 Who knew how much fun they'd have? |
| Review Date: October 15, 2003 |
| Reviewer: G. McCarthy, Chicago |
| I must admit that when my mom gave this toy to my 12 month old, I didn't think it would be a hit - boy was I wrong! Both the baby and my 3 1/2 year old think the ball fountain is neat. With this toy you push the plunger, the music starts and the balls begin popping out of the top, rolling down the shoot and popping out the top again. Sometimes the balls just keep going through the circuit and sometimes they fly out of the toy and roll across the floor. My daughters enjoy it all! From a parent point, the negatives are that the music is a little annoying and the five balls roll all over and need to be picked up again and again. The positive is that it keeps my little ones engrossed. The 3 1/2 year old can operate it all by herself and the 1 year old can play with it with only a little assistance from me (helping her corral loose balls and pushing the plunger). We haven't had any trouble with the sturdiness of the balls, but the yellow funnel does get knocked off occasionally. It goes back on easily enough, but disrupts the play temporarily. Bottom line is that we really like this toy and are happy to have it in our toy collection |
WOW! What a GREAT toy!
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| Review Date: November 9, 2003 |
| Reviewer: One Strong Opinion, Austin, TX USA |
| I first encountered this toy in a doctor's office and was amazed by its popularity. My 18 month-old son loved it as did ALL of the other kids in the office -- from about 9 mos to 5 years. The kids could not get enough of this toy. I got it for our own home, and its popularity remains high. I have given it as a birthday gift, and it has been a winner in those homes as well. The kids really do play with it endlessly. On that note, though, please know that this toy makes some NOISE, so if you are a person who can't stand noisy toys, this is NOT the toy for your house. |
What colorful, musical fun!
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| Review Date: August 5, 2004 |
| Reviewer: frisky2000, smallville |
Our 20 month old played with this at a friend's house and didn't want to put it away, which is not like her since she bores easily with most toys. We purchased one for her and the moment she sets it down to play, her face lights up, she squeals with delight when she presses the big red ball to start the action, and then once the balls start popping in the air, she is overjoyed.
The colorful balls are placed in the chute on top of the unit, then as they slide down the ramp, the air popper forces them up through the top hole and they pop around like popcorn! We watch our daughter laugh and have a blast with this toy all the time, but she is learning so much from it as well. First she learned cause and effect when pushing the red lever to start the machine. She learned that the music will not start until the balls begin moving. Next she learned where to place the balls, and how to catch them if they scooted away, and finally she learned words like BALL, STOP, OUT, PLAY, DANCE just from the repetition of the activities. The fun music reminds me of a circus parade and several songs randomly play while the popper is activated.
Storage is a snap since it's heavy enough to stay upright while playing, and light enough to grab and go when it's time to clean up. There are three main pieces that an adult has to screw together, and though a child might be able to pry off the top piece, it easily snaps back into place. Just don't lift it from the top piece and you shouldn't have a problem.
I recommend this toy for babies who are able to sit up unassisted so that an adult can help them play with the balls, but highly recommend it for walking toddlers since they will love chasing after the balls.
A+ from this parent on this one! |
a way to provide volume control
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| Review Date: December 31, 2004 |
| Reviewer: L. Marlowe, jacksonville, florida |
| Here's a hint - worked for us (thank goodness). Take a piece of duct tape (we used white, prettier) and put it over the speaker. It made the toy less overwhelming for the baby and she really has fun with it now. The music is still audible, just not quite so loud. |
Lots of Fun For Parent and Child
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| Review Date: October 31, 2003 |
| Reviewer: Sim Ellis, South Carolina |
I bought this for my daughter because I found the commercials very amusing. The toy looked like a lot of fun. As soon as my daughter (9 months old) saw the box she started clapping and cooing (prob. because of the bright colors on the box). I put it together (pretty easily I might add) and we let the fun begin. My daugter and I played with it for nearly 2 hours. At first she didn't know what to think, the noise made her a little scared but once she saw the balls pop up and we started chasing them around the toy quickly became a favorite of hers. Now she crawls up to it hits the plungers and looks at me and my husband like OK its time for the family to play.
One word of caution, my daugter is in the "pull up" stage and she tried to pull up on the toy and we had to scramble to catch her, therefore, it is a toy that needs strict adult supervision, but it give the family an excuse to paly together. WE LOVE IT !!! |
Great Toy!
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| Review Date: October 17, 2003 |
| Reviewer: , Madison, NJ United States |
| I bought this toy when my daughter turned 1. It was a great purchase, because she and my 4 year old were equally entertained and could play with it together. Every child who enters my home, regardless of age, seems to gravitate towards this toy. It's easy for little hands to grab the balss and drop them back in the fountain. I would like to see Hasbro offer replacement balls, since the balls tend to end up everywhere. This one is a definite hit! |
terrific toy fun for entire family! EXTRA BALLS!
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| Review Date: August 4, 2007 |
| Reviewer: bookreader1961, fargo ND |
http://www.hasbro.com/forms/orderform.cfm?prodname=PLAYSKOOL%20BUSY%20BALL%20POP
PER&sku=06104
If you need more balls just go to this link. Balls do go all over which is what makes it so crazy and fun! So get extra balls even if you don't lose any. It just makes it more fun to have lots of balls! |
Lots of fun!
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| Review Date: April 15, 2003 |
| Reviewer: , |
| My daughter got this toy for her first birthday, she and 5 other kids ranging from her age to age 5 sat down around it and played with it for 30 min. They all loved it! As soon as it turns on she shreiks with delight. The only draw back is that the balls fly out all over the place and you have to run after them all the time. Also it turns off by itself too fast and my daughter has had a little bit of a problem learning how to start it again. But besides that it is a really cute toy. |
WOW! What a GREAT toy!
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| Review Date: October 14, 2003 |
| Reviewer: One Strong Opinion, Austin, TX USA |
| I first encountered this toy in a doctor's office and was amazed by its popularity. My 18 month-old son loved it as did ALL of the other kids in the office -- from about 9 mos to 5 years. The kids could not get enough of this toy. I got it for our own home, and its popularity remains high. I have given it as a birthday gift, and it has been a winner in those homes as well. The kids really do play with it endlessly. On that note, though, please know that this toy makes some NOISE, so if you are a person who can't stand noisy toys, this is NOT the toy for your house. |
This toy was a big hit!
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| Review Date: December 2, 2005 |
| Reviewer: Susan, Michigan |
My son received the ball popper for his first birthday. When we first turned it on for him, he cried and ran away! Within a week, though, he thought it was great. Now he plays with it constantly. The balls do go all over, but he has a great time rounding them up and putting them back in. He's 28 months now and still loves it.
As far as it being dangerous, I just can't imagine it. My son sticks his arm in it all the time. It has never gotten stuck. The suction is almost nonexistent (just enough to suck up a plastic ball). Maybe these people who complained got one with a super powerful motor. The suction on my son's machine isn't nearly strong enough for anything to get stuck.
Not the most educational toy around, but who says they all have to be? This toy is just a lot of fun!
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You can order replacement balls!
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| Review Date: October 21, 2007 |
| Reviewer: chicago, |
| We bought this after seeing it listed as one of the top toys in 2003 (or 2004?) for my oldest daughter. She had a great time with it (and I did enjoy it more when she was old enough to run after the balls herself). Most of the balls ended up lost and it got stored away. I took it back out after my son was old enough to enjoy it and was happy to learn you can order more balls on the company's website! He is now 2 years old and still plays with it often - and it entertained a friend's 6 year old son as well recently. |
My 10 month old AND my 3 year old enjoy it!!
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| Review Date: September 15, 2004 |
| Reviewer: Tonya, Douglasville, GA USA |
This toy is GREAT! I initially saw the commercial for it right after my youngest daughter was born. I wanted to get it then but knew it was just too early. I forgot all about it until the other day while at Toys R Us. I saw it and immediately purchased it. My youngest daughter is 10 months old now and when we turned this toy on she was beside herself with excitement. I will say that she was a little startled at first with the music and the balls popping up by themselves but after about a day or so of play this is her favorite toy! I also have a hard time keeping my 3 year old from taking it over.
It's true that the balls do fly out occasionally but we manage to keep track of them. I don't have any problems with the motor/fan drowning out the music. It's very durable. Even if my 3 year old manages to pull it apart it snaps back together easily. I know someone mentioned that it was top heavy and that it turns over when their child leans on it to stand up. I just wanted to say that this toy was not meant to be one to assist with standing. My 10 month old sometimes leans on it to stand up too but I don't expect it to hold her.
The bottom line is this...it plays music and makes balls pop up and go around and around by themselves. It entertains my daughters endlessly. It was a genius idea and if for some reason it broke tomorrow I would go out and buy another one! |
Long lasting fun
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| Review Date: March 3, 2005 |
| Reviewer: M. H Shamp, Columbia Falls, MT United States |
My four year old boy, who is behind in development and doesn't care for toys, played with the ball popper for SIX HOURS straight on his birthday. His six year old brother tried to play it whenever he could, and I spent all day keeping him away. Later he played with it by the hour.
The only draw back is, I totally lost my concentration that day, listening to the music plus fan blowing all day long. How much do you like The Flight of the Bumble Bee? To me, it sound as annoying as a real bee buzzing around after I heard it 100 times in a day! It was worth it, though, seeing my kids so happy! (I could have gone to a different room, of course, but I didn't think of it until my brain was numb.)
It takes 4 DD batteries, and so far it has run 20 hours without needing to change battery. I really like the design of having the fan run only for a while after the baby smacks the switch. Then it stops until the baby hits the switch again, so it really saves on batteries.
Lovely toy, don't hesitate to buy it now!
And thanks so much, Fisher Price!
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How can anyone resist this?
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| Review Date: November 12, 2005 |
| Reviewer: Rosemary A. Bertinelli, Carbondale, PA United States |
Blowing up little plastic balls through a tube using a force of air and have them fall into a "funnel" and down the chute only to be forced back up all over again. How simple is that? How engaging could this be? The answer would amaze you, it did me.
I got this for my 13 month old and he LOVES it. I love to watch him play with it. I love to listen to him when he plays with it! Unfortunately, he cannot play with it alone. It attracts everyone! Even the adults. It's like the open bag of chips that makes all the hands appear!
Yes the balls go all over the floor. That is the fun of this. Baby crawls and retrieves them. I am so proud at how he brings them back to the toy. Sometimes he even pushes the toy to each ball on the floor.
The top "funnel-like" fountain part does come off easily but it goes back on just as simply. It is not a big effort to put it back on.
Now the mom scoop and what it does for me....I can get about 10 solid minutes of "not chasing baby around time" with this. That makes it a winner! When my older boys sit and do this with him, I can get more time. Sometimes enough to dust and vacuum the entire downstairs. Sometimes enough to dry my hair, or put the laundry away! Those of you with toddlers can appreciate the happiness that goes with starting a small task and completing it in one shot!
The concept is simple, the balls are bright and colorful. There is enough noise and activity to engage everyone for longer periods than I imagained. This toy will not find its way into the toy box any time soon. In fact, I am finding it in different rooms of my home as I carry it around with me when I need to baby to sit in the room with me for a couple of minutes here and there.
I plan on giving this as gifts to my other mom friends who have not yet discovered this treasure!
Substantial toy even before you take into account the weight of the 4 D sized batteries it needs to operate.
No problems with little hands getting stuck, I don't leave my little guys alone in rooms, maybe when their 21 I'll consider it...ha ha!
Great toy that will "steal the spotlight"!
Rosemary |
Ball Poppin' Mania!
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| Review Date: November 18, 2005 |
| Reviewer: Paige's Mum, McDonald, PA |
| My daughter received this when she was 13 months and has played with it everyday since (she is now 20 months). She loves to feel the air blow through the hole in the top and catch a ball. This toy helped her learn her colors, especially when we would have to search for a ball. Every time she presses the "plunger" she yells and squeals as if it was the first time she'd ever done that. It is loud and bright and exciting -- very fun for a child to experience. (It's also her daddy's favorite toy!) |
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