The insidious way the Borg infiltrate our culture...the Parent's Magazine Busy Zoo Activity Cube
Written: Sep 19 '06 (Updated Sep 19 '06)
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Pros: No batteries/assembly required!, durable and safe, above all...toy is a ton of fun for baby!
Cons: Can be a beast to find, slightly expensive (but definitely worth it)
The Bottom Line: A toy both parents and children can agree on -- the Parents Magazine Busy Zoo Activity Cube. Resistance is futile.
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| gatorgirlie's Full Review: Parents Magazine Busy Zoo Activity Cube Toy |
I have been fascinated with the concept of a block with 5 different activities since I first spotted them in a doctor's office. I'm not quite sure why -- it's probably some symptom of my insanity. Anyway, my son loves blocks... he loves toys... he'd love a block-toy!!!! I had checked out the Fisher Price Incrediblock but felt it didn't offer as much (heck, one whole side was just storage for blocks... what a freakin cheap way to go) and it still cost $50. Though I'm usually a big fan of Fisher-Price toys, I was really leaning towards getting a Parent's Magazine block for Aidan's first birthday. I found three different Parent's Magazine Cubes at Target -- the Busy Zoo ($75), Busy Street ($45) and Busy Park ($50). I narrowed my search down to either the Zoo or the Park, with my only reservation being that the Zoo cost $25 more.
However, my father made my decision a little easier. While pondering my dilemma I receive an excited phone call with my father blathering on about this ULTRA COOL toy he found at his local wholesale club. It didn't take me long to realize that he was talking about the Parent's Magazine Busy Zoo I had just been ogling at Target.
Well darn it. My father always buys all the cool toys before I do. However, since I was determined to look on the bright side (for once), I decided that this made my life easier. If Aidan liked the cube at grandma/grandpa's house, then I'd buy the cheaper Busy Park... if Aidan didn't like the cube, I would have saved myself about $75. That is a win-win situation if I've ever seen one.
What the Borg want you to know about their "activity" (assimilation) cube
One frustrating thing about writing this review is the fact that I can't find a website for Battat Toys or the toy division of Parent's Magazine. Ergh. GET A WEBSITE, darn it, it's the freakin year 2006... what company doesn't have a website???
Anyway, you can find the Busy Zoo Activity Cube at your local Target, and that's about it. I couldn't find it at our Toys R Us, or Wal-Mart. There are many online stores that sell Battat/Parent's Magazine toys... but it's a toss up on if they'll actually have this model. I believe my father lucked out when he bought it at BJ's Wholesale Club, but you might want to check there as well. The retail cost, both online and in Target, is $74.99, however my father only paid $40 at BJ's. That's a great price if you can find it. The Busy Zoo Activity Cube requires no batteries (hallelujah) and makes no noise (besides the obvious noise your child makes when banging things against it). It requires no setup, no special tools... it's already put together. Amazingly enough. I don't think my father knew what to do with himself when he opened the box and it was completely put together. The recommended age is 12 motnhs and up, but I can't (for the life of me) see any reason that a 9 month (or even a 6 month old) couldn't play with it. It has no loose objects that can be pulled off so I would assume if your child can sit up, they can play with it. I have a feeling the age recommendation has to do with when the child will WANT to play with it because of the activities involved.
Well... ok... so what is this toy? Well, it's a cube. You know a cube? For those that don't, it's a 3D object made up of 6 squares and a bunch of 90 degree angles. It isn't "technically" a cube, seeing as it is approximately 13.5" L X 12" W X 18" H (to the top of the beads)... but we'll give them a little leeway on that. On five of the six sides, the Busy Zoo has different activities for your little one. The sixth side rests on the floor, so putting any activity there would be kinda silly. The activities are:
*On the top: There are wires and wooden beads to move around, along with little animals to move along their track.
*Side: There are 26 wooden tiles that your baby can spin. These tiles are alphabet tiles with the letter (including upper and lower case) on one side and the corresponding animal on the other
*Side: There are four doors that can be opened and closed. On the outside there is a pattern (like black and white stripes) and on the inside there is a picture of an animal and its name.
*Side: There are two sets of two blocks that spin around a pole. Each block has a different part of an animal (ie: top block has the head and torso, and bottom has the legs), and the blocks are triangular (meaning there are three different types of animals on each pole).
*Side: There are three different zigzags and a three circular blocks that the baby can move through the openings.
The Borg have gotten to mama...
So, what do I like about this cube?
First, the safety measures. This cube has very few sharp edges. The corners of the cube have all been chopped off -- meaning there's very little chance of your child getting seriously hurt if they fall and land on this block. Yes, the joints where the sides/top meet are still there... but let's not go overboard, ok? The doors still have the sharp corners, but your child would have to fall just right to be able to hit himself on them. Let me put it to you this way: the Battat company took reasonable measures to ensure the safety of your child. Your child has as much of a chance to hurt themselves on this as they would falling and hitting their head on the baseboards/bookshelves/doors/etc in your house. Another thing is the weight of the block. My 9 month old uses it to pull himself up all the time and it won't tip over. The wood it's made out of is smooth and sanded -- no chances for splinters here. The wires for the beads are metal, but they are covered with a softer coating so it doesn't hurt a child's mouth if they decide to chew on it. Aidan will occasionally chew on it and the coating doesn't come off either. Above all, I really liked the lack of sharp corners. The first time I saw Aidan playing with it I was honestly amazed that the company would take the time to do something like that -- it's those little touches that make this toy so great.
Secondly, the durability. You can tell from the construction that this toy will last for years and years. The wires on top are attached securely to the frame -- Aidan loves to pull on these wires with all his strength, but I haven't seen them as much as move yet. The animals and other blocks fit securely on their tracks -- only a hammer will get them out. The tiles all spin easily and will not come off -- no choking hazards here. This is a quality toy, plain and simple. My son has only played with his for a few months... but you can tell the quality simply by examing the toy's components and construction. In addition, with the lack of any sort of electronic contraption to break... this toy will never need any maintenance. I must say, I am impressed by the quality of this toy and it makes me think highly of the Battat/Parents Magazine brand.
Third, it is genuine fun that can grow with children.. The colors are bright and happy, drawing an infant's attention... and the toys change functions as the child grows older. It's fun to spin the alphabet tiles now, but they're also good for teaching the alphabet later. It's fun to spin the create-an-animal tiles now, but later it will teach them matching. It's fun to open and close the doors and play peek-a-boo now, but later it will teach them about animal names and the identifying patterns on their coats. What child doesn't like moving the beads along a wire? It seems like Aidan will be able to have fun with this toys for years to come... perhaps he can even help his younger sibling play with it when it comes time.
What other positives? It's won a Dr. Toy award... It's very easy to clean and stores easily. No batteries or assembly required... five different toys on one block... This can be a great tool to teach your child how to stand up, sit down and cruise on their own... come on... what more could you ask for? Oh yeah... and did I mention that the toy doesn't come with an instruction manual? Finally.
The only negative I can see is the cost -- at $75, that's a steep price to pay for something that doesn't play mozart or scream the alphabet. However, I don't see why you can't buy this toy used or on Ebay, making the price less. In addition, it seems to be popping up at wholesale clubs... so that could lower your cost on a new model. This isn't something that you have to have new, and since it seems to be ultra-durable buying used seems to be the most economical way to go.
I did want to voice a word of caution: Be careful where you put this block. Ingenious children will realize this is a great tool for climbing. If you set it near a couch, table or anything else that looks remotely interesting, your child will immediately grasp the potential for danger and take advantage of it. Best place for this is in the middle of a room. Keep that in mind.
Resistance is futile...the assimilation cube will make baby have a good time
Since the grandparents live only an hour away, we go to visit them fairly often. We've also left Aidan with them for an extended weekend while we went to an Optometry Continuing Education seminar at Captiva... he's had a lot of time to play with this activity cube. Does he like it?
You bet.
With the sheer insanity of the number of toys my parents have at their house for Aidan, I'm amazed that the first thing he gravitates towards (with the exception of the 130 and 210 lb Great Danes, who think they are his parents) is the Busy Zoo Activity Cube. He ignores the toys that play music, the learning toys and everything else... and starts playing with this cube. He pulls himself up and sits down over and over and over again. He cruises around the block in circles. He loves to move the wooden beads around on top and he loves to slide the animals along their tracks. Once that grows boring, he moves on to spinning the alphabet tiles and the create-an-animal blocks. He always leaves a little time to open and close the doors over and over and over again. He hasn't mastered the fine art of positioning the circular block at the top of the zigzag tracks yet, but he loves to knock them down (watching them zoom along the track) if you set it up for him. This toy can occupy his time for a good 10 - 20 minutes if left alone, and 30 minutes if you actually have time to sit down and play with him.
Right now his play is fairly simplistic -- spinning the tiles, moving the beads and opening the doors. However I can see his play expanding throughout the months and years, moving to matching the animal bodies together and learning the alphabet.
Overall Recommendation
I think this is a great toy that both parents and children will adore. The parents will love the safety measures, quality, and ease of maintenance this toy offers, while the child will just simply enjoy playing with it. Both will love the fact that, even though the toy stays the same, the fun grows with the development of the child. Even with the steep price of $75, I would recommend it. If you really want to think about it, there are five toys for $75... making it $15 per toy. That's not too shabby in today's society where a bunch of wooden ABC blocks cost $20 at Toys R Us. If you can find it for any cheaper, I would HIGHLY recommend this toy. Right now I can find it new for $64 on Ebay (including shipping), so that's not a bad deal. In addition, I see nothing wrong with purchasing it for an infant younger than the 12 month age reommendation. As long as your child can sit up unassisted, this toy would be great for them.
Pros:
*No batteries, no assembly required
*5 toys in one
*Activities grow and develop with the child
*Quality construction means a durable toy with a long life
*Safety standards for this toy are high -- no sharp corners, etc
*Easy to store, easy to clean
*Won a 2006 Dr. Toy award
*Bright colored, fun toy
*Occupies baby for long periods of time
Cons:
*Does cost $75 -- but it's still worth it
*Can be moderately hard to find
*To ingenious little monsters, this cube can be used as a climbing device
*Resistance is futile...
Thanks to MaryTara for helping me find this since the Epinions Search Engine stinks
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 40
Type of Toy: Blocks
Age Range of Child: Other
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Epinions.com ID:
gatorgirlie
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Location: Orlando, FL
Reviews written: 248
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