Review: BRIO Play & Learn Musical Caterpillar

The latest BRIO product we’ve received for review is the BRIO Play & Learn Musical Caterpillar. We have previously looked at a few different BRIO products including the BRIO Light & Sound Garbage Truck and the BRIO Push & Go Racer, so I have come to expect great things from BRIO.

The Musical Caterpillar is slightly different in that it is an electronic toy. It is still made to BRIO’s same high standards and is made from FSC certified wood, so it delivers the same high quality product we’re used to.

The Musical Caterpillar offers a unique way for children to discover the basics of music and create melodies. The four rounded blocks create a tone when placed into each space, and when the blocks join the head of the caterpillar to the tail the head and tail flash and a melody is played. There are ten ways to connect the head to the tail and each sequence produces a different tune. We have also used the bright, clean colours of the Musical Caterpillar to help Squidge learn his colours – we’re doing well!

Educational Benefit

Playing in this way helps to develop musical interest, logic, problem solving, cause-and-effect and encourages hand-eye co-ordination too. If one particular melody is a favourite, children can try to remember which sequence produces which tune, encouraging memory skills. Tunes played include Incy Wincy Spider, Row Your Boat and London Bridge, all well known tunes which are familiar to your child.

I must also say that I think this toy would be great for people with dementia. I took it to a group I am involved with and a couple of attendees who have dementia really enjoyed using it.

The only concern I have with the Musical Caterpillar is that all pieces are required for it to be used. If one were to go missing the entire thing would be out of action. The box can be saved to store everything inside though so that really helps. Toy boxes in our house seem to be bottomless pits when you’re looking for a specific toy part!