The Playskool Explore 'N Grow Musical Gear Center is a really neat toy for the 9 months and up set. My son loved it from the second it was half out of the box and he's 2 1/2. He loves placing the gears around in a circle and pushing the red button that makes them all work together, but even more than that he loves stacking them all on top of each other and watching them weeble-wobble as he makes them go 'round and 'round and 'round. In addition to the independently moveable gears, there are three gears that are stationary up top and make a red circle turn. These gears have a great sound that makes you want to push them over and over. Lastly this toy comes with two balls that can be placed in the top tray, which flows down a short tube and onto a spinning disk. The child can slowly push a button that will spin them around or fastly push it to make them eject in random directions. One of my guy's favorite parts is watching them fly and I must admit it puts a smile on my face every time too.
As a parent you'll love that all the parts (5 gears/2 balls) store on the toy itself, which makes for easy storage both short term (to return your living room to some assemblence of order) and long term (storing it in the basement or a closet for a future sibling). Personally all the sounds that eminate from my Little Dude's toys don't bother me, he could beep and honk and sing along with two toys at once and it wouldn't irritate me in the slightest. This music from this toy however is not just "not bothersome", I dare say it's "delightful". I'm not quite sure what it is about it, but I find myself pushing the music button as I pass by.
Now that's smart music making, Playskool!
Wheel Pals were also a big hit in our house. I mean, HELLO zoo meets car and BAM!! you've got one happy little person. Little Dude loves these! The first night they arrived in our house, he had to take them to bed. For some reason he loves driving these around on people--me, the hubs, himself, doesn't seem to matter who. These are easy to grab and manipulate and they roll with the greatest of ease. They are packaged for those 12 months and older.
Want to win one of each of these? Enter below. One winner, three prizes, good times!
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To Enter: (Please note bundling comments will only give you one entry to win. Please leave four separate comments to increase your chances of winning.) Please be sure to include your e-mail address in the following format (jane at gmail dot com) with your comments. Winners will be notified by e-mail. I will no longer be posting a separate "Winner" post. 1) If you could create a toy mash-up, what two toys would you combine?
2) What toy from your childhood do you wish they'd "bring back"?
3) Send a link to this contest (e-mail, Facebook, Twitter) to at least one other person and leave a note letting me know that you have done so. The more the merrier (It's "pay it forward" month here, so this is "on your honor"!)
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Open to residents in the continental US with a standard shipping address. (No PO Boxes.)
Winner will be selected at random on November 12, 2010 at 11:59pm. Winners have 48 hours to claim their prize. If not claimed a new winner will be selected. Tell your friends, tell your family—spread the word. Good Luck!
