Alphie - Blast From the Past Still Providing Learning Fun!

Anyone who has a toddler know that interest in toys can be short lived.  Little Miss rarely plays with the same toy for more than one day in a row.  Playskool Alphie has changed that however!  You may remember Alphie the friendly robot from when you were little.  He’s a sturdy little robot who interacts with your child through 30 double-sided cards that cover letters, numbers, colors, music, and reasoning skills.  He has a holder on his back to hold the cards, and you can insert them in the front to play games with Alphie. 

The games are fairly simple, although some of them require reasoning skills.  Several of the cards require matching 2 columns (various amounts of fruit on one side, numbers on the other).  Other cards highlight a specific letter.  Each letter card highlights phonics, fun facts, and asks a question, depending on which button you push.   My daughter’s favorite card is the one that gets Alphie to sing the alphabet.  She loves singing it with him! 

He has a very cute animated face and two volume levels.  He also turns himself off after not being used for more than ten minutes.  My daughter loves his handle, which makes it very easy for her to carry him from room to room.  He runs on three AA batteries, which are included in the box. 

There are also booster packs that you can buy for even more fun!  Right now they have Playskool Alphie Booster Pack - Letters, Playskool Alphie Booster Pack - Numbers and Playskool Alphie Booster Pack - Music and Sounds. 

My only complaint is that I wish the cards were sturdier or that there was a more secure way to insert them in the front.  They slide into a slot, and I worry that at some point Little Miss will tear up the cards from normal toddler wear and tear.  We also have to make sure to hide it when some of her more “active” friends come over.  We haven’t actually torn up any cards yet, so it is possible that I’m just worrying to much!

Overall, I think this is a great toy for the 3-5 year old set, and it really is a great learning supplement!     

**I received an Alphie for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.