Learning Resources LER3105 Coding Critters MAGICODERS: Skye The Unicorn, Multi

Bought this for my daughter for Christmas and it doesn't work! Tried multiple batteries, floor surfaces, but it seems there is an issue with the audio. It starts singing, then immediately stops. The dance also starts one note then stops.I have a few other issues with this toy as well. The spellbook is wrong as it doesn't instruct to press the middle button after the sequence, or how to enter spell mode, so it's less easy for a child to follow. The spell book is also flimsy paper and when it's an integral part of the toy, a laminated or sturdier book would have been better. Also, USB charging would have been way better than all the batteries needed. Anyway, we chose to overlook those things as my daughter was enchanted, so we asked Amazon for a replacement and sent back the one with broken sound. You can't fault Amazon's service, it arrived quickly and my daughter excitedly unpacked it. I put the batteries in, and although the audio was a bit louder this time - same problem! It's like it gave out singing after half a note, and most the time with this one, the spells didn't work, it was just turning itself off halfway through, even with new batteries! I think there is a serious fault with these toys. Very disappointing especially for £45. The stars are for a fab concept and great Amazon service. Zero stars for the unicorn itself.

Our 4 year old loves playing with this unicorn. She is so happy when she get the spell right (she has memorized most of themnow)

I found this beginner’s coding toy a bit underwhelming in reality.The toy consists of a plastic, wheeled unicorn which is accompanied by a remote control ‘wand’ used to provide basic instructions to Skye. The two main pieces are accompanied by a series of sky-themed props and instruction cards for setting up a route. The set comes with an instruction paper aimed at adults and a child-friendly ‘spell book’. The spell book is not bound properly as a book, it’s really just a leaflet – and likely to become damaged quite easily.The set requires a somewhat painful five AAA batteries to run: three to go in Skye herself, and two to go into the ‘magic wand’. The battery doors on these are unpleasant horrid to open – with deep set screws (particularly on the wand) that are fiddly and require a small-sized Philips head screwdriver. I found that even once the screw on the wand was completely unfastened it wouldn’t come out, and the battery door wouldn’t drop open. I needed to use the end of a small flat head screwdriver to pry this open.In use, Skye has two operational modes. A simple mode, where the left, right, up, and down buttons on the magic wand simply instruct Skye to move a pre-set amount in the direction indicated, and a ‘spell mode’, where particular combinations of buttons will result in Skye performing a set task, such as growling out a few bars of ‘Happy Birthday to you’. In simple mode, you enter a series of instructions by making multiple presses on the direction arrows, and then press the central button on the wand to see Skye act out the directions she has been given. All button presses are accompanied by beeping noises, and Skye herself makes noises when running. Skye’s horn lights up and changes colour when she’s operating.Spell mode works a bit differently: an action will start, and some will continue going until another action is programmed, so for instance in this mode 4 presses of the right arrow key will make Skye start performing continual spins rather than simply 4 turns to the right.Every single ‘coding’ instruction in the spell book is inaccurate. It’s a minor detail and easy to rectify, but the manufacturers have forgotten to add the final step to each code: you have to press the central button on the wand to action the code. Not one set of spell instructions remembers this.When on but not being given directions, Skye makes noises, her horn lights up, and she moves a little – a useful combination of reminders to switch this off when it’s finished with!The toy is clever in that it teaches children to follow instructions, then plan and sequence their own instructions for Skye to achieve a specifically desired outcome. But the accompanying props are not particularly well made. I’m not convinced this justifies its RRP.

Your kid will never figure out this is a learning toy! It's so cute and tailored to young kids. By coding, the unicorn casts spells. This is a great way to get kids into coding.

The media could not be loaded.  Skye the Unicorn has been brilliant fun and our four year old has really enjoyed playing with her spells and doing a little coding. The Unicorn is controlled with a magic wand and once you have got your head around the not that brilliant instructions she is really quite interesting to play with.Rule of thumb is:White horn light = you are in coding mode and she will follow your sequence of inputs >>>^>>^<< etc. up to forty moves and she will follow the code once you have hit the middle star to send the code to Skye.Press purple star to change in to magic spell mode:Horn light turns off and spell sound chimes: there are many spells that you can input and send to Skye eg <><> then middle button to feed Skye a treat. Once you have sent this then you can hold a cupcake (or your hand) in front of her nose sensors and she will make a chewing sound.By far the most impressive spell is following the ball around which she is really quite good at. Anyway ive done a video to show Skye in action which is much easier to follow me trying to describe code, I hope you find it useful. We have enjoyed playing with this set and its kept our four year old entertained for supervised play although he can't follow the instructions himself just yet, but follows the colour combinations I tell him and can input it all himself. Very happy to recommend, a tad pricey at £50 odd quid but really quite cleaver and worth 5 stars even if you have to supply the 5 AAA batteries yourself.

Learning Resources LER3105 Coding Critters MAGICODERS: Skye The Unicorn, Multi is the perfect way of introducing the art of coding to young children who love Unicorns.It is designed to be simple yet educational as well as very eye-catching. I was disappointed in the number of batteries needed to work both the remote control as well as the main Unicorn. We overcame this by purchasing rechargeable batteries and then simply recharging the batteries at night when our little miss was tucked up in bed.The little miss in this household loves to play with her "magic wand" and her Unicorn and loves to show off her skills to both family and friends.Basic yet educational therefore I am happy to recommend.