Fisher Price fp3 ~ A Hot Christmas Gift Idea for Toddlers

Here comes Christmas again, my daughter is always begging me for music and music related things ~ and she’s only 2! She is very much in her “I do it” stage and in her growing independence she has broken a few music players both portable and non. It’s frustrating so I was glad to hear Fisher Price had made a music player just for her.

The Fisher Price fp3 player is especially designed to be kid tough and take the wear and tear only a toddler or preschooler could inflict.

I’m pretty excited because it not only comes with music and stories, but there are also fp3 download songs and stories you can get from the Fisher Price content website. The extra songs from the website cost extra, but you can also download music from your computer, and from other cds you already own.

There are a lot of options for the Fisher price kid tough fp3. What I most like is I don’t have to hear the “Wheels on the Bus” for three hours on the way to Tulsa every month. However, I do like to sing and dance with her so the fp3 speakers are an awesome feature. You just plug the fp3 player into the speakers and everyone gets to hear the music.

Here’s some other Fisher Price fp3 Player Reviews:

This player is everything it’s cracked up to be. It’s tough, and VERY easy to load, and I am no tech junkie. Far from it actually. So, once I got the program loaded on the computer, it was a snap to learn. My 4 yr old daughter ust loves it. She’ll insist on taking it in the car whenver we’re in there, and also will listen to it at home just the same. The only problem (and it’s minor) is that the battery life isn’t that great. I had to buy rechargable batteries for the amount of use she gives it. Totally worth the investment.

and another . . .

My son and my niece (both 3 1/2) just love this toy. They received their FP3 players for Christmas, and have not put them down since. It didn’t take long for them to figure out how to work the controls, and they are completely able to handle this device on their own. Uploading songs is easy. I have yet to purchase songs from the website…I just transfer from our own collection of CDs. My son listens to it in the car, but recently took it inside the mall on an after-Christmas shopping spree. He was content for almost 4 hours with this thing. Love it!!!

More Fisher Price fp3 Reviews

As you can see the Fisher Price fp3 is a great alternative to the ipod, cheaper and will last longer.  I think our little monkey might find one under the tree this Christmas!

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October 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment 

Wii Music

If you have a gamer and/or musician on your Christmas gift list this year you better jump on Wii Music. It’s poised to be a top seller, and will not likely be on the shelves the closer Christmas gets.

When it comes to music and rhythm games, Wii Music stands in a class of its own. Unlike other music games, which penalize players if they don’t play perfectly, Wii Music is a musical playground where there are no mistakes. Here anyone can pick up and master the huge array of instruments available, through simple motions like strumming and drumming. Musicians in your band jam by simply playing their instruments to the beat of a song or by improvising to their heart’s content. Play faster. Play slower. Skip a beat, or throw in 10 more. No matter what you do, Wii Music automatically transforms your improv stylings into great music.

There are three different game modes you can play in. There is a way to play whether you are alone or with friends.

  • Solo Play: When you play by yourself, you can add one part at a time to arrange the whole song exactly how you want. The Tutes are on hand to back up your band in any parts you need filled.
  • Multiplayer: When in a band with friends, up to four people can be band members.
  • Wii Friends: Using WiiConnect24, you can send your jam videos to Wii Friends who own Wii Music. They can then watch your performance, modify it to their liking and send their jam videos back to you.

Your very own back up band. When you’re playing alone and you need some great back up you can count on Tutes ~ you own backup band. They’ll join a session playing an instrument that each thinks is strong for a specific song. You can simply enjoy the musical camaraderie, or pick up instrument tips by watching them jam. If you choose to watch, the Tutes will show you lots of techniques for many of these instruments, then ask you to follow their examples. They’ll start with the simplest techniques, then as you master each one, show you even more nuanced ones.

Play 60 Plus Instruments!

You can play most of the 60-plus instruments in Wii Music using simple motions with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers. Strum to play guitar, banjo and sitar. Drum to play jazz drums, congas and marching drums. Hammer away to play piano, vibraphone and marimba. Unlike most music games, Wii Music doesn’t make you use complex buttons. You only need to imitate playing the instrument. Wii Music offers virtually endless ways to make music.

Wii Music Reviews:

“I love the recent string (no pun intended) of musical games coming out from Guitar Hero to Rock Band. Problem is, those kits are flippin’ expensive and I’m not too keen on storing either plastic guitars or bulky drum sets. Don’t get me wrong, I own them anyway but lugging them to a friend’s house is no fun task.

Enter Wii Music.

Wii music is pantomime meets Rock Band. The bulk of the game revolves around the player mimicking gestures to simulate sound according to the actual song being played as the notes are hit automatically unless the player’s timing is off. The player does this up to six different instruments to simulate melody, bass, percussion etc. When the player is done, he or she can make a CD jacket to label the track and make a music video of it. On top of this, there are three minigames.

1: Wii Conductor. Move your arms similar to a conductor to make an orchestra go.
2: Hand bells like the ones some people use in Christmas musicals or church services.
3: Music quiz thingy similar to the memorization game on Wii Play.

That’s it! That is, in a nutshell, the entire game.

While the game itself is simplistic, that is also the idea. Nintendo, in it’s grand scheme of marketing to the casual gaming audience, has created a very simple, yet elegant, game to allow the player to easily mimic music without real lessons or going nuts while trying to play Through the Fire and Flames on Guitar Hero 3. In doing so, Nintendo has appealed to anyone who desires a musical experience but either A) doesn’t have the time to master easy, medium, hard, and extreme mode and/or B) does not have at least $80 to spend on a Guitar Hero set. All that is needed is at least one full Wii remote and nunchuck set although more sets with more players make it more fun.

While up to six instruments may participate in a song, only four players can go at a time although this does not mean the player can record tracks for all six instruments. This means four people at a time can go nuts with over 60 instruments including cowbell (which we all know we need more of), a DJ turntable, recorder, flute, sitar, and much more.

This game is very addicting. My graduate students friends are playing the game in my apartment as I type this, not only having a blast but hogging the darn TV in the process. They’re hooked on Ode to Joy, which we arranged with sleigh bells, a flute, and a clarinet. When working on my thesis for more than five hours at a time gnaws at my brain, I love saddling up the Wii and playing Twinkle Twinkle on the piano.

Now, with all the goodies in Wii Music there are a few drawbacks especially with the sound and selected songs. Unlike Guitar Hero, Wii Music’s musical selection is mostly derived from the public domain track list. This means it’s very generic songs like Twinkle Twinkle, Yankie Doodle, Ode to Joy, and Swan Lake. This constitutes the bulk of the soundtrack. There are a few good licensed songs like September by Earth, Wind, and Fire along with Loco-Motion. The real songs that everyone bought Wii Music to play are the Nintendo mixes like Legend of Zelda and the Mario Bros Theme Song. Unfortunately, there are only seven Nintendo songs and of that only three are any good (the aforementioned two and F Zero Mute City).

The soundtrack could have been soooo much better even with more licensed songs by Nintendo such as Castlevania, Star Fox, Metroid, and Paperboy. Anything would’ve been better than the ragtag bunch of songs from Europe that were used. Not to mention they could’ve used some greater public domain songs like Greensleeves or Battle Hymn of the Republic.

The next con is the sound itself. While the majority of the woodwinds and drums sound magnificent, several other instruments do not. The most notable bad sounding instruments are the trumpet, saxophone, violin, and viola. Don’t even get me started on the more… interesting instruments like the cheerleader, the black belt, cat and dog suit, and the rapper. Those wacky things seemed to have carried over from Mario Paint despite a 15 year gap. While having an all-male cheerleading squad sing the Legend of Zelda theme song was disturbingly amusing, I would never be so bold as to show that in public.

The only other cons are basic Nintendo ones such as the use of weird instructional characters. The Maestro instructor looks and talks like a more flamboyant homosexual version of Beaker from the Muppets. The other issue is how the remote distinguishes movement for the cursor and that of the instrument itself. It can get very annoying but I find that if I want to switch, just hold the remote in front of the TV for two seconds and the cursor switches over from the instrument.

All in all, Wii Music is a really fun game for the whole family and your friends if you’ve consumed enough alcohol… seriously. I give it a solid A- as it fully utilizes the Wii interface but lacks in some sound and musical selection issues. It’s too bad you can’t really go heavy metal… *sigh* party on Wayne!”

“While the past year, we’ve really seen the outrageous success of music games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band deliver with the hype and the gameplay for Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, there actually hasn’t been all that much for wannabe musicians to jam to their hearts too. While Rock Band and Guitar Hero have the excitement, there just is also the gimmicks of playing with more than just guitars. Well Nintendo has shown that recently with Sambe De Amigo with songs to download to, and now they are about to show that all over again with a little help from your favorite Mii’s and just a little imagination, you can jam to any musical instrument, and anyway you like to play is here on the Wii, with Wii Music.

Wii Music, one of the more surprisingly hyped games showcased at the E3 Video Game Expo earlier this year, is finally available for the Nintendo Wii. The game features no outrageous gimmicks like a guitar controller or a dance mat like the ones from Dance Dance Revolution, but just the simplicity that anyone can play and make your own music. The graphics look great and bring in a more natural way of playing to your favorite songs from Nintendo’s past like the themes from Super Mario Brothers and The Legend Of Zelda, or classical standards, and even guilty pleasure pop songs like Wham!’s Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.

There are over 60 different kinds of insturments to jam to from conga drums and violins, all the way to cow bells, yes I said cow bells. There also are great games to play with including Mii Maestro, where you can conduct your way through the simplicity of an orchestra, and drum solo mode, which you could play to the beat of a drum. But, you’d need the balance board from Wii Fit to play for that game, and improv jams you can custom make and record and save for your Wii viewing pleasure. Also, you can play alone, or with others to your favorite songs online through the WiiConnect online, which is a treat die hard Wii fans had wished for that even Rock Band couldn’t deliver.

All in all, while hard core music video gamers are more aniticapated for the releases of Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero: World Tour for the Wii, Wii Music is a unique musical experience for young and old gamers that is sure to please your wallet and the casual gamer alike, at a affordable price. It really takes my breath away, and is a fun and unique musical game that is well worth the money and in more than one musical note after another with all the different ways to can strum your heart away.

Graphics: B+

Sound: B

Control: B+

Fun & Enjoyment: B+ for solo player; A 1/2- for multiplayer

Overall: B+”

“I picked up Wii Music on Wednesday and have been having a blast every night this week.
One thing that I realized is that besides the 3 minigames, it isn’t really a game. If you go into it thinking it’s a game, you may be disappointed. There’s no score, no levels, no character development, no plot. When you finish a song there’s on one telling you “Great Job!” if you win or “Fail!” if you lose… In fact you score yourself based on how well you think you did. “Gamers” expect all of these things, and when they don’t find them they say that it sucks.

There’s the obvious comparison to Wii Sports and Wii Play. As a game, Wii Sports blows it out of the water, but you really can’t compare the two at all because they’re completely different. Personally I don’t think that Wii Music is much of a game at all, it’s more of a Musical Toy, and a darn good one at that. It’s just as much fun as Wii Sports, and has more replay value than the boring games in Wii Play! Who cares that the game doesn’t tell you how good or bad you did. Smart people can figure it out for themselves!

Grab some beer and some friends, and make a fool out of yourselves! That’s what Wii Music is all about, it’s just plain fun!”

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October 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment 

Fisher Price Little People Garage

If you are looking for one of the top Christmas gifts of 2008 for a toddler this is it. Fisher Price Little People Racin Ramps Garage is the perfect gift your your toddler.

Your toddler can discover how to make all sorts of things happen at this garage. It’s just their size. So they’re in the driver’s seat, racing down the three-story ramps, going up and down in the elevator, and pressing down on the driver in the car for fun sounds! Includes mechanic, driver, car and tow truck.

This garage will give your toddler hours of entertainment, as well as learning about cars and the rules of the road.

The tracks fits not only Fisher Price Little People cars, but also matchbox cars. This little people garage is sturdy and will stand the test of time with the rough and tumble play toddlers are know for.

Fisher Price Little People Garage Reviews

Here’s what other parents and grandparents have to say about the Fisher Price Little People Garage.

Favorite toy of 11 month old

. . . kept my 11 month old baby busy for a long time, day after day for a couple of months. He experiments by putting many different items through the spiral ramp, examines which items roll down and which do not. When something gets stuck in the middle, he tries to “debug”. I think my baby gets a good training in three dimensional spatial modeling through this play. He also likes to drop things into the elevator stall. He them moves up and down the elevator, enjoying the bell sound and the movement. This is definitely one of his favorite toys at the moment.

Little People Racin Ramps is a “Great car toy”,

I bought this for my two year olds birthday. She loves it along with her four year old sister. They play cars for long periods of time. They really enjoy the elevator. They have had no difficulty with it like other reviews stated. The only downfall is the tow truck gets a little annoying and the little blue towed car makes a high pitch noise when you drive it even on carpet. I would have like to have seen a better made towed car. The little blue towed car is not as high of quality as the other Little People cars we have purchased in the past, but the tow truck is great just like the other sets we have purchased. I received the toy a week earlier than planned with free shipping as well. I would definitely recommend this toy for boys or girls just buy additional cars to go with the set since it only comes with two people, one car, and one tow truck.

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October 27, 2008 | Leave a Comment 

KidiZoom Digital Camera by VTech

kidizoom digital cameraThe KidiZoom Digital Camera is the PERFECT Christmas gift for kids.  It is a big seller on Amazon.com and will not last. Don’t make the mistake of waiting to get this, because you may wait to late and miss it!

Show off Your Child’s Photos from the KidiZoom Digital Camera

It’s clear right out of the packaging that the KidiZoom digital camera was designed to stand up to tough play and rough handling. Bright pink rubber grips on each side make it easy for children to grasp the camera with both hands, and two-eye viewing make it easy to conceptualize a photo or a cool video. The camera even comes with two interchangeable faceplates, so your child can pick her favorite look. Before your child starts taking photos, you’ll need to use a Phillips screwdriver to insert four “AA” batteries in the grips of the camera. While the first few photos are being taken, you may want to set up the VTech Photo Editor on your computer. An intuitive installation wizard makes this process quick and easy. You’ll need Windows 2000 SP3+/XP or newer to use this software.

Inspire Your Child’s Creativity with KidiZoom Digital Camera

A built-in flash makes it easier to get well-lit pictures, especially if the subject of the photo is indoors. The flash does, however, often fire if you are trying to take a close-up shot, resulting in very bright, blown-out pictures. Inexperienced photographers may need to be reminded that the camera is not designed to focus on objects that are less than 1.5-feet from the camera. For super-sized fun, you can also link the camera to your television using the included A/V cable and view creative work on the big screen.

Six buttons and a navigational joystick on the back of the camera let your child pick a mode and scroll through old photos. Between taking photos, shooting videos, and playing simple games on the 1.8-inch color screen, there’s lots to do.

Your child will always have plenty to get excited about. Everywhere you take them becomes an artistic adventure. Grow your child’s creative side and you grow their mind. The KidiZoom Digital Camera helps them learn, grow and become creative artistic individuals early in life.

Don’t miss out and have a disappointed child waiting for their KidiZoom Digital Camera under the tree! Get yours today from Amazon.com

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October 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment 

Melissa and Doug Standing Easel

Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel is one of the hot new products this year. Everyone knows hot Christmas items never stay on the shelves long. The best way to not disappoint your little ones is to get it now.  Amazon.com still has some in stock, but no telling how long that will last.

melissa and doug deluxe standing easel

Melissa and Doug are all about kids not only having fun but learning and being creative. The Melissa and Doug Standing Easel is no different. This sturdy easel includes an area to hold paints and brushes. It also includes a paper roll, that is held between the two sides. The paper comes up and is held down by a clip. It works great, and is very easy to roll the paper out.

Just like a professional easel, this work station is generously sized so that children can complete projects both big and small. Its durable wood construction ensures that it won’t tip and it folds up easily for convenient storage. The Melissa and Doug standing easel also has a sturdy paint tray with cup holders for easy use and clean-up, and another tool tray that holds erasers, chalks, and clips. Four large, colorful clips are included with this easel. Paper rolls can be loaded effortlessly into the holder and a paper cutting edge at the top delivers clean cuts and leaves your artist’s work whole. Parents may have to assist removing and loading the paper, as it can be difficult for kids to do on their own. (The paper rolls and paint cups are not included.) A standing easel is essential for any young artist. This large easel has a chalkboard, dry erase board, and paper roller to let the children express themselves with different mediums. It also has an adjustable height that grows with the creator and delivers years of use. The brightly colored tool containers are capacious enough to hold lots of different items and are simple for tiny fingers to utilize. This toy will unleash the little artist inside every child and could spark a lifelong interest in fine art.

Inspire your young Picasso with the Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel. This easel will fuel your child’s imaginative side and gives them the freedom to create with an extra-large chalkboard, dry-erase board, and easy-load paper roller. Your budding artist will be inspired by free-form expression and spend hours drawing, painting, sketching, and doodling. It is also an excellent educational item and children love playing school with the chalkboard side. This work station is ideal for kids ages four through 10 and has an adjustable height to accommodate the little ones as they grow.

Let your young one learn and grow and build their imagination and beautiful artwork with this easel.

Get your Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel today before the sell out for Christmas.

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October 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment 

Elmo Live

Elmo Live is the next in a long series of Christmas time Elmo products. He will surprise you, because he is nothing like Tickle Me Elmo and previous Elmo dolls. 

This year Elmo comes alive! Elmo dolls are usually the most sought after Christmas gift of the season and this one is no different. Elmo live is poised to be a best seller, which means it will sell out fast.

In this truly life-like creation, for the first time ever, Elmo Live seems to actually be speaking as his mouth opens and closes just like the real muppet, Elmo, from Sesame Street. His mannerisms are right on target as his head bobbles back and forth as he speaks. He waves his arms, sits and stands, even crosses his legs all the while telling stories and jokes, singing songs and playing games. Children can activate the magic with a tickle or a squeeze of Elmo’s foot, tummy, back or nose.

We played with this on the store with my two year old and she laughed and giggled and though it was the best thing she had ever seen.  To hear a child laugh is the best Christmas gift ever. Elmo Live is bound to be this year’s hot gift that everyone fights to get for their kids. Make sure your kid has an Elmo Live under the Christmas tree. Make sure you order Elmo Live early so you can get your hands on one.

Parents and kids alike are falling in love with Elmo Live

“I just received one that I purchased for my 2 year old niece for Christmas. It is awesome!! It’s by far the best Elmo ever and probably the best toy I’ve ever seen – no kidding!! I haven’t seen much advertising yet for him, but when it starts, I would think that they will probably be hard to find. Definitely a “must buy”!!”

“Bought this for my 3-year old nephew a few days ago and he just rolls over on the ground laughing hysterically when he plays with it. Definitely worth it (for kids and parents) and going to be a hit this holiday season.”

“We snagged one of these from Toys R Us. It is amazing how far Toys have come. From the wooden Fisher Price Little People to Elmo Live. We had bought it for a Christmas Present, but I think us parents are enjoying it too much to put away for Christmas! This is a very cool toy.”

“I was lucky enough to find one of these in the store, and I actually purchased it for my neice, but as an adult, I’m absoluetly stunned at how adorable this doll is. I find myself playing it just to hear and see Elmo move! It’s well worth the money! This is the best toy yet that I’ve seen on the market for the price – you have other toys that do NOTHING, for the same price! I would rather be entertained for my money than to have something stare at me, while I’m starring at it! Great Toy – I can see why it’s the HOTTEST TOY Out, and will be SOLD OUT!”

“I just bought this for my 2 year old son for Christmas. There were several in the store and I let him play with him a little while we were there. As soon as Elmo started talking his face lit up. We’re saving the one we bought for Christmas but my husband and I have played with him a little. The look on my baby’s face alone made this toy worth every penny.”

“I was lucky to grab the last Elmo today locally and my three kids, a 2 year old, 5 year old, and a 7 year old, have been playing with Elmo ever since. They absolutely love it. The neighbors and other family members have been over to see Elmo go. He does sooooo many things, tells stories does dances, plays games, and other quirky fun things. It is so life-like it keeps the kids and adults amazed. My sister has struck out at many stores today and has been told it will be very hard to find this christmas. So if you find one, grab it, as these are definitely THE hit toy this year.”

These parents have found Elmo Live, but they also realize how difficult it’s going to be to find him the closer it gets to Christmas, as he will be the hot Christmas Gift of 2008.

Don’t disappoint your little one, order Elmo Live while it’s still available.

October 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment