Introducing the InnoTab MAX from VTech: Helping My Kids Learn As They Play

Keeping my kids entertained is always a challenge. ADD is ever on the rise and that’s perhaps in part because our children’s focus and concentration is scattered in a million and one directions constantly. Modern parenthood practically demands that our kids be entertained consistently. The days of sending our children off into the street armed with skipping ropes and toy cars to make their own fun aren’t quite dead but dormant. Particularly during winter, when we are all cooped up inside, hibernating against the bleak chill, finding appropriate outlets for my children to play poses complications.

The needs of my two children could not be my different. I have a 6 year old girl with a fiercely independent spirit and a 2 year old boy who constantly craves stimulation. Saving money on toys is also an important priority for me. As such, selecting staples that both my children can adore is hugely important. For me the InnoTab MAX from VTech fits the bill. It literally ticks all of my boxes. It’s ideal for children between the ages of 3 and 9 and as my boy is approaching 3, it seemed the ideal gift. Available in pink or blue, it’s a tool designed for both genders. What I like about the product is that it’s not mindless entertainment; it’s a tool that fuses play with education and relates to children on their level without talking down to them.

Touted as electrical learning toys, children can browse and engage with a myriad of educational, stimulating apps and explore the learning library. My children are at ages where, akin to sponges, they soak up absolutely everything which is why selecting well intentioned toys is so integral to their development. A child’s playtime is vital to their mental and emotional growth, teaching them independence, autonomy, courage and confidence. My children remain ever inquisitive about the world around them hence why the InnoTab remains such a favourite fixture in our home. It’s also ideal for long car journeys, waiting rooms or any situation where my children need to fill in some time constructively.

A lot of items designed for children nowadays are not age appropriate. Our children are conditioned to see a great many things that are not suitable for their young minds. The difference with the InnoTab is that there is no risk of a child accidentally something that they shouldn’t as can be the case with tablets and mobile phones. All material is carefully selected to be just perfect for little ones. Watching children tune into technology can be frightening when we think about what’s out there on the web and how little control we have over this easily traversable world. The InnoTab has completely eliminated these anxieties for me. I can confidently watch them enjoy their experiences with the InnoTab MAX without having to fret about what they are getting up to.

The InnoTab MAX is the most progressive instalment of its kind. It comes with 8GB of storage which can be maxed up to 40GB and can be connected up to the family television to flaunt photos and videos. I loved doing this with my children. They were so in awe when they saw their photographs maximised in our living room. It also helps reinforce that children should share their findings with the family. It eliminates that dramatic sense of elusiveness that some technological devices provide. It’s also a great way to keep in touch with your child. The ability to send voice messages, photographs and drawings between devices is hugely effective. There are group chat options and family friendly bulletins. The entire approach is wholesome and engaging.

I set up some ground rules with my kids proclaiming that they could each use the device for a set period each day (naturally, this was a little less for my boy) and there were specific times when they could not use the InnoTab including at the table or during family time. I wanted to ensure that they used the device appropriately, to reinforce their sense of learning and play and not as an escape.

There are so many apps and learning resources available including handwriting, spelling, reading, spatial sense, observations, patterns, logic, counting and subtraction. My children are both at ages where they are becoming introduced to and fortifying their knowledge of such matters so helping them to proactively engage using the InnoTab has been so rewarding. I’m always asking them what they have learnt and which new app they are into now. I’ve noticed that they ask more questions but also can provide more answers. The most heart-warming moments for me are seeing my children sit together, my eldest sitting with her brother and showing him what to do. The New Year is coming up and the weather is notoriously chilly then. No doubt my two will have a lot left to learn in 2015!