At a glance:
Our mums loved this fun, educational game for their tots which is aimed at helping them with their counting skills. That said, they wished it was designed slightly differently as it's quite easy for the coins to get stuck down the back of the till.
What they say:
"Counting and imaginative role play combine with a till friend that comes to life with 50+ fun phrases and educational songs. Cheeky, chatty till has plenty of numbers; counting and role-play skills in store. Set up your shop! Place food items on a table or shelves, give your customers their coins, and invite them on a shopping spree! Shop for milk and eggs. Scan the carrots. Insert the correct amount of coins or swipe a shopping card!”
Tested by mum Katrina Irvine for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would, but I’d make sure they knew about the coins getting stuck in the back of the till beforehand! The till is nice and small, and fits in a bag if you want to carry it out and about. It’s easy enough to use for a child independently and is great fun to play together as well, and you can easily add their favourite food items from your kitchen. It’s also really good for their counting skills.
How did the product make your life easier?
My two-year-old son loves this till, as he plays with it very independently, giving me a bit of free time. He’s always been a very fussy eater so doesn't know all his foods, and this teaches him simple, everyday foods, meaning that when he now sees them in the supermarket, he's got more of an interest (and has even started to eat them!) My son has also learnt new words from the till, and actually uses them after he eats something, which is really good to see and hear.
Would you choose this product to win?
Both my son and I love this till, though the coins getting stuck in the back isn’t the best, especially since they’re quite really difficult get back out (so much so that some have had to be left inside). With that in mind, I probably wouldn’t choose it to win, even though it has really helped my son and has proven to be a firm favourite of his.
What changes would you make to the product?
When you put the coins in the till they can slide down the very back, meaning some can get stuck and can’t then be retrieved, which is a real shame, as everything else about this product is near enough perfect.
Tested by mum Michelle Jephcote for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
This till has a great design. It's sturdy, colourful, and there is only a small piece to attach, which is simple and easy to do so. It's easy to clean with a dry cloth, though the batteries make it hard to use any wet or damp cloths to clean it. It stands really well on a hard, flat surface or even carpet, so a child can sit and play with it anywhere. Even though it doesn't fold, it's not too big to move around or take outside, meaning the practicality of the product is really amazing, and would be hard no to recommend!
How did this product make your life easier?
This product has been extremely good with helping my son to learn his colours, counting, and general number work. He has a tendency to get distracted easily, yet this keeps him occupied for a good amount of time. I am able to let him sit and play with his till while I can get other jobs done, and it’s good that I can also sit and play with him if he wants me to.
Would you choose this product to win?
I really do feel this product should win, as while some other products are good with helping to count and learning colours, this product does both in one. It's bright and has different songs, so it doesn't get too repetitive, which a lot of products tend to do. My son really enjoys playing with his till! His counting has come on so well, and he loves singing and playing with it.
What changes would you make to this product?
The only thing I would suggest is that they add a little basket or bag to keep all the shopping bits together. Although the pieces aren't small, they can easily get misplaced, so something to hold them all together would be a great idea, and would really help add to the immersion.
Tested my mum A. Ianucci for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
My daughter has fun playing with this toy, and it’s kept her entertained while I get on with other things or focus on her younger brother. She has another till, but seems to be very keen on this one, and has since stopped using the old one entirely. The coins are big enough not to get lost or be dangerous to leave around her younger brother, and I would definitely recommend it as it's a fun, safe toy (no sharp or small parts) that is also small enough to transport anywhere.
How did this product make your life easier?
My two-and-a-half-year-old daughter took to this toy straight away. She’s been able to count to ten for a while but recently started missing out numbers, and the singing and counting feature has really put her back on track. It’s made getting her counting right a lot easier – meaning one less job for me! She really enjoys 'scanning' the items, singing and counting along, and using the coins and card. It isn’t the biggest till on offer, but it’s really colourful and has held her attention for a couple of weeks now.
Would you choose this product to win?
We have had one till before this one, but Leapfrog’s is different in that it actively aids learning to count with the use of the song. I think it’s perhaps more suited to her age group than her previous till, which came with a calculator. I did find it slightly confusing that you can 'scan' and also use the buttons, but it isn’t really a problem. Overall, I would choose this product to win, as I think it provides educational help that’s appropriate for her age, as well as fun. Her other till contains smaller coins and paper money (which was lost and damaged quickly) so I definitely prefer this till in regards to the durability and safety.
What changes would you make to this product?
It could include play-alone games option, such as instructions on what to buy (like a vocal shopping list for them to scan or input), and more facts about the items, such as 'milk comes from cows', for example, to aid more learning, rather than just phrases such as 'tasty', or 'yummy'.
Tested by mum Isabel Jeffrey for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
The design is really good - it’s made of solid, quality materials, so I can't see it breaking. The songs on the till are great to sing a long too (though I warn that they are very, very catchy!), as well as the coins being a great way to help your toddler with his counting and adding, it’s also easy to wipe down and clean, and isn't too big, so is nice and easy to store.
How did this product make your life easier?
It entertains my little boy for a long time, and helps him practice his numbers too. He is able to combine it with his toy trolley and kitchen, so he can easily role-play that he’s at the supermarket, which is hilarious to watch. We use the coins to help practice counting, adding and subtracting, and I also have faith that it isn't going to break with it being such good quality.
Would you choose this product to win?
What makes this product stand out is, by far, its design, the sounds, and the way a toddler can use it as part of their imaginative play. While I’m not too sure on what other toys in this category offer, it is definitely the best till we have come across, and my boy loves playing with it.
What changes would you make to this product?
It would be great if the till had a handheld scanner or some sort of conveyer belt so that it was even more similar to the tills at the supermarket. Apart from that, I wouldn't make any other changes to the till, as it’s a great product that my boy loves to play with for long periods of time.
Tested by mum Gemma Hulme for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would, without doubt, as it supports child’s development, and also provides fun at the same time. It includes lots of bits with it too, so it's never too repetitive, and always keeps them busy! It supports their social skills, fine motor skills, numerical skills (counting and number recognition), along with colours, and all the different types of food.
How did this product make your life easier?
The count along till helps my daughter to learn number recognition through play, and also her social skills through the role-playing aspect. We love playing shopping and scanning the items, but her favourite part by far is slotting the coins into the coin drawer. It's a great product and my daughter loves it
Would you choose this product to win?
I think it stands out as it's so interactive and the fact that it has lots of bits (food stuff, coins, loyalty card etc.) means you can play with it straight out of the box. I haven't seen anything as good as this one anywhere else - it's brightly coloured, you can change the volume (which is GREAT!!) and it captures my little ones imagination perfectly!
What changes would you make to this product?
So far, I have found two flaws, one of which is rather major in my opinion. If the coins are inserted whilst the till is open, which is easy to do by mistake, the coins get stuck behind the till, meaning the till won't close and the coins are stuck inside, resulting in Daddy having to unscrew the thing to release them! Also, I found the number buttons on the till interface itself are too hard for my daughter to press, rendering them pointless unless I pressed them for her, resulting in frustration for the both of us!
Product Information
Suitable for children 24 months - 4 years