Forget Old MacDonald! Let's go down to the Little People Animal Sounds Farm!
Written: Mar 20 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fun, durable, encourages children to use their imagination
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: The Little People Animal Sounds Farm is a wonderful, durable toy that will provide your child with years of imaginative fun.
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| BearySweet's Full Review: Little People Animal Sounds Farm |
Following our request for more 'imaginative' toys last Christmas, my parents bought my son the Little People Animal Sounds Farm. They had purchased it for my little brothers many years ago and were hoping Jake would enjoy it as much as my brothers did. At first glance, you can see that this is not the Fisher Price Farm of yesteryear. Fisher Price has given their farm an overhaul that would make even Old MacDonald proud! Realistic looking animals and props make this farm a great learning tool as well as a fun toy. C'mon, take a trip to the farm with me and see how much fun the Little People Animal Sounds Farm can be!
Off to the farm
Right off the bat, the first thing you notice about the Little People Animal Sounds Farm is that it is made of plastic. Unfortunately Fisher Price has been using cheaper, flimsier plastic in its updated toys. The good news is that the plastic used for the farm is quite sturdy and has held up well to rough, toddler play. The plastic on the outside of the farm is molded to look like wood on an actual barn, complete with barrels, wagon wheels and many other assorted items you would find outside a barn. The base, extending out from the barn is made of green molded plastic to simulate the green pastures of the farm. The door of the barn opens easily, but doesn't moo like the old farm. But don't you worry, you will find plenty of farm sounds when we get into the barn! To continue this tour of the Little People Animal Sounds Farm, I'm going to open it up so we can see better. The barn is hinged and opens to provide children with easy access to all the animals. When closed, the green molded base of the farm has a notched area that fits together nicely. Just inside the barn door is a brown platform on the floor. Pressing this platform plays "Old MacDonald" and "Farmer in the Dell" alternately.
Each animal in the new Little People Animal Sounds Farm has their own place to rest. The horse and the cow each have a stall with a door that makes the appropriate sound when opened. The sheep and the pig have pens on each side of the barn. The pig has a slop bucket and a bed of mud and they sheep has a nice grassy area. Both animals sit on a platform that makes their animal sound when pressed. The chicken sits on a nest that flips with one side showing a picture of an egg and the other a picture of a chick popping out of the egg. Flipping the nest from one side to the other makes a great clucking sound. Each animal's area is nicely detailed with items you would find in an actual barn. Each animal, as well as the farmer, has a sticker with a family picture up in their area. This is an easy way for young children figure out where each animal goes.
Even the farmer has a nice place to rest! The loft upstairs has a tool bench made of molded plastic and a bed with a most unusual feature. The farmer's bed has a knob on the outside of a farm; when you twist the knob, the bed flips up and the farmer falls out the window and on to the grassy area below. I thought this was pretty odd and now due to my husband's twisted sense of humor, my son is learning how to launch the farmer across the room!
The grassy area below the farmer's bed is part of the extension of the farm's base. This includes a small, fenced area for grazing and a garden. The garden includes a small rolling bar that shows an array of vegetables when you spin it. In the garden area is a small recessed circle for the scarecrow. I'm not sure this happy looking scarecrow would frighten the birds away! The farm also has two other small recessed circles, one on the top of each part of the barn. These circles hold a weather vane and a windmill. The bases of all the pieces are the same size so they are interchangeable.
Also included with the Little People Animal Sounds Farm is a cart that can be attached to the horse as well as a bale of hay and a bag of feed. All accessories included with the farm fit nicely inside while storing. This helps to keep pieces from getting lost.
How much fun do we have on the farm?
I have to admit, I was as excited to get this toy last Christmas as my son was. When we got it home, I spent a quick 10 minutes affixing the stickers that came with the Little People Animal Sounds Farm and immediately sat down to play. My son was as anxious as
I was to get his hands on this toy. Jake plopped down next to me and immediately started grabbing animals; he would show them to me, name them and put them back in their stalls or nests. He quickly discovered the animal sounds and apparently the chicken is his favorite. In the 3 months we have been playing with this toy, he has watched me role-play with the animals and has started to do it himself. I love to watch his imagination come alive! Jake has really enjoyed checking out the animals, exploring the farm and of course, launching the farmer across the room!!
The Little People Animal Sounds Farm is mostly powered by brainpower, but you do need 3 AA batteries to keep the animal sounds working. You will find the battery compartment underneath the barn and you will need a small screwdriver to get the battery compartment open. There is no on/off button or volume control. This is not really a problem because the noise level is appropriate and the sounds do not work unless a child is actually playing with the farm.
The Little People: Animal Sounds Farm is an excellent updated version of the original Fisher Price classic. The detail of the barn and characters enhance imaginative play. If you are looking for a great playscene for your toddler, you won't be disappointed with the Little People Animal Sounds Farm. Since this toy depends on your child's imagination, you can be certain that they won't be disappointed either!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): Gift
Type of Toy: Playscene
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Epinions.com ID:
BearySweet
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Member: Michelle
Location: The Buckeye State
Reviews written: 85
Trusted by: 68 members
About Me:
Taking a break...life is a bit crazy right now.
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