LeapFrog Discovery Ball

This toy is marketed for six months and older, but what is great is that it seemed to entertain both my one year old and three year old. The little one loved rolling the ball around and listening to the tune it played, particularly when it was out of the base and he had to crawl after it, as well as pressing the letters to see what happened. My 3 year old seems to have got as much enjoyment out of it, at a stage when she is just beginning to learn her letters, and the fact that it plays 26 tunes means we have had great fun trying to remember which letters play her favourite tunes. --Elizabeth Currie

The LeapFrog Discovery Ball is a red and blue ball supported on a white frame and spindle. It spins on the spindle or can be removed (by an adult). It has a white centre panel with the alphabet raised in various colours. It has 2 controls on the panel, one for the mode, alphabet, phonic or music, and one for the volume, off, low or on. The manufacturer's age range is from six months upwards.

This was tested by a group of four children, aged 7, 10, 12 and 20 months. The ball kept all of them amused and was enjoyed by all the children. The ball is easy to handle, and in all modes the slightest touch is rewarded with a song. The music mode was the most appropriate for younger children, each letter pressed plays a different tune. The ABC mode says the letter name, the phonics mode says the sound. This is a good teaching aid for slightly older children, meaning that this toy will be used for years not just months.

Young babies and infants will enjoy the 26 different tunes in the music mode, all of which are recognisable popular tunes or nursery rhymes. There are also flashing red lights, which the children also enjoyed. Taken off the spindle the babies in particular loved chasing the ball across the floor.

From a practical point of view, the ball is easy to clean, and the battery compartment is well hidden. It is simple for an adult to get into (no screwdriver required, just a coin), but impossible for a child to get into. On the base the ball is sturdy and difficult for a child to tip over. It is easy to remove and replace on the spindle, but too fiddly for a child to do on their own, so making it safe. The two volume settings are an unusual, but welcome feature on an electronic toy.

This is a well-made toy with lots of features and would make an excellent present for a baby's first birthday. --Sally Hunt

For once an electronic toy that doesn't irritate. My 21 month old enjoys making music by spinning the ball around, and by pressing the individual letters of the alphabet. There are 26 different tunes each corresponding in some way to the letter i.e., P = Pop the Weasel, R = Row the Boat. As with all good educational toys, my son is just enjoying the Discovery Ball, unaware of the links between letter and letter sounds, but I'm sure this is laying the foundation for learning.

As a parent, I was also pleased that there is an option to hear the letter phonically which I understand is the best way for my son to learn letters as he grows older. Then only niggle I have is the Americanisation of the letter "Z" (Zee) in the ABC song, when it is pronounced "Zed" elsewhere.

Overall an excellent and simple educational toy which I believe is beneficial from approximately six months right up to letter learning age and beyond. --Judith Catton