LeapFrog (bias alert: this is my favorite educational toy company; I LOVE and totally endorse all of their products that I've used so far :) ) has just unveiled its new "Text and Learn" toy (which will hit the U.S. this summer), a BlackBerry-style toy for toddlers (recommended for children 3 and up). It is not connected to the Internet, but does allow texting.
Is texting a critical "skill of the future" (or the now) and therefore incredibly important ability for children to acquire as early as possible? Does this type of toy send a bad consumerism/materialistic message to America's youngest youth? Is this an ingenious way to interest kids in spelling and technology? Should I buy one for my daughter ?
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Haha! I think that is hilarious! There is absolutely no need for a toddler to have a blackberry. That is so materialistic. I mean at 3 years old they have a cell phone. I wonder what they would want for their 16th birthday!
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I also find this to be funny and somewhat sad. I guess its a good way for them to pretend to be like there moms and dads, cause i know thats what i did always pretending to talk on my fake phone. Also another good thing is a good way to learn the alphabet. Really though, this generation is nothing like the past. Should be interesting.
I think a phone-style toy that teaches spelling and writing an a way that resembles texting is more reasonable. I don't think the toy should actually text people. Day care centers are going to start having cell phone rules like schools do...weird.
hahaha. this is hilarious. i think it is completely unneccesary for a toddler to learn how to text. there is no need. kids are getting younger and younger now a days, getting cell phones, it seems to be gettting out of control. its completely materialistic. although i think texting is seemingly becmoing something everyone needs to know how to do to be up to speed with todays technology, there is no need for a three year old to be.
If it is for learning than i guess its good for the toddler but not if its txting. I dont even know how a little kid is suppose to text anyways. The advantage of this would be that it is portable and if it has good learning programs.
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I guess it is a good idea if it helps kids to learn how to read, write, and spell at a younger age. I think that this texting idea could be a good thing if you use it for the right reasons, it could help children to become more educated at a young age, because to text you need to know how to read and write. I wouldn't say texting was critical for the future but it has definately become a major way for people to communicate. I think it would be ok to buy for your children.
I dont think this toy should acutaly have texting capabilities. How many people could a toddler know? Also i dont think it is important to learn to text at a young age (I mean how hard was it for us to learn how to text [simple right])? But i do think this proposes another great way for children to learn and get introduced into society and todays world.
i am suprised that has taken someone this long to make a toy like this i mean kids in grade school have cell phones these days and it was only a matter of time before someone put something like a cell phone into the hands of toddlers. but i do think that the next generation of kids will need to how to text because technology is the way of the future.
I think for any toddler to have a cell phone..is just simply ridiculous. This just goes to show you how materialistic we are this day in age. They have those fake cell phones you can buy your kids at target for a reason. It's good to have a cell phone to communicate with others..but you dont need a cell phone when youre 3 years old.
I think it's halarious that these learning companies are making cell phones for children that improves their learning skills. I beleive that allowing kids to use these devices will not only improve their learning abilities but possibly prepare themselves further down the road.
it is completley foolish and unnecessary to teach a small child how to text, we should be weaning them off of that EVIL thing cakked texting, its nothing but a nuisance to society, nothing good comes from it, cause if its really that important, JUST CALL THEM
I think that is not a good thing for a child to be getting a texting phone at this age what are they going to want when they are older. It is not a good idea for children.
WOW, thats crazy. imagine...a 3 year old toddler sitting and texting. haha, it'll for sure improve the kids spelling and reading skills. toys that the new companies are creating these days are ridiculous... they don't have to learn about texting at that age...they should, eat, play, and simple enjoy their toddler life. What happen to the simple toys like in the old days... what happen to barbie?, hot wheels? and the play house things?
the world is becoming way to materalistic. -_____-
I think its really weird that there is now a toy for toddlers that looks just like a blackberry. Its weird how much times have changed, i think its strange when i see an 8 year old with a cell phone imagine what people are going to think when they see there are cell phones for toddlers. Its just building up the potential for them to have cell phones sooner then later and its wrong. :) - TASH
as long as the kids are spelling right and not using stupid internet acronyms and using numbers as words, it's a good tool. at least your kids will be texting in elementary school rather then passing notes.
Its a smart idea actually. With being able to email from phones now, many adults that dont know how to use this useful feature struggle throughout the work day. It'll help make this next generation of kids more productive.
as long as the kids are spelling right and not using stupid internet acronyms and using numbers as words, it's a good tool. at least your kids will be texting in elementary school rather then passing notes.
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I think it's a cool toy and it would be awesome if you go it for your daughter. Realisticly your only etting her ready for the future cause chances are she will learned to text anyways.
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i think it sounds like a great idea. texting is a huge part of our society whether anybody wants to admit it or not. a number of proffesions require information to be sent on a regular basis via text message. in addition, this toy seems like a fun way to help younger children learn to read, write and spell.
i must say, i cannot help but laugh. its sad how excissive these kinds of things are. my grandfather always gets mad at me for texting when im with other people and says that its sad how my generation is losing quality time with other because of cell phone use. i dont think that MY generation is bad but if inventions like this actually sky rocket, i do think well have a problem.