Why Leapfrog Magic Rockin Instrument is a great addition to any playtime routine

The Leapfrog Magic Rockin Instrument is an interactive toy designed to engage young children in musical exploration and learning. With its colorful and appealing design, this toy offers various play modes to help children develop their cognitive skills and musical abilities. One of the main features of the Leapfrog Magic Rockin Instrument is its ability to teach children about different musical instruments and their sounds. By pressing the buttons on the instrument, children can listen to various instrument sounds, such as drums, guitar, piano, and saxophone. This gives them an opportunity to learn about different instruments and the sounds they produce. In addition to instrument sounds, the Leapfrog Magic Rockin Instrument also plays various musical melodies and rhymes.

This one was a big hit, and was a total surprise to me. The Rockin' Guitar's surface is completely smooth to the touch, and has various graphics on it that perform different tasks. One button, for example, plays a number of familiar songs (10 in all), complete with catchy music and vocals. But what's fun to Sawyer is the fake strings on the surface. As you strum the strings, an extra melody is added to the song, and it does NOT sound like noise: the melody actually blends in with the singer's voice and sounds quite nice. Strum faster and the vocals and background music speed up, keeping time with your strumming. Slow down and the music pulls back to match. Sawyer actually laughed when he finally figured this out, and the star above the strings lights up to let him know when he's strumming correctly.

My boys are night-and-day different, and while one definitely seems to enjoy technology and has actually benefited from some education apps over the last few years, the other just doesn t show any interest yet, anyway. It s a good thing I like the song Rockin Robin because it seems to be the one that the kids like to play over, and over and over and over and over again.

In addition to instrument sounds, the Leapfrog Magic Rockin Instrument also plays various musical melodies and rhymes. By playing along with these melodies, children can develop their sense of rhythm and timing. This can be especially helpful for children who are just starting to explore music and may not have a strong sense of rhythm yet.

Toddlers Have Fun Learning ABCs and Music

A few weeks ago I introduced my two-year-old to two new products from LeapFrog -- the Touch Magic Rockin' Guitar and the Touch Magic Learning Bus. And the responses I got from him were surprising.

My two-year-old son, Sawyer, is a bit underwhelmed when it comes to technology. His five-year-old brother has introduced him to a number of devices that include the iPad, the Nabi 2, the LeapPad 2, and the Nintendo DSi. Of course, he doesn't understand the rules of most games, and I've yet to see him spend any longer than two minutes with any app. He's definitely more active at two than my first son was at that age, so the football and baseball bat and soccer ball get more action from him, something that I'm very happy to see. My boys are night-and-day different, and while one definitely seems to enjoy technology and has actually benefited from some education apps over the last few years, the other just doesn't show any interest (yet, anyway).

But a few weeks ago I introduced Sawyer to two new products from LeapFrog -- the Touch Magic Rockin' Guitar and the Touch Magic Learning Bus. And the responses I got from him were surprising. As I said, he just hasn't been all that taken with technology except to watch train videos on the iPad. but one of these two devices has turned out to be quite the surprise hit and the other is starting to become a toy that he wants to spend a little time with each day. Let me explain.

Touch Magic Rockin' Guitar

This one was a big hit, and was a total surprise to me. The Rockin' Guitar's surface is completely smooth to the touch, and has various graphics on it that perform different tasks. One button, for example, plays a number of familiar songs (10 in all), complete with catchy music and vocals. But what's fun to Sawyer is the fake strings on the surface. As you strum the strings, an extra melody is added to the song, and it does NOT sound like noise: the melody actually blends in with the singer's voice and sounds quite nice. Strum faster and the vocals and background music speed up, keeping time with your strumming. Slow down and the music pulls back to match. Sawyer actually laughed when he finally figured this out, and the star above the strings lights up to let him know when he's strumming correctly.

Extra buttons add sound effects like clapping, cheering, and drums. And there's a kid-version of a whammy bar that provides some fun sounds. Sawyer played with the red version, but it also comes in pink.

I had to show Sawyer a few times how to properly throw the strap over his shoulder, and he's almost got it now (but keeps slipping his arm out and wearing it like a very large necklace). It's very cute to see him pick up the Rockin' Guitar, sling the strap over his shoulder, and then go to town. I have a few guitars of my own, and I'm smiling to see him showing an interest in the toy. I may have a little rocker in the house!

No offense to LeapFrog, but when the Rockin' Guitar arrived, I really didn't think Sawyer would show any interest. It just goes to show that what kids find interesting is always a surprise to parents. I really thought this education toy would be the one gathering dust in the corner, and I'm happy to be wrong about that.

Touch Magic Learning Bus

Like the Rockin' Guitar, the Learning Bus also has that smooth surface and fast responses to taps and touches. This one teaches the alphabet, obviously, helping kids identify the letter that goes with sounds and images. Sawyer is learning his letters, but so far the class hasn't started with associating sounds with images or even with specific letters. But this little toy has surprised me. Sawyer knows a few letters -- A, B, C, and O -- and he can readily identify them on the Learning Bus. When he taps the letter, he hears the letter's name clearly (B!), is told the name of an object that begins with that letter, and then hears a sound that relates to this object (the Bell rings, for example).

There are three mode buttons -- Learn, Game, and Music. Learn Mode is just as I described -- touch a letter to hear its name, sound, and an object that starts with that letter. The Game Mode button, when pressed, asks a question (Touch the letter Y, Touch the turtle, Touch the picture that makes the sound RING). And the Music mode offers three different tunes and tapping on the wheels of the bus or the piano keys at the bottom allow the child to add to the song. (Unlike the Rockin' Guitar, however, the software does not synch the drums, cymbals and piano with the song.)

Education toys have been around forever, and toys that provide this functionality are nothing new, but the Touch Magic system of toys definitely stand out. They are bright and colorful and I was surprised at their extreme light weight -- super easy for Sawyer to carry around without dropping. And they are rugged and spill proof. I can't count the number of buttons that broke off or cracks that appeared in my older son's learning toys, but there's nothing on these two devices to break off or chip and the surface wipes off easy. Both devices have Low and High volume settings and a Power Off switch, a sanity saver for many parents.

Another aspect of the Leapfrog Magic Rockin Instrument is its interactive nature. The toy encourages children to actively participate in the musical experience by allowing them to play the instrument themselves. By pressing the keys and buttons, children can create their own melodies and rhythms, giving them a sense of control and creativity. The Leapfrog Magic Rockin Instrument is also designed to provide educational content. It comes with a built-in learning mode that introduces children to different colors and shapes. This helps them develop their visual recognition skills while engaging in musical play. Overall, the Leapfrog Magic Rockin Instrument is a fun and educational toy that can help children explore music and develop their cognitive skills. With its interactive features and engaging design, this toy provides a valuable learning experience for young children..

Reviews for "Building confidence and self-expression with Leapfrog's Rockin Instrument"

- Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the Leapfrog magic rockin instrument. The sound quality was terrible and the buttons were very unresponsive. My child tried pressing different buttons multiple times but nothing happened. It was a frustrating experience and I would not recommend this toy to anyone.

- Tom - 1 star - The Leapfrog magic rockin instrument was a complete waste of money. The music it played was annoying and the volume was way too loud, even on the lowest setting. Plus, the instrument itself felt cheaply made and did not hold up well to my child's rough play. Save yourself the trouble and skip this one.

- Emily - 2 stars - I was not impressed with the Leapfrog magic rockin instrument. The songs were repetitive and annoying, and there were only a few options to choose from. My child quickly lost interest in playing with it. The buttons were also difficult for little fingers to press, which made using the instrument frustrating for my child. I would not recommend this toy.

Introducing your child to music through Leapfrog's Rockin Instrument