Hasbro Playskool Busy Ball Popper
by Hasbro
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List Price: Our Price: $21.99 You Save: $7.00 (24%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Toy See more product details |
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Toys and Games Reviews of Hasbro Playskool Busy Ball Popper
Customer Review: Won't Teach Much, but it is a Lot of Fun
Summary: 4 Stars
The Busy Ball Popper is something of a rarity in today's toy market - it's unapologetic fun that makes very little attempt to teach anything at all. As long as you understand what you're getting, then it's great. Our son gets a kick out of watching the balls loop through the machine and into the air; he gets an even bigger kick when the balls bounce wrong and rebound throughout the room. It's a mini-workout chasing after them, but it's worth it to see him enjoy it so.
I agree with other reviews that the unit could be easily tipped over, but the last time I checked, the easy solution to this problem is to supervise your child. Trust me - you'll have as much fun as he/she does watching the Ball Popper at work. But again, this isn't suitable for any pull-up or lean-on activity.
The fan motor that propels the balls is about as loud as a hair dryer on a low setting. However, the music snippets make up for the white noise as they're better than most toys. The balls themselves are very lightweight in order to allow them to travel; as a result, they are likely too fragile for play beyond the Ball Popper.
Again, the Busy Ball Popper is a lot of fun and does what it's intended to do very well. It's not educational (get something LeapFrog) and it's not a pull-up toy and it's not trying to be either. If you go in understanding what you're getting, you won't be disappointed.
Customer Review: Toy Crazed Mom!
Summary: 3 Stars
Keep in mind that my son is only 6-7 months at the time we bought the toy, so his interest might change later, but so far here we go....
He wants to stop the ball on the top, on the track down, or just take them out totally,so far -- making it not work well.
He easily tips it over because its top heavy -- making it not work well.
Ours needs assistance to make the balls come out the top by pushing the balls at the end down - then they'll come out, but that's every time.
There should be a mode where you can leave it on always - and not have to keep hitting it to amuse your son who can't figure it out yet. It's not a self play toy.
Buy the one in the completley closed box, not the one with the balls showing through - their motors are way too loud, and drown out the music - those are the ones with the solid colored balls in them - BAD. Oh yeah, and they are easier to pull apart too.
I think that if I put new batteries in it all of the time, I wouldn't have to assist to make the toy work properly every time, but who wants to do that and can afford it!
I hope he likes it more when the balls pop out and he can get them, that's what I'm waiting for, because he also might be able to play a little more solo by then too.
It does entertain though.
I bought it and kept it, and I have no problem returning toys if they bug me AT ALL.....so it's all right.Customer Review: Mom of 4 kids says ... this is fun, but.....
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a fun toy and all the kids I have, aged 7 months to 9 years, love playing with it and watching the balls pop out. The older kids have figured out how to make the balls really fly by building up the air pressure.... lol, a real crowd pleaser. The only thing is if you have mischievious kids, they will stuff it with other things to make those items pop out,and if you're not quick on your toes can block up the ball passage, and once it's blocked you have to take it apart to get anything that may be stuck out. Also the top orange "ball catcher" part comes off very easily, epecially if the kids pick it up and want to move it elsewhere. A downfall is it takes 4 "D" batteries, and if they are not new or near new they will not be strong enough. Once the batteries begin to get slightly weak, they do not provide enough juice for the fan to push the balls out. So, this may be a drawback for some as going through 'D' batteries can get costly. I personally have gone through 8 "D" batteries in a month, although I have other toys and a bouncy seat that take "D" batteries and there is plenty of juice left in them for other toys.
However, even with the few little glitches, it's a very fun toy, andworth the money. It's not a favorite, and only holds my infants attention for a short while, but since it is relatively inexpensive it is a nice addition to her toys.
Customer Review: Good toy for the price
Summary: 4 Stars
I think that this is a good toy for the money. You can find them for very decent prices, especially around the holidays. I think that it is best for a mobile child who can crawl or walk because then they have fun chasing down the balls that shoot out - sometimes the ball stay on they toy and cycle back through the chute, but sometimes they pop out and off of the toy. If your child isn't mobile, mom and dad will be chasing down the balls. My son enjoyed this toy the most between 12 and 18 months because that is when he learned to push the plunger down himself and would do it over and over again. My son loved that he could make it work all on his own. He also loved to grab the balls when they popped up, and put them back down through the chute.
It is a little bit loud, but we put painter's tape over the speaker and over a portion of the motor/fan opening and that seemed to help some. However, it still probably won't be something that you want your child to play with while your watching your favorite show.
And yes, as others have said, your child will put everything he/she can find down the chute. That's what kids do, though. They learn by seeing what will fit where, and I am sure that this toy is not the only one that falls prey to such curiosity. For the most part, I can just tip the toy over and whatever was put in slides right out.
Customer Review: Busy Ball Popper vs Stand Up Ball Blast
Summary: 5 Stars
For those of you looking at both of these toys, my son would say "get the Busy Ball Popper" (if he could talk).
My son has had both of these since he first started standing (about 10 months ago). We thought the Stand Up Ball Blast would encourage him to "Stand Up"... but ironically, he first stood up on his own in front of the Busy Ball Popper! (He wanted to see all the action up top).
The Busy Ball Popper has FAR more action and music. (It's also more interesting from an engineering point of view). Our son loves hitting the big Red button and trying to grab the balls as they fly everywhere. It is probably the ONLY toy he's played with DAILY over the past year.
Meanwhile, the Ball Blast has ONE song (that gets old fast) and the balls do little more than roll in a circle (if you can even see them while standing up). He plays with this one far less often.
Cons of the Ball Popper might include tipping over too easily and the top piece disconnecting, but these are minor distractions. Despite other reports, our son has NEVER gotten his arm or hand stuck in the toy. A greater risk might be a young-one using it for balance.
Our son does drop other toys in the Ball Popper, but we just remove them. (Though it's fun to try blowing out other objects like cotton balls or Styrofoam peanuts!)