For years Sesame Street has delighted fans young and old with their colourful, cute characters and catchy songs. Let's Rock Elmo has combined both these things to make music with a whole new generation of pre-schoolers. Dressed in his funky concert T-Shirt, this gorgeous, plush Elmo toy is ready to take the stage and rock out with his drums, microphone and tambourine...and your child is invited to join his band!
Elmo sings six songs including the 'ABC song' and my own personal favourite 'It Takes Two'. He is interactive, recognizing which instrument he has been given. He also asks for a certain instrument to be given to him, which he then plays. Children can also accompany Elmo by playing along on the drums or tambourine or singing into the plastic mic. The instruments and microphone are the perfect size for little hands and are chunky and robust. Elmo is activated by pressing his foot, which is easy enough for Freddy to do.
Elmo is very animated, chatting, singing and manically giggling while wiggling and dancing. His sound is crisp and clear. He is really fun...I'm a bit of a fan of this all singing, all dancing cuddly egotist who has set up home with us. Freddy is sometimes a little unsure of Elmo...he makes him a little nervous, but he keeps coming back for more. Freddy loves all things musical and is transfixed by Elmo's performances.
Elmo also interacts with the Grover Microphone and other Let's Rock instruments (sold separately).
It is amazing how much technology goes into children's toys these days. We would have sold our own Granny to get our hands on something like this when I was a child. However, the price tag of Elmo does reflect this. At £70 RRP this is an expensive item. Don't get me wrong, it is fabulous...but pricey! With Christmas coming I am sure Elmo will find his way onto many letters to Santa....and I'm sure lots of young children will love rocking out with their new friend on Christmas Day. Adults and children alike can't help but enjoy the cuddly, cute rock star's antics (although I'm sure for many grown-ups the novelty of the umpteenth rendition of 'Elmo's World' will see them grabbing for the ear plugs!)
Elmo needs 6 x AA batteries. Temporary batteries are included so you can play with Elmo straight away. You simply switch him from Demo mode to On mode to activate all his functions. The instruction leaflet includes song lyrics so you can sing along with Elmo!
Playing with Elmo introduces young children to music. They learn the names of the instruments and also some musical terms such as acapella. The interactive element gives children the chance to listen to instructions and respond accordingly, being rewarded with a song. The catchy tunes will soon have your little ones singing along and joining in with the instruments, learning about rhythm. The ABC song helps pre-schoolers learn the alphabet in a fun way. There is definitely educational value to this toy. He is recommended for ages 18 months and over.
Elmo certainly does not disappoint, but like most of the interactive character toys on the market right now, he is a premium priced toy.
Let's Rock Elmo is currently on sale in Toys R Us stores and online for just £54.99 saving £15 off the RRP.