KidStyleFile Road Test Review: Active People Bilibo
Posted: December 3rd, 2008Today’s post written by Angela
Today I’m reviewing the Active People Bilibo for you. My verdict? This isn’t a game of chance, the Bilibo may be a ’subtle’ toy, but it is a sure-fire winner which lasts and lasts. Read on…
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The Bilibo, produced by Swiss company Active People, is an open-ended toy, which means it’s designed to encourage imaginative play.
The Bilibo has won numerous prestigious awards, and was included in the top 50 design ideas of the 21st century by the The Independent UK and out of hundreds and hundreds of toys, it featured in our very own KidStyleFile Reader Top 40 Best Toys for Children, 2008.
Variously described as a large bowl, and a glorified cardboard box, these descriptions are pretty close to the truth, and aren’t pejorative in the slightest! When you think about what occupies your child the longest, isn’t it always the simple things: the boxes, empty containers, and everyday objects?
My children each have a Bilibo (pink and orange), and they are still going strong after one year of use.
Over the past year I have observed my girls use their Bilibos for a plethora of purposes, including helmet, mask, turtle shell, boat, cradle, small hill on which to balance, scooper, tunnel for the train set to run through, and water and dry goods receptacle.
By far their favourite activity to use the Bilibo for is sitting in and spinning, using their arms and legs to propel them, and keep them balanced (something that takes practice, and which they have persisted with).
I also gifted a Bilibo (yellow!) to the Reggio Emila focused pre-school my kids attend – I was curious to find out how a bigger group of kids would approach it – and it has been used most creatively over the last 6 months, as kids ponder its uses and them implement it according to their own imaginations. It has also stood up to the rigours of children en masse -no mean feat!
Product Features
- Smooth moulded heavy duty plastic construction, the Bilibo is made from high-density shock resistant, non-toxic, recyclable polyethylene.
- The 3 finger hole grips allow for easy carrying, or you can purchase a product-specific carry bag.
- Available in green, blue, red, yellow, orange, and pink
- Developed by Swiss designer Alex Hochstrasser for Active People in collaboration with childhood development experts from University Children’s Hospital in Zurich.
- 39 x 39 x 22cm
- 800g weight
Pros
Encourages imagination. Can’t get much safer. Not battery operated. No moving parts. High quality, lasts well. Can be used indoors and out. If you have more than one, they stack, and you can store things inside them. Good range of colours. They look cool!
Cons
None.
Cost
$39.00
Where to Buy
The Active People Bilibo, and accessories, including Mini Bilibo, Bilibo Pixel, and Bilibo carry bags, can be purchased from Metro Mum – www.metromum.com.au for $39.00 + postage (see below for details).
Special Offers:
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- Until 19 February 2009 you can get a 10% discount at Metro Mum with the code found inside the cover of the Summer 2008/9 My Child magazine. Terms and conditions apply.
- Also, for a limited time only, you will receive a FREE $5.00 store credit voucher when you sign-up to the Metro Mum Club. They have a great Loyalty Points system too, so it’s well worth it. See the Metro Mum homepage for details.
