This Christmas, the hot new line of Baby Jamz toys is making a definite splash! Young children, particularly toddlers, are getting the chance to become DJs and appreciate music in a whole new way. With an Urban flavor, the Baby Jamz toys feature the talented sister of Beyonce, Solange Knowles, as the singer of updated versions of children’s nursery rhymes. I guarantee you’ve never heard “Mary Had a Little Lamb” quite like this before! My kids, even the older ones, thought the music was really inventive. While Jaden (8) and Tim (16) were too old to play with the Baby Jamz Move n’ Groove Dance Mat (just one of the great products available by Baby Jamz) they loved watching how much their little sister Kayla (2) enjoyed making music with the mat.
Kayla has always been musically inclined. From banging on pots and pans in her early years to the typical baby xylophone she tapped on and dragged around everywhere she went, Kayla has loved to make noise and listen to music since before birth! However, nothing could prepare any of us for the Move n’ Groove Dance Mat. This was one toy that went out of its way to appeal to toddler music fans. Kayla is the perfect age to enjoy this toy and I can see the fun of the mat lasting for quite some time.
The mat kind of reminds me of the ones the boys use when they play Dance Dance Revolution, only I think this one might be a bit cooler! With the mat, Kayla is her own DJ and everyone knows it. She’s proud to be a big girl and make her own mixes while she gets exercise in the process. If you are worried your toddler is already becoming a couch potato you have to try the Baby Jamz Move n’ Groove Dance Mat. It’s guaranteed to get your child moving as they make their own music remixes.
Requirements:
This is a great toy because there is no need to set up anything. It comes out of the box nearly ready to go. There is a need for three AA batteries. However, mine were included with the Move n’ Groove Dance Mat, so I just put them in and let Kayla enjoy the mat. If you have an excited child who has trouble waiting to play with a toy during a lengthy setup process you definitely need to get the Move n’ Groove Dance Mat. This can also be used to distract your child while you put together other toys. This will definitely keep your toddler occupied!
Basics:
The Baby Jamz Move n’ Groove Dance Mat features seven spots your child can dance on to make their own mix of three different nursery rhymes. The mat has big, toddler friendly pictures on it, to encourage your child to dance on the pictures. The pictures are separated and sectioned off by lines. When your child steps within the lines of one section, it changes how the song that is playing will be played. Moving from one section to another allows your child to make a unique rendition of the songs, which include “Mary had a Little Lamb”, “Bingo”, and “This Old Man”.
Each of the songs has a hip hop tempo unlike other renditions of nursery rhymes you’ve heard before. You can hear samples of the music at the Baby Jamz website. The songs are all sung by Solange Knowles and the infectious beat of each song is sure to get your child dancing!
In Depth Information:
The Move n’ Groove Dance Mat isn’t just about dancing. It’s also about making music. Your child, like my daughter, Kayla, will love pressing the buttons on the mat with their feet and dancing around to make their own unique renditions of their favorite nursery rhymes. As your child dances, they step on seven pads that each has specific sound effects. These effects allow your child to be the DJ of each song as they create remix after remix. There is an endless amount of ways to make the song different and your child can switch between all three songs to mix things up a bit as they dance!
Designed by Baby Jamz and sold exclusively through Wal-Mart, the Move n’ Groove Dance Mat, features 36 seconds of music at one time. The music can be edited by your child and played over and over again as your child finds new ways to enjoy the same songs. While some parents have said the songs do get old over time, the uniqueness of the toy and the enjoyment that is evident in their child’s use of this toy makes the Move n’ Groove Dance Mat every bit worth the purchase.
One thing I noticed (and other parents who purchased the mat have mentioned this) is how easy it was for Kayla to create music sounds when she danced on the mat. She didn’t have to push hard for the sound effects to play. It worked really well for someone her age and I can’t imagine other children will have problems since the pads seem to be pressure sensitive!
Bottom Line:
Recommended for children who are two years and up, the Baby Jamz Move n’ Groove Dance Mat is perfect for any toddler or young child who loves to make music and dance. If your child needs to get some physical activity, why not make it fun for them? This is definitely one of the most inventive ways for your child to get a workout, but I can see how it really works compared to other workout methods.
If you have a child who loves nursery rhymes or just wants to be their own DJ, you should definitely get the Move n’ Groove Dance Mat. I would recommend this toy for nearly anyone with young children. It’s going to make a great Christmas present this year.
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Being a stay at home mom to three kids and a freelance writer keeps Lisa quite busy. Lisa is the wife of Patrick and the mother of Tim (17), Jaden (9), and Kayla (3). Having a toddler in the house makes things quite interesting. Lisa is an aspiring writer. She loves working for LI Kids because she can get the whole family involved in the reviewing process and write, which is her passion. In her free time she loves sewing and scrapbooking.
