V.Smile Vtech - V.Motion Active Learning System - Pink

Includes one controller and Action Mania software. Double the fun with an additional controller, sold separately. Additional software sold separately. Requires four "AA" batteries, not included. Measures 1.5"L x 3.25"W x 5"H.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Educational gaming system encourages creativity and problem solving The Bad: No option to use non-battery power with the console In a Nutshell: This unique game system promotes active play and makes learning fun At a Glance Ages: 3 to 7 Requires: 4 AA batteries and 3 AAA batteries (included); TV; PC to use V-link features

Includes everything you need to get started with healthy, educational fun.

Included "Action Mania" Smartridge features six types of games . View larger.

For each game, there are two control options. Kids can pick to use the joystick as a directional controller, or they can pick to use the motion of the controller itself. This means that tipping the controller left, right, forward, or backward inspires a corresponding motion on screen, letting kids get up and move around instead of staying stationary in front of the TV.

This is extra fun when your on-screen character is doing something fast-paced, like racing down a bobsled course. On the flip side, games that require more nuanced controls are often easier to navigate using the joystick. There's even a switch that lets you decide which way is "up," so the controller can be customized to accommodate right and left handed players.

Lots of Ways to Play Educational Games
It's easy to see why this system won the National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval and the Creative Child Seal of Excellence. A variety of age-appropriate games teach concepts like numbers, letters, and shapes for younger children and let older children work on skills like counting, vocabulary, and matching.

These games feature popular characters like Dora the Explorer, Spiderman, Kung Fu Panda, and Scooby Doo, and they include features that range from races to puzzles to sing-alongs. When kids want to play with a friend or a sibling, there's a two-player mode. And a switch on the bottom of the controller lets you ensure that signals aren't being crossed if the second player comes with his or her own controller.

The included "Action Mania" Smartridge means that your child will have six distinct types of games to choose from right away. One option is to engage in a bobsled race where passing through gates requires answering questions related to counting or more advanced topics like understanding greater than and less than. Another option involves using the controller to balance on a ball and select healthy foods, like pineapple, and avoid "unhealthy" snacks, like sweets. The third game is situated on a tennis court and does an especially good job promoting the development of hand eye coordination.

Club VTech lets parents and kids connect online and participate in a family-centered learning community. The included USB V-link device makes it easy to move data from your home computer to your Active Learning System. Web connect features allow for bonus gameplay downloads that keep kids excited about this learning system, and parents have access to educational advice and special promotional offers.

Overall, the whole Vtech experience is designed to promote interaction and healthy lifestyle choices while making learning fun. Our one minor complaint is the fact that the console uses battery power instead of having a wall adapter, which would eliminate the disappointment of batteries dying in the middle of a game. But if you don't have a convenient outlet, or you want to use the same console on several different TVs, this feature can actually be a bonus.

What's in the Box
Console, controller, wrist strap, 4 AA batteries, 3 AAA batteries, Smartridge, V-link, and user's manual.