![\"scout\"](\"http:\/\/chopsybaby.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/scout.gif\" "\\"scout\\"")
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My Pal Scout, is one of four new products from popular learning and educational gift company Leap Frog. The company’s new range offer children aged from six months to three years personalised play and learning.<\/p>\n
My Pal Scout and My Pal Violet are plush cuddly pups that interact with young children and babies through chat, song and music. The beauty of these toys is that they can be connected to the internet through a computer’s USB where it can be customised to a child’s name, favourite colour, favourite animal and favourite food. As the child’s taste’s change, simply re-connect Scout or Violet to access an online database to change words and even music.<\/p>\n
On first use of the toys, it will be necessary to have internet connection to download a programme to manage the dog’s content and even keep an online learning record should parents wish. The programme is very simple to use and will require the occasional update. Everything necessary for it to work is included with the pup, including a short USB connection cable.<\/p>\n
![\"violet\"](\"http:\/\/chopsybaby.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/violet.gif\" "\\"violet\\"")
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Chopsy Baby tested out the My Pal Violet with six month old Tegan and eighteen month old Jerry.<\/p>\n
Violet, who stands in height at around 30cm, is soft to the touch and comes in a cheery bright purple colour. Despite having a unit inside, it is still reasonably huggable and the inner unit is only accessible by stiff Velcro. The stitching and materials making up the toy are all suitably robust and likely to see you through more than one future sibling.<\/p>\n
The child will quickly learn that by squeezing the dog’s paws, Scout or Violet will play music or talk and interact with them. The pre-programmed speech appears to be random so that the same phrases don’t come out in the same order time after time. The toy will talk about everyday life including mealtimes, learning numbers, animals and feelings.<\/p>\n
Baby Tegan enjoyed the feel and texture of Violet, grabbing at the toy and pulling at its paws. She was obviously impressed that it would talk to her and she took great pleasure in ‘talking’ back. Toddler Jerry, liked the singing and was impressed that the toy knew his name. Both children and parents enjoyed up to ten minutes of soothing bedtime music to help them fall asleep and wind down in their respective cots. Neither managed to open up the toy to access the inner unit.<\/p>\n
Suitable for children from six month of age, this would be an excellent Christmas present for a baby about to reach the six month marker.<\/p>\n
My Pal Scout is a very reasonably priced \u00a319.99, reflecting its quality, longevity and intelligence.<\/p>\n
Amazon, Argos and Toys R Us.<\/p>\n