Caring Corners - Mrs. Goodbee Interactive Dollhouse

When you ring the doorbell, Mrs. Goodbee's eye pop open, her lips light up, and she transforms into a friendly charcter that guides girls through acts of caring, sharing and preparing for life-long responsibilites. As they play, she activates eight different "hot spots" throughout the house, such as the doorbell, the nursery cradle, the refrigerator, the boombox on the rooptop playgrund, the toilet and bathroom sink, the pet bed, and a special "Day and Night Window."

In addition, Mrs. Goodbee offers tons of play space with its unique, tri-fold design. It features 12 spacious rooms so two children can easily play together at the same time. Plus, there are special passageways in the mid-section that allow girls to share dolls and accessories with each other.

Another special feature is the Good Deeds Garden. Every time a child does a real-world good deed, she can take a sticker (included in the Parent Guide) and decorate the back of the Mrs. Goodbee dollhouse. Some stickers hide secret codes that unlock special games on CaringCorners.com, so she'll have hours of fun with online activities as well! Visit www.CaringCorners.com to play interactive learning games designed to encourage children to display positive social behaviors. Requires 3 "AA" batteries, included. Measures 24"L x 9"W x 16"H.

Amazon.com Review
The colorful Mrs. Goodbee Talking Dollhouse from Caring Corners is sure to inspire lots of imaginative and cooperative play. Little girls will love the fun songs and sound effects, as well as the online good deeds garden they can gain access to. Small parts make this dollhouse inappropriate for children under three.

The dollhouse has a fold-out design that features a total of 12 rooms. View larger.

Sound effects make the dollhouse interactive and engaging for children. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Bright colors, fun songs, and lots of rooms to play in The Bad: Plastic construction; not many accessories included In a Nutshell: This dollhouse will inspire lots of imaginative play At a Glance Ages: 3 to 6 years Requires: 3 AA batteries (included)

When your little girl is ready to play, she simply turns the unit on and rings the doorbell, which will cause the dollhouse to come to life. Mrs. Goodbee's eyes snap open, her lips light up, and she sings a welcoming song. As your child plays, eight audio activation points throughout the house keep the experience interactive. In the bathroom, Mrs. Goodbee offers comments like, "Flush, wash, wonderful! Good job." When the fridge is opened, she may say "Brrrrrrrr" in response to the rush of cold air.

Explore the Good Deeds Garden Online
There's another whole world waiting online at www.caringcorners.com, where little girls can use the secret code that comes with their dollhouse to unlock the good deeds garden. The dollhouse offers children several games and tasks to choose from. Children can try their hand at feeding hungry fish or picking out the differences between two similar pictures.

This feature is not simply designed with fun in mind; it's also designed to promote responsibility. Every time a child does a real-world good deed, she can take a sticker from the Parent Guide and use it to decorate the back of the dollhouse. Secret codes that unlock additional games are hidden under the stickers, making this a fun and engaging process, and one that encourages positive social behaviors.

Fun Details and Additional Friends
Even beyond the great sound effects, the Mrs. Goodbee house is full of thoughtful details that keep playtime interesting. Windows in the bedroom move up and down to reveal different scenes for daytime and nighttime. A lever by the oven reveals muffins, a pie, or a turkey cooking. With its unique fold-out design and six rooms on each side, there's plenty of room for multiple children to play at the same time. And when it's time to clean up, simply fold the house up with your child's dolls inside to save space.

With all the use this dollhouse is sure to get, we are concerned that its construction may not hold up over time. The hinges and platforms seem sturdy, but they are made out of fairly thin plastic. Additionally, there aren't a lot of accessories that come with the dollhouse. This may not be an issue if your child already has dolls that will fit in this dollhouse, or if you invest in one or more of the fun accessory packs, such as Table Manners, A Book at Bedtime, or the Pet Playground.

What's in the Box
Interactive dollhouse, chimney, window, steps, swing, chair, dog, baby, girl, card key, three AA batteries, and three sheets of label stickers.