Crackberry for kids

DaemonSeid · #1 02-04-2009, 04:50 PM

OMG! A BlackBerry for babies?

Toddlers can soon obsessively text and type like their parents on a pint-sized personal digital assistant made by LeapFrog.

Unveiled at a toy fair in England, the Text & Learn will land in the United States this summer - and perhaps prove as addictive as the real-life "crackberry" is to adults.

Some parents who are constantly pulling their devices out of their kids' hands - and mouths - were amused by the colorful toy.

"I would definitely consider getting one for Pete - in the vain hope it would keep him away from my cell, which he thinks is the seventh wonder of the universe," said Katy Hope of Brooklyn, whose son turns 1 this month.

The gadget (pictured), recommended for ages 3 and up, is designed to teach spelling and computer skills. It doesn't connect to the Internet but allows kids to text, play games and navigate with arrow keys.

"Busy 3-year-olds will love to 'play' like their parents do," LeapFrog wrote about the toy

link

DrPhil · #2 02-04-2009, 05:25 PM

It is basically a learning device just like the math and spelling instruments we used when we were little.

libramunoz · #3 02-04-2009, 07:18 PM

why can't parents just get the see n say and be done with it.

DaemonSeid · #4 02-04-2009, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by libramunoz

why can't parents just get the see n say and be done with it.

Do they even make those anymore?

jitterbug13 · #5 02-04-2009, 09:39 PM

They still make See n Say.

http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?...e=sandslanding

I find the kiddy Crackberry cute.

libramunoz · #6 02-05-2009, 12:44 AM

Yes they still make 'em but not like the one that I remember. It's the one in E.T. I think it was called a Speak N Say. You know, the kind that you had to spell out the words to it. I used to LOVE that thing! Had it for years. Dunno what happend to it (Mom must have gotten rid of it "accidentally" when she was cleaning up on day).

VandalSquirrel · #7 02-05-2009, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by libramunoz

Yes they still make 'em but not like the one that I remember. It's the one in E.T. I think it was called a Speak N Say. You know, the kind that you had to spell out the words to it. I used to LOVE that thing! Had it for years. Dunno what happend to it (Mom must have gotten rid of it "accidentally" when she was cleaning up on day).

Speak & Spell was red
Speak & Math was gray
Speak & Read yellow

Those things rocked, I had all three. I am lol'ing a bit that you called in a Speak N Say, since the N would probably not be useful to a child learning to read or speak

nittanyalum · #8 02-05-2009, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

Speak N Say, since the N would probably not be useful to a child learning to read or speak

Kind of tangential to that, I never thought this was particularly helpful for kids:

Not only do they replace a word with just a letter, they friggin' put it BACKWARDS. Way to mess with the young'uns.

libramunoz · #9 02-05-2009, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

Speak & Spell was red
Speak & Math was gray
Speak & Read yellow

Those things rocked, I had all three. I am lol'ing a bit that you called in a Speak N Say, since the N would probably not be useful to a child learning to read or speak

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

That's the one that I was talking about, the Speak & Spell!
That was the only one that we had, but of course, we also had an Atari! I hated playing pong and loved playing Pac Man! Never could get into Donkey Kong or Centipede though.

libramunoz · #10 02-05-2009, 01:13 AM

I think that they put it backwards because they either: a) thought it was cute, b) thought that it would remind parents of how to be a kid again, or c) because it was "similar" to the way that kids learned how to write.
Never thought about it though. As a kid I just wanted everything in the store! Like I tell my Mom now, I NEVER DID get that Barbie dream house! Of course to which she responds, "get your own now."

DaemonSeid · #11 02-05-2009, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by libramunoz

c) because it was "similar" to the way that kids learned how to write.

dyslexia?

LOL....

libramunoz · #12 02-05-2009, 01:17 AM

I guess--maybe the founder had it!
LOL

Still BLUTANG · #13 02-05-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

Speak & Spell was red
Speak & Math was gray
Speak & Read yellow

you just triggered my memory! i LOVED speak and read. and it was yellow - still my favorite color :-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by libramunoz

Like I tell my Mom now, I NEVER DID get that Barbie dream house! Of course to which she responds, "get your own now."

i get the same response from my dad when i talk about the barbie jeep i never got.

agzg · #14 02-05-2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Still BLUTANG

i get the same response from my dad when i talk about the barbie jeep i never got.

I had the barbie camper, the barbie corvette, and the barbie pool (with slides and some kinda ice cream shop).

One Christmas I made my dad put together the camper *that day*. I never got another barbie accessory for Christmas.

Wow - I was really an asshole of a kid.

DaemonSeid · #15 02-05-2009, 12:30 PM

Hmmm.....can we hijack my thread and turn it into an old toys thread?