Barbie Dance Party

$49.99, Smart Toy

Teaches: movement, music

CTR Review

This vinyl dance mat is extremely simple to use and is successful in getting kids moving. First, you install the 4 AA batteries, and plug the video and audio plugs into your TV (just like a game console). There is no additional software to load (everything is contained on a ROM chip inside the toy). Next, you turn on the TV, and Barbie asks you, in her syrupy voice, to choose a mode of play. You can select one of 24 songs (rated with hearts for difficulty). The moves are presented like Simon Says, Barbie says blue and pink, you step on blue and pink, and so on. It's turn taking, rather than a continual stream of moves, which brings a bit of a short-term memory element into the activity. Weaknesses to note -- the primary one is that the colors are presented backwards on the screen -- front to Barbie is back to your child. So kids have to mentally turn everything around, or else dance with their backs to the TV (which one tester did). The publisher claims that this is no problem for kids -- we'll have to leave that one to you. Also note that the mat is light and tends to drift across the living room. Another tester noted that the scoring is too forgiving, especially compared to the rather brutal feedback in Dance Dance Fever, another dance mat product. So does it work? Yes. Despite its weaknesses, this toy is successful in providing an experience with lower body coordination and following directions.