Vtech - Write and Learn Smartboard

Reviews of Vtech - Write and Learn Smartboard

1.) In spite of limitations, my kid loves it
Reviewed by: miel USA
Rating:
As I said, in spite of the limitations, my 3.25 year old LOVES this toy. We got it for her for the holidays. It wasn't even on our gift list. But we went to a playgroup where they had this toy and she played with it for long stretches of time, off and on for the 3 hours we were there. My child doesn't play with ANYTHING for that long of a time! So I added this to the gift list and went and bought it. Usually, I check ratings on amazon before I purchase anything. In this case, I'm glad I didn't because I would NEVER have bought this based on the reviews. I agree with everything the other people have stated in their reviews regarding the limitations of this toy. However, my kid absolutely loves it, which is really all that matters. I will say that in the directions, they do state that their writing recognition system follows a particular teaching theory of how to write. And yes, sometimes I even get told I am wrong and haven't written the letter correctly. Or it doesn't even pick up what I've written at all. And in the game where you have to press 3 letters to spell a word, you can barely even find the letters because the screen is so small and there is other stuff on the screen and it's hard to see where those letters are. There is another game where you draw and the directions come so fast and you have to wait until the entire item is drawn before you can recreate it that even I can't play the game. They should have done one section at a time for this game instead of showing how to draw the whole thing all at once and then you have to do it a certain way in a certain order and even I can't do it. However, even with all the various limitations, my child still loves this. So the bottom line on it is even though I don't love this toy because I see all these limitations, my child still plays with this for long stretches at a time. So the things that bother me about it don't bother her at all. So it gets 5 stars from me.

2.) Vtech Write and Learn Smartboard
Reviewed by: miemiemuis
Rating:
I also like the idea of this toy and I played with it a lot in the store trying to decide whether to buy it for my four year old son. I like the fact that it teaches upper case letters AND numbers as well as sounds. However, when forming letters, you have to follow the EXACT stroke sequence as the demonstration otherwise you will get message (something like 'try again' or keep practicing'). For instance, I write upper case M by going straight down, diagonally down, diagonally up, then straight down. Smartboard wants you to do the vertical lines first, then do the diagonal lines in order to 'pass'. I suppose it 'feels' in what order the child makes the strokes. Also, I'm left handed and a left handed person will make the horizontal line in a H from left to write and a right handed person will make it from left to right. SmartBoard is not so smart after all and will only accept the right handed way. I decided not to buy the toy, but I think it is a great idea and if you think your child will follow the verbal and visual directions exactly, it might work for him/her. Otherwise it could be discouraging. By the way, for a younger child directions like 'curve to the right' etc.might not make a whole lot of sense yet.


3.) Expects too much from a 4 year old's writing
Reviewed by: seeking change Anchorage, AK
Rating:
I bought this for my four year old son and I am not impressed. I sat down with him to play with it and here's why what I found:

-It places a time limit on his writing a letter. If he's not done in time, it cuts him off. He doesn't really understand that his time is up.

-If the letter isn't pretty much perfect, it tells him he was wrong. Since he's just learning to write letters, this seems a little harsh for his just-developing ego.

-It has three little windows for writing letters, which I presume is to give them three chances at success. He doesn't understand this though, and keeps trying to write in the middle box.

-The drawing feature is lame because it accepts anything he draws as great. So this is the opposite of the letter writing feature.

He was really excited about this toy when he first saw it, but soon lost interest. I'm frankly much better off with flashcards for spelling and a dry-erase board for writing letters.

4.) Frustrating my child
Reviewed by: tracyintn
Rating:
I bought this for my daughter (just turned 4) who is learning how to write her letters and numbers. I wish I had read the reviews prior to purchasing this product because I agree with what everyone else has already wrote. If her letter isn't perfect she gets an "oops" message. She gets frustrated and disappointed instead of excited for doing a good job (they need to know most 10 year olds-age this game is rated to- are not going to be playing this game-it's going to be 3-6 year olds). NOw after she writes a letter she brings the machine to me and I tell her if she did it correctly. The good part is her letters are improving since she loves to hear the machine tell her "good job".

I LOVE the idea of this toy but would not buy it unless they improve the sensitivity of what is considered correct.

5.) Too Precise
Reviewed by: Danielle Springer
Rating:
I don't feel this product is appropriate for this age group. It wants you to absolutely precise when writing the letters. You have to write them EXACTLY how it does or it says you are wrong. There were times I would use it and it would say it wasn't correct. VERY discouraging for a beginning writer.

6.) Great idea, poor product
Reviewed by: PeixeGato Bay Area, CA
Rating:
My 3 1/2 year old got this for Christmas and after several weeks of playing with it, we have finally given up. Here are the problems I have found with this:

1. NO volume control.

2. In order for the machine to properly detect what the child (or anyone else) has written, the person must press down relatively hard and with an even pressure throughout the letter or number they are writing.

3. It often tells him that his writing is incorrect when in fact, he has written the number or letter correctly.

4. When telling him how to write the number 5, it tells him to "curve around to the left" when writing the round part of the 5. Well, this confused him because in the first half of that curve, you move around to the right, not the left.

5. The writing spaces are too small for small children. I could see 7 or 8 year olds working on controlling their writing in small spaces, but its too much to ask of a 4 year old (IMHO).

6. The time limit for writing each letter is way too short.

As I said, it is a good idea, but the company did a horrible job at execution. You are better off with the old fashioned pencil and paper.

7.) Great idea, very poor execution by Vtech
Reviewed by: Toy Reviewer and Car Seat Guru
Rating:
Someone at Vtech had a great idea, but the engineers just didn't follow through. The concept of this toy is great, but it just doesn't work as advertised.

My 5 yo daughter received one for her birthday and couldn't wait to start using it. She eagerly wrote her letters (correctly) in the box only to be told "Oops! Try again!" This happens at least 75% of the time! I have even gotten the same response when I write letters or numbers.

I understand that children need to learn to write letters a certain way, and the toy does teach that, but it won't accept most letters/numbers that ARE written correctly. There is also a time delay, so if the child starts to write the letter before the machine is ready, it doesn't "see" what has been written and assumes it was wrong.

If this toy is frustrating for the average parent, imagine how a 5 year old feels. I have taken out the batteries and hidden the toy because I can't stand the sound of it anymore (no volume control either - grrr) I don't want my child being told her writing is incorrect, when its not.

Features of Vtech - Write and Learn Smartboard

Take your little one's learning to the letter! The Write & Learn Smartboard makes it fun and easy to learn standardized writing. Little ones can try their hand at letters and numbers with the easy-to-hold Write & Learn stylus. The Write & Learn Smartboard's touch sensitive writing surface recognizes strokes and automatically tailors instructions as your child progresses. And with the Write & Learn Smartboard's friendly pencil character and fun six activities -- your little writer can't wait to go back to the drawing board again and again/ Measures 11" x 12.4" x 1.9". Requires 3 "AA" batteries, included.

1.) Writing recognition technology teaches and recognizes correct letter and number strokes;
2.) ABC keyboard;
3.) Stylus pen and touch-sensitive writing surface;
4.) 6 activities feature letter writing, number writing, letter order, spelling, drawing, and sing along;
5.) Portable;

Package Height x Length x Width: 15.9 in. x 15.9 in. x 13.1 in.
Package Weight: 2.6 lbs.

Accessories for Vtech - Write and Learn Smartboard