LeapFrog Text & Learn: A BlackBerry Just for Babies

by Jace Shoemaker-...

Everyone by now knows President Obama loves his BlackBerry! Well, hold onto your hats. There's a new gadget in town and it is targeting the younger generation!

The good folks at LeapFrog are about to introduce a new handheld gadget just for kids, LeapFrog Text & Learn. The new device, commonly referred to as the "Baby BlackBerry," is sure to be a great big hit with preschoolers. The colorful handheld device, larger than a traditional BlackBerry, features a nifty LCD screen and full QWERTY keyboard.

And parents, there is no need to worry. The handheld is not wireless and cannot connect to the Internet. But it does allow the young users to "text" Scout, a fun and colorful Text & Learn puppy. The device includes various educational applications such as spelling, letter matching, number recognition, shape identification and, of course, texting.

Now parents can avoid those messy fingerprints and dropped and damaged BlackBerrys. Your baby can feel just like Mommy and Daddy with her very own handheld device. Recently unveiled at the Toy Fair in the United Kingdom, the LeapFrog unit should be available in the United States sometime in the summer and is expected to cost around $25. Texting for tots - what will they think of next?

Sources: Cnet News, SlipperyBrick Photo source: PocketLint

Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
Guest Blogger
InventorSpot.com

Our guest blogger, Jace Shoemaker-Galloway, is a busy freelance writer, online safety educator and mother. As a self-described gadget geek, she is always on the lookout for cool and innovative products, especially for children

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Comments

Blackberry for kids

Submitted on February 5th, 2009 by Anonymous

Good article. But as a parent of a young child, I have mixed opinions on the actual device.

As a parent who happens to own a BlackBerry, I couldn't imagine my life without it. On the one hand, this is a pretty cool little gadget. I can see how children would really like this. But on the other hand, do we really want to encourage texting at such a young age?

As the author suggests, "what next?" Regardless, thanks for the info.

hmm

Submitted on February 5th, 2009 by Anonymous

the bigger one seems better for elderly if it had a different look. Yet then again not many elderly could afford such things...then again young cant afford it either..I know I have never been able to afford one and I'm young

Baby Blackberry

Submitted on February 5th, 2009 by Anonymous

I have to admit, this sounds like a pretty cool gadget, and I think this will appeal to alot of people. But what are we really doing here? Is this a techy replacement for the pacifier?

LeapFrog makes such

Submitted on February 5th, 2009 by Beth Hodgson

LeapFrog makes such fantastic fun, educational tools for children that I can't help but love this idea. It lets them mimick mom/dad as they so love to do, while feeling like they're completing similar activities that are in actuality helping them learn.

I can see why encouraging children to use cell phones/blackberries would be of concern, but I don't see how there would actually be a negative result with this since it's entirely educational, with no wireless access or true texting application between peers.

Beth Hodgson
Innovative Business Writer

Follow me on Twitter - http://twitter.com/WriteSourcing

Text and Learn Reviewed on Toy Whimsy with video

Submitted on April 13th, 2009 by Anonymous

Check out the Text and Learn in action on Toy Whimsy. Out Tiny Toy Testers were the first to review this new toy. It received a 4 out of 5 star rating:
http://www.toywhimsy.com/2009/04/leapfrog-text-and-learn-tiny-toy-tester...

-Enjoy!