It’s summertime, so let’s rock! As part of Family Circle magazine’s 10 Days of Toys, Toy Insider Senior Editor Marissa DiBartolo joined Family Circle Lifestyle Editor Suzanne Rust to talk about the best new musical toys of the summer. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for our complete rundown of the best gifts for the season, check out our Spring and Summer gift guide.
SINGING MACHINE MOOD (THE SINGING MACHINE)
- This groovy MOOD LED Glowing Bluetooth Sing-Along Speaker includes a free Singing Machine Kids music app, one wired youth microphone and second mic jack for duets, echo control for voice effects, and multi-colored glowing LED lights that also function as a nightlight.
- AC adapter included, optional operation with 8 “C” batteries (not included).
- Age: 6+
- MSRP: $49.99
- Available: Amazon
SILLY SQUEAKS (BLIP TOYS)
- Silly Squeaks are musical pets, each with five interactive songs and 16 surprise silly sounds!
- Press their backs to play music or press their faces to hear them speak! Kids will fall in love with their entertaining personalities and their soft, squishy feel!
- There are eight to collect, each with its own musical genre and unique personality.
- They have touch points (face for silly sounds, back for silly songs) and two play modes: Play along with a pre-programmed songs (Play Mode A), or play your own song using the full musical scale (each Silly has its own note – Play Mode B).
- Play Mode A: Each character is programmed with five songs and kids are able to play their own beat on top of the songs. Press the back to hear song number one. Continue pressing the back to play your own beat along with the music. If kids want to change the song, they can press the face and they’ll hear a silly sound, then press the back again to hear the song number two. Continue pressing the back to play along with the music. Repeat this pattern to hear and play along with song number three, four, and five.
- Play Mode B: Each character is programmed with its own note on a musical scale. If kids collect all eight characters, they’ll be able to play their own songs using each one of them (like playing a piano). Press their backs to hear the individual notes. By pressing their faces, kids will hear all of their adorable sounds filled with personality.
- Age: 3+
- MSRP: $9.99
- Available: Walmart
FIRST ACT DISCOVERY BLUE STARS DRUM SET (JAZWARES)
- The First Act Discovery Blue Stars Drum Set is sized especially for little hands and bodies, making it easy for kids to reach all of the items in the set. Set includes bass drum with pedal, mounted tom and snare drums, a mounted cymbal and two wooden drum sticks.
- An exclusive Color & Shape Learning Guide, written by a professional music educator, is the perfect way to ignite musical excitement!
- The included Learn-a-Chord cards help kids learn beginning chords right away, and patented string post covers cap the string ends to protect little fingers. Also included are string name stickers so young players can place them on the string post covers to learn about their instrument.
- Age: 6+
- MSRP: $99.99
- Available: Target
