Learning Resources Cash Register

Simple no fuss design, well laid out and easy for little hands to use. This is a solar powered calculator in the form of a substantial cash register:-

large white buttons with bold black numbers 0 to 9 also decimal point and = sign.
Large clear LED 8 digit display panel.
Large yellow buttons with bold black divide, multiply, subtract and addition signs.
Large red buttons with bold white OPEN, ON/C, OFF.
Satisfying 'ring' when the draw opens.
Authentic 'beep' when buttons are pressed and the imitation debit card is swiped.
One small replaceable disk battery required, already fitted.
Good sized coin and note compartments within the draw.
Pack of imitation plastic British sterling coins and paper notes, chunky plastic toy debit card, small pad of plain paper supplied.
Booklet with some play ideas included.

Width approx 9 1/2" 23.5cm
Length approx 10 1/2" 26cm
Height at tallest point approx just over 6" 15cm

Immense play value judging by how my pre schooler uses it; sheer pleasure pressing the buttons and causing the 'beep' and ring', loading and unloading the draw, sorting coins and hiding secret tiny things in the compartments, pressing the numbers I call game and visa versa, matching card numbers to the keys and seeing that number appear on the LED, swiping the debit card just like mummy, running her grocery shop, toy shop, cafe etc authentically, charging to go in the garden!...

We use real coins, best not use too many or the draw won't ping open properly. Brilliant for pre school children to role play becoming familiar with money and numbers. Great for school age children to build numeracy skills through role play. Organised play becomes more like the grown up world giving greater scope for imagination and interaction. I've noticed older kids and adults are inclined to join in with the action for longer; enjoying their turn on the checkout so much. There is a hand held bar code scanner designed to use with this, which we hope to acquire one day.

By far more robust than any other cash registers we have looked at, no doubt will last years. Designers have done a superb job creating authenticity whilst respecting the intelligence of the child. The box states this has 23 awards too. Ticks all the boxes. Far better than I imagined and I had high expectations for the price. Very pleased and well worth spending the extra for this asset.

Since my daughters, 3 and 5, got this cash register they have played shops almost daily. The drawer and calculator work very well and they enjoy when the drawer opens with a "ping". When it arrived I was surprised by its size as it is a lot chunkier and heavier than expected which means it stays put when the drawer is being shut. The colour is a slightly darker shade of red than on the picture. It also comes with plenty UK money, about 70 coins plus notes. Great toy which will last years!

Firtsly I love the size of this item. My kids squealed with excitement when they saw it. They played with it three times supervised. The fourth time we got it out it just came up as '0' and wouldn't do anything else.

I have to wrap it up and send it back now. I love the solar panel as I really don't like battery operated toys. I am in two minds about getting a new one as I see someone else had the same issue which means it wasn't a 'one off'.

I have to point out though that this is a calculator in the shape of a till. This does not allow you to type in the amount of cash the 'shopper' is paying. You have to add up all their shopping, write it down, clear the screen put in the amount they are paying and take the written down total away. My kids are too young for this so there is no real subliminal teaching going on.

The cheapy ones have more realistic features - but the size of this one is great and the solar panel is good. This is all providing it doesn't break of course! My confidence in Learning Resources has been dented a bit.