Hop On The Playtime Bus (IQ Builders Playtime Bus)

Member Name: jusophine

Product:	IQ Builders Playtime Bus
Date:	06/02/01 (41 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Loads of sounds, buttons and functions.

Disadvantages: Stuck on faces may eventually wear.

Finding your child a toy that will keep their attention for more than half an hour is a bit of a challenge. Just when you think that you've scored a hit with them, the toy is thrown down and discarded in favour of the box that it came in. On this occasion however, I think I definately had a hit.

The I.Q playbus first appealed to me because of it's bright, robust appearance. With loads of buttons to press along the side and on top, as well as happy faces looking through imaginary windows, this bright yellow bus looked fun. The wheels really go around, and although not big, the overall structure is big enough to take my son's entire weight on either by pushing it along or by actually sitting on it!

The bus teaches young children the alphabet through 'phonic' sounds, and I have to say that the fact that it does this in an English rather than American accent also appealed to me. By pressing one of four modes, the child can learn the sounds(phonics) of letters, find the different letters having been prompted by the kind lady bus drivers voice, can learn sounds and letters together, i.e A; ah. Finally the fourth mode is a music library with a big selection of tunes and also animal sounds which my son finds particularly amusing.

To top it off, the top of the bus has shapes that play tunes or engine sounds depending on which mode is currently being used.

All in all, the bus is interesting to a child, durable, the batteries seem to last well and it's many functions mean that it keeps your child's attention for sometime with there always being something more to discover. 10 out of 10 to I.Q Builders!

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