A bus you can count on (IQ Builders Playtime Bus)

Member Name: anwar7

Product:	IQ Builders Playtime Bus
Date:	20/01/04 (104 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great fun

Disadvantages: plastic, needs batteries

Full review
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My little boy was beginning to outgrow some of his baby toys, so it was off to our local car boot sale to see what I could spy. Amongst other finds (to be reviewed at a later date) I bagged an I.Q builders interactive bus. Its bright yellow colour was what first attracted me to it (, well that and the price of £1.00 including batteries!)

What it looks like
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The bus as I have said is bright yellow, and made of hard plastic. Around the sides it has brightly coloured paper, multi cultural passengers, there is also a female driver (very P.C)!
The bus has wheels, which actually turn. On one side of the bus are the letters of the alphabet in lower case red plastic. Under the letters are numbers 1-10 in green and purple plastic.

On the top of the bus is a large speaker, 4 large different coloured buttons shaped as a circle,star,triangle and square. The buttons have pictures of a horn, a key, a music note and a foot on a brake pedal. There is also a volume control plus an on /off switch. The buttons are easy for little hands to use.
The bus uses 2 aa batteries which are kept in place under the bus by means of a screwed on cover for safety
The bus measures 32cm in length ,15 cm in height and 11 cm in width

What it does
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1.When first turned on a voice with an English accent says all aboard. The bus can be operated in 4 different modes-

1. Sounds of letters-The sounds of letters are given phonically when each key is pressed, numbers are spoken and the keys on the top of the bus make the appropriate sound e.g. horn sounding.

2. Shapes, number and sound-A voice asks the child to find letters from the phonic sound given if the correct button is pressed a tune plays, if an incorrect button is pressed a voice says whoops and asks again. The voice also asks the child to identify the v
arious shapes on top of the bus.

3. Sounds and letters-This mode is similar to mode 1 excect the voice says the name of the letter in addition to the sound it makes. When the number keys are pressed in this mode musical scales are played.

4. Music mode-This is my sons favourite mode .All the numbers and letters now play different tunes.

My (nearly) 2 year olds verdict on this toy
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I bought this toy about 2 months ago and it has been a firm favourite from day one. At not yet 2 my little lad has of course no idea of the alphabet or what the voice is asking him to do. He however has mastered how to press the right key to make the music play and enjoys dancing to the tunes. He is also able to press the red key when I ask him to! His favourite game is to sit astride the bus and scoot along on it; so far this toy has stood up to the challenge!




As he gets older I guess he will play with this toy on more sophisticated levels-we shall see.

The recommended age range for this toy is 12-36 months. I would say 12 months is too young, and would suggest 18 months and up more like it. The bus is great for learning letters, numbers and colours. But most importantly it is fun!

For those of you unable or unwilling to get up at the crack of dawn on a Sunday morning, then this toy can be purchased new from Argos for £14.50.It is also available from numerous other toy retailers.
I should add that the toy appears very safe with no sharp edges.

Would I purchase this toy at full price?Probably not as I tend to steer away from toys which need batteries.I also prefer toys which allow the child to use their imagination rather than ones which have a voice telling them what is required.

Overall this is a fun toy which is at present being played with on a regular basis,although perhaps not as the manufacturer intended!











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