Features:

• Softclick technology so pieces fit well
• Twenty by twenty-seven inches
• Vivid scenes
• Audio in six languages: English, French, Dutch, Italian, Spanish and German
• Free AR Puzzle app

Why would you want a Ravensburger Augmented Reality Puzzle?

If your child, who is twelve or older, enjoys constructing 1000 piece puzzles, then making it come alive can be an exciting bonus.  Putting the pieces together is the first part and Ravensburger puzzles are rich in color and detail.  Once the puzzle is completed, use the free
“AR Puzzle” app for an iPad or iPhone to transform the Underwater, Paris or Animals of Africa puzzles into gorgeous and interactive 3D scenes.

With the Underwater puzzle dive into the coral reef with dolphins and fish and be a part of the school as fish swim in and out of view on the screen.  A timed seek-and-find matching game makes the puzzler pay attention to the details of the fish in the scene so they can find them in the puzzle environment and the competitive aspect can be fun too.

Drop in at the watering hole in the African Animals puzzle and see giraffes, elephants and zebras in their habitat and be able to enjoy seeing the beautiful African desert.  Watching the animals as they are eating and walking in the wild makes you think that you are on safari.

Paris with its lights, the Eiffel Tower and Louvre comes alive in this puzzle.  You arrive during the day and soar over rooftops and then with the help of the app, dusk and then night settle so that the lights of the city come on just for the puzzler.  You won’t even need a passport to travel there!

The audio for these puzzles is available in six languages including English, Spanish, German, Dutch, Italian and French and the puzzle has the Ravensburger softclick technology so that the pieces fit together well and the image will be clear and will not have a glare no matter the light.

The finished puzzle size is twenty inches by twenty-seven inches big and so it can really transport the puzzler into the action, but not too big to take over the dinning room table.

 What are the pros and cons of the Ravensburger Augmented Reality Puzzles?

Pros:

• Soft-click technology for easy to put-together pieces
• Vivid, detailed and non-glaring image
• Free AR Puzzle app
• Use with iPad or iPhone
• Audio in six languages: English, French, Spanish, Dutch, Italian and German

Cons:

• Only works with iPhone or iPad

These puzzles offer rich and detailed images that invite any puzzler to imagine the world that it depicts.  With the AR Puzzle app that imagined world is brought to life.  Bringing the Underwater coral reef, the city of Paris or the plains of Africa to life lets the puzzler interact with the scene in a whole new way.  With timed games or tours of the city and plains, educational information about the puzzle is included in the experience.  Since a “regular” Ravensburger puzzle is fabulous, adding the technology to engage the 21^st century puzzler is ingenious and fun.  These puzzles, designed for ages twelve, and over can be highly recommended for the puzzler in the family or maybe a family of puzzlers. While there is an age suggestion, these can really can be for any age that can manage to build a 1000 piece puzzle.  With children under three, just watch because the pieces can pose a choking hazard.

What people are saying about the Ravensburger Augmented Realty Puzzles:

“This is my second Ravensburger “augmented reality” puzzle. I worked this with a 7-year old and she much preferred the AR features of this puzzle to the Ravensburger “Animals in Africa” puzzle. She also liked the brightly colored graphics. I preferred the Animals in Africa for the clean earthier colored graphics, and the relative simplicity of the puzzle.”—customer from Georgia

“The puzzle is just so very beautiful and the app, well, that’s for the kids. They think it’s cool but adults, well, just so-so. But, who buys a puzzle for that computer stuff anyway? This is well worth buying and using a puzzle preserver on it to frame. It’s quite beautiful. Sure, it’s hard, but worth the three months it took us to build! Highly recommend!”—customer from Ohio

Highlights of the Ravensburger 1000-piece Augmented Reality Puzzles

When you put together these puzzles and add the AR Puzzle app to make them come alive, you may not look at a typical puzzle the same way again. The images are detailed and bright, but there is no glare no matter the light.  The pieces fit well together and the app makes the puzzle become an interactive activity altogether different from just putting the pieces together.  What a reward after placing 1000 pieces in their places.  Not only do you get a great image and the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve completed a feat of puzzling perfection, but you also get to go on a trip to the place that you have built in your puzzle.  Move over Mary Poppins, Ravensburger is here.

To get a great deal on the Ravensburg Augmented Reality Puzzles click here.

Features:

• Front and back cameras that shoot video and still images
• Over 2500 skills are highlighted in math, science, reading, writing, games, health, art music, world cultures and more
• More than 325 cartridge and downloadable activities and games
• 4GB of memory
• Runs on batteries or with recharging unit sold separately

Why buy the LeapPad2?

The LeapPad2 by Leapfrog inspires creativity by offering so many learning opportunities on various subjects and topics. From geography to writing letters with a stylus, this portable unit is the perfect size for a preschool child or older.

This tablet can be used by tapping or touching the screen and using the stylus, but it can also allows the child to shake, turn or twist the tablet for certain activities.  The motion-based play involves kids on many levels.

There are many ways to add activities to this tablet, so the learning won’t become stagnate and the unit itself can be used with cartridges or with downloadable activities, so that the options to keep the learning fresh are plentiful.  Leapfrog has a great line of activities and many are compatible with some of their other devices.

While bigger than other handheld games, at only seven inches long and under five and a half wide, this is still able to be stored, packed or popped in a pocket with little problem. While the unit itself is pretty sturdy, the available protective skins and cases can keep it in good shape longer.

Using batteries makes it easy to use on the go without being tethered to a wall outlet, but there is an optional recharging kit that can be purchased to make stocking spare batteries unnecessary.

What are the pros and cons of the LeapPad 2?

Pros:

• Portable
• Fun protective skins available
• Large activity assortment available (over 325)
• Downloadable and cartridge apps
• Touch, tap, shake or twist and turn to interact and control LeapPad2
• Practice with over 2500 learning skills
• 5 free apps included
• Recordable story feature
• Front and back cameras with video
• Recharging unit sold separately

Cons:

• Changing batteries if not using recharging unit
• Must purchase game cartridges in addition to unit price

What are customers saying about the LeapPad2?

The LeapPad2 is appears to be another hit for LeapFrog.  They have updated this version somewhat and with the optional recharging unit, it is a better travel companion because there is no extra battery weight to lug around with you.  Most people seem to be satisfied with the product.  A few people found the screens to be cracked when coming from box or cracked after few uses, but the customer service team seems responsive to client needs.

“Overall, I think the Leap Pad2 is another winner and a product I will highly recommend to other parents/grandparents. With all the iPads and Kindles and Nooks and Android phones and tablets, it’s nice for kids to have a tablet of their own that provides age-specific activities, well made and durable so that parents can allow their kids to play with it freely without fear of breaking or ruining.”—customer from Illinois

Most customers had concern about the apps being a bit overpriced and some also expressed frustration around the LeapFrog dollars to purchase the apps.  Since the dollars are purchased in twenty dollar increments, an app for twenty-five dollars actually requires a forty dollar investment, but you can use a credit card to solve this problem.

Some customers commented on the cost of the recharging kit.  Most found it to be around forty dollars and they were disappointed with that price tag for a battery pack, especially when you have to purchase the unit and the activities to use.

“I bought the LeapPad 2 for my 3 year old son. He enjoys it but, by the time you pay $24 each for some of the games, another $60 for a case and recharging battery unit, you can have $250 wrapped up in this thing pretty quickly.” –customer from Kansas

Overall, the LeapPad2 seems to be a well received learning tablet.  If people have had the earlier version of the LeapPad, they are impressed by the faster CPU and the video quality. The customizable reading levels can be a nice feature for children sharing the unit.

Highlights of the LeapPad2

The LeapPad2 is a great learning tablet that offers activities in reading, math, science, world cultures and many apps in art and music that foster creativity and personal expression.  It can be used with cartridges or with downloadable apps and is designed for children from ages three to nine.  The customizable reading levels make it perfectly suited for each level. It can be used by touching the screen, using the stylus or shaking, tapping and turning and twisting the unit to respond to the activities. With the available recharging set up, you can leave the batteries at home.

For the best price for the LeapPad 2 click here

A tablet for children should be durable and portable as well as, fun and even educational, if possible.  The Oregon Scientific MEEP Pad has all of those attributes and more.  This device has Internet capability and allows parents to control the web surfing with Cloud based parental controls.

What does the Oregon Scientific MEEP PAD offer?

This tablet is designed for children aged six through ten, which makes it a bit different from others on the market that have slightly younger children in mind with the designs and capabilities.  There is a warning reminding parents of young children that there may be some small parts that can pose a choking hazard, so just be careful.

The MEEP PAD is a portable unit that is under and inch thick and only eight inches long.  It is a bit narrower than some other tablets measuring in at only five and a half inches wide.  The screen is a full seven inches big and is a touch screen. The unit uses an Android operating system and has 4 GB built in memory and an SD card slot for expansion.  With a 1.0 Ghz processor, it is ready to connect to websites with no problem at all.  The WIFI makes it an easy process to get onto the web.

This tablet comes with a silicon skin that can help keep it safe from getting scratched.  It also comes with an HDMI output that allows you to connect the MEEP to your television.  The three megapixel camera is for both video and still pictures.

MEEP comes with fifty apps already on it and ready to play.  The MEEP Online Store makes it easy to access and download many more ebooks, apps and games.  A variety of accessories are also available from a headset to a gaming case and an external microphone to a joystick and even a piano and drums.

While this is a portable unit, leave the batteries at home because it can plug into a wall and charge up.  The cord is quite long to allow for access to any wall outlet.

There is an option for video chat like you can on Skype and this can be a fun activity.  Parents are able to relax while kids are online with the parental controls.  It can be a safe action for them to enjoy.  MEEP can work over the Internet for the chats, but a child can also talk MEEP to MEEP, as well.  Children can add contacts as a friends list and then it is easy to pick someone to chat with from the list.  This can be nice for a parent who travels and wants some communication with her children.

What are the pros and cons of the Oregon Scientific MEEP Pad?

Pros:

• Portable:  8X.08X5.5 inches
• Runs on an Android operating system with WIFI connectivity
• Parental controls over the Cloud features
• 4 GB built in memory and SD expansion slot
• Orange silicon skin included for protection (other colors available in MEEP Online Store)
• Seven inch touch screen
• Three megapixel video and still camera
• Accessories available for purchase like joystick, microphone and piano

Cons:

• Software can present some problems with use and set up
• Updating the unit’s software is time consuming

The MEEP PAD is actually a sophisticated piece of technology that is packaged for children.  As a result, it offers more than other learning tablets for kids.  The WiFi connectivity and chat options are a draw for older children and the accessories make it a more interesting interactive toy.  The customers who purchased the MEEP PAD seemed to be a bit disappointed in the unit because of the glitches for set up and use that make it frustrating because it doesn’t “just work” for people.  Since the performance of the MEEP appears to be less that expected this tablet can be recommended, but not with the enthusiasm anticipated.

Here is what some have said about the MEEP:

“This sounded like a great idea for kids who wanted a tablet but you as a parent wanted to limit them from going to places or seeing things they shouldn’t. The tablet starts fine and works ok but it freezes quite often and you have to restart the whole tablet.”—James N.

“The child safety features are lacking. In particular, the web browser is far from child-safe. The MEEP does offer some level of protection. However, it simply is not a substitute for parental supervision of surfing kids.”—S. Potter

“Overall, it’s a good concept, just not ready for prime-time.”—Caren H.

“Just discovered this product and bought one for my 9 year old son; great price! I thought he may be a little old, but he loves it. Has a bigger screen than his Itouch so it is better for games and movies. He has a lot of fun downloading the apps and games. Would recommend Meep to anyone with kids who does not want to spend a lot on an Ipad, and wants to have a say over what their child can access.”—Fleck

Highlights of the Oregon Scientific MEEP PAD

The MEEP offers a tablet with WiFi and an Android operating system.  It uses downloadable apps and has Cloud parental controls.  MEEP comes with fifty apps so it is ready for fun right out of the box. The built in 4GB memory allows the user to get started with new apps, but there is also an SD expansion slot to add more memory and to even watch videos.   Add accessories like a drum, microphone and piano and joystick or protect your investment with a cool game case.

For the latest discounted price for the Oregon MEEP click here.

Features:

• Fifty apps pre-loaded on the Tabeo
• All apps are free for download
• Built in speaker and microphone
• Seven inch multi-touch LCD screen with 16 million colors
• Android 4.0 operating system
• WiFi connectivity
• Micro SD card expansion slot and mini HDMI output

Why the Tabeo 7 inch Kids Tablet?

This tablet is petite and powerful.  It measures about nine inches long by nearly eight and a half inches wide and is fairly thin at only two inches thick.  It runs an Android 4.0 operation system, also known as Ice Cream Sandwich.  It has a 4GB built in memory and a micro SD card expansion slot that can accommodate up to 32GB more.  That way running many apps that require more memory can be done without any trouble.

The excitement of getting a new tablet can make the set-up hard to sit through before the user can get their hands on it, but the Tabeo comes with fifty pre-loaded apps that are all able to be used right away.  Apps like Angry Birds are included in the freebies, so they will have kid-appeal for sure.

With a WiFi connection, the user can download thousands of free apps to use—more than seven thousand, actually.  Internet connectivity comes with some reservations about safety for children.  The Tabeo 7 inch Kids Tablet has parental controls, within the browser, for Internet usage that can limit not only the sites, but the length of time a user can be on for the day, week or what hours are allowed.  This can be customized for up to eight users.

The seven inch touch screen is a multi-touch TFT LCD screen that has 16 million colors for vivid picture quality.  It also has a G-sensor for those apps that need to have the motion of the tablet to control the games or app. It is great for viewing websites, movies and videos and pictures, but with the mini HDMI output, viewing the images on a bigger television or computer monitor screen is also a possibility.

With a front positioned camera, the user can take some nice pictures and with the built in microphone and speaker, the narration and sounds can all work together.

Having the soft, rubberized protective case or bumper can help keep the tablet safe from wear and tear and those unforeseen bumps from kids.  It is removable and that can help to keep debris and dirt from collecting under the case.  The rubbery feeling of the bumper can let smaller hands keep a good grip on the tablet.
The Tabeo is fully compatible with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, as well as the Mac platform. It uses a USB connector and power adapter. There are not too many details that are left out of this tablet.

 What are the pros and cons of the Tabeo?

Pros:

• Small sized and portable: 8.4X2X9.2 inches
• 7 inch touch screen
• Over seven thousand free Android apps to choose from
• Fifty pre-loaded apps
• Parental controls for up to eight users
• WiFi connectivity
• Mini HDMI output

Cons:

• Expensive

The Tabeo is a small and packed tablet that can have children surfing the web, playing many games and using a tablet with functions that rival any grown ups tablets.  Tabeo can accommodate up to eight users and the parental controls can keep young users safe while they access the Internet.  The Tabeo is compatible with both Mac and PC and uses a USB connector. With all of those attributes this is a tablet can be recommended for children six and older.

What do the customers say about the Tabeo?

Since this item is relatively new, there are not too many people offering their opinions, as yet, but those who have purchased it seem to like it overall.

“If you are on the fence because you haven’t seen one in action, let me tell you, my son told me in the car that he would rather play with the Tabeo than my iPad, which is totally what I was going for.  Enough said, I’m sold on it.”—John

“The Tabeo 7 Inch Kids Tablet demo is awesome convinced me to buy this item, so I went online and preoredered back in September. Received it about 3 days ago. My granddaughter was able to play with it for about 20 minutes before it crashed.”—Soni

Highlights of the Tabeo 7 inch Kids Tablet

Seven thousand apps available for free? Is that possible?  It is and that is what the user can access once the Tabeo 7 Inch Kids Tablet is purchased. With 4GB built in memory and the capability for up tot 32 GB more from the micro SD card expansion slot.  Having the internet parental controls available for up to eight users can make even a big family be able to share well.

To find a great deal on the Tabeo Kids Tablet click here

Features:

• Five inch touch screen
• Camera and video camera with photo and video viewer
• Personalize settings for up to four users
• 2GB built in memory and SD card slot for expansion
• eBooks, art activities and mp3 player
• Portable at only 6.2X1X8.1 inches

Why buy the Vtech InnoTab 2 Learning App Tablet?

This tablet, geared toward children aged four to nine, offers some features that are similar to the ones that you would find in an adult tablet.  There is a stylus, an onscreen keyboard that pops up when needed.  A calendar and a friends list are also included in the utilities.  With cartridges and downloadable apps, there are many activities that focus on reading, creativity, logic and other skills.

The camera and video camera allow children to take pictures and video wherever they go. The camera is able to take pictures front or back because it swivels back and forth.  Once the images or video is there, the apps can allow a child to create silliness in the video or to add their images to some of the games.

A unique feature to the VTech products is that the parents can keep track of their children’s progress on their own learning path.  In this way, the parents can be aware of the milestones that the children are achieving when working on the activities and games.

Being able to download and to purchase the cartridges can make it a bit more versatile with how the apps are loaded and with it only being about an inch thick and eight inches wide, it can pop in a pocket and is nicely portable.

With the 2GB built in memory and an SD card slot awaiting up to 16 GB more memory, the VTech InnoTab 2 App Tablet is ready to grow with your child.  Some of the activities that are downloaded may need the additional memory to run on the tablet.

The five inch touch screen allows for good control with the apps by using a finger or the included stylus to make choices and to run the apps.  The tilt sensor makes it work with apps that use motion to interact with them.

Music is not just for adults and the VTech InnoTab2 tablet recognizes that with a built in MP3 player and a microphone that can allow for voice recording. There is also a nice app that makes using the microphone tons of fun.

The VTech InnoTab 2 can have up to four users play on the unit.  Each of the users can create their own avatar, customize the wallpaper and have a different typed and voice greeting. This can keep siblings from fighting for their preferences.

• Camera
• Video recorder
• MP3 player
• Photo viewer with slide show, 3 photos included
• Video player, 1 demo video included
• Read, Play & Create cartridge
  • “What’s That Noise?” e-book
  • Alien Rescue – motion sensor game
  • Color & Pop activity
• “Face Race” motion sensor game
• “Friends” photo address book
• “Notes” notepad with onscreen keyboard
• Clock with stopwatch
• Calendar with stickers
• Calculator
• 2 free downloadable apps of choice from Learning Lodge Navigator^®

 What are the Pros and Cons of the InnoTab 2?

Pros:

• Portable 6.2X1X8.1 inches
• Parent can view their child’s milestones
• Touch screen and tilt sensor
• Expandable memory slot for SD cards up to 16 GB
• Cartridges and downloadable apps

Cons:

• Only runs on batteries, no recharging pack
• Some difficulty with USB connecting when put into the port.

This tablet appears to offer some good educational and fun apps for children aged four to nine.  Some customers have even downloaded their own movies for the children to view on it.  While the majority of the customers appeared to like the InnoTab 2, a few, who struggled with downloading or with a USB connection problem, were not as in favor of the unit.  The unit needs batteries to run and while that didn’t seem to bother people all that much, it has been noted as a bit of an inconvenience.  Since it appears that the InnoTab2 works as intended and the apps are a hit with the children who are using them, this InnoTab 2 can be recommended.

What are people saying about the InnoTab2 Apps Tablet?

“Hello InnoTab 2, which is developed and created especially for children! In fact their motto is “Built for learning. Inspired by fun.” The InnoTab 2 is every bit as exciting to My Little Guy as the iPad but it’s kid-sized, customized and age appropriate for him!”—Leslie M.

“My niece loves her Innotab. Except when she is eating or sleeping, she’s playing with her Innotab all day long. She loves most the built in Art Studio app.”—J.C.

“I tried using the disk supplied, but that did not make the necessary connection. I have added and removed the program 4 times from my computer, but still no success. Customer service was patient and helpful, but could offer no more than the usual fixes for such problems. I am now waiting for their response to an “error report” to determine what to do next.”—Luan Gaines

Highlights of the Vtech InnoTab2 Apps Tablet

This tablet is kid-friendly and durable.  It offers a nice variety of games and learning apps and the customizable avatars and wallpaper for different users is definitely a nice touch.  Being able to add memory with an SD card can help make this unit one that will support a growing child.  The parent’s ability to monitor the progress of the child is a nice feature and the fact that it is portable makes it easy to take along.

To find the best price for the VTech InnoTab 2 click here!

Kids Love Lego And Kids Love Robots!

Robot Love

Your parents (and grandparents) loved Robby the Robot in the 50s, and the Lost In Space robot in the 60s.  And the craze for automatons has never diminished, right up to today’s Transformers (those movies made a gazilliondollars!) and beyond.

And if your kids are anything like mine, they’ve got massive models of Bumbblebee, Rachet, Optimus Prime or one of the Decepticons (or maybe all of them) gazing down at them from all around their room.

How they can sleep with all those metal eyes on them is beyond me.

Lego Love

The other great craze out there, which was a craze even when I was a kid, is Legos.  You’ve probably noticed that that little hobby has enjoyed quite a rebirth in recent years; in fact, it’s the biggest industry out there as far as interconnecting, user-created toys anywhere.

Lego is a hit with parents, with kids, with educators and with manufacturers for two big reasons—one, it teaches fine motor skills and coordination to kids (as well as engineering and mechanical skills), and two, they’re colorful and long-lasting.  Kids stick with them—Legos don’t gather dust on shelves.

In fact, the only disadvantage of Lego is that it has numerous small parts, an obvious choking hazard.  But then, you weren’t going to give a set to your three-year-old, were you?

Love Combined with Love

Now, combining these two kinds of love might result in the ideal children’s building toy.

Robots created by the children themselves from Legos are ten times more effective for play and for learning than, for instance, a Transformers action figure.

For one thing, the action figure doesn’t have much action—it moves arms and legs and folds in and folds out and then it just sits there.  And there’s 45 bucks out the window.   Because how long does a kid play with an action figure that just sits there?

Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0 To The Rescue!

Now, the Lego robot/android is a different story.  With its hundreds of pieces, it creates not only a great-looking piece of machinery, but also makes for hours of constructive and educational play, as the child refines his/her motor skills and sense of precision by building his own robot.

Lego knows there are only so many Transformer ‘bots to go around, so they created their phenomenal LEGO MINDSTORMS series, which hit stores in 2001 and have been on the best-seller toys listings ever since.  The series was climaxed by the recent release of MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0, a superb, LEGO-brick awesome multi-droid that interacts, moves, obeys commands, senses touch, light and sound, and comes with some amazingly cool features.

Check out this Lego Mindstorms video:

What’s the Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0 Got?

It’s got a lot more than any action figure ever had, including a built-in microcomputer.  Your child can literally create a robot that can see, speak, feel and move, and a youngster can build and program a robot in an hour or so.  That’s a lot further than Grandpa got with Robby the Robot.

What about this microcomputer?  Well, it’s a 32 bit microprocessor, with a matrix display and FOUR kinds of sensors for kid-robot interaction (2 by touch, one ultrasonic and one color sensor).  That means it senses motion, sound AND color/light, and can function in the daytime as a ‘bot and by night, after playtime, as a lamp (since it can distinguish light settings).

It knows when it’s being picked up; it knows to obey commands; it moves with the one-degree precision you’d expect from the built-in rotation sensor.

Lego Mindstorm NXT 2.0 even features Bluetooth and a USB communication link, just in case the Mother Ship (or your child) wants to give it a message, and the microcontroller (Interactive Servo Motors) brings the smartest and most creative robot technology to the table—that’s the table your kid builds Legos on.

Your child actually programs the robot himself with incredibly easy software, featuring icon-based drag-and-drop programming; the ‘droid can be programmed for 16 new building and programming challenges, making it a source not only of Lego fun, but also of budding computer skills and wizardry.  (Yes, you do have to buy batteries—this is Legoland, not Miracle-land).

Out of the 612 pieces included in the kit, your child can build FOUR amazing new robots (and learn some science, engineering and computer skills along with way).   LEGO is brought to life! The instruction book also highlight the “quick start” pieces so your child can get down to building their robot straight away!

Will my child be able to build their Lego Mindstorms robots easily?

The toy is marketed for ten years old and up, and includes software and a step-by-step instruction booklet to help your child build the first robot on his own.  From then on, the sky’s the limit—he can create any robot he wants for just about any function.  Lego’s motto:  “If you can dream it, you can build it.”

In fact, two adult programmers took two hours with their first robot.  They finished the robot in about 30 minutes—the rest of the time they were just playing with it.

What do the reviewers think of  Lego Mindstorms NXT2.0?

MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 has received excellent reviews for its fine design elements, easy creation (both of the robot and its programming) and its superlative use as a learning device.   The Amazon review team rated it five stars in all areas—fun, durability, assembly ease, educational value and novelty.

Other reviewers around the country gave it similar high ratings (4 ½ stars out of five average) for being “the best MINDSTORMS set to date.”  Most reviewers who were in the know about LEGO praised the set for its selection of pieces (lots of beams, pegs, axles and gears) and its overall ease of construction.

Others praised the longevity of the robot for their children: “Since his birthday . . . that is the only toy he even looks at,” and the fact that the programs are “challenging but totally doable.”   Most echo the reviewer who called it an “excellent source of creativity, education and total time occupied,” and, as another said, “the possibilities are endless.”

Click here to see what other parents say about Mindstorm NXT 2.o

Lego make robotics kits reaching into the $800 price tag, but priced at well under $300, the MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 is a hit, and a solid buy, for children of all ages.

Where can I get the best price for Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0?

As you can imagine, the price for such a popular product changes daily. Amazon has free shipping on Lego products, and at times there are competing companies actually on Amazon offering this and other lego robot products at even lower prices. You can see who’s got the best price today by clicking this link: Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0: Today’s Best Price on Amazon

What is Mindflex Duel?

Described as the “ultimate head-to-head brain game challenge,” Mindflex Duel is based on the original Mindflex game.  But now two players battle it out with “mind-to-eye” concentration.  Their object is to keep a foam ball in play with their own minds in a challenging (and literal) duel of wits, using incredible technology to tap into the human mind’s telekinetic abilities.

Actually, it doesn’t quite do that.  However, the strap-on headsets with their super-sensitive sensors (connected to ear lobe and forehead) actually can sense brain activity (concentration, in other words)and trigger the game platform’s motors.  Result—the ball moves through space.  No, it doesn’t use “the Force,” it uses the power of concentration.   It’s a hands-free fight, but it bulks the brain (it’s like a bench press for the mind) and sharpens focus to achieve the best in mental battling acuity.

How does Mindflex Duel work? 

The ball rises with a gentle stream of air.  Then it’s up to the two players to concentrate, sending the blue ball through a series of obstacles, including stationery and spinning hoops, jet stream hurdles and chutes.  As they play, kids can literally “sense” the ball on its way through vertical and lateral moves, while Mental Activity Meters measure brain-activity levels.

Once the original course is mastered, the duelists can create all kinds of mind-bending obstacle courses to challenge each other, as well as being able to master five games that are literally mind-boggling (for ages eight and up).

Mindflex duel on a rainy day? 

Your child can play solo battles and set up his own most challenging obstacle courses to “train up” for the next time he mentally dukes it out.  Or, you can sponsor a “rainy-day Mindflex tournament,” with two units or more, for co-op and neighborhood mental melees.  Arrange the obstacles in the most challenging way you can, and let them have at it!

What kind of educational games can kids play with Mindflex Duel?

With games like Power Push (who will put the ball into the end zone first?), Race the Lights (a mental race against the platform itself), Basketblaster (shooting as many baskets as they can), Tug of War (imagine two warring minds battling for space on the board) and Mental Marathon (the ultimate obstacle course), your children will be enthralled, and mentally stimulated, for hours at a time.

What do the reviewers say about Mindflex Duel?

Reviewers of the game gave it a solid 5 stars overall:

“The concept,” said one mother, “is a lot of fun, gives my son another outlet for his ADHD and works great at parties. . . he and his friend can play, have fun . . . it assists him with his attention issues. . . the social aspect really takes it to the next level.”

Other reviewers mentioned spectator advantages: “A blast . . . the dueling mode is where the game really shines . . . it is hilarious watching the faces people make to concentrate.”

Mindflex Duel Game’s popularity is a no-brainer!

Where can I get the best price on Mindflex Duel?

As you can imagine, the price for such a popular product changes daily. Amazon has free shipping on Mindflex Duel, and at times there are competing companies actually on Amazon offering this and other cool Mindflex products at even lower prices. You can see who’s got the best price today by clicking this link: Mindflex Duel – Today’s best price on Amazon

What is the Air Swimmer Floating Shark?

The Air Swimmer Remote Control Inflatable Floating Shark is literally the return of Jaws, that beastie that, way back in the seventies, kept beaches deserted and diving masks dusty.

It’s a remote-controlled balloon, but it’s much more durable than a balloon.  And it comes in the shape of a shark, for great family fun; just to keep the swimming safe, you do NOT put it in the pool.  It’s for indoor laughs and entertainment, moving up, down and around a full 360 degrees, from a range up to 40 feet.   It will “swim” through the air, bouncing off walls and curtains, and will NOT break, deflate or explode! It’s recommended for kids aged 7 – 99! Check out this video of the Air Swimmer Floating Shark.

How does the Air Swimmer Floating Shark work?

It’s filled with helium—and can be refilled over and over—and will stay inflated for two weeks.   It joins the Air Swimmers happy family of Nemo-like Clown fish that have proved so popular for kid play and at children’s parties, as it swims the air with incredible life-like movements.  The remote control (infra-red) can control the side, front, lateral and backwards movement—it even makes the tail swing.

A Helium Tank can be purchased separately to top up any of the Air Swimmer products.

Fun with the Air Swimmers Shark?

It’s a big hit at a family get together; BBQ some seafood outside with the adults while you keep the kids happy with Sharkey inside.   Or bring it to a children’s party to be the hit of the event (be aware of the small parts’ choking hazard for children under 3).

At nearly 5 feet in length, 3 feet tall, it’s definitely the whopper that didn’t get away from you.  And just to be safe, do turn off that ceiling fan before you release Sharkey into the wild.  And expect wild reactions from anybody who walks in and sees it!

How do the reviewers like the Air Swimmer Shark? 

Amazon reviewers give it four out of five stars on average.   Most of them consider it “way cool . . . people who see it flying are intrigued and delighted . . . hours of entertainment and soooo many great applications (I enjoy flying mine at the high ceilinged local bar).”

Others noted some disadvantages:  “—does not work outside . . .too many air currents . . .it does not work in small apartments or small rooms because it’s too darn big. . . you need high ceilings, an auditorium or a . . . basketball court to use this.”

Another disadvantage that reviewers noted was the assembly: “you need to be somewhat adept at assembling delicate things to build this from the kit . . . the video is highly recommended . . . make sure you have a second person to help.”

But others were overwhelmed by the product:  “Wow, it really flies! . . . you can steer wherever you want . . . unlike many flying toys, this one really works . . . everybody’s first reaction upon seeing it is to yell out a four-letter word!”

Overall, customer satisfaction is excellent, and the Air Swimmer Remote Control Inflatable Floating Shark,  seems to be swimming high!

Where can I get the best price on the Air Swimmer Remote Control Floating Shark?

As you can imagine, the price for such a popular product changes daily. Amazon has free shipping on the Air Swimmers Floating Shark, and at times there are competing companies actually on Amazon offering this and other cool remote control products at even lower prices. You can see who’s got the best price today by clicking this link: Air Swimmer Remote Control Floating Shark: Todays Best Price on Amazon

For those of you with kids who love taking pictures on your camera, iPad or phone, the Fisher Price Kid Tough See Yourself could see you child surrendering your latest gadget in favor of this fun, kid friendly, feature packed device. The 180 degrees swivel lens is the highlight of this camera and is designed to compete directly with the VTech Spin and Smile Camera. Let’s look at the Kid Tough See Yourself in detail.

 Fisher Price Kid Tough See Yourself Digital Camera Features

The Kid Tough See Yourself is the latest digital camera from Fisher Price. It is available in purple and black and is suitable for children aged 3-7 years old. Check out the main features below:

• 1.8” TFT LCD l Color Screen
• 180 degrees Rotating lens
• Photo Resolution: 1280 x 960
• Video Size: 640 x 480
• Focus Range: minimum 1 ft (0.3m)
• Zoom: 4 x Digital zoom
• Memory: 256 built in memory which stores 1300 photos or 5 minutes of video
• Supports normal SD and SDHC cards of 1-32GB (not included)
• Weight: 10.5 oz / 298g(without batteries)
• Low light performance – no flash needed

How Durable is the Kid Tough See Yourself Camera?

As the name suggests, this is definitely a “kid tough” camera. Parents who have bought this camera have confirmed that it still works perfectly even after being dropped several times. As with other electronic toys, the manufacturers warn against immersing the toy in liquids, but wiping it with a damp cloth will easily remove any grubby finger marks. The buttons on the camera are also laid out in a way so that although they are easy for kids to press, they’re also slightly recessed so the camera won’t accidentally turn on if knocked around in a bag.

What do all those buttons on the Kid Tough Digital Camera Do?

The buttons on the Fisher Price Kid Tough camera are nice and big, making them easy for kids to use. They’ve also got icons printed on then so your child doesn’t need to be able to read to figure out what each button does. So what exactly do those buttons do?

• Power/Mode Switch – for turning the camera on/off and selecting modes on screen
• Swiveling Lens – to take pictures at different angles
• Shutter Button – for taking pics and video recording
• Stop button – for stopping the video recording
• Zoom/Scroll Buttons – For zooming in/out and scrolling through the on screen options
• Delete button – for deleting photos (it does ask on screen if you’re sure you want to delete before it actually trashes the picture/video)
• Select button – to chose the highlighted on screen option
• Special Effects button – to add special effects to existing photos or to take a picture with a special effect

How Practical is the Kid Tough See Yourself Camera?

The Kid Tough runs on 4 AA batteries, the most easily available batteries. You can even use rechargeable batteries (although you shouldn’t mix rechargeable and non rechargeable batteries) The battery compartment is accessed through the underside of the camera. You’ll need a screwdriver (or a flat blade such as a knife) in order to access it which may be a hassle if you’re changing the battery when you’re out and about.

The SD card is found in the same section as the battery compartment. One thing to be careful about is not using an SD card that has files stored on it from other devices. The Kid Tough is set up to erase files on newly inserted SD cards (although it’s fine if you’ve used the SD card before in the Kid Tough)

Pictures can be downloaded to a mac or PC using a USB cable (although this is not included). There’s also Kid Tough software available to download so your child can add even more effects to their pictures, although this software is not compatible with Macs.

Fun and learning with the Fisher Price Kid Tough See Yourself Digital Camera

The highlight of the Kid Tough See Yourself camera is the “see yourself” feature. Kids will love learning how to take self portrait pics and how to line up themselves with the special effects frames built in to this Kid Tough camera. The LCD screen will help your child make the perfect shot.The video recording (with sound) means that your child can be the presenter on their own video or turn the lens around to feature their friends, family or toys!

What are the Pro and Cons of the Kid Tough See Yourself?

Pros

• Big, bold buttons make this Fisher Price camera simple for kids to use
• The rotating lens is great fun for kids

		Kidizoom Spin and Smile
Functions	Camera Video with sound Rotating Lens	Camera Video Voice Spinning Lens
Screen size Photo Resolution Video Size	1.8" 1280 x 960 640 x 480	1.8" 1600x1200 320 x 240
Games	None	5 using pictures that your child has taken themselves
Software	Built in Photo editor Downloadable editing software (not Mac compatible)	Built in Photo editor Downloadable editing software (Mac and PC)
Storage	256 MB Internal memory SD card compatible up to 32GB	256 MB Internal memory SD card compatible up to 16 GB

As you can imagine, the price for such a popular product changes daily. Amazon has free shipping on the Fisher Price Kid Tough See Yourself, and at times there are competing companies actually on Amazon offering this and other cool kids digital camera at even lower prices. You can see who’s got the best price today by clicking this link: Best price for the Fisher Price Kid Tough See Yourself Camera

The VTech InnoTab is the new kids tablet  from VTech. Aimed at 4-9 year olds it’s another addition in the “iPad’s for kids” competition. You should also read my LeapPad Explorer Tablet review if you want to find out just how revolutionary these kids tablets are. If you’re a parent who’s looking for an educational device that will finally stop your children from grabbing your iPad, then this could be just what you’re looking for!

According to Vtech:

Kids will get the same quality of experience as grown ups get with their tablet devices!

Check out the video below to see why – be sure to watch to the end to see a mom who actually worked on developing the InnoTab, talk about some of the cool features!

What are the Main Features of the VTech InnoTab?

The InnoTab has the following features:

Screen: The 5″ color high resolution touch screen with a built in tilt sensor.

Power: The InnoTab uses 4 AA batteries which are good for about 8 hours of play, but there is also an A/C adapter available.

Media: The InnoTab not only has a built in MP3 player, but also a built in video player, ebook reader, interactive globe and photo viewer.

Connectivity: The VTech InnoTab has a USB port for  downloading games, ebooks and apps

Apps: The InnoTab comes app ready with an art studio app and an organizer  app which includes a calendar, address book and clock.

Is the  VTech InnoTab like a Kids iPad?

Well the InnoTab, just like it’s arch rival, the LeapPad Explorer, has those handsome iPad looks with it’s swivel around portrait and landscape screen and ability to download apps, but these kids tablets have screens  nearly half the size of the iPad2′s screen and neither the LeapPad Explorer nor VTech InnoTab memory capacity is anywhere near as large as even the basic iPad 2. What makes these kids tablets work so well in comparison to the iPad  is not only that they are made from tough plastic, making them far less fragile than anything Apple has ever manufactured, but that you as a parent won’t have to search through thousands of apps to find something both educational and fun for your child. Both VTech and Leapfrog have made the apps for these new devices which have kid’s learning development in mind.

Screen Size	5"	5"	9.7"
Resolution	480x272	480x272	1024x768
Memory	64MB Expandable	2GB	Min 16GB
Apps	100+	100+	90,000
Camera	No, but compatible with VTech Kidizoom cameras	Yes	Yes
Video	No, but compatible with VTech Kidizoom cameras	Yes	Yes
Cost of Games	from $15	from $10	N/A
Cost of Paid Apps	from $5	from $5	from $0.49

Learning with the VTech InnoTab

As with all the toys that VTech make, the emphasis is on helping your child learn in a fun way. Here’s a list of the top 5 educational features of the InnoTab:

1. E-Reader – the InnoTab’s built in e-reader will help your child build up their phonics, vocabulary and comprehension skills. Interactive stories featuring narrations, characters voices, sounds and music, bring the bright graphics to life. The Inno Tab highlights the words as the story is read or if your child touches that word on the screen. There’s also a built in kids dictionary, to help when your child gets confused about the meaning of a word in the story.

2. Organizer App – This grown up feature will help your child learn days of the week, months of the year and telling the time, all while working with this scheduler. They can also organize family and friends in the address book and use the built in calculator for those quick sums to help build up their practical math skills.

3. Motion Sensor – the motion sensing in the InnoTab adds extra excitement to the graphics rich games. An example of this is the Spelling Pinball game where kids can have fun tilting the InnoTab to spell the words.

4 – Art Studio – The built in Art Studio app will help your child build confidence and creativity as they choose and use the wide range of colors  in their drawings.

5. Interactive Globe – This is my favorite built in app! Your child will love navigating the onscreen globe, then land on a country to find out cool facts about it

What games come with the VTech Innotab?

The InnoTab comes with the following pre-loaded applications:  

• an interactive, animated e-book,
• 2 motion games,
• Art Studio
• MP3 music player
• photo viewer and video player,
• alarm clock, calculator, calendar and an address book.
• my favorite – the interactive globe!

What other games are available for the VTech InnoTab?

Further apps can be downloaded from the Vtech learning lodge as well as from their own app store. Just connect the InnoTab to your computer using the standard USB cable included.  There are also game cartridges available featuring much loved characters such as Dora and Disney characters. Each cartridge has 3 games, an e-reader and additional activities such as an art activity.

The VTech InnoTab vs LeapPad Explorer?

 vs 

Both the InnoTab and the LeapPad Explorer are cool looking kid tough devices, but which one should you get for your child?

For the InnoTab

• The InnoTab is around $20 cheaper
• The game cartridges are cheaper
• It doesn’t have a built in camera or video recorder but is compatible with VTech’s cameras and video recorders
• It has a built in MP3 Player

For the LeapPad Explorer

• The LeapPad Explorer has a built in camera and video recorder but no MP3 player
• The LeapPad Explorer has a bigger library of available games
• LeapPad Explorer games can be adjusted to your child’s ability

If you already have a VTech Kidizoom, then the VTech InnoTab will be the money saving winner for you with its lower price for it’s tablet and games.

However if you want the featured built in camera and video recorder, then you’ll need to choose the LeapPad Explorer

Where can I get the  best price for the VTech InnoTab ?

The VTech InnoTab can be bought from toy shops and online. Amazon is one of VTech’s featured retailers and I usually find they have some great deals on these kinds of educational toys. However the VTech InnoTab is such a hot toy that they were temporarily out of stock. Click here to see the latest deal on Amazon for the VTech InnoTab.