Learning Resources Teaching ATM Bank - Toddler Educational Toy for Money Skills, Ages 3+

We have had this play ATM for a week and my kids have been dying to play with it. I did not open it right away because I did not have any AA batteries, but eventually I had to because the kids kept asking to play with it. The first couple of days my kids have been playing with it without batteries. They love the play paper money, coins, and ATM card that come with the unit. Slipping the cash in and turning the knob, putting the coins in the slot, and getting the ATM card in it's slot are all great for the developing and helping work those fine motor skills! Then we finally got batteries and it was a whole new toy!!! They love the counting and adding of each coin and bill. My youngest (4) loves hearing the machine announce what type of coin is going in the machine. This toy is great for my 8 year old (reinforces what she is learning in school about money, coins) all the way down to my 4 year old (works those fine motor skills and coin recognition). I feel like this toy will grow with my youngest so parents will get a bang for their buck.

When my children (ranging in age from 2 to 9) saw this box in the living room, it was the oldest who first ran to open it. The box is pleasing to the eye; the plastic front allows the children to see the actual toy inside rather than a photo. The ATM machine comes with paper and plastic coin money, a plastic ATM card, and the machine itself. The pieces can all be stored inside the machine when not in use. Though smaller, it is similar to the LR pretend and play cash register (with the added benefit of recording coin value as coins are deposited). It has a voiced or silent mode of operation. The ATM card can be inserted and a pin number set, though if (when!) your child forgets the pin, it's easy to either bypass or change. It's just a fun feature of the toy! My pre-schooler plays on her own quite a bit, counting the money as she puts it in the machine. It can also be used when playing "grocery store" or any other imagination-based play that uses money. Another feature I like is that the machine turns off after a few minutes of non-use, which saves on battery power. I appreciate that it can double as a bank, and actually counts the real coins deposited! It does not, however, recognize actual paper currency (or even the toy paper currency that came with the ATM machine). The three older kids play with this on a semi-regular basis. When used with actual coins, it will help to teach the value of the coins deposited in a fun way. The only change I would make to the construction or design of the machine would be to add a drawer to catch the money deposited. As it is, coins and paper currency fall to the inside of the bottom of the machine, so when the drawer door is opened, the money could spill out. A drawer would help keep the money inside until physically removed by your child. Note: I received this product as part of an incentivized review program.