Children of all ages love to jump, run, pounce and bounce just about anywhere. So sometimes finding a toy that can keep up with the high intensity demands they bring can be challenging. As a parent, I enjoy toys that encourage my children to be active and engaged at the same time. Which is precisely what the PicassoTiles PTM200 Piano Playmat does.
When PicassoTiles reached out to me to review this product, I was thrilled. Not only was I excited for the fun my children were going to have with the Piano Playmat, but I even got a little giddy about it. I couldn’t help but visualize my childhood dream of recreating the scene from Big where they are playing the floor piano in a toy store.
I am surprised at how lightweight and portable the Piano Playmat is. Using only three AA batteries, it is wireless and easy to take, literally, everywhere you go. It is ideal for indoor and outdoor play, making it a very versatile toy.
Just what exactly does the Piano Playmat feature?
The Piano Playmat features six different musical instrument sounds. It can play the piano, violin, accordion, trumpet, xylophone and guitar simply by pressing the picture with the desired instrument. Switching back and forth between instruments is smooth and always an enjoyable feature for kids of all ages.
In addition, you can record and play back your own musical masterpiece with just a push of a button. My 9 year old daughter loved being able to replay her creative designs, time and time again. While I loved knowing I could have her turn down the volume so that it wasn’t constantly blaring throughout the house….(the sound volume can get pretty loud.)
Using the Demo feature button, the piano playmat creates various melodies of music to invite movement, dancing, and imaginative play. Lastly, another feature worth mentioning, is the ability to play songs that help enhance rhythm and beat. Songs like, “Jingle Bells” and other known popular tunes play background music, while you try to keep the beat playing the melody notes by touching any of the keys on the piano. This feature was a lot of fun for my older kids who knew the songs that were being played.
A little personal reflection on the Piano Playmat
The package suggests this as a product for children 3+ years of age. I would personally buy it for my children under 3, even though it may not be recommended. My 2 year old daughter has really enjoyed playing with the Piano Playmat and is more active and engaged with this, than other toys recommended for her age. Obviously the older the participant the more detailed the engagement can become.
One thing we will be doing to our Piano Playmat is writing on the notes of the keyboard and color coordinating them. This way we can help those who play with it learn how to read music, encourage a more specific education feature, and prepare them for music lessons in the future.
If you think the PicassoTiles Piano Playmat is something your child would enjoy, you can purchase it here. Retailing around $25, this is a great toy to consider for the holidays coming up.
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