If you follow me on Snapchat, you’ve probably noticed Harlow playing with a new toy. Actually, I know for a fact that a lot of you have noticed because I got like 100 messages from people saying, “Hey, what’s that toy Harlow is playing with?”
The toy is the Touch and Learn Activity Desk Deluxe from VTech and since they sent it to us, it has become quite the hit in our house.
As you all know, my kids are huge fans of their iPads and when they are not playing with those (which we try to limit to the mornings), they tend to play with dolls and dress-up stuff. There’s a lot of role playing and pretend play in our house. We have puzzles and number and letter themed toys but they tend to get overlooked. I think that’s one of the big dangers of letting your kid play on a smart device— other toys can start to seem boring.
The Activity Desk Deluxe excited me because it is interactive, with buttons and audio which takes you through the discovery tools and an LED display which teaches letter and number strokes and how to draw basic shapes. It comes with five double-sided interactive pages so your kid can switch up and vary the lessons. VTech sells expansion packs with different cartridges and curriculums so that you can have more advanced lessons like reading skills, math and occupations. The desk also transforms into a chalkboard and art station with ample space for supply storage, and it has a music player and a pretend phone to play with as well.
It seemed like just the kind of thing that could draw Harlow away from the lure of a smart device while still being able to teach her valuable new skills.
I can tell you that as soon as Harlow saw it, she got excited. My only issue is that Mazzy got excited as well so I had to mediate to figure out who would play with it first. The desk is made for kids 2-5 years-old, so after a few days of trying out the different expansion packs, Mazzy realized she was a little old for the desk and let Harlow have full reign. Harlow has found countless different things to do with it— from listening to letter sounds to pretending she’s the teacher with the chalkboard. She also really likes taking pretend calls on the phone.
Since Harlow is on the younger end of the age the desk was meant for, she is definitely more comfortable playing with the activity sheets that came with the desk than the expansion packs which are meant for older kids. She is also so intrigued by all the buttons and options that sometimes it’s hard for her to stick to the activity sheet at hand without getting distracted, which throws off the audio prompts. But I feel that will come in time.
Obviously, the desk didn’t stop Harlow from asking from her iPad (she still uses it in the mornings as always) but it definitely made her ask for it less often at other parts of the day, since the iPad is usually requested when she can’t find something else to do. She played with the desk for a good amount of time every day, from the day it arrived until we left it at the house when we moved back to the city last week. We didn’t bring it back to our apartment because we don’t have a lot of space for a big toy but I already wish we could find some room.
When Harlow is playing at the desk, I feel like she is discovering new skills and entertained and working on her fine motor skills, without the option of exiting a game to watch a YouTube video. And oddly enough, even though the desk is a larger sized toy that you can’t put away, it makes way less mess than pulling all the clothes out of the dress-up bin and scattering her Barbies and their various accessories around our living room.
Today, I am giving away one Touch and Learn Activity Desk Deluxe to one lucky reader!
You must be a Mommy Shorts subscriber to enter and then leave a comment below. I’ll pick one winner at random on September 29th!
WINNER UPDATE:
Congrats to Rebecca Hall! Please contact allie@mommyshorts.com to claim your prize!
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This post was sponsored by VTech, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Vtech toys are the best! My 2 yr old would love this!
My nephew has a 2 year old and a new baby due in December. I love educational toys.
This is such a colorful desk, looks like lots of fun.
What a great toy-thanks for sharing all about it with us! My daughter would love this! She would be excited to maybe show her big bro a thing or two! ? ❤️
this would definitely help hold my child’s attention!
My 3 year old would love this.
This looks like so much fun! Anything so I don’t have to watch finding nemo everyday
My almost three-year-old son definitely needs this! Although he loves puzzles and building things, he’s become too attached to the tablet that he also asks for it when he stops doing something for even half a second. If I say no tablet right now he’ll be slick and ninja grab my or his father’s phone! I know he would love figuring out all the things on this activity desk, and then maybe he’ll let his almost one-year-old brother play with other toys in peace instead of deciding they are all his favorites at that very moment!
This is great, my 3 year old would love it!
I’m constantly trying to come up with different things for our 3 year old. He mostly wants his matchbox cars (which is great, but when people want ideas for birthday and Christmas and he only plays with 3-10 at a time, the 100 or so we already have are enough) to watch netflix, or play pokemon.
If this would keep his attention, it would be so awesome.
Oh this would be lovely for Z man! He’s recently started preschool and it’s his first time being away from me. Needless to say, we are working on learning being fun so that he doesn’t get sad about leaving me. This desk would help I think! Fingers crossed.
My littles would love this!
I think my nephew will love this
My daughter would love this!!!
Would love this for my almost 4 year old soon. He loves toys that look like desks.. lol
Also, he’s super bummed the microphone went out in his toy drum machine this morning.. ?
What a fun new toy! It would be a hit at our house!
This is great!! I want one!! Please!!!! 😀
I work from home and I have a 2.5 year old who would be so stoked to sit at her desk and “work” right alongside Mommy’s desk. Glad that Harlow likes it!
My 3 year old daughter would love this!
Holy moly, yes please! My three year old’s attention span can only be measured in nano seconds. This seems like something that would occupy her for quite some time…and educational!
Love this! I’d love to give my kids nothing but wooden, non-electronic toys, but I’m realistic about what actually interests them. This would probably work well for my 2 yr old and 4 yr old!
Both my 2 and 5 year olds would love this!
My daughters would adore this! Please pick me 🙂
I’m always looking for toys that can hold my kids’ attention for more than a moment! maybe this is the one!
My 2 year old would so love this!
I would love to win this!
Omg this would be so cute for my little Alysianna xoxox
Would also love this for my 3 yr old who I want to stop going on YouTube!!!
Love! Me please!!
Would love this for my sweet little guy, who turns 3 next week!
With a 2 year old and 2 month old, this would get a lot of use in our house. Plus, the 10 year old would love teaching bis baby brother and sister how to use it.
This would make a great Christmas present for my daughters!
I know my three year old would love this!!
Love it!
This looks like tons of fun. We love Vtech!
My 2 and 4 year old daughters would love this! Such a cool toy!
My 3 year old is addicted to the iPad! I would love to see if this will break the habit. If she doesn’t win this, it will definitely be on the Christmas gift list!
We’re trying to avoid the ipad as long as possible. This would be great for my boys!
My boys would love this! They are two and three years old!!
This would be the perfect toy for my preschooler who loves her apps, but also always ends up somewhere besides where I direct her ?
This will definitely keep my kids away from the ipad!
Would love this for my daughter! She’s 3 inNovember and sadly likes a YouTube video too, would love to try something else to take her interest elsewhere!
Great gift ideas for xmas!!
My daughter who is lagging in language because of being bilingual could benefit a lot from it. I hope you pick me (your loyal reader) 🙂
We would love this for my 4yr and 18mo olds!
My 2 year old would love this! My 4 year old would definitely try it out too!
I’m subscribed! We just had a third baby and our kids are all in age range for this so it would be perfect 🙂 best of luck to everyone
My 3 year old would love this. I have also been trying to give her less screen time, and this seems like the perfect solution.
My girls really need this. Pick me! Pick me! Please. ?
My little guy would definitely love this!
My 2 and 4 year old would love that! And mommy would love them playing with that over watching kinder surprise egg videos. 🙂
I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old who would love this!
Looks fun 🙂
My son would be obsessed with this! He’s 2.5 and loves the alphabet. Pick me, pick me!
Loves this and know my 4 yr old son would totally dig it too!
My daughter just turned 3 on Saturday. She would love this. ?
This would be perfect for my son who will be 3 in December and is currently in Early Intervention for a speech delay.
I knew I meant to get my daughter something for her birthday that was actually useful! How cool is this!?
This would be so helpful! I’m doing a year of Home Preschool with my almost 4 year old daughter and I know she’d LOVE to have this. One because she loves learning and two because it’s a desk lol
My daughter is 2 and she also loves playing on the iPad watching YouTube videos like Harlow. She is constantly asking for the iPad thought the day if she is bored. I also try to only limit her to using it in the mornings. it would be awesome if we could win this. She could learn so much from it!!
This looks perfect for my grandson, who’ll be 2 soon! We’re always looking for teaching toys for him.
My 2 yo would LOVE this thing!
Oooo…my 2 year old would love, love, love this!
I love the educational and interactive aspects. This seems like a fantastic toy!
Any toy that allows me to use my own phone, without a fight, is a winner in my book.
I was just saying how my kiddo needed some “big kid” toys, but I want them to be something that is useful and not just something else that makes noise. This would be a great “toy” to play and learn with!
Love this for my Lulu!
I’ve been wanting this for my two boys!! They would just love it, especially since their iPad obsession is quickly growing.
My daughter is 3 and would love this. Her sister is in first grade and she’s always wanted to do “school” things. We have ABC mouse and those little computers but I think this would be awesome for her! ABC mouse usually turns into YouTube videos! We also follow you on instagram & Snapchat! Hope to win!
My daughter would love this!
Pick Me! My girls would love this & we would be forever thankful! Xo
I know a 3 year old who would love to win this!
My 3 year old would love this!!! I would love for him to win!!! He needs something like this!!
I never saw this product before I saw it on SnapChat. Looks like it has the potential to be hours of educational fun. And by hours, I mean minutes. Heaven forbid you have your kids do something like this so laundry can get done! ?
I’ve seen these and wondered if they were good. So thankful for your review. I need this! My 3 year old just threw an hour long fit saying “I need my tablet” because I had put it up.
My girl would love this.
Woot woot I hope I win for my little one I know she would love it! Thank you for the chance
My 3 year old would love it! I would too…. maybe I could finally get other character repetitions out of my head!!!
This would be great for my daughter! She loved learning!
Loves. Oops! ?
I hope my little ili wins this! 🙂
Perfect toy for my 2.5 year old little girl! She’s number 3 and needs some toys all her own;)
I’m a WAHM, this would be a fantastic daytime activity for my daughter and son!
My son would love it.
My 3 year old would love this so much! I can just picture her teaching all the new things she would learn to her 1 year old little sister! This would entertain both of my girls for so long!
My daughter would love this!
My kids would definitely love this! Thanks for the heads up and chance to win!
I have a 6, 4, and 2 year old. I’d love to see them duke it out over who gets to play with this first. I kid…or do I? 😐
My son would love this desk. It would make a great present.
Love the versatility of this table, desk, activity center. My little H would love it.
This would help get my 3year old off the iPad! She’ll love this!
We’ve got a new baby arriving in a few weeks & then it will be my toddler’s birthday. This would be the perfect thing to keep him occupied while I’m busy with the new baby.
My daughter would loove it! Seems to be lots of fun!
We’re currently one week into our iPad detox! iPad usage got way out of control over the summer as mommy is newly pregnant and thereby less entertaining ? A toy like this sounds like a great balance when they want to use electronics! They’d love it!
This looks amazing I would love this for my son!
Pick me! #dadlife
My 3 year old just started preschool. This would be a wonderful educational toy for her. Her sister who is 18 months younger would also benefit from this toy
My 2 1/2 year old daughter would live this. She is so smart and something like this is right up her alley. We would live it if she could win one! Fingers crossed!
This would be perfect for my daughter who I’m getting ready for pre K next year!
What a wonderful toy. We need one in our house. Especially since we have a new baby coming not long after my daughter turns 3.
My daughter would definitely love this!!
Ahhhhhh! This has been on my Amazon wish list for a couple weeks!!
Looks so fun. I can’t justify the purchase right now, so was going to save it for holiday. Would be so exciting to win it for my littles. Thanks Ilana