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January 18, 2016

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It's A Phase..., Just Saying...

Protect Your Smartphone

So, Nathan has this weird habit where if he grabs something he isn’t supposed to… if he feels like he can’t get away with the old:

HERE! Look what I found! I was, in fact, on my way to hand it to you. After all… I know this toy isn’t for me to play with.

That old song and dance. If he feels like he got caught and can’t get away with it. He likes to throw the object. Now, it isn’t just any type of throw. It’s more in the spirit of Thor’s “ANOTHER!”

Any guess what happened?

Lesson: PROTECT YOUR SMARTPHONE!

When my wife and I bought our new Samsung Galaxy S5s, we knew there was NO WAY that we were going to allow for a repeat. I went ahead and bought the Spigen Tough Armor. This thing has protected my phone from 5+ foot drops, face down bashes into tile, face down frisebee throws into gravel… you name it, and my phone remains scratchless. I cannot speak enough to the durability and protectiveness that this product provides. Definitely a recommended buy.

My wife, went with a smaller profile case which has worked just as well! It’s survived the tile flooring, corner strikes on asphalt, and even face down on concrete. She bought a Mint Green version. And, I’m not going to lie. I’m a little bit jealous. Not of the color, but of how thin that profile is. The S5 is a beautifully sleek phone. There is practically no profile and I love the way it its in the hand without any armor at all. This particular product gives you all that tactility without the bulk of the armor that I have on my phone.

I’m Just Saying… with a toddler, you NEED armor for your phone. Otherwise… you’ll likely be finding some busted screens and the several hundred dollar lessons that comes with it. Unless you have insurance… which only matters so much depending on the type you get.

So yeah… PROTECT YOUR PHONES!

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January 10, 2016

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Child Development

Tech Toys and Totally Talking

So, on Thursday’s post, I talked about a prior experience earlier last year when Nate just didn’t seem to be talking so well. He clammed up when we try to engage him, hates interacting with strangers, and it got to a point in the pediatrician’s eye that Nathan may need some developmental help.

Well, he turned that corner a few weeks ago and is spouting off all sorts of stuff now. It’s really exciting. Sure, it’s not entirely on time… but, well… my wife & I procrastinators, too 😉

In any case! This post is about two toys which really helped Nate with talking. For my boy, he just doesn’t like social pressure, especially the pressure to perform. That is where educational shows and educational toys seem to really help him shine out and get comfortable without that pressure of failing in public.

So, without further ado! Here are two toys I’m reviewing:

First, the LeapFrog Laptop!

We came across this toy at the grandparent’s place. We first noticed how he was not only drawn to the toy, but also interacted more verbally with the tech itself. What I really like about this toy is that it has a screen. There is a highly visual component while also melding with the auditory dimension of learning. There are four settings, each which represent a different functions including ABCs, messages, games, and music. It has two volume settings and is very pet-centric. The toy can ask the kiddo to find the letter representing an animal and encourages the kid until the time runs our or the kid hits the right letter. It’s really quite fabulous and has been the best learning toy for my boy.

Secondly, the Fisher Price Laugh & Learn

So, this toy came home with us as a victim of the situation. It was in a box where Nate was able to reach it and the settings were already on. Also with two volume settings, it has 3 “Smart Stages” where the first is simply interaction, the second is directional, and the final stage is more pretend play. The tunes are rather catchy and the voice isn’t annoying. However, the problem with this toy is that because it isn’t very visual, Nate can become bored with it rather quickly. Also, because he is a fairly visual learner (as the present), the other toy is superior for his needs in terms of getting him to talk. Still, it’s a great toy for the road and is rather durable. It has been tested — by several tantrums 😉

So, my overall recommendation is that if you were only to buy one of these learning toys, get the LeapFrog laptop. It is more versatile, visual, and is designed in a way that is more interactive for your child. I hope you enjoy the learn & play!