Bright Starts K52094 - Reviews

(3.2)

81 reviews

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30.8.2014

This is the first time I've come across the Bright Starts brand and after a quick Google search it turns out they're part of the Kids II group of companies and they're pretty big. Definitely of a size to take the fight to Fisher Price. Their products generally look fun and cute; as is the case of the Hide n Spin Monkey.So far the only downside I've come across was the assembly, which required attaching the front of the barrel to the motorised monkey via 4 screws. This was nothing but it just didn't seem ideal; surely the two parts could be made to just snap together with latches rather than requiring screws? Everything else just clips together,so you can assemble the whole thing in under a minute provided you have the right size screwdriver to hand. The instructions weren't great. They had a little picture of a screw with `x4' next to it and a picture of something round accompanied by a `x5'. I puzzled over this a little, thinking that maybe there was something missing. Then it clicked - they were the balls! Why they listed the balls with the screws, but none of the other parts for assembly (i.e. the 4 leaves or 4 ramps) escapes me.At first, as I put the balls into the monkey's hat my son tried to get them out of the front hole, which isn't possible. This led to tears of frustration until I managed to calm him down enough to show off the monkey's party trick of dipping into the barrel and releasing all the balls. From then on it clicked for him and he was soon popping the balls into the hat or front hole himself.It is not obvious from the Amazon page how the whole thing works. The holes for the balls are pretty obvious, but underneath the monkey is a ring covered with raised banana shapes that spins when the balls fall out of the barrel. If the leaf gates are closed this just moves the balls around like a roulette wheel (making quite a racket while it does), but with the leaves open the balls get kicked out onto the ramps and scatter around the room. The idea is that your child chases down the balls and feeds them back into the monkey, which counts out loud as balls are added. This is a great interactive way to teach counting, but if your child is a little too slow to add another ball the monkey will start to count from one again.There are four buttons on the monkey; his nose and three more on his hat. Press the button on the nose to make the monkey hide (well, go a little lower) in the barrel and releasing the balls (while chattering and playing music). One reviewer criticised this toy thinking the balls wouldn't drop if the monkey didn't count up to five, but this is incorrect; the balls can be made to drop at any time by pressing the monkey's nose.The buttons on the hat cause the monkey to tell you either their colour or the shape embossed on them and then play some music. Press them while music is already playing and you'll get a selection of sound effects as well. The monkey's voice is decidedly American, which is a shame, but is enthusiastic enough to encourage play.I'm especially impressed by the sound quality of this toy - it has the best quality speaker of all the toys we have, with good bass and high notes. The selection of music might be a little limited, but they're not overly buzzy or distorted, which, for me, is part of the annoyance of baby toys that play music. There are two volume settings and they're pretty well judged, with the quieter of the two being truly quiet, not just less blaringly loud, but in the end changing the volume is moot since when the balls drop they clatter around very noisily, accompanied by the whine and rattle of the electric motor.The Hide n Spin Monkey is a good toy for young children just discovering the fun to be had with balls. Its long-term interest might be a little limited, its size makes it hard to put away and it is noisy, but it does a good job of teaching coordination. It also has the benefit of being a toy multiple children can enjoy at once without too much pushing and crying. Our son has also been using it as an aid for standing up and so far everything is holding together, so it seems durable enough as well.If you like the idea and the cute design I'd suggest you get it.

4.9.2014

First off when this toy arrived in my office it was greeted with much affection from my colleagues. They all wanted to press the buttons you can see through the packaging to see what noises it made. Funnily enough this is exactly what our toddler wanted to do too so it seems big kids and little ones alike are initially attracted to this toy!The Bright Starts Hide n Spin Monkey is aimed at children aged from 6 to 36 months. Our toddler is now 26 months so is heading towards the upper age range, but this does not mean he does not enjoy it – he loves it and I suspect he will for a long while yet. One major thing to note is that this is a pretty large toy and while I had an idea this was the case it is useful to know it actually stands (when assembled)at about 50cm high. This has positives and negatives – if you lack floor space you may find this is a bit too large for you, but play wise it means it can be used either standing up for toddlers, or sitting down for younger children.When we opened the box it was extremely clear that this is a toy you need to assemble at home. We found the assembly to be a fairly simple procedure with the most complex part being connecting the barrel to the main head of the toy. You will need a small Phillips head screwdriver to get it all together and sometimes need to be a bit tough to get all the screws in tightly. It’s worth noting that if you are giving this as a present you may want to assemble it first to avoid an impatient child getting agitated. The batteries for the toy are included but for the future you will need 4AA’s to replace them when they run down.The aim of the monkey game is to insert the balls that are included into either the top of the monkey head or into the hole at the front (better for when smaller babies are playing with it). Once the balls are in there a firm press of the monkey nose will mean he dips down to hide in his barrel and the balls drop into the banana tray below where they are spun about in a roulette style. There is an option to allow the balls to spill out onto the floor as well by opening the coloured gates (shaped like leaves) so that your child has to zoom off and collect them.The monkey head itself has three buttons on his hat in the primary colours which light up and flash, when they are pressed, and they will also play a little song based round the shape which is depicted on the button and its colour.Our toddler has always loved toys where you have to drop balls and shapes into something and anything that plays music is generally a hit so this toy is perfect. It also has a good educational side as it works on colour and shape recognition, facial feature recognition as you have to press his nose, hand-eye co-ordination and understanding processes as you need to insert a ball before pressing the monkey nose to get him to hide in his barrel and release the balls.We've really enjoyed this toy but there are a couple of things that do niggle with me – the American voice being one of them – is it really so hard to record things again in an English accent, surely as this toy costs just under £40 this should be possible. It is quite expensive, although not prohibitively I do think the high price may put people off. That said our toddler loves it and giggles away happily while he plays which is kind of the point. It’s all very well for grown ups to point out negatives but as it’s not aimed at me then these really are side issues. A well made toy with lots of fun to be had.

24.8.2014

This is a great and fun toy for kids/toddlers. To tell you the truth, i found it better than those usual ball popping activity playsets. Not only creating endless enjoyable play with the balls but also teaching them the shapes and colours, thanks to the monkey's hat. Place the balls inside the monkey's hat and they pop out of the bottom and if you are lucky will roll into the convenient side pockets, which i must admit that sometimes they don't. Instead of that, they end up all over the floor but that only happens 40% of the time. Add the sound effects that do get irritating after an hour for any parent and you have a joyful toy for the kids to play until the batteries wear out.

3.9.2014

Plus points:* It's bright* It's colourful* It plays tunes* It's got flashing lightsWIth the above it's sure to grab baby's attention, and I suppose it's very slightly educational in that it speaks the colour of pressed buttons, alas in an American little girl voice that is sure to grate.Minus points:* Assembly required, which is perhaps to be expected. But why the barrel has to screw on is quite beyond me, it really should clip together.* Possibly the operation of it is over-complex. Monkey won't hide in the barrel until all five balls have been inserted, but if the child doesn't do that quickly enough a release button has to be pressed to get them out again. So definitely I would say it's an older toddler toy,

7.9.2014

Great fun for my little ones of 3 and 10 months. Lot's of fun lights and music and enthralling for any child - even my 7 year old loves to have a go and join in!The balls do roll away, they don't always go where they are supposed to but for my little ones that is what makes it funny - they love to catch the balls and feed them back - the monkey goes down and then pops up releasing the balls - it makes funny noises and the music isn't too annoying for adults - the only slightly annoying part is the assembly which does require a regular screwdriver - for the money (nearly £40) it would be good if it could come assembled for those who may not have one to hand with impatient children watching

28.8.2014

My 8 month old absolutely adores this. The bright colours, noise and lights keep him entertained for quite a while. I quite like how it teaches counting by inserting 5 balls into the the monkey's hat before the balls pop out at the bottom and spin around the base.There is a gap between the top of the barrel and the monkeys head so if little fingers are holding on when the monkey's head goes down, they are not trapped.Teaches counting and colours whilst it develops the hand skills all children need.Good sturdy product that can withstand my child using it to help him stand up. 2 levels of volume noise though the spinning wheel at the bottom is quite noisy when balls are on it but this is not an

11.9.2014

This was an instant hit. The minute the monkey face was seen a massive smile crossed the little ones face.The push buttons are chunky and light up and flash so they keep the attention though the one which is getting the most use is poor monkey's nose.This is a superb toy, colourful with lots of sounds and lights and an interactive where the child can put a coloured ball (supplied) into the monkeys hat and watch where it comes out.The only addition we have made it to make a sponge fort around the base so that the balls don't fly too far across the floor. The idea is that the child retrieves them not you or the family dog.Overall a superb toy.

10.9.2014

First of all let me say how big this toy is. I was expecting something the size of "pop up pirate" but this stands a little under 2 feet tall when fully assembled. Assembly is simple enough with a few screws here & there and 5 balls provided.The toy itself is sturdy, feels well made with good quality plastics but best of all it seems to be able to withstand rough handling by enthusiastic toddlers!I like the fact that it can be used by children whilst either sitting or standing, and the sounds & noises are lively and entertaining.I have no criticisms of this toy, and would whole heartedly recommend it for children in the 1-3 year age bracket.

20.9.2014

BETTER THAN THE PICTURE-----------------------It's a lovely interactive toy.With funny monkey sounds, nice tunes and lightsButtons for shapes and counting.WHAT DO YOU DO--------------Drop the balls into the barrel, press nose and the monkey hides.Drop the balls into the hat, and the monkey counts and peeks outNOISY-----Not really, it makes quite nice tunes and isn't one of those annoying toys that's are simply noise machines.AGE---Up to 4 I think.FUN---It's good fun for that age group.

26.12.2014

I have a 15 month old and a nearly 4 yr old and both love this. It clips together easily from the box - 4 screws to secure the barrel halves together. Balls go in the hat (or via the tummy hole)... Push the nose and off it goes. The balls spin noisily around and will fly off down the 4 ramps if the gates are open. My two giggle after the balls to collect and put back in the hat. A popular toy but it does need space and drowns out any other noises eg. TV.

30.8.2014

All I will say is that this is THE BEST baby toy I have ever purchased. My little girl absolutely loves it and even my 9 and 11 year old join in the fun of capturing the balls and putting them back into the monkey. It's a very very well made product that oozes quality and although not cheap there is a reason and you get what you pay for. A truly wonderful child's toy that has use from around 9 months I can strongly strongly recommend it. Fabulous !!

18.11.2015

Give your baby or toddler a hand full of fun ! With the hide and spin monkey from bright starts your baby will have fun chacing the balls ! Balls pop up and music plays your baby will learn colours too ! Place the balls in , watch them fall and pop and the bottom ! Bright starts puts fun first on each of their products and are made for learning and fun ! Part of the having a ball range . Suitable for children aged 6 months to 3 years .

28.9.2017

Bought this for my daughter a couple years back for christmas and she absolutely loved it, would not stop playing with it.She would use it as a prop so she can stand up to put the balls in the top and as the head goes down she would jump like mad and burst out with laughter.When the balls drop and the bottom spins, the balls do not always go down the chutes so you have to lift the balls out once the thing stops spinning.

27.12.2014

Excellent toy. Bought for my 11 month old. Read mixed reviews before purchase but I think it is a great product. Good sound quality. Flashing lights on monkeys head. Counts the balls as you place them in his hat. But also will activate monkey lowering by pressing nose. Good volume. Nice size product and not flimsy. Not sure I would pay full price for this but was definitely worth what i paid when on sale.

16.11.2015

Initially my little girl didn't entertain this, around 7months however now she is I this old loves it (probably a bit of premature buying on my part) she loves to stand against this and taught herself to press the monkeys nose and put the balls in his hat. Does need adult supervision as not the heaviest item and can topple when daughter is playing at times. Be prepared to loose all the balls! Lol

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