why is elc keyboard so popular with children?

[geranium]

This is a paranoid parent question rather than a dig at Xmas present buying.

Ds is 2 and a half and almost every thread I read on Xmas presents says that X is buying an elc keyboard and stool for their 2 year old (plus a pirate ship). It's not the sort of present that had occurred to me for ds and even now I wonder whether he is a bit young to be composing music and, from a selfish point of view, wouldn't the toy be very noisy?

Anyway, I'm now wondering whether my child is being deprived. He seem quite a musical child anyway (inherited from dh and a little from me) so am I blocking his musical creativity? Is this going to hold him back among his peers? 30 years from now will this be held against me?

Seriously, what is the attraction for the children in this? Aren't they a bit young to be composing or do they just bang away at the keyboard/shout into the mic and you hope that eventually prolonged banging will yield a recognisable tune?

Just wondering...after all, I haven't bought the train set yet.

I am not worried as dd1 is getting a recorder for Christmas.

a 6 year old and a recorder = enough musical offering for any household

Hula, even if she does turn out like that through playing with Barbie, at least she may like working with children and animals and could be a future Miss World contestant.

Thanks for this thread. I have been trying to think of a present for my 2 year old dd and so far have come up with an aqua draw thanks to mumsnet. Right, off to look at elc site.

Hulababy, is it suitable from 2?

Very true - her career path is marked out... either that or a mummy from too much Baby Annabel.

Where does the pirate ship fit in though?

hercules says from age 3 but had a good look and didnt seem to be anything that came off etc.

arf!

ooo
I want him to be motzart of the seven seas!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes. At that age they just put the demo on non stop and drive you mad Or hit the keys and play their own little "tune". Now she is getting older DD ca change the rythmns and instrument sounds, and is learning how to record herself.Oh and all accompanied from age 2 with her singing into the microphone.

Oh and BTW there is a pink keyboard reduced in Argos from £30 to £15 here

oh and a blue/yellow one too

My DD2 has theELC keyboard she saw it when we went to spend her birthday money and wanted it, so we brought it.

Well, I'm off to get tea for ds. Now I'm worried that not only have I not bought the keyboard or the pirate ship but that he doesn't have a baby Annabel either. How on earth is he going to get in touch with his feminine side?

Thanks Hulababy. I really like the yellow and blue one! The other was a bit too pink!

Well, dd thinks it looked fab. I have refused to change her original blue Elc one with the new pink one they now do.

Off to the shops on Friday!