Showing posts with label kid toys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kid toys. Show all posts

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Cheap Hohner Kids Musical Toys S363 Maraca

Hohner Kids Musical Toys S363 Maraca(colors vary)
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
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I bought this for our library story time, since my son had broken one of theirs while we were there. The librarian loved that they were all plastic, and durable. The kids, after we put them in the instrument box, fought over them because they made a great sound.

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I have had these maracas for over a year and my son still plays with them! Great price and well made. I would buy them again!

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These maracas were purchased for a library storytime. Staff love them..parents love them! We'll be replacing our other maracas with these.

Honest reviews on Hohner Kids Musical Toys S363 Maraca

Purchased these maracas for a 10-month-old who had enjoyed a similar product in a play group. He loves them! They are of extremely good quality. The heads are large enough that they cannot be put entirely into the mouth. I believe these will be popular for a long time, as they do not look like "baby toys".

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just bought this for my 9 mo old son. it's by far his favorite toy -wish i had bought it earlier.

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Monday, December 8, 2014

Buy BeginAgain Earthworms - Red

BeginAgain Earthworms - Red
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
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I bought this toy for my 1 year old son based on recommendations that it was great for teething babies to chew on and manipulate. Unfortunately, my baby is completely uninterested in it, though I think it's super-cute. His 4 year old sister, however, really enjoys twisting it around into different configurations, so it may be that it's a toy that he'll grow into.

I'm impressed by how smooth the caterpillar segments feel in the hands and how easily they can be twisted around, and playing with it seems to be useful in helping my 4 year old get a feel for how 3-dimensional shapes can fit together to fit what she's trying to do -she can quickly make it into a horseshoe shape now, for instance, or make it straight again. I'd definitely recommend this toy, but more for children 2 and up, old enough to be ready to play 'pretend,' rather than the crawl-and-chew stage it's marketed toward.

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Saturday, November 29, 2014

Cheap Peaceable Kingdom / Lock & Key Diary 'Happy Monkeys'

Peaceable Kingdom / Lock & Key Diary 'Happy Monkeys'
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
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This is a great diary. The size makes it easily hideable (but not so small that it's awkward) and the lock makes it super secret. The pictures on the cover are very cute and bright.

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Very cute and well-constructed diary for children. Now, if I could just get one my daughter wouldn't lose the key too!

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poor execution... I have to help my kid to unlock each time he wants to use it. The lock could have been made better so that the kids can handle it by themselves. Too expensive for a small diary with a pad lock!

Honest reviews on Peaceable Kingdom / Lock & Key Diary 'Happy Monkeys'

Bought three of the lockable diaries last year for Xmas for my 3 grandkids. The ideas was mine so I shouldn't have been too surprised when they didn't go over as well as I had thought. Like another reviewer said the keys are too small and get lost thus making the privacy of a locked diary a moot point. Check with the kids before you purchase.

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It is a nice diary with sturdy binding. The little keys and lock would be easily broken if you tried, but same quality as other child diaries. It is a little more square than what the picture looks like and pages are wide-lined.

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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Cheap Melissa & Doug Set the Table Color-A-Mat

Melissa & Doug Set the Table Color-A-Mat
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
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My soon to turn three year old daughter loves this placemat. The first time she used it, she requested a fork and a knife, even though she didn't need them for her meal, because she wanted to set the table according to the mat. She enjoys eating her meals with a properly set table now!

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The color rubs off on this placemat when wiped with a sponge. I do not recommend this product. I had to throw them away after a few weeks

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I like the concept and design of this mat. We blue-taped it to our table so our toddler wouldn't move the mat and its contents. However, the ink is coming off after using the mat for less than a month. In fact, today I learned by accident that I can scratch the ink off with my fingernail. Also, the day after receiving the mat, I found it in a local retail store for $3.99. Overall verdict: eh.

Honest reviews on Melissa & Doug Set the Table Color-A-Mat

I love the idea of this mat but it doesn't hold up to normal washing, the writing rubs off. If a placemat can't hold up to normal washing, it is pretty much useless. I haven't gotten rid of it because my son really does love setting all of his items where they are marked on the mat. The writing has rubbed off but you can still see where things go.

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I was curious about what was on the other side of this mat (which I didn't know when I ordered it). It is basically the exact same thing without color, so the kids can color it to their own tastes.

It gives me a colored side for days when I don't have time to let the kids color it, and a blank side for the days I do have time for the kids to color it. This mat is helpful for many reasons.

1. for the younger kids, age 2 in my house, they always put their cups at the edge of the table and I'm always moving it so they won't knock it over. Now all I have to do is say "where does the cup go?" and they move it on their own. I can't say if it's become a habit yet, but I hope it does. For the older kids, it breaks the habit of keeping the cup close enough so that they can just lean over and drink from the straw, without picking up the cup. Have you ever seen adults lean over and drink from the straw of a cup still sitting on the table, it's a childish habit that they didn't grow out of, and they look childish. So here's a way to break it while their young enough to not look foolish.

2. Letting them color it makes them feel like it's "theirs" so they work harder to put things in the right place. I have even drawn special things on them for the kids.

3. These mats are durable, they are not flimsy or even close to bendable. They wipe off easy, and store easy too.

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Monday, November 17, 2014

Buy VTech Roly Poly Hippo

VTech Roly Poly Hippo
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
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This is a really great product, and my infant son loves it. He is not yet crawling, so loves the fact that he can make the music and the lights play without anything more complicated than a "bomp". Only thing is that the base is not quite heavy enough or round enough to always maintain upright position as a roly poly should, however can still be activated while not quite upright and my son still played with it. Very worthwhile toy and keeps little one happily playing.

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Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Nujam Guitar by MB Reviews

Nujam Guitar by MB
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
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This game was called Rock It in the UK and I have just bought a new one from Amazon.com for my residential College. The game features 4 game modes: Jam, Rythm Jam, Group Jam and Free Jam.

In the Jam mode, you aim is to respond to the flashing lights. The guitar has a strummer, a twister and a slider which slides from left to right. After a certain amount of points scored the music will adjust it's pitch to the next semi-tone. It starts of in F and once the player scores 12 it goes into F Sharp and If i remember correctly the msuic will turn to G at 24, G Sharp at 64 and then the key of A at 108. It also goes into double time (twice as fast) and that only goes up to G Sharp.

In the Rhythm Jam mode, the guitar makes a memory pattern and you have to repeat it. It also tells you how good your rhythm has been.

In the Group Jam mode it's the same as Jam and after 3-8 commands he'll say "Who's next?" and then you hand the game to the next player.

In the Free Jam mode, you can do what you like.

The game has a headphone jack and 3 volume controls and 2 different beats. It also has a high score feature on the solo games.

Overall NuJam Guitar is a worth buy to those who like playing Bop It and Simon!

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Here is the sad part: i;m 23 and i have had this toy since high school. its one of my fav "bop it" concepts. However, now that I'm 23, I have to sell it. Its a really fun toy, great for eyehand coordination and memory.

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I recently bought this game for my sister. She LOVES it. She plays it often, and everyone is entertained every time I'm glad I found it on Amazon!

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Thursday, October 30, 2014

Cheap Small World Creative Bouncing Balls

Small World Creative Bouncing Balls
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
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I chose 4 stars instead of 5 because the balls just didn't last very long. My grand daughter really wanted this for Christmas so of course, I obliged her. She told me she had a really good time making them and playing with them for awhile but then they began to fall apart. The price was really reasonable so I might buy them again just for the fun of it. Hopefully, they will be designed to last longer, eventually.

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was looking for a different gift for 8 yr old daughter and this was a hit for her. she loves to play with these "gum ball machine balls" anyway, so now she has made some of her own.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Reviews of Infantino Development Toy, Counting Penguin

Infantino Development Toy, Counting Penguin
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
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I bought this toy hoping that it would help my daughter understand the one-to-one correspondence associated with counting up to ten. However, it is a trick to get this toy penguin to count only one time for each fish that is placed in its mouth. Oftentimes it will count, "one-two" for one fish. Also, even though the toy touts counting to ten, there are only FIVE fish. Therefore, after inserting five fish, you have to empty the little tummy of the product to count up further. There are not ten fish to count to ten. The only thing that it is good for is teaching the numbers in sequence. If this toy were easier to return to its original packaging, I'd return it.

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This is a great little toy for helping kids learn to count to 10. It only comes with 5 fish so you do need to take them out and start over to actually get to 10. Very cute penguin that kids are sure to love!

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My 2-year-old loves this toy. She likes to feed the fish to the little penguin, but sometimes the fish get stuck and then the counting gets all off. Even with that problem, I'd still buy it again...she loves it!

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I purchased this penguin for a one year old's birthday. It is so cute! The educational value is there too. It is brightly colored and packaged very nicely.

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Monday, October 13, 2014

Cheap Kids Play Case for 20-Note Handbells Holds 8, RB108 (Holds 8, RB108)

Kids Play Case for 20-Note Handbells Holds 8, RB108
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $13.50
Sale Price: $12.18
Today's Bonus: 10% Off
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The cases are well padded and have dividers so that the bells do not make contact while stored. They are light-weight and perfect for the two sets of melody bells our preschool has purchased.

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I bought this handbell case for our 8 handbells. The case is good and should protect the bells sufficiently. I wish the case had all the bells separated, instead of two to a section, but for protecting children's bells, this is fine. I would buy this case again if I had more bells.

Best Deals for Kids Play Case for 20-Note Handbells Holds 8, RB108 (Holds 8, RB108)

Since the bells just come in a little plastic box, this was a must and works very well. The case and dividers are well padded for optimal protection.

Honest reviews on Kids Play Case for 20-Note Handbells Holds 8, RB108 (Holds 8, RB108)

This bag is well constructed, the zippers work well, and it is just large enough to accommodate the bells. They fit snugly, so they don't clank against each other, but there is enough room to zip the bag easily. If you are going to buy the bells, buy the bag. It gives the bells more importance as musical instruments instead of just noisy toys.

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The bag is a must if you have the hand bells. It holds them nicely so they will not damage. We traveled with them and the bag and it kept them perfectly safe. Perfect fit!

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Friday, October 3, 2014

Reviews of VTech InnoTab 2S Wi-Fi Learning App Tablet

VTech InnoTab 2S Wi-Fi Learning App Tablet- Blue
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program HOW ARE INNOTAB 2 AND INNOTAB 2S THE SAME?

If you're already familiar with InnoTab 2 you're basically looking at the same tablet. The design stays the same, with all of the keys in the same place. The only addition is the WiFi key, which tells you if the tablet is connected to the internet, and how strong your connection is (a four bar display).

Included Apps are the same.

VTech still decided not to include the rope for the stylus. In the manual they call it a "Wrist Strap Fastener" (Note: not included). But it's clearly not a wrist strap fastener, because the stylus has a rope loop hole in it, and the tablet has a hole in it right beside the stylus. The website even states it has a "stylus with hole for string." My husband thinks VTech doesn't want the liability of a child wrapping their neck in the rope, and put the responsibility on the parent to get the strap themselves; it certainly seems that way.

HOW ARE INNOTAB 2 AND INNOTAB 2S DIFFERENT?

Some people like to creatively take the tablets out of the box for setup before handing to a child as a gift. InnoTab 2 is a bit of a challenge; just use sharp scissors to break the tape and foldout the box carefully. InnoTab 2S, I am happy to report, is the easiest of them all! The tablet just slides out the top in a plastic covering; no tape, or attachments cut into the box. You simply pop the tablet out of the molded plastic, and there you have it! I feel like someone at VTech heard parent's frustration and decided to fix this... thank you!

The big difference with InnoTab 2S is the new wireless capability, but don't imagine browser capability. The WiFi is simply used for downloading apps from VTech's website. Your child can make wish lists with the Wish List app on their tablet; my son is only 3, so he's not using that feature . . . yet. Downloading apps is easy, but you don't purchase them off the tablet itself (that's good new, otherwise imagine all the apps your child might "accidently" buy). You purchase them off your computer, tablet, or phone (I haven't used that feature yet).

The look of InnoTab 2S is basically the same, but I enjoy the bold black inlay over the previous grey and pink choices. I think this way it looks more like quality hardware and less of a toy (that's just my preference, my son doesn't care). Oddly, this one is considered blue because of the color of the back, not the front, which is white. Even the rubber sides are grey, unlike the pink one which actually has more pink on it. I think the "blue" is less gender specific because the back looks more dark purple; something to think about for parents who need to share this tablet between genders.

Finger swiping on the InnoTab 2, my son was having problems with the tablet thinking he was selecting an app, which would cause it to load. With InnoTab 2S the opposite has occurred; now the tablet wants to swipe to the next page and not open the app. At 3, my son prefers using his finger, but the InnoTab 2S works best with a stylus and opens apps perfectly that way. This is a bit of a downer, but workable.

OVERALL REVIEW?

It pains me, because I really want to like the InnoTab 2S, but it has one big flaw that hasn't been fixed it's *still* s-l-o-w. InnoTab 2S takes 43 seconds to reach the app home screen. The InnoTab 2 took 37 seconds; we shouldn't be regressing here (I should mention, the LeapPad2 takes 21 seconds!). It takes InnoTab 2S a solid 8 seconds to open an app. I said it before, and I'll say it again, there's a lot of "loading" (read: waiting) going on with the InnoTab 2S, and it makes a difference to me.

Another thing I had a bit of an issue with is videos. The InnoTab 2S comes with the same memory as the InnoTab 2 (2GB). You can add an SD card to expand up to 32GB; that's a big plus, but I've never needed it with my son. This time I wanted to upload videos for him to watch. So I put a 16MB SD Card, that came with an old camera we purchased, into the tablet. Putting the SD Card in was easy. The slot is in the battery compartment; you'll need to remove the batteries. This is a nice touch, in a way, because my son can't get to it and loose it. But can I just say that getting the SD Card out is a pain!!!! Horrible design. My son can probably get it out easier than I can. My husband? No chance. It doesn't have the push-eject feature, so you have to extract it out with small fingers, or tweezers! VTech if you're reading this, please fix this.

Afterwards I plugged in the InnoTab using the USB cord to my PC, and pulled up an LLL file on the card. In that file you transfer your converted video, photos, music (supports JPEG formatted photos, and MJPEG/H.264 videos (avi)). Sadly, there wasn't much I could put on a 16 MB disk. BUT, it was really easy to transfer everything and find them on the tablet. The video was of decent quality with playback options. Unfortunately, I'm not willing (read: lack the time) to convert movies for use on the InnoTab when I already have them converted for the iPad. But, if this is a feature you like and want to use, you'll enjoy it! Also, as an MP3 player the sound quality is decent, not a lot of distortion.

So which do I recommend?

Either. The WiFi is a nice touch, but not necessary. And there are no big changes between the two, except the InnoTab 2S appears slower, and the color change.

In case you don't want to go looking for the reviews on the VTech InnoTab 2 Learning App Tablet White, which is the same, here are some things you might find helpful:

Screen size (2 ½" x 4 ½"), or 5" if you're measuring diagonally.

Require 4 AA batteries (not included).

Uses a stylus (comes with two).

Has a cartridge port for additional games and uses purchased apps.

3-9 year age requirement.

Swivel camera.

Can buy additional accessories like screen guard, cases, rechargeable batteries, ac adapters, and headphones.

Personalize for up to 4 players, plus 1 guest.

Has an eReader, MP3 Players, art studio, calculator, calendar, notes, clock, and most of your basic themed books and games.

Has a mic and volume control.

Parent tracker that allows parents to track their child's progress and success playing a game.

Rubber corners to help protect it from a fall.

Battery compartment is easily accessible, just slide a switch and it opens the compartment. This is where the SD Card slot is found.

2GB of memory, but can add an additional 32GB of memory with SD Card (not included). I've found 2GB is more than enough for our needs.

Can be played right away (just add batteries, not included). Need to spend less than 5 minutes setting up the tablet date, time, and personalization.

InnoTab has a tilt sensor like an iPad or iPhone and will tilt the screen if held horizontal or vertical.

Has buttons for brightening or dimming the screen, but don't expect much, there's only four bars and it doesn't make a lot of difference.

Has a "?" button that allows you to hear instructions again, or find out more information about an app (nice touch!). The InnoTab itself tends to repeat things all the time (it's a bit annoying). The tablet doesn't ever sit quietly when turned on and not touched, it constantly wants to talk to you; you'll need to turn the volume off.

Comes with manual.

Internal "kickstand" for standing the tablet up vertically or horizontal.

Plays converted videos. Quality isn't like an iPad or iPhone, but little kids won't mind.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

HOW ARE INNOTAB 2 AND INNOTAB 2S THE SAME?

If you're already familiar with InnoTab 2 you're basically looking at the same tablet. The design stays the same, with all of the keys in the same place. The only addition is the WiFi key, which tells you if the tablet is connected to the internet, and how strong your connection is (a four bar display).

Included Apps are the same.

VTech still decided not to include the rope for the stylus. In the manual they call it a "Wrist Strap Fastener" (Note: not included). But it's clearly not a wrist strap fastener, because the stylus has a rope loop hole in it, and the tablet has a hole in it right beside the stylus. The website even states it has a "stylus with hole for string." My husband thinks VTech doesn't want the liability of a child wrapping their neck in the rope, and put the responsibility on the parent to get the strap themselves; it certainly seems that way.

HOW ARE INNOTAB 2 AND INNOTAB 2S DIFFERENT?

Some people like to creatively take the tablets out of the box for setup before handing to a child as a gift. InnoTab 2 is a bit of a challenge; just use sharp scissors to break the tape and foldout the box carefully. InnoTab 2S, I am happy to report, is the easiest of them all! The tablet just slides out the top in a plastic covering; no tape, or attachments cut into the box. You simply pop the tablet out of the molded plastic, and there you have it! I feel like someone at VTech heard parent's frustration and decided to fix this... thank you!

The big difference with InnoTab 2S is the new wireless capability; but don't imagine browser capability. The WiFi is simply used for downloading apps from VTech's website. Your child can make wish lists with the Wish List app on their tablet; my son is only 3, so he's not using that feature... yet. Downloading apps is easy, but you don't purchase them off the tablet itself (that's good new, otherwise imagine all the apps your child might "accidently" buy). You purchase them off your computer, tablet, or phone (I haven't used that feature yet).

The look of InnoTab 2S is basically the same, but I enjoy the bold black inlay over the previous grey and pink choices. I think this way it looks more like quality hardware and less of a toy (that's just my preference, my son doesn't care). Oddly, the one I have is considered blue because of the color of the back, not the front, which is white. Even the rubber sides are grey, unlike the pink one which actually has more pink on it. I think the "blue" is less gender specific because the back looks more dark purple; something to think about for parents who need to share this tablet between genders.

Finger swiping on the InnoTab 2, my son was having problems with the tablet thinking he was selecting an app, which would cause it to load. With InnoTab 2S the opposite has occurred; now the tablet wants to swipe to the next page and not open the app. At 3, my son prefers using his finger, but the InnoTab 2S works best with a stylus and opens apps perfectly that way. This is a bit of a downer, but workable.

OVERALL REVIEW?

It pains me, because I really want to like the InnoTab 2S, but it has one big flaw that hasn't been fixed it's *still* s-l-o-w. InnoTab 2S takes 43 seconds to reach the app home screen. The InnoTab 2 took 37 seconds; we shouldn't be regressing here (I should mention, the LeapPad2 takes 21 seconds!). It takes InnoTab 2S a solid 8 seconds to open an app. I said it before, and I'll say it again, there's a lot of "loading" (read: waiting) going on with the InnoTab 2S, and it makes a difference to me.

Another thing I had a bit of an issue with is videos. The InnoTab 2S comes with the same memory as the InnoTab 2 (2GB). You can add an SD card to expand up to 32GB; that's a big plus, but I've never needed it with my son. This time I wanted to upload videos for him to watch. So I put a 16MB SD Card, that came with an old camera we purchased, into the tablet. Putting the SD Card in was easy. The slot is in the battery compartment; you'll need to remove the batteries. This is a nice touch, in a way, because my son can't get to it and loose it. But can I just say that getting the SD Card out is a pain!!!! Horrible design. My son can probably get it out easier than I can. My husband? No chance. It doesn't have the push-eject feature, so you have to extract it out with small fingers, or tweezers! VTech if you're reading this, please fix this.

Afterwards I plugged in the InnoTab using the USB cord to my PC, and pulled up an LLL file on the card. In that file you transfer your converted video, photos, music (supports JPEG formatted photos, and MJPEG/H.264 videos (avi)). Sadly, there wasn't much I could put on a 16 MB disk. BUT, it was really easy to transfer everything and find them on the tablet. The video was of decent quality with playback options. Unfortunately, I'm not willing (read: lack the time) to convert movies for use on the InnoTab when I already have them converted for the iPad. But, if this is a feature you like and want to use, you'll enjoy it! Also, as an MP3 player the sound quality is decent, not a lot of distortion.

So which do I recommend?

Either. The WiFi is a nice touch, but not necessary. And there are no big changes between the two, except the InnoTab 2S appears slower, and the color change.

In case you don't want to go looking for the reviews on the VTech InnoTab 2 Learning App Tablet White, which is the same, here are some things you might find helpful:

Screen size (2 ½" x 4 ½"), or 5" if you're measuring diagonally.

Require 4 AA batteries (not included).

Uses a stylus (comes with two).

Has a cartridge port for additional games and uses purchased apps.

3-9 year age requirement.

Swivel camera.

Can buy additional accessories like screen guard, cases, rechargeable batteries, ac adapters, and headphones.

Personalize for up to 4 players, plus 1 guest.

Has an eReader, MP3 Players, art studio, calculator, calendar, notes, clock, and most of your basic themed books and games.

Has a mic and volume control.

Parent tracker that allows parents to track their child's progress and success playing a game.

Rubber corners to help protect it from a fall.

Battery compartment is easily accessible, just slide a switch and it opens the compartment. This is where the SD Card slot is found.

2GB of memory, but can add an additional 32GB of memory with SD Card (not included). I've found 2GB is more than enough for our needs.

Can be played right away (just add batteries, not included). Need to spend less than 5 minutes setting up the tablet date, time, and personalization.

InnoTab has a tilt sensor like an iPad or iPhone and will tilt the screen if held horizontal or vertical.

Has buttons for brightening or dimming the screen, but don't expect much, there's only four bars and it doesn't make a lot of difference.

Has a "?" button that allows you to hear instructions again, or find out more information about an app (nice touch!). The InnoTab itself tends to repeat things all the time (it's a bit annoying). The tablet doesn't ever sit quietly when turned on and not touched, it constantly wants to talk to you; you'll need to turn the volume off.

Comes with manual.

Internal "kickstand" for standing the tablet up vertically or horizontal.

Plays converted videos. Quality isn't like an iPad or iPhone, but little kids won't mind.

Best Deals for VTech InnoTab 2S Wi-Fi Learning App Tablet

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Last year I had the opportunity to review the original InnoTab, so I was eager to see if they had greatly improved things this year with the InnoTab 2S. My kids always love playing with my iPad, so the idea of a little tablet with some kids games that I didn't have to monitor was quite appealing. I was not pleased with the InnoTab overall, but I had high hopes for the InnoTab 2S. The InnoTab 2S has many improvements over the InnoTab, but also has taken a big step backwards.

The first thing I noticed is that the new InnoTab is smaller. It still has a kick-stand on the back and a stylus sleeve, but there is now a hole in the stylus and a small attach point for a string to hold the stylus. Oddly enough, InnoTab doesn't give you the string, so you need to get one yourself. There is also now a camera on the top that pivots for both self portraits and photos of other people and a microphone for recording sound.

The InnoTab 2S is still a USB device controlled by software you install on your PC, but it now has WiFi for downloading apps. This permits your child to "shop" in the online store, put apps on a wish list, and then allows the parent to buy them later. The act of your child shopping sends you an e-mail with their "wishes". Sadly, the WiFi interface didn't work with my home network since I don't have SSID broadcast turned on. Even entering the name manually like I do on my iPad would not work, so I had to adjust my security settings down for the InnoTab to work.

Once I turned it on, I was also surprised because normally new hardware runs faster, but this one runs slower. For the original InnoTab, it tooks 16 seconds to get to the login screen and a total of 42 seconds to get through both power-up and login. The new InnoTab 2S takes 33 seconds to get to the login screen and 49 seconds to go from off to the home screen. Pathetic! This is for a little kid who will get impatient and mash the power button wondering why it won't turn on. Why can't they implement a sleep mode or similar? Taking almost a minute to turn on just is not acceptable today.

I was also hoping that there would be some improvement to the actual device games itself, but they are still fairly low resolution and slow. Most of them are not very educational, and repeat the same basic tasks over and over. A few accelerometer based games are fun, as are the silly camera applications. My kids had a great time playing with them, but there is a limit to what you can do with the device. My kids tried one of the eBooks that came with the tablet (there is a free cartridge included), but navigation was hard because the interface was so slow. This screen seems less sensitive to a finger than the original, so you really need the stylus. Many times my kids were not sure if they had clicked a button and it was "thinking", or if their click had not registered. Sometimes it took several taps with the stylus for anything to happen. It was a frustrating experience compounded by the fact they still play with the InnoTab 1 and that one runs faster!

Let's talk cost of ownership. The InnoTab 2S costs $100. InnoTab rechargeable batteries plus AC adapter will set you back $30. Add another $20 for an SD card (not included). You're up to $150 when you can get a Kindle Fire for $159. Each game cartridge is $25 and the downloadable apps range in price from $3-$7. In other words, you can hit $200 really quickly. But $200 will get you a Kindle Fire HD which comes with rechargeable batteries, more memory, far more free apps, and many apps that cost $1 (and turns on in a second).

My conclusion? I received this to evaluate, but I can't see myself wanting to even spend an additional $25 for a game cartridge when I know I can get better games on an inexpensive Android tablet that will run faster and smoother (and for less money). The only advantage of the InnoTab is durability, but other than that, I can't really recommend this device in today's world of inexpensive real tablets. The low quality applications and limited capabilities might have warranted 3-4 stars if the device weren't so mind-numbingly slow. Every button you click requires a 10-15 second lag while it loads the next screen. This hardware is well past its expiration date. The durable plastic shell and form factor are great, but InnoTab needs to update their processor to make a kids tablet to compete in the modern world.

Honest reviews on VTech InnoTab 2S Wi-Fi Learning App Tablet

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I love this. It helps the little ones to learn and play so easily with the big buttons to decide what they want to do and the touchscreen is fantastic. the stylus is not attached so it will probably get lost but otherwise the touch screen works very good. My grandaughter played with this and I believe she would have played thru the night if I had let her.One thing about this is you can put learning games on it and they think they are just playing games while they are really learning :)

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Pre-ordered this for my soon to be 3 year old for his upcoming birthday. He hasn't seen it yet but I have already unpackaged it to check it out and set it up. It seems good quality to me and should be easy for him to use as he is quite familiar with operating my iphone and kindle. The apps are a little on the expensive side, but I was lucky to find the $20 download cards here on Amazon for $12.54 (which are still currently available as of the writing of this review) so I bought a couple of those to use for purchasing games/ebooks/videos. I very much like the ability to download the apps over wifi (though they still have to be purchased on my computer), we have a tag pen from leap frog and I have never been more frustrated than trying to download a book to that thing with it connected to my computer and my kiddo standing there whining to read his new book. From what I can tell so far this will be far easier. I can buy the stuff and just download it straight from the tablet without having to drag out my laptop. I don't know how fast it's going to go through batteries but I did purchase some rechargeable batteries specifically for use with this device and also the wall and car chargers. I decided if I was going to spend $100 on something for my kiddo I was going to have all the accessories to make it work when I need it to. The downloading can run kind of slow if you're downloading several things as once (especially video) and also stops if you enter an app, so I'd recommend doing that while the kids are asleep or otherwise occupied. The only thing I've found that I don't particularly like is that it seems to turn on at the same volume every time which can be quite loud if you're pulling it out to amuse your kid some place that's quiet and also it repeats itself a lot (while I was downloading several apps it kept telling me to click on the tabs to see what else I could do, I finally just turned the volume all the way down). Over all I'm happy with the purchase and I'm sure it'll only be better once my kiddo gets to enjoy it.

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Reviews of Evan-moor EMC5403 Daily Record Book School Days Theme

Evan-moor EMC5403 Daily Record Book School Days Theme
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
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If you're a teacher YOU REALLY NEED THIS BOOK... I got it this past school year as a gift from a co-worker and I loved loved loved it... I used it everyday for everything... I'm switching jobs for next school year and I already ordered mine... I couldn't risk not having it!! I know it's a little bit pricy... but it's worth every penny.

I advice you to BUY IT NOW if your still thinking about it!!!

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Friday, September 26, 2014

Best B. Sugar Chute - Papaya Deals

B. Sugar Chute - Papaya
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
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I purchased this item to use for speech therapy. All of my kids love the Sugar Chute and are highly motivated to request to play with it! I would definitely recommend this item to anyone!

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My son loves this toy! We bought it for him for his first birthday, and now at 16 months this is one of the few toys that still holds his interest. Great colors, and I love that even though it causes a little noise, it doesn't require $10 worth of batteries a week, or sing annoying repetative songs, just good old fashioned cause and effect! Its also extremely durable, and the balls are made out of a hard plastic. A plus when you have a ball obsessed dog :)

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We bought this for our son a few months ago...and he LOVES it! It seriously is one of the most played with toys in the house, and honestly, we love playing with it too. Sometimes he'll just take some of the balls (the ones with little balls in them that make noise) and shake them all around. I recommend this toy to everyone!!

Honest reviews on B. Sugar Chute - Papaya

I got this for a o e year old's birthday gift. She loved it. Keeps her very entertained. I love B toys!

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Got this for my 2 year old and now that he's 3, he still plays with it. He is in love with gumball machines and this is a great alternative to buying him a real one with sugar packed candy! The balls are bright and heavy duty. It would be great for a smaller baby to teach cause and effect. Some times the key gets stuck and you have to jiggle it a little but other than that it works perfectly!

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Monday, September 22, 2014

Carter's Child of Mine Brunette Baby Doll Pink Dress - 9" Tall Review

Carter's Child of Mine Brunette Baby Doll Pink Dress - 9' Tall
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
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Cheerful, well-made first doll. My grand-daughter is one year old and it is a perfect doll for her age. She walks the baby doll in her little stroller

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This doll is my daughter's most prized possession. She carries her everywhere, and the doll is soft, lightweight, and the perfect size for her at 1 year old. I got this doll for $5 at TJ Maxx so beware of paying too much! We ended up getting another one to have as a backup since my daughter cannot stand to be without her for any length of time. I would highly recommend!

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I just wanted to give a heads up to anyone looking at this item ...I only paid $4 at walmart for it. It is cute with a rattle inside. I liked that the hair color matched my daughter's. It isn't her fav toy but she does play with it. She has other dolls she likes more but it was worth $4...not more.

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Friday, September 19, 2014

Reviews of Workbooks-Math Basics Grade 3

Workbooks-Math Basics Grade 3
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
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I purchased this workbook to give my son a preview of 3rd grade over summer vacation. I really love this booklet and for the price, it cannot be beat!

It consists of 56 pages of math activities with an Answer Key in the back. The last page is a certificate for the child after completion. The back of the booklet provides additional activities to reinforce the math concepts learned.

It is divided into sections (4 digit addition & subtraction, multiplication, division, etc.). At the beginning of each section, a brief summary is provided to show demonstrate the math concept. I found this to be very helpful as a parent since the way math is now taught is different from how I learned. It can be confusing for a child to learn a method at home when different terminology is used by school ("regrouping" versus "take away" when subtracting). It really helps for the parent and teacher to be on the same page when learning something new.

I highly recommend this booklet for review or preparation for 3rd Grade math!

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What is great about these books is they seem to cover the majority of the grade level math with a few pages of exercise problems at a very cheap price approx. $3. The Deluxe Edition contains 2x more content than the less expensive NCTM books ($2), so be cautious when you order. You will notice the "Deluxe Edition" label is printed on the front cover upper RH corner of the book. This Grade 3 Math Basics book happens to be a Deluxe Edition version.

If you want more practice exercises for your children, then Kumon offers great workbooks based on grade and math subject. Here are some 3rd grade examples:

Word Problems (Kumon Math Workbooks Grade 3),

Grade 3 Division (Kumon Math Workbooks),

Grade 3 Multiplication (Kumon Math Workbooks),

Geometry & Measurement, Grade 3,

Grade 3 Addition & Subtraction (Kumon Math Workbooks),

If you are home schooling and your children need lots of practice exercises, then go with Kumon. Kumon cannot be beat for exercise practice! Some other really good books that Amazon sells which target specific math topics and give you lots of practice exercises are produced by Chris McMullen. Do a search with his name in Amazon to find his books.

If you just want a little practice material for your kids to do during the school year, or summertime, then this book would fit the bill at a lower cost than Kumon. You can also find free practice worksheets on the web, search for Math Drills.

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Good book. We had our daughter do just 2 pages a day this past summer between third and fourth grade so that she wouldn't get too rusty over the summer. She actually did not mind doing it as it was a nice review and well-organized.

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