The twins have been hitting the "gym" lately, the Vtech Jungle Gym that is. How clever are those people at Vtech? They've combined playtime fun, learning, and movement into a new line of toys aimed at the 18-36 month crowd. The line includes jungle themed toys such as the Bouncing Colors Turtle, Monkey Moves Smart Seat, Twist & Learn Gorilla Pals, and the Ride and Learn Giraffe Bike.
Vtech sent their Ride and Learn Giraffe Bike for the twins and I to review just in time for the holidays. It's essentially a toddler exercise bike style toy with an emphasis on educational play enhanced by the child's own movement. Assembly of this toy was simple and relatively quick, even with the added bonus of the twins helping. Once assembled, I must admit, the twins were a bit crazed to be the one who had the chance to try it first. Ultimately, we worked out a "taking turns" plan that suited everyone including mommy.
I want to point out that the twins are just shy of 18 months and this is our first attempt at pedaling anything. We are still getting the hang of the concept. However, this toy still allows for amusement while we perfect this skill including interaction from just bouncing or button pushing. There is even peppy music and sound to go along with the various toy modes which include ABCs, 123s, objects, and the super appealing race mode.
My favorite thing about this toy? It teaches your child that exercise is both fun and important from the very start. The benefits gained from establishing healthy habits early on are numerous and it's clear VTech has gone beyond just recognizing that fact, they have created the perfect toys for parents to implement it.
I've added this Vtech Ride and Learn Giraffe Bike to our 2009 Holiday Gift Guide and I plan to watch the holiday sales for deals on the other items in the Vtech Jungle Gym Line.
