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DreamBox Learning - Math Rules!

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

DreamBox LearningDo you have a math-lete in the making or does your child often find himself in the middle of a math muddle? Either way, DreamBox Learning can turn your child’s play into a learning adventure. Fifteen bloggers (and their children) took DreamBox out for a “test drive” and found a plethora of positives.

Intrigued? “DreamBox Learning is a website filled with lots of interactive games — all in the name of strengthening kids’ math skills.”  The program contains “more than 350 lessons in the form of adventures that respond dynamically to the child as they ‘play’,”  and is based on the National Council of Mathematics standards.

The secret to DreamBox Learning’s appeal?  The program is “well tailored for teaching math in a way (a child) not only understands but thirsts to learn more.”  As one dad wrote,“They make learning fun,” yet ”adjust the lesson - the difficulty, the pacing, the information provided” as a child plays.

DreamBox was definitely designed with a kindergarten-second grade audience in mind. One blogger mentioned her children “felt special and engaged from the start.”  Kids are even encouraged to customize their account by choosing their own avatar and password.  One reviewer remarked that her daughter’s  “favorite part was picking her avatar (surprise!), and loved how you could change it mid-game.”

Parents and kids have marveled at the “eye popping colorful animation.” The characters received an enthusiastic nod as “cute, possibly even ‘funky’ with hip hairstyles and, yes, ‘cool’ outfits.”

One reviewer mentioned that often children’s online/computer games require a parent to constantly be there to helpdreambox1 the child. Not so with DreamBox Learning. Kids found “navigation very easy.”  Plus, “the animated guide walks them through each and every step of the way, explaining the games and concepts clearly and concisely.”  In fact, many a parent has mentioned that they could set the child up and tend to other things: “[My daughter] was playing the games with no help from me, which told me that the site was easy for her to understand.”

DreamBox Learning firmly believes in keeping parents in the learning loop. “I receive updates whenever either of my sons completes a level or earns a reward,” wrote a blogger, while another added, “These updates contain valuable information on all the skills your child has mastered, the ones your child is currently working on, and the skills yet to come.”  A parent can always go into the Parent Dashboard to see their child’s progress and check out the games for themselves: “The parental reports were invaluable, and I also loved that I could go in and play as a parent without messing up what she was doing with her own work.”

Even kids who aren’t crazy about math have been won over. For example, one woman’s “I hate math” daughter “completed 66 lessons and logged seven hours on DreamBox in 14 days.”

With all of the gaming and online systems out there, kids have a number of gaming choices. But DreamBox stood up to the competition: “The math adventures through pirate, pixie, dinosaur and pet lands actually lured my daughter from her sister’s gaming station.”

If you’ve got more than one child? Fear not, this online learning tool can accommodate: “Each of the boys got their own account that they can log into and play math games customized for them.”  In fact, one reviewer’s preschool-aged son “played at his more introductory level while his second-grade brother played at his own more advanced level. Both solved levels and both were rewarded for their efforts.”

However, one blogger’s daughter did run into a problem: “My daughter twice completed tasks and was not given appropriate credit, so she had to go back and do them again.”

Although kids might not appreciate the hours of hard work that go into creating such a “clever“ product with such an “organized, thoughtful approach,” parents sure do! “I was extremely impressed with the quality and depth of the games,” one dad noted.

“The registration for the site was quick and easy,” remarked one blogger. Another chimed in, “The website runs extremely smooth and load times are quick.”

There are various plan options, beginning at $8.33 a month with a 30 day money back guarantee. Commented one reviewer,“As far as I’m concerned that’s money well spent if it helps my kids fall in love with math.”

For a free 14 day trial (just in time to celebrate World Math Day on March 4) go to DreamBox Learning.

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Posted in Elementary School, Games, Kids, Media | Comments Off

Littlest Pet Shop for Wii and Nintendo DS - No Bones About It!

Tuesday, December 9th, 2008

Remember when we were kids and the Atari 2600 came out and we all thought it was the coolest thing ever to move a little triangular “rocket” around a 13″ black and white TV screen and shoot oddly shaped rocks, all in 2-D of course?

Now our kids can choose and name and dress up vibrantly colored virtual pets on a 46″ plasma TV screen - or, even more amazing, do the same thing on a pocket-sized player while sitting in their ergonomically designed booster seat.  And they think nothing of it.

In fact, it’s second nature to them.  As this mother admitted: “My three year old can kick my butt on the DS which makes me both proud and scared.  She figures out these things way faster than me and that blows my mind.”

As bloggers, we’re some of the earliest adopters among mothers.  We know what’s out there, both the good and the bad.  But we still prefer to introduce our kids, especially the younger ones, to games that include more fun and less fracas, and Littlest Pet Shop fits the bill perfectly.

The premise is simple: Care for the pets, play games, earn “kibble”.  Of course, accessorizing the little creatures is a big hit: “Dressing up their virtual characters happens to be all 3 of my daughters’ favorite part of most any video game, really.“  The games are a hoot too: “Six’s favorite mini-games were Nut Fest, in which the player must prevent nuts from falling off of trees and onto his or her pets, and Sky Ride Collection, in which the player moves a tram up and down the side of a mountain.”

The mother whose three year old outscores her on the DS explained: “What appealed to me was the games aren’t all time-dependent (which can be frustrating for a child) and the ones that are, allow for very generous time allotments on the easy setting.  By far, her favourite games are the colouring challenge where she uses the stylus and a palette to try and match a picture of one of the pets and the digging game, where she searches for hidden treasure before the clock runs out.  Each time she completed a task, she either received a ribbon and/or coins to spend on her pets.”

This mother marveled at how well her kids got along while playing: “Although it is a single player game, the kids really enjoyed working together and helping each other select fashion accessories and create names.”  Another blogger agreed: “It’s a thing of beauty, because, miraculously, no one fights  - they just watch and root for each other.”  It would also make a great playdate game: “I’m thinking this is an excellent game to pull out the next time he has a playdate who IS into Littlest Pet Shop. (Sometimes another kid’s enthusiasm rubs off on the boy.)”

Not only did the kids like Littlest Pet Shop, the bloggers did too.  This mother enthused: “What did I like about this game?  There was no violence. No hitting, no pushing, no banging or punching…”  Another agreed: “I still find virtual pet games preferable to many of the other kinds of computer and video games out there. That’s because the player’s goal is a prosocial one: to care for an inherently weak and vulnerable creature.”

Littlest Pet Shop is just a fantastically cute game, no bones about it: “I think it’s been really fun to see their furry little friends come to life and explore their happy little virtual homes.”  Another blogger concluded: “I found this to be a good, wholesome game with multi-age and gender appeal. It’s one that I’ll be keeping in the house for various visitors. (And I might break it out myself as well!)”

But don’t just take it from the parents - hear what the kiddos have to say themselves.  Two little girls each wrote their mother an email:

“My 10 year old daughter is convinced I will review this incorrectly since I haven’t really played it much so she emailed me her own review:

“I liked that your pet shop keeps growing and you can unlock new games and pets. My favorite game is Furry Feast. It is so much fun! The only thing I would change is that I wish that after you adopt all the pets you still have more goals.”

And when she did that, her 8 year old sister wanted to be sure I got all the pertinent details too, so she emailed me her own little review of it:

“I love it. You start with 3 anamils and you name them and you can play games and you can unloc games”

So there you have it. A game so good it made both my daughters volunteer to write about it so I wouldn’t forget anything or not tell exactly how much they loved the game.”

And check out this little girl’s video review:


Littlest Pet Shop Review from Liz Thompson on Vimeo

That ought to settle it right there.  If you’ve got kids who love pets, and you’ve got a Wii or DS, there really should be a Littlest Pet Shop game under your tree this year.

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Posted in Elementary School, Games, Kids, Pre-school, Pre-teen, Toys | 2 Comments »

Boogie SuperStar for Wii - Rockin’ Out!

Tuesday, December 9th, 2008

Here at PBN, we spend a lot of time featuring products and services that are just for kids.  So when we - and our bloggers - get an opportunity to check out something that we can play with too, we really get down and boogie.  Quite literally, in the case of Boogie SuperStar for Wii.

The Nintendo Wii is a family game console, promoting family togetherness.  One mother prefaced her review as such: “It’s no secret - I am raising a family of gamers, big time - we love our Wii and, if you don’t already have one, I highly recommend it.”  Another mother did similarly: “Since last Christmas, our family has been pretty much addicted to the Wii, the Wii Fit, and all things Wii-related…With the Wii, we all play and enjoy many of the games as a family.”

Boogie SuperStar is one of the latest Wii games to make a big splash with kids and adults.  Our bloggers and their kids and their friends and family all had a fantastic time creating their characters, dancing, and singing along: “[They] loved it! [Our friends] have Hannah Montana: Spotlight World Tour, and Boogie Superstar blows it away with superior graphics, song list, and depth of activities.”

As this blogger (and her teen daughter) explained: “Players can sing AND dance along with Boogie SuperStar, which is very, very cool, according to my almost 13-year-old, the expert rock star in the house: “It’s like getting two games in one!” This game actually helps teach you to sing and dance - albeit, to the best of a player’s ability - by providing training sessions and rewards you whenever you actually, you know, hit the right note.”

Another mother agreed - this game really does teach: “[We] were glad to see that Boogie SuperStar gave kids a chance to practice and learn the moves with a tutorial before they started competing. And once they did start playing, the game “learned” and got progressively harder.”  And according to another mother, it’s been helping her son with his reading: “One unintended benefit of this game is that it is actually helping [my son] practice his reading skills.  When you do the singing, you have to follow the words at the bottom of the screen, and he is doing quite well following along.”

But all the kids - and the parents too - really got into progressing in the game: “The game really got them going trying to keep the beat. Once they started seeing the combo power ups happening they were determined to get their scores up.”  This mother admitted: “I quickly caught on and started amassing tokens which I’ve been using to unlock more songs and update my wardrobe.”  And the interaction with the judges was a hit too: “Just watch out for “Vickie”, as she’s a mean spirited judge that puts even Simon Cowell to shame. In fact, you can shake things up by challenging yourself to some of Vickie’s worst sabotage (such as blocking lyrics and switching out dance moves).”

As in the mid-campaign summary, a blogger or two voiced concern regarding the appropriateness of the game for younger kids: “I found the character’s dance moves and outfits a little overly suggestive, and I don’t think there ought to be songs in the game that require a considerable number of bleeps.”  This blogger liked how the game “substituted some of the questionable words (replacing “witch” for “bitch” in a song for example). I’m not only mom that feels this way, my friend Liz over at This Full House, is a mom of teens and she liked that feature too! I guess I am not the only “uncool” mom in the universe, despite what my teen daughter says.”

Depending on your family’s preferences and your kids’ ages, Boogie SuperStar may or may not be a family activity.  One blogger thought it was a great fit for adults or older teens, but not so much for her kids: “If I were a 12-year-old girl at a slumber party, this would be the best game evah. Even for a slightly out-of-touch 30-year-old, it’s an entertaining little diversion.  [My husband], on the other hand, said, “The only way this would be fun would be if I was drunk.” He changed his tune a few days later when my brother and his fiancee were here. We spent about an hour playing it, there was no alcohol involved, and he certainly looked like he was having a blast.”

On the other hand, some bloggers found it to be perfectly suited to their families: “Wii Boogie Superstar is one of those that the entire family can enjoy.  That is, if you are from a family of hams who like to sing and pretend to dance.  That would be us.”  It was also a great holiday activity for this blogger: “I think this game would be a great hit at your next party or holiday gathering.  In fact, we had the idea on Thanksgiving to play “Thanksgiving Idol”, with each of us in our family having a crack at the game.”

Then there’s the blogger who plays it all by herself, much to the amusement of her family: “I’m sure Boogie SuperStar would be an absolute blast to play with girlfriends or older, Wii-savvy kids, but I’ve managed to log hours of play all by myself.  But usually not alone. [My daughter] sometimes dances or sings along and [my husband] sits in the background, checking his email and snickering as I butcher the lyrics to less familiar songs.”

And once again, we had a blogger drop a hint to EA that they ought to start developing an ’80s version: “I’m waiting to exact my revenge when they issue the “Wii Boogie Superstar: 80’s Edition”.  At least, I hope they plan to do that.”

Something tells me an ’80s version would be an even bigger hit than this game.  And considering the five-star feedback from our bloggers on Boogie SuperStar, that’s saying something.

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Boogie SuperStar for Wii - Here’s What They’re Saying So Far

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008

If you’ve got an adult gathering coming up, and you’re already dreading four hours of small talk - well, we’ve got a solution for you.  Grab a few bottles of wine and a copy of Boogie SuperStar, and you can dispense with the formalities and have a fabulous time!

Electronic Arts scores big again with Boogie SuperStar for the Nintendo Wii.  This game is much more than karaoke and basic dance moves - it’s an all-out competition, starting from the look of your character to your “willingness to make a complete ass of yourself while attempting to simultaneously dance and sing.”

First, let’s start with wardrobe: “I had a BLAST making my character. I was initially disappointed that some of the clothing choices were “locked” but enjoyed taking the time to unlock them later on. Making my character made me feel young and hip again.”

Speaking of feeling young and hip, if you’ve been listening to nothing but Laurie Berkner for the past five years, you might want to watch a few hours of MTV before checking out the selection of songs on Boogie SuperStar: “The singing portion was really very cool, and in my opinion geared towards the younger set. I only recognized a few of the 40 plus songs on the playlist, it did make me feel a bit old.”  And the dance moves are definitely a workout: “Unlike other Wii games where you don’t have to move at lightning speed, you have to keep up a dance club groove at a zippy pace. The first time I tried a competition with dance sets only, I was beat by one of the computer characters.”

The microphone included with the game was the subject of hot debate.  Several reviewers echoed this blogger’s lament: “I scratched my head a few times as to why this blessed mic was not wireless, after all we were playing with Wii, the Wireless Wonder.” But another blogger put the wired mic in great perspective: “When I was little, I pretended I had a real microphone, with a cord when I was singing along with David Cassidy.  While some of you may be disappointed that the wireless Wii game left that cord attached, just get in touch with your inner child and love it.”

Likewise, the child-friendliness of the lyrics came into question.  One mother (who’s admittedly not much of a Britney Spears fan) noted, “…your children (ages ten and up PLEASE) are bound to love this game,” another confessed, “I might have played like crazy to unlock “Toxic,” by Britney Spears, and NO I do not find any shame in that.”  A middle-of-the-road mom summed it up: “The age range for this game is 10+, so unless your children aren’t allowed to listen to the radio, I think the songs are acceptable.”

So yes, Boogie SuperStar is rated for ages 10 and up - but if you ask most of us, it’s a game we’d play primarily with our adult friends: “You could have some really good bonding moments while boogieing around your living room with this game.”  Another blogger agreed: “I can only imagine how much more fun this becomes when you’ve got four friends and a few glasses of wine added into the mix.”  It’s definitely a game for more than one person, even if you’re playing in the middle of the afternoon (i.e., totally sober): “Boogie Superstar is crazy addictive…It is WAY more fun when you play with a friend - the competition aspect is what really makes the game unique.”

And what a way to break the ice at stuffy parties!  As this blogger suggested: “This is the ultimate Christmas Party game.  You can actually set up a competition for an “American Idol-like competition.  Seriously, this would be much more fun than sitting around opening while elephant gifts every year, wouldn’t it?”

Yes, it would.  The only way it could be better? “Now if only they’d make a Boogie 80’s version of the game. I could totally rock at singing Whip It.”

Electronic Arts, did you hear that?

More reviews of Boogie SuperStar are coming up!  Plus, don’t forget that there will be a Blog Blast on December 5 - stay tuned for details!

Wednesday, 11/26 - The Silent I Speaks
Monday, 12/1 - Just Not Martha, Slackermama
Tuesday, 12/2 - Esmon
Wednesday, 12/3 - My Readable Feast, White Trash Mom
Thursday, 12/4 - Marketing Mommy, This Full House
Friday, 12/5 - Round-Up Review and Blog Blast on PBN

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Posted in Elementary School, Games, Kids, Media, Pre-teen | 2 Comments »

Littlest Pet Shop for Wii and Nintendo DS - Here’s What They’re Saying So Far

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008

Littlest Pet Shop for Nintendo Wii and DSAt first glance, Littlest Pet Shop would appear to be geared toward little girls exclusively. With the pastel colors and doe-eyed animals and gentle nature of the game, it’s a far cry from the knock-’em-down, shoot-’em-up games that little boys often gravitate toward. It also doesn’t seem much like the sort of game that would appeal to teens.

But based on the feedback from our reviewers, Littlest Pet Shop - by Electronic Arts for both the Nintendo DS and Wii - is a hit with everyone. From the boys who used to fight over Mario Kart to the mom who sneaks into her daughters’ room to play with their DS, we’ve found that Littlest Pet Shop has universal appeal.

Of course, it’s a clear favorite among little girls: “[It's] full of fun, girly things to delight my eight year old who seems to be the perfect age for this game since there is reading involved.” And mothers appreciate its wholesomeness as well: “I love this DS game because it bridges her two worlds. She often plays the game on the DS and then goes to play with her physical Littlest Pet Shop animals.” This same mother, who has a seven year old daughter, went on to comment: “Games like Littlest Pet Shop are perfect for my purposes - rather than pushing boy craziness and music - they remind her of how fun play is, and let her continue to develop her imagination with free play.”

Boys loved Littlest Pet Shop too though. One mother admitted: “I was a little concerned that my [nine year old] son would think this game was too “girly” for his tastes.” Another mother countered: “I wasn’t concerned with the stereotype that Littlest Pet Shop is only for girls because it isn’t. Deer and zebras are manly, yes? (Okay, they have wide adorable eyes, but my boys love ‘em all the same.)”

But the sons of both these mothers loved the game. As the first mother noted: “My son, in a word, LOVES it. I tried to get him to think of some constructive criticism and he couldn’t think of one thing. He told me that it was one of his most favorite games ever.” And yet another mother reported: “Mister “I’m too cool for this” older brother had to begrudgingly admit that it was “a really fun game”!”

This blogger was completely blown away that both her tween and teen girls enjoyed Littlest Pet Shop: “[It's] a game my tween daughter loved right out of the box. But the reason I give this game a double thumbs up is because my teen daughter plays it too!” She went on to say that “it’s nice to see my girls playing a game that doesn’t involve violence or aliens…I love the fact Littlest Pet Shop is about little animals, collecting your own little pets and caring for your pets. It’s nice to see girls playing a game that is about taking care of living things, instead of shooting aliens.”

In fact, several mothers extrapolated these game-based lessons to real-life pet ownership. One noted that: “Another favorite thing about this game? [My son] is much kinder to our dog because he understands that pets need love and care.” Another agreed: “If your kids like the idea of a pet, but might not be ready for the real-life responsibility of taking care of one, Littlest Pet Shop might be a good option.”

The kids learn about pet ownership via Littlest Pet Shop because that’s what the game is all about - owning and caring for pets: “The game starts out with three pets and as my daughter fed, dressed, and played with each one she earned a ticket to take the train to adopt another pet.” Of course it’s fun to choose names and outfits for the animals, but the games are really cool too: “Color Craze is [my son'] favorite. He loves to color pictures of his pets using the stylus. He also liked playing Toss N Pop because he could throw darts at a wall of balloons. I liked the Hide N Seek game. It’s fun to watch the pets hide behind bushes and then try to find them.” The mother who plays with her daughters’ DS commented: “The graphics are so cute, I can’t resist the opportunity to dress these little critters up!”

It seems that Littlest Pet Shop doesn’t have an upper age limit, but what about the littlest players? A Nintendo DS owner reported that: “My 4 year old has some trouble playing independently as parts of the game require reading but my new reader (6 going on 7) has rarely needed me to help her figure out what she needs to do.” A Nintendo Wii owner found that the remote was the limiting factor for her little girl: “I would say that this game is really best for children ages five and up who have learned to use the remote.” Even so, she was impressed that “the Nintendo Wii is sure picking up on that untapped market by releasing just a ton of games meant for younger players.”

And Littlest Pet Shop really does seem to be a game that spans age ranges and genders. This mother summed up its appeal quite well: “I honestly think this is a game that could be great for the whole family. Small children could easily understand it and older children and even adults can have fun exploring the worlds and playing the games.”

More reviews of Littlest Pet Shop coming up! And don’t forget about the Blog Blast on December 5 - if you haven’t yet signed up for our subscriber list (so that you can be notified of upcoming Blog Blasts, of course), now’s the perfect time since you could also win a $25 gift certificate to Posh Peacock!

Wednesday, 11/26 - Radioactive Reviews (DS) and Midwestern Mommy (Wii)
Monday, 12/1 - Slouching Mom (DS), This Full House (DS)
Tuesday, 12/2 - Mom to the Screaming Masses (DS), Modern Mamma Marvels (Wii)
Wednesday, 12/3 - Mother Bumper (DS), Three Kid Circus (Wii)
Thursday, 12/4 - Mother May I (both DS and Wii)
Friday, 12/5 - Round-Up Review and Blog Blast on PBN

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Posted in Elementary School, Games, Kids, Media, Pre-school, Pre-teen | 1 Comment »

Littlest Pet Shop for Wii and Nintendo DS - Campaign Launch

Monday, November 17th, 2008

Littlest Pet Shop for Nintendo Wii and DS

Want the fun of a pet without the hassle of feeding, brushing, and scooping poop? The Littlest Pet Shop is the place to be! That is, if you’ve got a Nintendo Wii or DS.

These doe-eyed pets are so darned cute that even we adults can’t resist them. Name them, dress them up, and play all sorts of games with your stable of pets that don’t shed or require vet appointments.

Fifteen of our parent bloggers who have either a Wii or DS at home received a copy of the Littlest Pet Shop to play with their kids, and now they’ll let us know just how much they enjoyed it. We mean, how much their kids enjoyed it. Right?

Plus, we’ve got a Boogie SuperStar and Littlest Pet Shop Blog Blast coming up on Friday, 12/5! Details soon!

Tuesday, 11/18 - Chefdruck Reviews (DS)
Wednesday, 11/19 - Lipstick to Crayons (Wii)
Thursday, 11/20 - Little Bird Reviews (DS), White Trash Mom (Wii)
Friday, 11/21 - mothergoosemouse (DS), Slackermama (Wii)
Monday, 11/24 - Karianna (DS), MomReviews (Wii)
Tuesday, 11/25 - Dana Reviews (DS), Lather Rinse Repeat (Wii)
Wednesday, 11/26 - Radioactive Reviews (DS), Midwestern Mommy (Wii), and Mid-Campaign Post on PBN
Monday, 12/1 - Slouching Mom (DS), This Full House (DS)
Tuesday, 12/2 - Mom to the Screaming Masses (DS), Modern Mamma Marvels (Wii)
Wednesday, 12/3 - Mother Bumper (DS), Three Kid Circus (Wii)
Thursday, 12/4 - Mother May I (both DS and Wii)
Friday, 12/5 - Round-Up Review and Blog Blast on PBN

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Posted in Elementary School, Games, Kids, Media, Pre-school, Pre-teen | 2 Comments »

Boogie SuperStar for Wii - Campaign Launch

Monday, November 17th, 2008

Boogie SuperStar for Nintendo WiiWe introduced several of our Wii-owner parent bloggers to Boogie last year, and it was a roaring success. Even those of us who’d never sing karaoke at a bar - no matter how many cocktails we’d consumed - thought Boogie was a ton of fun. Not just for us adults, but for the whole family.

Now Electronic Arts is back with an updated version of Boogie - Boogie SuperStar! There’s still plenty of singing and dancing, but Boogie SuperStar lets you uniquely customize your character into any alter-ego you choose. Plus, there’s a ton of new cool new tracks, multi-player games for up to four people at once, and the ultimate competition - the Boogie Star Show!

Whether we’re playing with our spouse or another couple, or even just entertaining our kids with crazy dance moves and off-key singing (”That was a little pitchy, dawg”), Boogie SuperStar is a great way to get the party started - or keep it going!

Ten of our Wii-owner parent bloggers received a copy of Boogie SuperStar to check out, and now they’ll report back on how they and their families enjoyed it. Check out their reviews - you might catch a few of them on video!

Plus, we’ve got a Boogie SuperStar and Littlest Pet Shop Blog Blast coming up on Friday, 12/5! Details soon!

Wednesday, 11/19 - Modern Mamma Marvels
Thursday, 11/20 - Hot Mom Reviews
Friday, 11/21 - My Five Little Monkeys, Suburban Obsessions
Monday, 11/24 - SusieJ, Three Kid Circus
Tuesday, 11/25 - Mommy’s Must Haves
Wednesday, 11/26 - The Silent I Speaks and Mid-Campaign Post on PBN
Monday, 12/1 - Just Not Martha, Slackermama
Tuesday, 12/2 - Esmon
Wednesday, 12/3 - My Readable Feast, White Trash Mom
Thursday, 12/4 - Marketing Mommy, This Full House
Friday, 12/5 - Round-Up Review and Blog Blast on PBN

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Posted in Elementary School, Games, Kids, Media, Pre-school, Pre-teen | 1 Comment »

VTech V-Motion and V.Smile Cyber Pocket - Yeah! Fun!

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

We’re finally wrapping up the VTech campaign, which was extended to accommodate some additional reviews of a second product, the V.Smile Cyber Pocket. But first, let’s finish summarizing the feedback on the VTech V-Motion Active Learning System.

It never fails to make a kid’s day when a package arrives for him, no matter what that package contains:

When the game arrived, I opened the box and Dawson began to jump for joy.

“Is this for me?” he asked.

“Yes, Bug, it’s for you!” I said.

“I LOVE THE MAIL!” he exclaimed. “It brings me toys!”

Yes indeed, it was a toy that arrived at several more bloggers’ homes and was met with similar excitement: “…he practically clubbed me with the cool wireless controller so he could commandeer the system.”

It’s definitely designed for the younger set. One blogger commented: “The system has child-friendly buttons and the controller is appropriately chunky.” Another inadvertently tested its durability: “It can also take a beating. I accidentally knocked it off the mantle and it came crashing down on to the tile in front of the fireplace. I was surprised that the plastic didn’t shatter. There wasn’t even a scratch in it. (It’s mom proof!)”

As before, the kids happily named off their favorite games:

And a couple moms bought additional games for their kids already: “We love the V-Motion so much that we bought Dawson the Thomas the Tank game that teaches spelling and counting as well.”

The games, and the manipulative skills required for them, are geared for three to seven year olds, but the actual results were mixed. It was a little tough for a few of the younger ones to get started. One girl was initially frustrated, but “once [my daughter] understood what was expected from her she really started getting into sorting colors and counting numbers.” Unfortunately, another girl never did get into it: “She had a lot of difficulty mastering the games. So much trouble, in fact, that she’d get frustrated and tearfully beg us to take over.”

At the other end of the spectrum was an older boy who wished that the games were tougher: “The games that come with the unit are fun, but not all that challenging intellectually for a six-, almost seven-year-old, even when played at the more advanced of two levels.” His mother went on to conclude: “If [he] were three, four, or five, the V-Motion system would have much more staying power at our house. It’s entertaining – no doubt about it. But I’d suggest to VTech that V-Motion be relabeled as appropriate for three- to six-year-olds.”

Then again, another six year old boy - who initially thought the V-Motion wouldn’t be anything special - had a blast with it: “But he was just as animated as could be, swaying from side to side and moving around trying to get the characters to move like he wanted.” And the parents of the first little girl “did see some actual learning happening; [she] got much better at rattling off her numbers in correct order where before she would have to stop and think what came after the number 11.”

This mom seemed to echo the group when she concluded that V-Motion was best suited for the younger set, especially those who were accustomed to gaming: “For younger children, the V.Motion Active Learning System is a good video game console system. Not only will they learn from the games, they will move their bodies while playing. For a lot of kids, this feature will make learning much more exciting and fun.”

Next up, the V.Smile Cyber Pocket. It’s a handheld game for kids age five and up, and just like the V-Motion, it’s compatible with the entire line of Smartridges: “We already owned the original Vsmile console, and all the Smartridges that we have for that also work in the Cyber Pocket, which is a big positive with me.”

That’s not to say that most parents got a chance to get acquainted with the system. One blogger admitted: “In the spirit of full disclosure, here is the extent to which I even came in contact with the VTech V.Smile Cyber Pocket: I brought the package into the house. At that point, it was out of my hands, and the 7yo and 9yo took control: They opened the box, they opened the packaging, they read the directions, they installed the batteries, they hooked it up to the television, and then they argued over whose turn it was next. Now, right there is a good recommendation for this new-fangled screen-toy thingy.”

But just from watching over their kids’ shoulders, the parents were certainly impressed with the educational aspects of the Cyber Pocket: “What I was most intrigued by, though, was how many skills this single game covers: spelling, synonyms, antonyms, 3D puzzle building, logic, arithmetic, vocabulary, sentence structure, reading comprehension, beat and rhythm, and more. With such a wide variety of skills emphasized, kids can be both confident in the skills they’ve already mastered (earning lots of coins!) and challenged by those things that they are still working on, but having fun in the process.” A mother of a younger child - one who’s not yet a gaming aficionado - agreed that “this one really does address all types of educational goals without kids even being totally cognizant of the fact that they are learning.”

As with the V-Motion, the V.Link USB connection was a high point: “Their points get transferred to their accounts online, which can be used to unlock MORE games. I like to think of it as motivation for them to get better at the games…which, by the way, are educational.”

The Cyber Pocket was a hit even with older kids:

“So, are you learning anything?

9yo: Well, most of the stuff I already know. But it’s cool! It’s fun anyway!

7yo: Yeah, fun!

9yo: Well, I did learn about different landmarks in the one puzzle. Like some castle in Spain and windmills in the Netherlands.

7yo: I learned a lot of opposites.

9yo: And the Math Maze on the highest level you have to do multiplication and then know greater than or less than. I learned all that in second grade, but it’s still good practice. And fun!

7yo: Yeah! Fun!”

Yeah! Fun!

It doesn’t get much better than that, does it?

Check out the V-Motion and the Cyber Pocket - they’d make great holiday gifts for some lucky little gamers!

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Posted in Electronics, Elementary School, Games, Kids, Pre-school, Toys | 2 Comments »

VTech V-Motion Game System - Here’s What They’re Saying So Far

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008

VTech V-Motion Active Learning SystemGrowing up in the advent of at-home video game systems, most of us who are now parents have at least one system around the house. And it’s a safe bet that those who don’t own a system have played games on the computer - even if it’s just Solitaire. So our kids have been around video games right from the start, even if we won’t let them play with our toys: “There’s no way we’ll let her near our Wii - too many stories of preschoolers throwing Wiimotes through TVs.”

But VTech is “right in step in creating innovative games to meet the entertainment, educational and active needs of the pre-Wii kids.” As one longtime VTech fan enthused, “V-Tech games on the V-Smile system were the very first video games my sons were ever exposed to…V-Motion has taken the fun and mind building to a whole new level…[They've] added physical movement to the mental strength building their products have provided for years.”

The VTech V-Motion Active Learning System “comes with a game box, the Action Mania Smartridge, and a joystick that can be used by one or two players.” It’s “geared for ages 3-7 and has some similarities to the Wii in the sense there is a motion controller and interaction with the screen.” The system is clearly designed for younger kids - “My son, he’s 5, instantly loved the large-sized controls which are easy for him to grasp, and he can easily figure out how to make the game work.” - and the controllers accommodate both left- and right-handed players.

The VTech V-Motion definitely offers educational play: “Each of the games includes a learning element, whether it’s number sequences or spelling letters, both of which my child is tackling now so the game was a fun way to engage her…I like how companies are getting smarter and incorporating multiple learning options in games that are also fun to play.”

The games in the Action Mania Smartridge were a big hit with most of the kids. Bobsledding seemed to be the most difficult: “That game shows a sequence of numbers and requires the player to choose the missing number while bobsledding. While my son was able to say the missing number out loud, he was not coordinated enough to actually get the missing number.” But the driving game was a top favorite, as was the game that involved balancing on a ball:

That little girl’s father commented: “Now, I can’t prove it with the scientific method or anything but the game seemed to possess my daughter with some kind of spooky demons that tormented her soul and made her howl and groan…She sounds like Monica Seles.”

On the other hand, “the motion required to play the game is pretty subtle. To bounce a ball, for example, you simply tilt the controller to the left or right a few inches. You won’t exactly work up a sweat doing that.” But don’t tell the kids that such exertion isn’t necessary, right?

And another mother noted: “Not all children learn by simply sitting and reading things…In any classroom with young children you are apt to find a child who learns better while moving around or tapping a foot. Motion can truly reinforce learning for some children.”

The parents definitely appreciated how easy it was to set up the system (with the exception of connecting it to a TiVo) - “I always hyperventilate at the idea of dealing with TV accessories…Not so the V-Motion. Feed the console and the controller their batteries, then plug the console into the TV using three color-coded plugs. Very easy.” - although one pointed out that “the AC power cord is not included, and has to be purchased separately for an additional $10 if you don’t want to run through your entire supply of batteries to keep it powered up.”

But the system’s relative low cost was a key point for a blogger who was “most struck by [how] the games seem to be a lot less expensive than other games I end up shelling my money out for. I mean, it makes your hind parts pucker up a little bit when you slap down sixty bucks for a Wii game. Ouch.” And the cross-compatibility of the Smartridges means “the investment in their previous games is not wasted and can now be enjoyed wirelessly.”

This interactive gaming system was well-received by the first half of the bloggers in this campaign; let’s see how it fares with the second half!

Tues 9/23 - Builder Mama
Wed 9/24 - Chicky Chicky Baby
Thurs 9/25 - Dana Reviews
Fri 9/26 - Slouching Mom
Mon 9/29 - My Readable Feast
Tues 9/30 - Marketing Mommy
Thurs 10/2 - Round-Up Review at PBN

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Posted in Electronics, Elementary School, Games, Kids, Pre-school, Toys | No Comments »

VTech V-Motion Game System - Campaign Launch

Tuesday, September 9th, 2008

At the risk of sounding like an old fuddy-duddy, I’m amazed by the range of electronic games out there that are geared toward children. While some of them are pure entertainment, most of them offer educational play too. Even so, we parents want our kids to get off the sofa and out in the sunshine now and then. They need the exercise, right?

Wouldn’t it be cool if there was an interactive gaming system that got kids up and moving?

The VTech V-Motion Active Learning System does exactly that. Aimed at kids age 3-7, it plugs right into the TV and uses motion-activated wireless controllers. Motion-activated - that means the kids have no choice but to get up and move! The VTech Smartridges incorporate age-appropriate lessons in math, reading, science and spelling into character-themed games like WALL-E, Thomas & Friends, and Dora the Explorer.

What’s more, these Smartridges are compatible with all VTech V.Smile gaming systems, and any Smartridge in the VTech library is compatible with the V-Motion. Cross-compatibility - that’s a huge selling point for parents who are tired of buying successive iterations of cartridges and keeping track of which cartridges go with which systems.

Fifteen of our bloggers with kids in the target age range received a VTech V-Motion Active Learning System to check out with their families. See what they had to say - V-Motion might be one way to get your own kids in motion!

Wed 9/10 - Formula Fed and Flexible Parenting
Thurs 9/11 - Lather Rinse Repeat
Fri 9/12 - One Plus Two
Mon 9/15 - Mommy’s Must Haves
Tues 9/16 - Lawyer Mama
Wed 9/17 - Ebony Mommy
Thurs 9/18 - SusieJ
Fri 9/19 - Wind in Your Vagina @ DadCentric
Mon 9/22 - Mayberry Mom and Mid-Campaign Post at PBN
Tues 9/23 - Builder Mama
Wed 9/24 - Chicky Chicky Baby
Thurs 9/25 - Dana Reviews
Fri 9/26 - Slouching Mom
Mon 9/29 - My Readable Feast
Tues 9/30 - Marketing Mommy
Thurs 10/2 - Round-Up Review at PBN

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Posted in Electronics, Elementary School, Games, Kids, Pre-school, Toys | No Comments »

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