Crayola 2GB MP3 Player {Review}

There are some aspects of my girls' childhood that is reminiscent of when I was a kid. I can remember things like participating in sports or getting to play with friends or enjoying time spent with a good book.

However, when it comes to being a kid in the 21st century, there also seem to be some major differences. The first one that comes to mind? The interest level in technology and all of the gadgets and doodads that are out there today (I'm pretty sure that when I was 4 years old I never asked my mom when I was getting my own cell phone or laptop... although that may have partially been due to the fact that they weren't invented yet. Geez, I'm getting old).

So although I'm definitely not ready to hand Big Sister E her own iPhone or computer, I do know that any way to introduce her to kid-friendly devices is a good idea. Someday I'm going to need her to explain to me how to work all of the new gizmos, right? And, the perfect way to start is with a name that we already know and love, Crayola, and the Crayola 2GB MP3 player.

In conjunction with Sakar International, Crayola has debuted this colorful, fun 2 GB mp3 player for children ages 5 and up so that they will be able to have their favorite music with them wherever they may go. Complete with lightweight, hook-on earphones and Music Express software, after the initial setup (compatible with Windows or Mac) for this 3" x 2.25" x 0.75" music player, it only takes a button or two to get your child's tunes playing.

Big Sister E's eyes lit up when I told her that she would be able to listen to her own music at home or in the car and we got started right away getting this mp3 player prepared.

After installing one AAA battery (not included) and downloading the Music Express software onto my computer, we were ready to go.

With the choice between finding music on your computer, copying it from any removable disc, or transferring from your own CDs, I took over uploading files to the Crayola mp3 player as Big Sister E was too young for that portion. It took me a minute or two to get used to the options, but I found that most of the steps were pretty intuitive and that the Help and Show Me How tutorials answered any question that I might have had.

I was amazed to find that this mp3 player can hold approximately 1800 songs or 96 hours of music! The brightly-marked controls do more than Big Sister E is ready for (the LCD screen lets you scroll between songs, read lyrics, set up the menu, or even lets record your own voice), but I imagine that older kids could really get into customizing this into their own.

For now, my little music-lover was easily able to learn how to use the play/pause, rewind, fast forward, and stop functions so that she can move and groove whenever she sees fit.

Having tried it out myself, I was impressed with the comfort of the earphones and the clear sound quality - this isn't just a cheap, fuzzy music player! For a starter mp3 player, this is a great way to introduce kids to the option of having portable music and the control over listening to which song they want and when.

For more technologically-savvy kids, the Music Express software allows them to organize their music, burn CDs and more. This would be one gift that could last for years!

Retailing for $45.99 from Crayola as well as on Amazon, the Crayola 2GB MP3 Player with Headphones is a great option for kids that yearn for their own iPod but are too young for its capabilities (or the price tag). Instead, we are happy to have found another way that Crayola has been a beneficial part of childhood!

(Other than the Crayola 2GB MP3 Player that I was sent in order to facilitate my review, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this great company and this innovative product.)