Kids love dinosaurs and kids love vehicles -- so why not combine them? That's the idea behind VTech's new Switch and Go Dinos transforming toys. Each Switch and Go Dino transforms from a vehicle to a dinosaur in just a few moves. Each one has an LCD screen with customizable dino eyes and vehicle drivers, and each one gives off unique sounds and dinosaur facts. There are seven Switch and Go Dinos:
Race Car / Sliver the T-Rex
Sports Car / Horns the Triceratops
Rally Car / Tonn the Stegasaurus
Zip Car / T-Don the Pteranodon
Tow Truck / Attila the Ankylosaurus
Jet Plane / Span the Spinosaurus
Car Carrier / Brok the Brachiosaurus
VTech and Mom Central sent us Attila, Span and Brok to review, and even though 3Po and Jammy are at the top of the age range (3-8 yrs), I was pleasantly surprised by how much they are enjoying all three! Here's what they love about Switch and Go Dinos:
When in auto mode...
* Each dino has its own cool auto feature. When Attila the Ankylosaurus is in tow truck mode, it can tow any vehicle. When Brok the Brachiosaurus is in auto mode, the boys love launching the race car and the pterodactyl into the air!
* They think it's really cool that the toy knows when it is in auto mode, and the LCD screen on the windshield shows a graphic of a truck driver. They also enjoy toggling through the different kinds of drivers.
When in dino mode...
* They like how wheels beneath the dino's feet make it really easy to glide him around
* They think it's really cool that the toy knows when it is in dino mode, and the LCD screen on the windshield (now the face of the dinosaur) shows the dinosaur's eyes. They also enjoy toggling through the different kinds of dino eyes!
Best of all, it is really easy to transform from auto to dino mode, and back again. They figured out how to do it on their own, without having to read the instructions. Younger boys will probably need a parent's help, but the transformation process is really simple, so after you teach your son how to do it, he will be able to do it on his own. The parts are quite chunky, and there aren't too many complicated moves, so it won't be too frustrating, even for a 4 year old.
To show how easy the transformation is, 3Po and Jammy made an entire series of videos for all the Switch & Go Dinos we own! Check them out:
.. and how to transform the jet plane back into Span the Spinosaurus
How to transform Attila the Ankylosaurus into a tow truck...
... and how to transform the tow truck back into Attila the Anyklosaurus
How to transform Brok the Brachiosaurus into a car carrier...
... and how to transform the car carrier back into Brok the Brachiosaurus
The sound effects and moving parts (when in dino mode, you can press a button and will swing his neck to and fro) will probably appeal more to the younger kids. In my opinion, it's not VTech's most educational toy (yes, the dino does spout some dino facts, but I'm not sure if the kids are listening), but it's certainly one of their most entertaining! The more inexpensive models (Sliver, Horns, Ton and T-Don go for around $15) are a no-brainer top purchase. The bigger models like Span ($30) and Brok ($50) are more expensive, but if you have a younger child, I think it is well worth the price since he will get many years of play from it.
Check out VTech's Facebook page for the chance to win a lifetime supply of VTech Toys including the Switch and Go Dinos, and the chance for your child to appear in a VTech commercial! Aside from the grand prize, 25 winners will each receive Switch and Go Dinos for their very own! You don't even need to own a VTech Switch and Go Dino to enter! The Show and Tell with Switch and Go Dinos video contest ends October 1.
Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for VTech. I received VTech Switch & Go Dinos product samples to facilitate my review. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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These are really neat. Will have to look into purchasing a couple for my son for Christmas.
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