Every time I turn around, my babies are bigger and doing new things and really going places, and it makes me want to scream, "Stop it!" Since I can't actually stop time or even slow it down remotely, I find a little comfort in at least documenting some of my favorite things that they do, whether that be preserving pictures or just jotting down this or that in journals or calendars. The big things always get noted, but there are still so many milestones and "firsts" that are under-celebrated, so to help introduce some fantastic VTech baby toys (who I've partnered with for this review) that really celebrate childhood firsts and budding abilities, I've rounded up just a few of my favorite under-celebrated moments:
VTech Baby Toys
VTech Baby ToysIt'ss the little things, right?! I love these small moments. I also love the big ones, like when they first interact with toys, the first "pull up", and when they learn their first letters. Big and small milestones can all be celebrated with VTech's age appropriate toys that are fun and educational. VTech has collaborated with an expert panel of accredited doctors in order to develop a Milestones resource, which can give you a good idea of what milestones to look for from birth to nine years old, along with toys that are most appropriate for their ages and abilities. You can find these toys below listed as appropriate examples for certain ages in the Milestones resource.
Since we had the opportunity to try out four different toys from VTech that span from 9 months to age 5, I was really able to look at all my children's abilities and appreciate what they can do and what they enjoy. I could spot all sorts of fun milestones as we tried out these educational and very alluring toys!
The first thing we opened was the VTech Spin & Learn Ball Tower, and as soon as the baby saw the box, she was glued! There is a very small amount of assembly, and because this tower is just her size and so brightly colored, it really holds her fascination, even though she is just 7 months old and this is intended for ages 9-36 months. My 3-year-old boy was definitely just as enthralled; he was ALL over this toy!
There are four brightly colored balls that can be dropped in the top and taken on a ride down the slide, with stops and drops along the way. The toy will identify the color of the ball as you drop it in and has more than 100 songs, melodies, sounds and phrases!
The four buttons on the front light up and teach colors, numbers, and insects! As you play, it asks for certain colors of balls or certain buttons to be pushed, and makes other requests like making a rainbow with the colors. Right now the baby can hold the balls and drop them in, touch all the buttons and knock over the tower, so I'm anxious to see how the baby's abilities increase with age and she is able to do more things with this toy, like follow the directions and practice numbers and colors! I think this is a fantastic toy for a curious baby, mobile or not, and I like that the wide base keeps it from easily toppling over onto the baby. The tower feels sturdy and unlikely to break, and I appreciate that the balls are made of a strong plastic that will not compress if accidentally stepped on.
Since big brother was completely enamored by the ball tower, I pulled out a toy that was more age-appropriate for him so that he'd let the baby play with her toy! We opened up the VTech Sit-to-Stand Ultimate Alphabet Train, and he has hardly let it out of his sight. As you can see, there are a number of things to assemble, but everything just clicks into place quickly and there are no tools needed.
If there ever was a toy that did 100 different things, this would be it! There TEN different activities to keep you busy, ranging from colors to numbers, colors, the weather, and more. There are plenty of opportunities to practice motors skills (large and small) because children can ride the train, fill the wagon with blocks and tote it around, push the train like a walker, read the storybook, dial numbers on the keypad, talk on a walkie-talkie, spin gears, push buttons, and stack blocks.
These alphabet blocks are a really fun part of this toy. You can use them as building blocks and build towers, store them in the wagon, drop them down the chute and watch them slide into the wagon. Insert each block into the train's square slot (above), and the train will identify the letter for you.
The alphabet blocks are the perfect size for the baby to handle, and we love how the two parts can come apart and the engine can be used as a walker! Watch out, world! She is going to just take off on this.
This train is intended for ages 12 months - 3 years, and my youngest two kids fall just outside this parameter, but they were both quite intrigued and have found dozens of fun features to keep them busy since we opened it! It is definitely the hot item around here. I've seen this train taken on rides into every room in the house and it is being used in all sorts of imaginative ways. If you're looking for one toy that will entertain and in a dozen different ways, I recommend this ultimate alphabet train, hands down!
Now, the biggest brother (age 4) decided that he also needed something new to play with, and I was pleased to see that VTech sent some toys for older kids too! This is the VTech Spinning Lights Learning Hippo, and it is designed for ages 18 months - 4 years.
While it may look like a simple wind up toy that says the letter that it lands on out loud, there are actually plenty of activities and games that make it interactive and interesting to my 4-year-old. By pressing the hippo's mouth, you hear one of 50 fun questions about letters or words. You can also learn facts about each letter of the alphabet, like "an ant has six legs" or "a banana is a yellow fruit". These are simple, but it is instilling tiny nuggets of information about a large number of objects in a fun way.
My boy scooped this right up into his lap and started playing the games, finding the letter or object that the hippo asks for. This is a "vocabulary builder", so it helps kids learn about letters, phonics, objects, animals, instruments, etc. My son loves to set it to Music Mode and identify all of the 26 fun melodies that he already knows and loves. He'll take it around the house singing to this or that. I think this is a great toy if you need your child to sit still for an extended amount of time, or you don't want to bother with lots of parts and pieces to clean up.
The last toy is one that I'm really excited about and have already hoarded away until Christmas. This is the VTech Write & Learn Creative Center and it is quite the activity board, especially for being for under $25.
This so beyond an ordinary magnetic doodler because of the screen at the top that guides children to learn to write letters and draw objects in a patient, step-by-step fashion. It teaches proper stroke order when forming upper and lowercase letters and it can even help them write their name!
Little artists will love this because of all the drawing activities that go beyond simple shapes. There are over 40 different objects to draw, along with two stamps and a reel of stencils! I like how the buttons are easy to push and the picture icons allow a non-reader to still use it. The pen is ergonomic for little hands learning to write, and the guiding voice that directs and teaches is gentle and kind. I feel like this would make quite an ideal travel item for road trips because of there being only two loose stamps and a tethered writing utensil. This is intended for ages 3-6, but I think children older and younger could enjoy doodling and practicing new skills on this creative center.
We are all so excited about these new toys! It's basically been Christmas around here for the last few days, and while I had hoped to put all of these back in boxes to reopen at Christmas, the idea feels a bit ridiculous after seeing how much these have become unforgettable. I'll happily recommend these toys as great gifts and quite educational teaching tools for little kids!
Buy it: You can purchase all of these items (and MANY other VTech baby toys on Amazon.com.
Christina Wagner says
My boys would love any or all of the Switch and Go Dinos.
Amanda Ayala says
http://www.vtechkids.com/product/detail/16639/Go_Go_Smart_Wheels_Ultimate_RC_Speedway
Smart wheels ultimate rc speedway
Bonnie Johnson says
My kids would love the Go Go Smart Animals!
Janine Krupa says
Park&Learn Deluxe Garage
Sheryl Holden says
Kid Zoom Cam
jeanette sheets says
http://www.vtechkids.com/product/detail/13527/MobiGo_Software___Sofia_the_First
Michele Ash says
I visited the Vtech Website and I know that my Nolan will absolutely, positively, love the The VTech® Kidizoom® Smartwatch DX! I tried at one time to win him a Kidizoom Smartwatch, however, Lady Luck wasn't (as hasn't been) on my side lately! He has Aspergers and he is so smart! This smartwatch would be absolutely wonderful for him! Thanks for asking!!! Michele 🙂
Kristen says
The Kidizoom Action Cam looks fun.
Dandi D says
My son would really like the Go! Go! Smart Wheels - Lift & Fix Repair Shop.
Delirah Morales says
My son would also love the Vtech smart shot sports center 🙂 .
Paula Brown says
2-1 shop and cook play set
Deborah D says
InnoTab MAX
Gabrielle says
The Kiddizoom smartwatch is awesome!! Great for on the go!
kathy d says
musical rhymes book
Marilyn Wall says
this would be great for my 2 new grandson to grow with thank so much I love Vteck toys and games
Jenny B says
My little guy would love the Kidizoom Smartwatch.
Darlene Owen says
I also like the VTech® Kidizoom® Smartwatch DX
Susan Eichberger says
My Little one would love the Count and Color bouncing Frog
Joy says
I like the InnoTab Learning Tablets.
Ashley Cardoso says
My son would love the Switch And Go Dino's! My daughter would love the Magic Star Learning Table! ❤️
Marcie M. says
My little one would love the Go Go Smart Wheels toys. I have been eyeing those for awhile!
Donna Straight says
The Touch & Teach Word Book Pink. Our 3 year old grand daughter would love this.
Amber Ludwig says
The Kidizoom action cam!! My son loves watching himself 🙂
J. Ivy Boyter says
Honestly, I'm too excited about the Write & Learn Creative Center to pick something else out that my daughter would love. She loves writing and drawing and we run out of scrap paper much more often than I expected. This would be perfect for her, especially to take on road trips!
marissa c says
My boys would love the Go! Go! Smart Wheels Ultimate RC Speedway. I would probably need two to keep them from fighting over it!
Jessica White says
V-Tech has got to be one of my very favorite brands for fun, interactive learning!!! I have my eye on the Write and Learn for my 3 year old!! Thank you so much for all of the giveaways!!!
Ashley R says
I like the alphabet apple. It might be a little advanced for my 2 year old, but she'd like it.
Jessica Padilla says
My son would also love the Smart Wheels Ultimate RC Speedway
Mia says
I like the Lil Critters Discover and Learn Gym. Nice for my baby grandson.
Cathy Coibion says
I love the Kidizoom smartwatch!
Logann Walker says
My daughter would love the Kidizoom Action Cam!
Gaye McGill says
The little one in our family would love the Touch & Learn Activity Desk.
susiehurfy says
My daughter would love love love the kiddizoom action camera!
Devon F says
I also like the 2-in-1 Shop & Cook Playset for my daughter
Joann Raso says
Great giveaway. Thank you for the chance
Jacquelyn Cannon says
My two grandsons would love the VTech Write & Learn Creative Center.
Jessica Menster says
My nephew would love the switch and go dinos!
Cindy Kong says
My daughter would also love the Touch & Learn Activity Desk
Ashley says
He would love the Go Go Smart Wheels.
Amy Campbell says
I think my daughter would enjoy the go go smart wheels or kidzoom camera
Laura says
I love the Lil' Critters Musical Dreams Mobile!
SHANNA says
My twins would love the 3-in-1 Care & Learn Stroller Baby Amaze!
Haley Cook says
My boys would love the InnoTab 3S Plus ! They love electronics and this would be a great learning tool.
amy pugmire says
The kid zoom smart watch looks so fun!
Tina Palazzolo says
the sit to race smart wheels
LeAnn H says
I like the kidizoom smart watch
Erica P. says
I love the roll and surprise animal train!
Rebecca W says
I like the Kid Zoom
Wendy Orme says
My grandsons would LOVE the train!
jessica z says
The Learning Zone Construction Site is cute!
Julie Lundstrom says
I like the Vtech Smart Watch for my son.
Ann Fantom says
My daughter would have many hours of fun with the VTech Kidizoom Cam's video camera.
Julia M says
MY GIRLS WOULD LOVE THE GOGO SMART ANIMALS
Amanda Alvarado says
I think dd would love the Flipsies line!
Holly Thomas says
Sandy's House & Ocean Cruiser is awesome!
Cynthia C says
My great-niece would love playing with the Go! Go! Smart Animals - Zoo Explorers Playset.
Mandy Indeglia says
My 3 kids would love the InnoTab 3S Plus.
Maryann says
I LOVE V-Tech toys. My daughter would love the Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker
Janet V says
My daughter would love the Go Go smart wheels
Shakeia Rieux says
My nieces would love the VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX
Jenna Law says
The roll and learn activity suitcase is pretty cute and the count and sing bakery too.
Ericka Coello says
He would love the Innotsb MAX
Lauryn R says
I also want to get the Kidizoom ActionCam for my oldest daughter! She would have a blast taking pictures and making her own videos!
Stacy Renee says
The Sit to Stand Alphabet Train is on our layaway list for our daughter this year! It just looked too amazing to pass up! I also really love the Grow and Learn Farm!
jen st pierre says
any of the tech smart wheels we only have 1 set but loves it
Jessica Gregory says
I have three boys that are right in the milestone areas for the 4 toys in the blog and I'm sure they would love these toys! Especially the ball tower!
Beverly Guajardo says
I also would love to have the Count & Colors Bouncing Frog for my grandson. He would love this. He loves to bounce around.
Angelica Dimeo says
I like the innotab max it would be perfect for my oldest son
Fari says
My daughter would love the Inno Tab 3
Howard says
My 3 grandsons all under the age of 4 would really love these fun, educational toys?
Is this how to enter???
janet aycock says
my great grand daughters would love any of the toys
Crystal Martinez says
My son would enot the Innotab 3s
Ashley Chassereau Parks says
My little one would also love the park and learn deluxe garage!
Jennifer says
My daughter would love the Count & Sing Bakery.
Janis Otterson says
Touch and Swipe Baby Phone!
Lisa Coomer Queen says
I would have to go with the The VTech® Kidizoom® Smartwatch DX. Looks awesome!
Megan says
I LOVE the entire V-Tech smart wheels line! My kids enjoy playing with them at their friends homes. We'd love the park and learn deluxe garage. My twins are so car obsessed!
Maddy says
2-in-1 Learn & Zoom Motorbike
Nataile Brown says
Another product of theirs my grandson would love is the Go! Go! Smart Wheels - Park & Learn Deluxe Garage. So much fun!! Thank-you. 🙂
Mare Wagenbach says
We'd love to try any of the Go Go Smart toys. I had already entered and commented but a few are wiped out and I am entering again, so there may be two or more comments from me on some posts! That's why!
ellen Kowal says
We'd love the Slide & Talk Smartphone
Jane Ritz says
I like the V tec Watch
Amanda Schaeffer says
My son would love to have the Go Go Smart Wheels that is such a cool toy it lights up plays music it teaches first words,letters and cause and effect 🙂
Karen A. says
My grandchild that's on the way would learn a lot from the Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker
Minta Boggs says
Would love the Smart wheels ultimate race speedway
rachel p says
my daughter loves her vtech singing magnetic letters!
Nikki Strong says
I'd love to have the Magic Star Learning Table for my little explorer.
jennifer peters says
My son would go crazy for the smart watch
Lorna Brock says
Would love the Kiddizoom digital camera...... oh the things we could show the world 🙂
Ashley T. says
My 6 yr old would love that Kidizoom Smart watch DX-all new toys are usually for the smaller kiddos!
Debra S says
I don't kid myself at all. Tech and Computers ROCK and even the 3 year olds here WANT a tablet! So their InnoTab Max would be what I would want the most for the bit older kids.
nidhi chauhan says
My child love kIdZoom cam.
Susan Chester says
My grandson would be nuts for the Go! Go! Smart Wheels Ultimate RC Speedway!
Joan Pleasant says
My daughter would be fascinated with the Vtech Spin & Learn Ball Tower.
Karen Drake says
My Grranddaughter would love the Kidizoom Smartwatch.
Kristin says
Go Go Smart Animals treehouse
Donna says
My grandchild would love the Go Go Smart Wheels! He's all about cars!
Joye Rast says
My grandson would love the Kidizoom® Smartwatch DX.
courtney hennagir says
My daughter would love the Minnie ABC fashion purse! She is Minnie obsessed!
Nancy says
My daughter would love these!
Lesley F says
She would love the 2-in-1 Shop & Cook Playset
Rebecca Simons says
InnoTab Max Pink would be loved by my 4 year old!
Sara Cioni says
My little girl would have so much fun with the magic star learning table!
Anna Pry says
they would love the flipsies dolls
Jessica Weeks says
I would like to get some of the gogo smart friends. We already have some of the animals and they are fun.
Crystal E. says
I think my son would love a kidizoom smartwatch dx! They have so many neat toys there, its hard to choose the neatest!
Laurie Nykaza says
The kids would love this watch its amazing VTech® Kidizoom® Smartwatch DX
denise low says
The switch and go would be great to have.
Danielle Clifford says
Smart watch DX
Tabitha Tucker says
My son would love the InnoTab Max!!!
valerie guerrero says
Disney minnie abc fashion purse
Sarah L says
My nephew would love the Kidizoom Smartwatch DX - Royal Blue.
Thanks for the contest.
Kim Reid says
They would like the Catch Me Kitty, thanks!
Christina Strapp Lambert says
I like the Innotab Max tablet.
Kathy Luman says
I think my youngest grandson would like the Magic Star Learning Table.
Stephanie Phelps says
I would also love to have the Go! Go! Smart Animals - Gallop & Go Stable.
patricia delgado says
My little guy would love to add the Ultimate RC speedway playset to his go go smart wheels collection!
Heather Johnson says
I think she would really love the Alphabet Activity Cube.
Wendy Sebastian says
My daughter would love the Kidizoom Camera Connect!
Roxann Benthagen says
My granddaughter would Love the Baby Amaze. 🙂
Jennifer H. says
I WOULD SAY THE Switch & Go Dinos - Blister the Velociraptor
Melissa Pulido says
I would love one of the vtech innotabs!
Sherry Conrad says
Gabriel would love the Kidizoom action cam - and the smart watch.
Dawn Reid says
Go! Go! Smart Friends - Healthy Friends Check-Up Clinic
Samantha says
She would love the Musical Bubbles Octopus!
Candace says
I would love to get the innotab for my oldest 🙂
maria c says
My son would love the Innotab Max.
Rajee Pandi says
switch and go dinos
Alisha S says
I think my boys would love the Switch & Go Dinos - Blister the Velociraptor.