Picking my first toy for review from Constructive Playthings was a challenge. As my experience is mainly with children with special needs, I also have an 8 month old. Those of you who know me well enough know that I like to use toys many ways with different age groups and abilities, so I chose the Interactive Hop & Learn mat.
It unfolded very easily out of the box, after I installed the three AA batteries (batteries are not included), I let Gavin, my 8 month old loose. He has just started to crawl on hands and knees, so he was happily crawling up and down the mat, using his hands to activate the different sounds on each square in good old cause and effect fashion!
Then we brought the mat to our friend’s house over the 4th of July holiday to see what their 3 year old twins and 5 year old thought of the product. We tested out the games, though truthfully, we had some difficulty understanding most of the audio directions. When you step on the mat it makes a crinkly sound and with any other background noise, we found it hard to hear and follow at times because it sounded a bit muffled and spoke too quickly. The twins enjoyed simply hopping on one and two feet from start to finish in hopscotch fashion without the audio. We then tried to think of some different ways to use the product without the sound, so you can continue to promote the color, shape and number recognition the mat is designed to teach.
So we had more fun using the mat in “Twister” format! If your child is two or three, you would want to encourage color recognition. Encourage them to stand on a color, put their nose on red, crawl to blue, etc. The twins knew their colors, but hadn’t learned all their numbers. So I encouraged them to find the number 9 by looking for either a green space or a triangle. For older children preschool and school age who are working on shapes and numbers, give them more than one direction at a time, sit down on 7 and a put your foot on a rectangle. This allows you to use the mat with different age groups at the same time.
When it’s rainy, snowy, windy or too hot outside and you have kids with extra energy, this is quick indoor way to relieve some wiggles. It can also be helpful for children learning to advance their motor skills for hopping on one foot and improving their motor coordination. Though I would suggest being with your children when they play it to repeat and modify the directions to meet their skill level.
Constructive Playthings is a family owned business who, since 1953, has been striving to provide both educational and developmental toys to consumers. They will also be offering a $50 gift card this month to a US or Canadian reader, 18 and older with a valid email address who completes the following three steps:
1. Visits http://www.constplay.com and takes a look at the website. Come back and tell me a toy you think your child would really enjoy. (The toy mentioned in this review does not count!) (COUNTS AS ONE ENTRY)
2. Follow @ToyQueen on Twitter (FOLLOW COUNTS AS ONE ENTRY) and post a comment here.( POST COUNTS AS ONE ENTRY ONCE A DAY)
For Extra Entries: (Please leave a comment on this post letting me know what you have applied for regards to extra entries)
– Post a comment on our Facebook page (COUNTS AS ONE ENTRY)
– Post this contest to your facebook status (COUNTS AS ONE ENTRY)
– Follow @ConstructiveMom on Twitter and Facebook (COUNTS AS TWO ENTRIES)
Giveaway will end in three weeks on Monday July 26th, 11:59 p.m. EST
Remember, if you plan on ordering any toys or products, use the blue discount button for the Constructive Moms program on the sidebar of my blog, it will get you a 15% off discount on any purchase!
Canadians – Constructive Toy is just on the verge of launching in Canada. If you win, you will be one of the first people to shop on the website with your gift card when it launches later this month
Disclosure: http://cmp.ly/3/da8l53
I follow Constructive mom on FB
http://twitter.com/star84vu/status/18998307254
My kids would like the GEO MAGNETIC BUILDERS.
My grandson loves to explore outside so I would pick the Deluxe Nature Explorer Set.
http://twitter.com/star84vu/status/19105208690
http://twitter.com/star84vu/status/19272507867
My daughter would love the All Around Electronic Kitchen
http://twitter.com/star84vu/status/19361107565
My daughter would love the Doll Tea Set
macd9900 at gmail dot com
I would select the Super Stamp Kit, and some of the Chubby crayons. My daughter has motor control issues, and I think she would do well with these.
The chubby crayons are the best, I’ve used those for years with kids, they are great at promoting a fingertip grasp patttern!
@TwiMommi is already following you on twitter. That is where I saw this.
The All Around Electronic Kitchen is what my daughter would love to have.
follow toyqueen in twitter/dahliamomma
Follow @ConstructiveMom on Twitter/dahliamomma
and Facebook (letesshaw)
2
Follow @ConstructiveMom on Twitter/dahliamomma
and Facebook (letesshaw)
http://twitter.com/star84vu/status/19436736913
I would love to have the Tools of the Trade Set for my son.
Thank you so much for the giveaway.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I am a fan of Constructive Mom via Facebook as Jill Myrick.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I am following Constructive Mom via Twitter as jlsc123.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
My nephew would like the All Around Electronic Kitchen
My son would love the Action Costumes
I Follow @ToyQueen on Twitter as samsakara
I think my son would love the Stage Mike with Sound-Effects. Thanks for the contest! codisweepstakes2 (@) gmail(dot)com
I follow toyqueen on twitter. un:codisweepstakes codisweepstakes2 (@) gmail(dot)com
I posted a comment on your facebook. http://www.facebook.com/ToyQueen?v=wall#!/ToyQueen?v=wall&story_fbid=420757998415&ref=mf codisweepstakes2 (@) gmail(dot)com
I posted on my facebook wall: http://www.facebook.com/ToyQueen?v=wall&story_fbid=420757998415&ref=mf#!/codipayne?v=wall&story_fbid=136913269681967 codisweepstakes2 (@) gmail(dot)com
I follow ConstructiveMom on twitter. un:codisweepstakes codisweepstakes2 (@) gmail(dot)com
I’m a fan of ConstructiveMom via Facebook. un:codipayne codisweepstakes2 (@) gmail(dot)com
The Tools of the Trade Set wouldl be great for my son – thanks
facetwit17 follows on twitter
Tweet – http://twitter.com/Facetwit17/status/19495430430
I would love to have the Fancy-Fun Tutus.
http://twitter.com/star84vu/status/19513759737
GIANT INFLATABLE SOCCER BALL
would be fun for my boys
idahomom7 is following you on twitter
http://twitter.com/idahomom7/status/19521424097
idahomom7 is following ConstructiveMom on twitter
My son would LOVE the BARN AND ANIMALS. So cute. He absolutely loves farm animals and farm themed play sets.
My child would love the North Pole Express.
My little guy would love the FIRE RESCUE SET.
I follow you on Twitter @eswright18
I like the Pop-Up Playscape.
I follow toyqueen on Twitter- ksh123
I follow ConstructiveMom on Twitter- ksh123
I would pick the Deluxe Nature Explorer Set
thanks for the great giveaway
Follow @ToyQueen on Twitter username blueeyeleo
I love the Microscope Set.
Our little boy would enjoy their X SOUND R/C RACE
ardy22 at earthlink dot net
follow you twitter
ardy22
ardy22 at earthlink dot net
tweet
http://twitter.com/Ardy22/status/19536860159
ardy22 at earthlink dot net