Fisher Price has a new take on its popular “laughtop,” a laptop-style toy made for kids as young as three. This new version, called the Fisher-Price Fun 2 Learn Color Flash Laptop, is packed with several new features to keep kids laughing, playing and learning. In terms of external appearance, they have modified the case of the laptop to make it more compact. The mouse now sits in a drawer in the storage tray that can be pulled out when the child wants to use it. The real work mouse that comes with this system is wonderful and fun, designed specifically for young hands. It’s attached to the computer so it won’t get lost or misplaced, and it will help kids practice using the mouse for when they’re ready to move on to the regular computer.
Modes can now be set via buttons on the keyboard instead of a slider. And there are decorative elements included to make the toy more like a real laptop, including a fake camera lens above the screen and a fake touchpad below the keyboard keys. The mouse now also looks more like a real computer mouse. As adorable as the old mouse was that looked like a cute little cartoon mouse, this new mouse will help kids feel more like they’re using a real computer. And the new “Change Color” button allows kids to set the background color of the screen.
The “fun button” is now gone in favor of two new game modes. Fisher Price felt it was better to allow children to control the action more directly rather than setting up a special button to display a random animation. So now, in addition to Letters, Phonics, Melodies and Games modes, the laptop also has a Numbers mode and a Typing mode.
In letter mode, children can tap letters on the keyboard to hear that letter spoken along with the sound of the letter, and then the system will display a word beginning with that letter accompanied by a picture of that object. The computer plays music as kids slide their mouse over the on-screen alphabet, which can be displayed in both upper and lower case.
In Phonics mode, the letters appear on the screen and the child is challenged to “catch” the letters by pressing the correct letter key on the keyboard. Each letter gives the child one point, and after catching all the letters, the child proceeds to the next level.
In Numbers mode, the child can choose between two counting games that involve counting stars. In Tune Maker mode, kids can listen to individual notes or play short songs. And in writing mode, kids can type words on the keyboard while listening to the letters being spoken.
And finally, what toy laptop would be complete without games? In Games mode, children can choose between two games: “Don’t let the mouse escape” and “Where’s the cheese?”. In the Mouse Escape game, children must use the mouse to prevent the on-screen mouse from “escape” from the screen while moving. In the Cheese game, children must control the on-screen mouse to guide it through a maze until it finds the cheese.
This toy laptop is great educational fun for young children that makes them feel like they are computer users just like mom and dad.
Check out our author’s chart below for a current list of the top 10 toys of the year.