My year old son got this for his birthday and although he loves it and it is a neat toy, it really could have been technically executed a little better. I am hoping they send out updates via the USB cord to make his speech a little bit smoother and that they enhance the variety of "elevator" music available
The USB cable that comes with Scout is incredibly short and I would recommend a second mini USB cable if you do not already have one for another computer peripheral. The customization process was straight forward and we had him done quickly. My only complaint is that you have to create a user account and the Internet is required but that's a minor compliant since Scout ships able to be interactive without being customized. Additionally, Scout has volume control on his battery box and is not obnoxiously loud even on his highest volume
Scout is very, very soft and even with the battery box in his trunk, the puppy's body is soft and cuddly. My son spends a lot of his play time with Scout hugging him and petting him.
Scout has three main features - Play games, Sing Songs, and Night Songs (the fourth paw is on and off):
- The Play Games paw just chatters with your child. Asking him what his favorite color, animal and food is - Scout and Baby have the same ones after you program them. Scout also makes animal noises, talks about feelings "I feel happy, show me your biggest smile!" and engages your child in direct dialog.
- The songs Scout sings are cute and the choices you make when customizing show up in the songs he sings. Poor technical integration is shown when any of the customized items appear in the songs - Scout sounds like he has a speech problem because the tamper and inflection of the customized objects does not match the song being sung. Also, the only music you can customize in this section is elevator music. I would like to see songs with words, more known children's songs (very surprised not to see "Baby Beluga") or the ability to add your own music to Scout.
- The Night Songs paw is pretty cool. You click it once and it does 2 mins of the "night" music you choose when customizing continuously. Press it again, you get 5; once more and you get 10. Although our guy doesn't have problems sleeping, it might be a nice touch if your little one has some problems sleeping or being alone in the quiet.
All in all, our only real concern is that Scout might be the first toy he has worthy of being "that" toy he can't live without! We have a competitors talking puppy that drives us up the wall ("TUMMY!").
If you are looking for a chatty puppy - Get Scout or Violet.
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LeapFrog My Pal ScoutProduct Description: The LeapFrog My Pal Scout is an interactive companion that helps children learn with an entertaining twist. Recommended for ages six months to three years, the cuddly Pal Scout's music, lights, and singsong voice appeals to kids whether they are barely crawling or talking in complete sentences. As an added feature, you can personalize the toy to match your child's preferences through the LeapFrog Connect application simply by connecting the My Pal Scout to a computer with the USB cable (included).
My Pal Scout, with its plush fabric and colorful puppy design, is appealing to children. The voice of Scout, a playful and upbeat young boy's, is fun and engaging for growing minds. Infants are also attracted to the nametag that lights up when Scout speaks or plays music. The nametag is made of durable plastic, and the new model features paws with embroidered symbols instead of decals so there are no removable pieces on the toy's exterior.
Your child can chew on this sturdy toy's ears or toss it around. My Pal Scout is light enough for even the youngest child to hold and carry. The handy Velcro closure keeps the battery compartment, USB port, and power/volume switch securely inside the toy. The switch has three settings: normal volume, quiet volume, and master off. In the "master off" mode, Scout will not operate when the paws are pressed, so only parents will be able to turn the toy back on. My Pal Scout's speakers are also inside the toy and provide balanced sound.
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My son received this table when he was 8 months old, and still plays with it on an almost daily basis.The legs are detachable, I guess so it can be placed on the floor for babies, but we never did that...This table helped our son into a standing position, and encouraged him to "cruise". The variety of music it provides is great, and hasn't even begun to get old yet (even for mom & dad). Now at almost 2, I've noticed that my son is starting to make his own music instead of just "pressing buttons" .Pressing the drums, the piano, then back to the drums... I'm sure this table will last for years to come, especially once he becomes more interested in his letters, numbers, and colors. I would DEFINITELY recommend this product for EVERY child!
