It's easy to V.Smile with VTech

When VTech, Arlington Heights, Ill., entered the gaming market with its V.Smile TV Learning System, it designed a way for younger children to learn skills such as spelling and counting. This wholesome approach has been heralded as it entertains as well as educates the kids without any violence or questionable language or conduct. They now offer a state-of-the-art portable system for use on the go or at home.

The V.Smile Pocket Learning System ($89.99) teaches school skills through video game fun. The wireless system has a high resolution LCD screen and also can be connected to a television set for play on the big screen. The handheld game is fully compatible with the V.Smile Smartridge library, and there are 15 new titles ($19.99) available, including The Wiggles: It's Wiggle Time! for Early Learners (ages three to five), which teaches preschool skills such as letters, numbers, and vocabulary; for Junior Thinkers (ages four to six), try Scooby-Doo Funland Frenzy, Toy Story 2: Operation Rescue Woody, and Dora's Fix-it Adventure, which teach mathematics, logic, geometry, spatial and map skills, and problem solving; for Master Minds (ages six to eight), you can't miss with the always-popular SpongeBob SquarePants: A Day in the Life of a Sponge, which reinforces spelling, geometry, money skills, and weights and measurements.

For infants--obviously too young for gaming systems--the Sunny Face Smart Gym ($21.99) will bring bright, happy smiles to eager faces. With just a gentle touch, babies will be rewarded with flashing lights, songs, sounds, and playful music. They can't help but grin back at the big, happy sun that flashes and moves with the music. Engaging birds and bees teach shapes, colors, and sounds. Colorful plastic rings and a roller ball help develop fine motor skills. The product also allows for long playing sequences of melodies to soothe and entertain.

The three brightly-colored cars of the Explore & Learn Choo Choo ($34.99) each provide a different interactive learning environment on this oversized, foldable, rolling train. The engine, with a pull cord and removable handset, teaches numbers and shapes, has a light-up bell button, and plays fun phrases. The middle car focuses on animals and their sounds, with a battable dog and cat to promote gross motor movement. Finally, the caboose provides a piano keyboard for lessons in musical tones, with a turning page that plays funny sounds, phrases, and music. So, all aboard for this fun, learning adventure.

Visit www.vtech.com for more information.

COPYRIGHT 2006 Society for the Advancement of Education
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning