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.
Love it!
Please pick me. My daughter would love this!
My Emma would love this so much!! She 3 yrs old and just started talking this march.. I think this would help her along in learning..
My almost 3 year old would love this! She stuck playing with her brother’s hand me downs.
Love this!
My 2 year old would love this! She’s also an iPad addict, so this would be a nice distraction away from it!
We need this!!
i have subscribed. i would save this for my toddler to get older to use it!!
My 3 yr old loves Harlow and mazzy she asked about this desk when we saw it. Ahhh please pick us!!
Would be a great break away from surprise eggs videos!
I have a three year old that would love this!!!
My three year old needs this!
My 3 year old (she will be 4 in March) would love this toy!!! And it will give my iPad a nice break lol
Looks like a great educational toy!
i have been giving in here and there to my toddler on playing with my phone but realized recently that might not be a good idea cuz he could lock me out of it?!?! any good distraction like this would be very handy indeed
My son would love this. He has just started school this year.
I’m happy to hear the good review. My 2-yr old could play on it while his big sister does her homework!
This would be the perfect gift for my four-year-old’s birthday in November!
That would be a huge hit with my 2.5 yo daughter!
This sounds great!!! So many new learning toys!
This would be awesome for my little girl.
My 3 yr will definitely love it, she is a music lover went through a lot already there by we start to show music in tv, but she is now addict on it not interested in learning any other, may be this will help thanks for sharing
Cool toy!
Would love this for my little guy!
Looks like great fun and educational
My daughters birthday is in a few weeks and I know this is something she would love! Here’s hoping!
My 3 year old little girl would love this! With a younger sibling on the way she will outgrow it with plenty of time for baby number 2 to get all the enjoyment out of it as well! Would love the opportunity to spoil #1 a little more before she learns what it’s like to be a sibling!!
What a fun alternative to endless YouTube videos!
We’ve actually been stuck trying to find the right toy for our almost two and a half year old. She seems too old for the baby toys and too young for the kid toys. This seems like it would be the perfect thing for her.
My son who’s is 2 1/2 would love this! It looks like mommy’s computer and he’s obsessed with that! Shoot me LOL
already a subscriber. what a fun desk!
What a good alternative to my smart device!
My son and daughter would love this! Fingers crossed!
We have someone who would love playing and learning with this VTech Activity Desk!
my son would have so much fun with this!
Does it come in different colors or is it only pink? It looks like it would be very entertaining!
Pick me!
My almost 3 year old would love this!
This is example of the importance of spaces when you need create and expande your notions about your art!
muy intereante
en este blog podras ver cosas de iPhone en español http://mundomovil.club