Fisher-Price Chatterphone

My son received this toy as a gift for Christmas and I think I was more excited than him when he opened it as I instantly remembered it from my own childhood.

FisherPrice have updated this classic toy for a new generation and I'm sure lots of parents my age will recognise it. It's now a lighter weight plastic (still sturdy and good quality) toy phone with the same pull along cord and eyes that move as you drag it along. The traditional style phone makes a great "old fashioned phone" noise when you dial the numbers and the handset is attached by a coiled cord.

On the positive side I think it's still a great pull along toy and this is how my 19mth old son plays with it. The pull along cord is a decent length, a problem I find with many pull along toys is that you can't actually pull them along whilst standing but this doesn't have that problem. It's cute and inoffensive to look at with bright colours which would interest younger children. My son likes the squeeky noises the phone makes when you pull it and dials noises too. Better yet it doesn't need batteries!

However, I just don't think this toy really works that well for this generation they just don't really relate to it. My son doesn't get what the dial on the phone is for as he only sees and uses the cordless digital phones of today. He understands the handset itself but therin lies another problem. The cord attaching the handset to the phone is far too short. In order to put the phone handset to his ear my son has to hold the phone under his chin (this is not an easy task for a 1 year old to accomplish and therefore he doesn't bother). If you see the packaging for this item all the children playing with the phone shown on the box cover have the phone resting on a table infront of them at chin height as this is the only was the phone is going to reach their ear. So not very role-play play friendly.

This toy seems tough enough and good quality (well my old one certainly was but things have changed slightly since then I'd guess). It's survived being sat on and thrown around for the last few weeks without a mark to show for it.

So this toy has both positives and negatives but for around £5 a pop it's not a massive layout and if you fancy reliving your own childhood then go for it.