Showing posts with label melissa & doug. Show all posts
Showing posts with label melissa & doug. Show all posts
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Buy Kartell 235314-0001 Microscope Slide Staining Rack, 25 Slide, 3.13"
If you're just staining or something it would probably be adequate. Do NOT, however, try to use it to clean things in piranha solution, as I did. The will get clean, sort of, maybe enough for you, but if for semiconductor uses look elsewhere. Polypropylene is resistant to h2so4 and h2o2 but not impervious and as such it will potentially contaminate your substrate. Those are extreme conditions though, normal use seems okI like that the handle slips out for varried uses. A small ridge on the outer sides would be good for gripping in those uses.
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Discount The Magic School Bus: Back in Time with the Dinosaurs
List Price: $21.99
Sale Price: $20.17
Today's Bonus: 8% Off
We were so hopeful about this kit, but the activities are actually a bit lame in person. The instructions for making your own fossil dig have you making not nearly enough plaster/sand to actually cover the dinosaur. "Use this clay to make pretend teeth" doesn't really live up to the potential. And the wooden dinosaur is more fragile than first grade fingers seem ready for (or adult fingers-not easy to remove). The kit says there are pictures online to better see the finished wooden dinosaur, but so far, it's just a small version of the single picture on the kit. A bit more hints or instructions would help the younger set. I'm very disappointed in this and expected better from Scholastic.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
My 6 yr. old loves science. We've been using The Magic School Bus kits as our science curriculum for school. He begs to do it everyday, doesn't get bored, is attentive and actually retains a lot of information we learn from the kits. The kit includes activities that he can do himself (he can measure things and mix ingredients); the material in the kit is easy to clean up, so I don't have to worry about damaging clothes or my house; and there's enough material that if he wants to do the activity a second time, we can.We are also part of a group with home school families where he participates in a science class with other kids his age. I often hear him saying, "I remember doing this!" and than giving the answers to the teacher's question. It's amazing we can have fun and gain an education, too!
Best Deals for The Magic School Bus: Back in Time with the Dinosaurs
My son had a great time learning about dinosaurs with this kit. The dinosaur model was a lot of fun to make and the instructions in this kit were fun and easy to follow. The time line chart with stickers is hanging in his room and the diorama is shown to everybody that comes to visit. Lot's of fun and my son loves giving this kit as birthday presents.Honest reviews on The Magic School Bus: Back in Time with the Dinosaurs
This was a great project that my son and I got to do together, quality one on one time. The diorama is so cool! I would recommend this to any child who is in to creating, or inventing, things. He is already asking for another Magic School Bus kit!Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for The Magic School Bus: Back in Time with the Dinosaurs
It has everything you need to make learning about dinosaurs fun and entertaining. The kids have fun building and making using their hands.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
SMT3UT SMTboard-3U-Thin, 2 Sided PCB, Unplated Holes to Ground Review
This board exceeded expectations! The ground plane on the back is a really nice feature. If you're wanting to experiment, or integrate through-hole parts with SMD parts, this board is it. What I really enjoyed about this board was the SOT-223 package size pads on the outsides of the board. You can literally put any SMD package size on this board. Granted it can get a little tight on the spacing/fitting, if you use solder paste it's not really an issue. This is my go-to board for all things SMD prototyping. Highly recommend this product.
Friday, November 21, 2014
Reviews of Be Amazing Lab-in-a-Bag Newton's Antics
List Price: $19.79
Sale Price: $13.53
Today's Bonus: 32% Off
I got this for my 7 year old and we've had a very good time with it. It definitely requires adult supervision and explanation, it made for some good quality time with my very curious son.
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Discount LeapFrog TAG Reading System
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Short version:
The good: The pen is amazing, a real marvel of teaching technology. The kids like it.
The bad: It's the most techno-savvy leapfrog product yet. The pen needs to be connected to the computer a lot as your child learns. Not only do you have to "download" the books onto the pen, but there is a feedback loop where the child earns rewards. Most of the "rewards" require printer paper and ink. I wish you could turn off the pen's requests to be plugged back into the computer, but you can't.
Should you buy it:
If you are used to performing regular "maintenance" with your ipod, and you don't mind that, then definitely buy it.
If you don't like maintainin computers (firmware upgrades, syncing, troubleshooting, etc) then consider very carefully before buying.
Don't get this as a gift for a person who either doesn't have a computer, or has a relic of a computer that they never use.
Long version:
I have owned a lot of leapfrog toys. This is the first one I've used which is very similar to owning an ipod.
Upon receiving this product, the pen comes with a demo book. The demo book works out of the box, of course. The technology itself is cool, there is a little camera underneath the pen point and it can "see" where you are on the page. Touching the pen to the page makes the pen announce whatever is in that location. You can switch "modes" by touching in the corner of the book. For example, you can switch to "play a game" or you can "read".
The demo book is fine for maybe a couple hours play, but it doesn't have enough play value for you to be satisfied with the demo book alone. You're going to have to buy more books, which you expect if you have some experience with these leapfrog devices.
So I bought several books to test this out with. They included: LeapFrog Tag Activity Storybook I SPY Imagine That!, LeapFrog Tag Learn to Read Phonics Book Series Short Vowels, and LeapFrog Tag Learn to Read Phonics Book Series Long Vowels, Silent E and Y. I waited to post my review until those items arrived.
It was only after I received these books that I realized what it was like to use this product. Here is my journey, in steps:
STEP 1: I had to install Leapfrog software on my computer. And each time you buy a book you have use your computer to "install" that book on the pen. You can't go to a store and pick up a Leapfrog book and use it right away. You either have to download the audio ahead of time (more on that in a minute) or come home and download it after you buy the book. This IS NOT a cartridge system, like many previous leapfrog products.
STEP 2: I had to set up a leapfrog,com ACCOUNT with a username and password. I didn't appreciate the need to set up an account. I am receiving occasional rare email solicitations from Leapfrog now, even though I indicated that I didn't want any emails.
STEP 3: I had to set up each CHILD in the account. You do this to track their progress. I actually don't care about that very much, and I would have appreciated an opt-out on that feature. So each child has a little account of their own.
STEP 4: After I installed the software I plugged the pen into my computer with a USB cable.
STEP 5: Then I had to update the software on the pen. (Thats "firmware" to us geeks). Thats right, Leapfrog felt the need to change the software that makes the pen work between the time the pen was made and the time you bought it. So bringing the pen "up to date" is your responsibility.
STEP 6: Then I had to find the books I bought (one at a time, even though they aren't sold separately) for download from leapfrog's website. You can download every book they have, even if you don't own the paper version of the book. You could download the audio for a book, and then go to the store and buy the paper version, and then use the paper book immediately. This was kind of nice if you are planning ahead.
I hope you see what i'm saying to use any book you need to have (1) a paper book and (2) a digital download for that same paper book which you got on your computer. If you only have one or the other, you can't use that book.
STEP 7: Next I had to use the computer program to move the books I wanted to use onto the pen. This is called "synchronizing". Fortunately, all 12 fit on the pen at one time. You'd have to buy a lot of books before you filled up the pen (maybe 20?).
STEP 8: I had to hit a button telling it to Sync.
STEP 9: Then I unplugged the unit to let my child play with it.
STEP 10: (the unexpected step!) The toy instructs my child that she has won a reward! And to plug it back into the computer to claim the reward! The reward is a color bookmark for me to print out on my printer! In 1 book (the I spy) she earned all four rewards in an hour. Each time she stopped what she was doing and came to me to plug it in, view the reward, and print it out. The first time, the software said I didn't own the book (which was funny because I had downloaded it using the same software) but after restarting it, restarting the pen, and resyncing the pen to the software it finally agreed that I did, in fact, own the book and could redeem the reward. Personally, I didn't like step 10 very much, I was done at step 9, but modern technology is demanding.
Will you (as a parent) like this experience?
1) Obviously, if you one of the millions of people who are used to having your iphone, ipod, or whatver, you are used to all of this. You get to do it all again when you buy this device.
2) If you are one of the millions of people to whom this sounds like a pain in the and makes you want to call your son in law, then, maybe, just maybe, this product is not for you.
As for the product:
The product is really quite good. Its amazing what it can do. And the kids really love to use it. It will help them to learn to read, spell, and some other things too. I'm very pleased with the product overall.
It has a headphone jack, but no headphones are included. My kids prefer over-the-ear headphones because those little earbuds just keep falling out. We use these: Sennheiser HD 202 Dynamic Supra-Aural Headphones
The demo book that comes with it is just ok. Being optomistic, its worth 2 hour of fun. Its got a huge variety of stuff. Its almost too random an assortment, but it does show you what the pen can do. They had to include something. But the demo book is not very "deep". You absolutely will have to buy more books. The books range from $10-$20 each. They can be used without the pen in a pinch. I think the books are a "fair" value.
The instructions were "clear enough". They are good considering how much more software is involved. I felt comfortable with the instructions and had no problems getting it set up. I'm complaining about how much "setting up" there was, but, it wasn't "hard".
Overall, to enjoy this product you are looking at a total expense of around $100 between the reader and a reasonable assortment of books. And its really cool and really fun once you look past the other details.
"On the parental side, software installation was quite simple. The device was in use less than ten minutes after opening the box. Managing the LeapFrog TAG's media library at the desktop is also quite easy. The UI can be personalized to and utilized by the child with minimal instruction.
While my overall opinion of the system is positive, I found the materials included with the device to be decidedly minimalist. Unlike the Leapster 2, no protective case was included. Considering the TAG's size, this increases the likelihood of misplacement. Batteries were not included, a rarity these days. Finally, the 'sample' book included was comprised of snippets from multiple available titles. The Leapster 2 had come with a complete game included. No additional purchase was required for the child to enjoy full immediate use of the device.
After purchasing a copy of 'Walter the Far---g Dog Goes on a Cruise' on sale for $10 at a local big box retailer, LeapFrog TAG's potential was realized. It's entertaining, versatile, and certainly more than just a talking book. The child can have the entire story read to him/her or point to specific words for assistance with pronunciation. Illustrations feature puzzles and quizzes to elicit interest beyond the story itself.
In addition, sound effects are employed to entertain which was of particular interest with the above noted title. Upon first receiving the TAG device and additional book, my child spent roughly a half hour with it (uninterrupted), then revisited frequently throughout the rest of the day. The device was used multiple times every day since receiving it, but my child is already requesting more titles after fully exploring the one(s) we have.
In just a short time, I have witnessed my girl's ability to learn and speak more complex words. Long term viability of the LeapFrog TAG will likely be a function of available titles. I have noticed more of the newer ones to involve mostly games and puzzles. We will be sampling one of those soon.
Even if the LeapFrog TAG turns out to be only a transitional learning tool that doesn't provide years of use like the Leapster 2, I've already found it to be a valuable help improving my child's reading skills."
I hope my son's remarks were helpful. I can tell you that he was very satisfied with the TAG system and even more important so was my granddaughter.
FULL REVIEW: There are several ways to use the Tag Reader with the Tag books. In a storybook, the Reader will read the text for a page if the child taps a symbol. Or, a child can tap individual words to have them read aloud, or tap one of many characters or images on a page to get dialogue or a sound effect so each page has more to explore. Some pages have letter or number activities. And some pages have games. The content on some pages is a little thin, but overall the entire system the Reader and the books is thoughtfully designed and works well.
I'm always a little skeptical about the claims about toys that will make my child smarter, while they are having fun. But the Tag Reader delivers on that promise:
It's interactive and self directed, which keeps our child engaged.
The games and activities are fairly well-designed and engaging, though a child may need some help getting started.
All of that encourages exploration, and gets the child to go through the educational content.
Our child also uses the audiobook mode to play an entire book at times.
The system works well for us, and provides an activity that's both enjoyable and educational. Since our 4 year old gave up naps, the Tag Reader has been a great activity for the "quiet time" in the afternoon when she used to sleep.
Every child is different, and develops in their own way, so you may need to try re-introducing the Tag Reader more than once to get your child started. It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of children had to try the Tag Reader a few times before they really got going with it.
Note that the Reader is actually detecting special encoding hidden in the books, and that triggers a programmed sound it's not actually reading the letters, etc. So the Tag Reader and only be used with the specially designed books.
WELL DESIGNED: The Reader seems well designed and durable. The electronics are all inside the case the little point at the end has a switch built in, but it isn't fragile. And the eye of the reader is inside the nearby hole. It took a little while for our child to get the hang of how to use the Reader, but overall it works well.
BOOK SELECTION: Leapfrog currently offers about 40 books. But keep in mind that those span the entire age range, so there may only be a handful of books for your child's age and tastes. There are also some other products the Reader works on, such as National Geographic Activity Cards Land Animals and some maps.
SETUP IS STRAIGHTFORWARD: To use a book, you need to first download the audio to the Reader, then activate that book by touching the Reader on something inside the book. The software needed for the downloads installed quickly and worked well enough for me. The Tag Reader was recognized quickly when connected using the included USB cable. The audio files are not large, so adding a book is a reasonably quick process. And you only need to do it once per book. The reader holds about 10-12 books in the 32 MB of memory, so most parents should be able to keep all the books a child is currently using on the Tag Reader. It's easy to imagine going for months without needing to update books on the Reader.
MORE INFORMATION: If you want more information, read the product description and some of the reviews for the previous version of the product: LeapFrog Tag Reading System (32 MB). Amazon has a much better description of the product there.
NOT QUITE PERFECT (BUT CLOSE): The Tag Reader has been around a while, so it's been refined. But I do have a few minor quibbles:
The included "Let's Play Tag" sampler book isn't really much use, even as a demonstration of what the Reader can do. We never used it after the first day. I'd much rather have had a real book, or a better, expanded version of the sampler with more content.
The instructions could be improved a little. For example, there is a diagram that points out the audiobook button, but as far as I could see there are no instructions on how to use it or what it was for. Although like most things with the Tag Reader, it's not hard to figure out.
The USB cable that comes with the reader is a little short.
After being used for a while, the Reader starts to talk about getting rewards online when you turn it on. I'd rather that wasn't on by default, and want to disable it.
The software is a little bloated and rough, but works well enough.
And, while we're dreaming, it would be great if there was a way to locate the darn thing! We've lost it (in the house) a few times already.
The Tag Reader and the books go on sale from time to time, which may help make it all more affordable if you can wait.
Pros:
1. It is sturdy.
2. It is easy enough to download to your computer and upload the books you purchase.
3. It was a welcome change from DVDs during travel.
4. It is simple enough that a child can use and get the "hang of" fairly quickly.
Cons:
1. I dislike that they claim to be a reading system. It doesn't help your child read, it merely reads for them. My daughter already reads so she was more interested in the games.
2. While certain stories are fun (I Spy and the Nature cards), there isn't much "learning".
3. While it may be a fairly simple start up, you still have to download the Leapfrog system to your computer, upload every time you purchase a new book, etc.
After a week or so of use, my daughter tired of it and went back to reading on her own. The books are fairly expensive for the system so unless you're willing to heavily invest in the system, it can get rather old quickly.
The good: The pen is amazing, a real marvel of teaching technology. The kids like it.
The bad: It's the most techno-savvy leapfrog product yet. The pen needs to be connected to the computer a lot as your child learns. Not only do you have to "download" the books onto the pen, but there is a feedback loop where the child earns rewards. Most of the "rewards" require printer paper and ink. I wish you could turn off the pen's requests to be plugged back into the computer, but you can't.
Should you buy it:
If you are used to performing regular "maintenance" with your ipod, and you don't mind that, then definitely buy it.
If you don't like maintainin computers (firmware upgrades, syncing, troubleshooting, etc) then consider very carefully before buying.
Don't get this as a gift for a person who either doesn't have a computer, or has a relic of a computer that they never use.
Long version:
I have owned a lot of leapfrog toys. This is the first one I've used which is very similar to owning an ipod.
Upon receiving this product, the pen comes with a demo book. The demo book works out of the box, of course. The technology itself is cool, there is a little camera underneath the pen point and it can "see" where you are on the page. Touching the pen to the page makes the pen announce whatever is in that location. You can switch "modes" by touching in the corner of the book. For example, you can switch to "play a game" or you can "read".
The demo book is fine for maybe a couple hours play, but it doesn't have enough play value for you to be satisfied with the demo book alone. You're going to have to buy more books, which you expect if you have some experience with these leapfrog devices.
So I bought several books to test this out with. They included: LeapFrog Tag Activity Storybook I SPY Imagine That!, LeapFrog Tag Learn to Read Phonics Book Series Short Vowels, and LeapFrog Tag Learn to Read Phonics Book Series Long Vowels, Silent E and Y. I waited to post my review until those items arrived.
It was only after I received these books that I realized what it was like to use this product. Here is my journey, in steps:
STEP 1: I had to install Leapfrog software on my computer. And each time you buy a book you have use your computer to "install" that book on the pen. You can't go to a store and pick up a Leapfrog book and use it right away. You either have to download the audio ahead of time (more on that in a minute) or come home and download it after you buy the book. This IS NOT a cartridge system, like many previous leapfrog products.
STEP 2: I had to set up a leapfrog,com ACCOUNT with a username and password. I didn't appreciate the need to set up an account. I am receiving occasional rare email solicitations from Leapfrog now, even though I indicated that I didn't want any emails.
STEP 3: I had to set up each CHILD in the account. You do this to track their progress. I actually don't care about that very much, and I would have appreciated an opt-out on that feature. So each child has a little account of their own.
STEP 4: After I installed the software I plugged the pen into my computer with a USB cable.
STEP 5: Then I had to update the software on the pen. (Thats "firmware" to us geeks). Thats right, Leapfrog felt the need to change the software that makes the pen work between the time the pen was made and the time you bought it. So bringing the pen "up to date" is your responsibility.
STEP 6: Then I had to find the books I bought (one at a time, even though they aren't sold separately) for download from leapfrog's website. You can download every book they have, even if you don't own the paper version of the book. You could download the audio for a book, and then go to the store and buy the paper version, and then use the paper book immediately. This was kind of nice if you are planning ahead.
I hope you see what i'm saying to use any book you need to have (1) a paper book and (2) a digital download for that same paper book which you got on your computer. If you only have one or the other, you can't use that book.
STEP 7: Next I had to use the computer program to move the books I wanted to use onto the pen. This is called "synchronizing". Fortunately, all 12 fit on the pen at one time. You'd have to buy a lot of books before you filled up the pen (maybe 20?).
STEP 8: I had to hit a button telling it to Sync.
STEP 9: Then I unplugged the unit to let my child play with it.
STEP 10: (the unexpected step!) The toy instructs my child that she has won a reward! And to plug it back into the computer to claim the reward! The reward is a color bookmark for me to print out on my printer! In 1 book (the I spy) she earned all four rewards in an hour. Each time she stopped what she was doing and came to me to plug it in, view the reward, and print it out. The first time, the software said I didn't own the book (which was funny because I had downloaded it using the same software) but after restarting it, restarting the pen, and resyncing the pen to the software it finally agreed that I did, in fact, own the book and could redeem the reward. Personally, I didn't like step 10 very much, I was done at step 9, but modern technology is demanding.
Will you (as a parent) like this experience?
1) Obviously, if you one of the millions of people who are used to having your iphone, ipod, or whatver, you are used to all of this. You get to do it all again when you buy this device.
2) If you are one of the millions of people to whom this sounds like a pain in the and makes you want to call your son in law, then, maybe, just maybe, this product is not for you.
As for the product:
The product is really quite good. Its amazing what it can do. And the kids really love to use it. It will help them to learn to read, spell, and some other things too. I'm very pleased with the product overall.
It has a headphone jack, but no headphones are included. My kids prefer over-the-ear headphones because those little earbuds just keep falling out. We use these: Sennheiser HD 202 Dynamic Supra-Aural Headphones
The demo book that comes with it is just ok. Being optomistic, its worth 2 hour of fun. Its got a huge variety of stuff. Its almost too random an assortment, but it does show you what the pen can do. They had to include something. But the demo book is not very "deep". You absolutely will have to buy more books. The books range from $10-$20 each. They can be used without the pen in a pinch. I think the books are a "fair" value.
The instructions were "clear enough". They are good considering how much more software is involved. I felt comfortable with the instructions and had no problems getting it set up. I'm complaining about how much "setting up" there was, but, it wasn't "hard".
Overall, to enjoy this product you are looking at a total expense of around $100 between the reader and a reasonable assortment of books. And its really cool and really fun once you look past the other details.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I acquired the LeapFrog TAG reading system for my 7 year-old granddaughter in an effort to help improve her lagging reading skills. I gave the Leapfrog TAG device to her father (my son)for a test drive. He has used the Leapster 2 gaming system with his little girl for several years, so positive brand awareness influenced his interest in the LeapFrog TAG system. I asked him for some comments about the device. Here is what he said:"On the parental side, software installation was quite simple. The device was in use less than ten minutes after opening the box. Managing the LeapFrog TAG's media library at the desktop is also quite easy. The UI can be personalized to and utilized by the child with minimal instruction.
While my overall opinion of the system is positive, I found the materials included with the device to be decidedly minimalist. Unlike the Leapster 2, no protective case was included. Considering the TAG's size, this increases the likelihood of misplacement. Batteries were not included, a rarity these days. Finally, the 'sample' book included was comprised of snippets from multiple available titles. The Leapster 2 had come with a complete game included. No additional purchase was required for the child to enjoy full immediate use of the device.
After purchasing a copy of 'Walter the Far---g Dog Goes on a Cruise' on sale for $10 at a local big box retailer, LeapFrog TAG's potential was realized. It's entertaining, versatile, and certainly more than just a talking book. The child can have the entire story read to him/her or point to specific words for assistance with pronunciation. Illustrations feature puzzles and quizzes to elicit interest beyond the story itself.
In addition, sound effects are employed to entertain which was of particular interest with the above noted title. Upon first receiving the TAG device and additional book, my child spent roughly a half hour with it (uninterrupted), then revisited frequently throughout the rest of the day. The device was used multiple times every day since receiving it, but my child is already requesting more titles after fully exploring the one(s) we have.
In just a short time, I have witnessed my girl's ability to learn and speak more complex words. Long term viability of the LeapFrog TAG will likely be a function of available titles. I have noticed more of the newer ones to involve mostly games and puzzles. We will be sampling one of those soon.
Even if the LeapFrog TAG turns out to be only a transitional learning tool that doesn't provide years of use like the Leapster 2, I've already found it to be a valuable help improving my child's reading skills."
I hope my son's remarks were helpful. I can tell you that he was very satisfied with the TAG system and even more important so was my granddaughter.
Best Deals for LeapFrog TAG Reading System
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program THE QUICK TAKE: The Leapfrog Tag Reader is a terrific toy, one that every parent with children from ages 3 or 4 to 6 or so should consider purchasing. Just plan on spending another $30-60 a year on books, so that you'll have age-appropriate books as your child grows. Also, to download the audio for a book, you need a computer with an internet connection.FULL REVIEW: There are several ways to use the Tag Reader with the Tag books. In a storybook, the Reader will read the text for a page if the child taps a symbol. Or, a child can tap individual words to have them read aloud, or tap one of many characters or images on a page to get dialogue or a sound effect so each page has more to explore. Some pages have letter or number activities. And some pages have games. The content on some pages is a little thin, but overall the entire system the Reader and the books is thoughtfully designed and works well.
I'm always a little skeptical about the claims about toys that will make my child smarter, while they are having fun. But the Tag Reader delivers on that promise:
It's interactive and self directed, which keeps our child engaged.
The games and activities are fairly well-designed and engaging, though a child may need some help getting started.
All of that encourages exploration, and gets the child to go through the educational content.
Our child also uses the audiobook mode to play an entire book at times.
The system works well for us, and provides an activity that's both enjoyable and educational. Since our 4 year old gave up naps, the Tag Reader has been a great activity for the "quiet time" in the afternoon when she used to sleep.
Every child is different, and develops in their own way, so you may need to try re-introducing the Tag Reader more than once to get your child started. It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of children had to try the Tag Reader a few times before they really got going with it.
Note that the Reader is actually detecting special encoding hidden in the books, and that triggers a programmed sound it's not actually reading the letters, etc. So the Tag Reader and only be used with the specially designed books.
WELL DESIGNED: The Reader seems well designed and durable. The electronics are all inside the case the little point at the end has a switch built in, but it isn't fragile. And the eye of the reader is inside the nearby hole. It took a little while for our child to get the hang of how to use the Reader, but overall it works well.
BOOK SELECTION: Leapfrog currently offers about 40 books. But keep in mind that those span the entire age range, so there may only be a handful of books for your child's age and tastes. There are also some other products the Reader works on, such as National Geographic Activity Cards Land Animals and some maps.
SETUP IS STRAIGHTFORWARD: To use a book, you need to first download the audio to the Reader, then activate that book by touching the Reader on something inside the book. The software needed for the downloads installed quickly and worked well enough for me. The Tag Reader was recognized quickly when connected using the included USB cable. The audio files are not large, so adding a book is a reasonably quick process. And you only need to do it once per book. The reader holds about 10-12 books in the 32 MB of memory, so most parents should be able to keep all the books a child is currently using on the Tag Reader. It's easy to imagine going for months without needing to update books on the Reader.
MORE INFORMATION: If you want more information, read the product description and some of the reviews for the previous version of the product: LeapFrog Tag Reading System (32 MB). Amazon has a much better description of the product there.
NOT QUITE PERFECT (BUT CLOSE): The Tag Reader has been around a while, so it's been refined. But I do have a few minor quibbles:
The included "Let's Play Tag" sampler book isn't really much use, even as a demonstration of what the Reader can do. We never used it after the first day. I'd much rather have had a real book, or a better, expanded version of the sampler with more content.
The instructions could be improved a little. For example, there is a diagram that points out the audiobook button, but as far as I could see there are no instructions on how to use it or what it was for. Although like most things with the Tag Reader, it's not hard to figure out.
The USB cable that comes with the reader is a little short.
After being used for a while, the Reader starts to talk about getting rewards online when you turn it on. I'd rather that wasn't on by default, and want to disable it.
The software is a little bloated and rough, but works well enough.
And, while we're dreaming, it would be great if there was a way to locate the darn thing! We've lost it (in the house) a few times already.
The Tag Reader and the books go on sale from time to time, which may help make it all more affordable if you can wait.
Honest reviews on LeapFrog TAG Reading System
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program As an educator, I'm leery of electronic aids for education purposes. I was interested in the Leapfrog TAG Reading System because my daughter had been begging for it for a long time. Overall, it was a fun toy for her but, as I suspected, not a great learning tool.Pros:
1. It is sturdy.
2. It is easy enough to download to your computer and upload the books you purchase.
3. It was a welcome change from DVDs during travel.
4. It is simple enough that a child can use and get the "hang of" fairly quickly.
Cons:
1. I dislike that they claim to be a reading system. It doesn't help your child read, it merely reads for them. My daughter already reads so she was more interested in the games.
2. While certain stories are fun (I Spy and the Nature cards), there isn't much "learning".
3. While it may be a fairly simple start up, you still have to download the Leapfrog system to your computer, upload every time you purchase a new book, etc.
After a week or so of use, my daughter tired of it and went back to reading on her own. The books are fairly expensive for the system so unless you're willing to heavily invest in the system, it can get rather old quickly.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for LeapFrog TAG Reading System
My nephew got the Tag reader several years ago, so I've been eyeing it for my daughter for a while. She just turned 4 so I got it for her for her birthday. I love the updated look it feels more sleek and cool. My nephew's earlier version came with a paperback book, but this one comes with a sampler book that lets you try out lots of different pages from other Tag books. It's really helpful to see what else is out there and for her to figure out which ones she would play with most. And I have to say I am amazed by the amount of games and activities embedded in each page. Great product I highly recommend it!Thursday, October 30, 2014
Discount Spanish Magnetic Foam Letters
I think this product is great. My 6 year old is in a Spanish dual language program and loves to use mini letters to spell words etc. The only thing that was disappointing was the lack of the double rr. All of the other double letters were included, so I can't figure out why the double rr was missing. If that had been included, I would have given it 5 stars all the way down.
My only suggestion to the manufacturer would be a different packaging. It'd be great to have a box with individual spaces for the letters, to make it easier for the child to find the letters needed when doing spelling activities. We're making ours at home.
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I had been looking for something similar to Montessori's moveable alphabet, but less expensive. This turned out perfect, especially because it has the Spanish Alphabet letters! We are teaching our daughter to read spanish so i have to say this has been a wonderful alternative to the Moveable alphabet. Same principle for less money!My only suggestion to the manufacturer would be a different packaging. It'd be great to have a box with individual spaces for the letters, to make it easier for the child to find the letters needed when doing spelling activities. We're making ours at home.
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I bought this normally $17 item on sale for my pre-schooler's Spanish class, and the teacher loves them. Though I got a great deal I would definitely purchase them at full price. Same for the Spanish bean bags.Saturday, September 20, 2014
Buy Z VIBE MINI TIP
...for oral stimulation for a child on the "Autism Spectrum."
The entire ordering, purchasing, and shipping process was quick and simple.
The lil' guy who is now utilizing this is doing very well and has actually started to "taste" more foods as his sensory needs are being met, bit by bit!
The entire ordering, purchasing, and shipping process was quick and simple.
The lil' guy who is now utilizing this is doing very well and has actually started to "taste" more foods as his sensory needs are being met, bit by bit!
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Squier by Fender Vintage Modified Jaguar Special Short Scale Bass Review
List Price: $279.99
Sale Price: $179.99
Today's Bonus: 36% Off
Is this really a 5-star bass guitar? No...but for $170, I don't think you could get a better guitar and therefore, I feel that I have to mark it as "I love it!"
The black with the matching black headstock looks great! The tuners are actually very high quality and it stays in tune.
The neck is smooth, the frets are smooth and the sound is amazing.
This is the perfect bass for a guitarist looking for a bass in order to record bass lines behind your guitar recordings.
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First off, just buy this. Its a great bass for the price. Im a guitarist that just needed something to mess around on and do some home recordings. Try to check one out fist at your local GC if you can, but you wont be disappointed with the playability and tone.PRO:
-Affordable
-Thin neck, which is great for folks with smaller hands.
-Tone from the P-Bass (split coil) pickup is great! Surprising deep and round.
-Light weight
-over all workmanship very good
CONS:
-The packaging, my box was all kinds of torn up, and looked like at had already been opened. Bass comes wrapped a thin sheet of packing foam.
-Desperately needed setting up. If you are new to guitar maintenance and setup you're going to need some help.
-Bridge pickup is a joke. SUPER low output compared to the split coils...
-frets are little uneven, neck too some time to set up.
-silver electronics pate was a little pitted (not the best hardware)
-volume and tone pots have a horribly short taper.
In conclusion although my cons list is long, I'm still super happy with my new bass. It gets the job done and it's fun to play. You truly get what you pay for with this one. But what you get ain't bad at all :)
Best Deals for Squier by Fender Vintage Modified Jaguar Special Short Scale Bass
I've read the rave reviews regarding this bass for over 1-year. I decided to take the plunge because I wanted a bass that is very light, (my Jazz bass is more than 10 lbs), one I could bang around, and one that was easy on my aging hands and fingers --what a pleasant surprise. The craftsmanship for a bass at this price point is spot-on. Initially it was tough getting the intonation to stabilize, but after playing it a couple of days it settled down. The P pickup is better than the Jazz pickup, but I'm using it for that Jamerson Motown sound and to practice, practice, practice. I went a step further and installed my favorite strings -D'darrio Nickels (short scale version); it was an instant moment of bass sounding bliss. Listen, it's incredibly tough to beat this instrument at this price-point; I bought the black one and thinking about a red one too so I will have one to "hot rod"! Recommendation: buy it; immediately change the strings and get a set up ; wax the body to preserve the paint job and enjoy, enjoy. Be safe--be well.Honest reviews on Squier by Fender Vintage Modified Jaguar Special Short Scale Bass
I got this bass for my band because it was cheep. I thought we would keep it for a while and get a better, more expensive one after we got started. After we got started I didn't want a more expensive one because it rocked.Great bass at an awesome price
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Squier by Fender Vintage Modified Jaguar Special Short Scale Bass
This little guy is perfect for a small home recording studio. Sleek and playable. I can safely recommend this product. Go Fender!Friday, September 5, 2014
TAF TOYS STROLLER WHEEL TOY KIDS BABY MUSICAL ACTIVITY TOY NEW Reviews
This is such an awesome stroller toy! Our son loves it and we do too. The sounds it makes are great and fun and the colors are bright and happy. We love it and are so happy we found it!
Monday, August 11, 2014
Cheap Polished Rock Accessory Kit with Jewelry Findings
We purchased this item because We have started polishing our own rocks and want to make some jewelry. As of know We have not, but We believe this is a great item.
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Reviews of Captain's Log Locking Diary
My son loved it. The lock is very cheap. Key twisted and unable to open lock. Replaced lock and key.
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This Diary is exactly the style that my son asked for. It has nice art work on the cover and the pages are lined for steady handwriting. The lock and keys are simple enough for a child and it came with 2 keys in case one were to be lost. My son likes it and he writes in it often.Thursday, July 31, 2014
Cheap Vtech Sing & Soar Butterfly
I was very excited to give this toy to my friend's daughter for her 1st birthday. When I gave the toy as a present, it did not work, even when we put in new batteries. Additionally, it was obvious this toy had been used previously as there was wear on the back of the toy. I am very disappointed and am returning the toy.
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This little toy is a real winner. It is small and lightweight enough for him to hold. It not only has twinkly lights and cheerful music, but the wings are textural so they make a crinkly noise when touched. My 5 month old grandson loves it and it holds his attention very well.Best Deals for Vtech Sing & Soar Butterfly
We actually bought this as a backup already have one it is like a security blanket and was wearing outHonest reviews on Vtech Sing & Soar Butterfly
My 5 mo old really likes this toy. It may be his new favorite besides the one that says his name.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Vtech Sing & Soar Butterfly
Very entertaining for my 6 mo. old grandaughter. Easy to grasp and sensative to the touch so the music plays with little effort. Hold her attention well.Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Buy Elenco Snap Circuits UC-70 Upgrade Kit SC-300 to SC-750
I highly recommend any of the snap circuit sets. Santa brought my son, who is within the autism spectrum, this kit to add on to his 300. He often endeavors to make sense of his world by creating order in his play. His mind is constantly challenged and he spends hours creating and using the different combinations of projects. Because this kit explains and defines each step with pictured directions, typical children as well as those with learning disabilities will be able to feel successful every step of the way.
This was a bad choice on my part. The item I recieved was not the UC-70 kit. It did not have the advertised number of parts nor the manuals for the full number of new experiments. It seemed to be the UC-80 kit, which upgrades the SC500 to the SC750 and is a less expensive kit. The item I received even had a UC-80 label sticking out from under the UC-70 label. Additionally, the corrugated box is not the same as the pictured item; one can easily see that the pictured item has a deeper box, which would like be needed to hold all 22 parts that are to be included.
I am returning the item and am thankful that it was fulfilled by Amazon, so that I don't have to pay for return shipping on a mis-advertised product.
I'm very disappointed in the deception of the sellers, using Amazon, to sell this product and to not be able to gift this item as a gift. I'll be going with a different item all together. Next time I'll try a home schooling website or other similar site to hopefully purchsed the actual UC-70 kit.
The thing that stops many people, especially young children, is soldering. This kit doesn't require that, nor do any of these series. My nephews loved the basic kit so much that they stole batteries from TV remotes, etc. so, in addition to this upgrade, I bought the battery free A/C adapter.
This kit expands the number of projects and the knowledge of the children (or adults) who use it. I want SO bad to play with this! Maybe Santa will get me one! Buy it! Even if you bought the first kit, you can add this one. Or, do as I and buy the next kit for a birthday, Christmas or just because it expands a child's knowledge in this strange texting in another language, spending all day looking at a computer, video games, etc. It is a fun way to LEARN!
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My son started off with the SC-300 kit. He spent so many hours engaged in following the projects and also creating his own with the last kit, I wanted to extend his experiences. Wasn't sure if it would be worth buying the upgrade UC-70 kit since we already had so many pieces and projects, but was so glad we did. The learning experiences keep challenging his mind and all the new pieces allow him to create even more. Am absolutely thrilled to have found such an educational toy which allows for so much open-ended creativity. In retrospect, should have just bought the SC-750 kit, but you never know which toys are going to take with your kids, so it's nice to know you have the upgrade kit option. Highly recommend!Best Deals for Elenco Snap Circuits UC-70 Upgrade Kit SC-300 to SC-750
I read S. Johnson's review listing MMP LLC as a seller that did not provide the product that is listed and was concerned; however, when I went to purchsed this as a gift and "BuyFromScott" was listed as the seller (fulfilled by Amazon), I took a chance and ordered it.This was a bad choice on my part. The item I recieved was not the UC-70 kit. It did not have the advertised number of parts nor the manuals for the full number of new experiments. It seemed to be the UC-80 kit, which upgrades the SC500 to the SC750 and is a less expensive kit. The item I received even had a UC-80 label sticking out from under the UC-70 label. Additionally, the corrugated box is not the same as the pictured item; one can easily see that the pictured item has a deeper box, which would like be needed to hold all 22 parts that are to be included.
I am returning the item and am thankful that it was fulfilled by Amazon, so that I don't have to pay for return shipping on a mis-advertised product.
I'm very disappointed in the deception of the sellers, using Amazon, to sell this product and to not be able to gift this item as a gift. I'll be going with a different item all together. Next time I'll try a home schooling website or other similar site to hopefully purchsed the actual UC-70 kit.
Honest reviews on Elenco Snap Circuits UC-70 Upgrade Kit SC-300 to SC-750
My career was as an electrical engineer. But, I started in electronics at age 5! At 12 years old, I passed the Novice class ham radio license. I was the first ham in town and I had no help. By 13, I had passed the General and Advanced classes. I designed many projects, including a one tube transmitter that worked the worl.The thing that stops many people, especially young children, is soldering. This kit doesn't require that, nor do any of these series. My nephews loved the basic kit so much that they stole batteries from TV remotes, etc. so, in addition to this upgrade, I bought the battery free A/C adapter.
This kit expands the number of projects and the knowledge of the children (or adults) who use it. I want SO bad to play with this! Maybe Santa will get me one! Buy it! Even if you bought the first kit, you can add this one. Or, do as I and buy the next kit for a birthday, Christmas or just because it expands a child's knowledge in this strange texting in another language, spending all day looking at a computer, video games, etc. It is a fun way to LEARN!
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Elenco Snap Circuits UC-70 Upgrade Kit SC-300 to SC-750
My grandson (12) thoroughly enjoyed the SC-300 kit. While looking for the computer interface I discovered it was included in the upgrade kit at a very reasonable price. He and his father have already tried several projects and been delighted with the results.Discount Holt McDougal Larson Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra
I bought this for use in an Algebra 1 class. To my surprise, it contains all of the data for 4 classes and for my Mac Pro as well as my HP Desktop.
I shared this with a colleague and she printed off a ream of material for her mathematics classes. This is quite a "find" for those of us who are always looking for something new to do in class.
I shared this with a colleague and she printed off a ream of material for her mathematics classes. This is quite a "find" for those of us who are always looking for something new to do in class.
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Mine For Fossils Science Kit Review
I ordered this product for my 10 year old daughter a few months ago. By mistake, the company sent the wrong product, but happily corrected the mistake and sent me a new one when they knew of the error. They're a good company to work with. My daughter had a lot of fun with the kit she loves fossils and was happy to have a kit to dig for them. The medium is sandy, so it's relatively easy to find them, no hammering or frustration involved. I would recommend both the company and the kit.
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The item was totally cool, a brick of sand contained in a aluminum pan with 10 fossils embedded in the sand. We had lots of fun unearthing the fossils. Most fossils were unpolished but one had been polished and was quite pretty. Expect to have sand all over the floor unless you put the whole thing in a larger container. The tools included were adequate to do the digging (but a plastic letter opener worked better). Unfortunately, the "brick" had been broken in several large pieces during shipping. Considering the amber kit when my child is older.Best Deals for Mine For Fossils Science Kit
The picture on the box shows a sand pile to be excavated. Our fossils were embedded in a solid white brick of plaster that was so hard even I couldn't chip the fossils out, let alone my 5 year old nephew. I instead broke the brick into smaller and smaller sections with my hands, until we had 6 fossils (not the 10 advertised). Perhaps there were some tiny fossils still to be found in the small sections but it wasn't worth the effort. It was a cute idea but disappointing in reality. I would call three of the fossils very nice, the other three blah (due simply to the nature of the fossil). The accompanying brochure was quite attractive and informative. I would recommend buying the fossil kit without the mining option. I also purchased the shark tooth kit the smaller teeth weren't that impressive but the gigantic megalodon replica was such a hit it was worth it.Honest reviews on Mine For Fossils Science Kit
My 7 year old nephew, who refuses to stay still for more than 5 minutes, was totally absorbed by this toy. He loved digging them out and cleaning them off with the brush. It kept him busy and happy for a long time and he still has all his fossils displayed in his room. Worth the money.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Mine For Fossils Science Kit
My son is really into rocks and fossils. This kit took time to "dig" and chisel out of the fossils. Some of the fossils were truly beautiful. GREAT product. Worth every penny.
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