Mattel Password Journal 2011

My daughter had a traditional diary with lock and key, but her brother got into it. She bought a Password Journal to keep her thoughts extra private and has been using it ever since. It's terrific. We haven't had any problems whatsoever. VOICE RECOGNITION The voice recognition can be set to low (not so sensitive) to high (password must be said exactly the same way each time). It can also be turned off. We tested it; and it while it will unlock for me on the low setting, it will only unlock for her on the high setting. Her brother has been thwarted in his attempts to make it open. The journal can be opened and the password reset, if it's forgotten or doesn't work. Insert a pin into a tiny hole on the front of the journal. Just don't show the brother how it's done! INVISIBLE INK There is an invisible ink pen and a black light for an added layer of security. The light does turn off after a few minutes and she keeps having to turn it back on. That doesn't bother her, though. I'm happy we won't need to worry about her leaving it on and draining the battery. The light can also be switched to a regular light that does not reveal the invisible messages. REPLACEABLE NOTEBOOK The journal comes with a removable 25-page, unlined, 4"x6" spiral-bound notepad. I like the fact that it is replaceable. Otherwise, the whole toy might end up unused when the notebook is filled. SECRET COMPARTMENT The secret compartment that can only be accessed with the Password Journal open. It can be used to hide secret messages, jewelry or other small items. FINAL THOUGHTS Voice recognition was my biggest concern with this product. I was afraid it wouldn't work or be very frustrating to use. Not at all. My fears were unfounded. My daughter writes in the Password Journal every day with enthusiasm. Anything that would encourage that has my stamp of approval. ****************** UPDATE: My daughter brought her Password Journal to afterschool care and was very happy to report than none of the kids could get it to open, despite knowing her password. She was the only one who could open it when the sensitivity was set to high.

I got this for my daughter because she had been asking for it. I was skeptical, but I went ahead and got it for her. I am happy to say that it works. She loves it and is so excited that it only answers to her voice. The siren that goes off when 2 failed attempts is a bonus to her. I would be sure to have the kids record their password in a quiet area. My daughter recorded her password with the TV in the background and it caused issues with opening it. Once we re-recorded it in a quiet room, it works much better. The same applies for opening it. The background news will skew the ability for it to open. Great gift!

My daughter had a problem with her password like other reviewers. After managing to open her Journal a few times, it stopped recognizing her voice and it wouldn't open - and this on the day that she got it! We managed to open it again by taking a battery out. And then, instead of recording the password directly into the Journal, we recorded her password on her Nintendo DS. Now we use the Nintendo recording to open the Journal and it works, because it is exactly the same as when originally said.

My 7 year old loves this journal! I read many reviews before purchasing, and even got some feedback from other parents who all said the same thing: this journal is junk and it doesn't work properly. I took a chance and bought it anyway, because my daughter really wanted one. We opened it fully expecting to have lots of problems but a week later it works great for us. Yes, it is sensitive. You have to repeat the password exactly as you set it. We found the key to this is to use a word or words that are easily recognizable. I tried opening it using the password in my own voice and an alarm siren went off! But in my daughter's voice it opens every single time....as long as she says the words the same way. I also like that you can replace the notepad with a new one when the paper runs out. I do get that a lot of people have had no success with this item but again, for us it has worked great.

My 8 year old couldn't wait to get this toy and she had a lot of fun with it at first. However, we quickly had problems with it recognizing her password. When you go to reset it, it doesn't always work and even with following the instructions it can be confusing with the different levels of security. (Does a 8 year old really need THREE levels of security?) Also, her younger brother was able to mimic the password and get into it - not that there was anything of true value inside. Finally, the "magic" secret markers inside dry up quickly which leaves you with not much to do with it since it really doesn't hold very much inside. The British accent of the toy is a little annoying too - did they think they were trying to make it like a girly version of 007?

I bought this for my 9 year old daughter. She changed the password about 100 or so times in a 6 hour period. Just because she could. Even when she did not say the password with the absolute exact tone she recorded it in, it still opens for her (but only her). The only flaw seems to be that the blacklight part doesn't shine but in one little circle on the page so it does not illuminate the whole page to see what's written she actually has to tilt the journal to read a whole page written with it. But overall, she loves this journal and uses it constantly, giggling all the while.

Excellent present for young girls. This item came in an attractive package and instructions for use were very clear. My daughter has great fun playing with it and the fact that she can control it with a password gives her great control

Brought for my daughter, 8 years old. She loved it. Was a bit tricky with the voice activated password but ok when she then realised she could open it even if she didn't get the password correct!

She's 9 and loves having secret hide away places. This has a little drawer inside which is also voice activated (like the diary) and she squirrels away her secret treasures in there. She plays with it regularly unlike alot of the other toys that get left on the shelf and I should hope so as the price tag is significant! The only thing she doesn't like is the music that plays each time it's opened and she says she wishes she could turn the volume down/off!

Our grand daughter was excited to receive this present. She and everyone else in the house ended up frustrated by how precisely she had to say the chosen password before the diary would open!

Hey this is for my six year old granddaughters Xmas present, she asked for it after seeing advert. Its a large item well made and seems to be exactly what little girls will love. In fact I would enjoy playing with it as well lol. I will update more after she gets it and we see it working. Other shops sell it for 30 quid so it's a good price 23.99. Update after Xmas 2012 ......... Well as predicted granddaughter aged 6 loved it.. She played with it and we set the password this is where it let itself down. It wouldn't accept the password and then wouldn't accept her voice. IT HAS TO BE SAID BY THE PERSON OWNING THE DIARY not anyone else according to the instructions. However it didn't respond to her and kept saying password not recognised. Drove us mad had to keep re setting the book. That said as she's only 6 she really liked the book and as I've said before its very robust and just the princessy type pink bling a little girl loves. So dissappointed with the inner workings needs some revision on the voice activator but concept was good, but as a book she still uses it and keeps it hidden under her bed lol. But does not bother setting the password because it doesnt perform that task. The price for the errors is far to expensive and should have cost ten pounds maximum as far as I'm concerned. But for the play factor she loved it. SO KIDS  UP AND ADULTS PRICE WISE ETC DOWN ....