Get those balls poppin' (Hasbro Playskool Busy Ball Popper)

Member Name: Foxy-Lady

Product:	Hasbro Playskool Busy Ball Popper
Date:	21/01/08 (398 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun!

Disadvantages: A bit noisy

You couldn't move in our living room on Christmas morning due to the vast array of presents that were piled high, ready to be opened. Now I'd like to say that lots of them were for me but they weren't. Hubby didn't get much of a look-in either so our small selection was tucked away under the tree. The majority were for two year old Jack and I've got to admit, as the gifts began to accumulate during the week before Christmas I was beginning to worry slightly as to where we were going to keep everything!

Jack excitedly opened lots and lots of toys which kept him fully occupied throughout Christmas Day. Boxing Day morning came and I expected him to rush downstairs to resume play with his new toys...but no. He was adamant that he was going to play with something that he'd had for well over a year. How typical!

The toy in question is the Playskool Busy Ball Popper which I bought for Jack when he was about 10 months old. At the time, I was trying to find something that would hold his attention and keep him amused as he seemed to be getting a bit bored with the toys he had. I thought this would do the trick. Retailing at £19.99 in Argos, I managed to get it a bit cheaper as when I went to purchase it they had knocked a fiver off the price! A further few quid had to be spent on batteries for the toy though - four 'D' batteries.

I could tell by the shape and size of the box that the Ball Popper unfortunately wasn't ready assembled. It was easily put together though and only required a screwdriver (crosshead) to securely fasten the batteries away in their compartment.

First impressions were good. It certainly looked promising - nice bright, vivid colours (slightly different to those shown in the picture above) and made from sturdy moulded plastics. The product is based around a helter-skelter design which incorporates five balls. A battery powered motor blows air through, forcing the balls up a chute. They then fall back into a spiral track which loops down into the clear fronted unit and back up the chute again. The whole thing looks very tactile and engaging for little hands and accompanied by music, I thought this was guaranteed to keep my son occupied for ages. I was right!

The Ball Popper has an on/off switch at the back for parental control. This allows the unit to be started up using a red 'plunger' that can easily be operated by a small child. Jack only needed to be shown how to press the plunger a few times and he then realised he could do it himself and start the machine whenever he wanted to - a good lesson in cause and effect. Gripping the plunger and holding the balls also helps to improve manual dexterity.

So, press the plunger and off it goes. The motor sounds just like a hairdryer which in essence, I suppose that's basically what it is! It's quite noisy and unfortunately this means that the music also has to be loud (volume can't be turned down) so that it can be heard over the sound of the motor. The music lasts for roughly a minute, during which time the balls start flying accompanied by comical mechanical and popping sounds. My son was instantly mesmerised! He likes some of the tunes more than the others - there are about 10 (Pop Goes the Weasel and Rockin' Robin are just a couple) that play in rotation, one playing each time the plunger is pressed. Due to the noise level it's a toy that has to be put away when daddy has been working nights!

I've noticed that Jack tends to get very giddy and excited when he plays with the Ball Popper. The music is quite lively and the balls can sometimes be a bit haphazard. Some just hover over the chute and fall straight back into the track. Others shoot off in all kinds of random directions and he has great delight in running after them. So does the dog!

When I first bought the Popper Jack was at the crawling stage and I think this toy really encouraged his movement, even more so when he began to toddle as he tried his hardest to retrieve the balls. The Ball Popper is recommended for 9 months and over but it is perhaps not really suitable for a baby if they can't crawl at all. They may find it a bit frustrating...or I may be wrong and the toy is entertaining enough because mummy or daddy has to run around doing all the hard work!

Now, Jack is a 'curious' little chap and one problem we've had with the Ball Popper is that the temptation to experiment and shove other objects down the chute is obviously just too hard for him to resist. I've found all sorts in ours...baby socks, toy bricks, dummies, baby wipes, balls of various sizes and more recently, a pair of pliers (toy ones, I hasten to add!) The latter got well and truly stuck, requiring the unit to be dismantled so I could get them out! The balls also have a tendency to disappear for days on end. I'll search high and low with no success and a few days later they are all back, shooting out of the machine. I'm sure Jack is going to be a magician! Either that or a hairdresser - he loves sticking his face over the flow of air, letting it blow his hair!

I think you will have realised by now that I fully recommend this toy. It keeps Jack entertained and amused for long periods of time and it's just lovely to hear him giggle and squeal as he enjoys himself. The fact that he chose to play with the Ball Popper on Boxing Day instead of his selection of new toys tells you that it really must be a winner. It has some educational elements for younger children but on the whole, it's just good old fun!

Summary: An entertaining toy