Product Review: Alex Tub Tunes Water Flutes (36 months+)
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My mom has always been a bargain shopper who finds the most interesting to the craziest buys throughout stores like Dollar Stores and Odd Lots-esque circuits. It stemmed out of necessity and she really honed her bargain-deal craft while the three of us kids lived under one roof and has perfected it for her granddaughter. We spent the first 9 years of my life in a village (before moving to a ‘real’ city 40 miles away of 14,000 people) with a little more than 1,500 people in southeastern Ohio. To say that the Appalachian village was depressed may be a little kind and besides a few mom and pop operations it was slim pickings for any kind of a store (pre-interwebs, kids, pre-interwebs…). I think it drove my mom a little stir-crazy especially when trying to find fun activities for us. My father was the ‘welfare’ director of the county and although our family technically qualified for public assistance for many years, there was no way we would accept it so money was always tight. Hence, my mom became the bargain hunter who believed it was quantity not quality of items that made presents for birthdays and holidays special. I laugh as I think about many of her purchases she would gather year round for big events, especially knock-offs or fast fads from years before that would be packaged up as new to us. I must say I loved her ingenuity although I could be a little disappointed to have to pass off a less-than-stellar clothing item or knick knack as what was popular because kids could sniff out a fake and could be cruel. My mom did have a habit of finding some real gems and especially now she has become superior at finding great items for Brooke for a great value. This is how Brooke got her hands on the Tub Tunes Water Flutes by Alex Toys.
I love the Alex Toys products and I had been eyeing these water flutes for months as a potential item for Brooke since she loves whistles and recorders. I love to encourage Brooke to make her own music and while she is surrounded by many great instruments from Bob and me, many of them will not be enjoyed as a player until she is older. These water flutes can be enjoyed by the youngest of the composers and as an added bonus the little musician can also spend the time getting clean in the tub. This set includes 5 different brightly colored flutes that work like a measuring cup of an instrument. You fill each flute with water to a specific line for each noted pitch. The set comes with three waterproof song cards that show the corresponding color of the flute and the note in which you fill the water line. The first song we tried was Beethoven’s Ode to Joy and it was right on (a watery) pitch. The filling and dumping of the water to the right line for each flute was too complicated for a younger child and I found this to be a great parent/child interactive activity. I filled the flutes and we each had our own colored flutes to play. There is a holder where all the flutes can be filled and played together by an older child, but Brooke is still a little young for that concept. She certainly enjoyed playing and hearing the different notes and I thought it was a great water play toy with parental supervision. I like the message that music can be played everywhere and love the fun introduction to the different musical notes. Thanks, Grandma, you got an ace!
About Alex Toys: Alex Toys began in 1986 as an arts and crafts company for children and has blossomed in to an award winning Toy Company known for creative and quality products. Check out their website to see all that Alex has to offer. I love their fun Arts and Craft Kits and Boxes, silly items like the Monster Clompers and educational Alex products like Let’s Pretend School. Alex is periodically featured on sites that offer discount opportunities such as Amazon.com Gold Box deals and I have gotten a few great Alex products this way at over 50% off each time, so keep your eyes out for these bargains!
Alex Tub Tunes Water Flutes (36 months+)
List Price: $15.00 (Currently $11.04 through Amazon.com)
Momma's Bacon 
We have these. Max and ave love them.
Hi Steph! Thanks for commenting. That is awesome that Max and Ave love the water flutes. I think Brooke is going to get a ton of use from her set, too. She got them out of our tub toy area today because she wanted to play with them outside of bath time. Ha!