Good afternoon lovelies! I hope that you are finding our day of giveaways to your liking. Up next is my review and giveaway of the VTech InnoTab 2S. I received a complimentary VTech InnoTab 2S to test and review. No monetary compensation was given. All thoughts are 100% mine
Summer Brain Drain occurs when students are away from the structured learning environment of a classroom and lose the months of knowledge they gained during the school year because they are not regularly exercising their brains. According to research from the Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University, students typically lose one to two months of reading and math skills during the summer break. But there are many things parents can do to help keep children’s minds active during the summer months and avoid these setbacks.
Since this year’s homeschool session is coming to an end (sort of, because, well we’re always learning in some shape, form or fashion around here.) we were looking for ways for the ladybug and the twizzlers to stay active, without always having to use my tablet, or sit in front of a television.
With the Inno Tab, we’ve found a semi solution. We only have one, so doling it out fairly is the biggest issue, but we do have several profiles on one tablet, and I can keep up with their progress via the Learning Lodge. It sends me emails regularly to let me know what they have accomplished if I’m not sitting down with them.
The ladybug loves the table, and calls it a kid’s Kindle. I like it because it’s much more sturdy for little hands, and I don’t feel as if I have to police them as much as I do with my tablet. She even loves using the plastic stylus that comes with it.
Apps, and educational games can either be purchased online or in the store (games cartridges only) and have a wide variation of choices. When we were browsing through the online selections, we were met with squeals of DINOSAUR TRAIN and THOMAS! Sir Twizzler kept asking for Super Why, but that’s a character that they don’t seem to have just yet.
The tablet can also connect wirelessly for easy use on the go. I can hook it up to my mobile hotspot in the car and we’re moving! It does take four AA batteries though, so be sure to have those on hand. Currently we’re rocking with our second set after a month – so that should let you know how much we use it.
There is a camera on it, and while I wouldn’t recommend it for indoor photo taking (it is a kids camera,) it’s beautiful when you’re outside in full sun. The kids had a blast taking photos and the camera can rotate forward and backwards so self-portrait taking is super easy. No screen buttons to press to “flip” the camera around. The tablet also has a recording feature, and the kids had a fantastic time recording each other and falling out in a fit of giggles.
Overall, I think that this will be a great addition to our summer light schedule and also a great supplemental item for our yearly homeschooling sessions. It will be nice to use when I have to sit and sew, or we’re all doing our independent work for the day. It’s not the quality or caliber of the iPad or Kindle Fire, but it’s not supposed to be. It’s supposed to be all kid friendly, and to enhance the educational experience. It does exactly that, and it does it well.
Here’s a little about the tablet:
- The InnoTab 2S Wi-Fi Learning App Tablet is one of the first children’s learning based tablets with Wi-Fi
- The InnoTab 2S is a child’s own tablet that opens up a world of age-appropriate content across the widest variety of curriculums, from downloads to software cartridges, the InnoTab 2S combines innovative technology with a developmental learning tool that grows with a child and makes learning fun.
- The InnoTab wirelessly connects to VTech’s comprehensive app store, the Learning Lodge™, where parents and children can easily browse a variety of content, and children can create a wish list and send to their parents’ e-mail.
- This sleek and durable toy comes equipped with 180° rotating camera and video recorder, tilt sensor, photo viewer, video player, MP3 music player, e-reader, art studio, microphone and more.
About the Learning Lodge™
- The Learning Lodge features more than 350 educational games, e-books, music and videos developed specifically for each child’s unique stage of development, as well as with their age and interests.
- The broad library of subjects includes reading, math, social studies, science, creativity, problem solving and so much more!
- Starting with activities suitable for toddlers and expanding to grade schoolers, the Learning Lodge gives every child an opportunity to expand their learning potential while keeping them entertained.
- Featured throughout the downloads and software cartridges are popular characters such as Mike the Knight™, Angelina Ballerina®, Team Umizoomi™, Dora the Explorer™, Thomas & Friends®, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles®, Jake & the Neverland Pirates, Sesame Street and more. New titles coming out on the Learning Lodge beginning in June include: Monsters University®, Turbo®, Planes®, and more.
- Parents can track their child’s progress through the Learning Lodge™ Progress Log, offer encouragement and share in their pride when kids reach new learning milestones.
You can find VTech on Facebook, Twitter, and their Website by clicking the hyperlinks.
BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!!!
I’m giving away an InnoTab 2S Wi-Fi Learning Tablet!!
Just enter through Rafflecopter! Good Luck!
I want to work on reading and writing with my preschooler
I want my munchkin to learn to read simple books. Sound out site words. =)
My plan is for us to work more on writing stories, and summaries of what she has read. My husband’s plan is re: math, so we hope to make a good team.
Hello!
We are working on sight words this summer, gotta be ready for 1st grade! Yay!!!
both of my twins need to work on their writing and reading comprehension.
We’re working on reading
Writing
reading
reading for sure! so we will be spending some time at the library!
I’d like for my son to improve on his writing. 🙂
We are working on multiplication with my 6 year old.
Thanks for the review. I’ve been looking for something for our son so that I can have my iPad back.
Science and maybe social studies
Reading. My son is going into first grade and needs to work on reading!
I would love for my son to work on his reading skills. He will be in kindergarten next year!
Just wanted to say I’m new here to your blog. I love your content and writing style!
Why thank you Belinda! I try to keep my voice as authentic as possible, ESPECIALLY when I’m doing a review. You all don’t need a commercial in the least. Be sure to stay a while, we LOVE company!
Oh I would love to work on Carters writing and reading!
Working on teaching my son how to write his name!
I want my kids to continue with their reading and math.
We will work on reading
My son is only four but I would love him to work on writing his alphabet
We homeschool, so we are really never OUT of school. Summer we work on gardening and reading.
Ummm…this thing sounds super cool! I think Zoe will finally put down my phone and pick up her own cool gizmo. Fun music for car rides, photo montages of our adventures in nature and hours of portable story time! I love it!
Math! Charlie’s pretty set with reading/writing, so we’d like to focus a bit more on his math skills! 🙂
My grandson is still pretty young, so I would like him to work on letter recognition and starting to learn sight words.
Reading mostly as well as spelling.
I would like my daughter to work on her sight words.
their reading skills
Reading , My Daughter Did Well With Reading During The School Year, I Would Like For The Progress To Continue!
I really want my kids to improve on their writing.
I want my son to become more fluent with his reading.
We will be working on letter recognition and letter sounds.
I hope my daughter continues her reading, and learns to tell time better.
I am teaching my oldest son how to write in cursive and also how to play piano!
I would like to see my kids work on math and reading.
I really want to work on Math with my daughter the most. She struggles with it alot!
Both his reading and practicing staying neat with his writing. He was doing great with writing at the end of his kindergarten year but in the beginning, it was a mess. We read all the time and for being 6, he does fantastic.
Definitely his math!
I’d like them to continue improving on their math skills. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
definitely reading!
I want the kids to keep writing. Stories, plays, journals, you name it I want it written down.
Math for sure – thank you.
I want my son to work on letter sounds!
Math facts, reading, and writing
I think I’d like her to get ahead in math so she’ll be more confident in her abilities in the coming school year!
Learning to read!
I would like to work on reading with my daughter in preschool.
We’re working on reading skills this summer! My niece is heading to 1st grade.
I would love for my twin girls to practice their letters And numbers since preschool is right around the corner 🙂
I’m currently on the hunt for a tablet for my nephew. I’ve already seen how much of a learning tool a tablet can be. However as he’s in his tantrum-throwing phase I would prefer that he has his own durable tablet.
Reading
I want my son to work on writing his letters!
I’d like him to work on his writing the alphabet. He has most letters down but needs a little more work
Learning about money
We are working on letter and number recognition.
My son will start school in the fall of 2014 and he needs to work on a little bit of everything!
I would like to see him doing numbers .
learning to write her name
I want my daughter to work on reading this summer.