VTech Milestones Resource Toys Review and Giveaway

Davin our son, is on the developmental milestone.  We're helping to teach him words, letters, shapes and encouraging him to walk.  He's a late bloomer and don't want to walk on his own. We're trying to build his confidence from being afraid to walk.  

VTech sent us their Roll & Surprise Animal Train, Chomp & Count Dino and Lil' Critters Play Dream Musical Piano to review.  We use the Roll & Surprise Animal Train and Chomp & Count Dino to help promote Davin's physical, motor and language skills. The Lil' Critters Play Dream Musical Piano is helpful with his physical and motor skill. He uses this toy to exercise his legs and fingers.  Davin enjoys playing with all of his toys. He likes listening to music, words, sounds, learning shapes and colors.  Never giving up on our son will increase in his development.

Roll & Surprise Animal Train features: 

 (Ages 6-36 months; MSRP: $15.99)

•         Your little one will enjoy peek-a-boo fun and develop fine motor skills through         turn, slide and press activities.
•         Animal friends introduce animal names, animal sounds and colors.
•         This educational toy also rewards curiosity and teaches cause and effect with           pop-up surprises and 55 songs, melodies, sounds, and phrases.

Chomp & Count Dino features: 
(Ages 12-36 months; MSRP: $19.99)

•          Simply place one of the eight brightly-colored play pieces in the dino’s mouth          and watch as he eats and recognizes each piece.
•          Play in either food or counting mode and the dino responds with rewarding                sounds and phrases all while introducing colors, numbers, shapes and more.
•          Press the question button and kids can answer the dino’s questions to show              what they’ve learned.
•          Five shape buttons help kids learn shapes and numbers, while spinning the disc          on the dino’s back will play sing-along songs.
•          The dino can also be pushed or pulled by a string for even more fun melodies.

Lil' Critters Play Dream Musical Piano features:
(Ages 0-12 months; MSRP $24.99)

•        Learn and play music with animal friends! The Lil’ Critters Play & Dream             Musical Piano by VTech has a variety of fun musical activities that engage your child on the floor or attached to the crib.
•         This soft piano features five animal piano keys that introduce music,                         instruments and animals.
•         The piano also includes a light-up sun that shines and flashes to the music to             attract your baby’s attention.
•         Choose from two modes of play for fun learning and music activities

It really depends on parents to introduce their child to early childhood development and teach them.  VTech has Milestones Resource in Language and Cognitive, Social and Emotional Development, Physical and Motor.  VTech Expert Panel member and Early Childhood Development Expert, Dr. Lise Eliot gave helpful answers to my questions. These questions and answers can help parents with their child. 

Q1. As a parent, what are your suggestions on things I can do with my child to help them develop their social and emotional skills? What are ways I can help my child to get the most of their playtime? 

A. Social-emotional skills are the bedrock of learning, so good for you for taking an interest in cultivating them in your child.  The best way to promote emotional and interpersonal skills is through interaction--reading, singing and lots of talking with your child.  Make eye contact with him or her. Laugh together.  Direct your child's attention to interesting things in your environment.  When you read together, ask your child questions about the characters' thoughts and feelings. This can help build empathy. Another way to think about it is to use books or videos as a stepping stone for dialogue with your child.  It's the two-way, back-and-forth sharing of words and feelings that build emotional and communication skills.  Playtime has ample opportunity to do this, whether you are visiting the zoo, finger-painting, or playing with toys.  Take every opportunity to talk about the feelings and relationships among characters your child is drawing or playing with.

Q2. What if it seems like your child isn't reaching a particular milestone, what can you do to facilitate the learning of it?  While every child is different, are there any Milestones (when not achieved on schedule) a parent should be concerned about?

A. It's important for parents to know what milestones to expect, because failure to reach them can be a warning sign of a developmental delay.  For social skills, we like to see babies making eye contact early on, and worry if it doesn't happen by 3 months or age, or if s/he is not sharing facial expressions or some other kind of back-and-forth communication by 9 months. For language skills, we worry when children are saying no words by 16 months, or only a few words at 2 years, and when there is any loss of communication ability at any age.  For motor skills, it is concerning if a baby cannot bring an object to his or her mouth by 7 months, sit independently by 10 months, or walk by 18 months. If your child isn’t reaching these milestones, talk to your pediatrician, who may propose additional testing and exercises you can do with your child at home to promote his or her development.

Q3. My 2 year old (26 months to be exact) barely talks unless she wants to.  She has two older siblings who tend to speak for her.  She can string a few words together like "me up" or "love you."  How can we encourage her to talk more and what VTech products would be most beneficial for her?

A. There's a simple equation to verbal development:  "Language in = Language out"  The more words you and others address to your child, the larger her own vocabulary will eventually be.  You are right that younger children sometimes do have trouble getting a word in edgewise in a big family.  Find opportunities when your daughter can be the only one speaking.  Try to carve out some one-on-one time, when you are just focused on each other, and make sure to listen and respond to every word or babble she makes, acting as if you understand her.  Imitate her words and sounds and offer lots of praise.  Just giving your child the confidence that she is being heard will provide great reinforcement to encourage her to speak more.

Also, VTech's infant toys can promote this language development since most produce simple words or phrases that babies love to control.  Toys such as Cody The Smart Cub™ and Cora The Smart Cub™ introduce children to first words, emotions, stories, sing-alongs, and more.

Visit VTech to check the Roll & Surprise Animal Train, Chomp & Count Dino, Lil' Critters Play Dream Musical Piano.  Find out what products can help with your child's development at http://www.vtechkids.com.  

Stay connected with VTech for products, deals and more at: 

The Milestones page - http://bit.ly/1p2qWZO

•        The Expert Panel page- http://bit.ly/1mg7i1c
•        Dr. Eliot video – http://bit.ly/1pBqeDA
•        VTech Twitter – http://bit.ly/Q7J7vM
•        VTech Facebook – http://on.fb.me/iIPfUE

VTech has offered to giveaway a Roll & Surprise Animal Train, Chomp & Count Dino and Lil' Critters Play Dream Musical Piano to one of the readers.  This giveaway is open to US residents only and 18+ years.  Enter the giveaway via Rafflecopter form below.

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Disclaimer:  ReviewIt PR was not compensated for this post.  We received product samples in-exchange for this review.  VTech is responsible for the prizes and shipment. ReviewIt PR gave our honest experience in this review and is our own.  ReviewIt PR is disclosing this accordance with Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guide Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.