The beads go up and down!
Written: Feb 08 '01 (Updated Feb 08 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Two modes, no batteries, pleasing sounds
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: Although this is a newborn crib toy without the straps it makes a great table toy for preschoolers.
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| bonniesayers's Full Review: Wonderfalls |
I have a different slant on the Playskool ® Wonderfalls since I purchased this specifically for my 4.5 year old son this past holiday season. The packaging of this toy has a Try me button that sold me on the concept of Wonderfalls.
A few months ago the Special Education Pre-School Teacher told me that my non verbal son had a favorite toy in the classroom that was a wind up thing that played music. It would have been a great idea for her to bring it to the gate so I knew exactly what to look for at the store, but this did not happen.
At Toys “R” Us I headed for the first aisle that has infant toys in search of this spinning toy. To the left I spotted the Wonderfalls and was not too clear on the function of this toy since the box lists this for Newborns, Birth and Up.
I turned the red knob and these beads went up this pole and down a sorter with pegs making a sound that mesmerized my son. We stayed at this aisle while my son got on his knees to watch this. This was all I needed to see and handed the box to him to place in the cart. The look on his face told me this was a good choice.
Not until we got home and I removed the wire links attaching the Wonderfalls to the box did I notice that this is a crib toy. In our package the white crib straps were missing.
After utilizing this for a few months I have to wonder how a newborn/infant would handle listening to this inside their crib anyway. Wonderfalls stands on its own with the red knob to turn in the bottom right corner. You can turn this knob about ten times to have the beads go up and the “ladder” and filter through the maze in five minutes time.
In a separate slot to the left of the red knob is a green frog and yellow fish. Press down the frog to start the climb in the child activated mode. The fish is a infant toy that spins around when touched.
Next turn the Wonderfalls to your right to see a yellow switch that goes up and down. This offers the watch mode or child activated mode. The watch mode is how you can sit and enjoy five minutes of Wonderfalls .
The concept for the crib toy is this is the mode to use for baby to enjoy and as the baby gets older and can touch the green frog to activate the child mode. Maybe it is due to disabilities but my 4.5 year-old son is not able to do this consistently.
The center area of Wonderfalls holds the two plastic sections consisting of the ladder and maze. The pegs are blue with the beads being yellow, white, green, pink and orange shades. The ladder is pink with about fifteen levels to carry the beads to the top. In the bottom left corner of the maze section is where the beads fall to get back in line again for their upward slope.
At the top of the Wonderfalls is a yellow sun dial that is another toy for babies to play with by clicking it around. I think a parent would have to do this as opposed to a baby figuring that out.
The three straps that should come enclosed with the Playskool® Wonderfalls slide into the slots in the back (blue part) for hooking to the crib rails. One strap is for left and another for right with the last one for the middle of the Wonderfalls to fasten two ways onto the crib.
Two weeks ago I placed the Playskool® Wonderfalls in my son’s backpack for share day at school. When school let out I inquired on how the other children liked the toy. The teacher said the kids all loved it and took turns turning the red knob and pressing on the green frog.
With the various colors this is a good learning experience for the preschool age child. Even my almost six year-old son likes to turn the knob and help his brother utilize the Wonderfalls .
The best part of this now favorite toy is the fact that there are no batteries, making this a great find at $14.99. The visual experience with the flow of the beads at a comfortable pace makes it a counting type of game as well. Then you have the guessing game of how many beads will make it up the pole and where do they land in the maze.
There are many products that are sold in the infant toy section that can be enjoyed by the older set with many possibilities for learning in clever ways. It is well worth the few steps to stop in the aisle at the toy store and try out a few toys and see what happens.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 14.99
Type of Toy: Baby Toy
Age Range of Child: 12 to 36 Months
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Epinions.com ID:
bonniesayers
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Location: Los Angeles, CA
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