Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This toy seemed like a great idea and I bought it for my 1 year son with great expectations. It is a small drum, that lights up and plays music and sounds when tapped. My son loves to tap on the table, so it seemed like the perfect gift for him. Unfortunately, I was disapointed due to some serious design flaws.
The drum has 3 different playing modes: Alphabet mode, music mode and dancing mode. On alphabet mode, every time it is tapped upon, it displays a letter of the alphabet while speaking it loud, in order. On music mode, it plays music and rhythmic lights, inviting the kid to tap on the drum and in dancing mode, it tries to suggest movement to the kid with voice commands and pictures (clap your hands, hit the drum, etc).
The drum has 2 language settings (English or Spanish) and also a volume control (low and high settings). The high setting is not very loud.
Unlike some other reviewers say, this drum does not teach counting. They probably refer to an older drum model from leapfrog (look for leapfrog learning drum here on amazon). This one only teaches the alphabet.
In all, this seemed a great idea to me. The drums' reaction to the child movements would encourage tapping on it, teaching cause/effect relationship. I did not care much about the alphabet as my son is too young for that, but didn't mind if he got some introduction to it anyway.
So, what are the design flaws?
Well, to start, the sound made by the drum when hit is very low. On music and dancing mode, you can barely hear it as it is completely shaded by the background music, which is played independently of hitting the drum. Still on the music and dancing modes, the drum lights follow some random patterns, that is, they keep drawing figures on the drum whether it is being hit or not. When a child taps the drum, the figures change, but as they would have changed anyway, it is not easy to realize that the change was caused by hitting.
So much for cause/effect relationship on these 2 modes.
Only on the alphabet mode, it is easier to realize that tapping the drum has an effect on it, as it speaks loudly and displays a letter in reaction. For my one year baby though, this effect is not very interesting, as he will tap very quickly on the drum causing the alphabet to be interrupted and he will not even look at the letter because his little hand is tapping on it. I believe that with time, he may do it more patiently.
Another terrible flaw is the sound made by hitting the drum, if you manage to hear it. There are several different possible sounds (as if they were the sounds of a multiple drum table), some of them quite nice, others quite boring. And it doesn't seem to be a way of choosing the sound, so sometimes your hit is rewarded with a clear sound, other times with a barely noticeable thugh.
In all, these flaws completely remove one of the things I expected my kid to learn from this toy, which is cause/effect relationship. So far, he has not been enthusiastic of the toy, though he will play with it for a few minutes if I show it to him and tap on it first.
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LeapFrog Learn & Groove Alphabet DrumMake your youngster's learning experience more upbeat with the LeapFrog Learn and Groove Alphabet Drum alphabet drum. Each tap of this drum introduces baby to the alphabet and improves vocabulary in both English and Spanish. Engaging music and interactive play sharpen motor skills as baby learns to tap, crawl, and dance. It features three delightful learning modes, including Alphabet, Dance Along, and Music Play. Babies quickly catch on to cause and effect, as each tap rewards them with lights, letters, and music. Music Play mode lets the child freely explore music, fostering open-ended play and creative movement. And this drum's lively, roll-along song teaches them to crawl after the drum. Ideal for children ages six months to three years, this stimulating toy entertains and educates for hours.The Beat Goes On The Alphabet Drum is built to withstand the throws and whacks from typical toddler handling. Parents will appreciate the volume control as it keeps the music at an enjoyable level. To prolong battery life, the drum shuts off if it hasn't been used for awhile. Plus, at approximately 8 inches tall, it helps babies learn to sit up on their own. Both the English and Spanish voices of the Alphabet Drum are audible and easy to understand. Bright colors, uplifting music, and a fun design make this a favorite in any child's toy box. Award-Winning Features It is no surprise that the LeapFrog Alphabet Drum was a winner of the 2006 iParenting Media Greatest Products Award. This drum teaches language, music, and motor skills as a strong foundation for the child's future. Children love to dance, roll it around, or chase after it, and as a versatile toy, it can be played with through multiple development stages. What's in the Box LeapFrog drum and 3 AA batteries.
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