Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Bounce & Spin Pony

The pony is actually the controller for educational video games. View larger.

The receiver features kid friendly controls. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Wireless technology, easy-to-use features, and challenging games make this interactive pony and educational games entertaining and educational for toddlers The Bad: While it's recommended for children 12 months or older, most 12-month-old children will be too small to use this toy effectively. In a Nutshell: Interactive pony and its included educational games provide plenty of physical coordination and mental stimulation for toddlers At a Glance Ages: 12 to 36 months Requires: 3 AA Batteries and 3 C Batteries; TV

Construction and Design
The Smart Bounce & Spin Pony is a molded plastic pony that sits on a wide, sturdy plastic base. But this pony is much more than your standard rocking horse: it is also the actual controller for the included educational video games.

After some quick-and-easy adult assembly (you'll need a Philips screwdriver) and battery insertion (you'll need three AAA batteries and three C batteries), we found it easy to start playing right away. Just plug the included receiver into your television, VCR, or DVD player's audio/video input jacks, and the game introductory screen will appear on the TV. Using wireless technology, the pony's motions control the video games. Your child can bounce and spin while riding the pony to interact with the "learning sites," or games, that she chooses to play.

We found the wireless technology very convenient: we could put the pony anywhere from 3 to 15 feet from the receiver. That said, we discovered that, as recommended, the pony should be positioned on a carpeted surface, since it slides relatively easily on hardwood floors or other smooth flooring material.

Games That Grow With Your Child
The educational games feature simple, colorful animation that's easy for a small child to relate to, as well as perky, bright background music and fun sing-along songs. (Adult caregivers will appreciate that the potentially relentless background music can be shut off during play.) The child causes the animated features to react by bouncing on the pony and turning the drum on the pony's handle.

Level 1 teaches the youngest toddler about action and reaction. For example, in level 1 of the "Colorful Home" game, a puppy appears on the screen and simply makes motions whenever the pony bounces.

Level 2 introduces letters, shapes, numbers, and colors. For example, in level 2 of the A to Z Zoo, each letter of the alphabet appears as the pony bounces, with the onscreen voice naming the letter.

Level 3 allows children to "count along," and works with ideas like opposites and spelling. In level 3 of the Count & Grow Farm, for example, the child makes an animal jump over consecutively numbered hurdles and is encouraged to count along with the game. Spinning the drum on the pony's handle creates additional effects, such as playing new songs or changing the weather in the scene.

Stand Alone Mode
The child can change the game herself with arrow buttons on the pony's handle. If the child stops bouncing, after a short period a pony appears on the screen reminds the child to bounce and get the game going again. It will go into "sleep mode" after three minutes to preserve battery life. Just turn the drum or bounce the pony to start it up again.

Smaller children will especially like that the pony can be played with by itself without the video games. Change the pony's switch to "stand alone mode," and the pony will play its own music while the child bounces and spins. In fact, in our estimation the stationary mode is best for the youngest toddler -- and only with lots of adult help.

While our 22-month-old child tester found it very easy to mount, dismount, and ride the pony, most 12-month old children will not be able to balance safely on it, let alone bounce and spin independently, unless they have prodigy-like athletic abilities.

What's in the Box
Smart Bounce & Spin Pony with base and handlebar; receiver

Parents choose the level of play and audio options using the IR device, and baby can explore all five locations by pressing a forward button that loops sequentially through the learning scenes. For non-TV play, baby can enjoy sound effects and songs as she rides the pony. Measures 30"L x 30"W x 20"H. Requires three "AA" and three "C" batteries, not included. Pony holds up to 43 lbs. Adult supervision recommended.