If there’s one thing I sorely miss from our boys’ infanthood, it’s the absence of our Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo. Both boys clocked hours of time (not at once, of course!) bouncing, bopping and boogeying to the beat. In fact, in many ways, the Jumperoo was one of their first introductions into the magical world of music and rhythm.
Think the jingles, flashing lights and beats are put together randomly? Never! There’s actually a science behind it -
“Beat induction” is the process in which a regular sequence of tones, lights or beats occur regularly and/or equal time intervals while one listens to music or other sounds. Lights and colours can also be included to emphasize the beat – as in the timed, flashing lights in the Rainforest Jumperoo. It can be considered a fundamental musical trait that, arguably, played a decisive role in the origins of music and cognitive development.
One of my fondest memories of Reid as a baby was the way his eyes lit up as the music began. Then, the rhythmic bounce, bounce, bounce as the sounds and colours came alive. And there’s a reason why babies love to stay in the Jumperoo – and often cry when they’re lifted out – it’s because the musical tones and sounds both stimulate and prolong play. In fact, the more a child gives feedback to the toy, the stronger it reinforces the connection between learning through play.
Fisher-Price believes in this process and has developed an area of toys that offer rhythmic sounds, patterns and music using this beat-based rhythm process. They include:
Cruise & Groove Ballapalooza – Laugh & Learn Learn & Move Music Station – Disney Baby Amazing Animals – Sing-Along Choo-Choo – Laugh & Learn Fun With Friends Musical Table – Laugh & Learn Dance & Play Puppy – Laugh & Learn Magical Musical Mirror – Go Baby Go! Poppity-Pop Musical Dino – Little People Surprise Sounds Fun Park – Brilliant Basics Musical Activity Walker – Rainforest 1-2-3 Musical Gym – Precious Planet Kick & Play Piano – Luv U Zoo Crib-to-Floor Activity Piano – M3 Mickey
Both my boys are very musical, but it’s little Reid who has really taken to shaking his booty. He’s currently our budding Baryshnikov – yes, we enrolled him in dance classes! And I’d like to think that his training began with a little help from the Rainforest Jumperoo 
