REVIEW: CAILLOU TALKING DOLL

Can you believe Caillou will be celebrating his 25^th anniversary in 2015! He's as old as I am - just kidding, I'm "just a tad" bit older.

I did not become familiar with Caillou until my early teens when I started babysitting, and then again became reacquainted with him when I had my daughter. Throughout all that span of time, Caillou has been a favorite of little ones and caregivers.

Although Caillou is aimed towards kids, ages 2-5, my daughter (8) still loves him. From her earlier years of connecting with him on the television series, she considers him a trusted friend. Being school-aged now, she doesn't have the opportunity to watch the show as often, as it comes on when she is in school, but she still watches it occasionally. She loves watching it with her younger cousins when she can, and she never gets tired or bored and she loves seeing them as interested in Caillou as she is. 

We were recently granted the privilege to review "Caillou's Learning Doll" also known as "Caillou's Talking Doll" on sale now at Major Retailers, including Toys R Us for $34.99. The Caillou Talking Doll provides a brand new look including his new pre-school outfit and backpack. The Caillou Talking Doll is also interactive and can now teach you about the seasons, colors and even teach a few words in French to broaden your child's horizons. Focusing on role playing, the Caillou Talking Doll is fun and educative and makes the perfect comforting friend to tag along anywhere your child goes.

Besides the fact that we are fans of Caillou, I think this is a great doll for any pre-school aged child, for the educational features it provides. Many dolls out on the market teach the "ABCs" and "123s", but I love that this doll takes it to the next level and teaches your child more. I especially love that it introduces your child to a second language. When my daughter was younger, we dabbled with Sign Language and Spanish, but French has always been a favorite of mine, as it is the language of Paris! But it seemed so difficult and elusive to learn, but introducing kids to it at an early age instills in them a foundation and interest to build on, as Caillou does here.

Although my daughter loves playing with Caillou's Talking Doll right now, she's excited to pass him along to her 1 year old cousin when we visit him this summer in Pennsylvania. He is going to be able to have Caillou as a friend for a long time and Caillou's lightweight, soft body is great for his little hands. I know he's going to enjoy holding his Caillou doll as he watches the show, and he is going to learn so much from Caillou, both via the show and the Talking Doll. 


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Caillou is an award-winning brand that began as book series created by Christine L’Heureux and published by Chouette Publishing.  Caillou is about an inquisitive four year old. Caillou has consistently ranked as one of the top 10 television series for preschoolers nationwide since its premiere in 2000. “Caillou,” the animated preschool series, airs in the U.S. on PBS Kids, the #1 preschool destination for kids and parents, on PBS Sprout and in several major international territories, including Australia, Canada and others.  Caillou has won multiple awards, including two Parent’s Choice Awards, in consecutive years.

Caillou exhibits a familiar sensibility and behaviors that parents of preschoolers can relate to.  Caillou is a curious child who loves to discover the world around him through everyday experiences.  He embellishes everything he sees with his rich imagination.  Surrounded by his parents, his younger sister Rosie, his grandparents and peers his age, Caillou is fascinated by everything around him.  Whether he’s at home, at school or on the playground, Caillou finds opportunities to learn and grow.  The series teaches life lessons that address fear, anger, consequences, loneliness, anxiety and empathy to help children understand those emotions.