LeapFrog: Count & Draw

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When tidying up the toys recently, I've realised that I'm a bit of a fan of LeapFrog products. We have the LeapTop, the Tag Junior reading system, Lettersaurus, Musical Movers, Cook and Play Potsy, and the Fridge Farm Magnet Set. See what I mean? Therefore when LeapFrog asked me if I'd like to review the Count & Draw learning console, I thought about it for about one second before replying with an emphatic affirmation!The LeapFrog Count & Draw is a handheld console designed to encourage mathematical skills. Through tracing over the blinking red light with the 'pen' (attached and stores in a hole on the back), children can develop their ability to correctly draw shapes and form numbers. Scout is one of the guides, as always, along with a friendly, male British voice. Both Scout and the narrator are encouraging in their interaction with the child, praising when the child has finished the shape or number and has pressed the paw button to signal they've finished.

There are three modes to the Count & Draw:

  • numbers – press a number button and follow the blinking light to draw the number. The Boy can manage 1, 4 and 7 at the moment, and has attempted 2.
  • shapes – varied shapes: circle, triangle, zig-zag line and square are within The Boy's reach, hexagon etc. is a little too advanced at the moment,
  • games – the games consist of following the red dot, and it's quite fast-moving so is above The Boy at the moment.

I'm very impressed with this new game from LeapFrog; I think it's fun, educational and helps to develop pre-writing skills. The 'pen' fits well inside the hand of a pre-schooler and the console is light-weight enough to be easily carried in one hand. It is aimed at children 3years+ and I would agree with this. While The Boy enjoys doodling on it, he isn't managing the tasks set (he's 2years 4 months) because his fine-motor skills aren't as developed as an older child. I am confident that he is learning (number recognition apart from anything else) and he's definitely enjoying it.

My only 'wish' for the Count & Draw (and it's a small one) is the fact that the console praises regardless of whether the shape drawn is correct or not. However, for the incredibly reasonable price of £14.99, I'm ok with that.

The LeapFrog Count & Draw is available from a number of outlets with an RRP of £14.99.

We were provided with this for the purpose of this review. My opinion is honest and unbiased.

YumYum in my TumTum! (Review)

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I think sitting down together at teatime is a really important family activity as it teaches your little ones so much; social skills, conversational skills and how to behave at the table. I think it has contributed to The Boy's ability to sit at the table happily for over half an hour eating alongside us.

Recently he's shown a massive development in his ability to feed himself with a fork and spoon, but is starting to show an interest in using a knife. I've looked around and most sets that are available for his age bracket and hand size don't have knives in them. Therefore when we were asked to review a cutlery set by the lovely people at TumTum, I jumped at the chance!

They sent us the TumTum Tiny Double-sided Cutlery Set (which has a handy travel case for when you're out and about) and were very generous in also sending us the TumTum Tiny Dining Set (with scooping corners).

The cutlery has a very clever and engaging mix and match the double sided handles to change the character, with a good bowl shape on the fork, a straighter edge on the spoon, and most importantly the knife is not too sharp and is angled for easy cutting (stabbing in The Boy's case!). The dining set has a beautiful autumnal design on the plate of a hedgehog sweeping leaves, while the bowl has a mole digging in the sun. Most importantly about both of these is that they have a scooping corners which provides a stopping point to allow peas, beans and any other 'round' food to be easily loaded onto forks or spoons. There's also a fabulous rubber rim on the bottom to stop it sliding around! Both of these products are BPA, phthalate and PVC free, and dishwasher safe!

As you can see, The Boy absolutely adores them and he feels so grown-up eating from them. The pattern on the bowls is also an incentive to get him to eat because he has to clear the food out of the way (by eating it of course) before he can see what the picture is! This meal-time, he's just put the fork and spoon together and 'baa-ed' at daddy! Most amusing!

The double-sided travel cutlery set retails for £12 and the tiny dining set with scooping corner is £14.

We received these products in order to review. My opinions is honest, as always.

Things The Boy Learnt On Holiday

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When we were away on holiday last week, my little treasure learnt a few things!

Hide and Seek

A new catchphrase courtesy of Nana.

Early mark-making

How to do a 24-piece jigsaw

  • Imagination: One night he raced to the door of the conservatory, looked out at the sea which was rough and tipped with Neptune's horses and declared that he could see Iggle-Piggle sailing off to the Night(time) Garden. My heart burst with love and adoration for my clever little boy who had just displayed his first twinge of imagination. I milked it and built on what he could see. We now regularly discuss it.

He walked onto the beach, picked up this pebble and tried to unlock the big rock on the beach, "This is the key mummy!"

  • Role-playing: after visiting Peppa Pig World, one night The Boy started shouting out "Daddy Pig, daddy pig where are you?" He then looked at me and said "you Mummy Pig!", when I asked him who he was, he said "me George!" Love it.

Maybe I was more aware of this because I was spending so much time with him than I normally have a chance to. Maybe it's because other people were having an input to his development. Either way, at the age that he is now, his capabilities are developing day by day. And he is the biggest form of entertainment and wonderment around

Anatomy

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It was only a matter of time really. And at 26 months I suppose that we're quite lucky that it hasn't happened before now, but he's definitely made up for it this evening.

The Boy has discovered his willy.

Sat in the bath this evening, he started pouring cups of water into his lap (and counting at the same time, thus proving that he can have a fiddle and use his brain simultaneously; a first for mankind) and was asked what he was doing. "Washing my wiwwy away!" Daddy winced and highlighted that it was not a good idea to do that. He then recounted that earlier, The Boy had been sat on the potty, pointed his willy up to his face and declared "You going to do a wee-wee in minute".

After hubby lifted him out of the bath for his usual big-towel cuddle, and laid him down to dry off, he declared "my wiwwy is so much fun!" (The Boy, not daddy. Daddy has learnt not to verbalise such matters). I've just come down stairs to get The Boy's milk and all I can hear is "NO! Leave it alone!" closely followed by "It will never get better!" Just this once, I hope that daddy is referring to the scab on his knee, not his willy!*

*Again, The Boy's not daddy's!

Firsts

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This morning we popped over to Cardiff Bay and it seemed to be a time for The Boy to experience some firsts.

 

He went down a helter-skelter, with daddy, for the first time.

First time on a carousel, with mummy who has been cut out of course!

First Cadwallader's ice-cream sundae!

My Son, the Pop Star

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The Boy has recently become obsessed with singing nursery rhymes. It's fabulous and he is so enthusiastic about it. We've always sung them with him but not so much of late. This is the wonders of having an older generation caring for your child and providing an input into their education; it's Nana that has taught him some of these.

There now follows a rather cute video. You will need to excuse the heavy breathing from me; I didn't realise that a) I breathed so noisily, and b) that the microphone was right under my concorde nose.