Girls Gone Gadget

Yesterday, when I wrote about the new Computer Engineer Barbie, I mentioned that there are some exciting new techy toys being debuted at the International Toy Fair in New York City this week.  Here are two from VTech that I am very excited to see hit store shelves this year:

FLiP

The FLiP is VTech’s new animated e-book reader for children.  From the pictures on VTech’s Facebook fan page, the screen resolution looks really good!  Bonus points for that alone! It also appears to already have “books” from some of your (ok, your kids) favorite characters.

(credit: VTech Toy’s Facebook page)

mobiGO

The mobiGO is a handheld finger-touch animated learning system, the first of it’s kind for VTech.  The screen appears to slide out and up to reveal a keyboard underneath and, like the FLiP, incorporates popular characters.

(credit: VTech Toy’s Facebook page)

Both, the FLiP and mobiGO, are said to be available this August but there is no word on price, yet.  I am excited for these two kids gadgets to hit the market because they look like good quality and fun devices.  I can’t wait to get more details about both of these and, hopefully, get a chance to try them out for myself!

For more pictures of these VTech gadgets and the other VTech toys debuting at the International Toy Fair, check out VTech Toy’s Facebook page.

Well, Christmas is coming early to one Go Go Gadget Mom reader!  The winner of the Bugsby Reading System is….

Deb K

Congratulations Deb!  I hope your grandson loves the Bugsby Reading System as much as my daughter does!  You should have an email waiting in your inbox from me.  If you haven’t received that email yet, email me your shipping information to stacey (at) gogogadgetmom (dot) com.

Thanks to everyone who entered!  I’m sorry I couldn’t giveaway one to each of you, maybe next year!  In the mean time, don’t forget to follow VTechToys on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook!  You can get all the hot new product information, as well as contests, giveaways, and amazing deals!

And thanks again to VTech for sponsoring this giveaway!

When it comes to the holidays, I love hearing tips and tricks from others.  Tips on how to make the most of the holidays with two small children.  Tricks on how to find the best deal on all of those toys on the kids’ wish lists.  And hints on how to survive it all with my sanity intact.

Here are five great holiday tips from the VTech Mom, Pilar Clark, and the VTech Voices that I thought you might appreciate:

1. Get Organized — Bins marked for ornaments and decorations make things easy to find, so more time can be spent decorating.
2. Be Thrifty and Creative — Spend time with your kids making homemade decorations and teachers gifts.  Try these No-Sew Sachets, the teachers will love them!
3. Let the Kids Help — Bake cookies, wrap presents and make holiday cards together.  The kids are kept busy and get a sense of accomplishment and pride for helping their parents out!
4. Get in the Holiday Spirit — Think about how to be your best from the moment you get up, almost like a mantra you’d use in yoga, to tackle your holiday “to-do’s” calmly.
5. Take Advantage of Online Shopping — Avoid the stress of the mall by shopping online.  Great for relatives who live out-of-state, the convenience of direct shipping is priceless.

The idea of taking my two young daughters shopping with me during the holidays makes me cringe!  It stresses me out just thinking about it.  So, needless to say, I’m a huge fan of online shopping!  And the holidays are a time where you can find some amazing deals online!!!

If you are still looking for gift ideas for your kids this year, here are some great products from VTech:

	Bugsby Reading System & Starter Book BundleJoin Bugsby the Book Work on a magical reading adventure! Your children will love reading along and interacting with their favorite characters as they build early reading skills. You can read my review of the Bugsby Reading System in this post! (3-7 years) ERP: $29.99
	Jungle Gym: Ride & Learn Giraffe BikeThis is a great way to get your toddler moving and learning!  As your toddler pedals, they’ll learn letters, objects and more!  The cute giraffe inspired bike includes an adjustable, kid-safe, bouncy seat with three positions that grows with your child! (18-36 months) ERP: $49.99
	V-Motion Active Learning SystemThe V-Motion Active Learning System is a breakthrough gaming console that combines wireless, motion-activated play, web connectivity and educational gaming into a system that plugs directly into your TV!  Your child will love playing and learning with their favorite characters, including Spider Man, Disney Fairies, Pixar’s UP!, and Handy Manny! (3-7 years) ERP: $24.99
	V.Smile Cyber PocketTake your gaming and learning on the go with the V.Smile Cyber Pocket!  The flip top high resolution screen makes way for the easy touch writing pad.  Best of all, the V.Smile Cyber Pocket is compatible with all of your child’s Smartridges from the V.Smile Library! (5+) ERP: $49.99

If you’re interested in more holiday tips or product announcement and holiday savings from VTech, you can join the VTech Mom and other parents on Facebook and Twitter (@VTechToys) or enroll in Club VTech at www.vtechkids.com!

We are giving away one Bugsby Reading System & Starter Book Bundle to one lucky Go Go Gadget Mom reader (valued at $29.99)!

How To Enter:

Simply leave a comment on this post telling me who you’d like to win the Bugsby Reading System for.

Extra Entries:

1 extra entry – Subscribe to Go Go Gadget Mom’s RSS Feed

1 extra entry – Follow me on Twitter (@iamgadgetmom) and tweet about this giveaway:
” I want to win the VTech Bugsby Reading System at GoGoGadgetMom.com! http://tinyurl.com/ygrmfhq #giveaway @iamgadgetmom ”

1 extra entry – Follow @VTechToys on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (just copy and use the same tweet from above)

1 extra entry – Become a Fan of VTech Toys on Facebook.

5 extra entries - Blog about this giveaway.  Make sure you link back to this post and then leave me five separate comments below!

5 extra entries – Not a blogger?  No problem!  Send an email to 5 friends with a link to this contest.  Make sure you CC me on the email (stacey @ gogogadgetmom.com).  Then come back and leave me five separate comments for doing it!

The Details:

The winner will be randomly selected from the comments posted by Sunday, December 6 (11:59pm EST).  All entries will be verified and must include a valid email address where I can contact you, should you win.  This giveaway is open to US shipping addresses only.

*Disclaimer: I did not receive any products or monetary compensation from VTech for this post.  VTech is, however, providing the giveaway prizing.

Earlier this fall I participated in a Twitter contest hosted by @VtechToys and I won! Yay!  My prize — the Bugsby Reading System and two additional Bugsby Reading books!!!

From the moment we opened the box, my daughter was elated.  She loves books and books that came with an adorable book work…let the squealing begin!

The interactive reading system features pen touch technology wrapped up in a cute bookworm character shaped pen — Bugsby!  Simply click the software cartridge that comes with each book into the Bugsby pen and let the reading adventure begin.  My daughter loves that there are so many different options with each book.  She can let the pen read the story to her; she can tap each individual word to help her as she reads the story herself; or she can choose one of the interactive activities in the story.  She never gets bored!

I was amazed at how Abbi was able to start using the Reading System without any explanation from me.  The Bugsby Reading System is so user friendly and straightforward that a three year-old will have no trouble using it.  However, the system also grows with your child in the sense that your child can read the books on their own, using the Bugsby pen to help them with the words they are struggling with.  The reading system also offers an assortment of books targeting specific ages from 3 to 7 years.

And your child is going to love recognizing their favorite characters in the Bugsby Reading System books — from Dora to Olivia to Scooby Doo!  My daughter loves the Wow Wow Wubbzy book we received with our prize pack!

As a parent there are key features of the Bugsby Reading System that I love, besides the fact that my daughter loves it and it is educational, of course!  I appreciate so much that the designers thought about parents when they created the Bugsby pen.  They put a volume control button on it!!!  AND, this is where I believe there will be a place reserved for them in heaven, it has a headphone jack!!!!!  These may seem like small things but, when you’re in a car for more than two hours or on an airplane and your child wants to use their Bugsby Reader, you’ll be singing Vtech’s praises!

The Bugsby Reading System requires no additional software or extra set-up.  It truly is that easy and that fun!

I would highly recommend a Bugsby Reading System for any child ages 3 to 7, whether they love to read or not…whether they can read or not.  And, priced at just $29.99 for the Reading System and $12.99 for additional books, this will be a great gift this Christmas season.

*I received the Bugsby Reading System and two additional books as a prize from a contest I entered and won.  This review was not solicited by Vtech® and no compensation was received for the review.