Roo’s YouTube addiction has finally gotten the better of me.
I am at the point where if I hear The Duck Song emanate from my iPad again, I may hunt down the person who wrote it, sang it, illustrated it and decided it would be a good idea to put it on YouTube.
And when I find that person, things will not be pretty.
And I’m not just concerned with my annoyance levels either (although I’m pretty sure if there was some kind of scale in which my annoyance could be measured, it would be at the “alarming” end).
What I’m worried about, ultimately, is what Roo is learning from these videos.
Children are little sponges. Drooling and sticky, but sponges nonetheless. They learn quickly and efficiently, especially through play.
So if my daughter is trawling videos, or texting a random assortment of letters to my friends, or deleting photos and apps all for fun, what is she really learning? What is she taking away from her time with her beloved “co-putah”?
So I’ve been forced to take drastic measures.
And by drastic I mean I’ve been sent some items from the Fisher-Price Apptivity range and I’m sold on them.
Roo’s device of choice is the iPad, so the Laugh and Learn Apptivity™iPad Case has been a winner. First of all, it allows me to keep the home button out of reach, so she can’t head to YouTube, or any other app, without my help.
It has a protective screen and sturdy case which protect my precious link to the outside world from any jostling that may occur between siblings, and vegemite fingers that I might miss at breakfast cleanup.
There’s a handle (Roo is fond of wandering around the house with the iPad in order to show me her latest activity so I really like this feature) and busy beads, as well as three play options – flat, easel and rocker – so you could probably take this with you for car trips, or out to lunch to keep a toddler occupied while Mummy gets some adult face-time.
The Apptivity iPad case becomes interactive with some great Fisher –Price apps available free of charge in the iTunes store.
Roo’s favourites are the Giggle Gang and the Laugh and Learn Shapes and Colours Music Show – which I like because although she is very good at identifying both shapes and colours, her pronunciation could use some work.
I was very pleased to see her repeating the songs and phrases as she played with the app. Roo thought it was hilarious that if she tilted the screen, all the shapes would fall to one side and then the other.
The Two have been obsessed with the Laugh and Learn Apptivity Monkey ever since he came out of the post bag Fisher-Price sent us, and well before I locked my iPhone® securely in his belly.
In our home he has been dubbed “Kiki” and the boys think he is out-of-this-world awesome.
I downloaded the free Laugh and Learn Learning Letters Monkey app and I am super impressed with its interactive capabilities. He has four paws, all of which have a different theme – shapes and colours, numbers, letters and music.
Without the phone, each paw will sing a song, say a phrase or play a tune (Oscar squeezes the Monkey into oblivion every time he says: “you’re my friend!”).
With the phone, the Monkey’s paws become an easy, tactile and fun way to control the app. Press the shapes paw and the app begins displaying shapes and colours, press the letters paw and the app is directed to a very cute alphabet game.
I’m always so surprised at how fast toddlers pick things up, especially when they are enjoying themselves. It’s such a period of vast learning and progression, it’s nice that the Laugh and Learn™ Apptivity™ range gives me a chance to teach them about technology and the basics whilst my kids are having a great time.
GIVEAWAY
Would you like the chance to win your own Fisher-Price® Apptivity™ Monkey? For the chance to win all you have to do is leave a comment telling us:
Who would learn the most from having the Fisher-Price® Apptivity™ Monkey in your home?
Competition ends 5pm 17th October, please note the Terms and Conditions of entry.
It’s a toss up between me or my 9 month old!!!! Maybe both of us will learn a thing or two.
Daisy Roo & Two,
I think that there has been a loaded question asked.
Perhaps, “Who in your household would dislike this giveaway?” would be more appropriate as I can answer, “No one,” would be more advantageous for me.
My daughter will definitely learn faster than me, am also amazed at how fast toddler pick things up!
My gorgeous grandson Darcy would benefit from this as he will be learning as he is playing. Great Toy.
My very active and alert son would benefit from some quiet learning time! I think this type of learning would be the best for him to keep him engaged for longer!
I saw these at the recent Sydney baby and toddler show and I loved playing with them.
My daughter Aneesah (16mth old) would love to play with these along with her sister Hannan (3).
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Omg I need this and you have seen my
Omg I need one of these!! U have seen my poor shattered phone lol! I think I might be the one who learns from it learns how to share that is I’m not one to give up the phone to anyone!!! I tend to miss important calls and messages when Ziva steals it :/ she instead has the thub or cheapy tablet I got from china to play birdys or watch copious quantitys of wash your face with orange juice!!(stuck in my head AGAIN)
My husband! He would learn that babies are capable of more than just crying, sleeping, eating and pooing!
I would probably learn just as much as my 2 year old… she would probably be teaching me a thing or two after just minutes..
Me. I would learn to relax and not worry about MY iPAD being dropped on the floor! Had one whoopsie with it already.
Twins can be ADORABLY cute, but sometimes ‘Double Trouble’
!/ They are “all-pistons-heaving”, never ceasing,/ Seeking stimulation from their environment in play./ A Fisher-Price Monkey’d really help my sister keep her ‘Twin Terrors’/ Engaged, growing and happy all the day 
!
I am hoping my 17 month old would learn to stay in one app! ..as the home button would be out of his reach!
My daughter is always teaching me a thing or two, so both of us would be learning, she will be teaching me how to use it !!! haha
My 4 yr old and 2 yr old boys would both get so much out of this!
Lol, i always said i would never let the kids use my phone, now i can’t get turn! Mr 20 month old and Mr 6 month old would benefit the most. I would love it especially for the book apps we use already as reading outloud over and over gets very repetive
My 19 month old son would love this! He loves playing on my iphone, even more so than I do.
I have a 12-month-old baby boy and a 5-year-old girl, and to be honest it’d be a hard call – she loves playing with his baby toys! But I guess he would learn the most.
Hubby, he’s such a technophobe! Apptivity monkey may just sway him, I swear he plays with the kids toys more than they do.
My 7 month old son, he is always making a beeline for either of our phones. This way it will best of both worlds. Our phones will be safe and and he will get to play as well.
My mother in law would learn the most – she’s an anti-technology guerilla who frequently chastises me for letting my 1 year old play with anything electrical! Having read your blog & seeing your adorable 2 playing with them, I’m sure owning the Fisher-Price® Apptivity™ Monkey would definitely convince her otherwise!
My 4 year old would learn so much with the help of the Fisher Price Apptivity Monkey.
He starts kindergarten next year and this would be perfect to help him learn along the way.
Thanks for the chance
This looks easy enough for my husband to learn from. He could then teach and spend time with our little miss one. And in turn give me a coffee break! (Or wine!)
My 2 year old would benefit from this she is a very hands on child. It would also benefit her sisters who have to share their DS with her and it would benefit our 6week old baby later down the track too.
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EVERYONE including the dog
Me,it feels like my 15 month old can work my phone better then me
Our little Cooper would have so much fun while learning at the same time
My 18mth old for sure. My 5yr old also would love to play with this with my 18mth old.
My Neighbours two kids – with them occupied for a couple of minutes we might get through a pot of tea without interruptions
Poppy…he needs a lesson on how to play ‘child’ games with his granddaughter!
I think my 2 year old would benefit the most out of the Apptivity Monkey, it would be a great help, I’m trying to teach him colours, numbers and shapes at the moment! It would definitely get plenty of use, it could be passed on to my 6 month old daughter when she’s big enough for it! I can just imagine my 5 year old taking control though and conducting one of her school teacher like lessons that she’s always doing. She usually has the 2 of them lined up in front of her little blackboard, trying to teach them how to read and write! haha
The whole family would learn from this… especially me as i will learn to know where i left my phone and where to find it.
My 2 year old daughter would love it!!!!! She already loves using my phone, so to combine two of her favourite things, a phone and a cuddly toy, she would be in heaven
Ahh.. Now I have a few birthday present ideas for my tiny nieces.
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