He's alright is Alfie ;-) (VTech Alfie Bear)

Member Name: chele2002

Product:	VTech Alfie Bear
Date:	04/01/02 (165 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A fun a cute way to teach children the A-Z, Many, many functions that will keep little one entertained

Disadvantages: Some may quibble at the price, Brother keep snatching it off of his sister

We were a little stuck this year as to what to get for our little ones at the last minute, you know how it goes, for a brief moment it is October and the next there is less than a week before Christmas. Well browsing though the catalogue and looking at all the toys suitable for our 10 month old daughter Rebekah, I was a little disappointed with the lack of items still in stock and as it was for Christmas, we had to have a re-think. So on with the page browsing until we get to the toddler section and spotted this cute, light colour brown bear named Alfie, sporting a bright red pair of dungarees and a whole host of shapes, numbers, letters and pictures for little hands to touch and be delighted with. Well our little Alfie is supposed o be designed for a 2-5 year old but hey he?s a soft toy apart from his nose and eyes, so how much trouble could a little girl get into playing with her new found friend? To be exact none, apart from the odd cry as our 2 year old John snatches him right before her very eyes! Poor little girl, I bet its times like these she wonders why they ever invented siblings.



So let's talk about Alfie (sounds like a song title)
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Well our little friend Alfie is not too bad a size for starters, but just to give you an idea he sits to the height of my 15 inch monitor, okay I know monitor cases have different depth surrounding, so I guess its time to get the tape measure out.

Liam be a love please and get the green tape measure from the draw with the knives and forks in?

Reply: Tape measure?! Puzzled look upon his face.

Yes the green thing that hurts when it pings your fingers.

Reply: Oh that thing ??.. Ok

As I sit here waiting , then I hear the kitchen door close, sounds like he found it and yes here he comes ........

There you go mum (he has stopped calling me mummy now ever since he went up a new class, h
ow strange).

Thank you

Okay, sorry about that on with the opinion.

So let's talk about size. Alfie tends to prefer the sitting position so from bum to head he is 13 inches high, and from side to side, minus the arms he is 7 inches. Now his arms are 5 inches long but only poke out to 4 and half inches as they are in the arms up and out let's give us a cuddle mode, where the legs are just 4 inches long. So over all he is 13 inches by 11 and half inches wide when sat down. There is point telling you what he his standing as he simply refuses to stand, probably too tired from all the talking he does.


As for the functions on his body there is hardly a part that has been left alone, well two parts to be exact his bottom and his face, saying that those nice people who make Vtech toys have gone and stamped his right cheek of his bottom with those ever warm and welcoming words 'Alfie My Alphabet Friend'.


On Alfie's hands you will find the numbers 1-10, with 1-4 being his fingers and 5 being his pad all on the right hand, the same goes for his left hand but this time with the numbers 6-9 for his fingers and number 10 for his pad. When any of the numbers are pressed, you will hear a male sounding voice saying what each number is, that is provided the music function on his belly has not been pressed, in which case you will hear a different tune for each number, some will sound familiar and other I am in a complete blank.

Moving down towards his tummy there are a row of 4 circles, this is what I will call the functions as the shapes, letters, numbers and pictures will respond in a different way, in accordance to which have been pressed.

1: A B C, which is aimed to teach small children the sounds of each letter. After this button has been pressed you the go on and pressed any letter in the alphabet you or even your child wish and as if by magic, or the touch of a finger tip, each sound o
f the letters pressed are sounded for little delicate ears to listen to.

2: The picture button, which when pressed followed by a letter that has a picture beside it, the name of the picture will be said followed by the sound the picture if real would make, but for some pictures such as a rainbows that doesn't make a particular sound or noise they have decided to improvise to give a cracking sound that I must say fits in very well with the pictures.

3: A ? button, is aimed at helping children learn to listen and follow directions a big part of growing up and an essential part of learning to. Not only does this allow to the child to listen carefully but it also gives the understanding of what letters come before, after, words begin with and of course co-ordination. When the ? button has been pressed, polite Alfie will talk nicely to you with such a phrase as 'Nice to meet you', I've hidden a letter can you find it? It comes after (a random letter) and so on, when the child has still not found it, little Alfie will let your child know what picture begins with that particular letter, and if your child is correct it will clap and tell your child just how brilliant they are (great for a confidence boost).

4: The music button, which I have to say apart from trying to pull Alfie's nose off with her new found teeth is Rebekah?s favourite. John on the other hand like all the smooth talk that Alfie gives from time to time, such as I am you best friend, I need a hug and so on. When this one has been pressed, most but not all the shapes, etc will sound a tune or two.

So there you have that was the function button, but below them you have all the letters of the alphabet, each with a picture to accompany the letters, each letter is blue with the exception of the vows A, E, I, O and U, which stand out a bit more from the continent letters as they are red, a nice lovely letter box red (sorry that was poor).

Oh yes and
I nearly forgot to mention that Alfie has a few shapes on the bottom of his right foot (paw).

1: A yellow star.
2: A red triangle.
3: A green circle.
4: A blue square.

When each are pressed Alfie will let your child know what colour they are and what shape.

On Alfie's left foot there is a picture of Alfie?s face, which when pressed, will say how are you? I need a hug, and will follow with the likes of the Teddy Bears Picnic tune. A picture of a piano, which when pressed will say 'Nice to meet you' followed buy the main notes used in music and last but not least a musical note, that plays tunes and creeps to your child by telling them he is their best friend.


So as far as Alfie is concerned that's about that.

Despite the fact that our Alfie cost £29.00, there is one thing you have to remember, he is made by Vtech, known for making high standards of educational toys and learning aids. If you compare a large soft plush character toy that say's a few phrases when hugged to the possibilities of what Alfie is capable of I think that he is a fair price. Alfie make learning fun and is a great way for a child to learn how to interact whilst learning Basic English. Our Rebekah loves Alfie, but has this bizarre liking for his nose, where are John whose age it is more suited for loves getting Alfie to talk and teasing his sister with her own toy.

P.S Alfie does come supplied with batteries (2AA's) , but then most toys for younger children do, where as the likes of 5 years + don't on most occasions. So if you do get this toy, you will not be disappointed, perhaps you may get a little fed up with the sound of Alfie's voice, so just in case you do they have thought of everything, hidden in the back of Alfie is the battery compartment and a little switch to turn him off.

As far as cleaning is concerned, I don't think washing powder and a nice harsh spin is best for Al
fie but any marks can be removed with a damp cloth.

After all that in Alfie style 'I need a hug', think I will wait till Chris comes home ;-)


Price update
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I had to pop in town yesterday and whilst I was waiting for the bus I decided to pop into Toys r Us and spotted Alfie sat there all on is own for the much better price of £19.44. So if you are thinking of buying Alfie and want it for around £10 cheaper than catelogues and some other outlets then head down to Toys r Us.

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