental qualities. However, time has proven reliable, and I have deduced after 2-years and 2-months that it is, and was insignificant to my son’s development. By that, I mean the toy was of no consequence to us.
The concept is first-rate; however, the delivery is lacking. I mean, what kid wants to roll a ball when they can throw it? The Discovery Ball is designed for infants and toddlers, but it’s probably more appropriate for preschoolers. Firstly, the buttons are too difficult for an infant to press; also, they are too close together. Secondly, it’s too sensitive. For example, let’s say the toy is in “music” mode and its playing Old MacDonald, if the ball is touched midstream the music will stop, and revert into 1 of the 2 very annoying intervening songs. It’s like punishment, rather than play. LeapFrog should have decided long ago whether they were designing an educational tool for preschoolers, or a plaything for infants.
William received the Discovery Ball for his 1st Christmas. He was 8-months old at the time, so I took the ball off the stand so he could bat it around on the floor. He’d roll it, the lights would flash, the music would play, and he’d giggle. After a few rolls, he lost interest. The toy has a musical prompt, which occasionally got a look, but usually he moved onto something better. Soon after his 1st birthday, he discovered the ON/OFF switch. He’d sit on the floor and repeatedly turn the thing “ON” and then “OFF.” It would play the ABC Song for 3-seconds, he’d slide the lever to the “OFF” position, and then back to “ON” again. He didn’t care about the phonics, or even the music, all he cared about was that darn ON/OFF switch. The sound quality is good, but the woman’s voice grated on my nerves after hearing 3-seconds of the ABC Song 1000-times in an afternoon. Fortunately, there is a volume control, although my son usually wants to HEAR his toys. As if the lower level isn’t loud enough. Oh, and this toy is one of those irritating playthings that goes off in the toy box, if you fail to turn it “OFF.”
After his 2nd birthday, William gained enough strength and proficiency to throw the ball. I suppose I should have attached it to its base right then and there, but dummy me thought he’d grow out of that phase. Okay… stop laughing. Later, I realized the throwing phase was here to stay, so I put the Discovery Ball back on its base. My attempts were futile, as my crafty little boy figured out how to remove it a week later. The toy is sturdy, especially considering how many times it has been dropped, and thrown. We’ve only replaced the batteries twice, which is an event all its own. Let me just say, its not overly difficult, but more complicated than most.
The Discovery Ball can be tricky to wash. LeapFrog recommends you clean the ball with a damp cloth, but that doesn’t always produce the best results. You see, the letters and musical notes that cover the surface of the ball are raised, so grime can become lodged in, and between the grooves. I’ve resorted to spraying Lysol on a rag and wiping it down. It doesn’t completely remove the dirt, but it disinfects it, which makes ME feel better.
Toy Description:
The Discovery Ball is a developmental toy that introduces letter sounds, letter names, and music. The toy consists of 2-parts: a base, and a ball. The base sits flat, so children can spin the ball when it’s attached. Alternatively, the ball is easily removed for rolling fun. The ball is 5½” round, which is the same size of a typical outdoor ball. However, this ball itself weighs 2-pounds! That’s awfully heavy for an infant toy.
How it works:
Move the selector switch to any of the 3-modes: Letter Mode, Phonics Mode, or Music Mode. Press any of the 26 letters to hear the letter’s name, the primary phonics sound, or the short instrumental melody.
Song List: A - Frère Jacque (Are you sleeping brother John)
B – Billy Boy
C - Clementine
D – Did You Ever See Lassie
E – East Side, West Side
F - Farmer in the Dell
G – Greensleeves
H – Hey Diddle Diddle
I - I’ve Been Working on the Railroad
J – Jimmy Crack Corn
K – Camptown Races
L - London Bridge
M - Mary had a Little Lamb
N- The Man in the Flying Trapeze
O – Old MacDonald
P – Pop! Goes the Weasel
Q - Chop Sticks
R - Row, Row, Row, Your Boat
S - She’ll be Coming ‘Round the Mountain
T - This Old Man
U – Upside Down World
V – Froggie Went A-Courtin
W – Oh Where, or Where has My Little Dog Gone
X – Yellow Rose of Texas
Y – Yankee Doodle
Z – Wait for the Wagon
The Discovery Ball requires 3-AA batteries, which are provided. To replace the batteries, one needs to separate the ball, and then open the battery compartment with a small Phillips head screwdriver.
Closing Remarks:
I think this toy might have been a hit had the company omitted the phonics portion, and designed it to be a musical toy for babies, providing they fine-tuned the sensitivity level. If it randomly played the abovementioned tunes it would have been enjoyable listening. In addition, it would have introduced a large repertoire of children’s songs to young ears. As it is now, it’s more annoying than enjoyable, so it collects dust, until my son finds it, and then it’s transformed into a heavy, throwing ball that hurts when hit. So, the BIG question is, “Would I recommend it to a friend?” No, I would not. The toy won’t harm a child, nor will it educate them.
LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
Telephone: 1-800-701-LEAP (5327)
1400 65th Street Ste. 200, Emeryville, CA 94608-1071
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Pacific Time
www.leapfrog.com/
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