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Playskool Busy Ball Popper Review

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By , About.com Guide

Playskool Busy Ball PopperPhoto courtesy of Pricegrabber.com.
Babies and toddlers love the Playskool Busy Ball Popper, with its colorful balls and exciting music. This is an active toy that tosses balls up into the air so your baby can chase them down and put them back on the track to do it all again. For parents, the music may be a little loud and annoying, and you may have to replace batteries often if your baby really loves the toy. However, the giggles and hand-clapping that results from this toy may be well-worth some minor annoyance on your part.

Playskool Busy Ball Popper Features

  • Five colorful balls on a plastic track and chute.
  • Battery-powered air pump to pop the balls into the air.
  • Place the balls on the track and push the plunger to start the action.
  • Eight songs go along with the motion of the toy.
  • Sound effects add to the fun.
  • Requires 4 'D' batteries.
  • Costs about $20.

Playskool Busy Ball Popper Review - What's Great About It?

This was a toy I had to see in action to believe. After watching some babies and young toddlers play with it, though, I decided this may be one of the best toys ever. Smaller babies can sit beside the toy and watch the balls move through the chute and up into the air. As they learn to kneel or stand, babies can get closer and watch the balls pop up from the top. Walkers and older toddlers can help chase the balls around the room when they pop off the track, which happens often. I watched kids from about 10 months all the way up to elementary school age play with this toy, and they all couldn't get enough of it. It's fun for independent play and for a small group to play with together.

Because of the entertaining music and the cause and effect fun, this toy won't be outgrown within a few months. It can be enjoyed for years, and is sturdy enough to withstand play by more than one child. In fact, my niece has this toy, and I've watched her go back to it time and time again, from the time she received it as a gift just before her first birthday to now, almost a year later.

At about $20, this toy is not terribly expensive. It's a good value for the price, and doesn't break easily during normal play. The plastic balls can get lost easily, but replacements are available for about $5.

Playskool Busy Ball Popper - What's Not So Great About It?

The Playskool Busy Ball Popper relies on 4 'D' batteries to run the music and air pump. The toy isn't much fun when the batteries run out, and some parents complain that this happens far too often. You may want to stock up on the right size batteries so you're prepared if this toy shuts down during baby's play time.

The music is pretty loud, and while 8 songs are plenty for baby, they will seem repetitive for parents in a hurry. If your baby is frightened by loud sounds, this may not be the ideal toy for your house.

For younger babies who have a very short attention span and limited mobility, a parent may have to play, too. The balls do pop all the way out of the toy fairly regularly, so you'll need to help smaller babies chase them down and put them back onto the track. It's fun to play along with your baby this way, but it means the Busy Ball Popper isn't a toy you can use to entertain a younger baby while you make dinner or take a shower.

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